Hepatoprotective and antioxidant capacity of Melochia corchorifolia extracts

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate hepato protective and antioxidant capacity of Melochia corchorifolia (M. corchorifolia) aerial part extracts.MethodsAntioxidant activity was evaluated by using three free radicals (Superoxide, Hydroxyl and DPPH) and hepatoprotective activity was assessed against CCl4 induced liver intoxication in rats.ResultsThe extracts produced concentration dependent percentage protection in decrease of serum enzymes and percentage inhibition on free radicals. Among all extracts methanol extract showed better activity with percentage protection of SGOT (78.98%), SGPT (79.65%), ALP (82.48%) and total bilirubin (80.0%) levels against CCl4 liver intoxication and also methanolic extract showed better activity with IC50 values on superoxide, hydroxyl and DPPH radicals were 127 μ g, 240 μ g and 179 μ g.ConclusionsFrom the results obtained during the study it could be concluded that M. corchorifolia aerial part extracts have antioxidant and hepatoprotective components. Further study is necessary for isolation and characterization of bioactive molecules which are responsible for hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF BALANITES ROXBURGHII FRUITS

ABSTRACTObjectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective potential of a hydroalcoholic extract ofBalanites roxburghii (BR) fruits.Methods: Extraction was performed by triple maceration using ethanol:water as a solvent. The extracts were vaporated using rotavapor. Thenantioxidant capacities were tested using superoxide, hydroxyl, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Determination of hepatoprotectivemodel was performed by thiocetamide induced liver models.Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of BR fruits produced a dose-dependent percentage inhibition on tested free radicals, i.e., superoxide anion(50% inhibition concentrations [IC50] value 190.50 μg/ml), hydroxyl radical (IC50 value 266.30 μg/ml), and DPPH radical (IC50 value 175 μg/ml). Aftertreatment with silymarin and hydroalcoholic extract of BR in respective groups, they had showed good protection against thioacetamide induced livertoxicity.Conclusion: The results of the present investigation clearly indicate the free radical scavenging activity and hepatoprotective potential of ahydroalcoholic extract of BR fruits and this activity is comparable with that of the standard drugs ascorbic acid and silymarin.Keywords: Balanites roxburghii, Antioxidant activity, Hepatoprotective activity, Ascorbic acid

Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and in vitro anti oxidant and anti microbial activities of Elephantopus scaber Linn.

Preliminary phytochemical analysis and quantification of total phenols, In-vitro antioxidant and anti microbial activities of the different fractions (hydro alcoholic, hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) of Elephantopus scaber were carried out against five selected pathogenic bacteria and three fungal species. The plant fraction possesses steroids, triterpinoids, saponins, flavonoides, carbohydrates, glycosides and oils. For total phenolic content gallic acid was taken as a standard, the ethyl acetate fraction contains rich phenolic content than other fractions and the methanol fraction shows more DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In Anti-microbial activity study all fractions showed good inhibition zone against three organisms i.e., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus Klebsiella pneumonia among the other test organisms along with Candida spp (fungal organism)

New crop and fodder genotypes for sustainable intensification in semi-arid agro-ecologies of Tanzania

United States Agency for International Developmen

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LACTUCA SCARIOLA & CELOSIA ARGENTEA LEAVES.

Antioxidant compounds in food play an important role as a health protecting factor. Primary sources of naturally occurring antioxidants are whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Highly reactive free radicals and oxygen species can initiate degenerative diseases. Antioxidant compounds like phenolic acids, polyphenols and flavonoids are commonly found in plants have been reported to have multiple biological effects, including antioxidant activity. Methanolic leaf extracts of Lactuca scariola Linn and Celosia argentea Linn were assessed for the In vitro Antioxidant activity using  DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical  , Nitric oxide(NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)scavenging models using Ascorbic acid as positive control. Analysis of free radical scavenging activities of the extracts revealed a concentration dependent free radical scavenging activity resulting from reduction in DPPH, Nitric oxide and Hydroxyl radical. The methanolic  extract  of Lactuca scariola Linn showed  significant DPPH , Nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity compared to Celosia argentea Linn extract . IC50  values by  DPPH , Nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide model for  Lactuca scariola and  Celosia argentea were found to be 192.5±9.014, 394.2±6.009, 434.2±18.78, 233.3±20.73 , 521.4±4.061and 494.2±5.465 respectively

