Assessment of In-vivo Anti-inflammatory Potential of Fruit Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Using Carrageenan Induced Paw Edema Rat Model Study

Ethnobotanicals are important for pharmacological research and drug development. Indian medicinal plant Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment various human ailments. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are mainly used in the treatment of pain and inflammation with side effects like gastrointestinal irritation. Therefore, there is a resurgence to search for alternative anti-inflammatory drugs and medicines from natural sources. Hence, in the current study we aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of Ashwagandha fruits in an in-vivo carrageenan induced paw edema rat model study. Fruits of Ashwagandha was subjected to successive solvent extraction by continuous hot extraction (Soxhlet) with methanol. Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic fruit extract of Ashwagandha at doses of 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg was evaluated in carrageenan induced paw edema Wistar albino rat model test. Inflammation was produced by administering 0.1 ml of 1% carrageenan into sub-plantar surface of rat hind paw to negative control group; 150 mg/kg (Group-I), 300 mg/kg (Group-II), 600 mg/kg (Group-III) methanolic fruit extract Ashwagandha and Aspirin 100 mg/kg (positive control) was administered intraperitoneally respectively. Results depicted that there was a dose dependent inhibition of hind paw edema volume following treatment with methanolic fruit extract of Ashwagandha. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of methanolic fruit extract Ashwagandha extract at the dose level of 300 mg/kg was comparable with that of standard drug viz. Aspirin. Moreover, maximum inhibition of paw edema volume was observed at 12 h time interval at all the dose levels of methanolic fruit extract Ashwagandha. In conclusion, this preliminary study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory potential of methanolic fruit extract of Ashwagandha. Therefore, Ashwagandha fruit extract could be considered for development of natural anti-inflammatory drug

Seismic analysis of multi-storeyed building with floating column using fluid viscous dampers.

Nowadays many multi-storeyed buildings in India have open ground storey for providing better parking facilities, reception lobbies and other amenities. It is required to have column free space due to shortage of space, increase in population and also for functional and aesthetic requirement.For this purpose, building is provided with floating column at one or more storey.Floating column is a vertical member but its lower end is not connected to the foundation. Its lower end rest on beam which is a horizontal member, this beam transfers the load of floating column to other columns below it.The most common use of a floating column is to build a soft storey on the ground floor to provide extra parking or entrance corridor space.But such features are highly unwanted in seismically active region. The present study proposes a practical solution for reducing the risk of earthquake effects associated with floating column building by strengthening them with using fluid viscous dampers. The main aim of the work is to highlights the performance of floating column building and compare floating column building with and without using fluid viscous dampers. Seismic analysis is carried out by using response spectrum analysis as per IS: 1893-2002. The Seismic assessment is executed by using ETABS software

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY SCREENING OF M. MINUTA EXTRACTS

Objective: Infectious diseases are a leading cause of global disease burden with high morbidity and mortality especially in the developing world. Furthermore, there have been threats of new diseases during the past three decades due to the evolution and adaptation of microbes and the re-emergence of old diseases due to the development of antimicrobial resistance and the capacity to spread to new geographic areas. Since antiquity, humans have used plants to treat common infectious diseases and some of these traditional medicines are still included as part of the habitual treatment of various maladies. Objective of the study was to evaluate, one of the traditionally used drugs, Marselia minuta for its antimicrobial activity. Methods: Extracts of M. minuta was prepared using successive solvent extraction method and the antibacterial activity of thus prepared petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, alcohol and aqueous extracts of M. minuta was performed using agar well diffusion method. Four bacterial strains were used to assess the antimicrobial properties of the plant extracts viz Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: All the extracts showed activity towards the tested microorganisms except petroleum ether extract. Ethyl acetate extract was more active towards S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Alcohol and chloroform extract was active toward E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Aqueous extract was active against E. coli and S. aureus. minimum inhibitory concentration were calculated for each extract and the Significant activity was observed for ethyl acetate extract (E. coli-11.33 mm, S. aeruginosa-16.0 mm) and alcoholic fractions (E. coli-15.33 mm and P. aeruginosa-10.66 mm) for concentration 500 mcg/ml. Conclusion: Thus, the result in the present experiment ensures the traditional use of M. minuta as antibacterial agent. Further, the most active extracts can be subjected for isolation of the therapeutic antimicrobials and its formulation which will be relatively safer than synthetic medicines and offering profound therapeutic benefits at the more affordable price

