Standardization of the bio-active compounds (rotenoids) from the extract of local plant species (derris elliptica) using the internal standard method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

It is well known now that some plant species represent an efficient factory of chemicals, which are manufactured and used as bio-weapons against pest attacks. Extensive work has been done during the last few decades on these potentially useful compounds. During the last few decades a growing interest has been paid for safe agricultural production i.e free residual toxicity hazards to human beings and to the environment. Plant extracts-based biocides possess a great advantage compared with the chemical ones. Their efficacies are also acceptable. Research carried out was to standardize and determine the bio-active compounds from the extract of local plant species (Derris elliptica) using the internal standard method of the isocratic High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis system. The raw plants were collected from Kota Johor Lama, Johor and sorted to collect the root and stem. Only the root and stem were utilized as a raw material of the extraction process. The root and stem were extracted by using the Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE) method at 28 0C to 30 0C with 95.0 % (v/v) of acetone as a solvent and the solvent-to-solid ratio of the extraction is (10.0 ml/g). The extraction was carried out for 24 hours and further cleaned up to remove fine debris of root and stem prior to determination of the rotenone and its derivatives content. The rotenone cube resin of SAPHYR S.A.R.L (France) was used to verify the appearances of the compounds in the extract. The employed method of analysis shows significant appearances of the bio-active compounds in the extract compared with the commercial grade of rotenone cube resin

A study into the effect of concentration process on the yield of rotenone from the extract of local plant species (Derris elliptica)

Bio-pesticides are becoming increasingly important as pest management tools in various cropping systems in the tropics essentially to remedy problems associated with the indiscriminate use of ‘hard’ inorganic pesticide and interest in organic agriculture. In the few decades, many bio-pesticidal products, both microbial-based (bacteria, fungi, microsprodia, entomopathogenic nematodes, viruses) and plant-based botanicals (rotenone and azadiracthin) had been studied for use against insect pests in the tropics. In this paper, the effect of the concentration process towards the yield of rotenone; mg and its concentration; mg/ml are studied extensively. The raw plants were collected from Kota Johor Lama, Johor and sorted to collect the root and stem. Only the root and stem were utilized as a raw material of the extraction process. The root and stem were extracted using the Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE) at 28 0C to 30 0C with 95 % (v/v) of acetone as a solvent and the solvent-to-solid ratio of 10 ml/g). The extraction was carried out for 24 hours. The liquid crude extract was concentrated further (the solvent removed under reduced pressure) using the rotary evaporator at 50 0C and 80 mbar of vacuum pressures. The fractions of the liquid crude extract were collected for each interval time (15 mins/1.0 ml/fraction). Each fractions were diluted 1/100 with acetone and further cleaned up prior to determination of rotenone content; mg and concentration; mg/ml by using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Significant effect of the concentration process against the yield of rotenone; mg was recorded and shows a significant thermal degradation or dissipation of rotenone content at higher operating temperature. The possibilities for better exploitation and identification of the effective operating parameters will be discussed

Normal soaking extraction (NSE) of rotenone from Derris elliptica

Derris elliptica or the tuba plant contains rotenone, bio-active compound known that has the potential to be used as bio-pesticide. Bio-pesticide is the best-known alternative bio-pesticide which has the potential to replace the use of conventional pesticides, as it is more environmentally friendly. The main objective of the paper is to obtain the best extraction solvent for optimizing the yield in rotenone extraction. Rotenone was extracted from Derris root using three different parts of roots and three types of solvent in Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE). The types of Derris roots are: (1) Fine root (2) Coarse root (3) Stem. The three types of solvent system are: (1) Acetone 95 % (v/v), (2) Chloroform 99.9 % (v/v) and (3) a mixture of ethanol: H2O (9:1) added with oxalic acid (1mg/ml). The liquid crude extracts were further cleaned up to remove the fine debris of roots. The presence of rotenone was confirmed using qualitative analysis Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and thereupon the determination of rotenone content was carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). From the results obtained, it was found that the Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE) using acetone 95 % (v/v) was the best method to extract the highest yield of rotenone; 1.14 % (w/w)

Constrictive pericarditis presenting as chylothorax

Chylothorax is a rare clinical condition that can be attributed to a damaged thoracic duct. The condition is suggested by aspiration of milky white fluid from the pleural cavity and is commonly associated with either malignant diseases or trauma (e.g. cardiothoracic surgery). We present the case of a 15-year-old boy with chylothorax, whose effusion was due to constrictive pericarditis. The definitive treatment of chylothorax involves identification and management of the underlying pathology. We suggest that when dealing with cases of chylothorax, constrictive pericarditis should be considered among the causes

