A rare case of acute hepatitis induced by use of Babchi seeds as an Ayurvedic remedy for vitiligo.

This case highlights that hepatitis is a potential side effect of Babchi seeds, an Ayurvedic remedy used to treat vitiligo. The patient, a 52-year-old Indian woman, presented with a 1 week history of jaundice, vomiting, pruritus and abdominal pain. Progressive deterioration in liver function prompted a liver biopsy which was consistent with the diagnosis of a drug-induced hepatitis. The hepatitis resolved after withdrawal of its use. A PubMed search found no previous UK cases and only two cases have been reported globally. This potentially serious side effect of a widely available substance is not acknowledged by manufacturers, and those purchasing the product are unaware of the risk of harm. To compound this risk, there is an absence of dosing advice or maximum recommended daily intake. It is important to ask about topical and oral herbal remedies in cases of acute jaundice as patients rarely perceive these preparations as 'medications'.

Fitoconstituyentes de las hojas de Psoralea glandulosa y efecto del infuso sobre la Glicemia en Rattus rattus var. albinus con hiperglicemia experimental / Phytoconstituents from the leaves of Psoralea glandulosa and effect on plasma glucose infused Rattus rattus var. albinus with experimental hyperglycemia

En el presente trabajo se ha determinado los fitoconstituyentes de las hojas de Psoralea Glandulosa y su efecto hipoglicemiante en Rattus rattus var. albinus con hiperglicemia experimental. Para la determinación de los fitoconstituyentes se utilizó la marcha fitoquímica de Olga Lock adaptada por Hugo casanova H. Encontrándose los siguientes fitoconstituyentes: fenoles, flavonoides y taninos. Para comprobar el efecto hipoglicemiante del infuso de hojas de Psoralea glandulosa se utilizó 24 animales de experimentación los que se dividieron en cuatro grupos. Al grupo I se les administró una sobrecarga de glucosa a la dosis de 2.5 g por Kg.p.c. determinándoles su glicemia basal y a intervalos de 30, 60, 90 y 120 minutos; al grupo II se le administró junto a la sobrecarga de glucosa el infuso a la dosis de 160 mg/Kg, siguiendo los mismos pasos del primer grupo. Al grupo III se realizo la medición de absorción intestinal con intestino de cada rata al que se le colocó glucosa y se midió sucesivamente los tiempos previo basal y luego 30, 60, 90, 120 minutos; al grupo IV también se realizó la medición de absorción intestinal pero colocando infuso y glucosa luego se realizó como el grupo anterior. Se empleó el método enzimático de glucosa en sangre, encontrándose que el infuso a la dosis de 160 mg/kg ejerce efecto hipoglicemiante teniendo en cuenta el nivel de significancia (p<0.05). Por lo que se concluye que el infuso de las hojas de Psoralea Glandulosa tiene efecto hipoglicemiante.

At the present study we determined the phitoconstituyent Psoralea glandulosa leaves and its hipogliceming effect in Rattus rattus var albinos. Determination of the phitoconstituyent was used the March Phitochimestry Olga Lock adapated by Casanova. Being the following fitoconstitutives: phenoles, flavonoids, tanins. To check the hipoglicemic effect of the leaves infuse of Psoralea glandulosa 24 animals was distributed in four groups. Group I they were administered solutio of glucose for oral way to the doses of 2.5 g/kg.c.w. and derterminate the glicemi respectively by diferent time: 30,60,90, 120 minutes in the second group they were administered infuse by 160 mg/dL. and glucose solution and repeat the same method as first group. The group III determinate intestinal absortion with glucose solution and infuse with glucose then determinated the glucose value. Enzymatic method was used for the determinations of glucose, being that the infuse to the dose 160 mg/dL of c.w. it exercises hipoglicemic effect, being statistically this value significant ( P< 0.05). We conclude that the infuse of leaves of Psoralea glandulosa has hipoglicemic effect.