Beneficial health effects of rutin supplementation in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Flavonoids, dietary antioxidant compounds may offer some protection against earlystage diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of rutin on overall health of patients with diabetes mellitus. The effects of rutin were tested by using it as a supplement with their regular medications. The total trial period was of 120 days conducted with a gap of 30 days each. It consisted of 30 patients aging between 40-50 years, having diabetes mellitus since last 5 years. These patients were given Rutin Tablets for 60 days. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressures, lipid profile, serum urea and creatinine, electrolytes, SGOT (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured at baseline and then after every 30 days. Rutin tablets were stopped for next 60 days. All of above parameters were again measured on 90th and 120th day. The results showed that rutin decreased the levels of FBS, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HDL, Serum Urea and creatinine significantly (P<0.05), whereas significant increase (P<0.05) in TGL, HDL, VLDL were seen. Decrease in the level of SGOT, SGPT, ALP and BMI is not significant.

Nanoparticle: An overview of preparation and characterization (2000-2010).

In recent years, there has been an exponential interest in the development of novel drug delivery systems using nanoparticles. Nanoparticles can offer significant advantages over the conventional drug delivery in terms of high stability, high specificity, high drug carrying capacity, ability for controlled release, possibility to use in different route of administration and the capability to deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drug molecules. This review focuses on classification, methods of preparation, characterisation, application, advantages of nanoparticles and health perspectives.

Per oral extended release products -An overview.

The use of extended-release products offers some potential advantages in patient convenience, compliance and therapeutic outcomes. However, the range of drugs for which clinically significant advantages have been shown is limited. Prescribers and pharmacists should be aware of these products and have knowledge of their clinical use in selected patient groups. In some instances, the formulation is probably serving a marketing objective rather than a clinical objective.

In vivo antioxidant and lipid peroxidation effect of methanolic extract of tuberous root of Ipomoea digitata (Linn) in rat fed with high fat diet.

The study was carried out to determine the in vivo antioxidant and lipid peroxidation effect of methanolic extract of tuberous root of Ipomoea digitata (Linn). High fat diet rats showed significantly (P<0.001) reduced the levels of tissues enzymatic antioxidant and enhanced the level of non enzymatic antioxidant (Glutathione). The level of TBARS are elevated in HFD rats (group II) when compared with control group. High fat diet induces the oxidative stress in cell by producing reactive oxygen species. Administration of methanolic extract of Ipomoea digitata in high fat diet rats were showed increased the levels of antioxidant Enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione reductase (GR) and reduced the level of non enzymatic antioxidant Glutathione (GSH) when compared with HFD rats (Group II). The methanolic extract Ipomoea digitata in high fat diet rats were found lowered the concentration of TBARS when compared with HFD rats. Based on the results, we concluded that the methanolic extract of Ipomoea digitata is a significant source of natural antioxidant, which might be helpful in preventing the progress of various oxidative stresses.

Studies on community knowledge and behavior following a dengue epidemic in Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India

In 2001, a major dengue outbreak was recorded in Chennai city, with 737 cases (90%) out of a total of 861 cases recorded from Tamil Nadu state. A KAP survey was carried out to assess the community knowledge, attitude and practice on dengue fever (DF), following the major dengue outbreak in 2001. A pre- tested, structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The multistage cluster sampling method was employed and 640 households (HHs) were surveyed. Among the total HHs surveyed, 34.5% of HHs were aware of dengue and only 3.3% of HHs knew that virus is the causative agent for DF. Majority of the HHs (86.5%) practiced water storage and only 3% of them stored water more than 5 days. No control measures were followed to avoid mosquito breeding in the water holding containers by majority of HHs (65%). Sixty percent of HHs did not know the biting behaviour of dengue vector mosquitoes. The survey results indicate that the community knowledge was very poor on dengue, its transmission, vector breeding sources, biting behavior and preventive measures. The lack of basic knowledge of the community on dengue epidemiology and vector bionomics would be also a major cause of increasing trend of dengue in this highly populated urban environment. There is an inevitable need to organize health education programmes about dengue disease to increase community knowledge and also to sensitize the community to participate in integrated vector control programme to resolve the dengue problem.

