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Bryonia laciniosa Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) seed is used in traditional medicine for a number of ailments including metabolic disorders. This investigation was carried out to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of the ethanolic extract of seeds of B. laciniosa Linn. and its saponin fraction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The ethanolic extract (250 and 500 mg/kg; p.o.) and saponin fraction (100 and 200 mg/kg; p.o.) were administered to diabetic rats and standard drug insulin (5 IU/kg; i.p.) to the group serving as a positive control. Effects of the ethanolic extract and saponin fraction on various biochemical parameters were studied in diabetic rats. Data were statistically analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's t-test. Oral administration of the ethanolic extract and saponin fraction for 28 days to streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the levels of blood glucose and improved the levels of plasma insulin. The levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase, urea, and creatinine were markedly altered in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of the ethanolic extract and saponin fraction restored all these biochemical parameters to near control levels. This study reveals the efficacy of B. laciniosa seed extract and its saponin fraction in the amelioration of diabetes and its associated complications.

Introduction: Dacryocystitis is an infection and an inflammation of the lacrimal sac and is an important cause of ocular morbidity in India., Objective: To isolate and identify the bacterial patterns associated with dacryocystitis and to determine their antibacterial sensitivity pattern., Materials and Methods: A total of 100 lacrimal swab materials were subjected to bacterial analysis. Children less than 8 years were not included in the study., Results: The chances of chronic dacryocystitis were more than acute dacryocystitis and were commonly found in the age group of 41 - 50 years. Females were more vulnerable to the infection than males. From a 100 samples a total of 122 bacterial isolates were obtained. Both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria were equally distributed in the study. The most common organism associated with the infection was S. aureus. The antibacterial sensitivity showed more effectiveness towards Gram positive isolates than Gram negative isolates., Conclusion: Both Gram positive and Gram negative organism are associated with with chronic dacryocystitis. Knowledge of the bacteriology of dacryocystitis and the susceptibility of the bacteria towards antibiotics will better guide a clinician in the choice of the medication for the most appropriate drug for the treatment., (© NEPjOPH.)

The effect of cromakalim, a potassium-channel opener, was studied on pylorus ligation-induced, aspirin-induced and water-immersion plus restraint stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats and on histamine-induced duodenal ulcer in guinea-pigs. Pretreatment with cromakalim (50-500 micrograms kg-1, p.o.) resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of gastric and duodenal ulceration in each model. The anti-ulcer activity of cromakalim was comparable with that of cimetidine. Cromakalim at 100, 250 and 500 micrograms kg-1 caused a reduction in the volume of the gastric content in pylorus-ligated rats, and a dose of 250 micrograms kg-1 resulted in a significant reduction in total acidity (28.81 +/- 11.73 mEq L-1, P < 0.02) in the pylorus ligation model. A significant reduction in total acid output was observed at doses of 250 micrograms kg-1 (84.27 +/- 22.33 mEqH+, P < 0.02) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (120.17 +/- 24.49 mEqH+, P < 0.01) in pylorus-ligated rats. A significant reduction in the ulcer index in pylorus-ligated rats was observed at all cromakalim doses: 50 micrograms kg-1 (0.23 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05), 100 micrograms kg-1 (0.15 +/- 0.09, P < 0.02), 250 micrograms kg-1 (0.12 +/- 0.05, P < 0.01) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (0.14 +/- 0.03, P < 0.02). A significant reduction in the ulcer index of aspirin-treated rats was also observed at all cromakalim dose levels: 50 micrograms kg-1 (0.39 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01), 100 micrograms kg-1 (0.28 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01), 250 micrograms kg-1 (0.22 +/- 0.04, P < 0.001) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (0.28 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01). In the water-immersion plus restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer model, cromakalim significantly reduced gastric ulceration at all the dose levels: 50 micrograms kg-1 (28.2 +/- 2.12, P < 0.001), 100 micrograms kg-1 (20.24 +/- 1.71, P < 0.01), 250 micrograms kg-1 (19.95 +/- 1.46, P < 0.001) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (21.61 +/- 3.00, P < 0.001) but there was no consistent reduction of gastric bleeding. In addition to gastric ulcers, duodenal lesions were also reduced by pretreatment with cromakalim at all dose levels: 50 micrograms kg-1 (97.87 +/- 20.03 mm2, P < 0.02), 100 micrograms kg-1 (70.72 +/- 12.82 mm2, P < 0.02), 250 micrograms kg-1 (48.32 +/- 8.42 mm2, P < 0.01) and 500 micrograms kg-1 (55.50 +/- 12.50 mm2, P < 0.01). Cromakalim at a dose of 100 micrograms kg-1 also reduced total acidity (99.36 +/- 9.12 mEqL-1, P < 0.02) and total acid output (172.22 +/- 45.33 mEq of H+, P < 0.05) in this model. These findings demonstrate the anti-ulcer activity of cromakalim in different experimental models and suggest its potential use in ulcer therapy.