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Background: Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) is a traditional Indian medicinal plant which causes multiple effects on the central nervous system. The standardized extract of this plant has shown enhanced behavioural learning in preclinical studies and enhanced information processing in healthy volunteers., Aim: To study the efficacy of standardized Bacopa monniera extract (SBME) in subjects with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) without any evidence of dementia or psychiatric disorder., Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study design was employed. The subjects received either 125 mg of SBME or placebo twice a day for a period of 12 weeks followed by a placebo period of another 4 weeks (total duration of the trial 16 weeks). Each subject was evaluated for cognition on a battery of tests comprising mental control, logical memory, digit forward, digit backward, visual reproduction and paired associate learning., Results: SBME produced significant improvement on mental control, logical memory and paired associated learning during the 12-week drug therapy., Conclusion: SBME is efficacious in subjects with age-associated memory impairment.

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of alpha- and beta-diastereomers of arteether in healthy male volunteers., Participants and Methods: The study was a single-centre clinical pharmacokinetic trial in healthy male subjects. A group comprising 13 subjects aged 25-50 years received a single intramuscular 150 mg individual dose of the arteether formulation containing alpha- and beta-isomers in a 30:70 ratio. Serial blood samples collected over a period of 0-192 hours were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation/tandem mass spectrometry and the plasma concentrations were subjected to compartmental and noncompartmental analyses. Pharmacodynamic parameters such as area under the inhibitory curve, ratio of area under the concentration-time curve to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC), maximum plasma concentration to MIC (Cmax/MIC) and time that plasma concentration exceeds the MIC (T>MIC) were calculated in vitro in four strains of Plasmodium falciparum to evaluate the in vivo effectiveness of the proposed dosage regimen., Results: There were no adverse effects observed during the study. The extent of metabolism of arteether to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was low (approximately 5%) so as to be therapeutically nonsignificant. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the arteether diastereomers were different, and the maximum plasma concentrations of alpha- and beta-isomers were reached at 4.77+/-1.21 hours and 6.96+/-1.62 hours, respectively, after which they showed biphasic decline with apparent terminal elimination half-lives of 13.24+/-1.08 hours and 30.17+/-2.44 hours, respectively. The plasma and renal clearances, as well as whole blood to plasma partition ratios of the isomers, were comparable, while the apparent volume of distribution during terminal phase of the beta-isomer was approximately 3-fold higher than that of the alpha-isomer. In vitro erythrocyte culture experiments with four strains of P. falciparum showed similar MICs for both isomers of arteether. The highest observed MIC of 8 microg/L was selected for estimating the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, which showed excellent correlation with published data on the clinical efficacy of arteether., Conclusion: The pharmacokinetics of arteether isomers demonstrated stereoselectivity, which was reflected mainly in the volume of distribution and the terminal elimination half-life. The alpha- and beta-isomers of arteether appeared to compliment each other pharmacokinetically, with the alpha-isomer providing comparatively rapid and higher plasma concentrations resulting in immediate reduction in percentage parasitaemia, while the beta-isomer, with its longer terminal elimination half-life, mean residence time and sustained plasma concentrations, maintained the activity for longer periods. The extent of metabolic conversion of arteether to DHA was minimal, so as to have any therapeutic or toxic significance.

Centbutindole is a new antipsychotic agent related to butyrophenone group. The drug is dopamine antagonist but it also blocks 5HT(2) receptors. Clinically the drug has passed through phase I, II & III clinical trials successfully and it has shown effective antipsychotic activity in schizophrenic patients. In the present study the drug was compared with risperidone in a double blind manner for a period of 8 weeks to assess the efficacy in schizophrenic patients. Patients of schizophrenia evaluated on PANSS, CGI & UKU side effect rating scale weekly Out of 44 patients included in study, 38 completed the trial. The intergroup comparison of two drugs showed that centbudindole and risperidone have similar onset of antipsychotic action as both the drugs showed significant decrease in the total PANSS score as well as positive syndrome score, negative syndrome score and general psychopathology score from 2nd week onwards. The scores in both the groups showed a steady and significant decline from 2nd week to 8th week of study. The present study showed that centbutindole has similar improvement on clinical global impression with risperidone. The side effect profile was similar in the two drugs except dystonia (5 patients in centbutindole vs 1 patient in risperidone group). The findings of present study shows that Centbutindole could be used as a promising new drug for treatment of schizophrenia in place of a typical antipsychotics as it has shown improvement on negative symptoms similar to risperidone.

