STANDARDIZATION AND TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE LEAF OF SENNA SIAMEA IRWIN & BARNEBY (FABACEAE) COLLECTED FROM AGULU IN AWKA SOUTH OF ANAMBRA STATE

Background: Pharmacognostic standards and toxicological studies of the leaf of S. siamea were carried out. Objectives: To determine the quantitative phytochemical constituents present, pharmacognostic standards and toxicological effect of the methanol leaf extract and fractions of S. siamea. Methodology: Fresh leaves of S. siamea were collected, dried, pulverizes to powder and subjected to pharmacognostic and quantitative phytochemical analysis. The pulverized leaves were cold macerated in methanol for three days with intermittent shaking and exchange of fresh solvent every 24 hrs (aliquot extraction). Fractionation was done using n-hexane, ethylacetate and butanol. Chromatographic analysis of the methanol extract and fractions were obtained using standard methods. The methanol extract and fractions where screened for phytochemical constituents and toxicological effects using standard methods. Acute toxicity (LD50) of the extract was determined using Lorke’s method. Results: Macroscopic and microscopic examinatios revealed acute apex, pinnate veination and diacytic stomata, trichomes respectively. Phytochemical screening of the extract and fractions revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins etc. Proximate analysis of S. siamea revealed moisture content of 5.50 %, total ash value of 15.00 %, water soluble ash of 2.00 % etc. The LD50 was found to be > 5000 mg/kg. Increase in ALT, AST and ALP when metanol extract and fractions were administered were not statistically different from the control group, indicating no hepatotoxic potential. Increase in PCV, Hb and RBC when metanol extract and fractions were administered were not statistically different from control group. The non-significant decrease in the levels of ALP, ALT and AST indicates that the extract has possible hepatoprotective effect. The non-significant decrease in the levels of RBC, Hb and PCV indicates that the extract does not affect the heamatopoietic system when administered orally and at the doses used in the study. Conclusions: Specific standards obtained from the study may be compiled into a monograph of S.siemea plant that may constitute in herbal pharmacopoeia.

RECENT ADVANCEMENT ON ISOLATION, ACTIVATION AND CRYOPRESERVATION OF LYMPH NODE CELLS IN MICE.

ABSTRACT Lymph nodes are found within the body has B, T and other immune cells and help to filter and trap foreign particles. Like any other primary culture lymph node culture would retain many of differentiated characteristics of cells in vivo thus they have potential for acting as alternative method to mammalian model. For setting up primary lymph node culture in mice different types of lymph nodes were collected from mice followed with isolation, activation and cryopreservation of cells from lymph node. The present review emphasize on various procedures used for isolation, activation and cryopreservation of lymph node cells. Isolation of cells was performed by collagenase digestion, teasing apart of lymph node using dissecting needle or lymph nodes were disrupted between two frosted slides. Concanavalin A have been widely used to stimulate mice lymph node cells. Low dose of Con A have stimulatory effect on T cells but high dose have inhibitory action and caused suppression of proliferation of T cell. Balb/c mice and C57Bl/6 mice were used for different dose of Con A. The addition of cryoprotective agents, e.g.dimethylsulphoxide and careful control of cooling rates affords protection from cell damage during freezing.

INTRODUCTION AND MYTH BUSTERS OF COVID -19

COVID-19 also known as SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that attacks the respiratory system of a person. The first case in humans of this virus was reported in Wuhan city, China, in December 2019. It was believed that the virus came from the food market of the China. Also it was linked with the bats. A variety of studies are currently underway or are being carried out to better understand the cause of the outbreak in China , including human case investigations with an onset of symptoms in and around Wuhan in late 2019, Sampling from markets and farms in areas where the first human cases have been reported and detailed records of the source and type of species of wildlife and agricultural animals sold on these markets. Vaccine have developed by few countries like Russia, United Kingdom, USA, India. But there are no claim of 100% result of it so we have to take all the protective measures to protect us from the COVID-19 and don’t trust the myths that are being spread everywhere out there.

