Searching for anti-hyperglycemic phytomolecules of Tecoma stans

Tecoma stans plant is well postulated to decrease blood glucose level, but its mode of action and the molecules responsible are still controversial. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of leaves methanol extract of Tecoma stans and some of its fractions on starch tolerance in healthy rats, in vitro inhibition of α-amylase, and their effects of sub-chronic administration of glucose, lipid pattern, kidney and liver functions and antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. In starch tolerance experiment, both ethyl acetate and crude flavonoids fractions decreased glycemic peak values in healthy rats to extent similar to that of acarbose. In STZ sub-chronic experiment all preparations of Tecoma stans significantly decreased fasting glucose with variable degrees. The results indicated that the crude methanol extract had the most antidiabetic potential followed by the methylene chloride rich alkaloid fraction while the crude flavonoids fraction achieved the lowest effect. All Tecoma stans different preparations have positive effects on serum lipid pattern, kidney and liver function parameters, in addition to the antioxidant parameters (MDA and GSH) in liver tissues. In conclusion, the present study suggested that the alkaloids synergistically act as antidiabetic agent with other bioactive compounds of Tecoma stans especially flavonoids as hypoglycemic agents and the ethyl acetate fraction had the most powerful effects

TTG-type plutonic rocks formed in a modern arc batholith by hydrous fractionation in the lower arc crust

We present the geochemistry and intrusion pressures of granitoids from the Kohistan batholith, which represents, together with the intruded volcanic and sedimentary units, the middle and upper arc crust of the Kohistan paleo-island arc. Based on Al-in-hornblende barometry, the batholith records intrusion pressures from ~0.2 GPa in the north (where the volcano-sedimentary cover is intruded) to max. ~0.9 GPa in the southeast. The Al-in-hornblende barometry demonstrates that the Kohistan batholith represents a complete cross section across an arc batholith, reaching from the top at ~8–9 km depth (north) to its bottom at 25–35 km (south-central to southeast). Despite the complete outcropping and accessibility of the entire batholith, there is no observable compositional stratification across the batholith. The geochemical characteristics of the granitoids define three groups. Group 1 is characterized by strongly enriched incompatible elements and unfractionated middle rare earth elements (MREE)/heavy rare earth element patterns (HREE); Group 2 has enriched incompatible element concentrations similar to Group 1 but strongly fractionated MREE/HREE. Group 3 is characterized by only a limited incompatible element enrichment and unfractionated MREE/HREE. The origin of the different groups can be modeled through a relatively hydrous (Group 1 and 2) and of a less hydrous (Group 3) fractional crystallization line from a primitive basaltic parent at different pressures. Appropriate mafic/ultramafic cumulates that explain the chemical characteristics of each group are preserved at the base of the arc. The Kohistan batholith strengthens the conclusion that hydrous fractionation is the most important mechanism to form volumetrically significant amounts of granitoids in arcs. The Kohistan Group 2 granitoids have essentially identical trace element characteristics as Archean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) suites. Based on these observations, it is most likely that similar to the Group 2 rocks in the Kohistan arc, TTG gneisses were to a large part formed by hydrous high-pressure differentiation of primitive arc magmas in subduction zones.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant EAR 6920005

Petrology and Mineral Chemistry of Lower Crustal Intrusions: the Chilas Complex, Kohistan (NW Pakistan)

