ABSTRACT
Marking nut Semecarpus anacardium, so-called because it contains a pigment that has been used in the past to mark fabrics, is a known cause of contact hypersensitivity. It may be ingested as an ingredient of some traditional Hindi foods. We describe the first reported case of anaphylaxis to marking nut.
Subject(s)
Anaphylaxis , Dermatitis, Contact , Hypersensitivity , Nuts , SemecarpusABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the protective effect of the drug Semecarpus anacardium (S. anacardium)on altered glucose metabolism in diabetic rats.@*METHODS@#Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by feeding rats with high fat diet followed by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg b.w.). Seven days after STZ induction, diabetic rats received nut milk extract of S. anacardium Linn. nut milk extract orally at a dosage of 200 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks. The effect of nut milk extract of S. anacardium on blood glucose, plasma insulin, glucose metabolising enzymes and GSK were studied.@*RESULTS@#Treatment with SA extract showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and increase in plasma insulin levels and also increase in HOMA - β and decrease in HOMA -IR. The drug significantly increased the activity of glycolytic enzymes and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and increased the glycogen content in liver of diabetic rats while reducing the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes. The drug also effectively ameliorated the alterations in GSK-3 mRNA expression.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Overall, the present study demonstrates the possible mechanism of glucose regulation of S. anacardium suggestive of its therapeutic potential for the management of diabetes mellitus.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Blood Glucose , Metabolism , Carbohydrate Metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental , Blood , Drug Therapy , Metabolism , Diet, High-Fat , Gene Expression , Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 , Genetics , Metabolism , Glycolysis , Homeostasis , Insulin , Blood , Insulin Resistance , Insulin-Secreting Cells , Nuts , Chemistry , Plant Extracts , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Semecarpus , ChemistryABSTRACT
Traditionally S. anacardium is used for rejuvenation, rheumatoid arthritis, fever and neurological disorders. In the present study it was observed that a fraction of S. anacacrdium at dose of 1 mg/100 g body wt, significantly reduced serum cholesterol from 378.87 mg/dl in the rats fed with atherogenic diet (AD) to 197.99 mg/dl (45-52%) in the rats fed with AD diet and increased serum HDL-cholesterol (33-37%). The same fraction also inhibited LPS induced NO production in the culture activated rat peritoneal macrophages in the dose dependent manner with IC50 value at 50 ng/ml of the culture medium. The drug in the above doses was completely safe and non-toxic, (no change in the enzymes), to liver and kidney functions.
Subject(s)
Animals , Hypolipidemic Agents/pharmacology , Cell Division/drug effects , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol, HDL/metabolism , Diet, Atherogenic , Kidney/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/antagonists & inhibitors , Liver Function Tests , Macrophages, Peritoneal/drug effects , Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors , Nuts , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rats , Semecarpus/chemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the effect of an ethanolic extract of Semecarpus anacardium fruits on spermatogenesis in albino rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male albino rats were fed with a 50 % ethanolic extract of Semecarpus anacardium fruit at 100 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), 200 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) and 300 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) for 60 days. Fertility test was performed after 60 days of treatment. Sperm motility and density were observed in the cauda epididymis. Biochemical and histological analyses of the blood and reproductive organs were done. Recovery of fertility was followed to evaluate the reversibility of drug action.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>S. anacardium fruit extract administration resulted in spermatogenic arrest in albino rats. The sperm motility and density was reduced significantly. The RBC and WBC counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood sugar and urea were found to be within the normal range in the whole blood. The protein, cholesterol and glycogen in the testes and the fructose in the seminal vesicle were significantly decreased after the treatment. The fruit extract feeding caused marked reduction in the number of primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. The number of mature Leydig cells was also decreased and degenerating cells increased proportionately.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>S. anacardium fruit extract causes spermatogenic arrest in albino rats.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Cell Count , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Leydig Cells , Cell Biology , Plant Extracts , Pharmacology , Semecarpus , Chemistry , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility , Spermatogenesis , Testis , Cell Biology , MetabolismABSTRACT
Alcoholic extract of dry nuts of S. anacardium showed dose dependent antifungal activity in vitro against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. At 400 mg/ml concentration, growth of both the fungi was inhibited and considerable reduction in size of cells and hyphae was observed. Sporulation also decreased.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Aspergillus nidulans/drug effects , Candida albicans/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , SemecarpusSubject(s)
Psychic Symptoms , Semecarpus , Anhalonium lewinii , Argentum Nitricum , Camphora , Cannabis , Cocainum Hydrochloricum , Datura stramonium , Hura brasiliensis , PlatinumABSTRACT
O autor considera que o termo "miasma", desde Hahnemannate nossos dias, tem sido empregado de forma inconveniente e geradora de confusao entre os homeopatas, propondo, por isso, o seu abandono. Discute tambem aspectos ligados ao poder do medicamento, livre arbitrio, supressao e dinamica miasmatica, temas que julga estarem sujeitos, igualmente, a conceituacoes inadequadas no meio homeopatico