RÉSUMÉ
Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the pattern and reasons for self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The present study was an exploratory cross-sectional survey. The questionnaire was meant to be filled up by those who were older than 18 y and could read and write English. The questionnaire (related to socio-demographic status, pattern, and reasons for self-medication) was designed and validated by a committee of faculties in the department of pharmacology through a peer review process and sent through mail, WhatsApp, and other means of social media. A non-parametric Chi-square test was used to test relationships between categorical variables.Results: The responses of 557 participants were analyzed; among them, the majority were females as compared to males. There was a significant difference (*p = 0.02) in the pattern of self-medication between the males (38%) and females (62%), and most of the participants used self-medication as a preventive measure for COVID-19 (39%). Fear of going out (13%) during COVID-19 was the main single reason for self-medication. Arsenic Album 30 was the most frequently used homeopathic formulation (26%).Conclusion: This study showed that apprehension, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, was the main impulse for self-medication.
RÉSUMÉ
Background: Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to treat both muscle spasm and spasticity, acting both as antispasmodic and antispasticity agents. In past studies some polyherbal formulations containing ashwagandha have shown skeletal muscle relaxant activity and fat extract of ashwagandha showed skeletal muscle relaxant activity in experimental animal models. This study is designed to evaluate the skeletal muscle relaxant activity of aqueous extract of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) roots in albino mice, as the literature regarding them is limited.Methods: Standard drug (diazepam) and different doses of Aqueous extract of ashwagandha (50, 100,150mg/kg) were given orally to albino mice. Skeletal muscle relaxant activity was assessed by Rota-rod apparatus. The fall off time from the rotating rod was noted for each group after 1 hour of drug administration. The difference in fall off time from the rotating rod between the standard and treated mice was taken as an index of muscle relaxation.Results: The test extract at doses (50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg) showed highly significant reduction in the time spent by the animals on revolving rod in rota rod test when compared to baseline (p <0.0001). As compared with diazepam, aqueous extract (150mg/kg) showed almost equal reduction in the time spent by the animals on revolving rod in rota rod test.Conclusions: This study indicates that the aqueous extract of ashwagandha possess central skeletal muscle relaxant activity. The results are promising for further investigation of efficient skeletal muscle relaxant activity.