STANDARDIZATION OF SNOW MOUNTAIN GARLIC

Background: Snow mountain garlic (SMG) is also known as Kashmiri garlic and ek pothi lahsun is herb which grows in high altitude and in low temperature conditions. It has shown beneficial effects in breathing discomforts like common cold, Asthma, flu also refines the blood circulation Various standardization parameters have been recorded in this study. Objectives: The present study focuses on standardization of SMG. Materials and Methods: The standardization parameter follow WHO Guidelines of herbal drugs. Standardization parameter like macroscopic characters, extractive value (hot extraction), ash value (total ash, acid insoluble ash and water-soluble ash), bitterness value, swelling Index, phytochemical screening have been studied. Results: The pharmacognostic studies shows that SMG is semi obtuse in shape and have pale brown outer covering and inner colour is white with little sticky latex. It has characteristic odour and slight astringent taste. The physiochemical analysis shows different extractive values in solvents, with maximum extractives obtained in hydro alcohol (45%). total ash value observed was 1.038%, acid insoluble ash 0%, water soluble ash 0.16%, bitterness value of 0.030mg/ml, swelling index of 1.06 and foaming index was found to be less than 100. Conclusion: The Standardization of snow mountain garlic was performed and the data obtained can be further utilized for establishing the identity and purity of the drug. Key Words: Snow mountain garlic, Kashmiri garlic, Standardization parameter, Physiochemical analysis, Phytochemical evaluation

Synthesis, antibacterial activities, binding mode analysis and predictive ADME studies of novel 1-(aryl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methanones

Introduction: In the present study a novel series of twelve 1-(aryl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methanones 3(a-l) were synthesized and characterised by physicochemical and spectral analysis,viz. elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy. The antibacterial property of the compounds were examined, in order to develop new broad spectrum antibiotics. Methods: The compounds 3(a-l) were synthesised by reacting the corresponding 2-(aryl)-1H-imidazoles 2 with substituted benzoyl chlorides. Binding mode analysis of the most active compound was carried out. Predictive ADME studies were carried out for all the compounds. Results and Discussions: Among the synthesized compounds, (2-(3-nitrophenyl) (2,4-dichlorophenyl) -1Himidazol-1-yl)methanone 3i exhibited highest antibacterial activity. Binding mode analysis of the highest active compound was carried out in the active site of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase (2VF5).

Ligand and Structure-Based Hybrid Screening for Anti-Parkinson Agents and their Pharmacological Evaluation

The behavioral and biochemical antiparkinson effect of 7-hydroxyflavone (7-HF) was evaluated by using virtual screening with an e-pharmacophore and shape-based screening approach, and the compound was screened by using the Sigma Aldrich compound library. Screened hits were filtered based on Lipinski’s rule, absorption, distribution,metabolism,elimination, (software for evaluation) (ADME), and toxicity parameters. The best scoring hit, 7-hydroxy 2 phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one, i.e., 7-HF was selected based on shape similarity (> 0.7), g-score, and conserved interactions. Toxicity assessment of retrieved hits was carried out by Osiris and Lazar programs. This study aims to obtain some potential hits, against various antiparkinson category from reported literature and available online resources, and validate their potency by in vivo, in vitro methods. Reserpine 5 mg/kg produces Parkinson’s like condition by depleting presynaptic catecholamines, particularly dopamine through the process of degranulation of storage vesicles. 7-HF 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg was used as a test compound. Syndopa 275 mg/kg was used as a standard drug. The results demonstrate that treatment with 7-HF improved the total locomotor activity and muscular coordination in the rotarod test. In the open field test, enhanced rearing, grooming duration of mobility, and gripping strength in the chimney test, while a decrease in cataleptic scores in the bar test. 7-HF significantly increases catalase, superoxide dismutase, and reduces glutathione level, while reduced the Malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The total protein concentration was also increased in 7-HF treated groups. The behavioral and biochemical results obtained from this study disclosed a definite neuroprotective role of 7-HF in a dose-dependent manner. It is also clear that 7-HF showed potent and effective antiparkinson activity in a similar way as standard. Interestingly, in behavioral and biochemical studies, 7-HF showed approximately equivalent effects as compared to syndopa.

