July 2013

About Author:
Pooja Dhiman
Lecturer
Chitkara University, Solan [H.P]
Pooja.dhiman@chitkarauniversity.edu.in

The WHO defines drug abuse as “persistent or sporadic excessive drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice.” Barbiturates are the drugs which act on the central nervous system and produce depression.

ABOUT AUTHORS:
Krishna J. Kathawala¹*, Gaurav L. Ninama¹, Ankitkumar Y. Parikh¹, Krupali V. Upadhyay^2
1A. R. College of Pharmacy & G. H. Patel Institute of Pharmacy B/H. B & B Polytechnic College, Vallabh Vidyanagar - 388 120, Gujarat, India.
²Shree Satsangi Saketdham “Ram Ashram” group of Institution, At. & Post. Vadasma, Tal. & Dist. Mehsana, Gujarat – 382708, India.
*krishna.kathawala@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Nitric oxide (NO) and Carbon monoxide (CO) are the reputed neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of vascular tone. H₂S, which synthesized from L-cysteine, can play more vital role as Gasotransmitters compare to NO and CO. H₂S have a role as a stimulator of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP-channels) in the vascular smooth muscle cells, neurons, cardiomyocytes and pancreatic β-cells. H₂S also minimize the toxic effect by reacting with reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species and attenuating their physiological functions. H₂S have a unique feature of not to stimulate soluble guanylate-cyclase like other Gasotransmitters. H₂S plays a critical role in the regulation of vascular tone, neurotransmission, insulin secretion, and myocardial contractility. Recent studies showed that, in various animal models of arterial and pulmonary hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, gastric mucosal injury and liver cirrhosis had H₂S deficiency which defines the significance of H₂S. Exogenous H₂S alleviates myocardial dysfunction associated with the ischemia/reperfusion injury with reducing the damage of gastric mucosa generated by anti-inflammatory drugs. H₂S had also some drawbacks like every coin has two sides. Excessive production of H₂S may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, septic shock, cerebral stroke and mental retardation in patients with Down syndrome, and reduction of its production may be of potential therapeutic value in these states. Preclinical evidence is provided to show that H₂S releasing derivatives of several NSAIDs, including Diclofenac and Indomethacin indeed represent excellent gastrointestinal safety and are more potent than the parent drugs as anti inflammatory agents. Derivatives of anti-inflammatory drugs other than NSAIDs (e.g. mesalamine) have also been shown to be significantly improved over the parent drug in many respects. So, H₂S can be Revolutionary scientific miracle as a gasotransmitters  at maximum potential if the drawbacks are minimize by cutting edge solution.