The Major depression is a serious chronic mental illness with pessimism and low self-esteem. There occur functional deficiency of monoamine neurotransmission viz. noradrenaline, 5-HT, and dopamine. The known antidepressants (TCA/MAO-I, SSRI, SNRI) facilitate monoamine neurotransmission (monoamine theory). 1 Other causes underlying major depression are under investigations. Anti-depressant drugs show side effect and effectiveness is limited, 30% may not respond. Hence the search for new anti-depressant without side effect is important. 9 Currently there is increasing research on traditional AYUSH system of medicine. 7,11 Traditional medicines on the basis of their known efficacy observations traditionally are considered safe and free from adverse effect and toxicity unlike allopathic medicines. Efforts are underway to develop natural herbs for their anti-depressant use. 8 India has reach herbs used traditionally for various ailments. Few have been explored by various researchers for anti-depressant activity. Areca catechu has been anecdotally reported for anti-depressant action. 9 Hence the aim of present study was to investigate anti-depressant activity of areca catechu nut in experimental rats. METHODS The experimental protocol was approved by IAEC (registration no.805/03/ca/CPCSEA). Areca catechu nuts were collected locally and authenticated by local botanist. a) Preparation of ethanolic extract: areca nuts (betel nuts) were crushed into fine powder. The powder was subjected to hot percolation using ethanol (1:4). The extract then passed through filter paper 1. Ethanol was evaporated by heating, drying was done in desiccator.
This study investigated whether the course of infectious mononucleosis was influenced by medication with ranitidine (Zantac). A double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 117 patients and either ranitidine 300 mg or placebo were given twice daily for 2 wk. Patients were examined on day 5, 10, 15 and 30. Efficacy variables included severity and duration of fever, scores of cervical lymph node size and tonsil size, eating problems, fatigue, influence on general condition, the use of analgesics and blood analyses. Results were analysed in 91/117 patients. Small differences were found between treatment groups in favour of the active drug. However, they were not statistically significant. After 2 wks of treatment abnormal 'liver enzymes' (ALAT/ASAT) were found in 13/48 (0.27) of the ranitidine group in contrast with 18/36 (0.50) of the placebo group (P = 0.03). The conclusion is that the course of infectious mononucleosis is little influenced by ranitidine treatment for 2 wks. The faster normalization of the 'liver enzymes' may reflect modulation of the immune system by ranitidine.
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