Prevalence of Nocturnal Enuresis among Schoolchildren in Sana’a City, Yemen

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, frequency and time of nocturnal enuresis (NE) among primary schoolchildren in Sana’a city, Yemen. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study was conducted among 2689 schoolchildren in the primary schools of four randomly selected districts in Sana’a city in the period from September 2012 to December 2013. Data about sociodemographic characteristics, frequency, time, psycho-social effects and the factors possibly associated with NE among children were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The overall prevalence of NE was 11.2%, which was significantly higher among males than females (13.0% vs. 10.0%, respectively; P = 0.044) and decreased significantly with increasing age (P <0.001). More than half of children (55.3%) in Sana’a city had the habits of drinking excess fluids and tea at night and/or deep sleeping. Of physical and health disorders, difficulty in breathing and urinary tract infections were the two most frequent conditions among children with NE, being observed among 29.6% and 23.9% of cases, respectively. However, urogenital anomalies and mental retardation were the least frequent conditions in children with NE, being observed among 5.8% and 1.3% of cases, respectively. On the other hand, marital problems (24.8%) and arrival of a new baby (17.9%) were the most frequently observed social conditions among children with NE, while death in the family (8.5%) and parental separation (6.0%) were the least frequently observed conditions. Conclusions: NE is prevalent among 11.2% of schoolchildren in Sana’a city with a significantly higher, though slight, rate among males. This rate is lower than the rates reported from Aden and Mukalla cities in the country and from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. However, it is higher than those reported from Iran and Malaysia. About a third of children experience nightly NE, whereas the lowest proportion of children experience NE twice a month. The habits of drinking excess fluid and tea at night and/or deep sleeping, the disorders of difficulty in breathing and urinary tract infections and the social conditions of marital problems and arrival of a new baby are the most frequent observations among children with NE in Sana’a city

Expression Of Nephrin In Early Diagnosis Of Diabetic Nephropathy

Background & Objectives: Diabetic nephropathy occurs as a result of proximal tubule dysfunction with podocyte damage due to increased advanced glycation end-products’ insult in diabetes. Nephrin, one of the three proteins that make up the podocyte architecture, is excreted foremost following renal damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and reliability of nephrin for an early biomarker of kidney damage in diabetic patients. Methods: Urine samples (78) were collected from diabetic center. Protein and glucose were determined by Dipstick. The patients were grouped on the basis of Albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) as normoalbuminuric, Microalbuminuric and Macroalbuminuric with UACR less than 30 mg/g, from 30-300mg/g, and above 300mg/g respectively. ELISA KIT (Exocell USA) was used for Nephrin estimation. Statistical evaluation was done on SPSS version 20. Results: Nephrinuria was present in 70(89.7%) out of 78 diabetic patients including 35(81.4%) of 43(55.1%) normoalbuminurics, 5(6.4%) of 30(38.5%) microalbuminurics and all 5 of macroalbuminurics (p=0.027). Nephrinuria was found associated with duration of diabetes, 21(91.3%)/23 were positive with less than three years of disease, 24(92.3%)/26 with three to seven years and 25(86.2%)/29 in more than seven years (p=0.039). Nephrin levels were found increasing from normo- (0.86ug/ml) to Micro- (11.6μg/ml) to Macroalbuminuria group (47.6μg/ml), compared to 0.15 μg/ml in comparison group. \ud Conclusion: The increase in Nephrin levels from 0.86μg/ml in patients with normal albuminuria to 47.6μg/ml in patients with macroalbuminuria suggests that Nephrin precedes albumin in urine predicting early signs of kidney damage. Nephrin biomarker can be used as predictor for early diagnosis of Nephropathy in diabetics. Key Words: Diabetic Nephropathy; Albuminuria; Podocyte

Fractional residual plot for model validation

A pairwise comparison is important to measure the goodness-of-fit of models. Error measurements are used for this purpose but it only limit to the value, thus a graph is used to help show the precision of the models. These two should show a tally result in order to defense the hypothesis correctly. In this study, a fractional residual plot is proposed to help showing the precision of forecasts. This plot improvises the scale of the graph by changing the scale into decimal ranging from -1 to 1. The closer the point to 0 will indicate that forecast is robust and value closer to -1 or 1 will indicate that the forecast is poor. Two error measurements which are mean absolute error (MAE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and residual plot are used to justify the results and make comparison with the proposed fractional residual plot. Three difference data are used for this purpose and the results have shown that the fractional residual plot could give as much information as the residual plot but in an easier and meaningful way. In conclusion, the error plot is important in visualize the accurateness of the forecast