The Religious and Philosophical Characteristics in a Consensually Nonmonogamous Sample

Consensual nonmonogamy refers to the variety of ways people partner romantically and/or sexually with multiple others. This study examined the spiritual identities of people who self-identify as consensually and openly partnered with more than one person, as well as if and how these identities changed since childhood. Moreover, to deepen previous transpersonal research that investigated how nonmonogamous paradigms of loving contribute to spiritual development, the study also examined between group differences of whether nonmonogamous sexual behavior and spirituality are emotionally linked. Data were gathered from 484 participants; they were mostly college-educated, Caucasian, bisexual women in their 30s, who were raised in moderately conservative, Judeo-Christian households. The majority self-identified as polyamorous. Between-group differences tests revealed that participants reported lower degrees of religiosity and greater degrees of liberalism since childhood, and a change from more traditional to nonreligious but spiritual values in adulthood. Data also suggested that pagan spiritualities may provide more supportive philosophical and spiritual frameworks that normalize and validate nonmonogamous behavior, nonheterosexual interests, sexual desire, and the sacredness of sexuality. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON PHARMACEUTICAL AND NUTRITIONAL APPLICATIONS OF INULIN

Inulin is a versatile, water-soluble polysaccharide that is commonly available in nature. In the pharmaceutical industry, the non-digestible function of inulin has made it attractive. Inulin is granted with GRAS status by the FDA and more than 30,000 plants in nature store inulin as a carbohydrate. The chicory is the key plant source of inulin out of all sources. It can be used as the sugar or fat replacer in the processed foods to influence the desirable characteristics. Good biocompatibility, essential chemical properties, and a wide variety of bioactivities have rendered inulin an outstanding natural nutrient. Regulating blood sugar, antioxidant, anticancer is some of the biological activities of inulin. Inulin can also be a carrier for colon/tumor targeting, as only specific enzymes in the colon zhydrolyze the inulin. It allows the growth of micro-flora, the good bacteria in the gut. Inulin is considered as a prebiotic as it is fermented by bacteria that normalize the colon. This review offers an in-depth insight into its novel Pharmaceutical applications as well as sources, processing, physicochemical properties, and nutritional and physiological activities. The chemically modified inulin is gaining a specific interest in the pharmaceutical field with its outstanding properties which are discussed in this review

Prucalopride: novel drug for chronic idiopathic constipation

Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC), defined as constipation in which the underlying cause is unknown, is a common medical illness with a profound negative impact on health-related quality of life and increased propensity for life threatening complications. Current treatment for CIC includes lifestyle modifications, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications. Presently, the only approved, prescription products for CIC in the US are prosecretory agents. However, the current knowledge that serotonin plays an important role in colonic motility has opened new horizons in the treatment of CIC promoting use of prokinetic agents with a different mechanism of action. Prucalopride is a highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonist that enhances propulsive motor patterns in the large intestine due to a high affinity for 5-HT4 receptors in gastrointestinal (GI) tissues.  The onset of action of Prucalopride is fast, shows rapid absorption, oral bioavailability of 93% and linear pharmacokinetics. Most common adverse reactions seen are headache, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Clinical trials for Prucalopride have been positive, and results suggest that the drug may be a new safe and effective option for CIC treatment, especially for patient’s refractory to prosecretory agents. As a prescription drug for the management of constipation and given the virtual demise of other prokinetic agents for this indication, prucalopride competes primarily with another class of agents: those that stimulate secretion. With Shire Pharmaceuticals having already received US FDA approval in Dec 2018, Prucalopride may soon be a new addition to the mounting armoury of drugs against CIC

