Biochemical evaluation of multiple herbal treatments in alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar rats.

Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated with multiple herbal preparation besides a control group receiving distilled water. The levels of glucose and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased abnormally in the alloxan treated group and the same were normalized upon treatment with the herbal preparation. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), protein and albumin in all groups remained unaltered. However, weekly body weight gain which got significantly altered in the alloxan-treated group was normalized by treatment with the herbal preparation. On the whole, a profound hypoglycemic effect was observed by the multiple herbal treatment in the diabetic rats.

Retarding fluoride accumulation in Amaranthes viridis through liming and implications of phosphorous treatment.

With an objective to retard fluoride being taken up by the plants from soil, a study was carried out on Amaranthes viridis. Four groups of treatment were carried out vis-à-vis fluoride alone, fluoride and calcium, fluoride and phosphorous and fluoride, calcium and phosphorous together at three different concentration levels vis-à-vis 1, 10 and 25 mg/kg soil of each. Sampling was carried out first on day 45 and at the end of reproductive phase on leaf and seed for accumulation of fluoride in the plants. It was observed that fluoride accumulation in plants could be averted through soil amendment by calcium treatment in the form of calcium carbonate thereby reducing the risk of human and livestock exposure to abnormal levels of fluoride through food chain other than protecting plants from getting affected. At the same time, fertilizing the soil contaminated with fluoride by superphosphate would aggravate fluoride accumulation and exacerbate fluorosis problem in human and livestock through food chain. Therefore it is recommended to use acid water-soluble orthophosphate or anhydrous dicalcium phosphate or soluble pyrophosphate fertilizers as an alternative.

Implications of fluoride--an endless uncertainty.

Fluorosis has become pandemic and it has assumed global status in the public health point of view. The paper deals with the health issues pertaining to fluorosis with special emphasis in the Indian context. It explains the equivocal evidences of fluoride-related problems and discusses the control measures of fluorosis. In general, it reveals how fluoride is useful at very low concentrations and at the same time brings forth manifestation of clinical abnormalities at higher concentrations that are the basis of the principles of toxicology.