Diabetes has exploded in a majority of areas in the world. Healthy eating, as a strategy for controlling diabetes, and promoting walking, exercise, and other physical activities is advised. The main aim of the treatment of both types of diabetes is to achieve near normal blood glucose and blood pressure levels. This, together with a healthy lifestyle, will help to improve the well-being of the patients, as also protect them against long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and major arteries. An attempt has been made in this review to focus on traditional uses and their multivalent actions as being health promoting, as well as putative therapeutic agents, especially in diabetes mellitus. Fruits, vegetables, and dietary spices represent a hope that is potentially very high, to limit harmful effects of them. They also influence various systems in the body, with diverse metabolic and physiological actions. They are helpful in various chronic diseases and have played a crucial role in the management of diabetes mellitus and form an important part of one's staple diet. They provide nutritional substances like dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and so on, which are essential for a balanced diet. The dietary pattern has beneficial effects on both human health development and treatment of various diseases, and hence, promoting adherence to this pattern is of considerable importance to public health.

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Angelica archangelica Linn. has traditionally been used in mountainous and tropical regions and appreciated for centuries; however, its biological properties are only beginning to be elucidated scientifically. In the Ayurvedic text, 'Chandaamshuka' is one of the agents found in mountains, which helps to control serious diseases. There is ample data to suggest the potent properties of this plant and its compounds, which have been used to explain most of its observed biological activities. However, emerging evidence suggests that Angelica archangelica Linn. can be useful a Ghost/Angel for the treatment of diseases. The traditional claims, phytochemical investigations, pharmacological evaluation, and some recipes provide the backbone to make this plant a Holy Ghost or Angel. We summarized the progress of our current research knowledge on Angelica archangelica Linn. and its observed biological activities. We hope that this review will stimulate further research for elucidating and appreciating the value of this wonder agent provided by nature.

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Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on the levels of glycoprotein components in plasma and tissues of streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in experimental rats by a single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of STZ (45 mg/kg b.w) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) 15 minutes after the i.p injection of NA (110 mg/kg b.w). Results: The levels of hexose, hexosamine, fucose, and sialic acid were estimated in plasma, liver, and kidney tissues of experimental rats. An increase in glycoprotein components in plasma was noticed in diabetic rats. In hepatic and renal tissues, a significant decrease in sialic acid with increases in hexose, hexosamine, and fucose levels were observed in diabetic rats when compared with control animals. Oral administration of TQ at 80 mg/kg b.w. for 45 days significantly ameliorated the glycoprotein changes in plasma and tissues of diabetic rats. Conclusion: The results of the present study show the potent beneficial effects of TQ in modifying the levels of glycoprotein components in plasma and tissues of diabetic rats.

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Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare and potentially serious syndrome associated with the use of many antipsychotic, antiparkinsonian, antidepressants, etc. Moreover, of the agents known to cause this entity, clozapine has been mentioned a fewer times, but desvenlafaxine has never been known to precipitate it. However in this study, we present a case of established Neuroleptic syndrome that precipitated after administration of desvenlafaxine in a patient of resistant schizophrenia who was on clozapine. The presenting case explores the possibility of the potential of desvenlafaxine in causing this rare clinical entity and also a possible idiosyncratic interaction between desvenlafaxine and clozapine, whose mechanism is yet to be known.

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Aim: A temporal relationship exists between the presence of affective disturbance, poor glycaemic control and complications in people with type-2 diabetes. The objective of this study is to compare the performance of patients diagnosed with type-2 diabetes and normoactive group on indices of mood functioning and indices of health-related quality of life. Materials and Methods: In 2006-2007, for a six-month period, diabetics from Oman were screened for the presence of propensity towards psychiatric distress using Self-Reporting Questionnaire during their routine consultation at the diabetic clinic at a tertiary care hospital in an urban area of Oman. Those who fulfilled presently operationalised criteria for subclinical propensity towards affective disorders were further screened for affective functioning (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and indices of general well-being or health-related quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile). The age- and sex-matched controls group (n=40) underwent the same procedure. Results: Both measurement scales used in the present study indicated that the diabetic group had significantly poorer quality of life and higher distress level than the non-diabetic group, with the exception of emotional reaction for which the non-diabetics showed poorer health than the diabetics. Additionally, no difference between groups was found when compared for social isolation. Conclusions: In agreement with previous studies from different populations, people with diabetes in Oman appear to have marked affective functioning and impairment based on the indices of quality of life. The present finding is discussed within a sociocultural context that has a direct bearing on the situation in Oman.

