Pavitra Raj Dewda

While tomato products supplementation, containing various carotenoids, including lycopene has hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect, the role of purified lycopene for the same remains unclear. Thus we tested the effect of pure lycopene powder for its effect on lipid profile, blood glucose and antioxidant enzyme in hyperlipidemic rabbits.Male New- Zealand White rabbits were used. Blood samples from all the 12 rabbits were taken for the baseline level of lipids, [Serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), Serum Triglycerides (TG), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)] blood glucose and blood superoxide dismutase(SOD). Same tests were performed in high fat diet fed (control group) and high fat diet + lycopene (10 mg/kg) (test group) after 6 weeks. There was a significant decrease in the level of serum TC, LDL – C and serum TG and an increase in serum HDL – C and antioxidant SOD after addition of lycopene to high fat diet. There was however no change in blood glucose level. Purified lycopene showed significant hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity. However, it did not show significant effect on blood glucose level. Key Words: Lycopene, Hypolipidemia, Antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase, High fat diet.

The main objective was to evaluate antidepressant effect of diltiazem in rats. Results of numerous pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that calcium channel blockers have an antidepressant activity & a potential for interaction with standard antidepressants. The present study is designed to test this hypothesis in rats .Rats were assigned to six groups,  one group is the control group (distilled water) , three groups are ,imipramine (10 mg/kg), venlafaxine (10 mg/kg), and diltiazem (10mg/kg) alone and other two groups are combination of diltiazem with imipramine, and diltiazem with venlafaxine. To know the antidepressant effect, forced swim model had been used, the immobility period of all the groups are compared with each other  after giving drugs for 7 days Diltiazem produced significant antidepressant effect either alone or in combination with imipramine. The efficacy of diltiazem (10mg/kg) was comparable to that of imipramine (10mg/kg) and venlafaxine (10mg/kg) results of the present study indicate antidepressant like activity of diltiazem

  To compare the effect of mentat and Donepezil was on working memory in rats. The rats were trained for conditioned avoidance response by using Cook’s pole climbing apparatus. Rats trained for CAR received scopolamine (hydrobromide) in a dose of 0.5mg/kg by intraperitoneal route before administration of study drugs. This is known to produce amnesia which will be used to evaluate the effect on learning and memory of study drugs. Donepezil was given in a dose of 0.32mg/kg by intraperitoneal route and mentat was given in a dose of 200mg/kg by oral route for eight days in the animals after training for conditioned avoidance response. Data was analysed by the chi-square test. Findings show that administration of single dose of scopolamine 20 minutes before the test run on the apparatus causes transient amnesia daily for resulting in disruption of the retention of CAR. Mentat and donepezil significantly increased the retention of condition avoidance response in comparison to scopolamine. However there was no significant statistical difference in the increase in the retention of CAR in mentat or donepezil given alone, but the combination of the two drugs showed statistically significant increase in the retention of CAR than either of these drugs alone. Results from this study provide good platform to conduct clinical studies to assess the benefit of combining mentat with donepezil when given for a longer period of time. Key Words: Working memory, mentat, donepezil, scopolamine, conditioned avoidance response.

  To study antidepressant action of nicotine in animal model of depression. The animal model for depression, used was ‘Isolation induced hyperactivity in rats’. Doses given were vehicle 1ml/kg (intra-peritoneal), imipramine10mg/kg (intra-peritoneal), nicotine0.4mg/kg (subcutaneous), nicotine 0.2mg/kg (inhalational) Nicotine administered by subcutaneous route showed significant reduction in hyperactivity at 10 and 20 minutes when compared with that of vehicle (control) group. When it was compared with imipramine, it showed significant reduction in hyperactivity at 10 minutes. Nicotine administered by inhalation route showed significant reduction in hyperactivity at 10 min and at 30, 40 50 minutes when compared with that of control group. When compared with imipramine, it showed significant reduction in hyperactivity at 10 minutes and it showed comparable effect with that of imipramine at 30, 40, and 50 minutes. Nicotine administered by inhalation route produced significant reduction in hyperactivity at 10, 20, 30, 40,50minutes, when compared with that of nicotine administered by subcutaneous route. Combination with imipramine acute or chronic administration of nicotine by inhalational route showed significant reduction in hyperactivity, when compared with imipramine treated rats. Imipramine treated rats showed significant changes in behavior with persistent sniffing, intense biting and paw licking when it compared with vehicle treated rats. Behavioral changes in nicotine treated rats showed     significant change sat persistent sniffing, intense biting, and paw licking. Effects of nicotine with imipramine were studied on all the above parameters. Nicotine administered by subcutaneous and inhalation route showed significant antidepressantactivity. Key words: Behavioral Changes, Depression, Isolation-Induced Hyperactivity, Nicotine