Role of naturopathy and yoga therapy on subjective well-being and prevention of non-communicable diseases

Background: National Health Policy 2017 recognizes the need to nurture Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) system of medicine through the development of infrastructural facilities of teaching institutions, improving quality control of drugs, capacity building of institutions and professionals. It also recognizes the need for building research and public health skills for preventive and promotive health care. Linking AYUSH systems with Accredited Social Health Activists and Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee would be an important plank of this policy. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine patients’ subjective feeling of well-being and outcomes after naturopathy treatment. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among inpatients (IP) of a naturopathy center in the field practice area of an Rural Health Training Centre attached to the Department of Community Medicine in a Medical College, Navi Mumbai. Questionnaires were distributed for 3 months to all the IP who were willing to participate and give their feedback at discharge. A total of 64 subjects responded. They were personally interviewed, their history and presenting complaints were listed, clinical examination was done, positive findings were noted, details of treatment and advice given were enumerated. Obtained data were tabulated in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS software. Patients received normal care from the respective therapists and no intervention was done from our side. Permission from the Institutional Review Board for conducting the study was taken. Results: Systolic blood pressure before and after therapy was compared, there was a difference of mean reduction in 4 mmHg with P = 0.00. Significant reduction in weight was noticed among overweight and obese people taking the therapy. A strong positive correlation was seen when quantity of weight reduction was correlated with initial Body Mass Index (BMI). The correlation constant was 0.811 with a significance level of 0.00. Conclusion: Naturopathy therapy as well as yoga practice results in a broad range of outcomes from physical and emotional change through to wider benefits involving the patients’ lifestyle, outlook, and attitude toward their health.

Alpha-adrenergic receptor blocking effect of Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. and Hook f. leaf extract on guinea pig isolated smooth muscle preparations.

Aqueous extract of C. collinus leaves inhibited norepinephrine induced contraction in guinea pig vas deferens and aortic strip in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of acetylcholine induced contraction in ileum was dose independent. C. collinus extract per se had no effect on isolated guinea pig vas deferens and aortic strip, but inhibited norepinephrine induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner probably by its antagonist action on α-adrenergic receptor. It had inconsistent effect on guinea pig ileum in vitro preparation.

Metabolic syndrome – prevalence and significance of its detection in selected population in pondicherry.

Obesity by itself is not an immediate lethal disease, however, it is a significant risk factor associated with a range of serious noncommunicable diseases. Our aim is to find out the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in interns coming from higher socioeconomic class. Sixty one interns participated in the study. BMI, WHR and blood chemistry were performed. EGIR criteria were considered to identify the metabolic syndrome. According to EGIR criteria, insulin resistance was found in 24.5% cases and metabolic syndrome exists in 14.7% of overweight/obese interns. Insulin resistance as per HOMA-IR was found in 6% of those having metabolic syndrome. High diastolic blood pressure, low HDLc are prone to develop metabolic syndrome by six times where as an increase in WHR (central obesity) particularly in male are eleven times more prone to develop metabolic syndrome. Abbreviations :–EGIR – European Group for Insulin Resistance, HOMAIR – Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), WHR – waist hip ratio. HDLc–HDL cholesterol.

Physico-chemical characteristics of water samples of Bantwal Taluk, south-western Karnataka, India.

Quality of water is an important criterion for evaluating the suitability of water for irrigation and drinking. In the present study the analysis of water samples from different sources like open wells, bore wells, farm ponds and streams/rivers of twenty villages of Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, South-western Kamataka has been carried out. The physico-chemical characteristics of this water showed that it is suitable for irrigation and agricultural purposes.

Formalin assay parameters differ in confirming the antinociceptive mechanism of domperidone in mice.

Domperidone, a prokinetic drug with minimal extrapyramidal side-effects was investigated for its antinociceptive response in mice using formalin assay procedure. Two parameters namely the pain score and the time spent by the animal in licking/biting the formalin injected paw were considered. Domperidone (1, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg; ip) injected 15 min prior to formalin effectively reduced the pain score bringing it to zero at the 15th minute and was also effective till 30 min but to a lesser degree. This effect of domperidone (2.5 mg/kg) was significantly attenuated in naloxone pretreated mice indicating a partial role for opioid pathways. In the other parameter i.e. time spent in licking/biting, domperidone in all the doses employed failed to modify significantly the same by the animal in the early phase. In contrast, a dose related inhibition of the time spent was recorded in the late phase. Besides, a trend towards the enhancement of the inhibitory effect of domperidone (2.5 mg/kg) in the late phase was noticed in naloxone pretreated mice. Possibly, the peripheral analgesic mechanisms may play a role in this response since the late phase was considered akin to inflammation. The results confirm the antinociceptive effect of domperidone and suggest that caution be exercised while selecting the parameters when formalin assay is employed.

