ABSTRACT
Background: Allergic rhinitis is a ubiquitous aliment affecting a large population of individuals. The mainstay of treatment includes antihistamines and topical steroids. With a large assortment available, the choice of the drugs needs to be non-random and evidenced based. Hence this study was undertaken to compare Levocetrezine and Ebastine in terms of efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness in treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with allergic rhinitis were categorized into two groups and treated with Levocetrizine 5mg and Ebastine 20mg per day respectively. Severity of the symptoms at the commencement and at the end of second and the fourth weeks of therapy were assessed using a four-point Likert scale and assigning a Total Nasal Symptoms Score (TNSS). The primary efficacy measure was mean change from baseline TNSS at each follow up visit. Change in TNSS was compared using Independent sample test. Adverse effects in both the groups were compared using Chi square test. Cost effectiveness was inferred by calculation of the Average Cost Effectiveness Ratio.Results: A total of 159 patients 84 from Levocetrizine group (L group) and 75 from the Ebastine group (E group) were available for study. At the end of second week, the E group showed a better reduction in TNSS(p-0.04). However, both the groups showed similar reduction in TNSS at the concluding visit (p-value of 0.09). The incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher in the L than in E. Levocetrezine was found to be more cost effective than Ebastine.Conclusions: Levocterezine and Ebastine are equally efficacious in treatment of allergic rhinitis. Hence treatment will have to be personalized to the individual patients based on other factors such as adverse drug effects and cost effectiveness.
ABSTRACT
Background: The plant Michelia champaca (MC) is widely used in the treatment of inflammation, constipation, dysmenorrhea, ulcers, wounds, fever, and cough. The aim was to evaluate the wound healing property of ethanolic extract of MC flowers in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Methods: Wound healing activity was assessed by incision and excision wound models. Five groups of n=6 rats and n=14 rats were used for incision and excision wound models, respectively. Group I rats, non-diabetic control and Group II rats diabetic control, received 1 ml of 0.5% caboxymethylcellolose, which was used to prepare a suspension of ethanolic extracts of MC. Group III, IV and V rats were given MC extract the suspension of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg respectively. Parameters observed were breaking strength of incision wound and wound contraction, epithelialization, hydroxyproline content of excision wound respectively. Results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: Breaking strength, rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content were significantly increased, and the period of epithelialization was significantly reduced in Group IV and V rats respectively. Conclusion: Oral administration of ethanolic extract of MC promotes wound healing in diabetic rats. Hence, further study in humans is suggested.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The study was carried out toevaluate whether moxifloxacin can cause anxiety in rats.Materials and Methods: Elevated plus maze and open field test were used to assess the anxiogenic activity of moxifloxacin. Four groups of rats were treated orally with distilled water (10 ml/kg), levofloxacin (40 mg/kg) andmoxifloxacin (36 mg/kg and 72 mg/kg), respectively. The time spent, number of entries, rears in the arms of the elevated plus maze and central and peripheral areas in the open fieldwere observed. Results: Moxifloxacin (both doses) significantly increased (P<0.05) the time spent in the closed arms of elevated plus maze and significantly decreased (P<0.05) the time spent in the open arms of the elevated maze and central area in the open field as compared to control. The number of entries in the central area was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in moxifloxacin and levofloxacin treated rats. The number of rearings was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in both arms of the elevated plus maze and peripheral areas of open field in moxifloxacin and levofloxacin treated groups. Conclusion:Moxifloxacin produced anxiogenic activity in wistarrats.
ABSTRACT
Alcoholic extract of Kaempferia galanga was tested for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities in animal models. Three doses, 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg of the plant extract prepared as a suspension in 2 ml of 2% gum acacia were used. Acute and sub acute inflammatory activities were studied in rats by carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma models respectively. In both models, the standard drug used was aspirin 100 mg/kg. Two doses 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg of plant extract exhibited significant (P<0.001) antiinflammatory activity in carrageenan model and cotton pellet granuloma model in comparison to control. Analgesic activity was studied in rats using hot plate and tail-flick models. Codeine 5 mg/kg and vehicle served as standard and control respectively. The two doses of plant extract exhibited significant analgesic activity in tail flick model (P<0.001) and hot plate model (P<0.001) in comparison to control. In conclusion K. galanga possesses antiinflammatory and analgesic activities.