La vida de lycopodium clavatum / Lycopodium Life Clavatum

Lycopodium clavatum es uno de los medicamentos homeopáticos que se utilizan con mayor frecuencia en la práctica médica, debido a que tiene un campo de aplicación considerable. Por tal motivo, y al igual que como sucede con los demás policrestos, el médico en práctica y el estudiante deben conocer bien sus características (sin que por ello su estudio les lleve a descuidar los demás remedios de la Materia médica). El presente artículo, basado en el método de enseñanza Materia médica vivencial, ofrece un recorrido por la biopatología, la personalidad y las enfermedades que distinguen a Lycopodium clavatum en cada etapa de la vida, además de que brinda aportaciones para la repertorización del paciente. La estructura con que se presenta facilita la comprensión de la patogenesia, por lo que puede permitir una rápida memorización o aclaración de ciertas dudas comunes.

Clavatum Lycopodium is one of homeopathic drugs used most frequently in clinical practice because it has a large field of application. For this reason , and like as with other polychrests , medical practice and the student should be familiar with its features ( without this study leads them to neglect other remedies Materia Medica ) . This article, based on the teaching method experiential Materia Medica , offers a tour of the pathobiology , personality and disease that distinguish Lycopodium clavatum at every stage of life , in addition to providing input to the Repertory patient . The structure is presented that facilitates understanding of the pathogenesis , which can allow rapid memorization or clarification of certain common questions.

Characterization and optimization of lyophilization and storage conditions of Leech saliva extract from the tropical leech Hirudinaria manillensis

The medicinal Malaysian leeches have been used in traditional medicine to treat many different ailments. In this study, leech saliva extract [LSE] was collected from the medicinal Malaysian leech Hirudinaria manillensis. Gel electrophoresis of LSE was carried out to estimate the peptide and protein molecular weights of its content. Results showed that LSE contains more than 60 peptides and proteins with molecular masses ranging from 1.9-250kDa. Thrombin time assay in vitro was employed to assess the collected LSE antithrombin activity. First, to study its stability, LSE was lyophilized under the following different conditions: pre-freezing temperature, type of container and lyophilization cycle. Pre-freezed LSE sample at -20°C and lyophilized for 24 hours retained about 100-95% of its original biological activities. Second, the LSE antithrombin activity was monitored for a period of six months. Storage temperature, type of the container and photosensitivity effects on antithrombin activity of the lyophilized [solid state] and non-lyophilized [liquid state] were investigated. Results showed that storage temperature drastically affected the biological activity of LSE with -20°C as the optimum temperature. Samples stored at ambient temperature and +4°C were light photosensitive and adversely affected when stored in polypropylene tubes. Lyophilized samples were more stable than non-lyophilized ones over the period of study. To sum up, in order to have a biologically active stock of LSE, it has to be lyophilized for no more than 24 hours following freezing at -20°C and has to be stored at -20°C in glass tubes protected from light

Hepatoprotective activity of six polyherbal formulations in paracetamol induced liver toxicity in mice.

Background & objective: Polyherbal formulations available with a wide range of indications like protective to liver, appetite and growth promoters, gastrointestinal and hepatic regulator, as treatment for hepatic dysfunction, for hepatic regeneration as well as liver stimulant and tonic. Despite the widespread use, there is a lack of scientifi c evidence on their effi cacy and safety. This study was undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of six commercially available formulations, namely Liv 52, Livergen, Livokin, Octogen, Stimuliv and Tefroliv in acute liver toxicity in mice model induced by paracetamol (PCM). Methods: Swiss albino mice of either sex were used, divided in 28 groups with six in each group. The dose of the polyherbal formulations was calculated from human dose (20 ml/day) using a standard conversion table. They were given as pretreatment (2.60 ml/kg/day) for 7 days by oral route twice a day prior to PCM administration. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administering a single oral dose of PCM (500 mg/kg bw) on day 8. The study parameters were conducted on day 9. The biochemical parameters included liver enzyme levels alanine tranaminases (ALT), aspartate transaminases (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The pharmacological and pathological parameters were phenobarbitone sleeping time and macroscopic and microscopic changes of liver tissues respectively. Results: PCM toxicity signifi cantly increased ALT, AST and ALP (321.00 ± 87.93, 273.17 ± 45.68, 257.50 ± 17.64 IU/l vs normal control, 33.33 ± 0.61, 89.33 ± 9.50, 152.17 ± 11.40 IU/l respectively, P<0.05), prolonged phenobarbitone induced sleeping time (from 277.50 ± 8.04 min to 335.83 ± 7.00 min, P<0.05). When PCM higher dose (1g/kg p.o. single dose) was used, the liver tissue, in macroscopic appearance, showed extensive necrosis associated with haemorrhages. Low dose (500 mg/kg p.o. single dose) showed punctate haemorrhagic necrosis of liver tissue. In the microscopic studies, PCM induced toxicity showed haemorrhages, fatty changes and necrosis. The pretreatment in low doses (2.6 ml/kg/day) with liquid formulations of Liv 52 and Livergen reversed the PCM induced liver toxicity. At higher doses (5.2 ml/ kg/day), all the six herbal formulations conclusively showed marked benefi cial effects in the studied pharmacological, biochemical and histological parameters. Interpretation & conclusion: The present fi ndings demonstrated the effi cacy of polyherbal liquid formulations at two dose levels in PCM induced hepatotoxicity in mice. However, it suggests that a dose adjustment may be necessary to optimize the effects in clinical settings.