Ethnobotanical and phytopharmacological review of Scindapsus officinalis (“Gajapippali”)

Scindapsus officinalis (S. officinalis) holds a reputed position in Ayurvedic system of medicine. It has been ethanobotanically used to treat diarrhea (“atisara”), worm infestation (“krmiroga”), and as antipyretic. Literature survey on S. officinalis was carried out via electronic search in PubMed, SciFinder, Scirus, Google Scholar, Agricola and Web of Science and a library search. Results revealed that a very specific botanical description of the plant is still not available. The plant is mistaken within the hybrids and other plants of genus Scindapsus and family Araceae. Since ethnobotanically the plant is of much importance, chemistry of the plant yet needs to be fully explored. Thus the need of the hour is to comprehend the fragmented information available on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of S. officinalis which could help in the correct identification of the sample and avoid adulteration due to mistaken identity.

Bioavailability enhancers of herbal origin：An overview

Recently, the use of herbal medicines has been increased all over the world due to their therapeutic effects and fewer adverse effects as compared to the modern medicines. However, many herbal drugs and herbal extracts despite of their impressive in-vitro findings demonstrates less or negligible in-vivo activity due to their poor lipid solubility or improper molecular size, resulting in poor absorption and hence poor bioavailability. Nowadays with the advancement in the technology, novel drug delivery systems open the door towards the development of enhancing bioavailability of herbal drug delivery systems. For last one decade many novel carriers such as liposomes, microspheres, nanoparticles, transferosomes, ethosomes, lipid based systems etc. have been reported for successful modified delivery of various herbal drugs. Many herbal compounds including quercetin, genistein, naringin, sinomenine, piperine, glycyrrhizin and nitrile glycoside have demonstrated capability to enhance the bioavailability. The objective of this review is to summarize various available novel drug delivery technologies which have been developed for delivery of drugs (herbal), and to achieve better therapeutic response. An attempt has also been made to compile a profile on bioavailability enhancers of herbal origin with the mechanism of action (wherever reported) and studies on improvement in drug bioavailability, exhibited particularly by natural compounds.

Bioavailability enhancers of herbal origin: an overview

Recently, the use of herbal medicines has been increased all over the world due to their therapeutic effects and fewer adverse effects as compared to the modern medicines. However, many herbal drugs and herbal extracts despite of their impressive in-vitro findings demonstrates less or negligible in-vivo activity due to their poor lipid solubility or improper molecular size, resulting in poor absorption and hence poor bioavailability. Nowadays with the advancement in the technology, novel drug delivery systems open the door towards the development of enhancing bioavailability of herbal drug delivery systems. For last one decade many novel carriers such as liposomes, microspheres, nanoparticles, transferosomes, ethosomes, lipid based systems etc. have been reported for successful modified delivery of various herbal drugs. Many herbal compounds including quercetin, genistein, naringin, sinomenine, piperine, glycyrrhizin and nitrile glycoside have demonstrated capability to enhance the bioavailability. The objective of this review is to summarize various available novel drug delivery technologies which have been developed for delivery of drugs (herbal), and to achieve better therapeutic response. An attempt has also been made to compile a profile on bioavailability enhancers of herbal origin with the mechanism of action (wherever reported) and studies on improvement in drug bioavailability, exhibited particularly by natural compounds.

Comparison of fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profile changes after treatment with atypical antipsychotics olanzapine and risperidone

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to compare the effects of the two most commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotics, olanzapine and risperidone, on fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profile of the recipients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomised, comparative, open clinical study was conducted on 60 schizophrenic patients. The patients were divided into two groups, one receiving olanzapine and the other receiving risperidone. The patients were assessed for changes in fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profile (triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], very-low-density lipoprotein [VLDL] and total cholesterol) eight weeks after starting treatment. The number of patients positive for fasting blood sugar and lipid profile criteria of metabolic syndrome was calculated by applying the modified National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines (NCEP ATP III) criteria at eight weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients treated with olanzapine showed a highly significant increase in the observed parameters, whereas those treated with risperidone showed a significant increase in fasting blood sugar, HDL and LDL levels, and a highly significant increase in other parameters. Intergroup comparison was insignificant except for TG, VLDL and total cholesterol levels. More men as compared to women fulfilled the NCEP ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Olanzapine has a higher propensity to cause derangement of some parameters of lipid profile than risperidone. These parameters include TG, VLDL and total cholesterol levels.</p>