Evaluation of Some Medicinal Plants for their Antiseptic and Wound Healing Properties

In the present investigations an attempt has been made to study the antiseptic and wound healing properties of hydroalcoholic extract of Ocimum sanctum (HEOS) and Ocimum basilicum (HEOB). Studies were also directed towards the evaluation of in vitro antibacterial and antifungal and in vivo antifungal activity of HEOS and HEOB in non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice. Safety studies (repeated dose 28 day sub acute oral toxicity) of these extracts were also carried out in rats. The phytochemical studies of HEOS and HEOB reveal the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and flavonoids. Studies reveal 7.5 mg/g and 9.0mg/g of phenolic compounds, 2.5mg/g and 3.0mg/g of flavonoids in HEOS and HEOB, respectively. The quantitative analysis of phytoconstituents by high performance liquid chromatography revealed, 1.3 mg/g eugenol, 0.73mg/g rosmarinic acid, 0.4 mg/g rutin and 0.15mg/g quercetin in HEOS and 6.2 mg/g querectin, 1.2 mg/g rosmarinic acid, 0.9 mg/g rutin and 0.4 mg/g eugenol in HEOB. Nitric oxide scavenging test reveal an IC50 value of 340.1 for HEOB and 283.8 for HEOS. The in vitro antifungal studies reveal an MIC at 12.5μg/ml against C.albicans for both HEOS and HEOB. The effect of HEOS and HEOB on experimental systemic candidiasis in non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice was studied. The data reveal that the mortality rate is high in both vehicle treated, non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice. However, the mortality rate is lower in HEOS and HEOB treated groups. Dissemination of C.albicans in various organs reveals significant number of cfu in brain, heart, liver, lungs, kidney and intestine. Number of cfu reduce significantly in both non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice treated with HEOS and HEOB. Histopathology of intestine, liver and kidney also supports these findings. The investigations on experimentally induced candidiasis under gastrointestinal colonization reveal that mice that received antibiotics show a significant colonization. However, mice treated with HEOS and HEOB show a sustained decreased colonization at tested dose levels upon analysis of the number of cfu in fecal samples. The present findings demonstrate that a highly significant colonization by C.albicans on intestine, kidney, liver and lungs of both vehicle treated non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice. These reduce significantly in HEOS and HEOB treated mice. The histological examination of these organs also confirms the same. The results obtained in the investigations on oral candidiasis shows the protective effect of HEOS and HEOB in immunocompromised mice at tested dose levels. The histological examination of tongue and oral mucosal layer support these findings. Our findings on HEOS and HEOB against experimental induced candidiasis models suggest that HEOS has better anticandidal activity in all three models when compared to HEOB. The total phenolic compounds, eugenol and rosmarinic acid content in these plants may play an important role against systemic candidiasis, which was high in HEOS than HEOB. The findings suggest that HEOS may be potential candidate for the treatment of systemic candidiasis. Formulations of cream and gel were developed according to standard methods. Among the cream and gel, the cream shows better physical properties when compared to gel. The cream was therefore, tested against vaginal candidiasis, antimycotic and for would healing property. The effect of 2% and 4% creams on experimental vaginal candidiasis reveal increased fungal burden in vaginal secretions of vehicle treated in both non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice, whereas 2% and 4% cream significantly decreased the fungal burden in both conditions from day 3 onwards. Investigations on antimycotic activity reveal that both HEOS and HEOB creams exhibit antimycotic activity and they also markedly decrease erythema induced by C.albicans in guinea pigs at tested dose levels. The present studies on experimental vaginal candidiasis and antimycotic activity suggest that HEOB has a better efficacy against both these models when compared to HEOS. Further, a comparison of phytochemical reports among these plants suggests that flavonoids may play a major role against vaginal and superficial fungal infections. HEOB may, therefore, be potential candidate for the treatment of vaginal and superficial fungal infections than HEOS. The investigations on infectious wounds in excision and incision model reveal that both HEOS and HEOB (2% and 4% creams) have significant antiseptic and wound healing property in rats. The present findings also suggest that both HEOS and HEOB cause faster epithelization, and capillary proliferation with maximum degree of fibroblast deposition, and facilitate the migration of polymorphs, lymphocytes and macrophages over the infected wound area. The investigations of repeated dose 28 day oral toxicity demonstrate increased total leucocyte, platelet, red blood corpuscles count and haemoglobin percentage and increased ALAT levels at 800 mg/kg dose of both HEOS and HEOB. It suggests that both HEOS and HEOB have mild dose related toxicity on liver and haematological parameters. It may be concluded from the present investigations on HEOS and HEOB that both the plant extracts possess anticandidal activity against systemic, vaginal and superficial infections in non immunocompromised and immunocompromised conditions. The findings further suggest the anticandidal activity of both Ocimum sanctum and Ocimum basilicum, may be due to the following factors; • antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds and flavonoids of both plants may contribute to anticandidal activity, • nitric oxide mediated candidacidal pathway, • quercetin, rosmarinic acid, rutin, and eugenol are bioactive phytoprinciples responsible for anticandidal activity, • increased total leucocytes and lymphocytes develop cell mediated immunity, • induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF- α and IL-1α. In addition, both HEOS and HEOB possess antiseptic and wound healing property, due to multiple positive factors, such as, • faster epithelization, • increased collagen deposition, • neovasculization, • inhibition of lipid peroxidation levels and • antioxidant activity of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and bioactive phytoprinciples such as quercetin, rutin and rosmarinic acid. It is suggested, therefore, that both HEOS and HEOB are potential candidates for the treatment of septic wounds and for systemic, vaginal and superficial candidal infections. They may be used as complementary medicine in antifungal chemotherapy. Further clinical studies are required to establish this

