PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES AND GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF SARCOSTEMMA BREVISTIGMA, WIGHT & ARN.

ABSTRACTObjective: To explore the phytochemical constituents present in Sarcostemma brevistigma using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Methods: Preliminary phytochemical analysis of secondary metabolites was made by following standard procedures. GC-MS analysis of the plantextracts was performed by using GC-MS equipped with a DB-35MS capillary standard non-polar column and gas chromatograph interfaced to a MassSelective Detector (MS-DSQ-II) with Xcalibur software.Results: The qualitative phytochemical analysis of this species exhibited the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, aminoacids, tannins, terpenoids, quinones, and coumarin. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 24 compounds in the ethanolic extract of aerial partof Sarcostemma brevistigma. The most prevailing compound was 14,17 bis(dimethylaminoamino)[3.3]paracyclophan-5,8-diacetonitrile (14.86%).Conclusion: The study concludes that the species Sarcostemma brevistigma is a potential source for bioactive compounds such as esters, alkanes,alcohols, alkenes, amide, amine, phenol, ketone, and so forth. This study justifies the traditional usage of this species.Keywords: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Sarcostemma brevistigma, Phytochemical compounds, Medicinal plants

UV-VISIBLE SPECTROSCOPIC AND FTIR ANALYSIS OF SARCOSTEMMA BREVISTIGMA, WIGHT. AND ARN

Objective:  The present study was carried out to characterize the bioactive constituents present in aerial parts of ethanolic extract of Sarcostemma brevistigma using UV-VIS and FTIR.Methods:  FTIR spectroscopy is an established timeâ€saving method to characterize and identify functional groups.Results:  The UV-VIS profile showed different peaks ranging from 200â€1044 nm with different absorption respectively. UV-VIS profile showed the peaks at 254.00 and 680.00 nm for flavonoid. FTIR spectra showed the peak at 3418.85 cm-1 for N-H group. FTIR analysis and UV-VIS analysis showed the presence of flavonoids and a phenolic compound. The FTIR spectra had amply evidenced the occurrence of OH group together with the Terpenoids, and Phenol. The FT-IR spectrum showed the presence of an amine (N-H), alkyl (C-H), nitrile (C≡N), halo formyl (C=O), alkenyl (C=C), hydroxyl (O-H), haloalkane (C-F), nitrates and carbonate compounds.Conclusion:  The results confirm the fact that this plant posse's important bioactive constituent, so further scientific investigation is needed

A profile of cases of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia at a tertiary care centre in South India

Background: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) comprises a spectrum of diseases ranging from molar pregnancy to malignant gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). GTN are highly chemo-sensitive tumours which are treated as per FIGO risk stratification. The rarity of the disease limits the evidence regarding the disease to case series and reports. The objective of this study was to study incidence, baseline characteristics of patients and clinical outcome of GTN patients treated at this centre.Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study based on medical records of patients of GTD who were registered in department of medical oncology, from January 2015 to December 2018 (4 years). GTN was diagnosed based on serum beta HCG values. Their baseline characteristics, risk score, serum β HCG levels, and treatment regimens were investigated. The incidence of GTD and response to treatment were analysed.Results: Out of 211 GTD patients, 56 developed GTN. The incidence was 3.4 per 10000 deliveries. Low risk cases (n=38) were treated with methotrexate and actinomycin in first line while high risk cases received EMACO and EP followed by EMACO as the first line. A cure rate of 100% for low risk cases and 94.4% (n=17) for high risk cases were recorded. Resistance to MTX was 32.3% while EMACO was resistant in 46.6% as first line. Neutropenia and alopecia were the most common treatment related adverse events. Predictors of resistance to single agent in low risk GTN include higher pre-treatment βHCG values and higher risk scores.Conclusions: GTN exemplifies a rare, highly aggressive but curable malignancy. Serum βHCG is the most reliable diagnostic as well as prognostic marker in management of GTD. EMACO is the preferred regimen for high risk GTN. FIGO staging and risk stratification help in individualizing the treatment to ensure maximum response to therapy thus making GTN a curable malignancy

