BRINE SHRIMP CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF 50% AQUEOUS ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA R. BR

Objective: The objective of this work entails a preliminary screening of 50% aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Calotropis procera for locating antitumoractivity.Methods: 50% aqueous ethanolic extract, obtained from dried powdered plant material of C. procera was partitioned sequentially in petroleumether, benzene, and chloroform. Each fraction thus obtained was concentrated in a vacuum evaporator. The residual mass was collected separatelyand dissolved in propylene glycol. The three samples were subjected to brine shrimp cytotoxic assay to locate if there may be any positive responseof antitumor activity.Result: It was found that the sample obtained from chloroform extract responded positively in brine shrimp test and showed lethal concentration(LC50 at which 50% individual dies) at the concentration of 5 mg/ml. Benzene extract showed LC at the concentration of 15 mg/ml and petroleumether showed LC50 at the concentration of 20 mg/ml.Conclusion: Proves the presence of antitumor phytochemicals in C. procera.Keywords: Antitumor compounds, Brine shrimp, Calotropis procera, Cytotoxic activity

EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL EFFICIENCY OF 3,7-DIHYDROXY 3′,4′ ORTHODIHYDROXY FLAVONE STUDIED IN RELATION TO SOME MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN PISUM SATIVUM L. PLANTS

Objectives: 3,7-dihydroxy 3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone isolated and identified from 50% aqueous ethanolic extract [5] and tested positive in antifungalbioassay against Fusarium oxysporum ciceri [6] was taken up for further detailed analysis of the antifungal property for in vitro study in relation to Pisum sativum L. plants. The study incorporated a comparison of some morphological parameters such as root, shoot, internode, petiole length,leaf and leaflet length, leaf and leaflet number/leaf, the total number of flower/plant, pod/plant, and seeds/pod.Methods: Seeds of P. sativum L. plants were taken up as experimental material for in vitro studies. Six different sets were maintained by presoakingthe seeds with water, 3,7-dihydroxy 3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone, and fungicide for 3 hrs. The seeds were grown in pot cultures. At seedling stage,three sets, one from each treatment, were exposed to fungal inoculum following soil drenching method. At the 21st day, 42 day of age,the above-mentioned parameters were studied.Results: Results indicated increased growth of internode, petiole, and shoot length in the plants which were administered with the 3,7-dihydroxy3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone. The fungus infested plants exhibited reduced growth of internode, petiole, and shoot length. However, griseofulvin, apopularly used fungicide showed inhibition of growth of all the parameters in healthy as well as in the infected plants. Flowering time was delayed inthe infested plants. Remarkably again, administration of the plant extract quickened the flowering time as similarly as in the healthy plants. Finally, thenumber of seeds per pod in the plant also showed the same promising picture. The 3,7-dihydroxy 3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone treated plants showedhigher number of seeds a pod when administered to the healthy and infected plants.Keywords: Fungicide, Inhibition, Inoculums, Infestation

Malabaricone-A Induces A Redox Imbalance That Mediates Apoptosis in U937 Cell Line

BACKGROUND: The 'two-faced' character of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in cancer biology by acting both as secondary messengers in intracellular signaling cascades and sustaining the oncogenic phenotype of cancer cells, while on the other hand, it triggers an oxidative assault that causes a redox imbalance translating into an apoptotic cell death. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a tetrazolium [{3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl}-2H-tetrazolium] based cell viability assay, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of a plant derived diarylnonanoid, malabaricone-A on leukemic cell lines U937 and MOLT-3. This cytotoxicity hinged on its ability to cause a redox imbalance via its ability to increase ROS, measured by flow cytometry using 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and by decreasing glutathione peroxidase activity. This redox imbalance mediated apoptosis was evident by an increase in cytosolic [Ca(2+)], externalization of phosphatidyl serine as also depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential as measured by flow cytometry. There was concomitant peroxidation of cardiolipin, release of free cytochrome c to cytosol along with activation of caspases 9, 8 and 3. This led to cleavage of the DNA repair enzyme, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase that caused DNA damage as proved by labeling with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI); furthermore, terminal deoxy ribonucleotide transferase catalysed incorporation of deoxy uridine triphosphate confirmed DNA nicking and was accompanied by arrest of cell cycle progression. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, compounds like MAL-A having pro-oxidant activity mediate their cytotoxicity in leukemic cells via induction of oxidative stress triggering a caspase dependent apoptosis

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease

The recommendations listed in this document are, whenever possible, evidence based. An extensive evidence review was conducted as the document was compiled through December 2008. Repeated literature searches were performed by the guideline development staff and writing committee members as new issues were considered. New clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals and articles through December 2011 were also reviewed and incorporated when relevant. Furthermore, because of the extended development time period for this guideline, peer review comments indicated that the sections focused on imaging technologies required additional updating, which occurred during 2011. Therefore, the evidence review for the imaging sections includes published literature through December 2011

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIALITY OF 50 PERCENT AQUEOUS ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF Acacia nilotica Willd.

