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BACKGROUND Information processing has substantial role in performing intellectual activities such as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, or learning. Caffeine being a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, improves mental performance, especially on alertness, attention, concentration and learning depending on the quantity of intake. In the present study, an attempt was made to study the effect of caffeine on cognitive processing in healthy individuals. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 subjects at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute. Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) questionnaire was utilized to assess the level of cognition of each subject. Visual reaction time (VRT), auditory reaction time (ART) and critical fusion frequency (CFF) prior and after consumption of 75 mg of caffeine in 200 ml of milk, pre and post reaction time measurement were taken from the subject to address the difference in reaction time. RESULTS Both visual and auditory reaction time were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) after intake of caffeine. The ability of the subject to appreciate the flickering light stimuli to be steady (critical flicker fusion frequency) had significantly improved to 15 % after caffeine intake. CONCLUSIONS Decrease in visual and auditory reaction and increase in critical flicker fusion frequency values indicate that caffeine increases alertness thereby it may enhance performance efficiency in reasoning, planning, judgment, organizing, concept formation, and problem solving. KEY WORDS Visual Reaction Time, Auditory Reaction Time, MoCA

The study aims to investigate the Immunohistochemical changes in pancreatic beta cells in fructose fed, streptozocin (STZ) induced Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) rats treated with various doses of leaf extract of Aegle marmelos (AAM) and Aegeline (AG). 42 adult male wistar albino rats were separated into 7 groups, including Vehicle Control (VC); T2DM; T2DM + AAM 250 mg/kg; T2DM + AAM 500 mg/kg; T2DM + AG 20mg/kg; T2DM + AG 50 mg/kg and T2DM + AG 100 mg/kg. Experimental T2DM was created by a single dose of 40 mg/kg STZ injection intra-peritoneally along with 10% of fructose solution given orally for 30 days. Calculated dosages of AAM and AG were given with oral gavage for 30 days. Pancreas was harvested and processed. Slides were stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains. Insulin expressing beta-cells was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Fructose fed, STZ induced rats showed degenerative expressions in beta-cells. In STZ treated rats, AG reduced the blood glucose concentration and serum insulin levels at the maximum functional dose compared to AAM. The immunohistochemical information suggests that the AG at 100 mg/kg dose has the capability of making the dormant cells to reproduce to restore the lost cells of islets of Langerhans.

Stress is an unavoidable phenomenon which disturbs the physiological homeostasis. Noise is the highest encountered stressor that affects the well-being of mankind. Hippocampus, a region of the brain crucial for memory is highly influenced by stress and thereby deteriorates memory. Male albino Wistar rats of 11-12 weeks were used in this study. Nelumbo nucifera (NNE) 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) and its active principle Quercetin (QRCT) (40 mg/kg bw) were administered orally to the animals 10 days before noise stress exposure of (100dB 4h/d). Ability to retain information by Learning and spatial memory was assessed using eight-arm radial maze apparatus. It was observed that after noise stress exposure errors in working, reference memory and time period to move into all baited arms were increased; however, the drug pre-treated animals showed a decrease in all the above parameters. The observations in the present work have proved that NNE and QRCT groups were effective in ameliorating the noise stress-induced changes, but the active component quercetin group had a higher protective impact on the changes.

Introduction/Background: Information processing has substantial role in performing intellectual activitiessuch as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, or learning. Caffeine being a CNS stimulant improvesmental performance, especially on alertness, attention, concentration and learning depending on the quantityof intake. In the present study, an attempt is made to study the effect of caffeine on cognitive processing inhealthy individuals.Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in 50 subjects at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College& Research Institute. MOCA questionnaire was utilized to assess the level of cognition of each subject.Visual reaction time, auditory reaction time and critical fusion frequency prior and after consumption of 75mg of caffeine in 200 ml of milk.Results: Both visual and auditory reaction time were significantly reduced (p

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate whether ethanolic extracts of Nelumbo nucifera (EENN) seedpod and quercetin (active component of NN) possess antibacterial proprieties against Gram (-) bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram (+) bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Antibacterial activities of EENN seedpod and quercetin were investigated using disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration against E. coli and P. aeruginosa and Gram (+) bacteria such as S. aureus. Results: The antibacterial activity of both EENN seedpod and quercetin was found to be increased in dose-dependent manner. The maximum zone of inhibition was exhibited by both EENN seedpod and quercetin against E. coli (14 mm and 15 mm) and P. aeruginosa (13 mm and 15 mm). Gram-negative bacteria were more susceptible to the EENN seedpod extract and quercetin than Gram-positive bacteria.Conclusion: The results of the present study suggested that the effect of EENN seedpod and quercetin against the tested bacteria in vitro may contribute to the in vivo activities of the EENN seedpod and quercetin.

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the cognitive impairment due to excessive consumption of alcohol and memory enhancement action of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. (AEGGL) and diosmetin (Dm).Methods: In this study, 36 adult male Wistar rats were divided into the six groups (n=6) and eight-arm radial maze, narrow beam test, and open field behavior parameters were assessed on day 1, 10, and 21. After the 21 days of experiment, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) estimation. We have also analyzed the morphology of CA3 region of the hippocampus.Results: The results of this study suggested that AEGGL and Dm treatment could be the potential drugs for ethanol-induced cognitive impairment.Conclusion: Ethanol-induced cognitive impairment was recovered by AEGGL and Dm treatment, we suggested that this might be due to anticholinesterase activity and increased synthesis of BDNF levels in the brain. Further, researches are warranted to understand the exact mechanism of action of drugs.