Africa RISING genetic intensification in Central Tanzania and Zambia

United States Agency for International Developmen

Assessment of Interrelationship among Agronomic and Yield Characters of Chickpea

This study was conducted to analyze the association among agronomic traits and with seed yield for fifty eight chickpea genotypes including two check varieties under field conditions. Alpha lattice design with three replications was used. Data agro-morphological traits were recorded using descriptors for chickpea and analysed using Genstat 2015. The results showed there was positive and significant correlation of seed yield with biomass, pod filling period, pod plant -1, number of primary and secondary branches plant -1. These traits could be improved simultaneously and given prior emphasis for indirect selection of high yielding chickpea genotypes. Principal component analysis indicated that the existence of genetic variation among the evaluated genotypes. The first four principal components explained significant proportion of the total variations and accounted for 77.04 %. The first principal component was positively associated with days to flowering, plant spread, plant height, number of primary and secondary branches plant -1, days to maturity, pods plant -1, pod length, biomass and seed yield. The second principal component was positively related with plant spread, pod length, plant height, pod filling period, pod plant -1, seed yield and 100 seed weight. These could be a good indication for significance of both agronomic and yield traits attributed substantially to the overall variations among genotypes. The presence of substantial genetic variations, positive and highly significant correlated characters can be exploited in breeding programmes for improvement of chickpea in the regio

First Estimations of Cosmological Parameters From BOOMERANG

The anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation contains information about the contents and history of the universe. We report new limits on cosmological parameters derived from the angular power spectrum measured in the first Antarctic flight of the BOOMERANG experiment. Within the framework of inflation-motivated adiabatic cold dark matter models, and using only weakly restrictive prior probabilites on the age of the universe and the Hubble expansion parameter $h$, we find that the curvature is consistent with flat and that the primordial fluctuation spectrum is consistent with scale invariant, in agreement with the basic inflation paradigm. We find that the data prefer a baryon density $\Omega_b h^2$ above, though similar to, the estimates from light element abundances and big bang nucleosynthesis. When combined with large scale structure observations, the BOOMERANG data provide clear detections of both dark matter and dark energy contributions to the total energy density $\Omega_{\rm {tot}}$, independent of data from high redshift supernovae.Comment: As submitted to PRD, revised longer version with an additional figur

The Quintessential CMB, Past & Future

The past, present and future of cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy research is discussed, with emphasis on the Boomerang and Maxima balloon experiments. These data are combined with large scale structure (LSS) information and high redshift supernova (SN1) observations to explore the inflation-based cosmic structure formation paradigm. Here we primarily focus on a simplified inflation parameter set, {omega_b,omega_{cdm},Omega_{tot}, Omega_Q,w_Q, n_s,tau_C, sigma_8}. After marginalizing over the other cosmic and experimental variables, we find the current CMB+LSS+SN1 data gives Omega_{tot}=1.04\pm 0.05, consistent with (non-baroque) inflation theory. Restricting to Omega_{tot}=1, we find a nearly scale invariant spectrum, n_s =1.03 \pm 0.07. The CDM density, omega_{cdm}=0.17\pm 0.02, is in the expected range, but the baryon density, omega_b=0.030\pm 0.004, is slightly larger than the current nucleosynthesis estimate. Substantial dark energy is inferred, Omega_Q\approx 0.68\pm 0.05, and CMB+LSS Omega_Q values are compatible with the independent SN1 estimates. The dark energy equation of state, parameterized by a quintessence-field pressure-to-density ratio w_Q, is not well determined by CMB+LSS (w_Q<-0.3 at 95%CL), but when combined with SN1 the resulting w_Q<-0.7 limit is quite consistent with the w_Q=-1 cosmological constant case. Though forecasts of statistical errors on parameters for current and future experiments are rosy, rooting out systematic errors will define the true progress.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figs., in Proc. CAPP-2000 (AIP), CITA-2000-6