homeostasis boosting effects of curcuma longa in nitro-methane sulfonamide induced hepatic stress in male albino wistar rats

Objective: To observe the protective effect of Curcuma Longa in Nitro-Methane Sulfonamide induced hepatotoxicity

Study design: Experimental Case Control Study

Place and duration: Departments of Physiology and Postgraduate Research Lab of ISRA University Hyderabad, from 1st June 2012 to 31st December 2012

Methodology: 40 male albino Wistar rats were equally divided into four groups of 10 each. Group A used as the control group and was fed the normal rat chow for 09 days. Group B was fed with Nitro-Methane sulfonamide for 09 days followed by Curcuma Longa for next 09 days. Group C was given Curcuma Longa for 09 days followed by Nitro-Methanesulfonamide for next 09 days. Group D was given Nitro-Methane sulfonamide in combination with Curcuma Longa for 09 days. After 24 hours of feeding, blood samples from groups A and D were taken from dorsal vein in the tail of rats for biochemical analysis of serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP and a-GT at days 01 and 09 and for groups B and C blood samples were collected at day 01, day 09 and day 18

Results: The analysis showed that prevention from the Nitro-Methane sulfonamide induced hepatotoxicity by the Curcuma Longa administration was observed after 18 days with a p value < 0.012, and Pearson's correlation for regression at - 0.06 and -0.07

Conclusion: The results have clearly proven that Curcuma Longa in powdered form as used in the daily diet in our part of world acts as a homeostatic booster against a huge variety of stressors especially "over the counter" drug induced hepatic stresses

Back to the basics: neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in peripheral blood smear predicts morbidity/mortality in patients of acute M.I. following the index event

Objectives: To find out the simple, economical and diagnostic test for detecting Acute Myocardial Infraction [AMI] at distant areas

Study Design: Cross sectional study

PLACE AND DURATION: Six months

Methodology: 03 ml of blood sample was collected from 140 patients presenting to the Emergency /Coronary Care Units of hospitals viz Isra University Hyderabad, Red Crescent Hyderabad and Civil Hospital Hyderabad. The slides were prepared and white blood cells were counted microscopically at Post Graduate laboratory of Isra University Hyderabad

Results: In present study Neutrophil/Lymphocyte [N/L] ratio was observed and compared in both subjects [cardiac and non-cardiac]

The N/L ratio was found to be normal in non-cardiac patients but was significantly raised in patients with myocardial infarction

Especially in Acute Myocardial Infarction with ST segment elevation [AMI-STE] in comparison to Acute Myocardial Infarction with non STsegment elevation [AMI-NSTE] was also observed [p< 0.001]

Conclusion: The N/L ratio was significantly raised in patients with AMI suggesting an additional diagnostic parameter for AMI at primary health care units

Therapeutic effect of aloe vera leaf on rabbit skin wound healing

Objectives: To observe and assess the efficacy of Aloe Vera extract on skin wound healing

Study Design: Analytic and experimental

Place And Duration: Departments of Physiology, Pathology and Postgraduate Research Lab of ISRA University Hyderabad, from June 2011 to December 2011

Methodology: 20 millimeter long cuts were made over the back of 18 rabbits. The rabbits were divided into three groups A,B and C, each comprising 06 numbers, and treated daily for 11 days with Xylo Aid, mixture of Xylo Aid and Alo Vera extract and Aloe Vera extract, and marked blue, black and green respectively. Taking the operation day as zero, 3 rabbits were sacrificed after 24 hours and then alternatively till the llth post-operative day. The entire wound area along with 4-5 mm of the surrounding skin was excised and fixated in 10% formaldehyde, after processing sections were made stained with Hand E and observed under microscope, the fibroblasts were counted to see the quality of wound healing, keeping group A as control the results were tabulated

Results: Visual observation showed that by llth day post wounding the recovery was 75% approximately with Aloe Vera extract application, 50% and 30% was observed with mixture application and Xylo Aid respectively

Conclusion: Aloe Vera application for 11 days on rabbit skin wound showed better healing process in comparison to mixture and Xylo Aid

Ash as a unique natural medicine for wound healing

The use of ashes as a natural medicine for wound healing was evaluated in surgically induced wounds in the rabbit skin wound model. Ashes were prepared from dried buffalo dung, wood, and charcoal and their contents were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Each type of ashes was used as an experimental application on surgically induced skin wounds in the rabbit; an antibacterial ointment was used as a control. The healing results were evaluated over approximately 13 days. Consistent healing was observed in all the experimental wound sites, which was comparatively more rapid than the control wound site. The healing was deemed complete on eleventh day only with charcoal ash whereas for dung-cake ash and wood ash, the completion time was approximately 13 days. Ashes have unique properties to influence and enhance safe and sepsis-free wound healing in the rabbit skin wound model

potential of the crude snake venom in treatment of human breast cancer with and without combination of Anticancer drugs