Modulation by insulin rather than blood glucose of the pain threshold in acute physiological and flavone induced antinociception in mice.

The present study investigated the cause effect relationship between glycemic and algesic states. The hypo- and hyperglycemic conditions were induced physiologically through exercise (3 min swim at room temperature 28 degrees - 30 degrees C) and external dextrose (2 g/kg, ip) administration respectively in mice. Besides, flavone (50 mg/kg, sc) a known antinociceptive drug was chosen to study such a cause effect relationship. The anti-nociception was assessed by acetic acid assay, blood glucose measured using glucometer (Ames) and serum insulin by radioimmunoassay. The findings revealed that irrespective of the glycemic state whether hypo-, hyper, or euglycemic induced by swim stress, dextrose or flavone per se respectively, significant antinociceptive response was recorded. Pretreatment with flavone (50 mg/kg, sc) always exhibited a tendency to reverse the hyperglycemia, if any, but enhanced the antinociceptive response either after swim stress or after dextrose. These data support the contention that changes in the glycemic state in acute condition is not responsible for antinociceptive response and thereby suggesting dissociation between these two parameters. Extended studies estimating serum insulin level after the above mentioned maneuvers showed a significant rise whenever antinociceptive response was recorded irrespective of the glycemic state. It is suggested that serum insulin level, a hormonal parameter rather than the blood glucose level, which is a metabolic parameter, appears more reliable. It appears that the changes in serum insulin level produced by various treatments may have a relationship with the antinociceptive response. However, this study has the limitation that the results can apply only for acute conditions and extrapolation to clinical conditions is debatable.

Effect of ATP sensitive potassium channel modifiers on antinociceptive effect of metoclopramide.

Metoclopramide, a prokinetic drug, has been documented to produce antinociceptive response in animal models through opioid pathways. Morphine has been shown to act through ATP sensitive potassium channels (KATP) to produce antinociceptive response. However, such a possibility has not been examined for metoclopramide. The present study investigated this using pharmacological tools. Acetic acid induced abdominal constriction assay procedure was utilized to assess antinociception. The results confirmed that metoclopramide has antinociceptive response. Glibenclamide, a KATP channel blocker, pretreatment antagonized this response. Where as, in minoxidil pretreated animals, metoclopramide elicited an enhanced antinociceptive response. Glibenclamide and minoxidil, which are known KATP channel blocker and opener respectively, interfered with metoclopramide antinociception. These finding are suggestive of a role for KATP channels in metoclopramide antinociception in mice.

Role of ATP sensitive potassium channel on 7-hydroxy flavone induced antinociception and possible association with changes in glycaemic status.

Opioid type of analgesics open ATP sensitive potassium channel at the cellular level to produce antinociceptive response. These channels have also been shown to modulate insulin secretion by the pancreas. 7-hydroxy flavone, an antinociceptive agent shown to act through opioid pathways was investigated for its effect on glycaemic state and associated algesic state. The involvement of ATP sensitive potassium channel in the action was examined by using glybenclamide. The result reveal that 7-HF per se did not elicit any significant change in the glycaemic state simultaneously eliciting antinociceptive response as tested by acetic acid induced abdominal constriction assay procedure. Glibenclamide treatment attenuated the antinociceptive effect of 7-HF and while maintained its hypoglycaemic response. The present finding suggest that 7-HF induces antinociception like morphine, utilise ATP sensitive potassium channel at the cellular level and do not suggest a cause-effect relationship between the changes in the glycaemic and algesic state. Possibly, insulin which is controlled by ATP sensitive potassium channel at the cellular level might also modulate antinociception exhibiting a cause-effect relationship between them.

Pharmaco-economic analysis of psychotropic drugs.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse cost and adverse reactions of psychotropic drugs for their cost-effective use. METHODS: Four hundred and sixty nine psychotropic formulations from CIMS, June 1998 were evaluated for (a) extent of variation in retail price for same strength and dosage form, (b) role of number of companies manufacturing the same formulation and (c) companies pricing their product at price less than average of maximum and minimum price in relation to number of products marketed by them. The side effects of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs were graded for their severity and cumulative side effects score. Side effect index and cost index were calculated on relative basis and their product was used as cost benefit index. RESULTS: Fifty per cent of psychotropic drugs had less than 100% price variation with highest of 2049% for risperidone 4 mg tablets. A direct relationship existed between the drug cost and price variation wherever the variation crossed 200%. Similar trend was noticed between the minimum price variations and the number of companies marketing the product. There was no appreciable relationship between number of products marketed and pricing by the manufacturer. Cumulative side effect score was lowest (10) for trifluoperazine and pimozide and highest (15) for risperidone amongst antipsychotic drugs, whereas amongst antidepressants fluoxetine had lowest (1.75) and amitryptyline had highest (28.5) cumulative side effect score. CONCLUSION: One has to be more careful while selecting a brand of a drug when price variation is more (200-2049%). Trifluoperazine (1.0) and fluoxetine (1.7) were found to be most economical with better cost benefit index compared to thioridazine (494.2) and clomipramine (113.0) in their respective groups. Thus our analysis provides basic information regarding cost effective therapy with psychotropic drugs.

