Unusual landing of “Koth” Otolithoides biauritus by mini trawler at Versova, Mumbai.

A mini trawler landed an unusual catch of 103 numbers of “Koth” in the size range 770-1050mm each weighing between 2.5 to 5.0kg from a depth of 30 meters, at a distance of 25km off Mumbai, around the fishing grounds of Dahanu and Satpati

Morphometric studies in the genus Clerodendrum L.

Six Clerodendrum L. species from Kolhapur district were morphometrically analyzed with the help of PCA, cluster analysis and CD. It was observed that the quantitative characters viz. petiole length, leaf length and leaf width have great significance in delimitation of all the species and corolla tube length, leaf width, gynoecium length and leaf length have great contribution in separation of the taxa. Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm.f.) O. Ktze.- Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn., Clerodendrum paniculatum L. - Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. and Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn. - Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon. are very closely related with each other and Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm.f.) O.Ktze.- Clerodendrum paniculatum L. and Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm.f.) O. Ktze. - Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. are significantly different from each other

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MULTIPURPOSE HERBAL CREAM

Objective: To formulate and evaluate herbal cream using Aloe Vera gel, dimethyl sulphoxide extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Tulsi (Ocimumtenuiflorum) to give multipurpose effect. Methods: The cream was prepared by using the cream base that is bee’s wax, liquid paraffin, borax, methylparaben, distilled water, rose oil, Aloe Vera gel, dimethyl sulphoxide extracts of Neem and Tulsi. The cream was prepared by using the slab technique/extemporaneous method for geometric and homogenous mixing of all the excipients and the herbal extracts. By using slab technique, we have developed three batches of our herbal cream, namely F1H, F2H, and F3H. All three batches were evaluated for different parameters like appearance, PH, viscosity, phase separation. Results: All the three formulations F1H, F2H, F3H showed good appearance, PH, adequate viscosity and no phase separation was observed. Also, the formulations F1H, F2H, F3H showed no redness, erythema and irritation during irritancy study and they were easily washable. All the three formulations F1H, F2H, F3H were stable at room temperature. Conclusion: All three herbal ingredients showed significant different activities. Based on the results, we can suggest that all the three formulations F1H, F2H, F3H were stable and can be safely used on the skin

Critical analysis of the drug promotional literatures advertised in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The objective of the study was to critically analyse the drug promotional literatures (DPLs) advertised in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: This observational study was conducted in department of pharmacology, grant government medical college. The data was collected over a period of 3 months after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethics Committee. Around 200 DPLs were collected from different specialty OPDs. Promotional literatures in the form of medical equipment’s, ayurvedic medicine, drug monography, reminder advertisement, identical advertisement and drug name list were excluded from the study. Data compiled was compiled in an excel sheet. The complied data were analyzed with the help of tables and graphs.Results: In our study, the name of the active ingredient, their brand name and the therapeutic uses were mentioned in all the DPLs (100%). The dosage form of the drug was addressed in 85%, whereas the schedule was present in 58% of the DPLs. Most of the DPLs had mentioned about the positive effects of the drug, while few of them described the negative effects of the drugs, namely, adverse drug reactions (39%), precautions to be taken (36%), contraindications (36%) and various drug interactions (33%).Conclusions: A diverse set of results were obtained when a cohort of 200 promotional literatures were analyzed wherein the advantageous effects were highlighted covering the detrimental effects of the drug. DPLs were not in line and accordance with WHO guidelines, but where modified according to the company preferences

Genetic Evaluation of Leucaena Genotypes in Bundelkhand Region of Central India

During the 1970s and 1980s, Leucaena was known as the “miracle tree” native to Central America and Mexico, because of its worldwide success as a long-lived and highly nutritious forage tree. It is estimated to cover 2-5 million ha area worldwide. The genus Leucaena is one of the most widely grown tropical fodder trees and is the subject of extensive research. This is mainly due to its long life span; high productivity even under regular defoliation; its adaptation to wide climatic and edaphic tolerances; excellent palatability and digestibility and many uses including wood for timber and fuel wood. The species possesses enormous wealth of variability and great potential for economic yield which attract the breeders in utilizing the species in hybridization. A logical way to start any breeding programme is to survey the variations present in the germplasm. Precise information on the nature and degree of genetic divergence in respect of important traits is a prerequisite for undertaking meaningful breeding programme towards the improvement and conservation of a species. Further an investigation into the nature and degree of divergence among populations will be useful in understanding the course of evolution and for classifying the tree population into groups based on the diversity, particularly when they are overlapping in one more characters. Therefore, the present study was conducted to estimate genetic divergence among different germplasm of genus Leucaena