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Aim: To evaluate the effect of mulberry leaves supplemented with cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) on the haemolymph of silkworm. Materials and Method: Finely powdered V. unguiculata was dissolved in distilled water and diluted to 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% concentrations. Fresh mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) were sprayed with each concentration and fed to silkworms, from third to fifth instar, with five feedings per day. Group 1 larvae received mulberry leaves sprayed with distilled water and served as control, group 2 larvae received 2.5% V. unguiculata-sprayed mulberry leaves, group 3 larvae received 5% V. unguiculata-sprayed mulberry leaves, group 4 larvae received 7.5% V. unguiculata-sprayed mulberry leaves, and group 5 larvae received 10% V. unguiculata-sprayed mulberry leaves. Result: Silkworm larvae fed on M. alba L. (mulberry) leaves enriched with 7.5% concentrations of V. unguiculata, significantly gained more cocoon weight, shell weight and shell/cocoon ratio as compared to those fed on normal MR ₂ mulberry leaves. Hence, 7.5% dose of V. unguiculata was fixed as an effective dose. Further, same study was conducted to find out the biochemical changes in the haemolymph occurred on the first day of fifth instar larvae. There was significant increase in the haemolymph glucose, cholesterol, urea, total protein, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase. But haemolymph uric acid decreased significantly. Conclusion: The results suggest that co-administration of V. unguiculata with mulberry leaves at a concentration of 7.5% enhanced the biochemical reaction involved in the silk production in the silkworm.

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Introduction: Nephrocalcinosis is a state of deposition of calcium phosphate or oxalate in the renal parenchyma. It may occur in patients with renal tubular acidosis, vitamin D intoxication, and hyperparathyroidism. Aim: According to traditional medicine, which mentioned Barley as a herbal remedy for relieving renal pain, we attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of barley in improving nephrocalcinosis induced by a large dose of oxalic acid in a rabbit model. Materials and Methods: Fourteen healthy rabbits were allocated to two groups. 2 hours before induction of nephrocalcinosis, a group received water and the other received aqueous extract of barley and continued feeding for ten days. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis before induction and in the tenth post-induction day. Urine samples were taken to estimate urinary ca+2 levels and crystals. The histopathological examination was carried to check for crystal deposits in renal tissues. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in blood urea nitrogen and serum Na+ levels with insignificant change in serum creatinine and K+ in comparison with the control group. It revealed a significant reduction in calcium deposition from renal parenchyma after 10 days of treatment, with improvement in nephrocalcinosis severity. Conclusion: Barley showed a significant diuretic and attenuating effect on reducing calcium deposits from renal parenchyma.

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Context: To study the onset of the development of glucose intolerance and the mechanism by hydrochlorothiazide (HCT). Settings and Design: Hypertensive patients (n = 120) who were treated with captopril (CP) 25 mg daily were randomly divided into two groups. Materials and Methods: The control group was on captopril (n = 60) and the test group was given 25 mg HCT. They were followed for six months and the levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI) , and fasting potassium (FK) were analyzed, to calculate the correlation coefficient. Results: There were no significant correlations between FBS and FI or FI, with FK in both groups at baseline. The changes in the FBS or FI levels during the first three months were not significant in both the test and control groups. Reduction of FK was significant (P < 0.05) and had a positive correlation with FBS after three months (r = + 0.78, P < 0.05) in the test group. Correlations between FI and FBS or FK were not significant. FBS was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the test group after six months. Both FI and FK had developed significant correlations with FBS in the HCT-treated group (r = - 0.71 with FI and r = + 0.77 with FK, respectively, P < 0.05) after six months. Reduction of FI was positively correlated with the FK test group (r = + 0.83, P < 0.05) after six months. Conclusions: HCT induced hypokalaemia in the early phase and developed hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in the late phase. This suggested that HCT initially influenced pancreatic response to glucose, which was dependent on serum K and was probably mediated by hypoinsulinemia. We suggest large scale studies for further investigations on this relationship.

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