Isolation of squarrosal and squarrosol compounds from methanol root extract of Ruellia squarrosa (Acanthaceae)

Purpose: To identify, characterize and structurally elucidate bioactive compounds from root of Ruellia squarrosa.Methods: One kilogram of crude Ruellia squarrosa root was shade dried for 14 days, ground to a fine powder and subjected to a methanol extraction. The resultant extract underwent column chromatography for further purification. The isolated compounds were subjected to ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), infra-red (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), 13C–NMR and high resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry (HR-EI-MS) for the identification, characterization and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds. The most active compounds were tested for anticancer activities against human prostate cancer cell.Results: Two active compounds, squarrosol and squarrosal, were obtained with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 15.6 and 26.6 μg/mL, respectively, against human prostate cancer cell lines. Squarrasol showed a significantly (p < 0.05) greater inhibition of cell proliferation than the same dose of squarrasal.Conclusion: These findings suggest that extracts of Ruellia squarrosa containing the bioactive compounds, squarrosol and squarrosal, can potentially be developed for the treatment of human prostate cancer.Keywords: Ruellia squarrosa, Prostate cancer, Squarrosol, Squarrosal, Anit-proliferativ

Immunomodulatory, antiglycation and anti-ulcerative properties of Ruellia squarrosa Fenzl Acanthaceae

Purpose: To evaluate the immunomodulatory, antiglycation and anti-ulcerative properties of Ruellia squarrosa Fenzl. Acanthaceae.Methods: Aerial parts and roots of Ruellia squarrosa were collected and extracted by maceration using dichloromethane and methanol as solvents. Luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay was used to evaluate immunomodulatory activity while antiglycation assay was performed by fluorescence method with rutin as standard. Anti-ulcerative activity was evaluated by enzymatic methods, namely, urease inhibition and carbonic anhydrase inhibition assays.Results: Dichloromethane extract showed immunomodulatory activity with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 39.48 ± 8.06 % using ibuprofen as standard and antiglycation effect (IC50 = 382.21 ± 3.43) using rutin as standard. The methanol extract of the aerial parts of the plant showed urease inhibition activity (IC50 = 130.2 ± 0.57) using thiourea as standard. The methanol extract of the aerial parts of the plant also showed carbonic anhydrase inhibition activity (IC50 = 1656.7 ± 0.08) using acetazolamide as standard.Conclusion: It was concluded from the present study that aerial and root extracts of the Ruellia squarrosa have significant immunomodulatory, antiglycation and anti-ulcerative properties.Keywords: Ruellia squarrosa, Immunomodulatory, Antiglycation, Anti-ulcerative activity, Carbonic anhydrase inhibition, Ureas

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Related to Malaria Control and Prevention Among Community Women in Rural Area of Lahore

Background It is one of the top 10 killer diseases in the world and about 40.0% of the World’s population is in high-risk malaria areas. Malaria is the second most prevalent disease in Pakistan. Globally annual estimates on the incidence of clinical malaria vary between 300 to 500 million and 1.5-2.7 million people die of malaria. One million estimated and 300,000 confirmed reported cases each year in Pakistan. . Previous studies showed that, there is a gap between knowledge, attitude and practices of Malaria control and prevention. Objective: The study purpose is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among community women regarding malaria prevention and control in rural area of Lahore Pakistan. Methodology: The quantitative cross-sectional study design was used with convenient sampling (n=100) from women in rural area of Lahore. Using the self-administered questionnaire, data was analyzed on SPSS 21 version and application of chi-square test with (p=<0.05).Result: The respondents 100% were familiar with malaria word. They think that high temperature /Fever are the sign and symptoms of Malaria 90.3(93) replied yes because they were 93.3 % sure that fever is the sign and symptom of malaria. The participants 87.1% have knowledge about transmission of Malaria by mosquito bite. Moderately adequate knowledge was found and knowledge of disease transmission was significant associate with qualification. Qualification did effect on the attitude of participants. Qualification and practices did not have significant associated with each other. Conclusion: The every women should know about the transmission, nature of Malaria, preventions and precautions of Malaria. There is need to improve the knowledge and provide training especially preventive and control measure regarding Malaria disease. Keywords: Malaria, Community women, Knowledge, Attitude, pract

Epidemiology and Surgical Outcome of Traumatic Sub Axial Cervical Spine Injuries in a Tertiary Care Hospital of KPK, Pakistan

