Padmaja R Desai

Abstract

Introduction: Stress and unhealthy lifestyle are the major and important risk factors for the development of comorbidities and impairment in the cognitive as well as sensory- motor performance. Aims and Objectives: To study the effect of meditation on Visual Reaction Time in undergraduate medical students. Materials and Methods: Total 100 first MBBS students of Medical College in age group 18-25 years were included. Written informed consent was taken from all the participants before the study. Visual Reaction Time of all students for Green and Red colour stimuli was recorded before and after the mediation training program. The meditation training program was conducted by expert yoga trainer for consecutive 5 months, preferably on empty stomach, without disturbing their teaching schedule. Results: There was a significant difference between VRT recorded before and after the meditation training with P motor co-ordination. Conclusion: Yoga training with particular emphasis on meditation and deep breathing techniques, can be used as an important and cost-effective tool for improving and increasing the level of alertness. Keywords: Visual reaction time, Meditation, Stress.

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Abstract

Introduction: The effect of eugenol on white blood cells (WBCs ) and corticosteroneis known. However, pharmacological properties and activities of eugenol such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anesthetic, muscle relaxant, improved motor coordination, and increased red blood cells were reported in stress - induced rats. Objective: To evaluate the effect of eugenol on WBCs in sub -acute restraint stress-induced Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Female Wistar albino rats (n = 30) weighing (150–220 g) were divided into five groups with six animals in each group, Group I: normal control; II : vehicle polyglycerol treated (PG); III: eugenol treated alone - TA (150 mg/kg/i.p for 15 days); IV : stress -induced (SA-stress alone), and V: stress followed by treated (T/S) with. Blood samples were collected at the end ofthestudyand total leucocyte count (TLC), differentiation leucocyte count (DLC), platelet count (PC) and concentration of corticosterone were estimated. Results: The TA group showed significant (p group. The platelet count was significantly less in the SA group as compared to T/ S group (p effect of eugenol on DLC did not show a significant difference with respect to neutrophil and lymphocytes count in T/S groups, when compared with other groups, whereas, no significant differences were observed between basophils, monocytes, and eosinophils of T/S when compared with SA group. No significant differences were observed in corticosterone levels in all groups. Conclusion: Acute restraint stress induced distribution of WBC was not significantly attenuated by eugenol and no changes were observed in corticosterone level. However, eugenol increases platelet aggregation. Keywords: Stress, Eugenol, Total leukocyte count, Differentiation leukocyte count, Platelets, Corticosterone.

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