ABSTRACT
Background: Vetiveria zizanioides (VZ) (family: Poaceae), an aromatic plant commonly known as “Vetiver” has been used for various ailments. Concerning the various ailments being listed as the traditional uses of VZ, no mention about anxiety and memory was found. Objective: The present study examined the anxiolytic and memory enhancing activity of ethanolic extract of V. zizanioides (EEVZ) dried roots in mice. Materials and Methods: Activity of EEVZ was assessed using models of anxiety (elevated plus‑maze [EPM], light/dark test, hole board test, marble‑burying test) and learning and memory (EPM, passive shock avoidance paradigm). Results: EEVZ at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg b.w. illustrated significant anxiolytic activity indicated by increase in time spent and number of entries in open arm, time spent in lightened area, number of head poking and number marble buried when compared to that of diazepam (1 mg/kg b.w.), a reference standard. The same treatment showed a significant decrease in transfer latency to reach open arm, shock‑free zone, and number of mistakes when compared to that of scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg b.w.). EEVZ in all the doses (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg b.w.) significantly decreased mortality in sodium nitrite (250 mg/kg b.w.) induced hypoxia and also significantly increases contraction induced by acetylcholine on rat ileum preparation. Conclusion: The result emanated in the present investigation revealed EEVZ possesses significant anxiolytic and nootropic activity by possibly interplaying with neurotransmitters implicated in anxiety and learning and memory.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem worldwide. Two deaths occur for every three minutes in India due to tuberculosis and two people become sputum positive for tuberculosis every minute. Designated Microscopic Centre (DMC) is the most peripheral laboratory unit under RNTCP catering to population of one lakh. Objective: To know the outcome of tuberculosis patients in terms of treatment success, cured, treatment completed, transferred out, died and defaulted among registered TB cases under DMC. Methodology: Five years’ secondary data about tuberculosis patients on DOTS under the Designated Microscopic Centre (DMC), Vantamuri (R) PHC, Belgaum from January 2008 to March 2013 was included. Total of 182 patients on DOTS, who were enrolled under Vantamuri (R) DMC during this period were included for data analysis. Revised International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD, 2001) definitions in tuberculosis control were used. Data was analysed using percentages. Results: Among 182 study participants, 105 patients (57.7%) were males and 77 (42.3%) were females. Overall treatment success rate was 90.7% among TB patients enrolled under Vantamuri (R) DMC. Conclusion: Males were affected more than females by TB. Eight out of ten TB patients were in the age group of 20-60 years. Study area DMC performed similar to national averages.