Aim:The present research work was undertaken to study the diagnostic importance of hematobiochemical changes in naturally occurring ehrlichiosis in dogs of Anand region, Gujarat irrespective of their age, breed, and sex.Materials and Methods:Blood samples from a total of 29 dogs of Anand region of Gujarat state were screened for detection of anti-Ehrlichia canis antibodies using Immunocomb® rapid diagnostic kit (Biogal Galed Laboratories, Israel) and subjected to estimation of hematobiochemical parameters by auto hematology analyzers at College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand. Statistical analysis, interpretation and comparison of hematobiochemical changes with scientific literature was carried out in order to understand the pathophysiology of the disease.Results:Of 29 dogs, 18 were positive for naturally occurring ehrlichiosis based on the presence of anti-E. canis antibodies while 11 were negative. Haematology evinced that the mean values of hemoglobin, total erythrocyte counts, platelet count and packed cell volume in dogs with ehrlichiosis decreased significantly (p<0.01) in comparison to healthy dogs. Among differential leucocyte count, mean values of lymphocytes decreased, neutrophils increased, eosinophils decreased and basophils decreased significantly (p<0.05) in dogs with ehrlichiosis in comparison to healthy dogs while statistically non-significant (p>0.05) difference was observed in values of monocytes in dogs with ehrlichiosis and healthy dogs. Among various red blood cells indices, the mean values of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration increased significantly (p<0.01) in dogs with ehrlichiosis in comparison to healthy dogs. Serum biochemistry revealed significant (p<0.01) increase in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and creatinine levels as well as decrease in total protein levels in dogs with ehrlichiosis as compared to healthy dogs.Conclusion:Clinical importance of hematobiochemical changes in 18 natural cases of ehrlichiosis in dogs of Anand region, Gujarat irrespective of their age, breed and sex is discussed, which would aid new insights in diagnosis and therapeutic management.

The objective of the study was to determine the anticancerous efficacy of Ayurvedic preparation made of Semecarpus anacardium (SA) nuts. Five groups of rats were used for the study. Group I served as water control. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was induced in groups II, III and IV animals using N-nitrosodiethylamine as inducing agent followed by phenobarbitone as promoter for 13 weeks. Group-II animals were kept untreated as hepatocellular carcinoma control. Group-III animals were treated with Ayurvedic milk extract of Semecarpus anacardium nuts at dose mentioned in Ashtangahridaya, an authentic book of Ayurveda for 49 days and group-IV animals were treated with doxorubicin as reference drug at dose of 1mg/kg twice a week for 7 weeks. Group V animals were kept as drug (SA nut milk extract) control for studying the effect of nut milk extract on normal rats. After 154 days of experiment, all animals were subjected to screening for HCC by estimation of liver enzymes, HCC marker (alpha-2 macroglobulin) and histopathology. Both liver enzymes and HCC marker were increased in hepatocellular carcinoma control along with neoplastic changes in liver and were decreased in Semecarpus anacardium nut milk extract treated group. The Ayurvedic drug showed positive correlation with the action of doxorubicin. This study demonstrated the efficacy of Semecarpus anacardium nut milk extract for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma either alone or along with chemotherapy.

Aim:The present study was performed to investigate the effect of Phyllanthus amarus extracts on serum biochemical changes in azaserine induced pancreatic cancer in Wistar rats.Materials and Methods:Pancreatic cancer was developed in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of azaserine (cancer inducer) for 21 days at the concentration of 5 mg/kg body weight. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts were given to rats of different groups as per protocol.Results:The results data revealed that oral administration of P. amarus extracts had a significant change in pancreatic amylase, lipase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activity.Conclusion:We concluded that extract of P. amarus possessed chemoprotective activity against azaserine induced pancreatic cancer in Wistar rats.

The experiment was undertaken to study the therapeutic efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Bryophyllum calycinum and Achyranthes aspera on adenine induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in male Wistar rats. The rats (n = 48) were divided randomly into eight equal groups (n = 6 each). Group I and II served as normal and adenine control, respectively. In group II to VIII, CKD was induced by administration of adenine (200 mg/kg) along with drinking water for 28 days. After 28th day, the rats of CKD induced Groups III to VIII were given aqueous and alcoholic plant extracts of B. calycinum and A. aspera @ 300 mg/kg b.wt. orally as either single or combination of both herbal extracts (3:1) in 0.5 % sodium bicarbonate using syringe and rat gavage needle. CKD was confirmed by evaluating serum biochemical parameters before and after herbal treatment. Increased levels of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine and phosphorus, while decreased levels of serum total protein were observed in all CKD groups by 28th day as compared to 0 day or normal control group, which was significantly reverted to near normal levels by day 70th following administration of single aqueous/alcoholic extract or a combination as biherbal extracts (3:1) from day 28 to 70 of experiment. The serum albumin and calcium, however, did not show significant alteration in any of the groups. Results of serum biochemistry revealed that aqueous and alcoholic extracts of B. calycinum and A. aspera possess good therapeutic/nephroprotective efficacy against CKD. The effect of biherbal alcoholic extract of the plants was much better in restoring the biochemical values of CKD induced rats by 42 days of administration.

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