Mineral major and trace element data are presented for the main rock units of the Chilas Complex, a series of lower crustal intrusions emplaced during initial rifting within the Mesozoic Kohistan (paleo)-island arc (NW Pakistan). Detailed field observations and petrological analysis, together with geochemical data, indicate that the two principal units, ultramafic rocks and gabbronorite sequences, originate from a common parental magma, but evolved along different mineral fractionation trends. Phase petrology and mineral trace element data indicate that the fractionation sequence of the ultramafic rocks is dominated by the crystallization of olivine and clinopyroxene prior to plagioclase, whereas plagioclase precedes clinopyroxene in the gabbronorites. Clinopyroxene in the ultramafic rocks (with Mg-number [Mg/(Fetot + Mg] up to 0·95) displays increasing Al2O3 with decreasing Mg-number. The light rare earth element depleted trace element pattern (CeN/GdN ∼0·5-0·3) of primitive clinopyroxenes displays no Eu anomaly. In contrast, clinopyroxenes from the gabbronorites contain plagioclase inclusions, and the trace element pattern shows pronounced negative anomalies for Sr, Pb and Eu. Trace element modeling indicates that in situ crystallization may account for major and trace element variations in the gabbronorite sequence, whereas the olivine-dominated ultramafic rocks show covariations between olivine Mg-number and Ni and Mn contents, pointing to the importance of crystal fractionation during their formation. A modeled parental liquid for the Chilas Complex is explained in terms of mantle- and slab-derived components, where the latter component accounts for 99% of the highly incompatible elements and between 30 and 80% of the middle rare earth elements. The geochemical characteristics of this component are similar to those of a low percentage melt or supercritical liquid derived from subducted mafic crust. However, elevated Pb/Ce ratios are best explained by additional involvement of hydrous fluids. In accordance with the crystallization sequence, the subsolidus metamorphic reactions indicate pressures of 0·5-0·7 GPa. Our data support a model of combined flux and decompression melting in the back-ar

Age and isotopic constraints on magmatism along the Karakoram-Kohistan Suture Zone, NW Pakistan: evidence for subduction and continued convergence after India-Asia collision

Abstract.: Detailed geological mapping in the Drosh-Shishi area in southern Chitral (NW Pakistan) was combined with high-precision U-Pb dating on zircons to constrain the timing of magmatism and associated deformation/metamorphic events related to the Kohistan-Karakoram convergence and collision. Our new ages indicate that the Mesozoic to Tertiary magmatic history of this region is influenced by long-lived melt generation above an active subduction zone. Dated intrusive rocks range in age from 130 to 39 million years, indicating that subduction-related magmatism continued after the Kohistan-Karakoram and the India-Asia collisions. Initial hafnium isotope ratios were measured on the dated zircons to constrain the type of melt source of the dated plutons. The data reveal the different nature of partly coeval magmatism in these units, i.e. continental arc magmatism in the Karakoram (ca. 130-104 Ma) and arc magmatism magmatism on the Kohistan side (112-39 Ma). Intrusions within the suture zone can be clearly traced to be Karakoram-derived on the basis of initial Hf isotopic compositions. Granite dykes crosscutting the Kohistan units have sampled an underlying, old continental basement of Gondwana affinity. The geochronological evidence presented in this paper is consistent with Cretaceous subduction beneath the Karakoram Terrane. The related calc-alkaline magmatism seems to have stopped at about 100 Ma. Granite dykes on the Kohistan side show that the magmatic and tectonic history of the Karakoram-Kohistan Suture Zone continued to the Eocene. This long tectono-metamorphic and magmatic activity in the arc plates was likely due to complex and few million year long interplays between subduction and thrusting events in the forearc, within-arc and back-arc regions between two active subduction zone

Characterization Of Two Chalcone Derivatives Isolated From Finger Root With Nutraceutical Potentials

Boesenbergia rotunda is an example of medicinal herbal plants which has been traditionally employed in the treatment of many life-threatening ailments such as diuretic, dysentery, inflammation, aphrodisiac and gastrointestinal disorder.In this study the two chalcone derivatives were isolated from the root of B. rotunda using column-thin chromatography and characterized using different spectroscopy methods such as such as UV-VIS, FTIR, and 1HNMR. The bioactive compound identified were pinostrobin chalcone (1) and cardamone (2). These IR spectra, UV-vis photometry analysis and 1HNMR suggested that the chemical constituent isolated to be a flavonoid derivative, which is similar to the previous studies. The result of the study suggests that B. rotunda rhizome has a potential in drug and nutraceutical applications

Petrogenesis of Mafic Garnet Granulite in the Lower Crust of the Kohistan Paleo-arc Complex (Northern Pakistan): Implications for Intra-crustal Differentiation of Island Arcs and Generation of Continental Crust

