Author: Mukul

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News on Health & Science

Viagra may harm male fertility

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Laboratory studies conducted at Queen’s University Belfast, UK suggest that taking the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra may adversely affect sperm function and possibly male fertility.
Recreational users of Viagra need to be informed of the drug’s potentially harmful effects on sperm function, the investigators say. In their experiments, David R J Glenn and colleagues observed that exposure of cultured sperm to Viagra, compared to no exposure, led to a “sustained enhancement of motility,  both in numbers of progressively motile sperm and their velocity.

However, exposure to Viagra   at concentrations equivalent to the average maximum total blood concentration present 30 minutes after a single oral dose of 100 milligrams — also caused a premature  crosome reaction. Acrosomes are structures that cover the head of the sperm and contain a variety of enzymes that help the sperm penetrate the outer membrane of the egg.

That Viagra may induce early activation of the acrosome reaction has “important clinical implications because sperm that acrosome-react before contact with the oocyte are incapable of fertilization,” the researchers note in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

“Given that the majority of sperm acrosome react on exposure to (Viagra), the drug may cause significant impairment to their fertilizing potential,” they write. This is a concern, Glenn and colleagues say, given that Viagra and other like-drugs are widely available on the Internet and are increasingly being used “recreationally” by young healthy men of reproductive age as sexual enhancers.

Source : The Times Of India

Categories
Herbs & Plants

Indian Podophyllum

Botanical Name: Podophyllum hexandrum
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Podophyllum
Species: P. hexandrum
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales

Synonyms : Podophyllum   emodi.

Common Name : Himalayan mayapple or Indian may apple

Indian Name: Papri or Banbaigan

Habitat :  Indian Podophyllum  is native to E. Asia – Afghanistan to China. It grows on   the scrub forests and alpine meadows, usually in humus rich soils, 2000 – 3500 metres in the Himalayas. Very abundant in fir forests in Kashmir.

Description and Composition
Indian Podophyllum is an erect, succulent herb with a creeping root stalk. It has flower-bearing erect branches leafy at top. The plant has toothed, purple spotted leaves, deeply divided in 3 to 5 lobes. The flowers are white or pinkish, cup-shaped and solitary. Its fruit is egg-shaped and scarlet in colour. The dried rhizomes of the plant constitute the drug.

The perennial herb Podophyllum hexandrum (syn. P. emodi), bearing the common names Himalayan mayapple or Indian may apple, is native to the lower elevations in and surrounding the Himalaya. It is low to the ground with glossy green, drooping, lobed leaves on its few stiff branches, and it bears a pale pink flower and bright red-orange bulbous fruit. The ornamental appearance of the plant make it a desirable addition to woodland-type gardens. It can be propagated by seed or by dividing the rhizome. It is very tolerant of cold temperatures, as would be expected of a Himalayan plant, but it is not tolerant of dry conditions.

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The plant is poisonous but when processed has medicinal properties. The rhizome of the plant contains a resin, known generally and commercially as Indian Podophyllum Resin, which can be processed to extract podophyllotoxin, or podophyllin, a neurotoxin. It has been historically used as an intestinal purgative and emetic, salve for infected and necrotic wounds, and inhibitor of tumor growth. The North American variant of this Asian plant contains a lower concentration of the toxin but has been more extensively studied.

The active principle of Podophyllum is contained in the resinous mixture known as podophyllin. The other constituent of the root is podophyllotoxin. The rhizomes yield podophyllol, a sticky resin, quercetin and podophyllotoxin.

According to Viehoever and Mack (1938), the only active crystallisable substance isolated from either podophyllum or podophyllin is podophyllotoxin. Probably, it is not the chief cathartic principle, which is still to be isolated.

Podophyllum Emodi (Indian Podophyllum), a native of Northern India. The roots are much stouter, more knotty, and about twice as strong as the American. It is not identical with, nor should it be substituted for, the American rhizome. It contains twice as much podophyllotoxin, and in other respects exhibits differences. Indian podophyllum is official in India and the Eastern Colonies, where it is used in place of ordinary podophyllum.

