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Management of seasonal dermatitis in horses by using leaf extract of Aerva javanica
Full text linkOccurrence of seasonal allergic dermatitis, especially insect bite hypersensitivity and atopic dermatitis are very common in horses. At present there is no satisfactory treatment is available for management of these skin allergies. Plant flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol and their glycoside derivatives have been reported for their anti allergic and anti-inflammatory properties. In present study we have prepared an extract from the leaves of Aerva javanica, which was found effective to manage clinical cases of seasonal allergic dermatitis in horses. Clinical signs of the allergic dermatitis in horses were alopecia, thickening of skin and itching. On histopathological examination of skin biopsy samples taken from the clinical cases epidermal hyperplasia, orthokeratotic and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, spongiosis, occasional trichomalacia, multifocal areas of aggregation of lymphocytes with or without infiltration of eosinophils were observed. Mass spectrometer analysis of more purified extract suggested a glycoside of kaempferol may be an active ingredient of the extract
Combined hepatoprotective potentials of medicinal plants on CCl4-induced hepatotoxic Wistar rats
Full text linkAsparagus racemosus Willd., Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., Cassia fistula L., and Carissa spinarum L. (ACCC) are used in ethnomedicine for treating a variety of diseases, including liver disease. The present study investigated the combined antioxidative and hepatoprotective roles of an aqueous methanol extract of ACCC (AMACCC) on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in the rat model. Thirty male Wistar Albino rats were divided uniformly into five groups. Group I (control) received only the vehicle DMSO (0.5 mL/kg b.w.) and was fed a normal diet for 28 days. Carbon tetrachloride (0.5 mL/kg b.w., 20% CCl4/olive oil) was used to intoxicate groups II–V. Rats in Group II remained untreated, while groups III, IV, and V were given 50 mg/kg b.w. of sylimarin, 100 mg/kg b.w., and 200 mg/kg b.w. of AMACCC, respectively, for 28 days. Investigations were conducted to evaluate the combined action of AMACCC on liver marker enzymes along with histopathological changes of hepatic tissue before and after treatment. In vitro antioxidative activity of AMACCC was also observed. There were significant increases (p < 0.001) in serum hepatic enzyme markers (ALT, AST, and ALP) activities in rats intoxicated with CCl4 when compared to the normal group, but administration of AMACCC extract at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight and standard sylimarin drug attenuated (p < 0.01) the toxic effects of CCl4. The treated liver was shown to be in repair histopathologically. The combination of the four plant extracts has a strong hepatoprotective effect, indicating that more research is needed
Traditional post-harvest operations of millets and drudgery of women
Full text linkTraditional post-harvest activities in agriculture are mostly done by women and are most drudgerious. The study mainly attempted to identify post-harvest operations of millets and determine level of drudgery of women farmers while doing by traditional methods and improved practices. Total 32 women respondents were selected from different age groups and social strata from traditional millet growing area. The post-harvest operations of millets performed by the women were; threshing, winnowing, drying, flour making and flatbread making. The ergonomic parameters of these operations with traditional methods were compared with improved methods using machines. The results revealed that the level of drudgery realized in performing the five identified operations with improved practices was considerably reduced by 35 to 87% than the traditional practices done by the women farmers. Among the five, both threshing and flour making were assessed to be moderate consumption of energy under improved methods. Making flatbread by using power-operated machine helped them to reduce their drudgery level from high (DI=78.97) with traditional method to moderate level (DI=58.51). It was observed that if operation-wise appropriate machine and operational skill was given to hand the machineries; their drudgery would be reduced, the work output and their efficiency would be enhanced and thereby, boosted-up consumption of the millets and their health
Think locally act globally: With reference to ethnomedicinal knowledge of India
Full text linkIndia has a large number of ethnomedicinal plants growing under different geographical conditions. The article emphasizes on think locally and act globally scenario of the hidden Indian medicinal knowledge and its worldwide implementation as life saving novel herbal formulations. The article also emphasizes possible role of novel herbal formulations based on ethnomedicinal knowledge in uplifting of Indian economy. Looking into the current situation of biopiracy and gene robbing, the country should take immediate steps to bioprospect its ethnomedicinal knowledge and to commercialize novel herbal formulations at global level