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to characterize the epidemiologic characteristics, a pattern of traumatic subaxial cervical spine injuries, and their surgical outcomes in a tertiary care hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Materials and Methods:  This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. The records of 40 patients between the ages of 15 and 60 who had cervical spine injuries were evaluated to characterize the injuries and surgical outcomes. We employed the anterior route for surgery regularly and the posterior method only when the reduction failed or substantial instability. We used a tricortical bone graft or titanium cages with autologous bone and secured them through titanium plates to achieve fusion. Results:  80% of patients presented with sub axial cervical injury. Regarding the etiology of injury, 37.5 % had motor vehicle accidents, 28.12% had a history of height falls, and the remaining had sustained injuries due to other causes. The majority of the patients, 68.75% (n = 22), had isolated subluxation injury.87.5% (n = 28) underwent surgical intervention; surgical outcomes such as pain relief were measured using the VAS, which was 6.09 ± 1.42 preoperatively while 4.5 ± 1.29 postoperatively with a difference of means of 1.59. There was a significant improvement in neurological functions as measured through the ASIA impairment scale. Conclusion:  Most cervical spine injuries occurred in young male patients, motor vehicle accidents were the most prevalent cause, and isolated subluxation was the most frequent injury pattern. 

Formulation, characterization and optimization of nebivolol-loaded sustained release lipospheres

Purpose: To formulate, characterize and optimize nebivolol-loaded sustained release lipospheres (LPs) using beeswax (BW) as the drug carrier.Methods: Nebivolol-loaded LPs were formulated using solvent evaporation technique (SET) and characterized. The impact of independent variables on responses such as percentage yield (PY), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug release after 12 h (DR12) was assessed using central composite design (CCD). Numerical and graphical optimization techniques were also used to evaluate outcomes of the measured responses.Results: Twenty micron-sized (20 - 100 μm), smooth spherical LPs with good rheological properties were produced. The yield ranged from 33 (F10) to 81 % (F6), while EE ranged from 32 (F4 and F9) to 69 % (F6). The results of rheological evaluation revealed angle of repose > 24 o, Hausner’s ratio > 1.5, and Carr’s index ranging from 13 to 19 %. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed nebivolol and BW compatibility, and the absence of possible interactions between formulation components. Duration of nebivolol release was strongly associated with BW concentration and formulation F15 showed minimum drug release (46%). Drug release was significantly higher in formulations with similar BW concentrations and low Tween-20 (T-20) concentrations (F1 and F11) than in formulations with high T-20 concentrations (F2, p < 0.05). The zeta potential of deflocculated LPs ranged from +15 to +35 mV. Nebivolol release (46 - 85 %) at pH 6.8 was significantly affected by BW concentration and it followed zero order model.Conclusion: The results obtained in this study have shown that BW is a suitable material for producing an effective sustained release formulation. The mechanism of drug release in nebivolol- loaded LPs is diffusion accompanied by erosion.Keywords: Lipospheres, Nebivolol, Beeswax, Formulation, Central composite desig

Operational parameters optimization for remediation of crude oil-polluted water in floating treatment wetlands using response surface methodology

The application of floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) is an innovative nature-based solution for the remediation of polluted water. The rational improvement of water treatment via FTWs is typically based on multifactorial experiments which are labor-intensive and time-consuming. Here, we used the response surface methodology (RSM) for the optimization of FTW’s operational parameters for the remediation of water polluted by crude oil. The central composite design (CCD) of RSM was used to generate the experimental layout for testing the effect of the variables hydrocarbon, nutrient, and surfactant concentrations, aeration, and retention time on the hydrocarbon removal in 50 different FTW test systems planted with the common reed, Phragmites australis. The results from these FTW were used to formulate a mathematical model in which the computational data strongly correlated with the experimental results. The operational parameters were further optimized via modeling prediction plus experimental validation in test FTW systems. In the FTW with optimized parameters, there was a 95% attenuation of the hydrocarbon concentration, which was very close to the 98% attenuation predicted by the model. The cost-effectiveness ratio showed a reduction of the treatment cost up to $0.048/liter of wastewater. The approach showed that RSM is a useful strategy for designing FTW experiments and optimizing operational parameters

Cytotoxic and antioxidant potentials of ellagic acid derivatives from Conocarpus lancifolius (Combretaceae)

