Background & Objective:Epilepsy may have an impact on bone health of the patients even before drug therapy is initiated, particularly in the developing countries. This is in view of long delay in diagnosis and lifestyle changes. Therefore, in this study, bone health markers like bone mineral density (BMD) and urinary hydroxyproline were assessed in newly diagnosed epilepsy patients. Methods: The BMD was assessed by DEXA scan, and 24 hour urine hydroxyproline was estimated colorimetrically in 25 newly diagnosed epilepsy patients. Other bone markers like calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase were also estimated. Results were compared with 25 age and sex matched healthy controls, and were analyzed statistically. Results: The BMD and vitamin D were found to be significantly decreased (p<0.05) while serum alkaline phosphatase and urine calcium and phosphorus were observed to be significantly increased p<0.05) in epilepsy patients as compared to healthy controls. The difference in urinary hydroxyproline and serum calcium/ phosphorus in the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: Bone health is found to be already compromised in epilepsy patients in this study from North India. BMD and urinary hydroxyproline may act as simple, non-invasive, convenient and inexpensive markers to assess bone health in these patients
Bone Density ; Epilepsy

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been successfully used for the alleviation of pain and inflammation in the past and continue to be used daily by millions of patients worldwide. However, gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity associated with NSAIDs is an important medical and socioeconomic problem. Local generation of various reactive oxygen species plays a significant role in the formation of gastric ulceration associated with NSAIDs therapy. Co-medication of antioxidants along with NSAIDs has been found to be beneficial in the prevention of GI injury. This paper describes the synthesis and biological evaluation of N-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-2-methylamino-substituted-1H-benzimidazole derivatives as anti-inflammatory analgesic agents with lower GI toxicity. Studies in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that the antioxidant activity of the test compounds decreased GI toxicity.

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.