EFFECT OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS (LEAD AND ZINC) ON SEEDLING GROWTH OF SOYBEAN GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of both zinc (250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 mg/kg) and lead (200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 mg/kg) as zinc sulphate and lead acetate respectively on 7days seedling of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)Methods: To investigate morphological growth parameters seedlings were cut at the root-shoot junction and the length of their root and shoot was measured with a metric scale and expressed in centimetre's. The fresh weight of seedling samples was recorded on an analytical balance and expressed in gram per seedling. Later, seedlings were dried in an oven at 80o C for 24 h to get constant dry weight. After 24 h the dry weight was recorded.Results: The study revealed that elevated dose of lead concentrations reduces the growth parameter as compared to control. Lead concentrations of 1000 mg/kg significantly decreased the percentage of germination and root length. However, at low levels of zinc (250 and 500 mg/kg) showed increased germination percentage and also increase root length shoot length. But at high levels (750–1250 mg/kg) showed a detrimental effect on the growth parameter and germination.Conclusion: Consequently, higher concentrations of heavy metals had an increased inhibitory effect on seed germination percentage, root length, shoot length, tolerance index, fresh weight and dry weight of soybean seedlings, but the low concentration of zinc can be applied for increasing the growth and yield of soybean plants

IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CENTELLA ASIATICA LINN. IN INDIAN ADULT EARTHWORMS

Objective: Helminthiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infestations worldwide posing a major threat to public health. The control of these nematodes has relied largely on the use of a limited number of anthelmintics. However, emerging resistance and side effects to the currently available anthelmintic drugs is a major concern and discovery of newer anthelmintics with a novel mode of action is the need of the hour. The present study is aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica Linn. (EECA) on Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). Methods: The earthworms were divided into 4 groups with 6 worms in each group. The anthelmintic activity of EECA at two different concentrations (25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml) was evaluated by assessing the time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. Albendazole was used as standard and 2% gum acacia as control. Results: Albendazole at 25 mg/ml showed the highest anthelmintic activity and had significant difference (p<0.001) with EECA at both 25 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml. Conclusion: Both doses of the test drug showed anthelmintic activity but the extract at either dose was found to be less effective than the standard drug. Further studies with higher doses of the extract should be done to evaluate the anthelmintic activity in a dose-dependent manner

Adverse drug reaction patterns of anti-retroviral drugs: A study in a tertiary care teaching Institute of north east India

Objective: The use of antiretroviral drugs is associated with significant safety concerns but there is still insufficient data about the toxicity profile of ART drugs especially in developing countries. Hence, this study was done to describe the severity and pattern of different types of adverse drug reactions that occurs with antiretroviral therapy.Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done at Pharmacovigilance centre RIMS utilizing data from January 2016 till December 2019.Result: A total of 190 cases reported during the study period were included in this study. Incidence was higher in females (109) as compared to males (81). The most common regimen responsible was TLE (69.5%) followed by ZLN (16.3%). Involvement of dermatological system (27.4%) was most common. The most common ADR associated with TLE was skin rash (28.3%) which was less severe as compared to the most common ADR associated with ZLN, which was anaemia (40.6%). On evaluation of WHO-UMC causality of ADRs, majority were found to be possible (78.2%).Conclusion: TLE regimen requires special focus as it was the most common regimen causing ADR but patients on ZLN regimen need to be closely monitored as they were found to cause more serious ADRs. A more active pharmacovigilance is needed for better understanding of toxicities related to ART.Key words: Adverse drug reactions, Pharmacovigilance, WHO-UMC criteria, Anti-retroviral therapy

Immobilization of arsenic in soil using modified bentonite and red mud to reduce its bio-availability in Brassica juncea

The influence of modified clay mineral and red mud on biological yield and arsenic bioavailability to mustard were investigated. The total biomass of the mustard was increased by application of clay mineral and red mud products. At higher doses (5.00 g/kg), Fe-bentonite treated soil recorded the highest total plant biomass (11.2 g/pot). DMSO-bentonite (1.23 mg/kg) and Fe-bentonite (1.28 mg/kg) were proved to be most effective in reducing the extractable arsenic concentration in soil at the rate of 5.00 g/kg doses. These products also help in lowering the hazard quotient (0.20–0.08) values for human consumption of arsenic through mustard leaf. This means that modified types of bentonites and red mud boost mustard productivity by reducing arsenic concentration

Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba

As per WHO estimates, 80% of people around the world use medicinal plants for the cure and prevention of various diseases including cancer owing to their easy availability and cost effectiveness. Eclipta alba has long been used in Ayurveda to treat liver diseases, eye ailments, and hair related disorders. The promising medicinal value of E. alba prompted us to study the antioxidant, nontoxic, and anticancer potential of its alcoholic extract. In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant effect of the alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba (AEEA) in multiple cancer cell lines along with control. We have also evaluated its effect on different in vivo toxicity parameters. Here, we found that AEEA was found to be most active in most of the cancer cell lines but it significantly induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines by disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage. Moreover, AEEA treatment inhibited migration in both MCF 7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose dependent manner. Further, AEEA possesses robust in vitro antioxidant activity along with high total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In summary, our results indicate that Eclipta alba has enormous potential in complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of cancer

Forest Soil Water in Landscape Context

Forests play an irreplaceable role in linking the water cycle with the functions of soil. Soil water not only enhances the stability of forests, but also its run-off and evaporation affects the growth of plants in different ecosystems. The forest soil water balance is contextualized within the immediate and more global landscapes, in terms of relations of water to the soil environment and bedrock, participation in the local water cycle within a catchment basin and in the global cycle between ecosystems. Modifications by human civilization can have significant impacts, including erosion intensification, eutrophication, salinization, spreading of single-species plantations, and regime shifts. Forests regulate the movement of water in the soil environment by reducing the intensity of run-off. Such moderated run-off prevents the occurrence of flash floods, maintaining continuous availability of water for plant and human use. Participation of soil water in the cycling of elements in forests is modified by soil organic matter balance. The preservation of hydric functions in forest soils depends on prioritization of water balance restoration in every catchment basin enclosing the local element cycle. More fundamentally, the development of a synergistically interlinked system, centered around the soil-forest-water-civilization nexus, must become an urgent priority

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy