Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Scoop

Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern for human. The World Health Organization reports that approximately 171 million people worldwide have diabetes mellitus and this number may double by the year 2030. Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetic which affects up to 50% of patients with diabetes and represents a major cause of morbidity and increased mortality. Moreover, health-care costs and personal associated with diabetic neuropathy are high

Antihypertensive, vasorelaxant and antidyslipidemic effects of Santolina africana in rats

Hypertension and dyslipidemia are major causes of cardiovascular disease. Medicinal plants continue to be widely used as therapeutic options for the management of cardiovascular diseases. Santolina africana is a medicinal and aromatic plant of the Asteraceae family, a plant family widely recognized for its beneficial pharmacological effects, particularly in managing cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive, vasorelaxant and antidyslipidemic properties of the aqueous extract of S. africana in animal models of hypertension and dyslipidemia. Normotensive and L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats were orally administered the aqueous extract of S. africana (SAAE) at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure were measured. The vasorelaxant activity of SAAE and underlying mechanism were evaluated on isolated aortic rings with and without endothelium. Additionally, the antidyslipidemic effect of SAAE (250 and 500 mg/kg) was assessed in Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic model in rats. Results showed a significant, dose-dependent reduction in blood pressure values in hypertensive rats following SAAE administration. The vasorelaxant effect appeared to be endothelium-dependent and likely mediated by nitric oxide pathway. Furthermore, in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic rats, the SAAE significantly lowered plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. These findings suggest that S. africana possesses significant antihypertensive, vasorelaxant and antidyslipidemic properties, highlighting its potential as a promising natural therapeutic agent for managing cardiovascular and metabolic disorders

Frequency of complementary and alternative medicine utilization in hypertensive patients attending an urban tertiary care centre in Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To study the frequency and pattern of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with essential hypertension attending a tertiary hypertension clinic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two hundred and twenty-five consecutive hypertensive patients attending the hypertension clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a 3-month period were interviewed. Socio-demographic data, duration of hypertension, clinic attendance, current blood pressure, and compliance to conventional medications was documented. CAM utilization was explored using both structured and open-ended questions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 90 (40%) male and 135 (60%) female patients with mean age ± SD overall was 55.1 ± 12.4 years. 88 (39.1%) of the respondents used CAM. Herbal products were the most commonly used CAM type. Amongst the CAM users, the most common herbal product used was garlic (69.3%). Others were native herbs (25%), ginger (23.9%), bitter leaf (<it>Vernonia amygdalina</it>) (9.1%), and aloe vera (4.5%). 2.5% used spiritual therapy. There was no difference in the clinical characteristics, socio-economic status, and blood pressure control of CAM users and non-users. Patients who utilized CAM had higher BMI compared with those who did not, but the difference was not statistically significant (mean BMI ± SD of 29.1 ± 5.6 vs 27.1 ± 5.9 kg/m²; P = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A significant proportion of hypertensive patients attending our tertiary facility and receiving conventional treatment also use CAM therapies. Clinicians need to be aware of this practice, understand the rationale for this health-seeking behaviour, proactively enquire about their use, and counsel patients regarding the potential of some of the therapies for adverse reactions and drug interactions.</p