EXPLORATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS OF THUNBERGIA COCCINEA, ITS PHARMACOGNOSTIC, ANTIOXIDANT, GCMS AND ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC STUDIES

Objective: An effort currently made to appraise the preliminary phytochemical, pharmacognostic criteria, antioxidant, GCMS and antihyperglycemic investigations of the Thunbergia coccinea leaves. Thunbergia coccinea (T. coccinea) is an ornamental plant considerably practiced by the tribes of forest areas of Assam (INDIA) as an analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antidote, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and detoxificant substance. Methods: A comprehensive literature survey was conducted to recognize the ethnomedicinal value of T. coccinea, which is currently grown practically in all provinces. The physicochemical constants like moisture content, ash values especially total ash, insoluble acid ash, water-soluble ash and foreign organic matter were determined for the assessment of the drug. Pharmacognostic parameters like fluorescence examination and microscopic characters of the leaf were studied that would serve to verify for contamination. The extract secured by maceration was subjected to the phytochemical inquiry to determine the existence of substances and their antioxidant activity. The antihyperglycemic characteristic of alcoholic extract of the leaf was examined with the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) studies of alcoholic extract of the plant leaf have undertaken to get an insight into the therapeutic properties of the molecules present based on online PASS prediction. Results: Various physicochemical, microscopic parameters studied gave a clear distinguishing and identifying features of T. coccinea leaf. Phytochemical screening gave an insight into the secondary metabolites existing in the plant leaf through picturizing its therapeutic properties against various ailments. Both extracts of T. coccinea leaf showed enhanced antioxidant activities. Nevertheless, the alcoholic leaf extract has shown significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 171.38±2.51 μg/ml and AQTC an IC50 value of 206.29±4.5 μg/ml respectively by DPPH method. Further, ACTC showed a better-reducing potential with an IC50 value of 105.74±0.61 μg/ml in comparison with AQTC IC50 value of 203.702±0.97 μg/ml by FRP method. The inhibition potentiality of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was found to be 71.66 % and 83.74 %, respectively at 500 µg/ml that rationally an adequate remedy in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. GCMS studies of the alcoholic extract unveiled the presence of different molecules like Glycerol, tris (trimethylsilyl) ether, 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, Undecanoic acid, Ethyl ester, Phytol in comparison with NIST library, thereby giving its predicted therapeutic properties like sugar phosphatase inhibitor, antifungal, phobic disorders treatment, antiviral and so on. Conclusion: The selected plant had many proven therapeutic traits and, possibly, successively united on to the sort of potential therapeutic plants. Besides, isolation and discoveries will lead to the detection of certain novel compounds, which will be of potential medicinal value

A study to evaluate the in-vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model using Swiss albino mice

Background: Herbs having ethnomedical uses is one of the best approaches in searching novel anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma induced liquid tumor model using Swiss Albino mice.Methods: Acute toxicity test was performed using Wistar albino rats before starting the in-vivo anticancer activity, were the MTD was more than 5000 mg/kg. Animals were divided into six groups of six animals each. 250mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of HI leaves, was administered orally for 9 days and Cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg, i.p., single dose). Various parameters like Change in body weight, Mean Survival Time, Percentage Increase in Life Span, Hematological & Biochemical parameters were assessed.Results: All the parameters were considerably restored towards the normal values. HIAL500mg/kg showed more significant results than 250 mg/kg. Hence 500mg/kg was taken for combination study with standard drug Cisplatin.Conclusions: On the basis of the above result it was suggested that, the in-vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves possess significant anticancer property with the dose dependent effect. This may probably due to the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids

