Background & Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurological disease, many a times presenting with non-motor symptoms. Pain is one of the most important non-motor symptom and there is no consensus regarding its exact mechanism and characterisation. This study was planned to evaluate the characteristics of pain and possible factors influencing it, in a cohort of patients with established Parkinson’s disease. Methods: 104 patients consenting to participate were included in the study. Data regarding age of onset, duration of disease, treatment, Hoehn-Yahr scale, phenotype of PD, UPDRS scores, pain type and distribution of pain were noted. Single and multiple logistical regression models with pain (1/0) as the outcome variable were used to check the association of pain with the above mentioned variables. Results: 54.8% of patients with PD experience pain. Presence of sensory symptoms was significantly associated with the pain group (42.1%) than the no pain group (21%). Pain was more pronounced on the side with predominant motor symptoms (72%) and in 68.4 % patients pain responded to dopaminergic treatment. Musculoskeletal pain (82.5%) was the commonest type and lower limbs were the commonest site of pain (43.2%). Conclusion: Pain in Parkinson’s disease has multiple dimensions and characteristics. Pain itself may be the reason for early diagnosis. Proper classification of pain will help in improved management of these patients.

OBJECTIVE: Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. is used in the Indian traditional system of medicine to treat various ailments including rheumatism and to heal wounds. The objective of the present study was to perform a preclinical characterization of the B. ciliata-based botanical extract IIIM-160. METHODS: IIIM-160 was chemically standardized and analyzed for heavy metal content, aflatoxins, pesticides and microbial load. The in vitro and in vivo efficacies were determined in suitable models of inflammation, arthritis and nociception. An acute oral toxicity study was performed in Swiss albino mice. A suitable oral formulation was developed and characterized. RESULTS: Bergenin was found to be the major component (9.1% w/w) of IIIM-160. The botanical lead displayed inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells, with selectivity toward interleukin-6 (IL-6) and had an excellent safety-window. It showed anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and antinociceptive activity in animal models and was not toxic at oral doses up to 2 g/kg in Swiss-albino mice. The gastroretentive, sustained-release capsule formulation showed sustained-release of the bergenin over the period of 24 h, resulting in improved plasma-exposure of bergenin in Sprague-Dawley rats. CONCLUSION The dual-activity of IL-6 inhibition and antinociception marks the suitability of IIIM-160 for treating rheumatoid arthritis. This study will serve as the benchmark for further research on this botanical formulation.