Diels-Alder Type Adducts from Hairy Root Cultures of Morus macroura

Three Diels-Alder type adducts, guangsangon E (1), chalcomoracin (2) and sorocein I (3) were isolated from hairy root cultures of Morus macroura. The structures of the isolated compounds (1 – 3) were determined by spectroscopic method (NMR and MS), and spectral comparison to literature. Cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds (1 – 3) were investigated against P-388 murine leukemia cell line. Guangsangon E (1) showed the most potent cytotoxicity against P-388 murine leukemia cell line with IC₅₀ value of 2.75 ± 0.32 µg/mL. To the best of our knowledge, guangsangon E (1) and sorocein I (3) were reported for the first time from the tissue cultures of M. macroura.

Therapeutic evaluation of a unani formulation in the management of seborrhoeic dermatitis

Apart from advancement in diagnosis and management of skin diseases, several problems are still having no radical cure in dermatology and seborrhoeic dermatitis is one of them. In Unani medicine, management of several diseases are described in accordance with its fundamental principle of Mijaz and Akhlat, and have very promising effect on such diseases. Musaffiyat are in fact the key tools for almost every skin disorder. Several Unani formulations are being used since ancient times without any known side effects. As our study is based on modern approach of diagnosis and management, the result may be considered as more promising

Clinical evaluation of Unani formulation in myocardial ischaemia

Coronary Artery Disease [CAD] plays a major role in mortality worldwide. Thus there is a great challenge before clinicians to find out safe and effective therapy. There are some Unani drugs like Badranjaboya, Balchar, Jadwar and Arjun whose efficacy is mentioned in Unani literature without any known side effect. A clinical trial of these drugs on 60 patients of ischaemia was carried out which were selected on the ground of clinical presentation, ECG findings and ventricular dyskinesia in 2D, M-mode echocardiography. Drugs were given in the powder form orally [10 gm powder in two divided doses], study duration was set for two months and efficacy of the formulation was evaluated following modern parameters

Effect of Indian squill [urginea indica kunth] in the management of congestive heart failure [CHF]

Chronic congestive heart failure is the potential end point of all forms of serious heart diseases which is accompanied by the symptoms and signs of pulmonary, hepatic and/or peripheral congestion. The drug squill possesses cardiotonic, stimulant, diuretic and expectorant properties The present study is an attempt to evaluate its clinical efficacy in the diagnosed cases of chronic congestive heart failure [CHF] in a dose of 10 ml twice a day in syrup form for 42 days. Its use has shown marked improvement in dyspnoea, dependent oedema, JVP, hepatomegaly, basal crepts and in other associated symptoms and signs without any significant side effect or impairment

Anticoagulant effect ofsome herbal drugs used inunani system of medicine

Atherosclerosis is the degenerative processaffecting all the sections of population of either sex, ageand socio-economic status. If the plaque is complicatedby blood clotting, it causes ischaemia and infarction ofthe tissues or organs, most vulnerable are heart andbrain. In the present [in vitro]study, twelve cardiotonicdrugs were selected which have been used by therenowned Unani physicians. The drugs were purchasedfrom Dawakhana Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, AligarhMuslim University, Aligarh and properly identified.All the drugs were powdered separately and theiraqueous solutions were prepared. Fresh human venousblood was mixed with them. Eight drugs prevented theclotting of blood in different concentrations so theywere identified as having anticoagulant effect. Neitherthe morphology of centrifuged blood cells was altered or hemolysis took place. The details are given in fulllength paper. Out of eight, details of four drugs arebeing given here

Clinical significance of P wave dispersion in prediction of atrial fibrillation in patients with acute myocardial infraction

P wave dispersion [PWD] is defined as the difference between the maximum P wave duration [Pmax] and the minimum P wave duration [Pmin] in 12-leads of the surface ECG. The aim of this study was to evaluate the values of PWD during atrial fibrillation [AF] after acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. We prospectively evaluated atrial rhythms of 350 patients [251 males, 99 females] at their first AMI. The measurements included left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] and left atrial dimensions [LAD] by means of echocardiography. On admission an ECG was obtained and repeated daily during hospitalization. Fifty patients had AF after AMI. Pmax was significantly higher [140.8 +/- 18.9 ms] among patients with AF than patients without AF [106.5 +/- 17.3 ms]. This was also true about Pmin [66.4 +/- 18.3 ms vs. 57.7 +/- 15.7 ms], PWD [74.4 +/- 20.6 ms vs. 48.7 +/- 18.9 ms] and LVEF [35.2 +/- 9.4% vs. 39.3 +/- 10.9%]. Whereas, there was no significant difference between the two groups in respect to LAD [36.5 +/- 7.4 mm vs. 35.1 +/- 5.9 mm] Based on the univariate analysis results, Pmin, Pmax, PWD, LVEF and age were significant predictors of atrial fibrillation in patients with first acute myocardial infarction. However, multivariate analysis failed to disclose such independent predictors for atrial fibrillation in these patients

Anti-coagulant effect of Chaal-e-Arjun [Terminalia arjuna] [In vitro study]

The bark of T. arjuna is in clinical use for the management of cardiovascular disorders in India. The objective of the study was to investigate its effect on the blood coagulation in vitro. The powder of the crude drug and aqueous extract in different concentrations inhibited the clotting of human blood in vitro. The probable mechanism is the chelation of Ca ion

Clinical evaluation of laoop-e-khiyar shamber in zeequn-nafas shobi [Bronchial asthma]

No doubt has the Unani system of medicine has a rich heritage of simple and compound formulations of various herb, mineral and animal drugs having both curative and preventive properties. Laooq-e-khiyar Shamber possesses potent broncho-dilatory and antitussive effects. Khiyar Shamber the pulp of well known medicinal plant Amaltas [Cassia fistula Lnn.] is said to beneficial in the said ailments. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the efficacy of above mentioned drug clinically in the doses of 10 gms. twice a day in the case of Bronchial Asthma for 4 weeks. The use of above drug has shown marked improvement in relieving cough and dysponea by expelling out phlegmatic humours from archeo-bronchial tree without any adverse effect

Pain and it's measurement

The word 'Pain' has originated from French as 'Peine' from Latin as 'Poene' and from Greek as 'Poine' all having a common meaning of penalty. It shows the ethical halo surrounding the concept of pain [Aring. 1958]

Antihypertensive effect of safoof khashkhash and sharbat bazoori moatadil in essential hypertension a clinical study

Sustained rise of systemic blood pressure beyond its normal limit is known as hypertension. It is classified into primary and secondary types. Primary hypertension whose cause is not definitely known, affects approximately 90% of the general population. Hence it is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Tremendous advancement in the understanding of its aetiopathogenesis and management has taken place in recent past. However, most of the drugs used are not without side effects. In the present study antihypertensive effect of Safoof Khashkhash and Sharbat Bazoori Moatadil [Unani Drugs Composition] has been observed in the cases of essential hypertension

Preliminary study of ustukhudus [lavandula stoechas, Linn] in iltihab-e-khaishoom muzmin [chronic sinusitis]

The clinical trial of the drug Ustukhudus was made on 198 patients of Iltihab-e-Khaishoom Muzmin [chronic sinusitis]. From the aforesaid observations, it has been found that when the drug is administered to the patients in the form of tablets [0.75 gm. each], 2 tablets three times daily for the period of three weeks continuously, the effect of the drug was found promising. The work is still under progress