Evaluation of Effect of Nishamalaki on STZ and HFHF Diet Induced Diabetic Neuropathy in Wistar Rats.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications affecting 50% of diabetic patients. Neuropathic pain is the most difficult types of pain to treat. There is no specific treatment for neuropathy. Nishamalaki (NA), combination of Curcuma longa and Emblica officinalis used to treat Diabetes Mellitus (DM). So, efforts were made to test whether NA is useful in prevention of diabetic neuropathy. AIM: To evaluate the effect of NA on diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetic wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group I (Control) vehicle treated consists of 6 rats. Diabetes induced in 36 wistar rats with Streptozotocin (STZ) (35mg/kg) intra-peritoneally followed by High Fat High Fructose diet. After confirmation of development of diabetes; rats divided into six groups (n=6). Group II - VII Diabetic Control, NA low dose, NA High dose, Glibenclamide, Pioglitazone and Epalrestat. Animals received drug treatment for next 12 weeks. Monitoring of Blood Sugar Level (BSL) done every 15 days and lipid profile at the end. Eddy's hot plate and tail immersion test performed to assess thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia. Walking function test performed to assess motor function. RESULTS: Diabetic rats exhibited significant (p<0.001) hyperalgesia and increased BSL compared to control rats. Dose-dependent improvement was observed in thermal hyperalgesia & cold allodynia in NA groups. Activity of NA was more than Glibenclamide, Epalrestat and Pioglitazone in high dose and comparable in low dose. Nishamalaki improved lipid profile. CONCLUSION: Apart from controlling hyperglycaemia and reducing lipid levels, NA effectively prevented the development of diabetic neuropathy.

Preventive and Protective Effect of Nishamalaki in STZ Induced Diabetic Complications in Wistar Rats.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is a metabolic disease of vital health importance because of the complications associated with it. Clinical trials and animal studies have demonstrated the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of Nishamalaki. Present study was planned to evaluate the protective potential of Nishamalaki on diabetic complication in rats. AIM: To study the Nephro-protective effect and to assess the protective potential on retinal changes of Nishamalaki in diabetic wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes induced with 60 mg/kg of Streptozotocin and 110 mg/kg Nicotinamide IP. Nishamalaki, a combination of Curcuma longa and Emblica officinalis administered orally with honey. Rats divided into six groups, control and diabetic rats with blood glucose above 250 mg/dl were divided into 5 groups. After 8 weeks test animals were treated with Nishamalaki, Enalapril and control with saline for 30 days. Biochemical parameters measured like Serum BSL, BUN and Creatinine and rats were observed for development of cataract. Rats sacrificed and kidney samples were taken to examine histopathological changes. RESULTS: Blood Urea Nitrogen and Creatinine values were significantly (p<0.01) reduced in Nishamalaki group than control group. Nishamalaki showed the protective effect on kidney pathology as seen on histopathology by near normal glomerular and tubular structures. Control group showed shrunken glomerulus and tubular vacuolations. In Nishamalaki group immature sub capsular cataract with mild lenticular opacity were seen compared to the mature cataract with significant lenticular opacity and corneal vascularisation in control group. CONCLUSION: Nishamalaki showed protective effect on development of Nephrotoxicity and it has also delayed the progression of cataract in rats.

The Pattern of Drug Use in Acute Fever by General Practitioners (GPs) in Pune City, India.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the WHO Prescribing Core Drug Use (PCDU) indicators in the management of acute fever (of less than 2 weeks duration) of the MBBS (allopathic) and BAMS (ayurvedic) General Practitioners (GPs) in Pune city. 2) To verify the appropriateness of the treatment. and 3) To compare the above parameters of the MBBS and the BAMS practitioners. METHODS: Pune city was divided in five zones, north, south, east, west and central. A list of doctors was obtained from the Indian Medical Association and it was divided zone wise. 2 MBBS and 2 BAMS GPs. were selected per zone. An informed consent was obtained from the GPs. The sample size was 20 encounters per GP. The patients of all ages and both sexes, who suffered from fever of less than 2 weeks duration, were included in the study. The indicators which were studied were 1) the WHO Prescribing Core Drug Use indicators and 2) the complimentary drug use indicators for the appropriateness of the treatment. RESULTS: 1) The age, sex and diagnosis wise distribution of the patients was comparable in both the groups. 2) Among the WHO PCDU indicators, a highly significant difference was observed in the average number of drugs which was prescribed, the antibiotic usage and in the injections which were prescribed among the MBBS and the BAMS GPs 3) The use of the drugs from EDL and that of the generic drugs were comparable in both the groups.4) A marked irrationality was found in the injectable antimicrobials by the BAMS GPs.5) The selection of the antimicrobials was inappropriate in 64.14% and 17.5% of the encounters which were made by the BAMS and the MBBS GPs respectively. CONCLUSION: Among the BAMS GPs: the WHO prescribing core drug use indicators were all significantly abnormal and the percentage of the inappropriate prescriptions was alarmingly high (92%). Among the MBBS GPs: There was more use of the antimicrobials but the proportion of the inappropriate prescriptions was less (42%).

Anti-nociceptive Effect of Entada Phaseoloides Seeds Formulation after Topical Application in Arthritic Wistar Rats.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of topical application of different formulations of Entada phaseoloides seeds for analgesic activity in arthritic wistar rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: EP (Entada Phaseoloides) seeds were powdered after removing the shell. Paste was prepared by adding water and ointment with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) & Carbowax 3350. 32 Wister rats of either sex weighing 150-200 gms were divided into four groups ,Gr-I vehicle, Gr-II EP paste, Gr-III EP Ointment, Gr-IV Diclofenac Sodium Ointment. For induction of arthritis 0.1ml Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) was given by intra-articular injection in left knee joint. Drug treatment was started on the same day by topical application in all groups respectively. Pain threshold for referred pain was measured on Randall Selitto analgesymeter before and after drug treatment. RESULTS: At 0 hours pain threshold of animals from all the groups was approximately similar. Pain threshold in control group was statistically significantly decreased at 72 hours. In comparison with control there was significant (p<0.001) increase in the pain threshold in the EP treated groups after 72 hours. CONCLUSION: Both the formulations of EP have analgesic activity comparable to Diclofenac sodium.

Understanding redox homeostasis and its role in cancer.

When a cell is damaged or altered without repair to its system, it usually dies. But if such damaged or unrepaired cells do not die and proliferate with uncontrolled growth; a mass of cancer cells develop. Cancer has a complex aetiology with multiple risk factors that involve the interplay between genetic and environmental influences. The redox dysregulation originates from metabolic alterations and it is dependent on mitogenic and survival signalling through reactive oxygen species. There is a delicate balance between the production and the destruction of reactive species; for this, we need to understand the role of redox homeostasis in cancer. So, the specific vulnerability of the malignant cells can be selectively targeted. This article will outline the redox homeostasis and the relationship between the disturbances in it and cancer.