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Background:To study the anticonvulsant effect of different extracts of Centella asiatica (CA) in male albino rats with reference to Na+/K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+-ATPase activities.Materials and Methods:Male Wistar rats (150±25 g b.w.) were divided into seven groups of six each i.e. (a) control rats treated with saline, (b) pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic group (60 mg/kg, i.p.), (c) epileptic group pretreated with n-hexane extract (n-HE), (d) epileptic group pretreated with chloroform extract (CE), (e) epileptic group pretreated with ethyl acetate extract (EAE), (f) epileptic group pretreated with n-butanol extract (n-BE), and (g) epileptic group pretreated with aqueous extract (AE).Results:The activities of three ATPases were decreased in different regions of brain during PTZ-induced epilepsy and were increased in epileptic rats pretreated with different extracts of CA except AE.Conclusion:The extracts of C. asiatica, except AE, possess anticonvulsant and neuroprotective activity and thus can be used for effective management in treatment of epileptic seizures.

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BACKGROUND There is a need for regional anaesthesia which offers quicker onset and prolonged duration with less adverse effects to the patients. Since a long time efforts are being made to find out a better adjuvant in regional anaesthesia. This study was undertaken to compare the analgesic and sedative effects of Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine when used as a neuraxial adjuvant to ropivacaine in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A randomized, prospective, double-blind, comparative study was done in 60 patients of ASA I/II grade (American Society of Anesthesiologists), undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. Randomization was carried out and the patients were divided into two groups: ropivacaine + clonidine (Group A) and ropivacaine + dexmedetomidine (Group B), consisting of 30 in each. Group A was given admixture of 19 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine and 1 ml of 2 μg/kg of clonidine while Group B was given 19 ml of 0.75% epidural ropivacaine and 1 ml of 1.5 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine. Onset of sensory block, onset of motor block, duration of motor block, duration of analgesia, degree of sedation and side effects were observed. The data was statistically analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 17 for windows. RESULTS The study results showed that the mean time of onset of sensory and motor blockade in Group B is less when compared to Group A. The duration of motor blockade and the duration of analgesia was significantly higher in Group B compared to Group A. These differences are statistically significant. In terms of safety, the hemodynamic parameters and side effects are same in both the groups. CONCLUSION Dexmedetomidine proved to be a better neuraxial adjuvant in providing early onset of analgesia, prolonged analgesia in the postoperative period and adequate sedation when compared to Clonidine.

Trigonella foenum-graecum (TG) is one of the important medicinal plant which have antioxidant, antidiabetic, antilipidemic and antimicrobial properties. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the free radical scavenging properties, the total phenolic, total flavonoid content and phytochemical screening of Trigonella foenum-graecum. The antioxidant activities like 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl activity, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and reducing power activities are investigated in the methanolic extract and aqueous extract of TG. Results of this study showed that TG possess good free radical scavenging activity in methanolic extract than aqueous extract. Significant levels of phenolic and flavonoid contents were found in TG. The phytochemicals like alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds etc. are present in methanolic extract and aqueous extract of TG. Our investigation indicates that free radical scavenging activities, phenolic and flavonoid compounds in TG may play an important role in reducing the oxidative stress in diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart attack.