Lung function changes in young obese women – A harbinger for graver outcomes.

Obesity is a global health hazard. As standards of living are continuing to rise, weight gain and obesity are posing a growing threat to health in countries all over the world. These obese individuals are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality because of its relationship with various metabolic disorders. It is also known to cause alterations in pulmonary functions, so the present study was planned to assess the effect of obesity on pulmonary function tests in young adult females of 18 to 25 years. Based on body mass index (BMI) participants were divided in to two groups. Both groups were age and physical activity matched. Pulmonary function tests were recorded using computerized spirometry. Results when analyzed statistically using students “t” test showed that there was a significant decrease in expiratory reserve volume in obese individuals compared to controls. Other tests were not significant. This result shows that obesity has an impact on respiratory functions even in younger age group hence we have to safeguard against the hazards of obesity by taking corrective steps through our health programs.

Anxiolytic effect of chronic administration of ursolic acid in rats.

Anxiety is a cardinal symptom of many psychiatric disorders and an almost inevitable component of many medical and surgical conditions. Indeed it is a universal human emotion, closely allied with appropriate fear presumably serving pyschobiologically adaptive purposes. Anxiety is a normal emotional behaviour. When it is severe and/or chronic, however, it becomes pathological and can precipitate or aggravate cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders. Although many drugs are available in allopathic medicine to treat anxiety disorders, they produce various systemic side effects. Ursolic acid has been identified as the active principle of Ocimum sanctum. From our laboratory we have established the antianxiety, anticateleptic and antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Ocimum sanctum. In the present study, we have attempted to evaluate the anxiolytic- activity of ursolic acid in rats by employing, elevated plus maze and bright and dark arena. The rats were divided into five groups, each group containing six animals. The effects of the test drug ursolic acid (at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg doses), the standard anxiolytic, diazepam (1.0 mg/kg) and control group 14% dimethyl sulfoxide (10ml/kg) were assessed after repeated doses administration for ten days. The results suggest that, ursolic acid exhibited anxiolytic like activity comparable to diazepam.