NATURAL PRODUCTS AS AN IMPORTANT LEADS FOR DISCOVERY OF NEW ANTITUBERCULAR AGENTS: A REVIEW

There is a very much need for a discovery of new molecules a potent molecule that can cure tuberculosis and prevent the recurrence. A multidisciplinary approach is required to procure a potent bioactive compound and this includes expertise in the fields of ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and Phytochemistry. The present communication acts as a bioprospecting source for the drug discovery against tuberculosis, including several anti tubercular agents which is used by used by tribal people and prescribed by THPS which showed a good inhibition rate. Therefore, this review strives to describe the literature on the traditional plants/potent molecules those have been proved to have antimicrobial activity and to provide essential discussion and accelerate the research.Â

Studies of In vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Extracts and Isolated Compounds from Parinari curatellifolia (Chrysobalanaceae)

Parinari curatellifolia (family: chrysobalanaceae) is a plant used in Nigerian folk medicine for treatment of cancer and other diseases. In our search for pharmacologically active compounds, we have isolated and characterized compounds through column chromatography and spectroscopic techniques (MS, NMR and IR). We have evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity of the different extracts and the pure compounds using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical model. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the extracts and the pure compounds using the sodium 3’-[1-(phenylamino-carbonyl) -3,4-tetrazolium]-bis-[4-methoxy-6-nitro] benzene sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) colorimetric method on cervical cancer (HeLa) cell line have also been assessed. The extracts and pure compounds have displayed moderate to excellent antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.  The biological results suggest that these compounds may be suitable candidates for further drug development and investigation. The results obtained have provided a promising scientific basis for the use of P. curatellifolia in traditional medicine for treatment of cancer. Keywords: Parinari curatellifolia, Cytotoxicity, HeLa Cell line, Antioxidant, DPPH Free Radica

Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced MRI for Detection of Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer: A Surgeon’s Perspective!

Colorectal cancer affects over one million people worldwide annually, with the liver being the most common site of metastatic spread. Adequate resection of hepatic metastases is the only chance for a cure in a subset of patients, and five-year survival increases to 35% with complete resection. Traditionally, computed tomographic imaging (CT) was utilized for staging and to evaluate metastases in the liver. Recently, the introduction of hepatobiliary contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents including gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Eovist in the United States, Primovist in Europe, or Gd-EOB-DTPA) has proved to be a sensitive method for detection of hepatic metastases. Accurate detection of liver metastases is critical for staging of colorectal cancer as well as preoperative planning

Hazard Assessment from Storm Tides and Rainfall on a Tidal River Estuary

Here, we report on methods and results for a model-based flood hazard assessment we have conducted for the Hudson River from New York City to Troy/Albany at the head of tide. Our recent work showed that neglecting freshwater flows leads to underestimation of peak water levels at up-river sites and neglecting stratification (typical with two-dimensional modeling) leads to underestimation all along the Hudson. As a result, we use a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model and merge streamflows and storm tides from tropical and extratropical cyclones (TCs, ETCs), as well as wet extratropical cyclone (WETC) floods (e.g. freshets, rain-on-snow events). We validate the modeled flood levels and quantify error with comparisons to 76 historical events. A Bayesian statistical method is developed for tropical cyclone streamflows using historical data and consisting in the evaluation of (1) the peak discharge and its pdf as a function of TC characteristics, and (2) the temporal trend of the hydrograph as a function of temporal evolution of the cyclone track, its intensity and the response characteristics of the specific basin. A k-nearest-neighbors method is employed to determine the hydrograph shape. Out of sample validation tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Thus, the combined effects of storm surge and runoff produced by tropical cyclones hitting the New York area can be included in flood hazard assessment. Results for the upper Hudson (Albany) suggest a dominance of WETCs, for the lower Hudson (at New York Harbor) a case where ETCs are dominant for shorter return periods and TCs are more important for longer return periods (over 150 years), and for the middle-Hudson (Poughkeepsie) a mix of all three flood events types is important. However, a possible low-bias for TC flood levels is inferred from a lower importance in the assessment results, versus historical event top-20 lists, and this will be further evaluated as these preliminary methods and results are finalized. Future funded work will quantify the influences of sea level rise and flood adaptation plans (e.g. surge barriers). It would also be valuable to examine how streamflows from tropical cyclones and wet cool-season storms will change, as this factor will dominate at upriver locations

Mupirocin promotes wound healing by stimulating growth factor production and proliferation of human keratinocytes

Mupirocin has been reported for its role in the treatment of infected wounds through its antibacterial activity, however the role of mupirocin in promoting wound healing via alternative mechanisms has not been extensively evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effect of mupirocin to promote wound healing, not only through its antibacterial activity but by increasing human keratinocyte proliferation and growth factor production. In the scratch assay, using human keratinocytes (HaCat), mupirocin (at 0.1 and 0.2 mM) significantly increased wound closure compared to the vehicle control. Cell viability, measured from the scratch assay, verified the increase in wound closure, where mupirocin at both concentrations showed higher cell viability compared to the vehicle control. In addition, mupirocin at 0.1 mM significantly stimulated the production of hepatocyte growth factor and M-CSF in HaCat cells, whereas at 0.2 mM, PDGF-AA and EPO were increased. The findings of this study suggest that mupirocin, which is commonly used as an antibacterial agent for the treatment of wounds, also facilitates the wound healing process by stimulating the proliferation of human keratinocytes and enhancing the production of several growth factors involved in wound healing. This is the first report on the effect of mupirocin on growth factors expressed by human keratinocytes as well as the stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation.The National Research Foundation and Department of Science Innovation South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI).https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacologydm2022BiochemistryGeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyPlant Production and Soil Scienc

