The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics A Textbook of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics for Physicians and Medical Students. By Prof. Louis Goodman and Prof. Alfred Gilman. Pp. xiii + 1383. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1941.) 50s. net.

The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

Mechanistic explanations how cell-mediated immune activation, inflammation and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways and their sequels and concomitants play a role in the pathophysiology of unipolar depression.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/9/10/551/pdf

Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components.

https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/504971.pdf

Brain membrane lipids in major depression and anxiety disorders

Natural products for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Pharmacology and mechanisms.

Forced swimming test is used to induce a characteristic behavior of immobility in rats, which resem- bles depression in humans to some extent. We evaluated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids alone as well as com- pared it with the standard antidepressant therapy with fluoxetine in both acute and chronic studies. In both the studies, rats were divided into 4 groups and subjected to the following drug interventions n Group 1- control; Group 2- fluoxetine in dose of 10 mg/kg subcutaneously 23.5, 5 and 1 h before the test; Group 3- omega-3 fatty acids in dose of 500 mg/kg orally; Group 4- fluoxetine plus omega-3 fatty acids both. In acute study, omega-3 fatty acids were given in single dose 2 h prior to the test while in chronic study omega-3 fatty acids were given daily for a period of 28 days. All animals were subjected to a 15-min pretest followed 24 h later by a 5-min test. A time sampling method was used to score the behavioral activity in each group. The results revealed that in acute study, omega-3 fatty acids do not have any significant effect in forced swimming test. However, in chron- ic study, omega-3 fatty acids affect the immobility and swimming behavior significantly when compared with control (p < 0.01) without any significant effect on climbing behavior and the efficacy of combination of omega-3 fatty acids and fluoxetine is significantly more than that of fluoxetine alone in changing the behav- ioral activity of rats in forced swimming test. It leads to the conclusion that omega-3 fatty acids have antide- pressant activity per se, and the combination of fluoxetine and omega-3 fatty acids has more antidepressant effi- cacy than fluoxetine alone in forced swimming test in Wistar rats.

/pdf/omega-3-fatty-acids-have-antidepressant-activity-in-forced-gum7tvaux4.pdf

Omega-3 fatty acids have antidepressant activity in forced swimming test in Wistar rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and emerging pandemic of the 21st century. Piperine, the chief alkaloid present in Piper nigrum (black pepper), has a wide array of uses in alternative and complementary therapies. The effect of piperine on blood glucose level was studied in alloxan-induced diabetic mice in acute and subacute study models. Piperine was isolated from the fruits of Piper nigrum crude extract. Diabetes was induced using alloxan in albino mice which were then randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6). In acute study, drugs were administered orally as: control (2% gum acacia, 10 mL/kg), standard (metformin 150 mg/kg), P10 (piperine 10 mg/kg), P20 (piperine 20 mg/kg) and P40 (piperine 40 mg/kg). Drug intervention for subacute study consisted of once daily oral administration for 14 days of 2% gum acacia 10 mL/kg, metformin 250 mg/kg, and piperine 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively, in the control, standard and P5, P10, P20 groups. Blood glucose levels were estimated before and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h post dosing, respectively, in the acute study and on day 7 and 14 in the subacute study. Results of acute study showed that at 2 h post-dosing piperine at high dose of 40 mg/kg showed significant rise in blood glucose level (p < 0.05) in comparison to control group. In contrast, a significant blood glucose lowering effect was seen with piperine at dose of 20 mg/kg on day 14 (p < 0.05) in the subacute study. In summary, we suggest that subacute administration of piperine has statistically significant antihyperglycemic activity while acutely it raises blood glucose at high doses. Further investigations are needed to consider it as prospective anti-diabetic agent at appropriate dosage.

