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Spondias mombin is valued ethno medically in folkloric medicine. This medicinal plant according to traditional claim is said to cure various infectious and inflammatory ailments of gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inflammatory conditions is said to result in oxidative stress. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Spondias mombin especially its leaves, have been linked to a range of compounds in it viz., anthraquinones, berberine, flavonoids, naphthoquinones, sesquiterpenes, quassiniods, indole and quinoline alkaloids. Hence, we aimed at exploring the antioxidant potential of the leaf extract of Spondias mombin by in vitro methods. The ethanolic extract of leaves was subjected to spectrophotometric analysis and DPPH methods to explore its reducing potential. The total phenolic and total flavonoid content was estimated by colorimetric methods. It was observed that ethanolic extract of Spondias mombin demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in the reducing property, with higher potency than the reference compound sodium metabisulphate. Spondias mombin shade dried leaf powder macerated and later extracted with hot water possessed a significantly high content of flavonoids than those extracted with other solvents. The leaf extract of Spondias mombin possesses significant antioxidant activity that may be attributed to its high flavonoid content which could afford protection in inflammatory conditions. This finding strengthens its widespread use in traditional medicine. Animal studies and clinical trials are necessary to validate these beneficial properties and translate them into clinical utility.

Pharmacology is an important aspect of rational therapeutics. There has been a long-standing need for a change in the undergraduate medical curriculum of pharmacology. A review of literature throws up different approaches to improve the curriculum and to provide more importance to conceptualization and relevance to clinical practice. This article describes the undergraduate pharmacology curriculum which is revised to meet the needs of our unique status as an international medical college in India. We highlight how our curriculum prepares the students for future clinical practice by inculcating higher cognitive skills and soft skills. This article also provides a model for program evaluation and also challenges faced by our department while executing the planned curriculum.

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