Alarming levels of inadequate intake of B group vitamins in tribal lactating women from South India.

Background: Micronutrients are necessary for proper growth and development of the human body, though required in small amounts. Dietary intake of these micronutrients by lactating women is essential for their own health as well as children's overall growth and development. objective of present study is to assess the adequacy of dietary B-group vitamins intake during lactation and to find out the factors associated with their inadequate intake. Design and methods: It was a analysis of data from prospective cohort study for 10 months carried out among 340 Scheduled Tribes mothers in 10 clusters in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Data collection was done using a 24 h dietary recall questionnaire. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: All the mothers (n = 340) were not having adequate intake of Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Pantothenic acid, Biotin and Folic acid. Methyl cobalamin intake was inadequate in 37.5% mothers (n = 136). The mean intake of Vitamin B12 was 40.98 + 42.8 (SD) µg/day. Age at marriage, location and parity were significantly associated with inadequate intake of Vitamin B12. Conclusions: The current diet pattern of mothers of vulnerable groups might affect the growth and development of the infant. We strongly recommend for supplementation of B-group vitamins to pregnant and lactating women in India.

Patterns and predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use in people presenting with the non-communicable disease in an urban health facility, North India.

Background: The rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a threat to India. Increasingly, individuals interested in improving their health and making healthy lifestyle changes are turning to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as a health-care option. Design and Methods: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern, and predictor of alternative medicine use among NCDs patients undergoing allopathic treatment in an urban health centre. The study design was a hospital-based crosssectional study, which was done in a government hospital, Srinagar, Pauri District, Uttarakhand, India among adult males and females aged above 20 years. The patients having NCDs were systematically sampled. Result: Among 233 studied patients 57.1% were males. The mean age of the patients was 55.8 years (SD 13.5). Of the total studied patients 46.8% were diagnosed with DM, and 43.8% of HTN. Nearly one-fifth of the patients were known to have a CVD or COPD. A total of 49.8% of the studied NCD patients reported use of both allopathic and alternative medicine treatment and nearly 3.4% of the studied NCD patients in the last one year to seek exclusive alternative medicine treatment. The overall use of exclusive alternative medicine was low that is 3.7%, 1.0%, and 5% in diabetes, hypertension, and chronic lung disease patients, respectively. The most common form of alternative medicine used by studied patients was medicinal herbs/biological-based medicine (MB) (62.9%). Among MB commonly used were a bitter gourd, aloe vera, and others. 29.8% of the patients used Indian/Ayurveda medicine in total. Conclusions: The use of exclusive alternative medicine is low in adult patients with NCD. However, medical pluralism is prevalent. A better understanding of practices especially that focuses on alternative medicine needs a qualitative study, which was beyond the scope of this study.

Screening of flavonoids rich fractions of three Indian medicinal plants used for the management of liver diseases

ABSTRACTThe decoctions of the Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub., Fabaceae, Bauhinia variegata L., Fabaceae, and Ocimum gratissimum L., Lamiaceae, are traditionally used for the treatment of various types of hepatic disorder. Phytochemical studies have shown that total flavonoids from these plants were the major constituents of the picked out part of each plant. The present study was planned to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of flavonoid rich fractions of the B. monosperma, B. variegata and O. gratissimum against paracetamol induced liver damage. Flavonoid rich fractions were isolated by solvent fractionation from each plant. Each fraction was subjected to various qualitative chemical tests to findout the metabolites. Flavonoid fractions of each plant were subjected for pharmacological screening. The rats were monitored for change in liver morphology, biochemical parameters like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin for the groups receiving the flavonoid-rich fractions. All flavonoid rich fractions showed significant hepatoprotective activity. The histological studies supported the biochemical parameters. From the results of biochemical analysis and histopathological studies, it can be accomplished that in the ethyl acetate fraction of O. gratissimum showed highest hepatoprotective activity as compared to other fractions. The present study was the first evidence of flavonoid-rich fractions of each plant have a remarkable hepatoprotective effect. All fractions contain a potent hepatoprotective agent suggested to be a flavone, which may find clinical application in amelioration of paracetamol-induced liver damage.

Design and evaluation of herbal hepatoprotective formulation against paracetamol induced liver toxicity.

AIM: To isolate and identify the quercetin from polyherbal hepatoprotective formulation. Polyherbal formulations were developed by using five bioactive fractionated extracts of Butea monosperma, Bauhinia variegata and Ocimum gratissimum for treatment of liver disorders by exploiting the knowledge of traditional system of medicine and evaluated for hepatoprotective activity using acute liver toxicity model of paracetamol induced liver damage in rats. METHODS: Major active fractions were isolated by solvent fractionation and quantified by HPTLC method. Two polyherbal tablet formulations were developed by the wet granulation method using microcrystalline cellulose, aerosil and other excipients and subjected for physicochemical evaluation to assess physical stability followed by pharmacological screening. The prepared tablets were finally subjected to stability testing to assess its shelf-life. The rats were monitored for change in liver morphology, biochemical parameters like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin for polyherbal tablet formulation at 50 mg/kg and polyherbal tablet formulation at 100 mg/kg. RESULTS: Active principle was isolated, quantified by HPTLC and characterized with IR. Both formulations showed significant hepatoprotective activity. The histological studies were also support the biochemical parameters. From the results of biochemical analysis and histopathological studies, it can be accomplished that polyherbal tablet formulation at 100 mg/kg can be effectively formulated into a suitable dosage form with added benefit of no side effects for control and cure of chronic ailments like liver disorders. A comparative histopathological study of liver exhibited almost normal architecture as compared to toxicant group. CONCLUSION: Biochemical marker showed improved results for polyherbal tablet formulation at 100 mg/kg. Polyherbal tablet formulation contains a potent hepatoprotective agent suggested to be a flavone concentrated in polyherbal formulation which may find clinical application in amelioration of paracetamol induced liver damage.