effect of neem [Azadirachta indica] leaf extract and neem compound nimolicine on gastric acidity

This study has been conducted to look at the and acid effect of Neem and to compare the effect of leaf extract with the pure compound nimolicine on the gastric acidity. Nimolicine has been studied for its anti acid effect for the first time. Experimental study. This study was conducted in the department of Physiology, Baqai Medical College and the Department of Pharmacology in Baqai Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karachi. Ethanol induced gastric ulcers in albino rats were treated with methanolic neem leaf extract [800mg/day for 5 days] and nimolicine [1%/day for 3 days] and the gastric acid secretion was estimated. The control of the treated group was given peanut oil 1 ml/day for 5 days. The effect on gastric secretion was compared with the effect of anti-ulcer drugs cimetidine [50 mg/kg for 7-10 days] and omeperazole [2.5 mg/kg/day for 7-14 days]. Neem leaf extract is a better suppressor of H-ion secretion compared to nimolicine but both neem leaf extract and nimolicine did not show a significant suppression of acid compared to ranitidine and omeperazole. The comparison between control and ranitidine in suppression of acid was significant. Methanolic NLE and neem compound nimolicine do not decrease gastric acidity and their role as anti-ulcer agents may be because of other mechanisms which need to be studied

Anxiety disorder effects pulmonary functions in young healthy adults

Emotional upsets aggravate asthma. School going children are prone to asthmatic attacks during school examinations. It is recommended that stressful conditions must be avoided to prevent asthma. Socio Economical and psychological factors play an additional role. This study was conducted to explore the association between stress and asthma. The hypothesis was that stress alone may be responsible for a change in pulmonary functions. 28 normal and healthy adult medical students of both sexes who were non asthmatics were selected. A pre-examination and post examination pulmonary functions were compared to pulmonary function tests during examination. No significant statistical changes were seen in pulmonary function parameters. Further studies are required to find a balance between parasympathetic and functional sympathetic activity in relation to stress and emotional stimuli in asthmatic patients