Volume 17, Issue 3

Hammam-i-Bukhari (Turkish bath) is one of the important regimens used for the prevention and cure of several bodily ailments in Unani system of medicine. This regimen is usually practiced in the Arab world. The classical Turkish bath is built in the form of cavernous structure with beautiful classy mosaics and fountains. This regimenal therapy advocates physical, psychological and cosmetic health by integral cleansing which has different corporal effects appearing in biological along with molecular level. This therapy reduces the viscosity of the khilt (humour), eliminates the khilt-i-radi (morbid matters) and also diverts the morbid matters to the surface of the body from deep seated organs. Unani physicians, sometimes advise to patients for massage and several other regimens with different medicated substances before hammam to enhance the physiological activity from where hammam eliminates by its unique actions which helps in establishing a state of humoural equilibrium thus promoting health. Due to its efficacy and necessity; this therapeutic module is gaining popularity and assuming greater prominence among patients who are referred by physicians. The present review will dwell at length various modalities of hammam with its beneficial effects so that wholesome wellness could be attained by practical indulgence.

Introduction Mizaj or temperament is a main concept in Persian Medicine (PM), which the process of diagnosis, treatment and preventive prescriptions are developed based on it. In this study, the articles written on the concept of Mizaj were reviewed. Method Credited electronic resources, including Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and web-of-science were searched using keywords Temperament, Mizaj, Mizadj, Midzaj and Mezaj (with the concept of Mizaj in Persian and/or Greek medicine). Search results were limited to English articles, published in 1995–2017. The articles in which temperament had the psychoanalytic aspect or was based on Ayurveda or Chinese/Korean medicine were removed. A team of four PM experts evaluated the method and the results. Results Among the total of 32 articles were published in this field, 14 were review articles, 2 were on animal subject, 14 were on human subject and 2 were surveys for designing questionnaire for people’s Mizaj assessment. Most of review studies were just new versions of ancient Persian texts translated into English and the innovations on the subject were few. Studies on animal subject and developing questionnaires were also limited. In some human studies, use of standard questionnaires and homogenous methodology in Mizaj assessment was not considered. Conclusions It seems that studies on temperaments have increased in the past few years but are still at the forefront. In human studies a homogenous method for evaluating temperament has not been used and some of them failed to address the main concept of Mizaj in PM. Therefore, it is necessary to use the original category of Mizaj and to design standard method.

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease which symptoms can provide a severe impact on patient’s quality of life with subsequent impact on psychological well-being. Different therapeutic strategies are available to treat this disease, such as surgery, hormonal therapies, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nevertheless, the efficacy of conventional medical treatments is limited or intermittent in most of the patients due to the associated side effects. Therefore, a woman with endometriosis often search for additional and alternative options, and phytotherapy might be a promising alternative and complementary strategy. Different medicinal plants, multicomponent herbal preparations, and phytochemicals were investigated for pharmacological proprieties in endometriosis therapy. In most of the cases, the effect on endometriosis was related to phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids reporting anti-inflammatory, proapoptotic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Moreover, some phytochemicals have been related to a strong phytoestrogenic effect modulating the estrogen activity. Although promising, available evidence is based on in vitro and animal models of endometriosis with a limited number of well-performed clinical studies. There are almost none randomized control trials in this area. Therefore, properly constructed clinical trials are mandatory to achieve more conclusive results about the promising role of phytotherapy in the management of endometriosis.

Background Dasapatrachurnam (DPC), a multicurative powder prepared from the leaves of 10 green leafy vegetables, was developed recently with known ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological significance. However, its functional role in curing a disease is not yet scientifically proven. The present study aims at performing the phytochemical screening of DPC and exploring its possible activity as bacteriostatic, antineoplastic and anti-inflammatory. Methods We performed qualitative and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to find out the presence of active compounds and tested the bacteriostatic activity in four bacterial strains namely Bacillus subtilis , Escherichia coli , Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus by agar well diffusion method. We further explored the antineoplastic activity in vitro in C6 and HEK293 cell lines by cell viability assay and the anti-inflammatory activity in the ovalbumin-induced inflammation in male Wistar rats. Results DPC showed 60% solubility in PBS and showed the presence of flavonoids and glycosides. FTIR results indicated the presence of alkyl, ketone and aldehyde groups. The bacteriostatic activity of DPC was higher (60%) in E.coli and lower (8%) in S.aureus, when compared to streptomycin. The anti-cancerous activity of DPC in C6 and HEK293 cancer cells was similar to their respective positive controls, curcumin and camptothecin. The anti-inflammatory activity of DPC was more evident with local administration in all the parameters studied in brain hippocampus, kidney, liver and spleen in ovalbumin-induced rats. Conclusion Our results, for the first time, suggest the potentiality of the DPC in treating bacterial diseases, cancer and also inflammation. Our results also suggest the possible therapeutic role of DPC in treating chronic kidney disease.

