Rhizophora mucronata, plant of Mangroove family, found on the coastal region of India and used in treatment of various diseases. Different parts of plants are used in treatment of diabetes as folkloric medicine. The present study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of R. mucronata. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated with RME (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg). Blood glucose levels were evaluated for the acute and sub-acute studies and body weight of rats were also monitored. All the treatments showed the highly significant (p<0.01) hypoglycemic effect in both the acute and the sub-acute studies. RME and glibenclamide treated rats were maintained the body weight during the study period while as the body weight of diabetic rats had gone down. The result of this study scientifically proved the hypoglycemic folkloric use of leaves of R. mucronata in treatment of diabetes.

Background:Flemingia strobilifera (FS) R.Br. (Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant. In wealth of India it has been reported that roots of FS are used by santals in epilepsy, hysteria, insomnia, and to relieve pain. In Burma also the roots of F. strobilifera are used to treat epilepsy.Objective:To investigate anticonvulsant potential of 95% ethanol extract and four subsequent fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions of the roots of FS against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock (MES) induced convulsions.Material and Methods:All the fractions and crude ethanol extract were administered (i.e., 200, 400, 600 mg/kg, p.o.) for 7 days and at the end of the treatment convulsions were induced experimentally using pentylenetetrazole and Maximal electroshock Test. Diazepam and phenytoin (4 mg/kg, i.p. and 20 mg/kg, i.p., respectively) were used as reference anticonvulsant drugs against experimentally induced convulsions. The latency of tonic convulsions and the numbers of animals protected from tonic convulsions were noted.Results:High doses (200 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) of ethyl acetate fraction and 95% ethanol crude extract (400 and 600 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the duration of seizure induced by maximal electroshock (MES). The same dose also protected from pentylenetetrzole-induced tonic seizures and significantly delayed the onset of tonic seizures. However, pet, ether, chloroform, and aqueous fraction at any of the doses used (i.e., 100, 200, 300 mg/kg, p.o.) did not show any significant effect on PTZ and MES induced convulsions. The treatment with crude ethanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction caused signs of central nervous system depressant action in the locomotor activity test, confirmed by the potentiation of sodium pentobarbital sleeping time. Both did not cause disturbance in motor coordination assessed by rotarod test.Conclusion:The data suggest that crude ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction of roots of Flemingia strobilifera have a central nervous system depressant action and behave as a potential anticonvulsant. It may produce its anticonvulsant effect via non-specific mechanism since it reduced the duration of seizures produced by maximal electroshock as well as delayed the latency of seizures produced by pentylenetetrazole.

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A rapid and sensitive reverse phase RP-HPLC method is proposed for the estimation of tamsulosin hydrochloride in tablets. Tamsulosin hydrochloride was chromatographed on a reverse phase C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water in the ratio of 50:50 v/v. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. The eluents were monitored at 214 nm. The retention time of the drug was 1.7 min. With this method, linearity was observed between area under curve and concentration of tamsulosin hydrochloride in the injected solution, in the range of 5 to 100 μg/ml. The method was found to be applicable for analysis of the drug in tablets. The results were validated statistically.

Background: Adolescence is a developmental phase between childhood and adulthood, a period where one gains a desire of intimacy and increased responsibilities. Based on their interaction with family and society, adolescents develop positive outcomes such as getting involved in healthy behaviour and negative outcomes such as depression and substance abuse. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of poor psychological well-being and substance abuse among adolescents (13 to 19 years) in Central Kerala, and to assess the role of substance abuse in psychological well-being in adolescents.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 300 secondary and higher secondary school students in three government aided institutions in Central Kerala. All students available in the school at the time of the study formed the inclusion criteria; however, 10th standard students were excluded. Data on basic demographic variables were collected. General Health Questionnaire and Adolescent Alcohol Drug Involvement Scale (AADIS) were used to collect information on psychological wellbeing and alcohol use. The data were entered and analysed using standard statistical package. For significance testing, Chi square test was carried out.Results: Mean age was 14.49 years with a standard deviation of 1.31. Males were 64.5% and 82.6% belonged to nuclear family. Psychological wellbeing was significantly better in males compared to females (p=0.025). Males (7.6%) and females (4.3%) were found to be using alcohol by AADIS questionnaire. Those who were not under the influence of alcohol had better well-being when compared to those who consumed alcohol (p=0.0016).Conclusions: Prevalence of poor psychological wellbeing and substance abuse among adolescents was 7.8% and 6.4% respectively. Females were more emotionally unstable than males. Substance abuse cause further deterioration of mental function in adolescents.