A Study on Mortality Profile among Fifty Plus- (50+-) Population (FPP) of India: A 5-Year Retrospective Study at New Delhi District.

Objectives. To find out the mortality profile vis-a-vis different epidemiological factors at the time of autopsy among the 50+-Population. Material and Method. A five-year retrospective evaluation of medicolegal records between 2006 and 2010 was done at Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. Results. A total of 493 (17.78%) cases belonged to 50+-Population age group out of total 2773 autopsies performed. The proportion of unidentified/unknown persons among this age group was 36.51%. The unnatural and natural causes constituted 44.62% and 55.38% cases, respectively. The unspecified pneumonitis (50.18%) was reported as the commonest cause followed by coronary artery disease and respiratory tuberculosis among natural ones and the transport accident (57.27%) followed by accidental and intentional self-poisoning and exposure to noxious substances and falls among the unnatural ones. Conclusion. The findings reveal that this age group most commonly dies of natural causes rather than the unnatural ones even in autopsy cases. They have definite cure with timely interventions. The study also points out the need to devise the road and home safety measures to reduce mortality among the study population.

Folk herbal medicines from tribal area of Rajasthan, India.

A floristic survey of ethnomedicinal plants occurring in the tribal area of Rajasthan was conducted to assess the potentiality of plant resources for modern treatments. The information on medicinal uses of plants is based on the exhaustive interviews with local physicians practising indigenous system of medicine, village headmen, priests and tribal folks. The Aravalli hills of Mewar region of Rajasthan are inhabited by many tribes; Bhil, Garasia, Damor and Kathodia being the main ones. In a floristic survey 61 ethnomedicianl plant species belonging to 38 families were recorded from this region. A categorical list of plant species along with their plant part/s used and the mode of administration reported to be for effective control in different ailments is prepared.

Folk herbal medicines used in birth control and sexual diseases by tribals of southern Rajasthan, India.

An ethnobotanical survey of tribal area of southern Rajasthan was carried out during the year 2001-2002 for ethnosexicological herbal medicines. The information on ethnosexicological herbs is based on the exhaustive interview with local medicine-men and -women, birth attendants and other knowledgeable persons who prescribe their own herbal preparation to check birth control, including abortion at initial stages, preventing conception or by making either member of the couple sterile and to cure various sexual diseases like leucorrhoea, gonorrhoea, menorrhagia, to regularize menses and syphilis in both the sexes. During ethnobotanical survey, 53 plants belonging to 33 families have been reported from the study area, which are used to cure sexual diseases, and for family planning. A list of plant species along with their local name, habit, flowering and fruiting period, plant part/s used and the mode of administration to cure the sexual diseases are given.

Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara Linn. on spore germination of Asterella angusta Steph.--a liverwort.

Extract from root, stem and leaf of L. camara proved inhibitory for germination of the spores of A. angusta. Leaf extract was found to exhibit maximum allelopathic potentiality followed by stem and root extract and may be interpreted to be the result of phytotoxic substances which are possibly synthesized in the leaf and translocated to other organs.