Background Ethanolic, aqueous and lipidic extracts of Spirulina platensis were evaluated for their bioactive substances (polyphenols and fatty acids) and antioxidant activities using two different assays diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and azino-bis (ethylbenzthiazoline-6- sulfonicacid (ABTS)). Methods The phenolic compounds amounts were determined by colorimetric assays and were analyzed by high-performance and liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The identification of phenolic compounds in the extract was accomplished by comparison of their retention times with those of pure standards. The chemical composition of fatty acids in lipidic extract was determined by GC/FIDs and GC/MS method. Results The obtained results revealed that using DPPH, the ethanolic extract recorded the highest activity with (IC50=449 μg/mL ± 83). It was characterized with a high levels of phenolic and flavonoid content 0.33 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g dw and 0.21 ± 0.01 mg quercetin/g dw, respectively. The ethanolic extract showed the presence of caffeic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin. Those entire phenolic compounds seem participle synergistically to the pronounced higher activity. To the best of our knowledge, the apigenin (4′, 5, 7,-trihydroxyflavone), a natural compound which is famously known by its potent antiradical activity, was identified for the first time in Moroccan S. platensis only in the ethanolic extract. A high positive correlation (r=0.895) between the antioxidant activity and the chemical composition of ethanolic extract was observed. For ABTS, lipidic extract showed the highest activity with (IC50=740 μg/mL ± 12). A total of 15 fatty acids compounds, amounting 89.73% of the extract were identified. γ-linolenic acid (GLA) (39.02%) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) (13.85%) were the major component and contribute greatly to the antioxidant activity observed. The lipidic extract has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids (70.95%) which are often exhibited very high antioxidant activity since they have two or more double bonds and chain lengths. The aqueous extract either with DPPH or ABTS methods, recorded low antioxidant activity. Its correlation was r=0.499, lower than found in the ethanolic extract. Conclusions These results showed that Spirulina platensis could be considered as a valuable source of fatty acids and phenolics with potent antioxidant activity. It may be employed in the manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs as an alternative source of natural antioxidants.

Background C. procera is an important wild medicinal plant used in different area of Burkina Faso for the neuropsychiatric disorders treatment. It was reported to possess many pharmacological properties because of its phytochemical diversity. This study was carried out to identify possible specific chemical characteristics form C. procera leaves and root-bark samples, harvested in two regions of Burkina Faso, for a better selective use of specimens in traditional medicine. Methods Plant materials (leaves and root-bark) were collected from five sites in each region. Samples powders and extracts were mixed with potassium bromide for the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. A multivariate data analysis was performed to highlight differences in the FTIR spectral profile of samples. Therefore, phytochemical contents such as phenolics, flavonoids and terpenoids were evaluated with aqueous and methanolic extracts, using UV/visible light spectrophotometer method. Results Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed a significant difference between leaves and root-bark spectral profile, independently to the region of collection. These profiles possess characteristic signals which could be exploited as biomarkers for plant organ discrimination. The phytochemical contents evaluation showed that C. procera leaves contain more significant phenolics, and root-bark possess more terpenoid compounds. This study of C. procera Ait. based on FTIR spectral characteristic and phytochemical content, suggest that terpenoids, notably cardenolide-type could be a good biomarkers for C. procera samples characterization and to explain root-bark therapeutic potential.

