Objective: The present study was carried out to investigate the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic activities of bioactive fraction (ethyl acetate fraction) of Dillenia indica methanolic extract in experimental diabetic Wistar rats. Methods: Type-1 diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight), and type-2 diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight), 15 min after the intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg nicotinamide. The rats were treated by administering graded oral doses of isolated ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic extract of D. indica (DIEE), 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 21 d. The blood glucose level was estimated at weekly intervals by glucometer. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were also evaluated in normal and diabetic rats by an autoanalyzer. Results: In both experimental models, daily oral treatment with DIEE for 21 d resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose (P<0.01), serum cholesterol (P<0.05) and triglycerides (P<0.05) levels whereas HDL-C level was found to be increased (P<0.05) as compared with the diabetic control group. Conclusion: DIEE at 400 mg/kg body weight has prominent antidiabetic effect in experimental type-1 and type-2 diabetes models in rats. It may therefore be used as an alternative remedy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Phyllanthus species plants are a rich source of phenolics and widely used due to their medicinal properties. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed using high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) for the identification and characterization of quercetin, kaempferol, ellagic acid and their derivatives in ethanolic extracts of Phyllanthus species. The chromatographic separation was carried out on Thermo Betasil C8 column (250 mm×4.5 mm, 5 μm) using 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in methanol as the mobile phase. The identification of diagnostic fragment ions and optimization of collision energies were carried out using 21 reference standards. Totally 51 compounds were identified which include 21 compounds identified and characterized unambiguously by comparison with their authentic standards and the remaining 30 were tentatively identified and characterized in ethanolic extracts of P. emblica, P. fraternus, P. amarus and P. niruri.

Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb. (Indian Elm) is a very useful and popular traditional medicinal plant in India. During the last three decades, apart from the chemistry of plant compounds, considerable progress regarding the biological activity and medicinal applications of Indian Elm has been achieved. Ethno-medically, the leaves and stem bark of this plant have been used by tribes as antiviral, antioxidant, antimicrobial, abortifacient preparations and in the management of cancer. Recent studies on plant show that it has potential to fight against tumor and obesity as well. Phytochemical investigation shows the presence of chemical constituents such as terpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, steroids, sterols, saponins, tannins, proteins and flavanoids. The isolated principles such as β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, holoptelin-A, holoptelin-B, hederagenin, hexacosanol, β-D-glucose, friedelin, epifriedelin, 2-amino naphthoquinone, 1,4-naphthalenedione, are considered as responsible for various activities. This review highlights the traditional uses, reported biological/pharmacological activities, isolated compounds and therapeutic applications of Holoptelea integrifolia which might be helpful for scientists and researchers to find out new chemical entities responsible for its claimed traditional uses.

A polyclonal antibody-based antigen-capture ELISA (AC-ELISA) has been developed for detection of Canine parvovirus (CPV) antigens in faecal samples of dogs. The assay uses rabbit anti-CPV polyclonal antibody as the capture antibody, guinea pig anti-CPV polyclonal antibody as tracing antibody and anti-guinea pig HRPO conjugate as the detection system. The optimum dilution of the capture antibody and the tracing antibody capable of detecting the CPV-2 antigens was found to be 1:1 600 and 1:400, respectively, in the check-board titration. In this study, a total of 152 samples (129 faecal samples and 23 cell culture supernatant) were tested both by AC-ELISA and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the samples tested, 69 and 78 samples were found positive by AC-ELISA and PCR, respectively. The AC-ELISA had relative sensitivity, relative specificity and accuracy of 88.4%, 100.0% and 91.4% respectively. The analytical sensitivity of AC-ELISA was estimated to be 102.8 TCID50/mL whereas PCR sensitivity was 100.8 TCID50/mL. The AC-ELISA is a simple, quick and reliable method for screening large numbers of faecal samples of dogs suspected of CPV infection.