Evaluation of the effect of piperine per se on blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Background Diabetes mellitus is the most rampant metabolic pandemic of the 21(st) century. Piperine, the chief alkaloid of Piper nigrum (black pepper) is widely used in alternative and complementary therapies has been extensively studied for its bio-enhancing property. Objective To evaluate the bio-enhancing effect of piperine with metformin in lowering blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Materials and methods Piperine was isolated from an extract of fruits of P. nigrum. Alloxan-induced (150 mg/kg intraperitoneal) diabetic mice were divided into four groups. Group I (control 2% gum acacia 2 g/100 mL), Group II (metformin 250 mg/kg), Group III (metformin and piperine 250 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg), and Group IV (metformin and piperine 125 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg). All the drugs were administered orally once daily for 28 days. Blood glucose levels were estimated at day 0, day 14, and end of the study (day 28). Results The combination of piperine with therapeutic dose of metformin (10 mg/kg + 250 mg/kg) showed significantly more lowering of blood glucose level as compared to metformin alone on both 14(th) and 28(th) day (P Conclusion Piperine has the potential to be used as a bio-enhancing agent in combination with metformin which can help reduce the dose of metformin and its adverse effects. Summary Piperine is known for its bioenhancing property. This study evaluates the effect of piperine in combination with oral antidiabetic drug metformin. Drugs were administered for 28 days in alloxan induced diabetic mice and blood glucose lowering effect was seen. Results showed significantly better effect of combination of piperine with therapeutic dose of metformin in comparison to metformin alone. Piperine in combination with subtherapeutic dose of metformin also showed better effect than therapeutic dose of metformin. Piperine, thus shows potential to be used as bioenhancer in combination with metformin.

/pdf/bio-enhancing-effect-of-piperine-with-metformin-on-lowering-xde05yf7gm.pdf

Bio-enhancing Effect of Piperine with Metformin on Lowering Blood Glucose Level in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice.

Amisulpride, an atypical antipsychotic was evaluated for antidepressant like activity in forced swimming test in Swiss albino mice. The effect of amisulpride was compared with that of fluoxetine, the standard antidepressant and olanzapine, another atypical antipsychotic claimed to have antidepressant like activity. Both acute and chronic studies were carried out. In both the studies, animals were divided into four groups (n = 8 each) and subjected to oral drug interventions as follows -- Group 1- control (distilled water, 1 mL/kg); Group 2- fluoxetine in a dose of 10 mg/kg 23.5, 5 and 1 h before the test; Group 3-amisulpride in a dose of 70 mg/kg 23.5, 5 and 1 h before the test; Group 4- olanzapine in a dose of 2 mg/kg 23.5, 5 and 1 h before the study. In the chronic study, the treatment was given daily for 28 days with last dose being given 2 h prior to the test. A time sampling method was used to score the behavioral activity in each group. Results of both the studies indicated that animals given amisulpride displayed significant improvement in swimming behavior (p 0.05). We conclude that amisulpride per se has an antidepressant like activity comparable to that of olanzapine though the activity was significantly less than that of fluoxetine.

Evaluation of antidepressant like property of amisulpride per se and its comparison with fluoxetine and olanzapine using forced swimming test in albino mice.

We report a rare case of exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA), occurring exclusively with exercise, without any other associated trigger, detected in the prodromal phase, and prevented from additional anaphylaxis episodes by treatment with cetirizine and 10 mg daily of antileukotriene montelukast to date. EIA is a syndrome in which patients experience a spectrum of the symptoms of anaphylaxis ranging from mild cutaneous signs to severe systemic manifestations such as hypotension, syncope, and even death after increased physical activity. Many people have triggers, such as, a variety of foods, various medications, alcohol, cold weather, humidity, and seasonal and hormonal changes along with exercise that cause the symptoms. Typically, either exercise or the specific trigger alone will rarely cause symptoms. It is differentiated from cholinergic urticaria by the absence of response to passive body warming and emotional stress.

Pradeep Phadnis

Papers

Omega-3 fatty acids have antidepressant activity in forced swimming test in Wistar rats.

Evaluation of the effect of piperine per se on blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Bio-enhancing Effect of Piperine with Metformin on Lowering Blood Glucose Level in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Mice.

Evaluation of antidepressant like property of amisulpride per se and its comparison with fluoxetine and olanzapine using forced swimming test in albino mice.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis and antileukotriene montelukast.