Antidepressant activity of Trigonella foenum leaves in Wistar albino rats

Background: To evaluate antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Trigonella foenum in animal models.Methods: A total of 60 healthy male Wistar albino rats weighing 220-250 grams were used and they were divided into 10 groups of 6 rats in each. First five groups (1st -5th) were evaluated by Forced Swim Test (FST) and remaining by Tail Suspension Test (TST). 1st group (control) received normal saline 10 mg/kg, 2nd group (standard) Imipramine 10 mg/kg and 3rd, 4th and 5th groups (test) respectively received Trigonella foenum leaf ethanolic extract [TFEE] in different doses 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg/kg per orally for 14 days. They were evaluated for antidepressant activity using FST after 60 minutes of drug administration on 14th day. Similarly, remaining five groups (6th to 10th) received the same drugs and evaluated using TST after 60 minutes of drug administration. Duration of immobility was noted for six minutes for each rat.Results: One way ANOVA and Tukey Krammer test were used for statistical analysis. The immobility periods were expressed in mean±SD. The immobility period in FST were 207.16±28.7, 50.08±2.9, 46.14±1.2, 40.5±3.4 and 40.0±3.6 seconds respectively for control, standard and three test groups of TFEE (100/200/400 mg/kg). Similarly, immobility periods of 163.11±31.9, 125.03±11.2, 138.81±16.44, 138.16±12.65, 127.58±4.3 seconds were noted for TST for remaining six groups. It was found that TFEE possess statistically significant (p<0.05) antidepressant activity, as evidenced by decrease in the immobility time in both the tests when compared to control group.Conclusions: Present study results demonstrated that TFEE possess antidepressant property in experimental models of depression

Preclinical evaluation of Boswellia serrata for anxiolytic activity

Background: Boswellia serrata (BS)has been described in the ancient Ayurvedic texts Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita. It possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-arthritic and antioxidant properties. It is found that BShelps in surging of GABA levels in mice brain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible anxiolytic activity of BSin Swiss albino mice by light and dark arena (LDA) and elevated plus maze (EPM) models.Methods: In this study, BS(50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg; p.o) was evaluated for anxiolytic action and compared with standard drug (diazepam) and control (normal saline) in mice by LDA and EPM models. In LDA, number of entries and time spent in light and dark boxes were noted for individual mouse. Similarly, number of entries and time spent in open and closed arms were recorded for EPM model.Results: One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test was used to analyze the data. BSin a dose of 50 mg/kg has shown significant increase in time spent in light box (p<0.05) and decrease in time spent in dark box (p<0.05) when compared to control group in LDA model. Similarly, in EPM model 200 mg/kg of BS significantly increased time spent in open arm (p<0.001) and decrease in time spent in closed arm (p<0.001) when compared to control group.Conclusion: BS in dose of 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg has significant anxiolytic action in animal models

A retrospective study on the clinical picture of COVID-19 patients associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in India

Background: The clinical characterization of COVID varies from mild to severe. In the initial phases of the disease, symptoms like fever, cough, and dyspnea can occur. The severity and outcome of COVID vary with preexisting conditions, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective of current study was to assess the clinical presentation and laboratory derangements of COVID-19 patients associated with T2DM.Methods: The present retrospective study was started after the approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee. Various clinical (Sp02, final diagnosis, co-morbidity, and outcome) and biochemical parameters (CBC, LFT, RFT, LDH, Trop I, CK-MB D-dimer, CRP, ferritin levels, RBS, HbA1c) of Covid-19 patients were collected from Central Laboratory and & Medical Record Department of our institution. Patient names were anonymized and data were analyzed. The results are expressed in percentages.Results: A total of 24 COVID-19 patients (with T2DM) details were collected from the medical record department and central laboratory. Out of 24 patients, 16 (66.6%) were male, and the remaining 08 (33.3%) were female. Out of 24, 05 patients had mild covid, 02 were moderate and the remaining 17 suffered from severe COVID. The mean values of oxygen saturation, LDH, D-dimer, Troponin-I, CRP, Ferritin, Procalcitonin, and CK-MB were 76%, 797.3 U/l, 1614.2 ng/ml, 6.93 ng/ml, 72.6 mg/dl, 521.2 µg/l, 2.33 µg/l and 40.59 ng/ml respectively. The average random blood sugar level and glycosylated hemoglobin were 308.8 mg/dl and HbA1c 10.22%. Mean values of 42.5 mg/dl and 1.54 mg/dl were recorded for blood urea and S. creatinine. Regarding liver function test, mean values of 0.87 mg/dl, 0.37 mg/dl, 0.49mg/dl, 344.8U/l, 115.6U/l,108U/l respectively noted for total bilirubin, direct, indirect, SGOT, SGPT and ALP. Regarding patient outcome, 09 (37.5%) patients recovered and 15 (62.5%) died due to COVID. The values of glycosylated Hb and random blood sugar among the 15 patients who died due to covid infection suggested uncontrolled diabetes Mellitus in 7 of them with associated hypertension and died due to septic shock. Conclusions: Though the laboratory mean values of the liver function test and renal function test shows moderate variations the mean values of CRP, LDH, Procalcitonin, and Ferritin which are the acute inflammatory markers are highly disrupted when compared to normal ranges. 

Analysis of lead and arsenic in cosmetics and assessment of students awareness about cosmetic toxicity

Background: Many people believe that all cosmetics are safe but there are number of studies proving that majority of the cosmetics contains heavy metals or other chemicals. In this study we selected two heavy metals arsenic and lead because as per the Indian scenario is concerned most of the Hindu and Muslim females uses lead/arsenic based cosmetics.Methods: For the qualitative/quantitative estimation to detect heavy metals such as arsenic and lead in cosmetics, 20 different types of cosmetics were purchased from local market, labelled and analysed by qualitative test for heavy metals method and ICP-AES Analysis of cosmetics method.Results: A questionnaire was framed out in English and analysis showed that students had an adverse effect while using cosmetic products. Preliminary analysis of some samples gave positive results and for confirmation these samples were sent to IIT Bombay for ICP-AES analysis. Some of the samples showed variable level of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. Highest concentration of lead and arsenic was found in Surma followed by Sindoor, lip balm and Kajal.Conclusions: Heavy metals are one of the major contaminant in our eco system. Apart from this a number of cosmetic products also contain the same. Chronic use of this kind of cosmetic products will leads heavy metal toxicity