Background: The study was conducted in the villages of Chattah zone of Purmandal health block of Jammu district, the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir state of India on ethnic Dogra population. In earlier studies we reported on the prevalence and incidence of dementia amongst a Kashmiri migrant population now settled in Jammu district after their migration from Kashmir valley in 1990. Those studies were conducted in the migrant camp at Mishriwala, 12 km west of Jammu city. We have developed standardized study methods and instruments for use in the Dogri-speaking population, technically similar to the one previously used for screening for dementia in Mishriwala. Objective: To ascertain the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 60 years and above, and to compare prevalence of dementia in the different populations of Jammu district. Methods: A Two stage crosssectional epidemiological study of 1,856 subjects aged 60 years and above, using cognitive and functional ability screening and clinical evaluation. Results: The overall prevalence of dementia in ethnic Dogras 60 years and over was 1.83%, with a small gender difference. Conclusion: The prevalence of dementia in ethnic Dogra population of Jammu district, North India was lower (1.83%) in comparison to the migrant Kashmiri Pandit population residing in the same district.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of stroke in a migrant community (Kashmiri) settled in Jammu district of J&K, India. Methods: The study was conducted as a population based cross-sectional study at Mishriwala, 12 kms west of Jammu city. A door to door survey of 964 individuals of Mishriwala community cluster was conducted with a participation rate of 95%. Results: Eight cases of completed stroke were ascertained yielding a crude prevalence rate of 1,169/100,000 (95% CI=300/100,000-1,700/100,000) in the age group 15 years and above. When the prevalence was standardized to world standard population for age, the prevalence was slightly lower at 856/100,000 (95% CI=400/100,000-11,000/100,000). The proportion of stroke occurring in females (63%) was higher than that in males and the age-specifi c prevalence increased with age. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of stroke among Kashmiri Pandits is comparable to rates reported from the developed world.

We report a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a 31 year old immunocompetent female presenting initially like acute rhinosinusitis with nasal stuffiness, severe headache, vomiting who soon developed isolated right lateral rectus palsy. Computed tomography(CT) scan of the Post-Nasal Spaces(PNS) showed an ill defined expansile heterogenous density mass in the sphenoid with extension into the ethmoids, nasal cavity, optic canal, superior orbital fissure, clivus and right temporal lobe with signal void in Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI). The debris and polypoid mucosa obtained on nasal endoscopy revealed mucormycosis on histopathologic examination. The patient was managed with urgent surgical debridement and medical management.

The use of medicinal plants to cure human illness has been practiced from time immemorial. Nowadays, the vast majority of people still rely on their traditional materia medica for their daily health care needs. The use of plant species for treatment of various human ailments has been mentioned in Ayurveda and other Indian literature. Some of these drugs are believed to enhance the natural resistance of body to infection. So there are many plants having immunostimulatory activity. This paper reviews plants which have shown reported immunostimulatory activity.

Objective: This polyherbal formulation has been traditionally used in the Indian system of medicine as a chief formulation for the treatment of hepatic diseases as hepatoprotective. The aim of the study was to study hepatoprotective activity which will be scientific validation of traditional knowledge claimed about this polyherbal formulation. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by administration of paracetamol (300mg/kg) to the animals. The levels of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, Alkaline phosphatase, Serum Bilirubin), lipid profiles (triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL), creatinine, urea levels and histopathological parameters were measured in order to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of polyherbal formulation. Results: The polyherbal formulation produced a significant hepatoprotective activity of the decoction of polyherbal formulation. The polyherbal formulation (PHF = 1) shows good hepatoprotective activity by lowering the levels of SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin parameters (P<0.05), lipid profiles - cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and histopathological evaluations shows that PHF = 1 and PHF = 3 formulations have significantly hepatoprotective activity (P<0.05). Conclusions: The study validates that polyherbal formulation has a good hepatoprotective activity. Further standardization processes may be performed in order to make it a beneficial hepatoprotective formulation.

Mahonia leschenaultia (ML) and Mahonia napaulensis (MN) are less known and unexplored medicinal plants of the family Berberidaceae. They are used by the Todas of Nilgiris in their religious and medical practices but chemically less identified. Hence, we decided to do extensive phytochemical analysis to explore the potential of these plant extracts. An ultrahigh performance electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS) method was successfully developed for qualitative analysis of the bioactive components in Mahonia species using Orbitrap Velos Pro mass spectrometer. Sixteen compounds were identified by comparison of their retention times and mass spectra (MS) with authentic standards and reported literature. Multi-stage mass spectra (MS2–8) for the identification of protoberberine and aporphine alkaloids showed the sequential expulsion of all the substituents attached with their basic skeleton followed by CO loss. Eight of the identified compounds (berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, magnoflorine, isocorydine, glaucine, tetrahydropalmatine and tetrahydroberberine) were simultaneously determined by another UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS method under the multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode quantitatively using triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. The analytical method was validated for 8 bioactive compounds with overall recovery in the range 98.5%–103.6%(RSD≤2.2%), precise (RSD≤2.07%) and linear (r≥0.9995) over the concentration range of 0.5–1000 ng/mL and successfully applied in ML and MN roots, which suggests the suitability of the proposed approach for the routine analysis of Mahonia species and their quality control.