Objective: To undertake post-marketing surveillance (PMS) of arteether (E-Mal) with the aim of obtaining feedback from clinicians regarding its safety, tolerability, efficacy and adverse event profile in patients of P. falciparum malaria., Method: Post-marketing surveillance proforma to collect data from clinicians using arteether (E-Mal) was provided to institutions/nursing homes and hospitals where Arteether (E-Mal) was available for use in treatment of P. falciparum malaria. These clinicians were informed about the need and relevance of providing this feedback regarding their reexperience on E-Mal therapy on predesigned proforma. Duly filled proformas were received by Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow for data analysis, documentation and conclusions regarding E-Mal therapy., Result: A total of 300 reports were received for analysis from states of Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The results show that 294 cases (98%) were cured, five cases improved and one patient did not show any change in the clinical status. The side effects (headache, nausea, vomiting and giddiness) reported in the proforma of 14 cases were mild in nature and no causal relationship with arteether could be ascertained., Conclusion: An indepth analysis of these 300 reports confirmed the safety, highlighted excellent tolerability and further proved the efficacy of three-day schedule of arteether (IMI) for treatment of malaria. Arteether should not be used in P. Vivax malaria (E-Mal) except when smear is positive for both (P. falciparum and P. vivax). In such a situation risk-benefit should be carefully evaluated before advocating the use of E-Mal therapy. The post-marketing surveillance is continuing and it is hoped that with more feedback from the clinicians from various parts of the country PMS data on this novel antimalarial drug (E-Mal) would further be documented.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy of alpha;beta arteether in patients of P. falciparum malaria presenting with complications was undertaken in a multicentric clinical trial., Method: Each patient who consented to undergo clinical trial with parenteral Arteether was treated with a fixed dose schedule of Arteether given intramuscularly in a dose of 150 mg once a day on three consecutive days. Every patient was followed upto 28 days with clinical, haematological and parasitological monitoring every day upto one week and thereafter at 14, 21 and 28 days. The response was assessed in terms of fever clearance time, parasite clearance time, cure rate and parasite reappearance rate., Results: A total of 211 patients of P. falciparum malaria were included in the study from four centres (Bhilai, Guwahati, Jamshedpur and Rourkela). Results of this study showed that fever clearance time ranged between 24-168 hours, parasite clearance time ranged between 24-120 hours and overall mortality ranged between 4-8.5%. Out of 211, only 14 patients expired during the study, of these, 10 patients expired within first two days i.e. before completing the three day schedule of arteether therapy. Tolerability to arteether injection was good in all these patients and no untoward effects were experienced or reported during the study. Overall cure rate observed in these studies was 93%., Conclusion: This study shows a rapid parasite and fever clearance in patients of complicated P. falciparum malaria.

Two hundred and sixty seven patients of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria completed study in a multicentric phase III clinical trial of Arteether. Arteether was given intramuscularly in a dose of 150 mg daily for three consecutive days. Each patient was followed upto 28 days of alpha, beta arteether therapy. The cure rate was 97% with fever clearance time between 1-7 days (24-168 hours) and parasite clearance time between 1-3 days (24-72 hours). Parasite reappearance rate was found to be 3% and reported at only three of the centres. Following the treatment no adverse effect was observed on haematological, biochemical and vital clinical parameters.

