Pharmacognostic study of Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker.

Chlorophytum tuberosum Baker belongs to family Liliaceae and is being used in the indigenous systems of medicine as a galactogogue and aphrodisiac. It is being sold in the market under the common name safed musali. The white tuberous roots of this plant are the medicinally useful parts. The tuberous roots of other species of Chlorophytum, Asparagus, Bombax and Orchids are also sometimes called safed musali leading to confusion. In order to ensure correct botanical standardization to remove the controversy, a detailed pharmacognostic study on tuberous roots of Chlorophytum has been carried out in this study .

A case of a cilioretinal artery supplying the entire retina.

The cilioretinal artery commonly supplies a small area of the retina, usually the macula. It can serve a valuable purpose in preserving the central vision in central retinal artery occlusion. We describe a case, where the total retinal circulation is from the cilioretinal artery in one eye and an abnormal central retinal artery branching in the other eye. The clinical relevance of cilioretinal artery in the eye is discussed.

Some unique ethnomedicinal uses of plants used by the Korku tribe of Amravati district of Maharashtra, India.

The present ethnobotanical study was carried out among the ethnic groups (Korku tribe) in the Chikhaldara, Achalpur and parts of Morshi in Amravati district of Maharashtra, India. A field survey of the study area was carried out during 2000-2004 to document the medicinal utility of plants occurring in this area by Korku tribe. Traditional uses of 66 plant species belonging to 40 families are described under this study. The documented ethnomedicinal plants were mostly used to cure skin disorders, diarrhea, jaundice, tuberculosis, stroke, migraine, menstrual problems, fertility problems, urinary problems, piles, wounds and poison bites. The medicinal plants used by the Korku tribe are arranged alphabetically followed by family name, herbarium number, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses.

Diagnostic accuracy of benign eyelid skin lesions in the minor operation theatre.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of benign eyelid skin lesions in a minor operation theatre (MOT) setting. METHODS: This study was carried out prospectively over a 6-month period. Subjects attending the minor operation theatre set-up with eyelid skin lesions were assessed and lesions were labelled as benign, pre-malignant or malignant. All patients underwent excision biopsy of the lesion. Histopathologic diagnosis was obtained for each lesion, which was then matched with the respective clinical diagnosis. The Diagnostic Accuracy (DA) was calculated for benign lesions using the formula proposed by Lightstone et al. RESULTS: Two hundred eyelid skin lesions from 183 consecutive patients were included in the study. Clinically, 187 lesions were labelled as benign, 12 as malignant and 1 as pre-malignant. The histopathologic report matched with the clinical diagnosis in 192 cases (96%). However, incorrect diagnoses included 3 malignant and 3 pre-malignant lesions that were labelled as benign clinically. The DA for benign lesion was 95.7%. CONCLUSION: Histopathologic confirmation may be necessary for most cases in the MOT.

Scleral explant removal: the last decade.

PURPOSE: To examine the reasons for and outcomes of the scleral explant removal over the last decade. METHODS: A case note review of patients undergoing scleral explant removal in the operating theatre over a period of 10 years from January 1990 to December 1999. The following information was retrieved: age, sex, reason for explant removal, duration of explant (ie interval between primary surgery and explant removal), type of explant, symptomatic relief, preoperative and postoperative retinal status including redetachment, causes for redetachment, and follow-up. Mann-Whitney U-test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were eligible for the study. The average age was 54.1+/-17.0 years (range, 17-84 years). The mean duration of explant was 50.1 years (range, 1-282 months) and mean follow-up was 18.3 months (range, 4-120 months). In all, 51 (70.8%) patients had a sponge silicone explant, 13 (18%) patients had a solid silicone explant, whereas eight (11.1%) patients had a combination of the two. The commonest reason for the explant removal was extrusion (n=34, 47.2%) closely followed by pain (n=29, 40.2%). Symptomatic relief was achieved in 88% of patients. Six patients (8.3%) suffered retinal redetachment post explant removal. There was no statistically significant correlation between the reason for the removal or the duration of the explant and retinal redetachment. The majority (N=5) of redetachment occurred within 6 months of the explant removal (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The Scleral explant removal provides symptomatic relief to the majority of patients, but is associated with a small risk of redetachment especially within 6 months postoperatively.

Standardisation and Quality Evaluation of Centella asiatica Linn.

Centella asiatica Linn. Is a well-known medicinal herb used in various types of diseases, it was noticed that the herb is being heavily adulterated with the cheaper substances. A critical stud of the authentic and maker samples (available in powder for) s carried out to study current status of the drug in the local market. Powder analysis of the market samples shoes fragments of sclerenchymatous net, which is a characteristic feature of some umbelliferous fruits. Occurrence of prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and large number of starch grains shows that the powdered materials are heavily adulterated with some cheaper substances. Fluorescence analysis of authentic and market samples exhibits 23.28% and 12.34% -18.13% respectively and there is a difference in curde fibre content also. Moreover there is remarkable difference in the quantitative value of Asiatic acid (3.25% - 0.12%) which is one of the chief constituents of C. asiatica.

Pharmacognistic studies on wagatea spicata dalzell.

WAGATEA SPICATA DALZELL, FAMILY : Leguminosae (Caesalpiniaceae) known in vernacular as 'Vagati" or "Vakeri", is a montotypic genus of a robust woody, climbing shrub growing abundantly in Maharashtra State, especially in Konkan jungles and on the Ghats near Mahabaleshwar. The roots are known to be used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia since long in the Indian system of medicine. The bark is used for skin diseases. The seeds possess an oil which is sometimes used for lighting purposes. Since the plant is abundantly used in Indian system of Medicine the authors carried out pharmacognostic studies on its parts in order to find out adulterations, if any, which is presented here.