Objective To evaluate awareness and response to stroke among the general public. Materials and Methods In this prospective, observational study, self-reported stroke awareness questionnaire was administered in 2000 consecutive participants who visited outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital. For data analysis, comparison included for awareness of stroke and response in case of stroke. Results The average age of the study participants was 39.64 ± 15.55 (17–85), with 651(32.6%) women. Among the respondents, 786(39.3%) participants mentioned stroke as blood clot in the brain; 268(13.4%) stated it as brain hemorrhage. Awareness of stroke was higher in people in cities (71.0 vs. 8.5%; p < 0.001) and graduates (75.3 vs. 60.9%; p < 0.001) or knew a family member or friend who had stroke (42.7 vs. 30.4%; p < 0.001). Most commonly recognized risk factors included stress (1,152; 57.6%) and hypertension (1,148; 57.4%). Most identified warning sign was weakness of one side of body (807; 40.4%) and speech impairment (658; 32.9%). Participants who were aware of stroke knew a greater number of risk factors (3.75 ± 2.88 vs. 2.45 ± 2.66; p < 0.001) and warning signs (2.85 ± 2.25 vs. 1.49 ± 1.41; p <0.001). Among 1,138 participants who were aware of stroke, 166 (14.6%) participants knew one correct response in case of a stroke, either call a doctor (49.3 vs. 35.0%; p <0.001) or call an ambulance (41.1 vs. 34.9%; p = 0.055). Participants who knew one correct response to stroke had at least a family member/friend who had stroke (44.1 vs. 34.3%; p < 0.022). Conclusion We report that among 56.9% of the participants who were aware of stroke most could not name more than four risk factors or three warning signs of stroke. Only 14.6% of those aware of stroke knew appropriate response to stroke.

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Acalypha indica Linn. (Family; Euphorbiaceae), commonly known as Indian copper leaf in English and other vernacular names includes, Kuppameni, Kuppi and Harittamanjari. The whole plant of A. indica is used in the traditional medicinal system to treat various diseases. In Ayurveda, A. indica used as a laxative, anthelmintic, emetic, expectorant and also used to treat scabies, earache, syphilitic ulcers and snake bites. In Siddha medicine, A. indica is used to treat diseases associated with teeth and gums, stomach aches, irritations, burns, wheezing and respiratory diseases. This plant has been studied for antidiabetic, wound healing, postcoital infertility, antivenom, antiulcer, antimalarial, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, alphaamylase inhibitor, neuroprotective and antioxidant activities. Hence the current study has been assumed to explicate the anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effect of methanolic extract of Acalypha indica Linn. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material The whole plant of Acalypha indica was collected from Hyderabad, Telangana in November and was identified taxonomically and authenticated by P. Suresh Babu, Head Department of Botany, New Government Degree College, Kukatpally. Preparation of methanolic extract The whole plant of Acalypha indica was collected, cleaned, dried under shade for about six days and coarsely powdered in a mixer grinder. The powdered material was stored and taken up for the Soxhlet extraction process. The 300 g of the powdered plant is packed in the Soxhlet

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