PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN THE WHOLE PLANT EXTRACTS OF GLORIOSA SUPERBA

Objectives: The aim of this research work was to carry out the phytochemical screening and to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the whole plant extract (shoot, flower, and tuber) of the flame lily (Gloriosa superba). Materials and Methods: In the current work, phytochemicals were extracted from different parts of the plant using different solvents dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, and ethanol (ETOH). These phytochemicals contained alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, aromatic acids, phenolic compounds, xanthoproteins, triterpenoids, amino acids, philobatinins, carbohydrate, reducing sugar, and proteins and they were separated using standard methods. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities of methanolic separation were determined using various species of bacteria and fungi. Agar well diffusion method was used for the antimicrobial activity and the zone of the inhibition was analyzed. Results: The evaluation of preliminary phytochemical screening of extracts indicated the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, proteins, amino acids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and phlobatannins. Tuber extracts highlighted effective antibacterial and antifungal activities compared with shoot and flower extracts against all the tested bacteria and fungi. ETOH extract of the tuber observed highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (19 mm), followed by Escherichia coli (18 mm), Micrococcus luteus (17 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17 mm), and Salmonella abony (16 mm) when compared to shoot and flower extracts. G. superba tuber extracts highlighted effective antifungal activities compared with shoot and flower extracts against all the tested fungi. ETOH extract of the tuber observed highest antifungal activity against Rhizopus oryzae (20.17 mm), followed by Mucor Sp. (19.87 mm), Aspergillus niger (18.02), Candida krusei (17.98 mm), and Candida albicans (16.88 mm) as compared to shoot and flower extracts. Conclusion: Results of the current studies flame lily ETOH extracts showed that the plant has significant antimicrobial activities. The strong antibacterial and antifungal activities of flame lily are due to the presence of tannins and flavonoids present in

THE PREVALENCE OF INDIAN COMMON KRAIT ENVENOMATION AND ITS CLINICAL COMPLICATIONS AMONG THE RURAL POPULATIONS OF INDIA

Snake envenomations have been a serious yet often overlooked public health threat especially in tropical and subtropical countries, including Southeast Asia. The medically important venomous land snakes in Southeast Asia include snakes from the Elapidae and Crotalidae families. Among the elapids, there are only 12 species that are considered of medical importance, represented by the kraits (Bungarus caeruleus, B. candidus, B. fasciatus, B. flaviceps and B. multicinctus). The incidence of snakebite is high in India. Apart from mortality, the morbidity is due to various complications. The common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is the most toxic snake found commonly in the plains of throughout the India and the number of snakebites in the rural areas of India was recorded by this snake. The present article highlights the prevalence and the clinical complications of Indian common krait envenomation among the rural populations of India. Keywords: snake bite, common krait, clinical complications and rural are

Antiarthritic activity of synthesized silver nanoparticles from aqueous extract of Moringa concanensis Nimmo leaves against FCA induced rheumatic arthritis in rats

Background and Objective: The rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune disease and it is a major health issues among the peoples in worldwide. People affected by rheumatism have double risk of heart disease, lungs and chest infections, which causes 10-20% of deaths in individuals. The present research work was aimed to evaluate the antiarthritic potential of synthesized silver nanoparticles from the aqueous extract of M.concanensis leaves. Material and Methods: The arthritis was induced by complete freund’s adjuvant method and the rats was treated with synthesized silver nanoparticles from aqueous extract of M.concanensis leaves. The body weight, paw volume, hematological parameters, liver function marker enzymes and the renal function markers of the arthritic rats and nanoparticles treated rats was analyzed by the standard methods. Results: The results of the present study were made the new findings in antiarthritic activity of silver nanoparticles from M.concanensis leaves. The nanoparticles showed a noteworthy antiarthritic activity against FCA induced rheumatoid arthritis in experimental rats. Conclusion: Based on the above results, it was concluded as the present work are states the better understand on the antiarthritic activity of silver nanoparticles of Moringa concanensis Nimmo leaves

Medicinal plants for the treatment of snakebites among the rural populations of Indian subcontinent: An indication from the traditional use To pharmacological confirmation

Snakebite is one of the important medical problems that affect the public health due to their high morbimortality. Most of the snake venoms produce intense lethal effects, which could lead to impermanent or permanent disability or in often death to the victims. The accessible specific treatment was using the antivenom serum separated from envenomed animals, whose efficiency is reduced against these lethal actions but it has a serious side effects. In this circumstance, this review aimed to provide an updated overview of herbal plants used popularly as antiophidic agents and discuss the main species with pharmacological studies supporting the uses, with prominence on plants inhibiting the lethal effects of snake envenomation amongst the rural tribal peoples of India. There are several reports of the accepted use of herbal plants against snakebites worldwide. In recent years, many studies have been published to giving pharmacological confirmation of benefits of several vegetal species against local effects induced by a broad range of snake venoms, including inhibitory potential against hyaluronidase, phospholipase, proteolytic, hemorrhagic, myotoxic, and edematogenic activities. In India, a variety of herbal plants are used to cure against the snakebites and other poisonous bites, used either in alone or in combination with other herbal agents. The present study was designed to formulate an attempt to bring together information on medicinal plants that are grown and used for snakebite treatment in India. From a variety of literature sources, data have been compiled with prominence on the plants, family, parts used, etc., depending on the availability of information