ABSTRACT Background Adiantum lunulatum Burm. F. leaf (AL) and its related species have been used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases. Objective The present study evaluated the hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of AL. Methodology and Result The hepatoprotective effect of AL was evaluated against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Administration of ethanol (2 g/kg) showed a significant biochemical and histological deterioration in the liver of experimental animals. Pretreatment with ethanolic extract of AL (250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt. p.o) significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum enzymes like serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, total bilirubin and reversed the hepatic damage in the liver which evidenced the hepatoprotective activity. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) level notably increased due to doses of AL. Conclusion The results of the present study demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of AL possesses hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. Graphical Abstract

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health problem, with almost 1.8 million newly diagnosed cases and about 881,000 deaths annually. Chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla ) is a well-documented medicinal herb that possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. This study aimed to unravel the effect of aqueous chamomile extract against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine(DMH)-induced CRC in mice. Methods Male Balb/c mice received a weekly intraperitoneal injection of DMH (20 mg/kg body weight) for 12 weeks. Chamomile extract (150 mg/kg body weight/5 days/week p.o.) was administered at the initiation and post-initiation stages of carcinogenesis. Polyps count, histopathological analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of Wnt signaling genes, ELISA of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and enzyme assay for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were performed. Results Chamomile extract modulated the Wnt pathway in colonic tissues, where it significantly downregulated Wnt5a, β-catenin, T cell factor (Tcf4), lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (Lef1), c-Myc and Cyclin D1 expression levels, while it upregulated adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3β) expression levels. This extract significantly reduced COX-2 levels and iNOS activities. Polyps count and histopathological analysis provided supportive evidence for the biochemical and molecular analyses. Conclusions Chamomile can act as a potent dietary chemopreventive agent against DMH-induced CRC.

Background The Phosphatase and tensin-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1 B9 ) mutant for Drosophila melanogaster is a key tool that has been used in assessing the pathology of Parkinsonism and its possible remedy. This research was targeted toward determining the effects of ethanolic extract of propolis, with levodopa therapy in the management of Parkinsonism. Method The PINK1 B9 flies were divided into groups and fed with the different treatment doses of ethanoic extract of propolis. The treatment groups were subjected to 21 days of administration of propolis and the levodopa at different doses after which percentage climbing index, antioxidant activity and lifespan studies were done. Results Propolis alone improved motor activity, antioxidant and lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster than in PINK1 flies. Propolis in combination with levodopa significantly (P<0.05) improved physiological parameters at higher than lower concentrations in Parkinsonism Drosophila melanogaster demonstrating its importance in managing side effects associated with levodopa. Conclusion Propolis is a novel candidate as an alternative and integrative medicinal option to use in the management of Parkinsonism in both animals and humans at higher concentrations.

Background Systematic analysis of the determinants of choice of a treatment modality aids to the understanding of decision process of healthcare utilization. The revealed preference of a single modality may differ according to the nature of disease. Existing studies have not integrated possible causal factors in a model with respect to diseases. This study identifies major determinants and formulates their integral effect on choice of a particular modality on acute and chronic diseases in accordance to socio-behavioural model. Methodology A cross-sectional study on 300 samples using a 30-point questionnaire, developed in Likert scale and dichotomous scale. Possible determinants are tested on choice of CAM in case of acute disease and of chronic disease separately. Results Revealed single modality treatment preference (of CAM) varies widely between acute disease (13%) and chronic disease (58.67%). Bivariate associations are significant for gender (For, overall CAM preference, p=0.001, acute disease, p<0.001, chronic disease, p=0.024), Disease burden (overall and chronic: p<0.001, acute: p=0.008) and previous CAM usage (overall and chronic: p<0.001, acute: p=0.016). Social factor individually has significant influence on choosing CAM both acute (OR=1.096, p<0.001) and chronic disease (OR=1.036, p<0.001). Ideation of philosophical need factor, guided by philosophical congruence with CAM (OR=1.047, p<0.001) is a novel finding of this study. While with multiple logistic regression male gender (p=0.03), social factor (p<0.001), perception of CAM efficacy (p=0.02) and negative ideation about CAM cost-effectiveness (p=0.002) are found to be important in Acute disease; choosing CAM in chronic disease is guided by female gender (p=0.001), making decision in-group (p=0.001), low disease burden (p<0.001), philosophical need factor (p=0.001), and perception of CAM efficacy (p<0.001). Conclusion Demographic, social, cognitive and philosophical factors are important determinants of choosing CAM as a treatment modality over conventional medicine, but they act differently on CAM preference in acute and chronic diseases.

