Central Drug Research Institute

About: Central Drug Research Institute is a facility organization based out in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Leishmania donovani. The organization has 4357 authors who have published 7257 publications receiving 143871 citations. The organization is also known as: Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow & CDRI.

Evaluation of ethanol leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum in experimental models of anxiety and depression.

Abstract: Context: Recent studies reveal the co-occurrence of both anxiety and depressive disorders in many clinical conditions, which has introduced the concept of mixed anxiety and depressive disorders (MADD).Objective: The study evaluated the ethanol leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum (OS) Linn. (Labiatae), a prominent medicinal plant, against both anxiety and depressive disorder, to evaluate its potency in combating MADD.Materials and methods: Swiss albino mice weighing 20–25 g were used. Gross behavior was observed through Digiscan animal activity monitor. Depression was studied through tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST). Anxiety experiments included light dark test, elevated plus maze test, and holeboard test. Further, rotarod test was also used to study any defects in motor coordination.Discussion and conclusion: OS at 200 mg/kg showed motor-depressant activity as evaluated with locomotor activity and stereotypy measures. OS at 50 mg/kg shortened the immobility time in the TST and FST, respect...

Prognostic predictors of acute transverse myelitis.

Abstract: Introduction – The role of clinical, MRI and neurophysiological parameters in predicting the outcome of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is reported. Materials and methods – Thirty-one patients with ATM were subjected to clinical, MRI, somatosensory and motor evoked potential studies in both upper and lower limbs and concentric needle electromyography. The outcome was defined at the end of 6 months into poor (Barthel Index score <12) and good (<12). The relationship of various prognostic variables was evaluated by biserial correlation coefficient and stepwise discriminant analysis. Results – The mean age of the patients was 30.4 years and 7 were females. Fifteen patients had good and 16 had poor outcome. The variables significantly related to the outcome included severity of weakness, denervation on EMG and unrecordable central motor conduction time to tibialis anterior (CMCT-TA) and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). Combination of severity of weakness and EMG had 90.3% predicting power. Addition of central sensory conduction time (CSCT) or central motor conduction time (CMCT) did not offer further advantage. Conclusion – Severity of weakness and denervation on EMG are most useful for predicting the outcome of ATM at 6 months although in early stage motor and somatosensory evoked potentials may be used instead of EMG.

Platelets and Atherothrombosis: Causes, Targets and Treatments for Thrombosis

Abstract: Arterial thrombosis is the acute complication that develops on the chronic lesions of atherosclerosis and reasons heart attack and stroke, today the most common causes of mortality in developed countries. According to the WHO, 17.1 million people died world wide of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), per year, accounting for one-third of all deaths globally. On the basis of current estimates from the American Heart Association, more than 60 million people in the United States alone have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease, and a high proportion of these individuals are at increased risk of arterial thrombosis. The involvement of platelets in atherogenesis and the subsequent formation of occlusive thrombi depend on platelets' adhesive properties and the ability to respond to stimuli with rapid activation. By understanding the multifaceted mechanisms involved in platelet interactions with vascular surfaces and aggregation, new approaches can be tailored to selectively inhibit the pathways most relevant to the pathological aspects of atherothrombosis. The present review aims to describe the haemostasis phenomenon along with the centrality of the platelet in atherothrombosis, and briefly looks at the efficacy of reported antiplatelet agents.

Terminalia arjuna: an Ayurvedic cardiotonic, regulates lipid metabolism in hyperlipaemic rats

Abstract: The lipid lowering action of the bark powder of Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) has been studied in triton and cholesterol fed rats. Serum lipids were found to be lowered by T. arjuna (100 mglkg, b.w.) in triton induced hyperlipaemia. Chronic feeding of this powder (100 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) in animals simultaneously fed with cholesterol (25 mg/kg, b.w.) for 30 days, caused lowering in lipids and protein levels of β-lipoproteins followed by an increase in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol compared with the cholesterol fed groups. T. arjuna alters lipolytic activities in plasma, liver, heart and adipose tissues of hyperlipaemic rats. The lipid lowering action of this natural product is mediated through inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis, increased faecal bile acid excretion and enhanced plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and stimulation of receptor mediated catabolism of low density lipoprotein.