ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF GARCINIA MORELLA CHLOROFORM FRACTION AND ITS ACTIVE COMPOUND GARCINOL ON NEUROBLASTOMA

Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anticancer activity of G. morella fruit chloroform fraction and its isolated bioactive molecule garcinol on neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). Method: Methanol extraction was performed for the G. morella fruits through cold maceration and further fractionated with chloroform. The presence of Garcinol was confirmed by measuring the melting point. Further, the bioactive chloroform fraction and pure Garcinol was tested for anticancer activity against SH-SY5Y cells through MTT assay. Result: The present study reveals the anticancer ability of bioactive chloroform fraction of G. morella fruit and its active molecule garcinol. Conclusion: G. morella fruit and its bioactive compound Garcinol have significant activity against neuroblastoma. This study opens an avenue to further elucidate the mechanism of action and development of alternative treatment of this dreaded disease.Â

Device uncertainty propagation in low-ductility RC frames retrofitted with BRBs for seismic risk mitigation

Passive control systems, such as buckling-restrained braces (BRBs), have emerged as efficient tools for seismic response control of new and existing structures by imparting strength and stiffness to buildings, while providing additional high and stable energy dissipation capacity. Systems equipped with BRBs have been widely investigated in literature; however, only a deterministic description of the BRBs’ properties is typically considered. These properties are provided by the manufacturer and are successively validated by qualification control tests according to code-based tolerance limits. Therefore, the device properties introduced within the structure could differ from their nominal design estimates, potentially leading to an undesired seismic performance. This study proposes a probabilistic assessment framework to evaluate the influence of BRBs’ uncertainty on the seismic response of a retrofitted RC frame. For the case study, a benchmark three-story RC moment-resisting frame is considered where BRBs’ uncertainty is defined compatible to the standardized tolerance limits of devices’ quality control tests. This uncertainty is implemented through a two-level factorial design strategy and Latin hypercube sampling technique. Cloud analysis and probabilistic seismic demand models are used to develop fragility functions for the bare and retrofitted frame for four damage states while also accounting for the uncertainty in the property of BRBs. Risk estimates are successively evaluated for three case study regions. The results show that, for the considered case study structure, these uncertainties could lead to an increase of fragility up to 21% and a variation in seismic risk estimates up to 56%

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antifungal Activities of Polyphenol-rich Extracts of Dried Pulp of Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. and Garcinia morella Gaertn. (Clusiaceae)

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant and antifungal activities of polyphenol-rich extracts of the dried fruit pulp of Garcinia pedunculata (GP) and Garcinia morella (GM) to determine their traditional claims of therapeutic activity against certain diseases.Methods: Analysis of total phenolic (TP) and flavonoid (TF) contents of the extracts were performed by Folin-Ciocalteau and Arvouet-Grand methods. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and in vitro lipid peroxidation (LPO). Antifungal activity was evaluated by agar-well diffusion method while mineral content was evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS).Results: Significant amounts of TP (5.87 ± 0.06 and 5.46 ± 0.02 mg catechin eqivalents/g) and TF (5.61 ± 0.16 and 3.69 ± 0.04 mg quercetin equivalents/g) were found in the cold water (CW) extracts of GP and GM, respectively, along with DPPH free radical scavenging activity (50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 3.53 ± 0.04 and 1 ± 0.03μg/mL) and H2O2-radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 1.4 ± 0.02 and 1.44 ± 0.01 μg/mL). Results indicated that the CW extracts of GP and GM were potent reducing agent than the HW extracts. CW extract of both species prevented in vitro LPO (IC50= 42 ± 0.01 and 30.36 ± 0.03 μg/mL) significantly. The antifungal activity of GP and GM extracts against some human dermatophytes was high. High concentrations of K and Fe were found in the extracts.Conclusion: GP and GM extracts have great potential as a source for useful antioxidant and antifungal agents.Keywords: Antioxidant, Phenolic, Flavonoid, Lipid peroxidation, Antifungal, Dermatophyte

Chemical Composition of the Stem Oil of Aristolochia indica L.

