Cardioprotective Efficacy of Bacopa monniera in Experimental Diabetes Mellitus: Biochemical and Histopathological Assessment.

Introduction: herbs have been used as medicines since ancient times and it has been observed that human body is well suited to herbal remedies. In the present study, the myocardial salvaging effects of Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) (Bm), a medicinal herb was evaluated in diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: Type II diabetes mellitus was induced chemically in rats using streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg). Wistar rats were randomly allocated to sham, STZ control and Bm treated groups. Lyophilized hydro-alcoholic extract of Bm (75 mg/kg) was administered once a day orally to the rats for 21 days. On the 22nd day, biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar and creatinine phosphokinase [(CPK), CPK-MB] and histopathological assessment of myocardium was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective efficacy of Bm. Results: Pretreatment of Bm to experimental rats restored the raised fasting blood sugar levels, CPK, CPK-MB activity and preserved the histopathological architecture of pancreas, heart, liver and kidney as compared to the STZ control group. Bm demonstrated significant cardioprotective effects in the experimental model of diabetic mellitus. Conclusion: Bm demonstrated significant myocardial salvaging effects in the presence of diabetes mellitus. Histopathological assessment of myocardium shows the cardioprotective effects of Bm in the STZ model of diabetes mellitus.

Expanding horizons of anticoagulant therapy: Dabigatran etexilate a novel oral anticoagulant.

Thrombo-embolic disease is a major challenging clinical problem associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Anticoagulation with the existing heparin products and vitamin K antagonist (VKA) anticoagulants are still the mainstay of management. However, due to the risk of bleeding and well-documented drawbacks, the quest for a novel oral anticoagulant has led to the clinical development of dabigatran etexilate. Dabigatran etexilate is a direct thrombin (IIa) inhibitor which has recently been approved in India for prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in patients who have undergone major orthopaedic (total knee or hip replacement) surgery and for prevention of stroke, systemic embolism and reduction of vascular mortality in adult patients with atrial fibrillation. Thus dabigatran etexilate is a promising alternative to the current heparin products and VKAs in patients who require long-term oral anticoagulation.