Cultivation :    

Prefers a moist peaty soil and filtered light or shade. Grows well in a moist open woodland. Hardy to about -20°c, it takes some years to become established but is very long lived in a suitable habitat. Young leaves may be damaged by late frosts but otherwise the plants are quite hardy. Over collection of the plant from the wild is becomimg a cause for concern as local populations are being endangered. Young plants only produce one leaf each year, older plants have 2 or 3 leaves each year. Plants in this genus have excited quite a lot of interest for the compounds found in their roots which have been shown to have anti-cancer activity. There are various research projects under way (as of 1990). The sub-species P. hexandrum chinense. Wall. has larger flowers and more deeply divided leaves.

Propagation:
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in a cold frame in early spring. The seed germinates in 1 – 4 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least 2 growing seasons. Plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter when the plants are dormant. Division in March/April

Edible Uses:     Fruit  is eaten raw. It must only be eaten when it is fully ripe. Juicy but insipid. The fruit is about 5cm long. The leaves are edible according to one report but this must be treated with some caution, see notes on toxicity above

Constituents.  ”The chief constituents of Indian podophyllum are podophyllotoxin (2 to 5 per cent.) and podophylloresin (compare Podophylli Rhizoma). The drug yields from 6 to 12 per cent. of podophyllin when treated in the same way as the American rhizome, but the podophyllin so obtained is not identical with, nor should it be substituted for, that from the American drug, since it contains approximately twice as much podophyllotoxin, and in other respects exhibits differences (compare Podophylli Rhizoma).

Action and Uses. Indian podophyllum rhizome is official in India and the Eastern Colonies, where it is used in place of ordinary podophyllum; it is stated to be twice as active as the latter.

Healing Power and Curative Properties
The herb Podophyllum is used as a hepatic stimulant and as an agent to promote the flow of bile. It is also useful as a purgative and as a drug to correct disordered processes of nutrition and to restore the normal function of the system. It is a bitter tonic which helps induce vomiting.

Chronic Constipation
The drug is highly beneficial for treating chronic constipation and is used as a purgative. The safe single dose is 0.01 gm. Its action is slow but strong. In large doses, it can cause acute irritation and griping. It should therefore be administered either in combination with belladonna or Indian aloe.

Skin Disorders
Podophyllum is reported to be useful in many skin diseases and tumorous growths. It has acquired importance in recent years for its possible use in controlling skin cancer.

Other Uses:  A medicinal resin is obtained from the plant. It is extracted with alcohol

Precautions: Podophyllin greatly irritates the eyes and the mucous membranes. The resin does not affect normal skin but may be absorbed by irritated or abrased skin and helps purging. It is an effective purgative, but in toxic or over doses it produces intense enteritis or inflammation of the small intestines which may sometimes result in death.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein  is intended for educational purposes only.Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

References:

Miracles Of Herbs

http://indiangyan.com/books/therapybooks/Herbs_That_Heal/indian_podophyllum.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podophyllum_hexandrum
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/bpc1911/podophyllum-emod.html

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Podophyllum+hexandrum

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Categories
Yoga

Ardha Matsyendra Asana (Yoge Exercise)

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It was Matsyendra rishi (saint)who designed and practiced this Asana (Yoga Exercise), and hence its name Masyendrasana. This Asana(Exercise) in its original form is difficult to practice, therefore, it was simplified which is called ‘Ardha Matsyendrasana’. After sufficient practice of this Asana, it becomes possible to practice Matsyendrasana.

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Pre position Sitting Position.
How to do the Exercise:

1. Bend the left leg in the knee and place it on the other side of the right knee.
2. Bend the right leg in the knee and fold it fully.
3. Cross the right hand over the left leg and hold its big toe.
4. Turn the shoulders and the neck to the left as much as possible. Encircle the waist by the left hand keeping the palm inside out. Turn the neck also to the left and continue smooth breathing.

Position:

1. While taking the right hand over the knee of the left leg, keep the right arm touching the standing knee of the left leg and keep the downward part of the right hand parallel and very close to the knee.
2. The folded left leg is pressed by the right arm in order to twist the trunk to the left. At this point do not try to sit on the fold of the right leg.
3. Keep the folded right leg free.
4. While twisting the trunk to the left, outstrech the chest. Straighten the spinal column and the neck, and then turn to the left as much as possible.
5. This twisting process is further enhanced by encircled left hand round the waist.
6. This turning process is facilitated, if it is done with exhailing. Once the final position is attained, the smooth breathing should continue.