Centchroman (Ormeloxifene), a non-steroidal oral contraceptive, is used at a dose of 30 mg once a week. To prevent failures in the beginning of the therapy, it is recommended that a dose of 30 mg twice a week for 12 weeks be administered to build up adequate blood levels. The present study was undertaken to simplify the dosing schedule without sacrificing the purpose of twice a week dosing regimen, using modeling and measurement approaches. The drug was given to 60 female volunteers who were divided into seven groups: group I, 30 mg weekly; group II, 30 mg twice a week; group III, 30 mg twice a week for 12 weeks followed by 30 mg weekly; group IV, 30 mg twice a week for 6 weeks followed by 30 mg weekly; group V, 60 mg weekly; and groups VI and VII, single 60 mg loading dose followed by 30 mg weekly doses. The blood samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC. In group I, mean trough concentrations of centchroman and its active metabolite, 7-desmethyl centchroman, were comparable to the steady-state trough concentrations in groups III, IV, VI, and VII. The metabolite to parent drug ratio remained constant in all the groups. The pharmacokinetic parameters in group VII were comparable to those reported after a single 30 mg dose. Dosage regimen VI was more convenient and provided better pregnancy protection (Pearl index 1.18; unpublished report) than regimen III, which is currently on the market and, thus, could be effectively used for contraception.

The present report, describes for the first time the clinical efficacy of curcumin, the active constituent of rhizomes of Curcuma longa, in the treatment of patients suffering from idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours. Curcumin was administered orally at a dose of 375 mg/3 times/day orally for a period of 6-22 months in eight patients. They were followed up for a period of 2 years at 3 monthly intervals. Five patients completed the study, out of which four recovered completely and in one patient the swelling regressed completely but some limitation of movement persisted. No side effect was noted in any patient and there was no recurrence. It is suggested that curcumin could be used as a safe and effective drug in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumours., (Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

A double blind study was undertaken to compare the efficacy between centbutindole and haloperidol. A total of 44 patients suffering from schizophrenia diagnosed in accordance to ICD-10 criteria were included. They were randomly assigned into two groups receiving centbutindole (4.5 mg) or haloperidol (15 mg) in two divided doses per day for six weeks. Each patient was evaluated on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S) and UKU side effect scale every week. Five patients (1 patient in centbutindole group, 4 patients in haloperidol group) dropped out due to various reasons. A total of 39 patients (21 patients in centbutindole group and 18 patients in haloperidol group) completed the study. The results revealed an early onset of therapeutic effect with centbutindole for both positive and negative symptoms. However, the efficacy was comparable between centibutindole and haloperidol from 3rd week onwards.

Practical difficulties associated with assessment of central parameters necessitates the development of peripheral markers of suicidal risk. Recent research suggest that serum lipid profile may be a useful indicator of suicidal behaviour. Serum lipid profiles of forty suicide attempters were compared with forty age, sex and BMI matched controls.Total serum cholesterol, serum Triglyceride, LDL levels and HDL levels were found to be lower in suicide attempters but were not statistically significant. Statistically significant negative con-elation was seen between risk-rescue score and above mentioned parameters. No statitically significant difference was observed when various diagnostic break-up groups of patients were compared.

Centpropazine is a new antidepressant with minimal anticholinergic effects in preclinical animal models. In this study centpropazine has been compared with imipramine in a double blind randomized multicentric study. A total of 159 patients of major depressive disorder (79 in centpropazine group and 80 in imipramine group) from four centres were included in this trial. Each patient was randomised to receive either centpropazine in a dose of 40 to 120 mg per day or imipramine in a dose of 50 to 150 mg per day for a period of six weeks. The antidepressant efficacy of centpropazine was comparable to imipramine but anticholinergic side effects were four times less than imipramine. This establishes centpropazine as an effective antidepressant with remarkably safer tolerability profile.

