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Background: Depression is a worldwide illness in the current population. Low levels of L-methylfolate are linked to depression. Present study evaluates the anti-depressive activity of acute and chronic administration of L-methylfolate per se in forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) and its interaction with escitalopram in albino mice.Methods: For this 30 swiss albino mice were divided randomly into five groups (n=6) as group I (control,10ml/Kg, p.o) - 2% suspension of gum acacia, group II - escitalopram suspension (10mg/kg, p.o), group III- L-methylfolate suspension (3mg/kg, p.o), group IV- L-methylfolate (3mg/kg, p.o) plus escitalopram (5mg/kg, p.o), group V- L-methylfolate(3mg/kg, p.o) plus escitalopram(10mg/kg, p.o), for forced swimming test. In tail suspension test again, mice were divided in five groups as above except that the dose of L-methylfolate was reduced to 1.25mg/kg. The pharmacologically validated models forced swimming test and tail suspension test were performed in mice to evaluate acute and chronic antidepressant activity of L-methylfolate and its combination with escitalopram respectively, after performing an acute toxicity study.Results: L-methylfolate and L-methylfolate plus escitalopram (10mg/Kg and 5mg/Kg, p.o) showed acute and chronic antidepressant activity in albino mice in FST and TST respectively. In human L-methylfolate is only active form of folic acid that readily crosses the blood brain barrier and utilized by the CNS. It regulates the bioavailability of critical cofactor BH4, required by enzymes synthesizing monoamines whose deficiency leads to depression.Conclusions: Hence, this study suggests antidepresant activity of L-methylfolate per se and as adjuvant with escitalopram when initiated from initiation of antidepressant therapy. Also, L-methylfolate opens the possibility of reducing the dose of antidepressant when used as adjuvant.
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Background: This study aims to evaluate the per se effect of piperine and its interaction with ondansetron on haloperidol induced catalepsy in swiss albino mice.Methods: The piperine crystals were separated from crude extract of Piper nigrum. Catalepsy was induced by haloperidol (1mg/kg, i.p.). Control group received 2% gum acacia (10ml/kg), standard group ondansetron (0.5mg/kg), test group piperine (10mg/kg) and combination group ondansetron plus piperine (0.5mg/kg + 10mg/kg), per oral, respectively. In acute study, drugs were administered only once, one hour prior to the haloperidol administration. Whereas in chronic study, catalepsy was determined on the seventh day of treatment.Results: In acute study, from 60 min onwards after haloperidol administration, ondansetron and ondansetron plus piperine group resulted in significantly lower cataleptic scores than the control treated group. On the other hand, 120 min onwards ondansetron group showed significantly lower cataleptic scores (24.62) as compared to the ondansetron plus piperine group (31.50). In the chronic study, from 60 min onwards, ondansetron and the ondansetron plus piperine resulted in significantly lower cataleptic scores than the control treated group. Also the combination of ondansetron plus piperine was more significantly protective compared to ondansetron alone (P <0.05).Conclusions: Piperine has the potential to be used as a bioenhancer when combined with other drugs which would reduce the dose of drugs and thereby adverse effects. It may act probably by enhancing the bioavailability as well as by inhibiting the metabolic pathways of other drugs.
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Background: Hemolytic disorders are one of the prime reasons for frequent blood transfusions which involves lots of costs and sufferings to the patient. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of water soluble extract of Aloe vera on rabbit erythrocytes in varying concentrations of NaCl from 0.9% (isotonic) to 0.15% (hypotonic).Methods: Aqueous extract of Aloe vera (AVE) 200mg/kg was orally administered to rabbits in the test group while control group was given 1ml of distilled water (DW). Blood was withdrawn from rabbits, centrifuged and suspension in 1ml of normal saline was made. 20 microliter of red blood cells suspension from both control and test groups was added to normal saline of varying concentrations from 0.9% to 0.15% NaCl which were quantitatively analysed for hemolysis by UV spectrophotometer. Data was analysed by unpaired t test and P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The difference in percentage of hemolysis in both test and control groups was not statistically significant. Therefore, acute administration of water soluble extract of Aloe vera (200mg/kg) did not have protective effect on rabbit erythrocytes against hypotonic solution of normal saline.Conclusions: Aloe vera might be useful for the treatment of oxidative stress-related human disorders by virtue of its antioxidant activity and may have a role in prevention of hemolysis which needs to be explored by further studies.
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Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), also called Gunthers is the rarest of the porphyrias, with a prevalence estimated at 1 in 1,000,000 or less. Only approximately 200 cases of CEP have been reported till now worldwide. CEP affects males and females equally, and occurs in all ethnic groups. Clinically it is a subacute to chronic type of porphyria, defect is expressed in infancy and clinical features such as extreme cutaneous photosensitivity, blistering, scarring, hyper and hypo pigmentation of photo exposed parts. Haemolytic anaemia with splenomegaly and retarded growth may also be present. Due to its rarity we are presenting Congenital erythropoietic porphyria with haemolytic anaemia.
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Background: Presence of elevated serum HsCRP is strongly associated with morbidity and mortality in diverse populations with sepsis and is a potentially useful biomarker to risk stratify patients with severe sepsis. Aims & Objective: We aimed to study whether the serum HsCRP level at presentation in elderly patients with sepsis correlate with stage of sepsis and ultimate outcome. Material and Methods: In a single centre prospective, observational study conducted in geriatric ward of tertiary care centre, 200 elderly patients (age>60 yrs) with sepsis were included. The primary outcome was 14 days in hospital mortality. Risk factor variable was venous serum HsCRP (mg/l) at presentation. Results: Mortality at 14 days in elderly patients with sepsis was 20%. Mean serum HsCRP in survivor group was 33.42 ± 21.56 while 57.28 ± 25.31 in mortality group (p value <0.001). The mean serum HsCRP level in survivor and non survivors was 32.49 ± 21.45 and 48.05 ± 16.40 in sepsis, 33.61 ± 25.45 and 67.71 ± 21.49 in severe sepsis, 46.62 ± 10.55 and 73.82 ± 32.87 in MODS while 49.0 ± 26.72 and 101.5 ± 9.19 in septic shock group. Conclusion: We conclude that initial high serum HsCRP level was associated with increased mortality independent of etiology of sepsis, it also correlate well with severity of sepsis and serum HsCRP level were high in those with septic shock.