Releasing:

1. Turn the neck and the sight to the front.
2. Restore the hands to their place.
3. Straighten the right leg.
4. Bring the left leg to its place and take the sitting position.

Note: Do this Asana (Exercise) by taking up the right leg with necessary relevant changes in taking and releasing the Asana.(Exercise)

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Duration: In whatever form this Asana is taken up, it should be maintained for two minutes on each side. Then, try to have the ideal position and stabilize it for two minutes. After a good deal of practice, it can be kept for five minutes on each side.

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Benefits: This is the advanced stage of Vakrasana. Naturally, all the advantages of that Asana(exercise) are experienced more prominently in this Asana(exercise). It has favourable effects on constipation and loss of appetite and digestive system as a whole.

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Precaution : Maintaining the Asana with bearable strain, it should be released as stated above. Persons having spinal column complaints, should do this Asana(exercise) after consulting some Yoga Experts.

Reference Book:- Yoga Pravesh

Categories
Healthy Tips

Heart Disease Risk Factor Is Depression

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The power of your mind over your heart.
In one of the strongest indications of the power of the mind to influence the body, a growing collection of evidence finds that people who are depressed have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease…..click & see

In a study of almost 3,000 men and 5,000 women, depressed men were 70 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who weren’t depressed. While depressed women were just 12 percent more likely to develop heart disease overall, those who were severely depressed were 78 percent more likely. In fact, a 1998 study found that women who are depressed have a risk of dying from heart disease equal to that of women who smoke or who have high blood pressure.

The link works the other way around, too: While about 1 in 20 American adults experience major depression in a given year, that number jumps to about one in three among those who have survived a heart attack.

The more severe the depression, the more dangerous it is to your health. But some studies suggest that even mild depression, including feelings of hopelessness experienced over many years, may damage the heart. Other studies suggest depression may affect how well heart disease medications work.

Researchers aren’t sure what the connection between depression and heart disease is, but theories abound. One is that people who are depressed tend not to take very good care of themselves. They’re more likely to eat high-fat, high-calorie “comfort” foods, less likely to exercise, and more likely to smoke. But beyond lifestyle, there is probably also a physiological link between depression and heart disease. Recent studies found that people with severe depression tended to have a deficiency of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. People who are depressed also often have chronically elevated levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These keep the body primed for fight or flight, raising blood pressure and prompting the heart to beat faster, all of which put additional stress on coronary arteries and interfere with the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

A whole branch of medicine is devoted to the complex links between mental health, the nervous system, the hormone system, and the immune system. Called psychoneuroimmunology, this science is gradually sorting out how the mind-body connection affects our vulnerability to, or defense against, heart disease.

Overall, an estimated 10 percent of American adults experience some form of depression every year. Although available therapies can alleviate symptoms in more than 80 percent of people treated, less than half of those with depression get the help they need.

Quick Tips:

Get regular, moderate exercise. A 1999 study conducted at the Duke University School of Medicine found that exercising 30 minutes a day, three days a week, was just as beneficial in treating depression as medication alone.

Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids (from food and fish-oil supplements).

Take B vitamins, which are beneficial in preventing depression.

Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates. These foods help increase serotonin levels, a brain chemical that relieves a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

From : Cut Your Cholesterol

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Categories
Environmental Pollution

Tree planting, worm farming on World Environment Day

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Worldwide Pollution
Every day, earth becomes more and more polluted. Air pollution fills our lungs with deadly substances. Water pollution is rapidly eradicating what little freshwater we have left. Land pollution is causing once-fertile lands to become little more than deserts. While many solutions have been offered, NONE are successful. But there is hope! A REAL solution exists   overlooked by environmentalists, government agencies and scientists!

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This AND SEVERAL OTHER EMISSIONS HAVE POLLUTED THE EARTH

– Worries about global warming have increased around the world this year and many people want more government action to slow climate change, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Sixteen percent of more than 26,000 Internet users in 47 nations surveyed in March said climate change was a “major concern” against just 7 percent in a survey in October, according to the report by the Nielsen Company and Oxford University.

