NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: NPR Vol.6(1) [January-February 2007]

A review on lipid lowering activities of Ayurvedic and other herbs

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: A review on lipid lowering activities of Ayurvedic and other herbs

Authors: Phadke, Aashish S

Abstract: There is a great awareness regarding association between CAD (Coronary Artery Diseases) and mortality, CAD and Obesity, and CAD and Hyperlipidaemia. Thus, there is a need of knowing more about agents working on hyperlipidaemia. Apart from such agents of synthetic origin, there is an increasing search for the lipid lowering agents from natural origin. In this paper an attempt has been made to give an overview of certain commonly used Ayurvedic herbs along with some other herbs which have been studied for their lipid lowering activity

Page(s): 81-89

Antibacterial activity of some ethnomedicinal plants from the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Antibacterial activity of some ethnomedicinal plants from the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India

Authors: Sasikumar, J M; Thayumanavan, Tha; Subashkumar, R; Janardhanan, K; Lakshmanaperumalsamy, P

Abstract: The present investigation encompasses antibacterial potential of three medicinal plants used by the tribals of Nilgiris for the treatment of various skin ailments. About 18 extracts at three concentrations (10, 5, 2.5 mg/ml) of different plant parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis Linn., Berberis tinctoria Lesch. and Justicia betonica Linn. were tested against pathogenic bacteria, viz. Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae and V. parahemolyticus. All the extracts exhibited broader antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens.

Page(s): 34-39

Effect of modified eggs on metabolic syndrome-X induced stress in female wistar rats

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effect of modified eggs on metabolic syndrome-X induced stress in female wistar rats

Authors: Taneja, S K; Mandal, R

Abstract: Metabolic syndrome-X induced stress is prevalent world over and is being managed through pharmacological treatment. There are some dietary components such as Zn, Cu, Mg, Mn, vitamin-E, C and omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to reduce the severity of stress associated with metabolic syndrome-X. But in the Indian staple diet, there is a big gap between requirement of these dietary components and their availability in food particularly in the patients of metabolic syndrome-X. Keeping this in mind, modified eggs were designed (Patent Application No.2264 Del-2005) and their efficacy on metabolic syndrome-X was studied in female wistar rats. The results of this study revealed that feeding on these eggs mixed diets to metabolic syndrome-X induced rats, a considerable reduction in stress hormone cortisol, total lipids, LDL-c and VLDL-c in the blood, improvement in the sensitivity of insulin leading to reduction in blood glucose and rise in HDL-c and improvement in the mineral status in blood serum and tissues were observed. This data suggests that these modified eggs are effective in reducing the metabolic syndrome-X induced stress.

Page(s): 22-33

**Preliminary studies on the antivenin potential and phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile on albino rats**

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Preliminary studies on the antivenin potential and phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile on albino rats

Authors: Wufem, B M; Adamu, Harami M; Cham, Y A; Kela, S L

Abstract: The stem bark of Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile which is known as Desert Date was sequentially extracted with hexane, toluene, chloroform, acetone and methanol at room temperature. The effectiveness of acetone and methanol extracts was tested against Saw-scaled (Echis carinatus) viper venom concentration at lethal dose (0.194mg/ml) which was administered intramuscularly into Wistar rats. Both extracts were found to be effective at 75mg/ml and 100mg/ml concentrations. Phytochemical screening of the acetone and the methanol extracts revealed the presence of saponins, tannins and volatile oils.

Page(s): 18-21