Curcumin, obtained from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, was administered orally to patients suffering from chronic anterior uveitis (CAU) at a dose of 375 mg three times a day for 12 weeks. Of 53 patients enrolled, 32 completed the 12-week study. They were divided into two groups: one group of 18 patients received curcumin alone, whereas the other group of 14 patients, who had a strong PPD reaction, in addition received antitubercular treatment. The patients in both the groups started improving after 2 weeks of treatment. All the patients who received curcumin alone improved, whereas the group receiving antitubercular therapy along with curcumin had a response rate of 86%. Follow up of all the patients for the next 3 years indicated a recurrence rate of 55% in the first group and of 36% in the second group. Four of 18 (22%) patients in the first group and 3 of 14 patients (21%) in the second group lost their vision in the follow up period due to various complications in the eyes, e.g. vitritis, macular oedema, central venous block, cataract formation, glaucomatous optic nerve damage etc. None of the patients reported any side effect of the drug. The efficacy of curcumin and recurrences following treatment are comparable to corticosteroid therapy which is presently the only available standard treatment for this disease. The lack of side effects with curcumin is its greatest advantage compared with corticosteroids. A double blind multi-centric clinical trial with this drug in CAU is highly desirable to further validate the results of the present study.

Several studies suggest that a low cholesterol concentration is associated with depression. The authors sought to determine whether an association exists between serum lipid concentrations and depression. 28 drug-naive patients of major depression diagnosed according to DSMlll- R criteria were included in the study and severity of depression was measured on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Suicidal intent was assessed on Suicidal Intent Questionnaire. 28 normal healthy controls were selected and matched for age, sex and body-mass index with the depressives. Serum lipid estimations were done in each subject after 12 hours overnight fasting. The main finding of the study is that total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and serum LDL cholesterol are decreased while serum HDL cholesterol is increased in depression and these changes were more marked in depressed subjects with definite suicidal intent. On regression analysis, total serum cholesterol was the most important predictive variable of the severity of depression.

Forty-six patients (25 Females + 21 Males) of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum in districts Jabalpur and Mandla of central India (Madhya Pradesh) were administered alpha-beta arteether (an ethyl derivative of qinghaosu), intramuscularly for 3 consecutive days (150 mg once a day). The results revealed that there was rapid control of fever in all the patients without administration of any antipyretic drug. The mean parasite clearance time was 30.78 +/- 10.92 hours and recrudescence/reinfection rate was 6.7% within 28 days. Study indicates that arteether, besides being a potent and fast acting schizontocidal drug, also exhibited gametocytocidal action on P. falciparum.

Present study relates to the results of anti-PPD IgG, anti-A60 and antinuclear antibodies and PPD-induced delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in 17 anterior uveitis, (AU) patients. Results of anti-PPD IgG assay revealed detection of higher mean antibody level (O.D. 0.11 +/- 0.06) compared to healthy controls (O.D. 0.04 +/- 0.03), other eye disease controls (O.D. 0.05 +/- 0.003) and leprosy controls (O.D. 0.03 +/- 0.03). Anti-A60 IgM antibody assay revealed insignificant differences in mean antibody levels between various groups. Four of 17(23.5%) AU patients and 1(5.8%) subject each, belonging to other eye disease and healthy control groups had raised anti-nuclear antibody index. Findings of PPD skin test revealed detection of moderate to strong (2 to 4+) reactivity in 14 (82%). AU patients. Conversely, 13(76%) healthy controls and 8(47%) other eye disease controls gave mild (1+) reactivity. Results of this study suggested possible role of hypersensitivity to mycobacterial antigens in pathogenesis of anterior uveitis.

A phase-III clinical trial was conducted in 50 patients (42M + 8F) with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria from Delhi during the period of September to November 1995. Their mean age was 27.2 years, and the mean parasitaemia on day 0 was 0.65%. Patients were hospitalized and treated with a new ethyl derivative of artemisinin developed at CDRI called alpha, beta-arteether, at the dosage of 150 mg l/M for three consecutive days. Peripheral smears were examined every day for 4 days and then weekly up to 28 days. The results of the study showed that the mean parasite and fever clearance times were respectively 19.94 +/- 6.87 and 37.81 +/- 21.67 hours. Within 48 h, 70% of the cases became afebrile and the peripheral smear was negative in 100% of the cases. The drug was well tolerated. Three cases (6%) had recrudescence within 28 days. It is concluded that alpha, beta-arteether is a safe, effective and rapidly acting antimalarial.

