Department of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
Department of Materia Medica earlier, later Pharmacology and now Pharmacology and Toxicology was established as an independent Department in 1949. It was the first department in the country to start postgraduate degree programme (MVSc) in 1962 and later PhD in 1970.
Since inception, department has been pioneer in undertaking research on indigenous plants and more than ninety plants have been screened for different pharmacological activities and toxicity potential. Some of these plants have been included in pharmaceutical formulations by certain companies. Andranchne cordifloia (Bhatoola) leaves, Acacia leucophloea (Raunja) tender leaves and pods and Naruydia medagascariensis leaves have been reported for the first time to contain quite high levels of hydrocyanic acid and responsible for toxicity in sheep and goats. Treatment of poisoning with Paspalum scorbiculatum (Kodo) was also suggested for the first time by this Department.
Studies on characterization of autonomic and autacoids receptors in goat uterus, ureter and oviduct and buffaloes uterus, ureter and oesophagus have been conducted. Tocolytic efficacy of selective b2 adrenoceptor agonists, calcium channel blockers and non-specific smooth muscle relaxants in buffaloes was evaluated and reported to possess promising therapeutic potential for clinical use in veterinary medicine. Recently, using pharmacological and molecular biology tools, different types of potassium channels have been characterized in buffalo uterus, involvement of different isoforms of sodium pump in regulating sheep coronary and pulmonary arteries tone and its modulation by fatty acids has been elucidated. Further research work on functional and molecular regulation of vascular potassium channels in sepsis-induced oxidative stress in rats and modulation of myometrial spontaneity by sodium pump and endogenous nitric oxide in buffaloes is in progress.
Disposition kinetic data on ofloxacin has been generated in sheep, goats, cow and buffalo calves and neonatal cow calves to ensure its rational and safe use. For complete treatment of nematodiasis in goats, suitable dose requirement of fenbendazole has been suggested. Flumethrine pour-on (1% w/v) was found to be very effective against Damalinia caprae infestation in goats and the single application was observed to be effective for 42 days as it prevented the re-infestation during this period. Recently, Department also reported a very rapid and simple fluorimetric assay method for estimation of ciprofloxacin in plasma. Buffalo perimetrial uterine strips has been found to be very sensitive to histamine and can be used for bioassay of histamine. Department has also published a book of “Veterinary Toxicology”.
The department is having well equipped laboratories to undertake research on neuro and autonomic pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, medicinal plants and environmental pollutants. Some of the major equipments which are available in the laboratories are data acquisition system based physiograph, Millar pressure transducer, spectrofluorometer, spectrophotometer, plethysmometer, hot-cold plate, analgesiometer, aggressometer, pole climbing apparatus, rota-rod, soxhlet apparatus, rotary vacuum evaporator, BOD incubator, biosafety cabinet etc. Further, CIL with sophisticated equipments like HPLC, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer and several others has further improved the scope for hands on training students to postgraduate students.
Department has an excellent organizational capacity. Recent successful organization of VIII ISVPT conference in November 2008 is testimony to the capability and strength of Department; and in coming six months, Department will be organizing two training programmes of six days duration each for imparting hands on training to postgraduate students and young faculty members from other Departments of the country.
Faculty Members
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