Background Yoga and Naturopathy (Y&N) is one of the approved Complementary and Traditional systems of Medicine practiced in India. Unlike other systems, it is a drugless system aimed to optimize and facilitate the inherent ability of the human body to heal itself. There is lack of literature on the type of patients seeking Yoga and Naturopathy treatments in India. This study was designed with an objective to assess the morbidity profile of the in-patients treated in a Naturopathy and Yoga hospital. Methods Descriptive study design based on clinical case records. Six hundred and four cases treated as in-patients between April 2017 and July 2018 was analyzed. Results The average age of the patients was 47.4 (SD ± 16.1) years, with 56% were females and 44% males. About 50 different types of morbidity ranging from general rejuvenation to chronic diseases had been reported. Highest reported diseases were chronic in nature, with higher reporting for multiple system morbidity, followed by Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Arthritis, and Back pain. Variations were observed in the morbidities based on age and gender of the patients. The median duration of treatment was 8 days. Conclusions Patients seek Yoga & Naturopathy care mainly for chronic conditions, further observations on treatment outcomes, quality of life, and treatment seeking behavior can be explored for the efficacy and feasibility of Yoga & Naturopathy care in managing chronic diseases.

Background One of the factors associated with readmission is inappropriate sexual activity after myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to assess the effect of peer education on the sexual quality of life (SQOL) in patients with MI. Methods In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 70 patients with MI meeting the inclusion criteria were assigned to experimental or control groups using block randomization. Peer education for the intervention group was provided on the third day after MI. Education sessions lasted from 90 to 120 minutes. Data were collected using demographic, sexual quality of life-female (SQOL-F), and sexual quality of life-male (SQOL-M) questionnaires during the fourth week after MI. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups before the intervention in terms of demographic and SQOL. The mean of SQOL in the peer education group was significantly higher than the control group at the 4-week follow-up. Conclusions According to the results, using peer education is recommended for the sexual health care professionals.

Background This study assesses the effectiveness of nurse-led intervention on self-management, self-efficacy, and blood glucose level among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) attending diabetic Out patient department (OPD) in Sri Ramachandra Hospital, Chennai. Methods In this study, the experimental group received nurse-led intervention on video-assisted teaching regarding nature of the disease condition including, diet, medication, hand and leg exercises, home care management, for 30 mins. Then a demonstration of hand and leg exercise was done followed by return demonstration done by the participants. The participants in the control group did not receive nurse-led intervention; they received only routine care. On the 15th day, when the patients came for the first follow-up, posttest was conducted for both the experimental and control groups. Results There was a statistically considerable difference noted in self-management (t=29.639; p<0.001), self-efficacy (t=28.293; p<0.001), FBS (t=2.415; p<0.05), and PPBS (t=2.102; p<0.05) in the posttest among patients with Type 2 DM in the experimental group. Conclusions The study concluded that the nurse-led intervention through video-assisted teaching is an effective method to recover self-management and self-efficacy as well as reduce the fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar among patients with Type 2 DM.

Background Sexually transmitted infections continue to be a major health concern in sub-Saharan Africa where antimicrobial drugs are becoming ineffective due to increasing resistance. Many healthcare seekers in lower socio-economic settings depend on invasive alien plants administered by traditional health practitioners to treat sexually transmitted infections. Methods Roots of selected plants were analysed for phytoconstituents using standard methods. Both the disc diffusion model and microdilution technique were used to determine the inhibition zone and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of plant extracts against six clinical fungal strains and standard strain of Neisseria gonorrhoea . One-way ANOVA was used to find significant differences. Results Different phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenes, flavonoids, tannins and saponins were qualitatively detected, depending on plant species. Acetone extracted the highest number of phytoconstituents in Senna didymobotrya , while methanol revealed most from Ricinus communis . Senna didymobotrya showed significant inhibition against Candida glabrata , C. krusei , C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. Dichloromethane extract of Catharanthus roseus and methanol extract of S. didymobotrya demonstrated excellent MIC values of 0.03 and 0.08 mg/mL, respectively, against C . glabrata . Catharanthus roseus , Opuntia ficus - indica and Ricinus communis demonstrated moderate to good antigonococcal activity, with all exhibiting more than 63% inhibition. Catharanthus roseus had the best antigonococcal activity with a moderate MIC value of 0.63 mg/mL. Conclusion Some of the plant extracts demonstrated potency towards clinically isolated fungal strains and against N . gonorrhoea , which validate the notion that some of the species need further pharmacological studies for isolation and characterisation of active compounds.

