Toxicity assessment of the alcoholic leaves extract of Reinwardtia indica

The present study aimed to evaluate the safety of the alcoholic leaves extract of Reinwardtia indica in Charles foster rats through an acute and sub-acute oral administration.For assessment of acute oral toxicity test, ratswere orally treated with single dose of the alcoholic leaves extract of Reinwardtia indica at the doses of 50, 250, 500, 1000 2000 and 5000 mg/kg. In sub-acute toxicity study, using the OECD guidelines no. 407, the extract was administered at the doses of 50, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 consecutive days and at the dose of 2000 mg/kg satellite group also used for 6 weeks.In acute toxicity above mentioned doses neither showed mortality nor exterior signs of toxicity. In sub-acute, study no significant changes found in haematological and biochemical level ofthe treated rat after 14 days and 28 days in comparison to control. The histopathology of rat brain, kidney, liver, and heart also showed the no cellular changes after extract treated rat.The alcoholic leaves extract of Reinwardtia indica was found non-toxic in single drug dose administration up to 5000 mg/kg (acute study) and in sub-acute administration up to 2000 mg/kg.

Management of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder--use of an effective paradigm.

The management of ADHD poses a great problem before the psychologists, psychiatrists and different behavioural scientists. The multi-model approach, combining pharmacologic with different non-pharmacologic interventions, is more effective than any form of therapy. In the present study the theta feedback, a non-pharmacologic technique, has shown beneficial role among the low medicated ADHD cases. The present study also signifies the role of multi-model intervention in the management of ADHD.

Bacopa monniera Linn. as an antioxidant: mechanism of action.

Bacopa monniera, Linn. (Brahmi: Scrophulariaceae) an Ayurvedic medicine is clinically used for memory enhancing, epilepsy, insomnia and as mild sedative. For the first time the effect of alcohol and hexane fraction of Brahmi has been studied on FeSO4 and cumene hydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation. Alcohol fraction showed greater protection with both inducers. Results were compared with known antioxidants tris, EDTA and a natural-antioxidant vitamin E. The effect of Brahmi was also examined on hepatic glutathione content. The mechanism of action could be through metal chelation at the initiation level and also as chain breaker. The results suggested that Brahmi is a potent antioxidant. The response of Brahmi was dose dependent. Tris, an hydroxyl trapper did not show any protection in comparison to Brahmi where as EDTA and vitamin E did protect against FeSO4. In experimental conditions 100 micrograms Brahmi extract (alcoholic) was equivalent to 247 micrograms of EDTA (0.66 microM) and 58 micrograms of vitamin E. Interestingly Brahmi only slightly protected the autooxidation and FeSO4 induced oxidation of reduced glutathione on lower doses 100 micrograms/ml and below, but on higher concentrations it enhanced the rate of oxidation.

Effect of cigarette smoking on serum total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in normal subjects and coronary heart patients.

In the present study, 51 apparently normal volunteers and 34 clinically established coronary heart disease cases were studied. 21 out of 51 normal, and 16 out 34 coronary heart disease cases were cigarette smokers. The cases were divided in two age groups--20 to 40 years, the younger age group and 41 to 60 years, the older age group. Total serum cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of all the cases were determined. The ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher in all the smoking normal and coronary heart disease smokers. Hence, the higher levels of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio appears to be one of the important parameters to ascertain the development of coronary heart disease in cigarette smokers.