Antinociceptive, anti inflammatory and antiarthritic activity of ethanol root extract and fraction of Aganosma dichotoma (Roth) K. Schum

Aganosma dichotoma (Roth) K. Schum, locally called Malati, has been traditionally used in the treatment of pain and inflammation in Ayurvedic system of medicine. In the present study, We investigated its antiarthritic potential. Qualitative and quantitative study through HPTLC was done in ethanolic root extract (EAD), petroleum ether fraction (PF) and chloroform fraction (CF) using quercetin, kaempferol, ursolic acid and lupeol as standard. EAD (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.), PF and CF (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated for analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities by Freund's complete adjuvant induced arthritis model (FCA). Arthritis was assessed on the basis of ‘change in paw’ volume and arthritis index. Hematological parameters, spleen and thymus index, cytokine level in serum, radiological and histological parameters were also evaluated. EAD possess a higher amount of ursolic acid (2.23%) and lupeol (5.81%). EAD 400 mg/kg, p.o. showed potent inhibition in paw volume and TNF-α (33.19, 57.32%) as compared to curcumin 100 mg/kg, p.o. (31.12, 44.09%), respectively. EAD, PF and CF possessed significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities. EAD and PF at higher dose decreased the spleen index.

Phosphorus amendment competitively prevents chromium uptake and mitigates its toxicity in Spinacea oleracea L.

In this study, we assessed the role of phosphorus in preventing chromium uptake by plants. Two-factor complete randomized pot experiment (5x5 pattern) was conducted hydroponically with Spinacea oleracea L. (spinach), for 28 days in green house. Five concentrations of Cr (2.0, 3.5, 5.0, 6.5 and 8.0 mM), each amended with five concentrations of phosphorus (25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mM) were supplied. With the phosphorus amendment in the growth medium, accumulation of chromium decreased up to 55% in root and 50% in shoot tissues. A 1.8-fold enhancement in total chlorophyll and 2-fold increase in the biomass of root and shoot were observed due to phosphorus amendment. Levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and malondialdehyde were reduced by 27, 11.7, 38.1 and 45.5% in root tissues; and 27, 17.4, 32.3 and 35.1%, in shoot tissues, respectively. In conclusion, the phosphorus amendment has been shown not only to moderate the Cr-toxicity in S. oleracea but also enrich chlorophyll content as well as the biomass.

Evaluation of antidiabetic prescriptions from medical reimbursement applications at Banaras Hindu university health care facility

Diabetes is on rapid increase in third world countries undergoing rapid transition in terms of development particularly in India, which is often being referred as Diabetic capital. It is a disease more prevalent at latter part of life of human beings when finances dwindle and social care gets neglected. The medication continues till the whole life on a regular basis. In present study, the objective has been to provide pharmacoeconomic medication to the diabetic pensioners in the backdrop as mentioned in above background. The data was collected at the medical reimbursement section of pensioners of the University. The data was examined to answer issues of therapeutic decisions in the light of the pharmacoeconomic considerations. In this paper essentially data on choice of prescriptions with the angle of pharmacoeconomic prudence were included. The dichotomy of specialist versus non specialist prescribers at the tertiary center [i.e. medical college hospital] was compared. Effort was made to define merit of the prescription based on comprehensive considerations of patient profile, disease profile and therapeutic choice. Total 72 prescriptions were analyzed for the study in which 475 drugs were prescribed to the patients. Total antidiabetic drugs prescribed to the patients were 169. Out of 72 cases 39 were males and 33 were females with mean age 66.04 +/- 5.80 [Mean +/- SEM]. The average number of drugs per prescription was 6.59 which was very high as per guidelines. Most commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug was Metformin [63.89%] followed by Glimepiride [31.95%]. This study reflects that there is need to make available the standard therapeutic option at University Health Care Facility based upon pharmacoeconomic considerations

Dynamics of nitrogen in subtropical wetland and its uptake and storage by Pistia stratiotes.

The paper describes the dynamics of nitrogen in different components (water, soil and plants) of Kabar wetland situated in Begusarai district of Bihar. Contents of nitrogen in the natural components were determined and were compared with the rate of uptake and accumulation under the experimental conditions. Physico-chemical characteristics of natural water and of test basins were quite similar. The trend of seasonal variation of NO3- -N in water and total N in soil and P. stratiotes tissue was almost similar but content of nitrogen differed significantly in the different components. The accumulation of nitrogen in the tissues of P. stratiotes was 5 to 15 fold higher than the concentration of nitrogen in the water and 2 to 3 fold higher than the nitrogen content measured in the soil. Maximum accumulation of nitrogen in P. stratiotes was 15.25 mg g -1 when the concentration of NO3- -N in water was 0.86 mg l-1. Under experimental conditions six different nitrogen concentrations were supplied and determined the uptake and accumulation of nitrogen in P. stratiotes. Maximum uptake and accumulation was 82.87 g m-2 at the end of 60 days after starting the experiment but still the rate of accumulation was in rising trend. In another part of experiment no nitrogen was left in the basins of low concentrations (0.5 and 5 mg N l-1) at the end of 60 days of experiment but at higher concentrations (50 and 65 mg N l-1) significant amount of N was left in the test basin. The biomass enhancement was parallel with nitrogen supply till 15 mg N l-1. This was opposite to the relationship between the nitrogen accumulation in the tissues and nitrogen supply in the experimental basins. Though, potassium was added as an essential growth nutrient but its accumulation was 95 g m-2 at 5 mg l-1.