Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effect of Phaseolus vulgaris on Animal Models.

An experimental study was conducted using rodents at different doses to evaluate the effect of Phaseolus vulgaris (red beans) on cage crossing, head dip, open field, elevated plus maze, and light and dark apparatus for anxiety and forced swim test for depression. The corticosterone level and histopathological evaluation was also done to correlate the antidepressive impact of the red beans. The study also identified the components responsible for the effect using GCMS. Based on the findings, red beans could be a potential non-pharmacological therapy for mild to moderate depressive patients. The anxiety model was conducted on mice weighing 20-25 gms. Group I was taken as control, group II as 500 mg/kg and group III as administered 1000 mg/kg. The tests were performed on 0th, 7th, 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th day. The depression model research was conducted on albino rats weighing between 180 and 200 g, divided into four groups: a control group, a 500 mg/kg Phaseolus vulgaris group, a 1000 mg/kg Phaseolus vulgaris group, and a standard group treated with fluoxetine. The forced swimming test was performed on days 0, 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60, after which histopathological evaluations were conducted and blood samples were taken to assess corticosterone levels. GCMS was used to identify the constituents present in red beans, while optical spectroscopy was used to detect minerals and ions. Results showed that both doses of Phaseolus vulgaris possess anxiolytic effect and increased the struggling time of rats in depression model significantly, with the 1000 mg/kg dose showing more significant results than the 500 mg/kg dose. The GCMS results identified the presence of erucic acid, which causes an increase in α-amylase, thus reducing depression. Optical spectroscopy also showed that red beans contain zinc, which may increase BDNF and help in treating depression.

Spectroscopic interactions of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with levocetirizine.

Non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) drugs such as glibenclamide and metformin is employed to heterogeneous disorder characterized by alteration in production of glucose due to impairment of both insulin secretion and insulin action. These patients might suffer with allergic rhinitis and in this case, there is a possibility to maintain patient on levocetirizine, an anti-allergic drug commonly used in rhinitis. The object of the present study is to detect possible interaction between glibenclamide or metformin with levocetirizine Current study was performed using UV spectroscopic technique sing simultaneous equation in pH simulated to gastric juice (pH 1), pH 4, pH 7.4 and in pH 9. All drugs followed Beer Lambert's Law. Results showed that glibenclamide and metformin can increase or decrease availability of levocetirizine and in the same way levocetirizine can alter availabilities of glibenclamide and metformin in different pH. Hence, drug interaction between glibenclamide or metformin with levocetirizne occurred. This may be due to his may be due to the charge transfer or binding capabilities of these drugs which resulted in significantly changed availability of NIDDIM as well as levocetirizine. Therefore, co-administration of these drugs should be avoided and furtherinvestigations at clinical and pre-clinical levels should be done.

Hepatotoxicity induced by chronic suppurative otitis media in rats and effects of ceftazidime and amikacin on it.

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the chronic inflammation with perforation of middle ear. If CSOM is not treated, it may cause secondary inflammation of liver with elevated liver enzymes and histological changes. Present study is aimed to observe the hepatotoxic effects due chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in CSOM induced rats and alsoto observe the effects of ceftazidime and amikacin to attenuate hepatotoxicity due to CSOM. Liver enzyme tests and histological examinations were performed on rats divided into different groups as G1 (negative control), G2 (positive control), G3 ceftizidime (15mg/kgintraperitonelly) and G4 amikacin (15mg/kg). One-way ANOVA showed that liver enzymes were significantly increased (p=0.000 and F value 6.899) except gamma glutamic transferase in G2 (rats with CSOM without treatment) from G1 (negative control without CSOM) with histological damage of liver. These hepatotoxic effects were attenuated or recover with proper treatment with potent antibiotics (ceftazidime and amikacin). Therefore, study showed that chronic suppurative otitis media can induce hepatic toxicity including elevated liver enzymes level and inflammation, aggregation or infiltration in liver cells in rat model with reversible hepatic damage. If CSOM is treated with adult dose of ceftazidime or amikacin, it may attenuate the damage and prevent risk of liver damage.

Determination of anxiolytic and antidepressant like activity of hydro alcoholic fruit extract of Pyrus communis (L.) and its impact on the memory after chronic dosing in animal models.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of ethanolic fruit extract of Pyrus communis (pear), in comparison with escitalopram in rodents (rats and mice). Thirty Wistar rats of about 200-250gm and albino mice of 25-30gm, male gender were divided into three groups each comprising of (n=10) animal respectively. Control group received distilled water, positive control received 10mg escitalopram & treated group received 200mg/kg/day of Pyrus communis ethanolic fruit extract orally for 30 days. They were evaluated by using the open field test, forced swim test (FST), plus maze test, light and dark test, hole poking test, stationary rod test, water maze test & cage crossing activity. Results were expressed as mean ± SD. Data was analyzed by using SPSS software (VERSION 21) one way ANOVA followed by Tukey test was used for post hoc analysis. Our result showed that fruit extract had significant antidepressant-like behavior in FST (p<0.001), open field (p<0.05), cage crossing (p<0.001) , significant anxiolytic activity in light and dark box test, plus-maze activity and significantly enhanced learning in water maze and stationary rod test when compared with control. The Pyrus communis fruit extract showed the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like profile in rats and mice. However, further studies need to be carried out in clinical trials for its use in different neuropsychological disorders.

