Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), the leading cause of visual disability in diabetics, is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently available conventional treatments for DR have certain limitations, considering which Ayurvedic treatment protocol was designed. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the Ayurvedic treatment protocol for DR. Materials and methods: This was a randomized, controlled, black box design clinical study conducted from April 2016 to September 2017 by the department of Shalakya Tantra of a tertiary academic hospital in Western India. A hundred patients of DR in the age group 30–70 years were randomly divided into two groups by simple random sampling using computer-generated random number tables. In the trial group (n = 70), the preparatory phase included Dipana-Pachana (stomachic and digestant), Koshtha Shodhana (mild therapeutic purgation), and Shiro Virechana (eliminative nasal medication). The treatment phase included Marsha Nasya (nasal medication) and Pratimarsha Nasya (nasal medication of mild dose) with Durvadi Ghrita, Takra Dhara (pouring medicated buttermilk over the scalp) with Siddha Takra, and intake of Rasayana Yoga (treatment duration – 3 months). In the control group (n = 30), patients were kept under conservative treatment and observed during the trial period of 3 months. Patients of both groups continued with their treatment for diabetes and DR if any. Two follow-ups were done at an interval of 15 days. The primary outcomes were objective signs like best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); ophthalmoscopic signs such as superficial hemorrhages, dot-blot hemorrhages, hard exudates, cotton wool spots, neovascularization disc, neovascularization elsewhere, and fibrovascular proliferation; subjective symptoms such as diminished vision, blurred vision, frequent changes in presbyopia glasses, perception of flashes of light, floaters, and problem for dark adaptation. The secondary outcomes were fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS), urine sugar, serum cholesterol, hemoglobin (Hb), glycosylated HbA1C, liver function test, and renal function test outcomes were assessed before and after the treatment. Results: Ninety participants were included in the analysis of the primary outcome (62 in the trial and 28 in the control group). The trial group provided better results which were statistically significant on dot-blot hemorrhages, superficial hemorrhages, hard exudates, BCVA, FBS, and serum cholesterol. Both the groups provided almost similar effects in PPBS, Hb, HbA1C, and urine sugar which were statistically insignificant. Adverse effects were not reported in any of the patient among either groups. Conclusion: Ayurvedic treatment protocol is safe and effective in DR.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, India, had distributed Ayurveda immunity booster kit (AIBK) (prepared at own pharmacy and comprising Chyawanprasha – 300 g, Vyadhi Kshamatva Kwatha – 300 g, and Vyadhi Kshamatva capsule – 30 g) for 15 days among the health-care workers, sanitation workers, and security and police staff engaged in the containment zones for prevention of COVID-19. Aim: The aim of present study was to explore the medication that may be effective in prevention of the COVID -19. Hence, this study was done to assess the compliance of these medicines and their effects in the prevention of COVID-19. Methods: One thousand seven hundred and fourteen frontline workers were provided with the AIBK for 15 days from April 24, 2020, to June 27, 2020. Data of frontline workers who had participated in AIBK and completed the treatment regimen with 2 weeks of follow-up after treatment with complete available data for safety, palatability, efficacy, and compliance were included in the study. Any adverse event needing hospitalization or medication, drug compliance and palatability, and appearance of the symptoms of COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19 were the outcome measures. Results: Out of 1714 participants, 1003 participants were found to be eligible for this analysis. The median age of these participants was 39 years (range, 19-70), and males accounted for 90.1% (904 of 1003). A total of 7.5% of participants (75 of 1003) reported having adverse events after taking the study treatment. None of the participants reported any serious adverse effects after the administration of the AIBK. The acceptability of the AIBK was as high as 97.4%. None of the participants reported positive for COVID-19 results or COVID-19 symptoms up to 2 weeks of follow-up after completion of the study treatment. Conclusion: The acceptability of AIBK is good and indicates its role in the prevention of COVID-19-like illness, hence further randomized control trials or cohort studies can be done to assess the mechanism of action and efficacy of AIBK as the preventive strategy in COVID-19.