Shiv Kumar

Steroids are widely prescribed and used by practitioners due to powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. So, care should be exercised in the rational selection of steroids1. Hence this study was aimed to evaluate the utilization of corticosteroids with the secondary objective to assess co-prescription with corticosteroids, the nature and severity of adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions, with an intention to prevent the inappropriate use of corticosteroids. A prospective observational study was carried out in 215 In-patient from various departments of the hospital during 6 months period and subjected to statistical analysis. Out of 215 In-patients, 145 were male and 70 were female, in which most of the patients (22.7%) belongs to age group of 51-60 years. The major complaints were respiratory tract disorders (about 48%) and most of the patients (82%) were prescribed single corticosteroids as monotherapy (42.3%, budesonide) in same or different dosage forms. The commonly used route of administration was inhalation (48%) and is co-prescribed with antibiotics (19.5%). The average number of drugs prescribed was 7.16 drugs per prescription. The mean duration of corticosteroids use was 3.20 ± 1.98 days. The incidence of drug interactions observed were higher (78.6%), with most of them were moderate interactions. The ADR observed with study population were few and minor. The study concluded that, the prescription of corticosteroids is found to be rational except for drug interactions and dosage regimen. Hence the involvement of clinical pharmacists in clinical practice helps to increase proper usage of corticosteroids and optimum outcome.

  Wounds are major cause of physical disabilities. Wound healing consists of orderly progression of series of events that establish the integrity of the damaged tissues. Aegele marmelos (Bael) is used for medicinal purposes, including treatment of dyspepsia, inflammation, asthma, hypoglycemia, cancer, hepatitis, diabetes, sinusitis, tuberculosis, diarrhea, dysentery, as astringent, digestive, stomachic etc. The present study was undertaken on ethanolic extract of leaves of Aegele marmelos on wound healing activity through topical route on excision wound model. The activity was compared with standard drug Povidone Iodine ointment (5% w/w). The leaves of  Aegele marmelos ethanolic extract was found to have better and faster rate of wound healing effect than Povidone iodine ointment on excision wound model. Key Words: Aegele marmelos, povidone iodine ointment, wound healing activity, excision wound model.

  Strychnos potatorum also known as clearing-nut tree is spread throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It has been highly reported in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine. Some of the chief constituents found in the plant are strychnine, diaboline, isomotiol, sitosterol, stigmasterol and compresterol. The plant has been exclusively used as antimicrobial, nephroprotective, antidiabetic, antiarthritic, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrhoeal, hepatoprotective, antiulcerogenic, antinociceptive, antipyretic and contraceptive. Traditionally, it has been also used as stomachic, demulcent and emetic. The plant is also utilized for the treatment of various eye diseases, respiratory diseases, kidney complaints, and gonorrhea. The seeds of the tree are commonly used in traditional medicine as well as purifying water in India and Myanmar. This review paper briefly discuss the botany, ethnomedicinal, pharmacological and therapeutic applications of Strychnos potatorum with an attempt to compile the document and highlight the need of research and development.