Background: Oxidative free radicals induce gastric injury in animal models of peptic ulcer. Hence antioxidants may provide gastroprotection. Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the gastroprotective role of antioxidant alpha-tocopherol in indomethacin induced gastric ulceration in albino rats. Materials and methods: Animals were divided into 3 groups (n=6), group I (control which received distilled water), group II (alpha-tocopherol 12.5 mg/kg) and group III (omeprazole 3.6 mg/kg). Each group received the corresponding drug orally for 5 days. On fifth day, animals were administered indomethacin 20 mg/kg orally to induce ulceration. After 4 hours, animals were sacrificed and their stomachs were studied for ulceration, adherent mucin content, and ulcer index was calculated. The results of alpha-tocopherol were compared with those of control and omeprazole treated groups, and data was analyzed manually using Student ‘t’ test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Alpha-tocopherol administration reduced ulceration and ulcer index compared to control group (tcal 5.2 > ttab 2.23 at 5% level of significance, p less than 0.05). Omeprazole treatment also reduced ulcer index and ulceration in comparison to control group (tcal 6.2 > ttab 3.16 at 1% level of significance, p less than 0.01). Thus results of test drug were similar to omeprazole treated group. Conclusion: Alpha-tocopherol treatment provides gastroprotection in indomethacin induced gastric ulceration.

Background: For many years, serologic markers have been used to assist cardiologists in the diagnosis and management of patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Once the serologic markers such as cardiac marker enzymes come to normal level upon a treatment, it clearly shows the treatment drug has the role in the management of MI. Objectives: The present study is designed to evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa seeds called black cumin on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in experimental rats. Materials and methods: The rats were randomly divided into four groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 rats received 1.0 ml of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) throughout the experimental period and served as the control. Group 2 rats received CMC as in group 1 and isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally twice at an interval of 24 hours on the 14th and 15th days. The rats in group 3 received black cumin (150 mg/kg body weight) intragastrically for a period of 15 days. Group 4 rats received black cumin and isoproterenol as said above and the experiment was terminated on 16th day and animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation after an overnight fast. Blood was collected for the estimation of biochemical parameters and heart dissected out for biochemical estimation and histopathological examination. Results: Along with VLDL, TG, cholesterol, free fatty acids, the levels of marker enzymes in serum such as AST, ALT, LDH, CK, and tissue lipid profile of TG, cholesterol, free fatty acids were significantly decreased (p less than 0.05), whereas the levels of CK-MB and HDL, LDL in serum and tissue lipid profile of phospholipids were significantly increased (p less than 0.05) in rats pretreated with black cumin compared to that of the group which received isoproterenol alone. Conclusion: Pretreatment with black cumin offered a protective effect against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats as evidenced by cardiac markers and lipid profile of the heart tissue.

Background: Right drug for the right patient in the right dose for the right duration is the aim of rational prescribing. The foundation for rational prescribing can be laid if prescribing doctors are sensitized to this concept during undergraduate studies. The knowledge of personal drug (P-drug) selection process is an important step towards rational prescribing.Objectives: This study was done to analyse the students’ opinions and the difficulties they faced in the process of P-drug selection.Materials and methods: In first phase of this study, fifth semester students of MBBS course were taught the process of selecting a P-drug in pharmacology practical classes. In second phase, students were given questionnaire to put forth their views on selection process of P-drug. The quantitative data was expressed as median and interquartile range (IQR).Results: Majority of the students were in favor of introducing the process of selection of P-drug in undergraduate pharmacology curriculum [4 (4-5), scale 1-5]. The students were of the opinion that such exercise will give in-depth knowledge of various groups of drugs used and highlight the intragroup differences. Students’ also opined that P-drug exercise also enable them to remember various aspects of the drugs for long period. Students also felt that the P-drug selection process will help them to understand how drug selection been done for the treatment of various disease conditions. Conclusion: P- drug selection exercise helps students to understand the differences between various drugs used for the treatment of one disease condition. This may serve as a strong foundation for developing rational prescribing skills.

Background: The present study was based upon the ethnomedico-botanical survey on health practices by the tribal and non tribal village vaidyas (healers). Objectives: Present paper reports inventory of health practices on liver disorders used by vaidyas of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and methods: A structured interview was conducted for 64 vaidyas covering areas like understanding the disease, perception about cause, symptoms, classification of this disease, diagnostic and prognostic methods used, treatment given, sources of plant materials used, process methods adopted, dosage, dietary practices followed and referral for further treatment. Results: More than 60% of the village vaidyas had clear understanding regarding the various aspects of liver diseases. The study identified 47 species of medicinal plants, 30 formulations and various dietary practices used by the vaidyas in the management of liver disorders. Conclusion: This study documents treatment and practices followed by vaidyas. Scientific studies done using these formulations/practices may help health practioners to practice evidence based medicine.

Background: Plectranthus amboinicus, belonging to the genus Plectranthus, is widely used for medicinal purposes. Its leaves have been used traditionally as a hepatoprotective. Objectives: The present study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Plectranthus amboinicus against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and methods: Six groups of wistar rats were used in the study. The two control groups received gum acacia and paracetamol orally respectively. The three test groups were treated orally with paracetamol followed by 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of Plectranthus amboinicus respectively. The sixth group (standard hepatoprotective) received paracetamol followed by N-acetylcysteine 100 mg/kg orally. The hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by estimating serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, tissue malondialdehyde levels and by histopathological analysis of the liver tissue. Results were analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Results: Plectranthus amboinicus in doses of 600 mg/kg and 900 mg/kg significantly (p less than 0.05) altered paracetamol induced changes in the serum and tissue enzyme levels to near normal values. It also improved the liver histopathology profile. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that the ethanolic extract of Plectranthus amboinicus, possesses hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Background: It is estimated that about 12% of men and 55% of women have at least one episode of kidney stone during their life time. The incident in general population is about 1 in 1000 adults per year. Objectives: The present study was done to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of ethanolic extract of roots and oleanolic acid (OA) isolated from roots of Lantana camara (L. camara) Materials and methods: The nephroprotective effect of different concentrations of oleanolic acid (60 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg and100 mg/kg) and ethanolic extracts of roots of L. camara (ELC) at a dose of 200 mg/kg was assessed in albino Wistar male rats using gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity model. The parameters studied were urine volume, serum creatinine, urine creatinine, serum albumin, urine albumin, serum blood urea nitrogen, serum urea, urine blood urea nitrogen, urine urea, weight of kidney, body weight and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Statistical analysis was performed by Dunnett’s Multiple Comparison test. All values were represented as Mean ± SEM. A p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Urine creatinine, serum creatinine, blood urea, blood urea nitrogen, serum albumin, urine albumin and weight of rat kidneys were found to be increased in rats treated with gentamicin, but these indicators of nephrotoxicity were normalized in OA (p less than 0.001) and ELC (p less than 0.05) treated rats in a dose dependent manner. Reduced level of GFR in gentamicin treated group was also normalized by OA and ELC treated groups in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: The result of the above study concludes that the OA showed promising nephroprotective activity in dose dependent manner. These results suggest the therapeutic utility of OA in renal injury.