Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (Asteraceae) is widely used in Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat vitiated conditions of epilepsy, mental illness, hemicrania, jaundice, hepatopathy, diabetes, leprosy, fever, pectoralgia, cough, gastropathy, hernia, hemorrhoids, helminthiasis, dyspepsia and skin diseases. There are reports providing scientific evidences for hypotensive, anxiolytic, neuroleptic, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bronchodialatory, antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective activities of this plant. A wide range of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from this plant including sesquiterpene lactones, eudesmenolides, flavanoids and essential oil. A comprehensive account of the morphology, phytochemical constituents, ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities reported are included in this review for exploring the immense medicinal potential of this plant.

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Background: Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most prevalent nutritional problem affecting pregnant women in India. Untreated Iron deficiency anemia has significant adverse feto-maternal consequences. Methodology:A record based retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence, its associated risk factors and prescribing trends of Iron deficiency in pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital, Gujarat, India. Hb% less than 11 gm% will be considered as anemic. Demographic data, history of pregnancy, laboratory data and prescribing practice were recorded in the predesigned case report form. Result: Out of 350 cases, 257 cases were anemic and 93 cases were nonanemic. The overall prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was found to be 73.4%.In our study majority of the anemic cases were mild (69%) followed by moderate (23%), severe (7%) and very severe (1%). Majority of rural cases (75.87%) registered and higher proportion of anemia was found in third trimester (83.65%). Variables such as gestational age, gravida, parity, abortion, iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy, and complications during pregnancy had significantly associated with the prevalence of anemia. With increasing severity of anemia, hemoglobin value and red cell indices were decreased. Conclusion: High prevalence of anemia in pregnant women was observed with association of several risk factors mentioned. Hemoglobin value and red cell indices were useful tools to check level of iron deficiency anemia. Iron and folic acid tablets are most commonly prescribed during all the trimesters.

The root part of Operculina terpethum has been widely used in Ayurveda to treat variety of common and stress related disorders. The antistress effect of a seven-days treatment (100 and 200 mg / kg, p.o.) of the 80% ethanolic extract of Operculina terpethum root (OTRE) was evaluated by using the swimming endurance test, anoxic tolerance test, and biochemical changes in the cold-restraint stress test. The immunomodulatory activity was also evaluated for the same doses, and treatment of OTRE using the hem agglutination test. Diazepam 1 mg/kg was used as reference standard for the comparison. Both the doses of OTRE showed anti stress activity in all the tested models. 7 days pretreatment of OTRE (100 and 200 mg / kg, p.o.) treated animals showed a decrease in immobility time and an increase in anoxic tolerance time in swimming endurance and the anoxic tolerance tests, respectively. Pretreatment with OTRE significantly ameliorated the cold restraint stress induced variation in biochemical level such as increase in plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, total protein, and cortisol. Further, OTRE treatment significantly inhibited cold restraint stress induced alteration in brain noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin levels. In mice immunized with sheep red blood cells, the treatment groups subjected to restraint stress prevented the humoral immune response to the antigen. The immune stimulating activity of the OTRE was indicated by an increase in the antibody titer in mice pre-immunized with sheep red blood cells and subjected to restraint stress. The findings of the present investigations indicate that the OTRE has significant anti stress activity, which may be due to the immune stimulating property and increased resistance, nonspecifically, against all experimental stress conditions.

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