Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities of Spilanthes filicaulis Whole Plant Extracts for the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Spilanthes filicaulis is a tropical herb implicated as a memory enhancer in ethnomedicine. Objective: The study investigated acetyl/butyryl cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of different extracts of S. filicaulis whole plant and correlated them to its phytochemical constituents. Methods: The powdered whole plant was successively extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and Butyryl cholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activity were evaluated by Ellman colorimetry assay. Antioxidant activity was tested using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing power and nitric oxide scavenging assays. Total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin were estimated using standard methods. Correlation was determined using Quest Graph™ Regression Calculator. Results: Various extracts exhibited concentration-dependent AChE and BuChE inhibitory activity with ethyl acetate extract being the highest with IC50 of 0.77 μg/mL and 0.92 μg/mL for AChE and BuChE respectively. The ethyl acetate extract also showed the highest reducing power when compared with the other extracts. The methanol extract had slightly higher phenolic and flavonoid content and showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging effect. DPPH scavenging, AChE and BuChE inhibition had high correlation with the total flavonoid content with R2 values of 1.00, 0.800 and 0.992 respectively while nitric oxide scavenging had high correlation with phenolics and tannins with R2 = 0.942 and 0.806 respectively. Conclusion: These results show that the extracts of the whole plant of S. filicaulis possess significant AChE/BuChE inhibitory and antioxidant properties, mostly due to its flavonoid content, suggesting the possible use of the plant in neurodegenerative diseases such as AD

Botany, chemistry, and pharmaceutical significance of Sida cordifolia: a traditional medicinal plant

Sida cordifolia Linn. belonging to the family, Malvaceae has been widely employed in traditional medications in many parts of the world including India, Brazil, and other Asian and African countries. The plant is extensively used in the Ayurvedic medicine preparation. There are more than 200 plant species within the genus Sida, which are distributed predominantly in the tropical regions. The correct taxonomic identification is a major concern due to the fact that S. cordifolia looks morphologically similar with its related species. It possesses activity against various human ailments, including cancer, asthma, cough, diarrhea, malaria, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, obesity, ulcer, Parkinson’s disease, urinary infections, and many others. The medical importance of this plant is mainly correlated to the occurrence of diverse biologically active phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. The major compounds include β-phenylamines, 2-carboxylated tryptamines, quinazoline, quinoline, indole, ephedrine, vasicinone, 5-3-isoprenyl flavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-isoprenyl flavone, and 6-(isoprenyl)- 3-methoxy- 8-C-β-D-glucosyl-kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucosyl[1–4]-α-D-glucoside. The literature survey reveals that most of the pharmacological investigations on S. cordifolia are limited to crude plant extracts and few isolated pure compounds. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate many other unexplored bioactive phytoconstituents with evidences so as to justify the traditional usages of S. cordifolia. Furthermore, detailed studies on the action of mechanisms of these isolated compounds supported by clinical research are necessary for validating their application in contemporary medicines. The aim of the present chapter is to provide a detailed information on the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of S. cordifolia

Magnetic Field Structure of Dense Cores Using Spectroscopic Methods

We develop a new "core field structure" (CFS) model to predict the magnetic field strength and magnetic field fluctuation profile of dense cores using gas kinematics. We use spatially resolved observations of the nonthermal velocity dispersion from the Green Bank Ammonia survey along with column density maps from SCUBA-2 to estimate the magnetic field strength across seven dense cores located in the L1688 region of Ophiuchus. The CFS model predicts the profile of the relative field fluctuation, which is related to the observable dispersion in the direction of the polarization vectors. Within the context of our model, we find that all of the cores have a transcritical mass-to-flux ratio.Peer reviewe

Sol-gel electrochromic WO3 coatings on glass

The structural study on precursor material of electrochromic (EC) tungsten oxide has been studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray and FTIR. The electrochromic coatings having a thickness 300 nm were prepared by dipping technique. Out of the wide range of curing temperature (60-400 degreesC), the films cured at similar to200 degreesC for 1 h exhibited good electrochromic effect. Electrochromic properties of the tungsten oxide coatings were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), using a three-electrode cell system with 0.01 M HCl as an electrolyte. Cyclic voltamograms have been recorded ranging from -1.50 to 0.75 Vat a scan rate range of 0.010-0.005 V s(-1). In aqueous medium, the coloration bleaching could not be continued more than five to eight cycles for acid to the corrosion Of WO3 films- If lithium-based nonaqueous electrolyte is used for this purpose, the coatings withstood more than 500 cycles. It is suggested that the films obtained after curing at requisite temperature for having the coloration bleaching effect contained mainly with the W-O-W bonding pattern in orthorhombic crystalline phase. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Sol–gel electrochromic WO<SUB>3</SUB> coatings on glass

The structural study on precursor material of electrochromic (EC) tungsten oxide has been studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray and FTIR. The electrochromic coatings having a thickness ∼300 nm were prepared by dipping technique. Out of the wide range of curing temperature (60–400 °C), the films cured at ∼200 °C for ∼1 h exhibited good electrochromic effect. Electrochromic properties of the tungsten oxide coatings were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), using a three-electrode cell system with 0.01 M HCl as an electrolyte. Cyclic voltamograms have been recorded ranging from −1.50 to 0.75 V at a scan rate range of 0.010–0.005 V s<SUP>-1</SUP>. In aqueous medium, the coloration ↔ bleaching could not be continued more than five to eight cycles for acid to the corrosion of WO<SUB>3</SUB> films. If lithium-based nonaqueous electrolyte is used for this purpose, the coatings withstood more than 500 cycles. It is suggested that the films obtained after curing at requisite temperature for having the coloration ↔ bleaching effect contained mainly with the WOW bonding pattern in orthorhombic crystalline phase

Effect of Ayurvedic mercury preparation Makaradhwaja on geriatric canine–A preliminary study

534-539Makaradhwaja, an alchemical Ayurvedic mercury preparation is used as stimulant and vitalizer. Towards veterinary practices, the acceptability, tolerability and toxicity studies were undertaken in geriatric pet dogs aged more than 10 years irrespective of breed and sex for future use. Makaradhwaja (2.5 mg/kg) was used with honey once daily for 30 days. Before and after treatment, blood was collected for hematological studies as well as liver, kidney function and anti-oxidant activity. In control group, honey itself showed no appreciable change whereas, Makaradhwaja lowered neutrophil and total leucocyte count. Serum cholesterol, urea, glucose, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, sodium, phosphorus and calcium were decreased. Haemoglobin and serum creatinine were significantly increased. There was appreciable physical, behavioral and body weight change including quality of life. The dose was used in replication of human dose (125 mg/50kg). Anti-oxidant study showed significant increase of lipid per oxidation in experimental group while the values of ABTS radical cation decolorisation assay although decreased but did not show any significant changes. Decrease of serum urea and increase of serum creatinine could not be explained on single dose response. Different dose study could only explain the optimum dose to be required in canine practices