Single tertiary care centre experience of ovarian granulosa cell tumour in Chennai, India: a retrospective analysis

Background: Granulosa cell tumours of ovary are rare sex-cord stromal tumours characterized by long natural history and favourable prognosis. The present study was done to evaluate the clinical presentation, treatment, outcome, and prognostic factors for patients diagnosed as granulosa cell tumours.Methods: A Retrospective study of Granulosa cell tumour of the ovary was done for a period of five years from January 2011 to December 2015 at a tertiary care centre, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Madras Medical College, Chennai. The clinical data and the treatment details were retrieved from the records of medical oncology department and the data were analysed.Results: Twenty five patients were diagnosed as granulose cell tumours of ovary during the study period. The median patient age was 48 years. The most common clinical presentation at diagnosis was vaginal bleeding (76%) followed by abdominal pain (40%). Mean tumor size was 9.6cm. The majority of patients were diagnosed in FIGO stage Ia (84%, n = 21). Thirteen patients (52%) underwent complete staging laparotomy. Twenty three patients (92%) had Adult Granulosa cell tumour. Two patients (8%)had juvenile Granulosa cell tumour. After surgery, all patients were put on observation except two patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (EP: Etoposide, Cisplatin). The median followup period was 48 months. Five patients (20%) had recurrence; The average time to relapse was 29.6 months. Patients who had tumour size more than 9.7cm had more recurrence events (Hazard Ratio(HR):1.058), but their association is not significant (P value-0.839). The association between menopausal status, torsion of tumour mass, tumour stage with recurrence rate were not significant. The estimated mean overall survival was 84.8 months. Following univariate Cox regression modeling, survival appeared to be independent of age range, post operative residual tumour and the FIGO stage.Conclusions: Granulosa cell tumours of ovary are rare, often diagnosed in early stage. Patients who had tumour size of more than 9.7cm had more recurrence events. A prolonged post therapeutic follow-up is necessary to pick up the late relapses

Roadmap on holography

From its inception holography has proven an extremely productive and attractive area of research. While specific technical applications give rise to 'hot topics', and three-dimensional (3D) visualisation comes in and out of fashion, the core principals involved continue to lead to exciting innovations in a wide range of areas. We humbly submit that it is impossible, in any journal document of this type, to fully reflect current and potential activity; however, our valiant contributors have produced a series of documents that go no small way to neatly capture progress across a wide range of core activities. As editors we have attempted to spread our net wide in order to illustrate the breadth of international activity. In relation to this we believe we have been at least partially successful.This work was supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Spain) under projects FIS2017-82919-R (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE) and FIS2015-66570-P (MINECO/FEDER), and by Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) under project PROMETEO II/2015/015

Spontaneous Formation of Fractal Aggregates of Au Nanoparticles in Epoxy-Siloxane Films and Their Application as Substrates for NIR Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

We present a facile, inexpensive route to free-standing, thermo-mechanically robust and flexible epoxy-siloxane substrates embedded with fractal aggregates of Au nanoparticles, and demonstrate their efficiency as substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) at NIR wavelengths. The metallodielectric films are prepared by generating Au nanoparticles through the in-situ reduction of gold (III) chloride trihydrate in epoxypropoxypropyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane (EDMS). The metal nanoparticles spontaneously aggregate into fractal structures in the colloid, which could then be drop-cast onto a substrate. Subsequent UV-initiated cationic polymerization of epoxide moieties in EDMS transforms the fluid colloid into a thin, free-standing film, which contains a dense distribution of fractal aggregates of Au nanoparticles. We used electron and optical microscopy as well as UV–Vis–NIR spectrometry to monitor the evolution of nanoparticles and to optically and structurally characterize the resulting films. Raman spectroscopy of the chromophore Eosin Y adsorbed onto the metallodielectric films showed that they are excellent SERS substrates at NIR excitation with an enhancement factor of ~9.3 × 103

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIULCEROGENIC ACTIVITY OF CAYRATIA PEDATA VAR. GLABRA AGAINST EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED GASTRIC LESIONS IN WISTAR STRAIN ALBINO RATS.