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties. Aim: The aim is to compare a modified endodontic approach using turmeric and conventional Metapex^® pulpectomy in primary molars. Materials and methods: Thirty children, in the age range of 4–9 years, with at least one primary mandibular molar indicated for pulpectomy, were included. Teeth were randomly assigned to turmeric and Metapex^® groups. For those that were assigned to turmeric, after coronal and radicular pulp extirpation, a freshly prepared paste of turmeric powder and methyl cellulose (2:1) with saline was packed in the coronal pulp chamber. In the Metapex^® group, a conventional pulpectomy was performed. Clinical and radiographic success was recorded at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. The data was statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: There were no clinical and radiographic failures at 3- and 6-month visits in both groups. The 12-month evaluation revealed clinical success rates of 92% (12 out of 13) and 100% (14 out of 14) for turmeric and Metapex^®, respectively, whereas, the radiographic success rates were 85% (12 out of 13) for turmeric and 93% (13 out of 14) for Metapex^®. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups at different follow-ups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: A modified endodontic approach using turmeric and conventional Metapex^® pulpectomy did not differ significantly in total success after 12 months.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet (Malvaceae), generally called as “Atibala” is a plant of high medicinal importance. The plant possesses several beneficial effects such as cooling, laxative, digestive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, antihelmintic, aphrodisiac, and demulcent which is widely used in the Ayurveda system of medicine. Aim: The current study is aimed to establish the macroscopy, powder microscopy and physicochemical analysis of A. indicum fruits. Materials and methods: The Pharmacognostical studies on A. indicum fruits, including parameters such as morphological evaluation, powder microscopy, ash values, foreign organic matter, extractive value, phytochemical, fluorescence studies, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography fingerprint profile, are established in the current study. Results: Fruit powder microscopy has shown diagnostic characteristics such as stellate hairs of different sizes, testa, lignified endocarp, and palisade cells. The loss on drying value of fruit powder was 7.7% w/w. The total ash values of the drug were found to be 10.5% and acid insoluble ash 2.4% w/w with respect to the air-dried crude drug. Water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extractives were found to be 9.64% w/w and 9.04% w/w, respectively. Conclusion: Phytochemical characterization of aqueous, alcoholic extracts of A. indicum fruit revealed the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, and steroids. The powder microscopical and phytochemical studies observed in this study can serve as a valuable resource for the authentication of A. indicum fruits.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Byttneria herbacea Roxb., family Sterculiaceae, commonly called as 'Samarakhai' in local Odia language, is one of the reputed folklore medicinal herb. Its roots, leaves, and whole plant parts are reported for traditional use in the management of dysentery, sores, cuts, wounds, cholera, leucorrhoea, fractures, and sprains. Aim: The aim of the present work was to assess the total tannin content, total alkaloid content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) in root, leaf, and whole plant of B. herbacea. Materials and methods: The amount of total tannins was analyzed using titrimetric method and total alkaloids by gravimetrical method. TPC was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu's method and calculated as gallic acid equivalents and the amount of total flavonoids by aluminum chloride colorimetric method and calculated as chrysin equivalents. Results: Tannin content was found maximum in the leaf (8.148% w/w) followed by whole plant (3.886% w/w) and root (1.553% w/w); similarly, TAC in the leaf (2.306% w/w) was more than those in root (0.814% w/w) and whole plant (1.319% w/w). The TPC of the methanolic extract of root (372.33 ± 14.29 mg/g) was more than whole plant (267.33 ± 7.63 mg/g); The TFC of the methanolic extract of leaf (620 ± 50 mg/g) was found maximum followed by root (553.33 ± 28.86 mg/g) and whole plant (536.66 ± 28.86 mg/g). Conclusion: The result of study emphasized presence of tannin, alkaloid, phenol, and flavonoid contents in the root, leaf, and whole plant of B. herbacea where the leaf was found to be richest source.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]