Worlikar PS

The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of Sitopaladi churna & a herbal preparation on cell mediated immunity: by haematological parameters & by phagocytic activity of polymorpho nuclear  (PMN) cells in rats. Effect of Sitopaladi churna (1000 mg/ kg), Decoction of  herbs(10 ml/ kg) containing Embelia ribes seeds, Cymbopogon citratus(lemon grass), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Ocimum Sanctum(tulsi) on cell mediated immunity was evaluated by haematological parameters and by studying phagocytic activity by PMN cells. Both & herbal preparations shown increased cellular immunity as compared to control. Both herbal preparations shown comparable results with Septilin syrup (marketed by Himalaya) which was used as positive control (P>0.05). The study demonstrates that herbal preparations used in this study trigger cell mediated  immunity.

Effect of nicotine on brain GABA levels in depressed rats. The present study was planned: to study effect of nicotine on brain GABA levels in depressed rats. to compare the effect of nicotine and imipramine on brain GABA levels. Isolation induced hyperactivity model was used to induce depression in rats. Five groups of 10 rats each were taken. Vehicle (D/W) treated rats before and after isolation were considered as baseline reading. Compared results of depression induced animal with results of animal without depression. Following drug treatments were administered: Rats from natural habitat was considered as before isolation. This group was used for normal GABA levels in rat brain. Vehicle (D/W) (1ml/kg) and imipramine (10mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally. Nicotine was administered in a dose of 0.4mg/kg and 0.2mg kg by subcutaneous or inhalational route respectively. Brain GABA levels were estimated by fluorimetric method. In this model of depression, vehicle treated rats after isolation significantly reduced brain GABA levels as compared to vehicle before isolation.  Results of imipramine treated rats after isolation showing significantly increased in brain GABA levels as compared to vehicle treated rats after isolation. Nicotine administered by inhalational route showed increase in brain GABA levels as compared to vehicle treated rats after isolation. Nicotine administered subcutaneously increased brain GABA levels as compared to vehicle treated rats after isolation. Imipramine and nicotine (inhalation) showed comparable results with  normal GABA level i.e. before isolation rats. GABA level reduced in depressed rats. Imipramine, nicotine(inhalation) and nicotine(sc) increased  brain GABA level in depressed rats.