ABSTRACT
Background: Cardiotoxicity is one of the most feared side effects of anticancer agents like Doxorubicin. Asparagus racemosus is a widely used medicinal plant in Indian system of medicine known for its antioxidant activity. In certain studies ethanol extract of Asparagus racemosus has shown to possess cardioprotective activity in experimental animals while in some other studies cardioprotective potential of Asparagus racemosus has not been demonstrated. Therefore, due to the controversial action, the present study was designed to explore the cardioprotective effect of aqueous effect of Asparagus racemosus against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxity.Methods: Following approval from Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of L.L.R.M Medical College registered under CPCSEA, India, this study was conducted in which 30 rats were randomized into five groups of six rats each. Group I received 2 ml/kg b.w. normal saline p.o for 21 days, group II apart from receiving pellet diet and normal saline for 21 days were treated with Doxorubicin in a single dose of 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally on the 21st day, group III and group IV received aqueous extract of Asparagus racemosus in doses of 250 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day respectively p.o. for 21 days followed by administration of Doxorubicin (20 mg/kg i.p.) on the 21st day, Group V received Carvedilol in doses of 30 mg/kg/day p.o. for 21 days followed by administration of Doxorubicin (20mg/kg i.p) on the 21st day. Then they were anaesthetized and blood sample was collected from abdominal aorta for performing blood test i.e. Creatinine kinase MB fraction (CK-MB), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT). After blood collection the animals were sacrificed and heart was dissected out for histopathological study. The data obtained was organized and analysed by suitable statistical methods i.e. ANOVA followed by Post Hoc test.Results: CK-MB, LDH, SGOT and SGPT levels were found to be significantly raised (p<0.001) in Doxorubicin treated group. Asparagus racemosus pretreated groups exhibited significant limitation (p<0.001) in rise in levels of CK-MB,LDH,SGOT and SGPT levels in a dose dependent manner following Doxorubicin administration which were comparable to the group treated with the standard cardioprotective drug Carvedilol. Histopathological changes further corroborated cardioprotective potential of Asparagus racemosus.Conclusions: The present study concluded that aqueous extract of Asparagus racemosus possess cardioprotective potential against Doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity.
ABSTRACT
Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are an important cause of mortality and morbidity and constitute an enormous burden on the society. Many studies have implicated that the antibiotics are among the major group of drugs, which cause adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This Retrospective, non- interventional study was undertaken in Medicine and Pediatrics unit from November 2013 to April 2014 to monitor the adverse drug reactions of antibiotics prescribed by physicians and pediatricians in a tertiary care hospital, Ghaziabad, to establish ten most common antibiotics which caused ADRs, to determine most commonly affected organ system and assess their causality. A total of 126 ADRs were identified in 80 patients, out of which 42(52.5%) occurred in male patients and 38(47.5%) in female patients. The age wise distribution revealed that adult patients showed more incidence of ADRs 46(57.5%), followed by children 26(32.5%) and Geriatrics 8(10%). GIT 28(22.2%) was the most affected organ system by Adverse Drug Reactions due to antibiotics followed by the Respiratory system 26 (20.63%), Skin 23(18.25%), CVS 17 (13.5%), CNS 12(9.52%), Musculo-skeletal system 10(7.93%), Urinary System 8 (6.35%) and Haemopoietic Disorders 2 (1.58%). Maximum ADRs were reported with Beta-Lactams class 51 (40.4%) followed by Aminoglycosides 29(23.01%), Quinolones 20(15.8%), Others 16 (12.69%) and Macrolides 10(7.93%), . Antibiotics comprise the major volume of the drug family and inpatient prescriptions and thus are the most irrationally prescribed. So implementation of antibiotic guideline policy for the hospitals and strict adherence to it should be ensured to promote their rational and safe use. Also health system needs to promote spontaneous reporting of ADRs detected in clinical practice to Regional Pharmacovigilance centers.