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BackgroundGlucocorticoid is among the most commonly prescribed medicine. Unfortunately, Excess glucocorticoid level leads hypertension in 80–90% patients. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used since ancient times and even nowadays as a part of popular medicine for various ailments and physiological disorders. Hence this study was undertaken to investigate the antihypertensive activity of allicin in dexamethasone induced hypertension in wistar rats.MethodsThe animals were randomly divided into four groups comprising of six rats per group. Hypertension was induced by subcutaneous injection of dexamethasone (10 μg/rat/day) in hypertensive rats. Two hypertensive group animals were treated with nicorandil (6 mg/kg/day, po) and allicin (8 mg/kg/day, po) respectively for 8 weeks. While systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by the tail-cuff method weekly up to 8 weeks.ResultsDexamethasone treatment resulted in significant increase in SBP while allicin treatment significantly decreases the SBP. Thus, this study confirmed that allicin treatment for 8 weeks partially reverse dexamethasone induced hypertension in rats. Allicin treatment also attenuated dexamethasone-induced anorexia and loss of total body weight.ConclusionThis result suggests antihypertensive effects of allicin in dexamethasone induced hypertension. However, further studies are needed to explore the detailed mechanism of antihypertensive effect of allicin.

Abstract:The garlic (Allium sativum L., Amaryllidaceae) has been popularly used in the treatment of diabetes and cardiac complications. In the present work, we have studied the possible mechanisms, sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) selectivity of allicin in diabetic hypertensive rats. Diabetic hypertension was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) followed by daily administration of dexamethasone (10 μg/kg, s.c.). Different parameters, blood pressure and blood glucose levels were studied in the rats weekly up to eight weeks. Allicin (8 mg/ kg, p.o.) shows potent antidiabetic (*p<0.001) as well as antihypertensive effect (**p<0.001, *p<0.01). It may act as a vasodilator by hyperpolarizing the membrane of normal vascular smooth muscle cells. The hyperpolarization in vascular smooth muscle occurs due to K + channel opener activity. Antihypertensive effect of allicin is inhibited by glibenclamide, nonselective SUR blocker while combination of allicin with nateglinide, selective SUR1 blocker exerted synergistic antihypertensive effect. The results indicates that allicin is effective in the treatment of diabetic hypertension; through a mechanism that might involve selective opening of SUR2.

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate neuroprotective efficacy of swarna bhasma on cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation in rats. Radial arm maze and elevated plus maze methods were used for behavioural testing in rats. The male albino rats were divided into five experimental groups as normal, sleep deprived control, galantamine and two test groups of swarna bhasma. All the animals except normal were kept on daily 8 to 9 hrs sleep restriction for the induction of cognitive impairment. The cognitive performances were checked on the 7th, 14th and 20th day. Treatment with Swarna bhasma reversed the performances by improved spatial memory, increased correct arm entries, decreased number of errors, time to complete task and decreased in transfer latency. Estimation of biochemical parameters in blood plasma of treated groups with Swarna bhasma showed to be more potent antioxidant and reverts the sleep deprived induced cognitive deficits in rats.

Background and Objective: Alopecia or hair loss is a common dermatological problem that transcends demographic, economic, racial, gender and age barriers. There are a number of factors that affect hair growth. Amongst them, the key factors that affect hair growth are growth hormones and cytokines which are produced by the body. Ellagic Acid (EA) is a polyphenol found in a certain fruits and nuts like; grapes, pomegranate, walnuts, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, Morinda citrifolia and Terminalia chebula. It is one of the most promising chemopreventive agents. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of EA on hair growth promoting activity in rats. Materials and Methods: The EA was studied for hair growth promoting activity in rats. Testosterone (T) administered sub-cutaneously (s.c.) for 21 days used to induce androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Minoxidil solution was applied topically served as standard. Body weight, histological parameter and hormonal parameter were estimated on post-induction day and at the end of the treatment day to observed hair growth property of EA. Results: The administration of testosterone leads to an increase in body weight, muscle tightness and hair loss. The EA was able to exert re-growth of hair by bringing back parameters to normal and improvement in the quantification of hair growth in rats. Conclusion: The EA showed a gainful outcome in testosterone-induced androgenetic alopecia in male rats. Its effects were comparable to the standard drug Minoxidil solution which is most widely used for hair growth in patients with androgenetic alopecia.