Diet composition of freshwater crab, Potamon koolooense Rathbun, 1904 from hillstream of Uttarakhand

The present study was carried out to study the diet composition of freshwater crab, P. koolooense in hillstream Khoh of Uttarakhand during November, 2013 to October, 2014. Total 105 crab samples were used for the study, 35 male and 47 female were found with food in their stomach while rest of the 23 had empty stomachs. The carapace length (CL) ranged from 12mm to 49mm, carapace width (CW) from 15mm to 59mm and total weight (TW) from 2.08g to 60.12g. Stomach content analysis of the animal showed that the diet of the animal composed of animal matter, plant matter, algae, fungi, debris and unidentified materials. Animal matter ranged from (3.27-11.93%), plant matter (4.37-14.44%), algae (1.73-6.15%), fungi (0.17-1.43%), debris (28.18-40.47%) and unidentified materials (36.46-50.05%) in males while in the female animal matter ranged from (3.09-12.34%), plant matter (4.45-12.73%), algae (1.03-7.61%), fungi (0.02-3.34%), debris (23.18-43.34%) and unidentified (30.31-51.04%). Unidentified materials recorded maximum and fungi recorded minimum in both the sexes of Potamon koolooense. A significant difference was observed at p<0.05 between food groups- algae and unidentified matter in both sexes. This is the first report, to key out and quantifies the dietary items and feeding habits of crab in Uttarakhand which would be helpful in interpreting the ecological niche of the animal in mountain stream communities

Antioxidative potential of propolis on Staphylococcus aureus infected BALB/c mice: A biochemical study

Drug resistance, according to World Health Organization, is one of the most serious threats to public health. This makes antibiotics ineffective and reduces their therapeutic potential. One of the most prevalent multidrug-resistant bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus which is considered to be the most common pathogen and mortality factor in both hospital and non-hospital environments worldwide. Due to an unprecedented increase in reports of drug resistance in pathogens, and also due to adverse and severe side effects of drugs, there is an urgent need to redirect scientific efforts towards search for anti-oxidative natural substances and other alternative sources having therapeutic potential against microbes. Natural products such as propolis seem to exhibit most promising therapeutic potential against microorganisms. Thus, present study is focused on antioxidative potential of propolis in combination with standard antibiotics ampicillin and amoxicillin against S. aureus infected BALB/c mice. For this, mice were divided into seven groups, they were decapitated after suitable experimental periods, then their liver, kidney and spleen were excised from control and experimental groups, which were homogenized and then used for different biochemical estimations following the standard protocols. Results showed that S. aureus caused severe biochemical alterations by 5th day of infection that is, lipid peroxidation increased significantly (P <0.05), reduced glutathione level and activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) decreased significantly (P <0.05) in liver, kidney and spleen of S. aureus infected mice. Ethanolic extract of propolis at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight of mice when used alone to treat S. aureus infection gave significantly good results by 15th day of treatment. Better results were observed when propolis was used along with antibiotics. The levels of antioxidant molecules and enzymes along with liver and kidney function enzymes were restored to near normal after 15 days of treatment. So it can be concluded that propolis along with antibiotics acts as a potent free radical scavenger and can be used as a potential therapeutic agent against staphylococcal infection

The Impact of Processing Methods and Conditions on Nutritional Properties of Soybean-Based Tofu: A Review

The soybean seed is used for the preparation of protein rich tofu. Along with protein, it is also rich in many other nutrients including carbohydrate, crude fibre, carbohydrate, fat, minerals, and isoflavones. Antinutrients are also present in tofu, although the concentration is less that the raw grains. The nutrient content is affected by the tofu preparation method used starting from selection of suitable soybean seed, seed soaking, sprouting, soymilk production and coagulation using different types of natural and artificial coagulants. These procedures also affect the textural properties of the tofu and their shelf life

Theranostics Application of Graphene-Based Materials in Cancer Imaging, Targeting and Treatment

Recent advancements in graphene-based nanomaterials provide the opportunity that compliments the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) through simultaneous targeting of the anticancer drug to the cancer cell by reducing the side effects of other administration routes. Graphene with its extraordinary electronic properties like larger surface area, possibilities of surface modification, can efficiently target the tumor cell. At the same time, nanocarriers have the advantages of immune clearance adulteration of physicochemical properties of anticancer drug. The DDSs can be made by biodegradable nanocarriers such as proteins, peptides, biocompatible polymers, antibodies, polymer-drug conjugates, etc. Graphene-supported DDSs in cancer therapy also supports the co-delivery of therapeutic agents, antioxidants, SiRNA, shRNA, etc. as the co-delivery approach, which provide additive or synergistic therapeutic efficacy and can reduce toxic effects

