Evaluation of anti-depressant effect of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) in albino mice.

Background: Depression is a common serious psychiatric disorder and the available anti-depressant treatments are associated with many unwanted side-effects. Thus, various herbal products have been tried. The advantages of herbal treatments would include its complementary nature to the conventional treatment, thus making the latter a safer and cheaper option for depressive disorders. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-depressant activity of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) in albino mice and compare it with Imipramine. Methods: A total of 60 Swiss albino mice weighing around 20-40 g of either sex were divided into 10 groups (n=6). They were orally administered with tween 80, as a control, 20 mg/kg imipramine (standard), 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg C. citratus (test drugs), and combination of imipramine (10 mg/kg) and C. citratus (10 mg/kg). Duration of immobility was observed for last 4 mins of total 6 mins period in groups 1-5 for forced swimming test (porsolt test) and groups 6-10 for tail suspension test each on 1st, 8th and 15th day and recorded as mean±standard error of the mean. Results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: Lemon grass at the above doses significantly reduced the immobility time in both the tests compared with the control (<0.05). The reduction in the duration of immobility at the dose of 10 mg/kg was comparable to imipramine. Conclusions: The essential oil of lemon grass (C. citratus) has significant anti-depressant activity comparable to imipramine.

Nevirapine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome from a tertiary care hospital in Central India.

A 42 year old man, a known case of AIDS receiving antiretroviral therapy – stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine since 4 weeks, was admitted with erythematous rash, with blisters, and abnormal liver function test. A diagnosis of Steven-Johnson syndrome was made excluding other opportunistic infection and differential diagnosis. Nevirapine was discontinued until the patient recovered. After recovery patient was started with stavudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz treatment without re-challenge with nevirapine.

A case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome due to rifampicin.

A 25 year old female known case of category II pulmonary Tuberculosis was on anti-coch’s treatment in the FDC of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and Streptomycin. Fifteen days after the commencement of Cat II anti TB treatment she developed diffuse erythematous rash on face, trunk and both extremities which turned into blisters. There were ulcers on oral and genital cavity. A diagnosis of Stevens Johnson’s syndrome was made. The patient had a history of cat I pulmonary TB and treated for 8 months and at the end of 8th month she was sputum smear negative. Four months later she had a relapse of sputum smear positive for pulmonary TB. She responded to the stoppage of drugs and oral/inj. Corticosteroids, antihistaminics and antibiotics.