Background: Herbs and spices have long been used for both food and medicinal purposes in different world civilizations. In Nepal, various herbs and spices are used for culinary purposes. In addition, a range of bioactive compounds present in herbs and spices have been associated with multiple beneficial health properties. This paper aims to illustrate the diverse availability of traditional herbs and spices used in Nepali cuisine with their traditional uses along with their major phytochemicals and pharmacological activities.Methods: Information related to traditional uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities were compiled from the published research articles, books, and book chapters.Results: This study documented 50 herbs and spices with their traditional uses, the phytochemicals present and their medicinal application. Numerous bioactive compounds are reported such as polyphenols, quinines, organosulfur compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, polypeptides, etc. and these compounds possess diverse pharmacological activities. These herbs and spices were primarily studied for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and antipyretic activities. Conclusion:The different scientific studies highlighted in this review suggest that most of the health effects of herbs and spices are observed on various chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of culinary herbs and spices can act to improve the overall health system. There are nutraceutical potentials that may open new opportunities for herb and spices-based enterprises.
Background and Aims Doxycycline is recommended for use in rickettsial diseases. The available evidence regarding its safety for rickettsial infection in pregnancy is limited. Our study aimed to describe the adverse events of doxycycline when used during pregnancy for any indication, in terms of adverse maternal and/or neonatal outcomes, using the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods We used the OpenVigil software for extracting the safety reports from the United States submitted to the FAERS from 2004 to 2021. We manually reviewed reports of doxycycline use resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes or congenital anomalies to describe the patient and safety event characteristics. Results From 2004 to 2021, 59 individual case safety reports containing preferred terms indicative of drug exposure during pregnancy or drug‐induced adverse fetal outcomes were identified in the FAERS database. Following deduplication and manual review, 20 relevant adverse event reports were obtained. Doxycycline was the suspect medication in 13/20 (65%) reports. The common adverse event terms reported were premature delivery/baby in 6 reports, spontaneous abortion in 6, intrauterine death in 2, and various congenital anomalies in the rest. Fifty percent of the safety reports contained other medications which could have potentially caused the outcome. Conclusions The number of reported events in the FAERS database of adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcomes following doxycycline use is small, similar to the numbers reported from large cohort or surveillance studies. Given the presence of concomitant medications that could have contributed to the outcome, there does not seem to be a strong signal of harm, although this needs to be confirmed by surveillance studies.
Introduction: Diuresis is an important pharmacological property which is useful in many clinical conditions. There is a need of better diuretics with lesser adverse effects in comparison to currently available diuretics. The study aimed to evaluate the diuretic activity of aqueous extract of fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica L. in rats.Methods: The study was undertaken with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica in three doses: 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and1200 mg/kg for its diuretic activity in comparison with standard (furosemide) and vehicle control (normal saline) in Wistar rats. Urine volume and electrolytes were measured after 24 hours of drug administration.Results: Aqueous extract of fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica at the dose of 1200 mg/kg exhibited significant diuretic activity (p<0.05) without significant natriuretic effect. Magnesium excretion was also significantly increased in comparison to control group.Conclusion: Aqueous extract of fruit pulp of Tamarindus indica has significant diuretic activity in Wistar rats.
Introduction: Gram negative bacteria are commonly involved in wound infections and are significantly associated with morbidity and mortality because of increasing resistance to commonly used antibacterial agents. This study aims to evaluate the pattern of antibacterial sensitivity of the gram negative bacteria from wound swabs of accidental trauma cases. Methods: This retrospective study was done by collecting all the culture positive reports for wound swabs of accidental wounds from the microbiology laboratory and analyzing the reports showing growth of gram negative bacteria for frequency of sensitivity to commonly used antibacterial agents. Results: Culture positivity rate was 21.95% with growth of gram negative bacteria in 79.7% of cases. The most commonly isolated organism was Escherichia coli being 41.3% among gram negative isolates. Highly resistant bacteria were E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp. Conclusions: As there is low culture positivity rate for wound swabs obtained before washing the wounds inflicted by accidental trauma, prolonged routine use of prophylactic antibiotic is not justified. Thoroughly washing the wound is very likely to decrease the rate of wound infection further and reduces the need of antibacterial agents. Culture and sensitivity test should guide the treatment when wound is infected because highly resistant gram negative organism may be involved in such cases.
Introduction: Antibiotic resistance has been described by World Health Organisation as a major global health problem that threats our ability to treat common infectious diseases and needs urgent action. Among many other factors, knowledge and behaviour of community members that lead to inappropriate use of antibiotic highly contributes to development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Hence this study has been undertaken with the aim to assess the knowledge and attitude related to antibiotic use among high school students. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based survey was conducted at a Kathmandu based high-school. The data were collected via self-administered questionnaire after verbal consent for voluntary participation. There were nine questions related to knowledge and five questions related to attitude. Data were aggregated to compile frequency distribution tables and the percentages of responses were calculated. Result: A total of 232 students participated in the study. In the questions related to knowledge, nearly 62% of the students agreed to the statement “Antibiotics are needed to cure most coughs and cold”. About 19% students were not sure whether antibiotics can kill the useful bacteria in our body. In the attitude part, 53.87% students responded that they stop taking antibiotics when they start to feel better and 59.91% students responded that they buy antibiotics on their own from a pharmacist when needed. Conclusions: The deficiencies in basic understanding about the nature and use of antibiotics and casual attitude in their use among high school students is a matter of great concern as it poses many serious problems including promotion of antibiotic resistance
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