Essential oil from dry matured stem of Aristolochia indica Linn. family Aristolochiaceae was investigated by GC and GC/MS. A total of 15 compounds were identified, representing 91.2% of the total oil. The major constituents of oil were trans-pinocarveol (24.2%), a-pinene (16.4%) and pinocarvone (14.2%)

Dietary use and conservation concern of edible wetland plants at indo-burma hotspot: a case study from northeast India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wetlands of the North East India fall among the global hotspots of biodiversity. However, they have received very little attention with relation to their intrinsic values to human kind; therefore their conservation is hardly addressed. These wetlands are critical for the sustenance of the tribal communities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Field research was conducted during 2003 to 2006 in seven major wetlands of four districts of Manipur state, Northeast India (viz. Imphal-East, Imphal-West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur). A total of 224 wetland-plant-collectors were interviewed for the use and economics of species using semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Imphal, Bishenpur and Thoubal markets were investigated in detail for influx and consumption pattern of these plants. The collectors were also inquired for medicinal use of wetland species. Nutritive values of 21 species were analyzed in laboratory. The vouchers were collected for all the species and deposited in the CSIR-NEIST (<it>Formerly Regional Research Laboratory</it>), Substation, Lamphelpat, Imphal, Manipur, India.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We recorded 51 edible wetland species used by indigenous people for food and medicinal purposes. Thirty eight species had high medicinal values and used in the traditional system to treat over 22 diseases. At least 27 species were traded in three markets studied (i.e. Imphal, Thoubal and Bishenpur), involving an annual turnover of 113 tons of wetland edible plants and a gross revenue of Rs. 907, 770/- (US$1 = Rs. 45/-). The Imphal market alone supplies 60% of the total business. Eighty per cent of the above mentioned species are very often used by the community. The community has a general opinion that the availability of 45% species has depleted in recent times, 15 species need consideration for conservation while another 7 species deserved immediate protection measures. The nutrient analysis showed that these species contribute to the dietary balance of tribal communities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Considering the importance of wild wetland plants in local sustenance, it is suggested to protect their habitats, develop domestication protocols of selected species, and build programs for the long-term management of wetland areas by involving local people. Some medicinal plants may also be used to develop into modern medicines.</p

A REVIEW ON ANTI-DIABETIC POTENTIAL OF GENUS SOLANUM (SOLANACEAE)

The Solanum genus (Solanaceae family) comprised of one thousand five hundred species and most of the members of the genus are widely used as food and traditional medicine. Diabetes mellitus is a common and serious metabolic disorder throughout the world. Traditionally used medicinal plants play an important role as alternative medicine due to less toxic effects and cost. The aim of this review is to report anti-diabetic potential of plants of Solanum genus on the basis of the secondary data published. This will help in identifying the state of anti-diabetic knowledge in regards to this genus and to propose future research priorities. The major scientific database including Science direct, SciFinder and Google scholar were searched for information on Solanum genus using various keyword combinations. A total of eight Solanum species were reported in literature to have anti-diabetic property. Some of the plant species reported to modify different complications of diabetes like hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress in diseased animals. On the basis of anti-diabetic and other related activities, plants of Solanumgenus are the most promising plant species to develop as efficacious and safer medicines for diabetes and its complications. Considering the present status of this disease and potential of Solanumgenus, there ismuch scope of studying this genus thoroughly, which may resultin development of affordable, efficacious and safer remedies against the silent killer disease. Key words: Solanum genus, anti-diabetic activity, hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, methyl caffeate.Â

An overview of the unexplored underutilized fruit crops of Assam, India

Assam is the largest state of North-East India. This state is considered as one of the most extravagant biodiversity hotspots of the world because of its different geography, atmosphere and agro-environmental conditions. Various plant species that incorporate natural products have their starting point in this locale. A considerable number of these are yet to be developed in wild or semi-wild states. Regardless of the huge hereditary decent variety of these natural products, just a couple have been grown as business crops for their monetary, social and strict significance. Some of the explored fruit crops of Assam that have many potentials of being used not only in culinary purpose but also in much Ayurvedic medicine which is still underutilized Some of the underutilized fruit (UUF) crops of Assam are Kordoi/Carambola (Averrhoa Carambola), Leteku/Burmese grape (Baccurea sapida), Amra/Hog plum (Spondius mangifera), Jalphai/Olive (Olea europaea), Bael/Stone apple (Aegle marmelos), Imli/Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Jamun/Wild Jamun (Sygium cuminii), Thekera/Garcinia spp., Poniol/Govorners plum (Falcourita jangomas), Outenga/Elephant fruit (Delinia indica ) and Amlokhi/ Indian Goose berry (Phyllanthus emblica) etc. Fruits have multipurpose utilisations and consequently assume critical job, particularly, for the prosperity of country individuals by giving sustenance, family pay and business. Huge numbers of these natural fruits have been utilised as customary restorative plants and some have discovered a significant spot in the Indian arrangement of Ayurvedic medicine and Unani since days of yore. Regardless of their latent capacity, these indigenous fruit crops are less known both at scientific and farmers level particularly in our region and some of them like wild jackfruit (Artocarpus hirsutus), Rattan (Calamus rotang) , Naga tenga (Myrica esculenta) etc. which are nearer to extinction