Background Anxiety is the most common psychological reaction in women during labor. Similar to numerous other surgeries, postoperative pain is also reported following cesarean section (C-section). According to the (Gate) Control Theory, there is a relationship between pain and psychological problems such as anxiety. Accordingly, the present study aimed to compare the effect of aromatherapy using lavender and Damask rose essential oils on the level of anxiety and severity of pain following C-section. Methods This triple-group randomized clinical trial was performed on 90 mothers who visited Motahari Hospital of Jahrom, Iran, for C-section in 2017. The incidence and severity of pain and anxiety were measured and recorded for all three groups prior to intervention. The intervention groups underwent aromatherapy with lavender and Damask rose essential oils. Patients were asked to inhale cotton balls, separately stained with three drops of each essential oil at a distance of 10 cm for 30 mins. The severity of pain and anxiety was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) 5 min after the specified process, respectively. The control group underwent aromatherapy in a similar fashion with normal saline. Finally, data were analyzed using descriptive statistical indices and ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests in SPSS 21. Results There was no significant difference between the three groups in the mean severity of pain and anxiety before the intervention (p>0.05). The mean severity of pain and overt anxiety in the lavender and Damask rose aromatherapy groups was significantly different than the control group after the intervention (p<0.001). In addition, no significant difference was observed between the overt and overall anxiety levels of the two intervention groups after the intervention (p>0.05). Conclusions The findings suggested that inhalation aromatherapy can reduce the severity of overt anxiety and pain after C-section, with Damask rose essential oil showing a larger effect than lavender.

Background Cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge, understanding senses and synchronizing all the electrical activity that is constantly received and generated through the eye. Purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescents studying in selected schools at Chennai. Methodology This study was designed to assess cognitive performance and anxiety among students using quantitative approach. True Experimental study design was used for this study. Pretest assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety was done by standardized tools (Stroop color word test, Hamilton anxiety scale) for Experimental and Control groups. Intervention of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) was experimented in one group. Control group were kept on routine activities. Post test assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety by standardized tools was performed on experimental and control groups. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The 0.05 level of significance was used. Results A significant difference in the mean difference of color word score, color score, word score and inference score between the study and control groups at the level of p<0.0001 was observed. Results indicate an association in the cognitive performance (word) with background variables such as, gender, father’s occupation in the study group during the post test and no association in the control group. There were no associations between anxiety cognitive performance (color and word) and demographic variables in both groups. Conclusion The study concluded that there is a greater effect on Yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescent students, therefore the study proved the hypothesis.

Introduction Anxiety is a common feeling in cesarean section and lack of attention to it is associated with negative consequences for health of mother and child. Reflexology is a way to reduce anxiety. So far, the effect of reflexology on pre-cesarean anxiety has not been evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-cesarean foot reflexology massage on the anxiety of women during their first pregnancy. Materials and Methods This study is a three-group clinical trial that was conducted in 2019. The study sample consisted of 90 pregnant women hospitalized for cesarean section in Zahedan who were randomly divided into three groups of 30 women. The subjects completed the state section of Spielberger anxiety questionnaire. The control group did not receive any intervention. For two groups, 1 h before surgery, a group received reflexive massage, and the another group simple massage. Duration of massage for each group was 30 min. After 30 min, the subjects completed the state section of Spielberger questionnaire again. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software program, version 21.0. ANOVA and ANCOVA tests were used to compare between groups and paired t -test was used for intra-group comparisons . Results The results showed that the level of anxiety was significantly reduced in the reflexology massage group (from 55 ± 8 to 40 ± 7) as well as simple massage group (from 51 ± 10 to 47 ± 7) (p<0.001). In the control group, anxiety was increased (from 49 ± 9 to 56 ± 9) (p<0.001). Comparison between the three groups by ANCOVA indicated that reflexology massage and simple massage significantly decreased anxiety scores (p>0.001 and p>0.001,respectively). Reflexive massage significantly reduced anxiety scores (p>0.001) as compared to simple massage. Conclusion The results of this study revealed the positive effect of reflexology massage on pre-cesarean anxiety. Because reflexology massage is an inexpensive, simple, and easy approach, the use of this non-pharmaceutical method is recommended to reduce pre-cesarean anxiety.