Effect of Naga Parpam, a metallic drug of Siddha medicine, on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and tissues of liver in Wistar rats
Full text linkNaga Parpam (NP), a zinc containing drug is prescribed in Siddha medicine to treat piles, fistula, dysentery, diarrhoea and tuberculosis. In this investigation, NP’s effect on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and tissues of liver in Wistar rats has been studied. The drug was administered orally in doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight for 28 days to the experimental animals. On day 29, they were sacrificed and the liver was removed. From the liver homogenate, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were analyzed. Dose dependent decrease in LPO and increase in the above enzymes revealed its potential antioxidant activity. There were no significant changes in the tissue architecture in histology that further confirmed the pro-active role of NP in treating diseases
Optimization of HPTLC densitometric method for curcuminoids and polyphenolics in an ayurvedic Emblica officinalis and Curcuma longa based Nishamalaki formulation by Box-Behnken design
Full text linkThe present study focuses on developing a simplified, specific, and accurate high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the quantitative and qualitative determination of ellagic acid, gallic acid, and curcuminoids (bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin) in Nishamalaki Ayurvedic formulation. Pre-coated silica gel 60 F254 aluminum-backed plates were used as the stationary phase in the chromatographic technique development, and the optimized mobile phase was toluene: dichloromethane: glacial acetic acid: formic acid (6:4:1.6:0.9% v/v/v/v) with double development in linear ascending mode. The detection wavelength for quantification for ellagic and gallic acid was 280 nm, and curcuminoids (bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin) were 430 nm. The optimized mobile phase showed optimum separation between peaks for ellagic acid, gallic acid, and curcuminoids (bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin) at RF of 0.12±0.02, 0.21±0.02, 0.55±0.02, 0.69±0.02 and 0.82±0.02 respectively. Chromatographic conditions were optimized using the Box-Behnken design. Various variables, such as, the volume of formic acid and glacial acetic acid, and chamber saturation time, that are likely to impact RF were identified for further optimization. The volume of glacial acetic acid may be regarded as a critical method parameter, which caused the greatest change in the RF value and was the important factor among the three factors. The linear range was 600-1800 ng/band for all markers (r2 greater than 0.98). The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) measured indicated the method’s sensitivity. For all markers, the recovery percentage reveal acceptable accuracy, and the method was repeatable and reproducible from precision measurements with less than a 2% relative standard deviation. The optimized method was precise, specific, accurate, robust and reproducible for quantifying ellagic acid, gallic acid, and curcuminoids (bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and curcumin) in the quality-control testing of botanical extract along with Nishamalaki ayurvedic formulation
Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Vasa Ghrita
Full text linkAdhatoda vasica is a well-known plant in India traditionally used for treatment of cough and cold. Vasa ghrita formulation is prescribed in treatment of bronchial asthma and rakta pitta (blood-bile). The main aim was to standardize the Vasa ghrita formulation which was prepared from Adhatoda vasica leaves and to establish the standard limits for all the parameters evaluated. In this study various parameters were evaluated for the crude vasaka leaves and Vasa ghritas formulation which include in-house Vasa ghritas and two marketed formulations brand RVG and brand KKVG. Morphological evaluation was performed by checking the organoleptic characters. Microscopical study was done to authenticate the drug. Phytochemical screening was done to determine the presence of chemical constituents present in Adhatoda vasica. In physicochemical evaluation many parameters were determined including loss on drying, Ash values, extractive values, swelling index, foaming index, specific gravity, rancidity, melting point, saponification value, iodine value, acid value, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter, thin layer chromatography and HPTLC, FTIR spectroscopy, TPC, TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Biological study was done to determine microbial load and toxicity profile. Parameters evaluated for crude powder and the Vasa ghritas formulations were within the standard limits. Study proved that the in-house Vasa ghrita was more enriched than branded formulations