ABSTRACT
Syzygium cumini or Eugenia Jambolana Lam is a traditional medicinal plant very native to the Indian and Asian sub-continent. It is commonly known as black plum or jamun. Various plants parts of the tree are known for ethno-medicinal uses, and in particular, the fruits of Jamun tree are well known for medicinal uses and preparation of health drinks. Studies have shown that the berries contain carbohydrates, minerals and the pharmacologically active phytochemicals. The active phytochemical includes flavonoids, terpenes, and anthocyanins. Ayurvedic and Indian Folk Medicine have already mentioned the use of jamun for diabetic treatment even before the advent of insulin. The bark, fruit pulp, seeds and the leaves are evaluated in the crude form as well as extracts in various diabetic models. Further, bioactive phytochemicals are extracted using in vitro assays, some of them such as vitalboside-A, mycominose are also characterized with spectroscopic analysis. This review article is intended to compile Syzygium cumini’s therapeutic potential with special emphasis on the phytochemical constituents and its pharmacological activities related to diabetic intervention through recent studies conducted in last one decade. It also addresses the clinical and toxicological studies.
ABSTRACT
Background: Despite advances in symptom management, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains one of the most dreadful consequences of cancer therapy.Methods: The study was carried out at Medical Oncology Department, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore. Hundred and forty-four cancer patients of either sex, aged 18-65 years with adequate blood counts requiring moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) as per Hesketh classification were included. The patients were prospectively divided into two groups before the initial cycle of chemotherapy. Patients in Group A (n=71) received ondansetron, and dexamethasone along with aprepitant capsules, Whereas, Group B (n=73) received palonosetron, and dexamethasone along with placebo capsules, 30 minutes before chemotherapy. Thereafter the patients were administered with the drugs and observed for nausea and vomiting. The efficiency of both regimens was assessed by adopting validated functional living index emesis (FLIE) questionnaire. Analysis of the data was done using the SPSS 21.0 software.Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.5 years and the male to female ratio was 1:2.4. In all the patients, no changes were detected in the ECG readings after MEC. The nausea and vomiting score were comparable in both groups. No significant difference (p>0.05) was noticed between group A and group B in both mm and in FLIE points. No serious adverse events were found relating to antiemetic treatment.Conclusions: Palonosetron in combination with corticosteroids was non inferior to ondansetron in combination with aprepitant and corticosteroids in controlling acute and delayed stages of CINV in patients requiring MEC. Thus, it can be recommended as first-line therapy for patients treated with MEC.
ABSTRACT
Research Ethics Committees (RECs) are responsible for the protection of patients’ rights and wellbeing. In this paper, we describe the findings of a survey of ethics committee members in a south Indian state. 29 members of 11 RECs responded to a questionnaire of 56 questions on their knowledge of and attitudes towards ethics review and the practices of the RECs to which they belonged