Natural vertical transmission of dengue viruses by Aedes aegypti in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Dengue viruses are spread and maintained in an Aedes aegypti-human- Ae. aegypti cycle in urban areas of the tropics. Dengue viruses are also maintained in nature by vertical transmission by Ae. aegypti. A study was undertaken in Chennai, a known endemic city in south India, to comprehend the natural vertical transmission dynamics in Ae. aegypti and to assess its epidemiological importance. METHODS: Ae. aegypti males collected in resting and landing collections were tested for dengue virus infection by antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and further examined by insect bioassay, Toxorhynchites splendens inoculation-indirect immunofluorescence technique (Toxo-IFA) using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), if found positive by ELISA. RESULTS: Of the 509 pools of Ae. aegypti males (n=5408) screened, 15 pools, collected in April, June- July, November-December in 2003 and March, May in 2004, were found positive for dengue virus infection and the minimum infection rate (MIR) among adult males was high in June 2003 (28.0/ 1000). Three positive pools could be serotyped as dengue-2 (2 pools) and dengue-3 (1 pool). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Dengue virus isolations from wild caught males of Ae. aegypti indicate the occurrence of transovarial transmission. Vertical transmission was mainly observed in summer months when dengue infections in humans were low suggesting that dengue viruses adopt a novel strategy of surviving adverse climatic conditions.

Investigation on the effect of eclipta alba on animal models of learning and memory.

Short and long term memory loss may result from deteriorating cerebral mechanisms due to varied causes which could have a tremendous impact on the quality of life. Herbs are being constantly explored to resolve cognitive deficits. Eclipta alba (Ea) commonly called as the trailing Eclipta is being examined for its memory enhancing quality as it is traditionally used for this purpose. The shade dried leaves of Eclipta alba was extracted with distilled water. The suspension of Ea containing 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered to rats to evaluate Transfer Latency (TL) on an elevated plus maze. TL was a measure of acquisition and retrieval learning. Mice were placed at the center of open field apparatus to assess spatial habitual learning, observed for 20 minutes for rearing and time spent during rearing using varied doses for 30 minutes, 24 hours and 96 hours and 144 hrs. The results revealed significant improvement of retrieval memory.

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory; Antinociceptive and Antipyretic Effects of Methanol Extract of Cleome Chelidonii

The methanol extract of Cleome chelidonii whole plant was investigated for its anti-inflammatory; antinociceptive and antipyretic activities at the doses of 50; 100 and 200 mg/kg of body weight. The experimental paradigms used were carrageenan-induced pedal edema for anti-inflammatory activity; acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate methods to assess antinociceptive activity and yeast-induced hyperpyrexia to evaluate the antipyretic activity. In acute phase inflammation; at dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight after 3 hours treatment with methanol extract of C. chelidonii in carrageenan showed a maximum inhibition of 54.6(P 0.05) when compared with standard drug aspirin (10 mg/kg); which showed decreased formation of granuloma tissue by 60.6(P 0.01). The methanol extract possesses significant (P 0.05) antinociceptive activity in both paradigms. In rats a significant (P 0.01) reduction in hyperpyrexia was also produced by the extract. This study exhibits that the methanol extract of entire plant of C. chelidonii possesses anti-inflammatory; antinociceptive and antipyretic activities

Hypolipidemic effect of methanolic extract of Dolichos biflorus Linn. in high fat diet fed rats.

High fat diet fed rats showed significant increased levels of plasma and tissue total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, plasma LDL cholesterol and decreased level of plasma HDL cholesterol. Methanolic extract of D. biflorus administration to high fat diet fed rats showed near to normal levels of the above lipids in plasma and tissues. Higher dose of the extract (400 mg/kg body weight) showed comparable results with standard drug atorvastatin. It is concluded that the methanolic extract of D. biflorus possesses hypolipidemic activity in high fat diet fed rats.

Erythrocyte, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hypervitaminotic A rats and their modification by dietary protein.

Rats fed excess vitamin A showed decreased body weight gain and protein efficiency ratio. In rats fed low protein vitamin A level increased in liver but with an associated decrease in plasma. These changes were reversed in high protein fed state. The amount of protein in diet had little effect on haemoglobin level in erythrocyte, but excess vitamin A in diet significantly decreased haemoglobin level in erythrocyte. Lipid peroxidation (LP) increased in rats fed low protein and decreased in high protein fed rats. Rats fed high protein and excess vitamin A showed minimum level of LP. Result showed that high protein in diet increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and that excess vitamin A supplementation functions synergistically with high protein in diet to increase antioxidant enzymes level.

Effect of dietary protein on vitamin A levels in plasma and liver of hypervitaminotic-A rats.

Level of vitamin A increased in plasma and liver in hypervitaminotic A albino rats fed normal quantity of protein in diet. In low protein fed state vitamin A level in liver increased due to accumulation of vitamin A and lack of carrier protein with an associated decrease of plasma vitamin A. In high protein fed rats the level of vitamin A in plasma increased due to enhanced transport while in liver it decreased. The results indicate that for normal transport of vitamin A adequate plasma protein level is essential.