ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nigella sativa Linn. which has many acclaimed medicinal properties is an indigenous herbaceous plant and belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, which grows in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Pakistan and India. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of N. sativa seed extracts of different germination phases on the central nervous system (CNS) responses in experimental animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anxiolytic, locomotor activity of extracts (1 g/kg of body weight) was evaluated in both stressed and unstressed animal models and antiepileptic effect was evaluated by maximal electroshock seizure model keeping diazepam (20 mg/kg) as a positive control. Antidepressant effect was evaluated by forced swim test and tail suspension test keeping imipramine (15 mg/kg) as a positive control. RESULTS: All tested extracts of N. sativa during different phases of germination (especially 5(th) day germination phase) showed significant (P < 0.001) anxiolytic effect in comparison to control. Diazepam reduced locomotor activity in control (unstressed) rats but did not show affect in stressed rats while N. sativa extracts from germination phases significantly (P < 0.001) reduced locomotor activity in unstressed as well as stressed animals. All the extracts of N. sativa from different germination phases exhibited significant (P < 0.001) reduction in various phases of epileptic seizure on comparison with the reference standard (diazepam). During antidepressant test, N. sativa extracts exhibited a slight reduction in the immobility of rats. CONCLUSION: During germination, especially in 5(th) day germination extract, N. sativa showed significant CNS depressant activity as compared to whole seeds that possibly may be due higher content of secondary metabolites produced during germination.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effects on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and lipid profile of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 subjects with 20 in each group were randomly allocated to two groups. Group 1 patients received atorvastatin and that of Group 2 rosuvastatin treatment for 6 months. The patients were administered atorvastatin (40-80 mg) and rosuvastatin(10-40 mg) in accordance to their LDL-C status as per NCEP-ATP III guidelines. The parameters studied were, hs-CRP and lipid profile comprising LDL-C, HDL-C, TG and TC. RESULTS: Results obtained from the study, clearly indicate that atorvastatin (A) as well as rosuvastatin(R) have significant effect on lowering of hs-CRP levels (for A P=0.001; for R P=0.002), reducing LDL-C levels (for A P=0.008; for R P=0.001), elevating HDL-C levels (for A P=0.02; for R P=0.001) along with reducing TC (for A P=0.003; for R P=0.002) and TG (for A P=0.000; for R P=0.000) levels in obese T2DM patients. It is also seen that there is no significant (P>0.05) difference in effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in lowering of hs-CRP levels, elevating HDL-C levels and reducing TG levels in obese T2DM patients. However, percentage lowering of LDL-C (P=0.000) and TC (P=0.001) by rosuvastatin is to a greater extent than that caused by atorvastatin in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Thus this study throws light on the fact that rosuvastatin should be preferred over atorvastatin in obese T2DM patients in whom LDL-C and TC levels are deviated from normal reference values. In rest of obese T2DM either of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin can be employed to lower hs-CRP levels, to elevate HDL-C levels or to reduce TG levels.