Formulation and Evaluation of ACNE Gel using Metronidazole and Doxycycline

This research study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of an ACNE gel using Metronidazole (1%) and Doxycycline (0.5%) as active ingredients. Three types of polymers, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC), Carbopol 940, and Carbopol 934 were used for gel formation. The formulated gels were evaluated for their physical characteristics, in vitro drug release, and drug-polymer compatibility. The calibration curves for both Metronidazole and Doxycycline displayed strong linearity within the concentration range of 5 to 25 µg/mL, facilitating accurate drug quantification. The gel formulations exhibited pH values of 6.0 (HPMC), 5.8 (Carbopol 940), and 5.7 (Carbopol 934), which are within the skin's natural pH range. The mean viscosity values were recorded as 205 cP (HPMC), 220 cP (Carbopol 940), and 231 cP (Carbopol 934). Spreadability and extrudability tests also yielded favorable results, suggesting ease of application. The in vitro drug release study showed a time-dependent increase in drug release, with the highest cumulative release observed from the HPMC formulation (90% at 8 hours), followed by Carbopol 940 (80% at 8 hours), and Carbopol 934 (64% at 8 hours). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed no significant interaction between the drugs and the polymers, indicating their compatibility. This study offers a promising approach to the development of effective ACNE gel formulations with Metronidazole and Doxycycline, while emphasizing the influence of the type of polymer on the drug release profile

Study of In-vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial activity of leaf extract of Azadirachta indica, and Ocimum sanctum in different organic solvents and Cow urine

Background: Neem (Azadirachta indica), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and Cow urine (Bos indicus) has been widely used as a therapeutic potential or additive agent in different ethnomedicinal practices as well as modern science also proved its therapeutic potential to treat various diseases and balance the body conditions. Aims: Alone study on Neem, Tulsi and Cow urine (CU) has been widely performed but this study aims to evaluate the individual as well as synergistic antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Neem, and Tulsi’s leaves extract in different organic solvents and Cow urine. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity was carried out by using 2,2-Diphenyl1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the antibacterial activity was tested by the agar disc diffusion method against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus)  and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella species) bacteria. Results: The antioxidant and antibacterial activity is concentration-dependent. The neem extract in chloroform shows the highest ZOI against S. aureus (14±2). Similarly, the neem extract in cow urine (8±0.86) and tulsi extract in methanol (8±1.04) shows the highest ZOI against E. coli. Against K. species cow urine is most effective (9±0.29) followed by neem extract in chloroform and cow urine (8±0.77). In P. vulgaris almost all sample shows ZOI around 7 mm. In synergistic antibacterial study tulsi and neem extract in cow urine shows the highest ZOI against E. coli (12±1.75) and P. vulgaris (10±1.44). The tulsi and neem extract in hexane is not effective against S. aureus and E. coli but effective in P. vulgaris and K. species (ZOI 7 mm). Tulsi and neem extract in chloroform, methanol, and cow urine show similar ZOI (9 mm). In DPPH free radical scavenging activity the methanolic extract of tulsi shows the highest inhibition of free radicle (96.35±0.001), followed by methanolic extract of neem (84.85±0.042). The fresh cow urine inhibits (25.19±0.037) followed by neem extract in chloroform (24.53±0.003), neem extract in cow urine (21.8±0.012), tulsi extract in chloroform (20.86±0.047), tulsi extract in hexane (19.5±0.031), tulsi extract in cow urine (18.33±0.023) and the least inhibition by neem extract in hexane (6.74±0.042)

Therapeutic effect of propolis on Staphylococcus aureus induced oxidative stress in spleen of Balb/c mice: A biochemical and histopathological study

The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant effect of propolis alone as well as in combination with antibiotics; ampicillin and amoxicillin against Staphylococcus aureus induced oxidative damage in spleen, by using biochemical and histopathological methods. Infection was induced in mice with S. aureus (5x106CFU/mL i.p) and protective potential of propolis against infection was evaluated by administrating 250 mg/kg body weight of propolis every day for 15 days. Mice were killed after experimental period and spleen was excised, homogenized and then used for different biochemical and histopathological estimations. Results obtained showed that lipid peroxidation level increased significantly (P <0.05), while level of reduced glutathione and activity of antioxidant enzymes (GP, GR, GST, CAT, and SOD) were decreased in spleen of S. aureus infected mice, which were increased to normal level (P <0.05) in propolis and antibiotics combination treatment. Present study also revealed that S. aureus infection caused significant change in cellular architecture of spleen as revealed by histopathological changes which were also restored to near normal after treatment with propolis and antibiotics when used in combination. These findings suggest therapeutic potential of propolis against S. aureus induced oxidative stress and histopathological damage in spleen

Therapeutic effect of propolis on Staphylococcus aureus induced oxidative stress in kidney of BALB/c mice. A biochemical and histopathological study

Due to emerging drug resistance in pathogenic organisms, most of the second generation antibiotics are not effective in controlling the disease. As a consequence, the dosage and duration of drug intake has increased leading to drug induced toxicity and various side effects. A large number of natural products are being reported to ameliorate the toxicity and oxidative stress caused by antibiotics. Here, we explored the antioxidative potential of honey bee product propolis alone as well as in combination with antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus infected BALB/c mice. For experimental design, mice were divided in to seven groups and decapitated after experimental period. Kidney was excised, homogenized and then used for different biochemical and histopathological estimations. Results observed after treatment with propolis and antibiotics were compared with those of S. aureus infected group. Results showed increase in lipid peroxidation, decrease in reduced glutathione levels and antioxidant enzymes such as; catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. On the contrary, treatment with propolis, led to reduction in levels of LPO and increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Also, histopathology of kidney and all kidney function enzymes were restored to near normal