old dietary regimen as a new lifestyle change for Gastro esophageal / reflux disease: a pilot study

Treatment of gastro esophageal reflux disease [GERD] is becoming a challenge for medical profession. Proton pump inhibitors [PPIs] are commonly recommended but many disadvantages of these drugs are being reported, particularly when used for long term. Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations [TLESRs] are important cause of acid reflux. Gastric distention in upper stomach is the strongest stimulus for generation of TLESRs and is aggravated by intake of food in between meals. In an earlier cases report, two meals a day with intake of only fluids in between was suggested as a remedy for GERD. Present pilot study was conducted on 20 patients with endoscopically proven reflux esophagitis [Los Angles Grade a, b or c], who followed our advice to take meal twice a day with consumption of only soft drinks [fruit juices, tea, coffee, water, etc] in between and no medication for two weeks. On 14[th] day 15 patients [75%] were free of reflux symptoms, 2 [10%] had partial improvement and 3 [15%] reported no difference. It is concluded that two meals a day with intake of only fluids in between, whenever the patient feels hungry or thirsty, is a useful dietary regimen for the management of GERD. Further investigations are needed to confirm the benefits of this physiological lifestyle change

effect of thymoquinone, an active component of Nigella sativa, on isoproterenol induced myocardial injury

Myocardial injury constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. Present study aimed to investigate protective role of thymoquinone, which is an active principle of Nigella sativa [N. sativa] seed [Commonly called as black seed], in isoproterenol induced myocardial injury, a classical example of excess catecholamines related coronary insufficiency and 'stress cardiomyopathy'. Thymoquinone, in olive oil, was administered orally [12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg] to three groups of Wistar albino rats for 7 days, while two control groups were given plain olive oil. Thereafter, thymoquinone receiving groups and one control group were injected, subcutaneously, with isoproterenol [125mg/kg] for 2 days. Myocardial injury was assessed by biochemical markers [plasma LDH, TBARS, GR and SOD and myocardial GSH/GSSG ratio] and cardiac histopathology. Plasma LDH, TBARS and GR increased in control groups receiving isoproterenol, while there was a dose related decrease in these markers in thymoquinone treated groups, down to levels in controls given olive oil only. Decrease in plasma SOD and myocardial GSH/GSSG ratio and histological changes produced with isoproternol were also reversed in thymoquinone treated rats. Results of our study revealed that thymoquinone protects the heart from injury induced by isoproterenol

Oral and intraperitoneal LD[50] of thymoquinone, an active principle of Nigella sativa, in mice and rats

Thymoquinone is the major active principle of Nigella saliva [N. sativa] and constitutes about 30% of its volatile oil or ether extract. N. sativa oil and seed are commonly used as a natural remedy for many ailments. Using modern scientific techniques, a number of pharmacological actions of N. sativa have been investigated including immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, antihistaminic, antiasthmatic, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and antiparasitic. There are only few reports regarding the toxicity of thymoquinone. The present study was carried out to determine LD[50] of thymoquinone both in mice and rats, orally as well as intraperitoneal, by the method of Miller and Tainter. Autopsy and histopathology of liver, kidney, heart and lungs were also determined. The LD[50] in mice after intraperitoneal injection was determined to be 104.7 mg/kg [89.7-119.7, 95% confidence interval] and after oral ingestion was 870.9 mg/kg [647.1-1094.8, 95% confidence interval]. Whereas, LD[50] in rats after intraperitoneal injection was determined to be 57.5 mg/kg [45.6-69.4, 95% confidence intervals] and after oral ingestion was 794.3 mg/kg [469.8-1118.8, 95% confidence intervals]. The LD[50] values presented here after intraperitoneal injection and oral gavages are 10-15 times and 100-150 times greater than doses of thymoquinone reported for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects. Thymoquinone is a relatively safe compound, particularly when given orally to experimental animals