Beyond Trophic Factors: Exploiting the Intrinsic Regenerative Properties of Adult Neurons

Injuries and diseases of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are common but frequently irreversible. It is often but mistakenly assumed that peripheral neuron regeneration is robust without a need to be improved or supported. However, axonal lesions, especially those involving proximal nerves rarely recover fully and injuries generally are complicated by slow and incomplete regeneration. Strategies to enhance the intrinsic growth properties of reluctant adult neurons offer an alternative approach to consider during regeneration. Since axons rarely regrow without an intimately partnered Schwann cell (SC), approaches to enhance SC plasticity carry along benefits to their axon partners. Direct targeting of molecules that inhibit growth cone plasticity can inform important regenerative strategies. A newer approach, a focus of our laboratory, exploits tumor suppressor molecules that normally dampen unconstrained growth. However several are also prominently expressed in stable adult neurons. During regeneration their ongoing expression “brakes” growth, whereas their inhibition and knockdown may enhance regrowth. Examples have included phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), a tumor suppressor that inhibits PI3K/pAkt signaling, Rb1, the protein involved in retinoblastoma development, and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a tumor suppressor that inhibits β-Catenin transcriptional signaling and its translocation to the nucleus. The identification of several new targets to manipulate the plasticity of regenerating adult peripheral neurons is exciting. How they fit with canonical regeneration strategies and their feasibility require additional work. Newer forms of nonviral siRNA delivery may be approaches for molecular manipulation to improve regeneration

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ABSTRACT: The Gulf of Mannar, is a unique marine habitat with diverse of macroalgae. Macroalgae are primitive non flowering marine plants, which have rich sources of bioactive compounds (i.e., proteins, peptides, amino acid, polysaccharide, alkaloids etc). The selected red algae Gelidiela acerosa and Acanthophora spicifera collected from the Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India. In the present study, the anticancer potential of the methanol (crude) extract from G. acerosa and A. spicifera was tested for probable anticancer activity in Dalton’s Ascitic Lymphoma (DAL) cells. The cells were tested in Swiss albino mice. The results show that G. acerosa and A. spicifera algae extract were the most effective against DAL cells in mice respectively had significant anticancer activity and it might be a good candidate for further investigation in order to develop a natural compound as an anticancer agents, which can be utilized for the production of potential anticancer drug and novel pharmaceutical leads

MDCT evaluation of sternal variations: Pictorial essay

Sternal variations and anomalies have been identified in the past during autopsy or cadaveric studies. Recently, an increasing number of minor sternal variations have been reported with the advent of multidetector computed tomography (CT). Although there are many sternal variations that occur with varying appearance and prevalence, most of them are not recognized or are underreported during routine imaging of thorax. Identification of sternal variations is important to differentiate from pathological conditions and to prevent fatal complications prior to sternal interventions like marrow aspiration or acupuncture. This article aims to describe the minor and asymptomatic sternal variations by multidetector CT and their clinical significance

The Presence of Biomarker Enzymes of Selected Scleractinian Corals of Palk Bay, Southeast Coast of India

The health and existence of coral reefs are in danger by an increasing range of environmental and anthropogenic impacts. The causes of coral reef decline include worldwide climate change, shoreline development, habitat destruction, pollution, sedimentation and overexploitation. These disasters have contributed to an estimated loss of 27% of the reefs. If the current pressure continues unabated, the estimated loss of coral reef will be about 60% by the year 2030. Therefore, the present study was aimed to analyze the enzymes involved in stress induced by coral pathogen and its resistance. We focused on the enzymes involved in melanin synthesis pathway (phenoloxidase (PO) and peroxidases (POD)) and free radical scavenging enzymes (super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) in selected scleractinian corals such as Acropora formosa, Echinopora lamellosa, Favia favus, Favites halicora, Porites sp., and Anacropora forbesi. Overall, PO activity of coral was significantly lower than that of zooxanthellae except for Favia favus. Coral colonies with lower PO and POD activities are prone to disease. Maximum antioxidant defensive enzymes were observed in Favia favus followed by Echinopora lamellose. It is concluded that assay of these enzymes can be used as biomarkers for identifying the susceptibility of corals towards coral bleaching induced by pathogen