Galantamine Attenuates Type 1 Diabetes and Inhibits Anti-Insulin Antibodies in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice

Type 1 diabetes in mice is characterized by autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Disease pathogenesis involves invasion of pancreatic islets by immune cells, including macrophages and T cells, and production of antibodies to self-antigens, including insulin. Activation of the inflammatory reflex, the neural circuit that inhibits inflammation, culminates on cholinergic receptor signals on immune cells to attenuate cytokine release and inhibit B cell antibody production. Here, we show that galantamine, a centrally acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and an activator of the inflammatory reflex, attenuates murine experimental type 1 diabetes. Administration of galantamine to animals immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) significantly suppressed splenocyte release of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-4 and -6 (IL-4 and IL-6) during KLH-challenge ex vivo. Administration of galantamine beginning at one month of age in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice significantly delayed the onset of hyperglycemia, attenuated immune cell infiltration in pancreatic islets and decreased anti-insulin antibodies in serum. These observations indicate that galantamine attenuates experimental type 1 diabetes in mice and suggest that activation of the inflammatory reflex should be further studied as a potential therapeutic approach

The Tertiary sequence of Varkala coastal cliffs, southwestern India: An ideal site for Global Geopark

Varkala, along the southwestern coast of Peninsular India, has a unique place in Indian geology and geomorphology due to the presence of coastal lateritic cliffs, which exposes the entire Mio-Pliocene sequence of Warkalli Formation, and is declared as the type area. Stratigraphically, this formation exposes carbonaceous clay with lenses of lignite and sticks of marcasite, followed by variegated clays and sandstone. The presence of variegated lithounits endows beauty to these cliffs. Varkala cliffs, edging the Arabian Sea, run for a length of 7.5 km. These cliffs, together with confined beaches, made Varkala a popular tourist destination. Several geodiversity spots within the Varkala Cliff geoheritage site make Varkala geologically unique, just like the vestiges of the last separation of Indian subcontinent from the Mascarene Plateau; showcasing lateritization and distribution of beach placers, and jarosite, formed as a diagenetic replacement mineral from marcasite and considered as a Martian analog, are distinctiveness of the cliff. Additionally, Varkala is an internationally acclaimed beach tourist destination. Furthermore, there are several geoheritage sites as well as socio-cultural-historical sites in the hinterland of Varkala Cliff geoheritage site, which are within the proposed Varkala Global Geopark jurisdiction. Thus, this area fulfills all the criteria to be a Global Geopark. The socio-economic-environmental analysis showcases the changes that have occurred in these 3-end members. When the economic sphere was unaffected, the social scenario was slightly affected (25%) whereas the environmental aspect then drastically deteriorated by 75%. But, the SWOT analysis still elects Varkala as a potential Global Geopark. The concept of geopark contributes to at least one of the 17 goals in Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations (UN). Consequently, this work also aims at propagating, not only the need for converting the geologically prominent areas to a geopark, but also attaining SDG, whatever is possible through geoparks

An alum [KAl (SO4)2.12H2O] catalyzed microwave assisted multicomponent synthesis of bioactive functionalized benzylpyrazolyl coumarin and quinolinone derivatives in PEG

An efficient and environmentally benign method has been developed for the synthesis of benzylpyrazolyl coumarin and quinolinone derivatives, hydroxy coumarin derivatives using Alum [KAl (SO4)2.12H2O] catalyst and Polyethylene glycol as green solvent under microwave condition. Keywords: Knoevenagel, Michael addition reaction, coumarins, quinolinones, alum, polyethylene glycol, multicomponent microwave irradiation method