Antinociceptive pattern of flavone and its mechanism as tested by formalin assay.

Flavone, dextrose and long swim stress exhibited antinociception. Degree of antinociception was greater with long swim stress as compared to flavone or dextrose. Combination of these treatments resulted in potentiation of antinociception. Naloxone (opioid antagonist; 5 mg/kg i.p.) antagonised flavone or long stress induced antinociception showing opioid medicated mechanism, however, failed to reverse the potentiated antinociceptive component recorded in long stressed animals which received flavone and dextrose. Antinociceptive activity of flavone, dextrose and long swim stress which was documented by acetic acid assay has been confirmed in the present study. Role for opioid system in this action has been demonstrated. Therefore, formalin test can also be considered as an useful assay procedure for testing flavonoids. However, like acetic acid assay this assay procedure also has the limitation that it is unable to detect minor changes in the degree of antinociception produced by physiological interventions such as long swim and dextrose.

Effect of glucose on stress induced antinociception in normal mice.

Stress induced analgesia has been shown to utilise both non-opioidergic and opioidergic mechanisms. Earlier studies indicate that opiodergic analgesics exhibit corollary changes in blood glucose level. In this study, the changes in blood glucose level by swim induced stress and the influence of exogenous glucose administration on the stress induced antinociception were studied. Stress per se (both 30 sec and 3 min) did not modify the blood glucose level. However, exogenous administration of glucose reversed the stress induced antinociception in both non-opioid and opioid segments. Our results favour a role for glucose in stress induced analgesic activity.

Influence of gossypin on the development of acute tolerance to morphine induced antinociception.

Gossypin, a flavonoid is known to induce opioid mediated anti nociceptive response in experimental models. Unlike morphine, tolerance to and dependence on gossypin does not develop and it is known to attenuate the withdrawal signs induced in morphine dependent animals. In this study, the influence of gossypin on the development of acute tolerance to morphine was investigated using acetic acid induced writhing assay procedure in mice. Gossypin pre-treatment significantly attenuated the acute tolerance development to morphine induce antinociceptive response. All these evidences suggest that the therapeutic potential of gossypin as a substitute to morphine.

Crystal structure of cadaverine dihydrochloride monohydrate.

The structure of cadaverine dihydrochloride monohydrate has been determined by X-ray crystallography with the following features: NH3+ (CH2)5NH3+.2Cl-.H2O, formula weight 191.1, monoclinic, P2, a = 11.814(2)A, b = 4.517(2)A, c = 20.370(3)A, beta = 106.56 degrees (1): V = 1041.9(2)A3; lambda = 1.541A; mu = 53.41; T = 296 degrees; Z = 4, Dx = 1.218 g.cm-3, R = 0.101 for 1383 observed reflections. The crystal is highly pseudo-symmetric with 2 molecules of cadaverine, 4 chloride ions and 2 partially disordered water molecules present in the asymmetric unit. Though both the cadaverine molecules in the asymmetric unit have an all trans conformation, the carbon backbones are slightly bent. Between the concave surfaces of two bent cadaverine molecules exists water channels all along the short b axis. The water molecules present in the channels are partially disordered.

Crystal and molecular structure of sym-homospermidine monohydrate.

Sym-homospermidine, [formula; see text] is a naturally occurring rare-polyamine found in relatively large concentration in sandal leaves. As part of our studies on structure and interactions of polyamines, sym-homospermidine was purified from sandal leaves and its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The phosphate salt of the molecule crystallized in the triclinic space group P1- with a = 8.246(1)A, b = 8.775(1)A, c = 15.531(2)A, alpha = 74.20(1) degrees, beta = 88.36(1) degrees and gamma = 65.41(1) degrees. The structure was determined by direct methods and refined to a final R factor of 5.4% for 2087 reflections with magnitude of F(obs) greater than 5 sigma [F(obs)]. The amine exists in its most favourable all trans conformation. For each amine molecule three phosphate groups exist in the crystal structure, suggesting that two of the oxygens of each phosphate group are protonated. There is also a single water molecule in the asymmetric unit in contrast to that of spermidine phosphate which has 3 water molecules. These differences probably reflect the hydrogen bonding properties of mono-ionic and di-ionic phosphate groups. The structure is predominantly stabilized by a network of hydrogen bonds.