A herbal treatment approach for the management of clinical, hormonal and ultrasound parameters in reproductive age group women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.

Around fifteen percent women of reproductive age have been effected by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS); a complicated disorder; and apparently there is no standard therapy available. Considering this lack, we design present work; for the assessment of a herbal medicine (Femitex-SP4) in managing PCOs. During 2016-17; this study was carried out at Abbasi Shaheed hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 150 patients aged between 18-44 years were included as per Rotterdam criteria. Patients received 500 mg of powdered herbs in capsule form twice daily. The primary outcomes were regular menstruation and ovulation plus change in fasting blood sugar levels. Changes in free testosterone levels and ovarian morphology was secondary outcome measures. Continuous outcomes before and after treatment were compared by Student's t-test (one tailed, independent). P = 0.05 was considered as significant. Women menstrual cycle was considerably improved. Fasting blood sugar levels did not change (p=0.103392). Progesterone levels were same at the starting point and after treatment (P=0.318322). With complete recovery in 6 patients; a notable change was found in ovarian size. Free testosterone levels were also dropped significantly (p<0.00001). Our main success was drastic improvement in normalizing menstrual cycle during therapy. Herbal treatment is proven to be clinically effective in most of the patients; particularly PCOs patients with menstrual irregularities. Hence, Femitex-SP4 can be taken as a better treatment for PCOs.

Self-Medication in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survival of the Fittest.

OBJECTIVE: After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic, intense efforts to combat the novel coronavirus were undertaken, with many fatalities in most regions of the world. The high fatality rate and socioeconomic collapse affected the health of uninfected individuals because healthcare measures and scheduled clinical and hospital visits were avoided by people in an attempt to reduce their exposure to the contagion. The general population began self-medication practices as means to safeguard against exposure to the virus. METHODS: The present study investigated the effectiveness of self-medication compliance among the general population. For this purpose, a questionnaire on the Zenodo scale was developed and adults and teen respondents were asked to complete it, after providing consent. The data gathered were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 26. RESULTS: The study amazingly found high compliance with self-medication among the focused population during the period of COVID-19. Estimated results showed a highly significant correlation of 0.000, P < 0.05, between the adaptation of self-medication and pandemic situation, which was estimated from chi-squared and Fisher test results. CONCLUSIONS: However, the fear of coronavirus made the practice, or malpractice, a survival of the fittest, innate ability of human nature.

Comparison of the antidepressant like activity of homeopathic remedies (Argentum nitricum, Staphysagria and Ignatia amara) and their effect on the behavior of rodents.

The majority of the world population suffers from mental and behavioral disorder. It is the need of the time to find an alternate of presently available medicines in order to decrease the medical expense. Homeopathic remedies are available and prescribed by homeopaths for treatment of anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, no data are available that proves its potential to relieve mental illness. The current study is designed to assess neuro behavioral and antidepressant like effects of homeopathic remedies Staphysagria, Argentum nitricum and Ignatia amara in comparison with standard drug (escitalopram). Different neuro behavioral activities were analyzed. The animals were administered the doses of all homeopathic remedied (60 µl to the rats) and escitalopram (0.042 mg to rats) through the oral route. The activities were observed on day 30th and day 60th. Our result suggests that the swimming time in Staphysagria treated group were significantly improved (p<0.001) after day 60th and significance rise was observed (p<0.01) in Ignatia amara treated animals, whereas significant decline (p<0.05) in struggling time was observed in Argentum nitricum administered animals after the 60th day as compared to 30th day. The central square crossings were improved highly significantly (p<0.001) after the 30th day dosing, by all three remedies and peripheral squares crossing were found highly significantly increased (p<0.001) after chronic dosing in Staphysagria and Ignatia amara treated groups. It is concluded from the results that all three homeopathic remedies produce comparable effects like standard drug while among all three remedies Staphysagria possess a potent antidepressant activity. To the best of our knowledge the current study reports first time the anti-depressant potential of homeopathic remedies in rodents.

Investigation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of camel milk in animal models.

Opioids and non-opioids have long been used as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. Long-term use of these drugs may lead to severe toxicities. Therefore natural remedies are now being explored to avoid risk of adverse effects associated with the use of these conventional medicines. Bioactive components from milk of different species have been identified as nutraceuticals, but no experimental or clinical study is conducted so far to explore the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of camel milk. In this study we evaluated camel milk for its possible analgesic and antiinflammatory activity. The anti-inflammatory effects of camel milk was studied in rats using paw edema method (induced by acetic acid) while tail-flick method was used to evaluate its analgesic effect in mice. Significantly increased tail-flick latency was shown after camel milk (33ml/kg) treatment when compared with acetylsalicylic acid at all time intervals. Anti-inflammatory activity of camel milk was significant (p<0.001) at 4th hour of treatment as shown by maximum percentage inhibition in edema volume (46.84%) in comparison to control. Results of our present study suggested possible use of camel milk as adjuvant therapy in treating various chronic pain and inflammatory ailments. Camel milk could further be investigated in future for recognition of biochemical constituents responsible for its antiinflammatory and pain relieving activities.