The aim of the present study was to investigate the reducing sugar, total phenolic content, and in vitro antioxidant activity of 70% ( v / v ) ethanolic extract of seven medicinal plants grown in Nepal. The reducing sugar content and total phenolic content were determined by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The reducing sugar content of the studied plant samples ranged from 6.89 ± 2.44 to 674.13 ± 2.43  mg GE/g dry extract weight and the total phenolic content ranged from 14.87 ± 0.41 to 281.71 ± 1.47  mg GAE/g dry extract weight. The reducing sugar and total phenolic content were found highest in Ficus glaberrima. Antioxidant activity was found highest in Melastoma malabathricum (IC50 value = 6.27  μg/mL), followed by F. glaberrima (IC50 value = 11.7  μg/mL). A positive and significant correlation was found between (i) total phenolic content and reducing sugar content and (ii) total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The present study is the first study for the analysis of reducing sugar content of selected plants and for the scientific exploration of F. glaberrima. The present result suggests that the various parts of these studied plants could be assumed as a rich source of biologically active compounds and considered beneficial for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Background Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a rare multiorgan system disorder that may present as a fatal complication of underlying rheumatological disease, including dermatomyositis. Case presentation Here, we report the case of a 65-year-old Caucasian female with a history of psoriasis and a recent diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who presented with progressive generalized weakness, joint pains, an erythematous rash, shortness of breath, and weight loss. She was ultimately diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis complicated by MAS, requiring intravenous immunoglobulin and high-dose methylprednisolone. Conclusions This report serves as a clinical reminder of the rare, yet clinically relevant association between MDA5-positive dermatomyositis and MAS, as well as highlights the potential contribution of other immune system activating diseases, such as COVID-19, associated with a cytokine storm and hyperinflammatory state.

Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam is a multipurpose tree used by the Nepalese indigenous people for medicinal purposes such as rheumatism, asthma, and ulcer and other purposes such as cooking and lighting. However, there is no scientific evidence for the medicinal uses of this plant. The present study aimed to explore the phytochemical constituents, estimate the total phenolic content, evaluate antioxidant activity, and investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of aqueous extract of Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H.J. Lam bark (ADBB). Phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods. The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The in vitro antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and nitric oxide radical scavenging assay. For the in vivo studies, the plant extract was given in three different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight) to male albino Wistar rats. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies were carried out using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and the hot plate method, respectively. Results revealed the presence of different phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, and carbohydrates together with a considerable amount of phenolic compounds. Antioxidant assays indicated the potent antioxidant activity of the plant extracts. The higher dose of D. butyracea (200 mg/kg) exhibited a maximum and significant inhibition (53.20%) of rat hind paw edema volume at 4 h and showed a greater increment in latency time (12.15 ± 1.81 sec) in the hot plate test at 120 min. The present study demonstrated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic potential of ADBB, which supports its traditional medicinal use.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a most common micro vascular complication of diabetes posing significant morbidity and mortality with early and insidious onset. Studies has variably pointed that older age, gender, duration of diabetes, dyslipidemia, are linked with development of DPN. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of neuropathy in diabetic patients and see its link with age, gender, duration of diabetes, therapy and ethnicity. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 110 clinically diagnosed diabetic patients, meeting the inclusion criteria. Basic demographic data were taken during clinical examination. Presence of degree of neuropathy was screened by measuring vibration perception threshold using Biothesiometer. Data was entered on SPSS and were categorized, necessary non parametric statistical tests were applied to these categorical variables as needed. The level of significance was set at p value less than 0.05. Results: Presence of neuropathy was measured in 110 diabetic patients. The overall prevalence of DPN was 45.45%. Frequency of neuropathy was higher with increase in age with 72.7% in more than 60 years of age and 23.5% in less than or equal to 40 years of age group (p=0.007). Similarly, the increasing trend of DPN with increase in duration of DM was evident in this study with DPN present in more than 55% of patients with more than 5 years of diabetes(p=0.004). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of DPN in diabetes was observed to be higher (45.45%). Our result suggested that DPN is associated with old age and the duration of diabetes mellitus. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.10(1) 2019 72-76

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