Extensibility of External Magnetic Potential at High Latitudes - Antarctica

We investigated the external magnetic potential due to solar forcing, with nine years of data during 2001-2009, coveringthe deep solar minimum (2006-2009), at two stations: one is in the polar cap -Vostok (78º27'S, 106º52’E; mag. lat 83oS) andanother is in the subauroral region - Maitri (70º45'S, 11º43'E: mag. lat 67oS) in Antarctica. The significance of the work isassociated with space weather prediction and its impact on planet Earth. We used Advance Composition Explorer (ACE)satellite data for the aforesaid period for a thorough understanding of influences due to solar wind origin and to compare theparameter observed in these regions. We used the spherical cap harmonic analysis (SCHA) function as a tool. The inferenceindicates that at Vostok the magnitude is enhanced throughout and depicts a broad ambient external magnetic potential. Itseems to be essentially the intensification of the region 1 currents whereas at Maitri intense electric fields are producedduring geomagnetic perturbations which drive a system of disturbed time Region 2 currents over the quiet time currents.During this scenario in Maitri there are noticeable peaks or enhancements in the magnetic potential that can be observedmainly during geomagnetic disturbances. Hence the regression relation developed for external magnetic potentialcalculation, in terms of solar wind parameters agrees well with polar cap region and the area is relatively less exploredearlier, the present investigation can be expected to add knowledge about that regime

Targeting Innate Immunity in Glioma Therapy

Currently, there is a lack of effective therapies for the majority of glioblastomas (GBMs), the most common and malignant primary brain tumor. While immunotherapies have shown promise in treating various types of cancers, they have had limited success in improving the overall survival of GBM patients. Therefore, advancing GBM treatment requires a deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause resistance to immunotherapy. Further insights into the innate immune response are crucial for developing more potent treatments for brain tumors. Our review provides a brief overview of innate immunity. In addition, we provide a discussion of current therapies aimed at boosting the innate immunity in gliomas. These approaches encompass strategies to activate Toll-like receptors, induce stress responses, enhance the innate immune response, leverage interferon type-I therapy, therapeutic antibodies, immune checkpoint antibodies, natural killer (NK) cells, and oncolytic virotherapy, and manipulate the microbiome. Both preclinical and clinical studies indicate that a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the innate immune response in GBM could enhance immunotherapy and reinforce the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Consequently, a more comprehensive understanding of the innate immune response against cancer should lead to better prognoses and increased overall survival for GBM patients

Gauging the impacts and externalities of covid pandemic in marine fisheries sector of India: “Building Back Better”

The paper attempts to analyse and synthesise the findings from the various studies conducted across different sections and stakeholders pertaining to the fisheries sector across the world focusing specifically in the global south. While there have been studies on the immediate impact, the paper examined the direct and indirect impact of covid pandemic on the fisheries sector with particular attention paid to the externalities that have developed as unprecedented changes occurred. As a result of these changes, several adaptation and mitigation strategies have been implemented by stakeholders across the fisheries value chain which is presented in the paper. Keeping in mind the expanded scope, the current paper looked at over 65 peer reviewed research articles published during May 2020-March 2022 from Google scholar and Web of Science platforms. Additionally, reports from organisations such as FAO, Oxfam and World fish were examined. While it is certainly true that there have been devastating impacts of the pandemic across the fisheries sector, there are also lessons to be learnt in re-building the world better and therefore the paper also contributes to developing a framework of adaptation and mitigation strategies from the experiences of the countries in the global south

Characterization Of Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria From Honey And Assessment Of Their Effects On Consumption By Type-2- Diabetes Using Wistar Rat

The relevance of probiotic, especially lactic acid bacteria cannot be over emphasized. In this present study three honey sources were serially diluted and cultured on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar among which only one of this sources grew on MRS agar. The pure Lactobacilli isolate were subjected to gram staining, biochemical tests, physiological test, molecular analysis using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques and Deoxyribonucleotide (DNA) sequencing. Only one isolate was obtained known as Enterococcus fecalis. The isolate was subjected to probiotic selection and was found fit for consumption, however their effect when consumed by type-2 diabetic are alarming and based on the outcome of this study, diabetic patient are advised not consume honey