Background: Heliotropium peruvianum L., popularly known as "Heliotrope" in English, is a trailing plant belonging to the family Boraginaceae. The leaves and young aerial parts are used as medicine in headache, tension in inner canthus, pressure in the pit of stomach and sternum, uterine displacement and dysmenorrhoea. Objective: Pharmacognostic and Physico-chemical studies were carried out to facilitate use of correct species and standard raw material to ensure uniformity. Materials and Methods: Pharmacognostic studies of leaf and young stem of Heliotropium peruvianum were carried out. Physico-chemical parameters of the raw drug, viz., extractive values, ash values, formulation, besides weight per milliliter, total solids, alcohol content, along with high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) studies were worked out for mother tincture. Results: The leaves are elliptically long, dark green above and silvery white beneath. The sides of epidermal cells of leaf in surface view are straight to curved and wavy on the adaxial side and wavy to sinuate on the abaxial side. Papillate cells occur on the adaxial side. Stomata are few, anomocytic and restricted to the abaxial side. Unicellular conical and uniseriate conical hairs with thick walls occur on the leaf. In transverse section (TS), the leaf at midvein is shield like, slightly ridged on the adaxial surface and prominently ribbed towards the abaxial surface. Epidermal cells on the adaxial side are larger and interrupted by large encircling epidermal cells around trichomes. Parenchyma is four to five layered and often contains sphearaphides. The phloem also possesses sphaeraphidal idioblasts. The young stem is oval in TS. Vascular tissue form of a continuous ring. Conclusion: The powder microscopic features and organoleptic characters along with anatomical and Physico-chemical studies, besides HPTLC fingerprinting are diagnostic to establish the standards for the drug.

Objective : To elicit the pathogenetic response of the drug Cyclosporin in homoeopathic potencies on apparently healthy human beings. Material and Methods : The drug Cyclosporin was proved by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy through double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The study was conducted in two centres. The drug was proved in two potencies (6C and 30C) on 50 apparently healthy volunteers who were selected after conducting pre-trial medical examinations by the medical specialists and routine laboratory investigations. In the first phase the volunteers were given 56 doses (4 doses per day for 14 days) of placebo. In the next two phases, 56 doses (4 doses per day for 14 days) of each potency or placebo were consumed. The symptoms generated during the trial period were noted by the volunteers and elaborated by the proving masters. The data obtained from the two centers were compiled at proving-cum-data processing cell at Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) headquarters after decoding. Results : Out of 50 provers, 33 were on actual drug trial and 17 were on placebo. Eleven provers manifested symptoms. The drug was able to produce symptoms in each potency in most parts of the body. Conclusion : The pathogenetic responses elicited during the proving trial expands the scope of use of the drug Cyclosporin and will benefit the research scholars and clinicians. These symptoms will carry more value when verified clinically.

Objective: To evaluate the role of homoeopathic medicines in the management of depressive episodes. Material and Methods: A prospective, non-comparative, open-label observational study was carried out from October 2005 to September 2010, by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) (India), at - the Central Research Institute CRI (H), Kottayam. Patients who were 20-60 years of age, suffering from mood disorders were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Homoeopathic medicines were prescribed in 30, 200 and 1M potencies, after repertorising the symptoms and signs and final consultation with the Materia Medica. The internationally accepted scales - Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) - were used to assess the symptoms at each visit and measure the outcome. The follow up of 12 months included six months of observation period. Analysis was done as per the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle using SPSS version 20. Results: Eighty-three patients (35 males and 48 females), who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Out of these, 67 patients completed the follow-up, 16 patients did not attend the Outpatient Department (OPD) for varying periods. The ITT principle was applied for the analysis considering their last observations. A statistically significant (P = 0.0001, P < 0.05) difference in the mean scores of HDRS, using the paired t-test, was observed. The mean scores at baseline and at end were 17.98 ± 4.9 and 5.8 ± 5.9, respectively. Statistically significant differences were also observed in the BDI and CGI scales. The most frequently used medicines were: Natrum muriaticum (n = 18), Arsenicum album (n = 12), Pulsatilla nigricans (n = 11), Lycopodium clavatum (n = 7) and Phosphorus (n = 6). Conclusion: A course of six months of homoeopathic treatment is associated with significant benefits in patients suffering from depressive episodes, as measured by HDRS. Further controlled studies are needed to assess the efficacy .

Background and Aim: The drug Fucus vesiculosus is used in alternative system of medicine and homoeopathy, for the treatment of obesity. But in homoeopathic literature survey, we found no substantial pharmacological evidence to prove its safety and efficacy. So, the study was taken up on this drug and evaluated it on different animal models (diet-induced and chemical-induced models) of obesity. Material and Methods: Obesity was induced in adult female Wistar albino rats (100-120 g) by feeding the rats with cafeteria diet for 42 days in diet-induced model and by administration of single intraperitoneal injection of Triton X-100 in chemical-induced model. In the diet-induced model, weight of the animals was measured every week and parameters like total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured on 0, 21 and 43 days. Further, locomotor activity was assessed for all the animals on 43 ^rd day. On the same day, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their organ and fat pad weights were recorded. In the chemical-induced model, the above parameters were assessed on day 0 and day 8. Results: Feeding cafeteria diet for 42 days resulted in significant increases in the body weight, TC, TG, LDL and VLDL levels and a reduction in the HDL level. Further, the locomotor activity was found to be reduced significantly. Treatment with Fucus vesiculosus significantly protected the cafeteria diet fed animals from all these changes and helped to maintain normal locomotor activity. Similar results were observed in chemical-induced obesity model also. Conclusion: Fucus vesiculosus treatment prevented the rats from becoming obese and the biochemical and physical parameters were maintained to normal levels. So, the drug Fucus vesiculosus can be taken up for further research on human subjects.

Paraphimosis occurs when the foreskin of the uncircumcised or partially circumcised male is retracted behind the glans penis, develops venous and lymphatic congestion and cannot be returned to its normal position. This urological emergency impedes blood flow to the glans penis with potential for permanent damage and gangrene. In infants and young children, paraphimosis usually results from self-manipulation by the child or inappropriate retraction of the foreskin by the caretaker in misguided attempts at cleaning. In the sexually active adolescent or adult male, intercourse is a potential precipitant. Iatrogenic paraphimosis follows cystoscopy or bladder catheterisation if the foreskin is not pulled back over the glans penis by the medical provider. This surgical intervention can be avoided through homoeopathic treatment. A case of paraphimosis with balanitis of an adolescent treated with homoeopathy is reported here. This case shows the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines, Apis mellifica, Rhus toxicodendron, Cinnabaris and Mercurius solubilis, in not only giving symptomatic relief to the patient but also restoring the foreskin completely to its normal position.