Background Aspiration is a serious side effect of delayed gastric emptying and increased residual volume in intensive care patients. Aspiration can increase the risk of pneumonia and death. Currently, pharmaceutical methods are the most commonly used techniques for decreasing aspiration, but non-pharmaceutical methods may also be effective in reducing aspiration. One of these methods is an abdominal massage. The present study aimed to examine the effect of abdominal massage on aspiration incidence in intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube. Methods This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Seventy intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube were chosen by convenience sampling and allocated to an intervention or a control group by the minimization method. The intervention group was provided with a 15-min abdominal massage twice a day for 3 days, while the control group received only routine cares. The patients’ respiratory secretion was suctioned before and after the intervention, and immediately after suctioning, the incidence of the aspiration was assessed using special strips which are sensitive to respiratory secretion pH and glucose. SPSS 18 was used to analyze data. Descriptive statistics were used. T independent, Mann-Whitney U, χ 2 , and Fisher exact tests were used to compare two groups. Results The incidence rates of the aspiration were 5.7% (confidence interval: 0.0–14.3%) and 20% (confidence interval: 8.6–34.3%) in the abdominal massage and the control groups, respectively. The incidence of aspiration differed between two groups, but it was not statistically significant (p=0.07). Conclusion Although the low rate of aspiration in the abdominal massage group did not differ significantly with that of the control group, it can be clinically important. It is suggested that further studies be conducted to confirm the effect of abdominal massage on the prevention of aspiration in intensive care patients with an endotracheal tube.

Background Diabetes mellitus is one of the major current public health problems. Electro-acupuncture at ST-36 showed a significant reduction in plasma glucose levels in diabetic rats. There are lacks of studies reporting its hypoglycemic effect in humans and thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of needling at ST-36 (Zusanli) on blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Sixty T2DM participants were recruited and randomized into acupuncture group (n=30) and placebo control group (n=30). The participants of the acupuncture group received needling at ST-36 (one finger breadth lateral to the inferior border of the tibial tuberosity), and the participants those in the placebo control group received needling at placebo point (midpoint between the apex of the patella and tibial tuberosity). For both the groups, needles were retained for 30 min. Baseline and post-test assessments were performed prior to and after each intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. Results The present study showed a significant reduction in random blood glucose levels in the acupuncture group compared to the placebo control group. Conclusion This study suggests that 30 min of bilateral acupuncture needling at ST-36 with manual stimulation is effective in reducing blood glucose levels in T2DM patients.

Background Vitiligo, a skin disorder is viewed as a multifactorial process with major role of reactive oxygen species in concert to destroy or incapacitate melanocytes. In Unani system of medicine the treatment of Bars (Vitiligo) starts with removal of harmful materials from the body with Munzij and Mushil (MM), a poly herbal Unani formulation. Methods Herein, oxidative stress related parameters as MDA, SOD, GPx and CAT have been estimated in the 21 clinically diagnosed Vitiligo in-patients and subsequently these parameters were evaluated during and after administration of MM therapy and compared with 21 healthy subjects. Results There was significant difference in the parameters viz., SOD (p<0.001) and CAT (p<0.005) activity at the baseline with no statistical significant difference in MDA and GPx activity among Vitiligo subjects and controls. After MM therapy there was no statistical significant difference among the values of these parameters in Vitiligo subjects. Conclusions The results suggest that there is imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant status of Vitiligo subjects and the MM therapy is not found to significantly change the levels of oxidative stress related parameters.