Estimation of Pyruvic acid in serum and saliva among healthy and potentially malignant disorder subjects – a stepping stone for cancer screening?

Background: According to Warburg’s effect, the rate of glycolysis increases in cancerous cells. This will increase overall levels of pyruvic acid. The present on-going study was conducted to estimate the levels of pyruvic acid in saliva and serum in normal, oral PMD subjects. Material and Methods: A total of 50 subjects in healthy, PMD of the oral cavity individuals were selected based on clinical and histological criteria. Collected saliva and serum samples were subjected to pyruvic acid level estimation using biochemical analysis. Results: Of the 50 participants 25 (13: Males; 12: Females) & 25 (16: Males; 9: Females) were PMD group. Independent samples t test showed statistically significant difference in serum & salivary pyruvic acid level in between 2 groups ( P < 0.001 respectively) Conclusions: Estimation of pyruvic acid showed sequential increase in the level in PMD group compared to healthy. Hence the study results open new direction in cancer screening

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by the "NALIKE" community in the Bantwala taluk of Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, India

The "Nalike" community, also known as Panar, is one of the tribal communities in the Bantwala taluk in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district. In addition to the practise of ritual dance, the majority of the families in this community embrace traditional medication as a source of income. For the ethnobotanical survey, a total of 25 informants were chosen and documented 160 medicinal plant species from 65 families including their botanical name, trivial name, family name, plant parts used, and medicinal uses. The most frequent families are Leguminosae (17 species), Rubiaceae (9 species), Apocynaceae (7 species), Myrtaceae (7 species), and Lamiaceae (7 species). To cure various disorders, different portions of medicinal plants are employed in the manufacture of various types of traditional medicine such as decoction, infusion, paste, or powder. A total of 39 diseases were identified and classified into nine disease categories. All informants treat paralysis with Syzygium aromaticum, Cinnamomum verum, and Glycyrrhiza glabra, as well as other medicinal plants in various combinations, in the category of neurological illnesses