Antimicrobial Resistance: Then and Now

Antibiotics have been regarded as one of the major discoveries of the 20th century. But the problem that came attached with is the rise of antibiotic resistance in hospitals and communities. The genetic makeup of microbes has benefitted from man's overuse of antibiotics to exploit every source of resistance genes and means of horizontal gene transmission to give rise to various mechanisms of resistance. Alexander Fleming upon accepting the 1945 Nobel Prize in Medicine said “It is not difficult to make microbes resistant to penicillin in the laboratory by exposing them to concentrations not sufficient to kill them. There is a danger that an ignorant man may easily under dose himself and by exposing his microbes to non lethal quantities of the drug and make them resistant”. This review presents the multifaceted aspects of antibiotic resistance development, history, superbug and superresiatance and resistance data observed over the past years with an overt conclusion showing undeniable methods to overcome the discussed problem, glaringly striking that it is time to act.

Devices used for Treatment of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a group of chronic neurological disorder of the brain that affects around 1-2% of the population across the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), epilepsy is characterized by periodically spontaneous seizures, which are usually due to excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells. The earlier day electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are useful tool for detection of epileptic seizures.Epileptogenesis is a slow process. After several months of initial insult, spontaneous recurrent seizures begin to appear. Epilepsy is considered to be resolved for individuals who are seizure-free for the last 10 years, with no seizure medicines for the last 5 years. Currently, used drugs available for treating epilepsy have draw backs like Epileptogenesis and other dose-related side effects. In spite of daily treatment, nearly 30% of patients continue to have convulsions and fail to provide a complete cure. Hence, there is a need for another alternative option to control the epileptic seizure and minimize the duration of seizure without taking a medicine and improving the quality of patient’s life. In current scenario the Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has become an important tool for controlling the epileptic seizure. Vagus nerve stimulation is used for patient with refractory and drug resistant epilepsy. Various non-drug therapies form preclinical to clinical for controlling seizures in epileptic patients with drug resistance current available have been highlighted in this review.

Impact of Quarantine in India during COVID-19 Situation: An Overview

The present manuscript highlights the basic concept of quarantine with the history of quarantine concept, which deals with the different types of emotions, such as, resentment, acceptance, curiosity, etc. The impact of quarantine on the Indian population in terms of mental health, psychological health, and financial crisis is explained with the preventive measures. The positive and negative impact of COVID-19 led quarantine on public health is an important issue to highlight, and it is challenging to control the negative impact if the preventive measures are not employed seriously.

Evaluating the Impact of Pharmacists on Clinical Outcomes and Adherence in Patients with Mental Illness: A Literature Review

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the role of pharmacists in improving clinical outcomes and adherence to psychotropic medications in patients with mental illness. The majority of patients tend to stop taking their medications due to the delayed effects or adverse events. It has been established that pharmacists have a positive effect on patients’ clinical outcomes in different chronic disease states other than mental illness. There is also a stigma associated with how comfortable pharmacists are on counseling patients about psychotropic medications. This literature review will evaluate the level of pharmacists’ involvement in treating patients with mental illness as well as strategies used to achieve persistence and compliance with therapy. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted to identify articles related to mental illness and pharmacists. MeSH terms included “antidepressants”, “adherence”, “pharmacists”, and “bipolar disorder”. A free-text search was conducted using the same terms and to search for the most updated American Psychiatric Association practice guidelines. The National Institute of Mental Health database was searched for current mental health statistics in the United States. Collectively, 62 results returned for the MeSh search. This review included studies on adults with mental disorders who were evaluated by pharmacists for adherence and clinical outcomes between the years of 1995-2019. The results of five clinical trials assessing the role of pharmacists in adherence to psychotropic medications will be discussed in this literature review. Results: The clinical trials included in this review showed a statistically significant increase in adherence to psychotropic medications associated with pharmacists’ interventions. The results were not statistically significant for the clinical outcomes in most studies but presented positive improvements in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Canales et al. results showed that patients receiving pharmacists’ interventions in the inpatient setting had >30% improved clinical outcomes measured by different rating scales. The results of Valenstein et al. study conducted at Veteran Affairs clinics were statistically significant for adherence improvement presented by a 25% increase in medication possession ratio. Aljumah et al. clinical trial had a 18% increase in adherence associated with pharmacist interventions. The EMDADER-TAB trial resulted in a statistically significant decrease in ER visits, significant improvement of the depression symptoms, and overall improvement of severity of symptoms. Conclusion: Mental illness should be treated as any other medical condition that requires interventions whenever clinical outcomes are not optimal. Pharmacists have the skills to evaluate clinical symptoms of different psychiatric disorders as well as the knowledge on therapeutic treatments necessary for the optimization of medication use.