ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND MOLECULAR DOCKING ANALYSIS OF LEUCAS VESTITA Wall. Ex. Benth. EXTRACT AGAINST CYCLO-OXYGENASE-2

Leucas vestita Wall. ex. Benth., is an endemic species restricted to Western Ghats, India. In this study, the carrageenan-induced anti-inflammatory model was used to evaluate the influence of L. vestita ethanol extract on inflammation. The Ethanol extract was tested for its anti-inflammatory property at a dose of 200mg/kg po. and 400mg/kg po. The paw volume was reduced gradually, three hours after administration of the extract. The extract showed a dosage dependant activity. The compounds present in the ethanol extract were identified by using HPLC and the binding affinity of these compounds against Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2, the enzyme involved in the perception of pain) was analyzed by using FlexX molecular docking suite.

Prediction of drug-resistance using genotypic and docking analysis among anti-retroviral therapy naïve and first-line treatment failures in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

The emergence of drug resistance among HIV-positive patients undergoing Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) with poor adherence to the HAART is a major concern in India. As the HIV accumulates the key mutations, the drug resistance occurs, that pose challenges to the ART regimens currently being used. Thus, the present study was carried out among the ART- naïve patients attending ART Centre at Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. The mutations that concern the drug resistance were discriminated by determining the viral load before and after 6 months. The drug resistance was analyzed by HIV genotyping from the patients possessing a viral load of >1000 copies/mL after 6 months of ART. The mutations pertaining to drug resistance were analyzed by the online Stanford HIV Database. The 3D structures of the RT were modeled and the drugs used in the first-line regimens were docked to explore the effect of mutations on the binding pattern of the drugs. Among the 250 patients, the viral load data were obtained for 213 patients. The study found 23 patients with both virological and immunological failures and HIV drug mutations were also revealed by genotyping. The mutations of I135R/T/V/X, L178 I/M, M184V/I, D67N, K70R, and K103N were the most common among these 23 patients. The present study revealed that the NACO recommended first-line ART regimen is efficient in most of the patients attending ART center. The emergence of drug resistance of HIV variant is common even under the best circumstance of ART. This study reveals that there is a necessity for the implementation of improved and economically systematic attempt that allows the clinicians to make a rational choice of therapy regimen to overcome the first-line therapy failures among the ART- naive.

Effect of Clausena dentata (Willd.) M. Roem. against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Ethanol extract of Clausena dentata (Willd.) M. Roem (Rutaceae) was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in rats. The plant extract (250 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a remarkable hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity as judged from the serum markers for liver damage. Acetaminophen induced a significant rise in aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, gamma glutamate transpeptidase (GGTP) and decrease in total protein. Treatment of rats with ethanol extract (250 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.001) altered serum marker enzymes levels to near normal against acetaminophen treated rats. The activity of the extract was comparable to the standard drug, silymarin (50 mg/kg, p.o.). Histopathological changes of liver sample were compared with respective control. Results indicate that Clausena dentata possesses hepatoprotective effect on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

A study of epilepsy-related psychosis

The association of epilepsy and psychosis is studied. Among the 500 patients of epilepsy evaluated, there were 12 patients, 8 males and 4 females with epilepsy-related psychosis. Their average age was 38 years. The interval between the age of onset of epilepsy and psychotic features was 9 years. Complex partial seizures were present in 7 patients and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizure was present in 1 patient. Four patients had post-ictal psychosis, 7 had acute interictal psychosis and 1 patient had chronic psychosis. The inter-ictal and chronic psychoses were schizophreniform whereas the post-ictal psychoses were not. EEG showed a temporal focus in 7 patients with complex partial seizures and an extra-temporal focus was identified in 4 out of the other 5 patients. Imaging (CT scan/MRI) revealed abnormalities in 10 patients. This study attempts to define the characteristics of psychoses occurring in epileptics.

Prevalence of photosensitivity--an Indian experience

One thousand nine hundred and forty newly recruited entrants for training as pilots (Group A) underwent photic stimulation during EEG recording during the entrance examination to the flying stream. One hundred and sixty individuals (Group B) working on radars for prolonged periods were interviewed for eliciting complaints referable to photosensitivity and were subjected to EEG. EEGs in respect to 1000 cases (Group C) of known epilepsy were examined for the incidence of a photosensitive response. The study has revealed that 14 cases (0.72%) in group A had an abnormal response to photic stimulation out of which one case developed seizure during EEG recording. One case (0.62%) in group B and 30 cases (3%) in group C were detected to have photosensitivity. The maximum response was seen at 20 Hz stimulation. The prevalence of photosensitivity and its manifestations in these groups indicates that this condition is not uncommon.