Centchroman, a non-steroidal oral contraceptive drug, was given to 13 nursing mothers comprising two groups. Each participant in group I (n = 8) received a single 30 mg dose, and in group II (n = 5) each participant received a 30 mg twice a week dose for twelve weeks. Simultaneous blood and milk samples were collected and analyzed for the parent drug by high performance liquid chromatography. In the single dose study (group I), the mean +/- peak centchroman concentrations in milk and serum were 78.7 +/- 28.4 and 63.6 +/- 23.6 ng/ml with milk-to-serum (M/S) ratio of 1.4 +/- 0.9. There was no significant increase in centchroman concentrations in milk after multiple dosing (group II). However, serum concentrations reached up to 112.5 ng/ml at 6 h after the 13th dose. Average M/S ratios were insignificantly different at trough (prior to next dose) and at peak (4-6 h after dose) centchroman levels. Additionally, the breast milk and serum centchroman concentrations showed a significant correlation (r = 0.64, P < 0.01), indicating that the amount of centchroman excreted into breast milk is dependent on serum concentrations. The weekly dose (% of the maternal dose) of centchroman ingested by the breast-fed infant at peak maternal serum and milk levels was in the range of 0.4 to 11.5%, assuming a weekly milk uptake of 1.05 l/kg. There was no significant difference in the dose ingested by the infants between the two dosing groups. These levels of centchroman passing into breast milk and subsequent exposure to the infants are unlikely to be of any physiological consequence.

The pharmacokinetics of centchroman, a non-steroidal antifertility agent, were assessed in serum of eleven healthy female subjects after a single 30 mg oral dose. Maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of 55.53 (s.d., 15.45) microgram/L was attained at 5.18 (s.d., 1.78) h after oral administration. The concentration-time profile was best described by a two-compartment open model with bi-exponential disposition functions. The mean terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) was 165 (s.d., 49) h with a clearance of 6.17 (s.d., 1.67) L/h and volume of distribution of 1420 (s.d., 478) L. Comparison of the pharmacokinetic parameters of this study with those obtained after a single 60 mg oral dose did not show statistically significant differences in the rate of absorption, distribution and elimination. The Cmax and AUC0-infinity were dose-dependent. Thus, the absorption and disposition of centchroman are of first-order, reproducible and dose-dependent.

With the emergence of widespread chloroquine resistance and a world-wide scarcity of quinine, a search for newer antimalarial drugs has become imperative. Different derivatives of qinghaosu have been successfully tried. alpha,beta-Arteether, an ethyl derivative of qinghaosu, was administered to 51 patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, in a dose of 150 mg intramuscularly once a day on 3 consecutive days. Complete parasite clearance from the peripheral blood was observed in 80% of the patients at 48 h and in 98% at 72 h. The median parasite clearance time was 2 d (range 1-4 d). 65% of the patients became afebrile within 48 h and 81% by 72 h. The mean fever clearance time was 52.04 h (standard deviation 27.09). No side effect was seen. Patients were followed-up for 4 weeks; 7 were readmitted with P. falciparum infection but it could not be ascertained definitely whether these cases were reinfections or recrudescences. alpha-beta Arteether was a safe, effective and convenient drug for treating P. falciparum malaria. This is the first clinical study with arteether in falciparum malaria.

Efficacy of centpropazine, a new antidepressant, has been evaluated in forty two patients of endogenous depression. The 4 week open trial was carried out in a dose-range of 40 to 120mg per day. A significant lowering of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score was observed in 34 patient. The antidepressant effect could be detected in 9 patients within one week, in 28 cases in two weeks and in all the 34 patients by third week. Giddiness, headache, dryness of mouth and weakness were reported by 11 patients.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay has been developed and validated for the determination of centbutindole and its hydroxy metabolite in serum. The method involves extraction of serum samples with diethyl ether at pH greater than 8, back-extraction into 0.5 M hydrochloric acid and finally again with diethyl ether after addition of 2 M potassium hydroxide. Separation was accomplished by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a cyano column with an acetonitrile-phosphate buffer system. The recovery of centbutindole and its metabolite was always greater than 80%. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 0.25-5 ng/ml for centbutindole and 0.05-1 ng/ml for the hydroxy metabolite. Although the lower limit of detection was 0.1 ng/ml for centbuntindole and 0.02 ng/ml for the hydroxy metabolite, the reliable limits of quantitation were 0.25 and 0.05 ng/ml, respectively, using 4 ml of serum.