CARDIO PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TAMARINDUS INDICA. LINN AGAINST ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cardioprotective activity of Tamarindus Indica. Linn in Isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced Myocardial Infarction in rats.Methods: In vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous fruit extract (AQFE), alcoholic fruit extract (ALFE), aqueous seed extract (AQSE) and alcoholic seed extract (ALSE) of TI was carried by well-established in vitro methods. The extracts were investigated for in vivo cardioprotective activity against IPRT induced myocardial infarction where the animals were treated with the extracts (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) for 30 d. Standard vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight) was used to compare the effect of the extracts. Change in body weight, ECG, heart weight, serum parameters, myocardial infarct area and enzyme estimation in heart homogenate were assessed.Results: ALSE, AQSE and ALFE showed potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 12.94±0.14, 252.49±0.47 and 647.39±1.15 μg/ml. ALSE 250 mg and 500 mg showed dose-dependent cardioprotective activity in cardiotoxic rats. IPRT treated animals showed a marked increase in serum marker enzymes, an increase in the percent infarction area increase in heart weight and a decrease in body weight along with the increase in endogenous enzyme levels were observed.Conclusion: The administered extracts significantly reversed the effects caused by IPRT. ALSE 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight showed maximum reversal while the other extracts AQSE, ALFE and AQFE were observed to have good antioxidant activity in vitro.Keywords: Isoproterenol, Tamarindus indica. Linn, Antioxidant, Myocardial infarction, Electrocardiography, Cardiac marker

Alleviation of alloxan-induced diabetes and its complications in rats by Actinodaphne hookeri leaf extract

Leaves of Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn (Family Lauraceae; local name: Pisa) has been in use traditionally for the treatment of diabetes and disorders of the urinary tract which are more common in Chattisgarh and eastern part of India. In the present study, leaves of A. hookeri were subjected to phytochemical investigation and evaluated for anti-diabetic activity. The ethanol and the chloroform extract were found to have significant (p<0.01) blood glucose lowering effect. The extracts also significantly (p<0.01) lowered the increased serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels. Preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids and glycosides as the major constituents in the ethanol extract. The chloroform extract also showed significant (p<0.01) antihyperglycemic activity and contained alkaloids and triterpenes. It is concluded that the antidiabetic activity of A. hookeri may be due to the presence of alkaloids and triterpenes, and might be promising for the development of phytomedicine for diabetes mellitus along with its associated complications

CHEMOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF NONI (MORINDA CITRIFOLIA L.) FRUIT JUICE AGAINST CISPLATIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY

Objective: Cisplatin (CIS) consumption has become a common problem that affects the health of patients around the globe. Kidney has been suspected to be particularly susceptible to the destructive effects of CIS and nephrotoxic effects are still contentious which in turn affects the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients and increase the mortality rate. This study was conducted to investigate the nephroprotective effect of Noni Juice (NJ) and Divine Noni Gold (DNG) as herbal medicine with established antioxidant properties against the controversial nephrotoxic effect of CIS in mice.Methods: Mice were divided into four groups, each group contained six mice. Group I was kept as normal, Group II received CIS (5.0 mg/kg b. wt. i. p.) on day one for 14 d. Group III and IV received NJ (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) and DNG (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) respectively once daily for 14 d, Group V received CIS (5.0 mg/kg b. wt. i. p.) on day one and NJ (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) once daily for 14 d. Similarly, Group VI received CIS (5.0 mg/kg b. wt. i. p.) on day one and DNG (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) once daily for 14 d. On day 15 blood from all the mice was collected from the carotid vein and cardiac puncture routes, and the biochemical markers viz. lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and urea were assessed. Kidney from all the animals was isolated, and catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiols and lipid peroxidase (LPO) were estimated.Results: CIS-induced marked kidney injury; congestion of tubules, glomerular distortion foci, thickened and blocked blood vessels. Also showed significant elevation of LDH, CPK, and urea with significant inhibition of CAT, GSH, SOD, thiols activities and simultaneously elevation of LPO level. Co-administration of NJ and DNG respectively with CIS protected kidney tissues via oxidative stress inhibition.Conclusion: NJ and DNG possess protective effect against CIS-induced cellular damage in the kidney by decreasing the level of serum biochemical markers, enhancing the level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and maintaining the LPO level. Results suggest that NJ and DNG have strong nephroprotective effect against CIS-induced nephrotoxicity

MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDY AND TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF WC-Co COATINGS ON STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCED BY HVOF SPRAY TECHNIQUE

ABSTRACT Tungsten Carbide (WC) coatings exhibit high wear resistance at low and high temperatures, WC -Cobalt coatings will demonstrate anti-resistive and wear characteristics better than those of conventional materials. Research in this area has shown that the service life of the WC-Co coatings depended on varying compositions of tungsten and cobalt. WC-Co coating is developed on the stainless steel AISI 304 by High Velocity Oxy-Fuel spray technique. The grain size of WC is varied in three ranges of 10-40µm, 15-63µm and 45-90µm. Microstructure, chemical composition, phases present in the coating on the steel substrate was studied by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction method. Microstructure shows uniform distribution of WC in the matrix. WC coatings exhibit increased in hardness and resistance to wear. The wear rate of tungsten carbide of sample C mesh size (45 to 90 µm) is less compare to two remaining two samples by considering different loads