We report the results of a geochemical study of the Jijal and Sarangar complexes, which constitute the lower crust of the Mesozoic Kohistan paleo-island arc (Northern Pakistan). The Jijal complex is composed of basal peridotites topped by a gabbroic section made up of mafic garnet granulite with minor lenses of garnet hornblendite and granite, grading up-section to hornblende gabbronorite. The Sarangar complex is composed of metagabbro. The Sarangar gabbro and Jijal hornblende gabbronorite have melt-like, light rare earth element (LREE)-enriched REE patterns similar to those of island arc basalts. Together with the Jijal garnet granulite, they define negative covariations of LaN, YbN and (La/Sm)N with Eu* [Eu* = 2 × EuN/(SmN + GdN), where N indicates chondrite normalized], and positive covariations of (Yb/Gd)N with Eu*. REE modeling indicates that these covariations cannot be accounted for by high-pressure crystal fractionation of hydrous primitive or derivative andesites. They are consistent with formation of the garnet granulites as plagioclase-garnet assemblages with variable trapped melt fractions via either high-pressure crystallization of primitive island arc basalts or dehydration-melting of hornblende gabbronorite, provided that the amount of segregated or restitic garnet was low (30 km (equivalent to c. 1·0 GPa), together with the hot geotherms now postulated for lower island arc crust, should cause dehydration-melting of amphibole-bearing plutonic rocks generating dense garnet granulitic roots in island arcs. Dehydration-melting of hornblende-bearing plutonic rocks may, hence, be a common intracrustal chemical and physical differentiation process in island arcs and a natural consequence of their maturation, leading to the addition of granitic partial melts to the middle-upper arc crust and formation of dense, unstable garnet granulite roots in the lower arc crust. Addition of LREE-enriched granitic melts produced by this process to the middle-upper island arc crust may drive its basaltic composition toward that of andesite, affording a plausible solution to the ‘arc paradox' of formation of andesitic continental-like crust in island arc setting

Safety and Complications of Double-Lumen Tunnelled Cuffed Central Venous Dialysis Catheters : Clinical and radiological perspective from a tertiary centre in Oman

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the technical success, safety and immediate and delayed complications of double-lumen tunnelled cuffed central venous catheters (TVCs) at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman. Methods: This retrospective study took place between January 2012 and October 2013. The clinical records and radiological data of all patients who underwent ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided TVC placement at SQUH during the study period were reviewed. Demographic data and information regarding catheter placement, technical success and peri- and post-procedure complications (such as catheter-related infections or thrombosis) were collected. Results: A total of 204 TVCs were placed in 161 patients. Of these, 68 were female (42.2%) and 93 were male (57.8%). The mean age of the patients was 54.4 ± 17.3 years. The most common reason for catheter placement was the initiation of dialysis (63.4%). A total of 203 procedures were technically successful (99.5%). The right internal jugular vein was the most common site of catheter placement (74.9%). Mild haemorrhage which resolved spontaneously occurred in 11 cases (5.4%). No other complications were observed. Subsequent follow-up data was available for 132 catheters (65.0%); of these, thrombosis-related catheter malfunction was observed in 22 cases (16.7%) and catheter-related infection in 29 cases (22.0%). Conclusion: Radiological-guided placement of tunnelled haemodialysis catheters can be performed safely with excellent technical success. The success rate of catheter insertion at SQUH was favourable in comparison with other studies reported in the literature

The Measurement of Radionuclides Level in Different Iraqi Building Material Samples from Baghdad City

Measurement of naturally and artificial radionuclide concentrations deposited in Iraqi building materials used in housing construction in the Baghdad city. Six samples from different sites have chosen. (Soil, Gipson, Cement, Brick, Sand, Gravel). The high purity Germanium detector (HpGe) have been used to measure the concentration of gamma emitter radionuclides from both uranium – radium and thorium series, 40K and 137Cs. The spectra for each sample were analyzed for (7200 sec). The percentage errors were calculated. The range of specific activities for studied radionuclides were as follows: The average concentrations of 238U is between (13-70) Bq/kg, 232Th is (2-34) Bq/kg, 40K is (39-880) Bq/kg, and 137Cs is (0.2-6) Bq/kg

Cytotoxicity of one-step dentin-bonding agents toward dental pulp and odontoblast-like cells

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73497/1/j.1365-2842.2008.01885.x.pd