Clinical usefulness of the snake venom has been worked out since the last many decades to treat blood pressure, cancer of breast, ovary and etc. we wanted to evaluate the effect of natural compounds of cobra snake venom in vitro on nucleic acid in normal and breast cancer tissues in combination with and without anticancer drugs. Surgically removed tissue from cancerous and non cancerous of same human breast were homogenized and extraction of nucleic acids were prepared. All homogenate samples were incubated with and without snake venom and antineoplastic drugs [Cyclophosophamide and Mitomycin-C] for 30 min at 37 °C and measured at 490 m micro for DNA and at 660 m micro for RNA by spectrophotometer [Sspectron-21[R]]. The effect of the snake venom was compared singly as well as in combination with the two chemotherapeutic agents viz mitomycin-C [an antibiotic] and Cyclophosophamide [an alkylating agent] on the nucleic acids [RNA and DNA]. In human breast cancer tissue shows significant reduction in nucleic acids contains when treated with venom [25 micro g/ml] in combination and compared with singly use anticancer drugs. Cyclophosophamide and Mitomycin produced some effect in human breast tissue at 10 micro g/ml on the DNA only for short time and eventually destroyed. However snake venom does have potential and is more effective with or without anticancer drugs on both nucleic acids [RNA and DNA] suggests wide range of receptors to act. Both drugs could not produce inhibition or potentiating effect on normal and cancerous tissues in vitro by all different doses. Anticancer drugs [Cyclophosophamide and Mitomycin-C], specific medicines for solid tumour [Ca. Breast] used in this study showed no significant reduction at the same dose of snake venom [25 micro g/ml] in vitro in comparison to snake venom. However drugs at 10 micro g/ml has shown some effect on the DNA but only for short time and possibly, eventually are destroyed. However significant and promising anticancer effect of snake venom seems to have a better future as an alternative. None toxic dose of snake venom affects on both DNA and RNA

Effect of exercise on blood parameters

Exercise induces physiological stress on the body and brings the changes in the interior milieu. The aim of present study was to observe changes induced by moderate exercise in haematological parameters of our young healthy population. This study was carried out at Department of Physiology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. Eighty-eight [88] students were included. Estimation of haemoglobin, total white blood cells count, differential leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and blood pressure [BP] were carried out before and after standard exercise [30 minutes jogging] The mean age of the subjects was 23.32 years. In total sample before exercise the mean systolic and diastolic BP were 118.64 mm Hg and 77.59 mm Hg respectively, ESR was 10.86 mm/l[st] Hr, WBC count 6390.59/mm[3], and Hb was 12.38 g%, while after exercise the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 139.55 mm Hg and 110.91 mm Hg respectively, ESR was 10.86 mm/l[st] Hr, WBC count was 12488.86, and Hb was 12.37 g%. The same parameters for female subjects before and after exercise were mean systolic and diastolic BP, ESR, WBC count and Hb were 118.57 mm Hg, 77.5 mm Hg, 10.79 mm/l[st] Hr, 5994.5/mm[3] and 10.96 g% respectively, while after exercise the same were 139.29 mm Hg, 114.29 mm Hg, 10.79 mm/l[st] Hr, 11775.36/mm[3] and 10.96 g% respectively. In male subjects before exercise systolic and diastolic blood pressure, ESR, WBC count and Hb were 118.75 mm Hg, 77.75 mm Hg, 9.63 mm/l[st] Hr, 7083.75/mm[3] and 14.84 g% respectively. After exercise the same were 140 mm Hg, 105 mm Hg, 9.63 mm/l[st] Hr, 13737.5/mm3 and 14.84 g% respectively. Exercise stress leads to significant increase in total white blood cell counts in both male and female subjects

Invitro crude cobra snake venom significantly decreases the production of RNA and DNA in breast cancerous tissue

Crude cobra snake venom at the rate of 25 micro g / ml reduces nucleic acids production in human breast cancerous tissue invitro. It suggests an ideal model for examining the anticancer activity and could be a better substitute in comparison to presently available anti tumour drugs, for therapeutic use in breast cancer in future

Effect of snake venom on nucleic acids and total proteins in various normal and cancerous animal tissues

Venoms have occasional medical uses. This study was carried out to determine effect of cobra snake venom on nucleic acid and total proteins in various normal and cancerous animal tissues. In this in vitro study the venom with varying concentrations was incubated with homogenates of liver, heart and kidney of normal tissues. Reduction in RNA / DNA levels was observed. Our results indicate that nucleic acids are more sensitive. However the effect of snake venom on normal skin tissue was insignificant when compared with cancerous tissue. The dose response curve shows that the lowest concentration of venom at 25 micro g / ml [a survival dose] produced maximum inhibition of both nucleic acids. The opposite and linear response was observed in protein contents. It can be assumed from the present study that the venom might have therapeutic effect at a dose of 25 micro g /ml in cancerous tissues