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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology × Author: Eliza Jose × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2009 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Hypoglycaemic effect of Coccinia indica (ivy gourd) leaves and its interaction with glibenclamide in diabetic rats
    (Department of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, COVAS, Mannuthy, 2009) Eliza Jose; KAU; Usha, P T A
    The present study was undertaken to assess the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant effect, interactive effects with glibenclamide and toxicity of ethanolic extract of Coccinia indica leaves. The experiment was conducted in seven groups of eight adult Sprague-Dawley rats each. Group I served as the normal control. All the groups except normal control were made diabetic by subcutaneous injection of alloxan at the dose rate of 130 mg/kg body weight and group II was kept as diabetic control. The groups III and IV were administered with the extract of C. indica at the dose rate of 200 mg/kg and glibenclamide at the dose rate of 0.25 mg/kg respectively for 45 days. The groups V, VI and VII were administered with a combination of C. indica at the dose rate of 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg respectively with glibenclamide at the dose rate of 0.125 mg/kg body weight for 45 days. Blood glucose, serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride and body weight were noted on day zero, 16th, 30th, 45th and 60th day and liver glycogen on 60th day. The antioxidant effect was assessed by estimation of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxides in pancreas and liver. Representative samples of pancreas were also subjected to histopathological examination. The diabetic control showed significant increase in the level of blood glucose, serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride level and also a significant reduction in body weight. All the other groups showed a gradual increase in body weight after 30 days of treatment. The groups III and IV restored the blood glucose levels after 45 days. The serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxide levels in pancreas and liver were also restored indicating the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect of the treatments. The groups V, VI and VII, in which the combinations of C. indica with glibenclamide were used, regained the blood glucose levels in 45 days of treatment. Group VII showed most marked effect and is found to be better than group III. The combination treatments produced a marked reduction in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and there was restoration of lipid peroxides and reduced glutathione in pancreas and liver. The ethanolic extract of C. indica leaves were screened for acute oral toxicity and sub acute toxicity. The administration of the extract upto 2000 mg/kg body weight (OECD guidelines 423) did not show any acute oral toxicity in mice. The sub acute toxicity studies conducted in wistar rats, did not show any toxic symptoms like mortality, change in biochemical, hematological parameters. The results revealed that C. indica did not possess any sub acute toxicity. These toxicity studies indicated the safety of ethanolic extract of C. indica as a drug in the treatment of diabetes. From the study it can be concluded that C. indica at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight produced better hypoglycemic effect when compared with glibenclamide at the dose rate of 0.25 mg/kg body weight. Further the combination of C. indica ( 200 mg/kg ) with glibenclamide (0.125 mg/kg) showed a more effective hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect than C. indica or glibenclamide alone and the combination can be safely used in the treatment of diabetes.