Analgesic and antipyretic activity of methanolic extract of Leucas Clarki in animal models

Background: Search for an indigenous safe and effective analgesic and antipyretic agent continues to be an exciting area of research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic and antipyretic activity of methanolic extract of Leucas clarki, in animal models.Methods: Analgesic activity was evaluated in albino mice by acetic acid induced writhing test. Antipyretic study was carried out in albino rats by inducing pyrexia with brewer’s yeast. Analgesic activity was expressed as percentage of reduction in number of writhings compared to vehicle (Tween-80) and antipyretic activity was expressed as reduction of rectal temperature compared to basal temperature, after 18 hours of induction of pyrexia. Leucas clarki extract was administered at 3 doses (100,200,400mg/Kg) intraperitoneally. Student’s paired and unpaired “t” test was applied to test significance.Results: Methanolic extract of Leucas clarki (MLC) at dose 200 mg and 400mg /kg produced 19.17% & 32.03% of reduction of no. of writhing induced by acetic acid compared to that of Tween 80 treated control mice, However this is less compared to aspirin treated control rats. In model of pyrexia all the three doses of MLC produced significant reduction of rectal temperature compared to basal temperature (18hrs). Antipyretic effect was appreciated at very first hour and persisted till the end of 6 hours like that of paracetamol. Both 100 &200 mg/kg MLC were equivalent in potency as that Paracetamol (33mg/kg I.P) and 400mg/kg was even better than Paracetamol.Conclusions: Methanolic extract of Leucas clarki possesses excellent antipyretic and analgesic property

ESTIMATION OF IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF LIMONIA ACIDISSIMA LINN

Objective: Plant derived substances have recently become of great interest owing to their versatile applications. Attention has been drawn towards finding the in-vitro immunomodulatory activity of the methanolic pulp extract from Limonia acidissima Linn. Methods: The dried powdered pulp of Limonia acidissima Linn. extracted with methanol using Soxhlet apparatus. The in-vitro immunomodulatory activities were screened by different assays: in-vitro phagocytic assay, proliferation of splenocytes by inducing with mitogen, and cellular lysosomal enzyme activity assay.  Results: The methanolic extract of Limonia acidissima Linn. enhanced the NBT reduction at 0.01, 0.1 and 1mg/ml by 42percent (p < 0.01), 69percent (p < 0.01) and 88percent (p < 0.01), respectively, with an EC50 value of 0.04mg/ml. Lysosomal enzyme activity was also activated by the extract by 63percent at 0.1mg/ml and by 89percent (p < 0.05) at 1mg/ml with an EC50 of 0.38mg/ml. The plant extract (1mg/ml) enhanced the proliferation by 184percent (p < 0.01) compared to the control, in the absence of mitogen. Conclusion: Our results suggest that methanolic extract of pulp of Limonia acidissima Linn. possess significant immunomodulatory activity in-vitro. Pulp of Limonia acidissima Linn. therefore is a good source as an immunomodulator and a possible pharmaceutical supplement.   Keywords: Limonia acidissima Linn.; Immunomodulating activity; Phagocytosis; Proliferatio

Anticancer Activity of Limonia acidissima Linn (Rutaceae) Fruit Extracts on Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-cancer activity of Limonia acidissima Linn (Rutaceae) which has long been used traditionally for various infectious and malignant diseases. Methods: The fruit extract of Limonia acidissima Linn was obtained by macerating 3 times with methanol and then concentrating it at reduced pressure. Bioassay of the extract was carried out to assess the anticancer activity. Breast cancer cell lines, SKBR3 and MDA MB435, were used for in-vitro cell proliferation, cell viability assay, and cell cycle analysis of the extract. Results: Bioassay of the extract of Limonia acidissima Linn. showed that a fraction (fraction 3) of the ethanol extract had anticancer activity against SKBR3 and MDA-MB435 human breast cancer cells. The effective dose (ED50) of Limonia acidissima Linn. fraction 3 was 56.1 and 30.6 μg/ml for SKBR3 and MDA-MB435, respectively. After 48 h of exposure, this fraction (100 μg/ml) significantly reduced cell proliferation in both cancer cell lines. In MDA-MB435 cells, cell cycle analysis showed that fraction 3 induced the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, but no significant change in cell cycle was detected in SKBR3 cells. Conclusion: The results indicate that the extract fraction could induce cell cycle arrest. However, further investigation is needed to assess the molecular mechanisms of the anticancer activities of this plant

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted on wheat to analyze its bi-directional reflectance in relation to sun-target-sensor geometry. To achieve a large variation in crop parameters, two extreme nitrogen treatments were applied. The study reconfirms the strong and consistent anisotropic patterns of wheat bi-directional reflectance in visible (VIS) and near infra-red (NIR) and its magnitude was highest in the principal plane. This anisotropic pattern extended equally in shortwave infra-red (SWIR). The hotspot broadened with crop growth due to increase in leaf area index (LAI), leaf size and planophilic orientation. The shape and magnitude of PROSAIL5B simulated spectra was in close agreement with the observed spectra in the optical region for most of the view zenith and azimuth angle combinations. In the NIR and SWIR, the magnitude of the model simulations showed good match in the principal plane, whereas underestimation was found in the backward scattering direction at higher view zenith angles in the VIS. The typical bowl shape of observed reflectance in principal plane was very well simulated in NIR by the model but failed in other wavebands. The model performed best in the NIR region followed by SWIR and maximum relative error was in VIS. Over the whole optical region and view zenith angles, the model simulations showed an average error of 26%. The model simulations were poor at low LAI indicating the need to improve soil reflectance algorithm in the model. Results of the study have implications for understanding the strengths/shortcomings in the model and its inversion to derive crop biophysical parameters from multispectral sensors.IARI In-house Project Grant Code IARI:NRM:14:(04

Geo-environmental factors and the effectiveness of mulberry leaf extract in managing malaria

Abstract Malaria prevalence has become medically important and a socioeconomic impediment for the endemic regions, including Purulia, West Bengal. Geo-environmental variables, humidity, altitude, and land use patterns are responsible for malaria. For surveillance of the endemic nature of Purulia’s blocks, statistical and spatiotemporal factors analysis have been done here. Also, a novel approach for the Pf malaria treatment using methanolic leaf extract of Morus alba S1 has significantly reduced the parasite load. The EC50 value (1.852) of the methanolic extract of M. alba S1 with P. falciparum 3D7 strain is close to the EC50 value (0.998) of the standard drug chloroquine with the same chloroquine-sensitive strain. Further studies with an in-silico model have shown successful interaction between DHFR and the phytochemicals. Both 1-octadecyne and oxirane interacted favourably, which was depicted through GC–MS analysis. The predicted binary logistic regression model will help the policy makers for epidemiological surveillance in malaria-prone areas worldwide when substantial climate variables create a circumstance favourable for malaria. From the in vitro and in silico studies, it can be concluded that the methanolic extract of M. alba S1 leaves were proven to have promising antiplasmodial activity. Thus, there is a scope for policy-driven approach for discovering and developing these lead compounds and undermining the rising resistance to the frontline anti-malarial drugs in the world