Mechanistic Aspects of the Electrochemical Oxidation of Aliphatic Amines and Aniline Derivatives

The electrochemical oxidation of amines is an essential alternative to the conventional chemical transformation that provides critical routes for synthesising and modifying a wide range of chemically useful molecules, including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. As a result, the anodic reactivity of these compounds has been extensively researched over the past seven decades. However, the different mechanistic aspects of the electrochemical oxidation of amines have never been discussed from a comprehensive and general point of view. This review examines the oxidation mechanism of aliphatic amines, amides, aniline and aniline derivatives, carbamates, and lactams, either directly oxidised at different electrode surfaces or indirectly oxidised by a reversible redox molecule, in which the reactive form was generated in situ. The mechanisms are compared and simplified to understand all possible pathways for the oxidation of amines using only a few general mechanisms. Examples of the application of these oxidation reactions are also provided

Machinability study of Al-TiC metal matrix composite

Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites have emerged as an advanced class of structural materials have a combination of different, superior properties compared to an unreinforced matrix, which can result in a number of service benefits such as increased strength, higher elastic moduli, higher service temperature, low CTE, improved wear resistance, high toughness, etc. The excellent mechanical properties of these materials together with weight saving makes them very attractive for a variety of engineering applications in aerospace, automotive, electronic industries, etc. Hence, these materials provide as alternative substitutes for conventional engineering materials when specific mechanical properties necessary for required applications. In this work an attempt is made to study the machining parameters of Al6061/TiC MMC. The composite is developed by reinforcing TiC particles in varying proportions of 3, 6, 9 and 12 % weight fractions to the Al6061 matric alloy through stir casting technique. Cutting forces were measured by varying cutting speed and feed rate with constant depth of cut for different % weight fractions. The results showed that the cutting force increases with the increase of feed rate and decreases with the increase of cutting speed for all the weight fractions. Cutting parameters were optimized using Taguchi technique

K-12 SCIENCE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: CONTENT ENRICHMENT AND LESSON DESIGN, CLASSROOM IMPLICATIONS, AND ASSESSMENT

K-12 science education is on the “front burner” of U.S. federal education policy, and it has been for three generations. The evolution of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) underscores the perceived need for science education reform; however, the June, 2010 roll-out of the Common Core standards for K-12 mathematics and English language arts (ELA) has driven many states to use financial resources in addressing needs in those academic areas instead. Additionally, most state-mandated tests focus on mathematics and ELA while excluding or minimizing the importance of knowledge of science. Under the assumption that the NGSS will elevate science education to the level of importance as mathematics and ELA education, there will be a move to identify means for supporting science teacher reform; i.e. a quest for identifying, reinforcing, and disseminating “what works” in science education. In the crosshairs of this quest; developing and employing robust evaluation strategies focusing on identifying effective classroom activities, sound pedagogical approaches, and innovative assessment methods designed to measure students’ acquisition of knowledge and skills. Subsequent dissemination of “what works” will help science educators prepare for current and future reforms, including the Next Generation Science Standards

Machinability study of Al-TiC metal matrix composite

Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites have emerged as an advanced class of structural materials have a combination of different, superior properties compared to an unreinforced matrix, which can result in a number of service benefits such as increased strength, higher elastic moduli, higher service temperature, low CTE, improved wear resistance, high toughness, etc. The excellent mechanical properties of these materials together with weight saving makes them very attractive for a variety of engineering applications in aerospace, automotive, electronic industries, etc. Hence, these materials provide as alternative substitutes for conventional engineering materials when specific mechanical properties necessary for required applications. In this work an attempt is made to study the machining parameters of Al6061/TiC MMC. The composite is developed by reinforcing TiC particles in varying proportions of 3, 6, 9 and 12 % weight fractions to the Al6061 matric alloy through stir casting technique. Cutting forces were measured by varying cutting speed and feed rate with constant depth of cut for different % weight fractions. The results showed that the cutting force increases with the increase of feed rate and decreases with the increase of cutting speed for all the weight fractions. Cutting parameters were optimized using Taguchi technique