Forskolin: A Successful Therapeutic Phytomolecule

Forskolin, a labdane diterpene is the main active ingredient in the ayurvedic herb Coleus forskohlii (Labatiae) that has been used in India since ancient times. The root portion of the plant has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes and contains the active constituent, forskolin. Historically, it has been used to treat hypertension, congestive heart failure, eczema, colic, respiratory disorders, painful urination, insomnia, and convulsions. Clinical studies have justified these traditional uses and indicate its therapeutic potential in asthma, angina, psoriasis, and prevention of cancer metastases. The present review summarizes these reports along with the advancements in research on forskolin as a therapeutic molecule.Keywords: Forskolin, Coleus forskohli, labdane diterpeneEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 13 (2010) 25- 3

More on STAT1 Gain of Function, Type 1 Diabetes, and JAK Inhibition

This is the final version. Available from the Massachusetts Medical Society via the DOI in this recor

Prevalence and Correlates of Common Mental Disorders among Mothers of Young Children in Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania.

Although poor maternal mental health is a major public health problem, with detrimental effects on the individual, her children and society, information on its correlates in low-income countries is sparse. This study investigates the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among at-risk mothers, and explores its associations with sociodemographic factors. This population-based survey of mothers of children aged 0-36 months used the 14-item Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ). Mothers whose response was "yes" to 8 or more items on the scale were defined as "at risk of CMD." Of the 1,922 mothers (15-48 years), 28.8% were at risk of CMD. Risk of CMD was associated with verbal abuse, physical abuse, a partner who did not help with the care of the child, being in a polygamous relationship, a partner with low levels of education, and a partner who smoked cigarettes. Cohabiting appeared to be protective. Taken together, our results indicate the significance of the quality of relations with one's partner in shaping maternal mental health. The high proportion of mothers who are at risk of CMD emphasizes the importance of developing evidence-based mental health programmes as part of the care package aimed at improving maternal well-being in Tanzania and other similar settings

Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance during sustained mental effort

Cocoa flavanols (CF) positively influence physiological processes in ways that suggest their consumption may improve aspects of cognitive function. This study investigated the acute cognitive and subjective effects of CF consumption during sustained mental demand. In this randomized, controlled, double-blinded, balanced, three period crossover trial 30 healthy adults consumed drinks containing 520 mg, 994 mg CF and a matched control, with a three-day washout between drinks. Assessments included the state anxiety inventory and repeated 10-min cycles of a Cognitive Demand Battery comprising of two serial subtraction tasks (Serial Threes and Serial Sevens), a Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) task and a mental fatigue scale, over the course of 1 h. Consumption of both 520 mg and 994 mg CF significantly improved Serial Threes performance. The 994 mg CF beverage significantly speeded RVIP responses but also resulted in more errors during Serial Sevens. Increases in self-reported mental fatigue were significantly attenuated by the consumption of the 520 mg CF beverage only. This is the first report of acute cognitive improvements following CF consumption in healthy adults. While the mechanisms underlying the effects are unknown they may be related to known effects of CF on endothelial function and blood flow

Temperature dependence of the energy and broadening parameter of the fundamental band gap of GaSb and Ga1-xInxAsySb1-y/GaSb (0.07 <= x <= 0.22, 0.05 <= y <= 0.19) quaternary alloys using infrared photoreflectance

We have measured the temperature dependence of the energy [E-0(T)] and broadening parameter [Gamma (0)(T)] of the fundamental gap for GaSb and four samples of Ga1-xInxAsySb1-y (lattice matched to GaSb) using infrared photoreflectance. The parameters that describe the temperature variation of the energy (including thermal-expansion effects) were evaluated using both the semiempirical Vashni relation as well as an equation that incorporates the Bose-Einstein occupation factor. The behavior of Gamma (0)(T) was described by a Bose-Einstein-type equation.6224166001660