Purpose: Isolation, characterisation and structure elucidation of compounds obtained from Conocarpus lancifolius and screening of their pharmacological effects in vitro.Methods: After collection, authentication and extraction from whole C. lancifolius plants, screening for secondary metabolites, thin-layer  chromatography and subsequent open column chromatography were performed for phytochemical analysis and subsequent purification of the compounds. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic (UV-visible, infrared and mass) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR including BB, DEPT-135, 90 and two-dimensional correlation techniques, including HMBC and HSQC). The cytotoxic and antioxidant potentials of extracts and compounds obtained from C. lancifolius were evaluated using in vitro models.Results: Two ellagic acid derivatives, 2,3,8-tri-o-methylellagic acid (A) and 3-O-methylellagic acid 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (B), were isolated. Both compounds (A and B) were cytotoxic in a variety of cancer cell lines, including murine lymphocytic leukaemia (P-388, half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) =3.60 and 2.40 μg/mL, respectively), human colon cancer (Col-2, IC50 = 0.76 and 0.92 μg/mL, respectively) and human breast cancer (MCF-7, IC50 = 0.65 and 0.54 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, both compounds showed significant antioxidant potential in vitro.Conclusion: C. lancifolius extract and isolated ellagic acid derivatives (compounds A and B) possess cytotoxic and antioxidant properties. These findings suggest that C. lancifolius contains bioactive compounds that can be potentially developed as natural cytotoxic and antioxidant compounds. Keywords: Conocarpus lancifolius, Ellagic acid, Combretaceae, Cytotoxic activity, Antioxidan

Bioaugmentation-Enhanced Remediation of Crude Oil Polluted Water in Pilot-Scale Floating Treatment Wetlands

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are cost-effective systems for the remediation of polluted water. In FTWs, the metabolic activity of microorganisms associated with plants is fundamental to treatment efficiency. Bioaugmentation, the addition of microorganisms with pollutant-degrading capabilities, appears to be a promising means to enhance the treatment efficiency of FTWs. Here, we quantified the effect of bioaugmentation with a four-membered bacterial consortium on the remediation of water contaminated with crude oil in pilot-scale FTWs planted with Phragmites australis or Typha domingensis. The bacteria had been isolated from the endosphere and rhizosphere of various plants and carry the alkane hydroxylase gene, alkB, involved in aerobic hydrocarbon degradation. During a treatment period of 36 days, FTWs planted with P. australis achieved a reduction in hydrocarbon concentration from 300 mg/L to 16 mg/L with and 56 mg/L without bioaugmentation. In the FTWs planted with T. domingensis, respective hydrocarbon concentrations were 46 mg/L and 84 mg/L. The inoculated bacteria proliferated in the rhizoplane and in the plant interior. Copy numbers of the alkB gene and its mRNA increased over time in plant-associated samples, suggesting increased bacterial hydrocarbon degradation. The results show that bioaugmentation improved the treatment of oil-contaminated water in FTWs by at least a factor of two, indicating that the performance of full-scale systems can be improved at only small costs

Pharmacological evaluation of the hypoglycemic and anti- Alzheimer’s activities of aerial parts of Breynia distachia (Phyllanthaceae)

Purpose: To determine the cytotoxic, bronchorelaxant, spasmolytic, antidiabetic, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, α-chymotrypsin and lipoxygenase inhibitory attributes of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of the aerial parts of Breynia distachia.Methods: The dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the aerial parts of the plant were prepared by maceration. Various ex vivo assays were employed, such as the brine shrimp lethality assay, lipoxygenase inhibitory activity assay, α-glucosidase inhibitory assay and α-chymotrypsin assay, as well as assays to assess the spasmolytic and bronchorelaxant activity. Meanwhile, the hypoglycaemic effect were analysed using an alloxan-induced diabetic model in Wistar albino rats.Results: The methanol extract (aerial) showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) cytotoxicity towards brine shrimp larvae at concentrations of 10, 100 and 1,000 μg/mL, respectively, whereas the dichloromethane extract (aerial) of the plant showed non-significant (p ≥ 0.05) results. The methanol extract (aerial parts) also demonstrated significant (p ≤ 0.05) α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, with IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values of 40.37 ± 5.29 μg/mL and 132.9 ± 0.33 μg/mL, respectively, while the dichloromethane extract exhibited significant (p ≤ 0.05) α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 135.43 ± 8.29 μg/mL. An in vivo antidiabetic model showed that the administration of 150 and 300 mg/kg methanol extract of the aerial parts significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lowered the blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats compared to control (treated with water).Conclusion: Data from different in vitro and in vivo models suggest that the methanol extract (aerial parts) of B. distachia shows significant cytotoxic, bronchorelaxant, spasmolytic, antidiabetic and anti-Alzheimer’s activity Hence, these findings validate the folkloric use of B. distachia and highlight the need to further explore its medicinal potential and the phytoconstituents responsible for its pharmacological actions