Phytotherapy for the treatment of Glioblastoma: a review

Background: Phytotherapy; the study of extracts of natural origin in the treatment of disease, has scarcely been applied in the management of GBM. A body of literature exists studying in-vitro, the use of natural extracts against GBM cells. Given persisting poor prognoses, we evaluated, through systematic literature-review the therapeutic potential of naturally sourced extracts in-vivo. Methods: Using OVID, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched with compound search term. Abstracts and full-texts were double-screened by independent reviewers. Results: Nine hundred and eighty-seven articles, excluding duplicated were screened, leading to the inclusion of 14. Amongst murine studies, Ashwagandha, Coptis Chinensis and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in unprocessed forms, produced significant reductions in tumour volume. Amongst human studies, Perrilyl alcohol, derived from Lavender, reduced angiogenic cytokines in 31% of subjects, halted 6 month disease progression in 48.2% of subjects, and improved mean survival by 4.9 months in separate studies, respectively. Conclusion: Although cursory, current trends in literature demonstrate the value of inhaled Lavender extract in the treatment of GBM, offering tangible clinical benefit to patients receiving conventional treatments. Furthermore, the administration of 8, discrete extracts in mice to produce significant responses in survival and tumour volume, suggest there is further scope for study. Although additional safety tests are required, currently, phytotherapeutics are the crossover to clinical translation, and additional trials are warranted to expound upon thus far promising results

Seaweed resources off Tamil Nadu coast: Sector III. Valinokkam - Kilakkarai

Survey of seaweed resources in deep water was carried out in the area between Valinokkam and Kilakkarai during January 1989 and March,l990 respectively. In the survey from Valinokkam to Kilakkarai 33 species of marine algae were recorded of which 8 species belong to Chlorophyta, 8 to Phaeophyta and 17 to Rhodophyta. Only one species of seagrass Halophila ovalis was recorded. Among the 200 sq Icm area surveyed, vegetation occurred only in 27.5 sq.km with a total standing crop of 2962.5 tonnes (wet wt)

Seaweed resources off Tamil nadu coast, Sector - IV Kilakkarai - Rameswaram island (Dhanushkodi

Survey of the deep water area from Kilakkarai (Appa Tivu to Rameswaram Island (Dhanushkodi) was undertaken from December 1990 to January 1991 in the IV Sector survey of Deep water Seaweed Resources off Tamil Nadu coast, which formed the last phase of the survey from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari carried out during 1986-91. An area of 417 .5 sq.km. was surveyed yielding a total biomass of 18,162.5 tons (wet) seaweeds. Out of 167 stations surveyed in 13 transects, vegetation occurred only in 12 stations. Of the 29 species of marine algae recorded 8 belonged to Chlorophyta, 8 to Phaeophyta, 12 to Rhodophyta, and I to Cyanophyta, One species of seagrass Cymodocea serrulata was also recorded. Twenty species were found in estimable quantities, of which the following 8 species were abundant: Halimeda macr%ba, Spatog/ossum asperum, Zonaria crenata, Sargassum ilicijolium, Amphiroa jragilissima, Hypnea muscijormis, Botryocladia /eplOpoda and Lyngbya majuscula with a biomass of 1325, 9775, 650, 1550, 1925,300,862.5 and 1012.5 tons (wet) respectively. The species of Hypnea and Sargassum could be exploited for the manufacture of phytochemicals

Instance of mass fish mortality at Mandapam, South east coast of India

From the collected informations and data above information and the data, it appears that the cause offish mortality observed between 13th and 15th May, 1987 at the Palk Bay side of Mandapam was mainly due to the natural phenomenon resulted by the ecological changes restricted to an area of about 3-4 km* between the shore and the coral reef. It was possible that the phytoplankton blooms reported just before the phenomenon and its isolated occurrence immediately after the incidence, and the associated changes in the water quality, the mixing up of the polluted water drained from the Mandapam fish landing centre and its subsequent spread within the reef area due to the prevailing water current would have triggered off an anoxic condition in the water column causing stress in the environment and consequent mortality of the fishes. Further, the absence of any physical and biological symptoms as revealed by the examination of the dead fishes, their gills and the gut contents, and the absence of any report of untoward incidents on the consumption of the dead fishes excluded the possibility of the cause of the reported mortality due to poisoning, pollution or the use of explosives

Survey of Valinokkam Bay and adjoining area to assess its suitability for integrated sea farming — A report

The Valinokkam Bay and the adjoining area, east of the Bay surveyed, lie between Lat. 9°9' N and 9° 12' N and Long. 78°30'E and 78°42'E . The available information indicates that the bay and the adjoining grounds in the sea are highly productive and suitable for sea farming activities

Seaweed resources and distribution in deep waters from Dhanushkodi to Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu

The deepwater seaweed resources survey was carried out during 1986-1991 at the depths ranging from 5 to 22 m in Tamilnadu coast from Dhanushkodi to Kanyakumari. The vegetation of seaweeds and sea grasses occurred in all areas except Dhanushkodi - Mandapam and Manapad – Kanyakumari. A total number of 100 algae and 5 seagrasses were recorded. Among the 100 algal species recorded, 20 species belonged to Chlorophyta, 18 species to Phaeophyta, 61 species to Rhodophyta and 1 species to Cyanophyta. The total estimated standing crop (wet wt.) from 1863 sq. km. sampled area was 75374.5 tonnes consisting of 2750 tonnes of Sargassum spp., 962.5 tonnes of Gracilaria spp., 5262.5 tonnes of Hypnea spp. and 66399.5 tonnes of other seaweeds. The quantitative analysis of economically important seaweeds revealed the feasibility of commercial exploitation of Sargassum from Mandapam to Kilakkarai and Tuticorin areas, Hyphnea from Mandapam to Vembar area and Gracilaria from Vembar to Nallatanni Tivu region. Hydrological data were, also collected from the area surveyed

Distribution of marine algae and seagrass off Valinokkam-Kilakkarai, Tamil Nadu coast

The deep water area between Valinokkam and Kilakkarai in Tamil Nady coast covering an area of 200 sq.km. was surveyed for the distribution of marine algae and seagrasses during January 1989. Totally 33 species of marine algae were recorded of which 8 species belonged to Chlorophyta, 8 to Phaeophyta and 17 to Rhodophyta. Only one species of seagrass Halophila ovalis occurred in the whole area surveyed. The vertical distribution of seaweeds and their abundance were investigated. Hydrological data collected from the area surveyed are presented