Fate of B-asarone in Ayurvedic Sodhana process of Vacha-asarone in Ayurvedic Sodhana process of Vacha.

Background: Calamus (Acorus calamus Linn., Araceae) rhizome synonymously called sweet fl ag or Vacha is an aromatic herb indigenous to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. It has been used by the Ayurvedic practitioners since time immemorial for diseases ranging from weakness of memory to being used as an anthelminthic. Reports of its use have been found in books like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, etc., The major constituent of the oil of Vacha is a phenyl propanoid called -asarone, which is reported to show carcinogenic properties. Due to the toxic effects of -asarone, sodhana prakriya (detoxifi cation process) has been prescribed for Vacha before its inclusion in the Ayurvedic medicines. Shodhanaprakriya (S.prakriya) of Vacha has been mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts. Objectives: This study was undertaken with an aim to fi nd out the mechanism involved in the S. prakriya of Vacha and also to suggest an alternate method for the conventional one. Materials and Methods: The conventional method was studied in the laboratory and equivalent alternate methods were designed based on the mechanism involved. Vacha samples were subjected to the conventional method as well as the alternate methods and the content of -asarone in the different samples was monitored using Gas Chromatography technique. Results: Various alternate methods have been devised based on the mechanism involved in the S. prakriya which have given results comparable with those of the conventional method. Conclusion: The scientifi c mechanism involved in the S.prakriya of Vacha has been established and alternate methods have been proposed.

In vitro effect of some Indian honeys on Staphylococcus aureus from wounds.

Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated pathogen from wounds with multiple resistances to antibiotics. Honey has been demonstrated and reported to be effective antibacterial agent on Gram positive and Gram negative organisms. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of Indian honeys on Staphylococcus aureus obtained from wounds. A total of 123 Staphylococcus aureus isolates along with ATCC 25923 were categorized as sensitive, multi drug resistant (MDR) and non-MDR strains. Out of total nine Indian honeys (three each of unifloral, multifloral and branded marketed honey) used, three unifloral and three multifloral honey samples showed antibacterial activity against all the organisms tested by Agar diffusion method but not the branded marketed honeys. The MIC values of all honey samples for all studied Staphylococcus aureus isolates ranged between 5-15% (v/v). Unifloral honey samples showed higher antibacterial activity than multifloral honey. The single sample of Jambhul honey showed the highest activity. Thus, Indian honeys were found to be effective for their antimicrobial activity on sensitive, non-MDR, MDR and ATCC strains of S. aureus.

In vitro antioxidant studies of Sphaeranthus indicus (Linn).

The free radical scavenging potential of the plant S. indicus was studied by using different antioxidant models of screening. The ethanolic extract at 1000 microg/ml showed maximum scavenging of the radical cation, 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) observed upto 41.99% followed by the scavenging of the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) (33.27%), superoxide dismutase (25.14%) and nitric oxide radical (22.36%) at the same concentration. However, the extract showed only moderate scavenging activity of iron chelation (14.2%). Total antioxidant capacity of the extract was found to be 160.85 nmol/g ascorbic acid. The results justify the therapeutic applications of the plant in the indigenous system of medicine, augmenting its therapeutic value.

A study of autologous melanocyte transfer in treatment of stable vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Replenishing melanocytes selectively in vitiliginous macules by autologous melanocytes is a promising treatment. With expertise in culturing melanocytes, it has now become possible to treat larger recipient areas with smaller skin samples. AIM: To study the extent of repigmentation after autologous melanocyte transplantation in patients with stable vitiligo. METHODS: The melanocytes were harvested as an autologous melanocyte rich cell suspension from a donor split thickness graft. Melanocyte culture was performed in selected cases where the melanocyte cell count was insufficient to meet the requirement of the recipient area. These cells were then transplanted to the recipient area that had been superficially dermabraded. RESULTS: An excellent response was seen in 52.17% cases with the autologous melanocyte rich cell suspension (AMRCS) technique and in 50% with the melanocyte culture (MC) technique. CONCLUSION: Autologous melanocyte transplantation can be an effective form of surgical treatment in stable but recalcitrant lesions of vitiligo.