Objectives: To study the antimicrobial property of 50percent aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. against few micro organisms.Method: The leaves of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. were sequentially soaked in petroleum  ether (60-800 C), chloroform, benzene and 50percent aqueous ethanol, extracts were collected, filtered and concentrated. Antimicrobial potentiality of the extracts were tested against few micro-organisms.Result: Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. exhibited antifungal effect against Rhizoctonia solani.Conclusion: The plant leaf extract can be used as antimicrobial agent against Rhizoctonia solani Key words: phytochemical products, antimicrobial property, bioassay

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIALITY OF 50PERCENT AQUEOUS ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF CLITORIA TERNATEA L.

Objectives: To study the antimicrobial property of 50percent aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Clitoria ternatea L. against few micro organisms.Method: The leaves of Clitoria were sequentially soaked in petroleum ether (60 to 80 degree C), chloroform, benzene and 50percent aqueous ethanol, extracts were collected, filtered and concentrated. Antimicrobial potentiality of the extracts were tested against few micro organisms.Result: Clitoria ternatea L. exhibited antifungal effect against Fusarium oxysporum ciceri and antibacterial activity against Serratia marcescens and Arthrobactor chlorophenolicus.Conclusion: Hence the plant leaf extract can be used as antimicrobial agent against the micro organisms.Key words: phytochemical products. antimicrobial property, bioassay

EVALUATION OF BRINE SHRIMP CYTOTOXICITY OF 50percent AQUEOUS ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF CLITORIA TERNATEA L

Objectives: To study the anticancerous property of leaves of Clitoria ternatea L. Methods: The leaves were soaked in 50percent aqueous ethanol, extract was filtered and concentrated. Cytotoxicity of the extract was tested by brine shrimp lethality assay. Result: The experimental results revealed that 0.28-0.38percent concentration of 50 percent aqueous ethanolic leaf extract possessed cytotoxic potentiality against brine shrimp. Conclusion: Hence the plant may be identified as a source of bioactive principle having Â&nbsp;antitumour activity. Key words: cytotoxicity, lethal conc., mortality, LC50, brine shrimp, phytochemical products

BRINE SHRIMP CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF 50% ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF CROTON BONPLANDIANUM BAILL.

Objective: To study the presence of anti-tumorous compounds in Croton bonplandianum. Methods: 50 % ethanolic extract, obtained from dried powdered plant material of C. bonplandianum was assayed for its Brine shrimp cytotoxic activity. Results: It was found that the extract was very effective against brine shrimp and shows LC50 at the concentration of 46.7mg/lit (38 mg/lit -55 mg/lit). Conclusions: It proves the presence of anti-tumorous compounds in C. bonplandianum

Evaluation of Antibacterial Potentiality of a Cyclopenta Naphthalene Tetraol Terpenoid Isolated from Curcuma caesia Roxb

ABSTRACT The assessment of antibacterial potentiality of 2, 3,4,8a,9,9a-hexamethyl-2,3,3a,4,4a,5,8,8a,9,9a -decahydro -1H -cyclopenta [b] naphthalene -1,2,3a,4a-tetraol was the primary objective of this paper followed by its physicochemical characterization. Chemical characterisation of 2, 3, 4, 8a, 9, 9a-hexamethyl-2,3,3a,4,4a,5,8,8a,9,9a-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta [b] naphthalene-1,2,3a,4a-tetraol was done through UV, IR (FT-IR), HRMS and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Assessment of its antibacterial activity was performed using agar cup method and disc diffusion assay respectively. The antibacterial compound was terpenoid in nature and identified as 2, 3, 4, 8a, 9, 9a-hexamethyl-2,3,3a,4,4a,5,8,8a,9,9a-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta [b] naphthalene-1,2,3a,4a-tetraol. The MIC values tested against different plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria are different. The MIC values of this compound was 365 µg/ml, 274 µg/ml, 389 µg/ml, 443 µg/ml tested against the bacterium Serratia marcescens, Erwinia herbicola, Xanthomonas sp. and Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus respectively. Best of our knowledge this was the first report of presence of 2, 3, 4, 8a, 9, 9a-hexamethyl-2, 3, 3a, 4, 4a, 5, 8, 8a, 9, 9a-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta [b] naphthalene-1,2,3a,4a-tetraol in plants. Due to its antibacterial property it may function in plant defense or commercialize as an ecofriendly crop protectant