Browsing by Author "Chandrika, U.G."

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Antinociceptive activity of aqueous extract of Psychotriasarmentosa leaves
(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Ratnayake, W.M.K.M.; Chandrika, U.G.; Suresh, T.M.; Abeysekera, A.M.; Salim, N.
BACKGROUND: Adverse side effects caused by NSAIDS and other existing allopathic analgesic agents have made these drugs unwelcoming to many. The search for alternative therapies has intensified over the years. Consequently, the investigations on the efficacy of plant based drugs used in traditional medicine has been seen as a fruitful research strategy in the search for new analgesic drugs due to possibly lesser side effects as well as the low cost. Indigenous healers in Sri Lanka prescribe an aqueous extract of leaves of Psychotriasarmentosa (named “Gonica” in Sinhala; Family: Rubiaceae) for individuals who have been physically assaulted, indicating that it may possess potent analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory activity. OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that aqueous extract of P. sarmentosa has significant anti-inflammatory activity and the general objective of the present study was to determine the antinociceptive activity of this preparation. METHODS: Acetic acid induced writhing method was conducted to evaluate the analgesic activity on male Wistar rats. Data analysis was carried out using one-way analysis variance (ANOVA) and results with p <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed that the treatment with 100 mg/kg of freeze dried aqueous extract of P. sarmentosa leaves significantly reduced the abdominal contractions induced by the intra-peritoneal administration of acetic acid solution when compared to the control. The percentage inhibition of it was found to be 44.4 % whereas it was 50.8 % for acetyl salicylic acid. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary observations provide evidence for the antinociceptive properties of leaves of P. sarmentosa as claimed in folk medicine.
Assessment of Proximate and Mineral Element Content of Crude Methanolic Extract of Clausena indica (Dals) Oliver Leaves in Sri Lanka
(International Postgraduate Research Conference 2019, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Abeysinghe, D.T; Kumara, K.A.H.; Alwis, D.D.D.H.; Chandrika, U.G.
Clausena indica (Dals.) Oliver commonly known as “mee-gon-karapincha” plant in Sinhala, belongs to family Rutaceae. In comparison to the other members of Rutaceae family in Sri Lanka, C. indica is a less common plant which is usually associated with rain forests. However, C. indica is frequently used in traditional medical practices in Sri Lanka, especially in fixing bone fractures and joint dislocations. It is rich in essential photochemical constituents and minerals. In the current study, proximate and mineral content of a crude methanol extract of C. indica were analyzed following the standard methods. Moisture content was analyzed by oven drying method and the value was 54.67 ± 0.00%. Total ash content was determined to be 3.00 ± 0.07% by AOAC methods. Rose-Gottlieb method was used to determine the total fat content, which was 1.32 ± 0.38%. The protein content determined by Kjeldahl method was 18.93% ± 0.73 and the total carbohydrate content was 22.08%. Mineral elements were analyzed according to AOAC official methods and Fe, Zn, Na, K contents were 9.08 ± 0.23 mg/100g, 1.99 ± 1.14 mg/100g, 0.15 ± 0.025 mg/100g, and 0.19 ± 0.04 mg/100g respectively. These findings revealed that the C. indica plant leaves are a rich source of Fe and Zn, which also has a significant amount of proximate composition.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the national vitamin A supplementation programme among school children in Sri Lanka
(Cambridge University Press, 2007) Madatuwa, T.M.; Mahawithanage, S.T.C.; Chandrika, U.G.; Jansz, E.R.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
The Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka commenced a vitamin A supplementation programme of school children with a megadose of 105 micromol (100,000 IU) vitamin A in school years 1, 4 and 7 (approximately 5-, 9- and 12-year-olds, respectively) in 2001. We evaluated the vitamin A supplementation programme of school children in a rural area of Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children supplemented with an oral megadose of vitamin A (105 micromol; n 452) and children not supplemented (controls; n 294) in Grades 1-5. Children were clinically examined and a sample of blood was taken for serum vitamin A concentration estimation by HPLC. Socio-demographic information was obtained from children or mothers. Supplemented children had a higher proportion of males and stunted children, were younger and lived under poorer conditions as compared to controls. There was no difference in the prevalences of eye signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency in the two groups. Supplemented children had higher serum vitamin A concentrations than controls (1.4 (SD 0.49) micromol/l v. 1.2 (SD 0.52) micromol/l). The serum vitamin A concentrations were 1.6 (SD 0.45), 1.4 (SD 0.50), 1.3 (SD 0.44) and 1.1 (SD 0.43) micromol/l in children supplemented within 1, 1-6, 7-12 and 13-18 months of supplementation, respectively. Vitamin A concentrations were significantly greater than controls if supplementation was carried out within 6 months after adjustment. The oral megadose of 105 micromol vitamin A maintained serum vitamin A concentrations for 6 months in school children.
Impact of vitamin A supplementation on health status and absenteeism of school children in Sri Lanka
(HEC Press, Australia, 2007) Mahawithanage, S.T.C.; Kannangara, K.K.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Chandrika, U.G.; Jansz, E.R.; Karunaweera, N.D.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Vitamin A supplementation on health status and absenteeism of school children. A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial over a period of 13 months was conducted in a rural area of Sri Lanka involving 613 school children attending Grades 1-5 (aged 5 to 13 years). Children were assigned to either 200,000 IU of Vitamin A (n=297) or placebo (n=316) once every 4 months. Socio-demographic data were obtained at baseline, and anthropometry and haemoglobin concentrations were assessed at baseline and post intervention. Serum vitamin A concentrations were assayed by HPLC in a subgroup of children (n=193) before administration of each dose. School absenteeism was recorded. The two groups of children were similar at baseline in all variables. The subgroup of children was comparable to the main study population. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (< 20 microg/dL) in the subgroup of children was 8.2%. Changes in anthropometric indices and haemoglobin concentrations were similar in the two groups. The major causes for absenteeism were non-health causes and supplemented children lost a fewer number of school days due to illness than placebo children (p=0.053). Vitamin A concentrations improved with each dose and the improvement was greater with better compliance. Vitamin A supplementation with 200,000 IU every 4 months over 13 months improved vitamin A status and school attendance but not anthropometric status of these children.