Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bergenia ciliata Sternb [Rhizome] crude extract and fractions

Biologically, screening of medicinal plants extracts have been since pre-historic to determine the antioxidants and antimicrobial profile. The present study was aimed to investigate and evaluate crude extract and different fractions of Bergenia ciliata Sternb [rhizome] for bioactivity which is most considerable medicinal plants. The chloroform fraction was found to be highly anti-oxidative with the IC50 value [4.15 +/- 0.82] as compare to ethyl acetate and n-hexane fraction. In addition, neither crude extract nor any fraction showed inhibition against fungal strains, i.e. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Furthermore, the crude extract and fractions of B. ciliata [rhizome] exhibiting promising activities against Bacillus atrophoeus, Bacillus subtilis, Kleibsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. In summary, B. ciliata is recommended as a source of bioactive compounds which might be used against oxidative stress and drug resistance bacteria

Pattern of eye diseases at the primary health centers in a Pakistani district

Pakistan has an extensive network of public facilities aimed to provide primary health care including eye care. Yet no data exist on the number and purpose of eye visits to these facilities. This study aimed to describe the pattern of eye diseases in public primary care hospitals in a district in Pakistan's Sindh province. This study was conducted in 14 randomly selected government primary health care centers 10 Basic Health Units and 4 Rural Health Centers in district Nawab shah, a central district of Sindh province. Doctors in these centers were trained in diagnosis and management of common eye diseases at the primary level and requested to record data prospectively on the total number of patient visits, total number of eye consultations and reasons for eye consultation. Data were entered and analyzed using EPI Info Software. Over a period of one month, 9759 visits were made to the 14 selected primary health care centers. Eye diseases accounted for 1.8% of the total visits. Adults were more likely to have an eye consultation compared with children [Odds Ratio: 2.96; P < 0.01]. Conjunctivitis [34.1%], cataract [22.0%], and corneal problems [6.9%] were the most common reasons for eye consultations. Despite solid evidence of a high burden of eye diseases at the community level in Pakistan, eye diseases accounted for only a very small proportion of the total consultations in the primary health care facilities. Efforts are needed to assess barriers to optimal utilization of existing primary health care services for eye diseases

Hepatoprotective effects of berberis lycium, galium aparine and pistacia integerrima in carbon tetrachloride [CCL4]-treated rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of mixture of berberis lycium, galium aparine and pistacia integerrima in carbon tetrachloride [CCL4]-treated rats. This study was conducted in the animal house of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad in the year 2000. A total of 20 rats were divided in 4 groups of 5 rats each. 1. Normal Control Group: with no medication given 2. CCl4 Treated Group: only CCl4 was given 3. Hepatopreventive group: Initially treated with medicinal plants mixture followed by CCl4 4. Hepatoprotective group: Initially treated with CCl4 followed by medicinal plants mixture Then blood sample from each rate was collected and analysed for ALT, AST and ALP. The rates included in the study were male Sprague Dawley rats [albino] weighing 150-300g received from the animal house of the NIH, Islamabad. ALT, AST and ALP activities were significantly raised [P<0.001] in hepatocurative groups as comparative to the normal control, and decreased [P<0.001] as compared to the CCl4-treated rated and the hepatopreventive group. While the hepatocurative group treated with aqueous extract of the mixture of medicinal plants decrease more than treated with suspension of medicinal plants mixture and alcoholic extract. The results this study indicates that a mixture of Berberis lycium, Galium aparine and Pistacia integerrima have hepatoprotective effects. These medicinal plants have more effect as curative agents rather than preventive agents

Classification of 154 clinical cases of vitamin A deficiency in children [0-15 years] in a tertiary hospital in North West Frontier province Pakistan

To share our experience of 154 cases of clinical vitamin A deficiency in Pakistani children. Methods and The data on age, sex, date of presentation and clinical stage of vitamin A deficiency was recorded. A total of 154 children aged 0-15 years suffering from clinical vitamin A deficiency [xerophthalmia] were recorded. One hundred and twenty three [79.9%] children were 0-6 years with 99 [64.3%] male children. Blinding xerophthalmia [corneal xerosis, corneal ulcers ad keratomalacia] was present in 94 [61%] children. Thirty nine% children presented in summer, 28% in autumn, 20% in winter and 13% in spring respectively. This report indicates that clinical cases of vitamin A deficiency in children do occur in Pakistan. Children under 6 years of age are the most vulnerable age group and there is a seasonal variation in presentation. Both life and sight of these children are at risk. Community based studies may be helpful to identify the magnitude of the problem and possible risk factors at national, provincial and district levels