Season-ahead forecasting of water storage and irrigation requirements – an application to the southwest monsoon in India

Water risk management is a ubiquitous challenge faced by stakeholders in the water or agricultural sector. We present a methodological framework for forecasting water storage requirements and present an application of this methodology to risk assessment in India. The application focused on forecasting crop water stress for potatoes grown during the monsoon season in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Pre-season large-scale climate predictors used to forecast water stress were selected based on an exhaustive search method that evaluates for highest ranked probability skill score and lowest root-mean-squared error in a leave-one-out cross-validation mode. Adaptive forecasts were made in the years 2001 to 2013 using the identified predictors and a non-parametric k-nearest neighbors approach. The accuracy of the adaptive forecasts (2001–2013) was judged based on directional concordance and contingency metrics such as hit/miss rate and false alarms. Based on these criteria, our forecasts were correct 9 out of 13 times, with two misses and two false alarms. The results of these drought forecasts were compared with precipitation forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). We assert that it is necessary to couple informative water stress indices with an effective forecasting methodology to maximize the utility of such indices, thereby optimizing water management decisions.</p

TRESK is a key regulator of nocturnal suprachiasmatic nucleus dynamics and light adaptive responses

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a complex structure dependent upon multiple mechanisms to ensure rhythmic electrical activity that varies between day and night, to determine circadian adaptation and behaviours. SCN neurons are exposed to glutamate from multiple sources including from the retino-hypothalamic tract and from astrocytes. However, the mechanism preventing inappropriate post-synaptic glutamatergic effects is unexplored and unknown. Unexpectedly we discovered that TRESK, a calcium regulated two-pore potassium channel, plays a crucial role in this system. We propose that glutamate activates TRESK through NMDA and AMPA mediated calcium influx and calcineurin activation to then oppose further membrane depolarisation and rising intracellular calcium. Hence, in the absence of TRESK, glutamatergic activity is unregulated leading to membrane depolarisation, increased nocturnal SCN firing, inverted basal calcium levels and impaired sensitivity in light induced phase delays. Our data reveals TRESK plays an essential part in SCN regulatory mechanisms and light induced adaptive behaviours

The PANChSHEEEL Formative report: An integrated health, education, engineering and environmental (HEEE) intervention to optimise infant feeding practices through schools and Anganwadi networks in India

The Participatory Approach for Nutrition in Children: Strengthening Health Education Engineering and Environment Linkages (PANChSHEEEL) project was an interdisciplinary study, designed to explore HEEE (Health, Education, Engineering and Environment) factors that influence Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices and nutrition in India. The study aimed to develop a socio-culturally appropriate, tailored, innovative and integrated cross-sector HEEE intervention package to address malnutrition by supporting optimal Infant and Young Child feeding (IYCF) practices for children in rural India focussing primarily on the period of 6-24 months. The project established an international collaboration between University College London (UCL), Save the Children, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi in order to develop an effective intervention at a key stage of an infant’s cognitive and physical development. A multi-stakeholder panel was developed, with members of the local village community, health workers, school teachers, Angadwadi workers (midwives), community researchers and local community champions becoming key actors for bringing about meaningful change. This holistic, multi-sector and bottom-up approach facilitated a more organic intervention to address “what” and “how” infants were being fed. This report focuses on the methodology and findings of the project

Editorial: Pharmacology of Plant Polyphenols in Human Health and Diseases

Polyphenols are one of the most abundant classes of secondary metabolites in plants and particularly relevant in leafy vegetables, fruits, berries, tea, and other beverages, with a wide range of health-promoting activities reported. They are also among the most widely studied natural products regarding their biosynthesis, chemical properties, and pharmacological activities. Different polyphenols such as anthocyanins, coumarins, carotenoids, flavonoids, and xanthones have been reported to be promising anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective agents (Ganesan and Xu, 2017; Khan et al., 2019). In recent years, there is a growing number of papers that deal with the isolation, characterization, and bioactivity evaluation of polyphenols. However, many published results are mostly based on in vitro evidence. At the same time, there is less focus on the bioavailability, study of detailedmechanisms of action using animal models, and possible toxicities. There have also been concerns about the specificity of the compounds’ effects and the dose levels needed to achieve such outcomes. Althoughmany polyphenols show potent bioactivity during testing with in vitro evaluation systems, there are various challenges at an in vivo level. The in vitro results often cannot be translated to similar effects in animal models and clinical studies (Hu, 2007).https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacologyam2023Plant Production and Soil Scienc