No abstract

Aim: In Ayurveda, various Ocimum species have therapeutic potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of some antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy. O. sanctum has two flavonoid compounds that are orientin and vicenin, and both are responsible for their anti-seizure properties in epilepsy. Material and Methods: The ultraviolet spectroscopy instrument was used to detect the absorbance of light by the active constituent present in the herbal extract at various concentrations. A turbidity meter was used to detect the amount of turbidity in the sample. Phenobarbital (PB 40 mg/kg, per oral [p.o.]) and O. sanctum hydroalcoholic leaf extract (OSHE 1000 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered every other day for 2 weeks in which two acute models, maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), models of epilepsy were used. Result: The outcome result data were statistically compared and showed Tukey test P < 0.05 of significant anticonvulsive activity as compared to control and standard (phenobarbitone). Conclusion: We have investigated the anti-seizure activity of PB with hydroalcoholic leaves extract of O. sanctum L. by using the electrically maximal electroshock seizure and chemically (PTZ) induced convulsion acute models of epilepsy on mice. As per the histopathological study, photomicrographs (×40) of mice brain tissue showed no neuronal degenerations or focal microglia sensitivities in OSHE + PB treated group. We concluded that the standard drug exhibits a synergistic effect with OSHE for the treatment of acute seizures in mice.

Background: We estimated plasma amyloid-peptides levels (Aβ 1-42 and Aβ 1-40 ) as diagnostic biomarker of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and evaluated its association with clinical severity and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) Z score of the different brain regions in the Indian population. Patients and Methods: A case-control study was conducted. Diagnostic and statistical manual-IV, Dubois, and NIA-AA criteria were used for the diagnosis of AD. The plasma Aβ 1-42 and Aβ 1-40 concentration and 18F-FDG PET Z score were estimated for different brain regions. Results: Forty-seven cognitive impairment patients (AD = 29, mild cognitive impairment = 18) and 33 age-matched controls were enrolled. Plasma Aβ 1-42 level was significantly higher in the AD group compared to controls ( P = 0.046) and a cut-off >5.7 ng/mL has a specificity of 96.9%, sensitivity of 27.6%, positive predictive value 88.9%, and negative predictive value 60.4% for differentiating AD patients from controls. Significant correlation was seen between Aβ 1-40 /Aβ 1-42 ratio and 18F-FDG PET Z score in the bilateral-parietal, temporal, frontal-association area, and posterior-cingulate areas. Conclusion: As a diagnostic biomarker of AD, plasma Aβ 1-42 level showed good specificity but low sensitivity in the Indian population.