RISK FACTOR ASSESSMENT FOR ACNE VULGARIS IN HUMAN AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS IN NORTH CENTRAL INDIA: A SURVEY-BASED STUDY

Background: Acne vulgaris is a very common dermatological problem of adolescence since the time immemorial. However, it is neither life threatening nor is a physical disability, but acne affects social and psychological functioning. Acne vulgaris is multifactorial, apart from basic factor of hormonal change and bacterial outbreak; there are several other factors that may influence the prevalence of acne.Methods: In the present study, populations were assessed for influence of various factors on acne prevalence. This cross-sectional study was a population based field study intending to discern the factors that influence the prevalence of acne in adolescents. The study carried out from April 2016 to October 2016 in north central India. For this survey, questionnaires were design to cover all the required information regarding occurrence of acne that include factors like gender, age, skin type, complexion, season of occurrence, dietary habit etc.Results: Acne vulgaris appears to be influenced by gender, age, seasonal variations, breakout area, complexion, skin types and dietary habits. Further, the influence of dietary habit on acne, by the consumption of dairy products or high-carbon diet has also been evaluated. Apart from depicting the vulnerable range of age (p=0.003288), sensitivity on various skin types (p=0.00039) and complexion (p=0.001355) on the basis of gender; This Field study on Acne Vulgaris, also reveals that the season has inordinate role in acne pervasiveness (p=0.115731).Conclusion: This study is helpful in categorizing the risk factors and evidencing the afflictions of acne in population thus, contributing health care planning. Â

Biological approaches of termite management: A review

For increased crop production, the role of chemical termiticides cannot be neglected as they have provided the efficient way to achieve green revolution. But the present scenario has forced mankind to search for alternative options. While keeping in mind the concept of sustainable agriculture, pest management including termites and other phyto-diseases etc. needs to be focused. For the achievement of the above stated goal, eco-friendly and cost-effective strategies need to be emphasized. Biopesticidal agents that mainly comprise of herbal and microbial formulations are known to exhibit anti termite activity and have a pivotal role in the production of organic food products. In order to reduce the chemical consumption, the vast area of biological alternatives needs to be explored as they provide us with many beneficial aspects like sustainability, suitable application, biodegradable nature, target specificity etc. Further, the bioactive components of such biological agents can later be used as commercially viable termiticides in the form of formulations. These herbal and microbial termiticides are effective and have immense scope to be used in future for sustainable development

Parathyroid hormone gene polymorphism and sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism

The pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism are currently under investigation. Although autoantibodies against the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) have been implicated to play a role, these could be demonstrated in only 49% of a group of 51 patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism that we previously studied. Therefore, we investigated 49 of these patients further, regardless of their antibody status, and looked for mutations in the section of the PTH gene sequence that coded for prepro-PTH as well as the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the gene, which is believed to be involved in the stability of its mRNA. We also examined the relationship between the clinical manifestations of the disease and the occurrences of two commonly observed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PTH gene. In 49 of the patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and in 55 healthy controls, the SNPs were characterized by restriction analysis using DraII and BstBI enzymes. In a subset of these patients, exons 2 and 3 of the PTH gene (n = 37) and its 3'-UTR region (n = 40) were also sequenced. No mutations were observed in the segment of the PTH gene coding for the signal peptide, prohormone, or the 3'-UTR region. However, three well described SNPs were observed: 1) an A→G substitution in intron 1 in 35.1% of the patients; 2) a G→A substitution in intron 2, characterized by BstBI, in one or both alleles in 27%; and 3) a C→A substitution at codon 52 (CGA) of exon 3, characterized by DraII, in one or both alleles in 59.7% of the patients. There was no significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of these SNPs between the patient and the control groups. Furthermore, the mean age at onset of symptoms, body mass index, frequency of cataract, tetany, convulsion, basal ganglia calcification, serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and intact PTH were not significantly different between patients with and without the above-described SNPs. Thus, the data from this report demonstrate that in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, neither the clinical manifestations nor the biochemical indexes of the disease are related to the occurrence of mutations or SNPs in the PTH gene. Because neither patient nor control samples exhibited any variations in the sequence of their 3'-UTR regions, it is unlikely that mRNA instability is a factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Additional studies are required to investigate the role of other genes and autoantigens that may be involved in the genesis of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES OF OCIMUM BASILICUM L.

Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum) L. belongs to family Lamiaceae which comprises the most employed medicinal plants as a worldwide source of spices and also as a consolidated source of extracts. The phytochemical constituents of sweet basil essential oil have been investigated for several therapeutic importance from many regions of the world. They include terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponin glycosides and ascorbic acid. These compounds have been reported to exhibit antibacterial and antifungal, antidyspepsia, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiulcer, antiviral, insecticidal, wound-healing etc. activities. The plant parts of O. basilicum have been widely used in preparation traditional medicine. The plants also been used as a folk remedy to treat various ailments such as feverish illness, poor digestion, nausea, abdominal cramps, gastro-enteritis, migraine, insomnia, depression, gonorrhea, dysentery etc. Externally, they have been applied for the treatment of acne, loss of smell, insect stings, snake bites and skin infections. The present review is aimed to cover the pharmacological investigations on this important medicinal herb. Key Words: Ocimum basilicum, phytochemical constituents, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, insecticida