Objective: To quantify the phytochemical constituents, scavenging different free radicals and assess the antiulcer property of aerial plant extracts of Cayratia pedata var. glabra.Methods: Quantitative analysis was performed to confirm and quantify the presence of phenolics, tannin content and total flavonoids in the aerial plant extracts of the study plant. Reducing power assay, 2, 2- diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (ABTS), ABTS•+ and metal chelating activity were used in this study. To evaluate the anti-ulcerogenic activity of ethanolic extract of C. pedata var. glabra, against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats.Results: The results of quantification of phytoconstituents showed that the total phenolic and total flavonoid content were maximum in the ethanolic extract. The results of the antioxidant property of C. pedata var. glabra showed that all the extracts possess a different range of free radical scavenging activities, which is in dose-dependent manner. The ethanolic extract of the study plant produced gastroprotective effect in indomethacin-induced rats showed the decreased level of ulcer index, gastric volume, free acidity, total acidity, total protein and increased level of percentage of protection, and pH were calculated from the effective concentrations of plant sample (400 mg/kg) compared with Omeprazole (10 mg/kg).Conclusions: It is concluded that, the C. pedata var. glabra contains strong secondary metabolites; natural source of antioxidants and different extracts of this plant possesses good free radical scavenging activity. This present study indicates that ethanolic extract of C. pedata var. glabra has potential antiulcer activity in this tested model. In future, it can be used as a bioactive source of natural antioxidants and are potential natural resources for pharmacology of functional foods

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STANDARDISATION OF CAYRATIA PEDATA (LAM.) GAGNEP. VAR. GLABRA GAMBLE–AN ENDEMIC AND ENDANGERED MEDICINAL CLIMBER IN THIASHOLA, NILGIRIS

Objective: The main objective  was to develope  a detailed pharmacognostic profile of aerial plant parts of Cayratia pedata (Lam.) Gagnep. var. glabra Gamble (Vitaceae) an endemic and endangered medicinal taxon distributed in Thiashola, Manjoor, Nilgiris South Division, Western Ghats.Methods: All pharmacognostical and phytochemical  evaluation of Cayratia pedata var. glabra was carried out by different  evaluation methods  like macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical, minerals, vitamins, heavy metal analysis, phytochemical studies and GC/MS analysis.Results: The macroscopical investigation revealed that the stem is hirsute and grows upto a height of 12 m. The leaves are alternate, oblong and acuminate with smooth surface and texture (3 to 6 cm). Tendril, leaf opposed, branched, wiry and coiled. Flowers yellow and fruits bilobed. The anatomical study in tendril and old stem provides a set of characters specific for C. pedata var. glabra with which one can establish the identity of the plant in fragmentary form.The availability of macro and micro elements were studied in plant powder (ash). The macro elements, calcium (34.50 mg/100 g) and potassium (11.45 mg/100 g) were present in high amount likewise in microelements manganese (4.56 mg/100 g) was significantly higher. The fat soluble vitamin A - retinol (156.8 iu) was present in higher amount when compared to other vitamins. Results of heavy metal analysis revealed that the concentration of Lead was less than 1 ppm and chromium occurred in traces. The other heavy metals like mercury, cadmium and arsenic were totally absent.The percent yield was maximum in methanol extract (11%) followed by water extract (10%).The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols and tannins, steroids and sterols, triterpenoids and volatile oil. GC–MS analysis showed the presence of 15 compounds such as Heptadecane (17.36%), Silane, trichlorooctadecyl (17.29%), Eicosane (15.44%), Heptane, 2,2,3,3,5,6,6-heptamethyl (14.71%), n-Tetradecyltrichlorosilane (13.64%), Pentadecane (10.55%), Iron, tricarbonyl [N-(phenyl-2-pyridinylmethylene) benzenamine - N, N'] (10.91%) and Octadecane (8.93%) were the other major compounds present.Conclusion: The above parameters, which are being testimony for the first time, are momentous towards establishing the pharmacognostic profile for future identification and authentication of genuine plant material. This approach is important for this time since this species is listed in Red data book as per the IUCN red list categories and criteria due to their lower germination percentage and also due to its enriched medicinal value