Multicentric clinical trials of the efficacy of gugulipid conducted at Bombay, Bangalore, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur and Varanasi have been reported. Two hundred and five patients completed 12 week open trial with gugulipid in a dose of 500 mg tds after 8 week diet and placebo therapy. One patient showed gastrointestinal symptoms which did not necessitate withdrawal of the drug. A significant lowering of serum cholesterol (av. 23.6%) and serum triglycerides (av. 22.6%) was observed in 70-80% patients Double-blind, crossover study was completed in 125 patients with gugulipid therapy and in 108 patients with clofibrate therapy. Two patients had flu-like syndrome with clofibrate and opted out from the study. With gugulipid the average fall in serum cholesterol and triglycerides was 11 and 16.8% respectively and with clofibrate 10 and 21.6% respectively. The lipid lowering effect of both drugs became evident 3-4 week after starting the drug and had no relationship with age, sex, and concomitant drug intake. Hypercholesterolaemic patients responded better to gugulipid therapy than hypertriglyceridaemic patients who responded better to clofibrate therapy. In mixed hyperlipidaemic patients response to both drugs was comparable. HDL-cholesterol was increased in 60% cases who responded to gugulipid therapy. Clofibrate had no effect on HDL-cholesterol. A significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol was observed in the responder group to both drugs.

The absorption, pharmacokinetics and effect on PQ-intervals of verapamil (Isoptin) administered as buccal tablet (20 mg), oral capsule (80-120 mg) and as an intravenous injection (5 mg) have been determined in 7 healthy subjects. Hysteresis plots of the percentage change in PQ-interval and serum concentration indicate that the efficacy of verapamil after buccal and intravenous application, as in earlier findings with sublingual verapamil tablets, was higher than after oral application. Thus the serum concentration-response curve after oral application is displaced towards the right reflecting lower potency. This phenomenon has been attributed by other workers to a stereospecific metabolism of the more active L-isomer during first pass through the liver, but competition at the receptor with metabolites cannot yet be ruled out. The rate of absorption, T1/2(alpha), terminal elimination half-life T1/2(gamma), and tmax of the buccal tablet was not significantly different from the oral capsule. The absolute bioavailability of the buccal preparation (37%) was slightly greater than the oral capsule (33%) and both had higher bioavailability than observed in earlier studies on verapamil dragees (10-20%). Thus, although the buccal tablet was alkalinised and had a rapid disintegration in vitro, characteristics thought to increase buccal uptake, the bioavailability is still much less then 100%.

A simple and sensitive (2 ng/ml) HPLC method with fluorescence detection has been developed to measure serum concentrations of centchroman, a new nonsteroidal antifertility agent. The method was sufficiently sensitive to follow the drug over 21 days in human volunteers. Pharmacokinetic parameters of centchroman were determined after a single oral dose of 60 mg (2 x 30-mg tablets) in two healthy female volunteers. Centchroman is slowly eliminated from serum, showing a biexponential disappearance curve from serum. The terminal half-life of centchroman in the two volunteers was 168 and 175 hr, respectively.

Single oral doses of 10 to 160 mg centpropazine, a new antidepressant (synthesized by CDRI, Lucknow, India) were administered to groups of 4-5 male volunteers, each dose being interspersed with placebo in a double blind, non-crossover study by random distribution. The drug was well tolerated. Drowsiness, heaviness, weakness and/or headache were reported only at doses of 120 mg and above. No adverse effect was noted in various laboratory tests, ECG or vital parameters. In a multiple dose study, volunteers received 40 or 80 mg centpropazine daily for 4 wk. Mild restlessness and insomnia were observed in some subjects receiving 80 mg dose. In this study also no effect was observed in various laboratory tests, ECG or vital parameters.