Broad spectrum antimycotic plant as a potential source of therapeutic agent

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial evaluation of the essential oil(s) of some spp. of Curcuma viz., Curcuma angustifolia, C. aromatica, C. domestica and C. zedoaria -were screened against three common dermatophytic fungi causing ringworm infection in human beings. The essential oil of Curcuma domestica Valet. (Family-Zingiberaceae) was found strongest toxicant against the test fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the oil was 1.6µl/ml against Epidermophyton floccosum and 1.4µl/ml against Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum; however, it was fungicidal at 1.6 µl/ml against M. gypseum and T. rubrum, and 2.0 µl/ml against E. floccosum, respectively. The efficacy contains heavy doses of inoculums (25 discs of 5 mm each). The (MKT) of the oil was 30 sec against E. floccosum & Microsporum gypseum and 20 sec against T. rubrum, while, its MFCs required 6.30 hrs against E. floccosum & Microsporum gypseum and 5.30 hr against T. rubrum. The oils efficacy was thermo stable up to 80 0 C and for 36 months of storage, the maximum unit taken into consideration. Moreover, the oil of C. domestica did not exhibit any adverse effect on mammalian skin up to 5% conc. The clinical trial of the oil in the form of ointment (at 1% V/V conc.) to topical testing on patients, attending outpatient department (OPD) of MLN Medical College, Allahabad is still in progress

Innovative investigation of zinc oxide nanoparticles used in dentistry

Dental caries is a major lifestyle concern as dental components affect the face of an individual. The issue of tooth decay occurs in every age group throughout the globe. Researchers are probing incipient implements and techniques to develop filling agents for decayed teeth. Zinc oxide (ZnO) powder is utilized mostly as a filling agent. Nanotechnology enhanced the efficiency of compounds of metal oxides utilized for dental caries. The present study aims to investigate the properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized chemically (using ZnCl2 and NaOH) as well as biologically (using aqueous leaf extract of Murraya paniculata). The XRD patterns confirm that ZnO NPs have a hexagonal crystalline structure with particle sizes of 47 nm and 55 nm for chemically and biologically synthesized NPs, respectively. The FE-SEM data confirm the nanorod and spherical/cubical shape morphologies for the chemically and biologically synthesized ZnO NPs, respectively. FTIR data show the peaks between 4000 and 450 cm(-1) of the functional groups of -OH, C-O, -C-H-, and Zn-O bonds. The UV-Vis absorption study indicates a peak around 370 nm and a hump around 360 nm corresponding to the chemically and biologically synthesized ZnO NPs, respectively. An antibacterial bioassay was performed and compared with commercially available ZnO bulk powder against tooth decaying pathogens, viz., Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Lactobacillus fermentum, and found that both ZnO NPs had results closer to those of the standard drug (rifampicin). Thus, the synthesized ZnO NPs may be utilized as nano-drugs for the application of tooth decaying filling agents. Even biologically synthesized ZnO NPs may be considered more environmentally friendly and less toxic to human health concerns.UGC, New DelhiUniversity Grants Commission, UGC; University of Lucknow, L

Antidermatophytic Activity of the Fruticose Lichen Usnea orientalis

In the present study, the new biological sources in the form of lichen Usnea orientalis Motyka was screened for its antidermatophytic potential. Six species of dermatophytes were chosen on the basis of their prevalence for antidermatophytic assays, and the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI)-recommended broth microdilution procedure was used to detect the efficacy of extract against dermatophytes. Thin layer chromatography of lichen extracts reveals the presence of two secondary metabolites viz. salazinic acid and usnic acid. U. orientalis extract exhibited promising antidermatophytic activity against all tested pathogens. Amongst all tested pathogens, Epidermophyton floccosum exhibited most susceptibility towards extract, whereas Trichophyton mentagrophytes exhibited the least susceptibility. Topical application of U. orientalis extract might be helpful in the cure of dermal infections

Comprehensive evaluation of pharmacological properties of Olea europaea L. for Cosmeceuticals prospects

Abstract Background Propionibacterium acnes (anaerobic bacteria) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (aerobic bacteria) have been acknowledged as key comedone forming pathological factor, eliciting an inflammation in acne. The present study was conducted to evaluate antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Olea europaea leaves extracts (OLE) of different solvents (methanol, ethanol, deionized water, and acetone) against etiologic pathogens of acne vulgaris. Methods The antibacterial testing against the selected pathogen viz., P. acnes and S. epidermidis were evaluated using broth micro dilution method recommended by CLSI, in duplicate. Correspondingly the total phenolic content and flavonoid content along with radicals scavenging activity by DPPH assay were also evaluated. The data of antibacterial assay demonstrated that these plant extracts differ quantitatively in their activity against the tested pathogens. Results The results (mg/ml) exhibited that Olea europaea leaves extracts (MIC:2.263/IC50:1.626, MIC:0.933/IC50:0.636, MIC:1.054/IC50:1.040, MIC:2.534/IC50:2.500 of aqueous, methanol, ethanol, acetone extracts respectively) are more effective against growth of P.acnes as compared to S. epidermidis (MIC: Range (Not active at particular concentration), IC50: Range, MIC:1.031, IC50: 0.670, MIC:1.502, IC50:1.234, MIC: Range, IC50:1.890 mg/ml aqueous, methanol, ethanol, acetone extracts respectively). The readings were statically analyzed and also compared with standard drug tetracycline. Conclusions The current findings suggested Olea europaea L. as a promising source of potential antioxidants and antibacterial activity against P.acnes and S. epidermidis that may be an efficient therapeutic agent in the pathogenesis of Acne vulgaris and proves a potential source of Cosmeceuticals

In vitro evaluation of antidermatophytic activity of five lichens In vitro evaluation of antidermatophytic activity of five lichens ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Abstract: Lichens (a composite organism) are known for their secondary metabolites and have several properties as photoprotection, allelopathy, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral. In this study, based on alarming situation of prevalence and developing resistance in dermatophytes, the new biological source in the form of lichens was screened for their antidermatophytic potential