U.N. reports blaming human emissions from burning fossil fuels for warming that could lead to more heatwaves, desertification, floods and rising sea levels had apparently spurred concerns and far more media coverage

In the survey, about 40 percent of those expressing concern wanted governments to restrict companies’ emissions of greenhouse gases and wanted more investment in low-emission cars, houses and renewable energy.

Thirty-one percent thought people should recycle more. But only 3 percent said people should reduce air travel.

People in Switzerland, France, Australia and Canada were most worried about climate change, with more than 30 percent rating it among their top two concerns alongside issues such as the economy, health and job security.

The Group of Eight industrialized nations will meet in Germany for a summit from June 6-8. Among G8 nations, people in Russia and the United States were least concerned by warming.

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Australian protesters held a “picnic rally” against the logging of native forests while hundreds of Indian policemen swapped guns for spades to plant trees on Tuesday to highlight World Environment Day.

Across Asia, people learned about worm farming and composting, listened to lectures about renewable energy and cutting carbon emissions, while school children took part in plays and painting competitions.

Catholic nuns plant trees in a field, symbolising a deforested area, during a program to mark the World Environment Day in Manila June 5, 2007.

 

A woman dances in a field, symbolising a deforested area, during a program to mark the World Environment Day in Manila June 5, 2007.

More than 50 people halted logging operations in the southern Australian state of Victoria, calling for an end to native forest logging, the Wilderness Society said.

“Trees are giant carbon pumps, sucking carbon from the air and pumping it into the ground, trunks and branches. To protect us from the impacts of dangerous climate change, this destruction must stop,” said Luke Chamberlain, a campaigner for the society.

Hundreds of policemen India’s western state of Gujarat pledged to turn barren areas into fruit orchards by planting mango and guava trees.

“We will keep our gun and baton aside and pick up a spade to plant trees all around our offices,” said Sujata Solanki Majumdar, a senior police officer in Gandhinagar, the state capital. “If the cops go green, then the people will follow too.”

In Vadodara in central Gujarat, housewife Savita Dabhi sat outside her home, cooking a four-course meal for her family and friends on a solar cooker to promote the benefits of renewable energy.

TOP ISSUE
Global concern about climate change has risen dramatically over the last six months and consumers increasingly expect their governments to act, according to a survey published on Tuesday.

The survey by the Nielsen Company and Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, found 42 percent of global online consumers believe governments should restrict companies’ emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

A G8 summit of rich nations this week could pave the way for a world deal on how to tackle global warming.

Rich nations and major developing nations such as China, India and Brazil are under pressure to agree targets to cut emissions and to start talks on shaping the next phase of the U.N. Kyoto Protocol climate pact, which runs out in 2012.

This year’s World Environment Day focuses on the theme “Melting Ice — a Hot Topic?” to complement International Polar Year 2007.

The United Nations said subtropical Vietnam, which has a 3,200-km (2,000-mile) coastline, could be one of the worst-hit countries if sea levels continue to rise at current rates.

In the central coastal city of Danang, members of the Youth Union planted trees and picked up rubbish from beaches. The government chose the city for the day’s events because of an increase in the frequency of typhoons and floods in the region.

The United Nations Development Programme said on Tuesday that if global sea levels rose by one meter, Vietnam would face losses of $17 billion per year, one-fifth of the population would lose their homes, 12.2 percent of the most fertile land could be lost and the southern Mekong Delta would have unprecedented flooding.

China, one of the biggest polluters and facing public anger over foul air and water, said on Tuesday it had slowed, but not reversed, a rising tide of pollution from frenetic industrialization. China is the world’s largest emitter of sulphur dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels and smelting and causes acid rain.

About 100 environmentalists gathered in a city park of Banda Aceh, capital of Indonesia’s Aceh province, to show their support for a logging moratorium that will be announced on Wednesday by the provincial governor

Wearing T-shirts saying “Save the forest with your hands, support the logging moratorium”, the activists formed a human chain around 500 tree stumps made of papier-mache and held a minute’s silence.

Source:http://today.reuters.com/news

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