Antimicrobial activity of skin secretions isolated from Indian toad, Bufo melanostictus Schneider 1799

Amphibians like toads have been known to secrete antimicrobial secretions outside their body into their environments, through skin pores and parotid glands. Toad skin-secretions contain four types of compounds namely, biogenic amines, bufadienolides, alkaloids & steroids and peptides & proteins. Bulk of research relating to amphibian antimicrobial secretions has been done on frogs. In toads, such research has only been done in South America, Europe and China. Antimicrobial secretions vary considerably from specie-to-specie and drastically across various biomes. This prompted us to examine and confirm presence of antimicrobial activity (if any) in Indian Common Toad (Bufo melanostictus Schneider 1799) skin secretions since; no such analysis had been previously done on this toad which is found all across the South-east Asia. The antibacterial potency of toad skin secretions was tested against the bacteria, Escherichia coli. After running preliminary antibacterial analysis assays, we found that these cutaneous secretions retrieved from Indian Common Toad possessed potential bactericidal activity. The results that we got confirmed that some unexplored bactericidal components were present in skin secretions of these toads. These conclusions call for further research into biochemistry and molecular characterization of these components

CONCEPT SELECTION AND EVALUATION USING LINEAR PHYSICAL PROGRAMMING.

Much interest has been recently developed to generative processes in design. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the drawbacks of typical decision matrix construction, as well as the limitation of possible alternatives. In this paper, linear physical programming (LPP) is purposed as an alternative to typical construction of decision matrix. The use of LPP overcomes the main drawback of this typical construction. LPP method is used for concept selection as well as parameter selection.  In this paper LPP based approach for concept selection is purposed. An example is provided to explain how the method works

A thematic review on Pandu with reference to Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is common nutritional disorder; the incidence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in India is very high. Iron deficiency anemia arises when there is reduced intake of iron, imbalance in iron stores and according to Ayurvedic classics, it develops due to reduction of Rasa Dhatu which in turn becomes unproductive to produce Rakta Dhatu. The patients of Pandu Roga can be given Tikshna Shodhana of the body by emetic and purgative drugs for the elimination of vitiated Doshas. There are various Ayurvedic herbal and herbomineral preparations are mentioned in Ayurvedic classics for the management of iron deficiency anaemia, in many studies Ayurveda formulations are found safe and effective against IDA

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including ‘Diabetes’ ‘Gabon’ ‘Toxicity’ ‘Constituents’ ‘hyperglycaemia’ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Wpływ wysoko napięciowego pola elektrycznego na szybkość kiełkowania nasion pomidora

This paper presents a discussion about the application of electricity that stimulates the growth of the plant to a great extent. This paper also demonstrates that exposure to the action of a high voltage electric field can be an effective tool for the enhancement of germination. The experiments were carried out on tomato seeds. A pilot treatment unit was developed and used for the study. Under normal conditions (no treatment), only about 76% of a reference sample of such seeds were germinated. Other seed samples were subjected to 50 Hz electric fields ranging from 10 to 30 kV cm-1 with exposure time ranging from 10 to 30 sec. In the optimum laboratory test, 100% of the seeds were germinated. The weight of the resulting tomato seedlings was greater than that of untreated ones. The germination tests proved the efficiency of this method. Ozone generation by partial discharges between seeds seems to be the main effective parameter that enhances the growth.Artykuł przedstawia wyniki badań zastosowania pola elektrycznego do stymulacji wzrostu roślin. W pracy wykazano, że poddanie nasion działaniu pola elektrycznego wysokiego napięcia może być skutecznym narzędziem do stymulacji ich kiełkowania. Doświadczenia prowadzono na nasionach pomidora. Opracowano i zastosowano pilotażowe urządzenie do stymulacji nasion polem elektrycznym. W warunkach normalnych (bez działania pola elektrycznego), wykiełkowało około 76% nasion z próbki referencyjnej (kontrolnej). Inne próbki nasion poddano działaniu pola elektrycznego o częstotliwości 50 Hz w zakresie od 1 do 3 kV·mm-1, przy czasach ekspozycji od 10 do 30 s. W optymalnych warunkach testu laboratoryjnego wykiełkowało 100% nasion. Masa wyrosłych z tych nasion siewek pomidora była większa niż siewek wyrosłych z nasion nie poddawanych działaniu pola elektrycznego. Testy kiełkowania dowiodły skuteczności tej metody. Wytwarzanie ozonu poprzez częściowe wyładowania pomiędzy nasionami wydaje się być głównym powodem stymulującym wzrost

Power Converters for Grid Integration of Wind Power Systems

This paper presents the different power converters for grid integration of wind power systems. In wind power systems while integrating with grid, power quality issues are becoming more predominant. This can solve by using power electronics converters like two level back to back converter and matrix converters. Converters are compared on the basis of efficiencies, voltage conversion ratios and THDs. Key words: Wind energy systems, power quality, two level back to back converter, three level and matrix converter. 1