Zircons in metacarbonate rocks from Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

第6回極域科学シンポジウム[OG] 地圏11月16日（月）　国立極地研究所３階セミナー

On the possible use of satellite fixed positions for Argo profiles in case of GPS failures

INCOIS had deployed iridium based PROVOR Bio-Argo floats obtained from NKE, France. These floats are fitted with GPS for obtaining accurate position of the Argo profiles. However there are cases where in the GPS fitted with the Argo floats tend to give wrong positions owing to unknown reasons. In this present work we discuss the possibilities of using the Iridium satellite fixed position in case of GPS failures. For this, analysis was done by comparing the GPS and satellite fixed profiles positions of good floats. These statistics can be used for using the satellite fixed position in case of GPS failures. For each comparison the satellite fixed position with least circular error probability (CEP) radius was chosen. The study suggested that on a average the satellite fixed positions tend to differ from the GPS fixed positions by 0.03 degrees. CEP radii are found to be consistent with the difference between satellite fixed position and GPS position. Based on this we suggest a quality flag of 2 for positions with CEP radius <=4 and flag 4 for any other positions

Apparent age of deposition of meta-carbonate rocks from Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第31回極域地学シンポジウム 11月17日（木） 国立極地研究所　2階大会議

Development of bioconjugated nano-molecules against targeted microbial pathogens for enhanced bactericidal activity

The study reports development of bio-conjugated nano-molecules (BCM's) for enhanced antibacterial activity against targeted pathogens of global concern. The conjugation was achieved with biomolecular interaction of silver clusters with 3-Dichloro-5, 6-dicyano-1, 4-benzoquinone (DDQ) which was purified and characterized with TLC which displayed prominent band at R-f 0.5 and HPLC analysis displayed chromatographic peak eluting at (t(R)) 6-8 min. The LC-MS analysis displayed single major peak at t(R) = 4.610 corresponding to molecular ion peak at m/z = 227.19. The developed BCM molecule was determined with UV-Visible spectroscopy which displayed the absorbance peaks of conjugated molecules with shoulder peak observed and morphological characteristics were well defined with TEM analysis which showed cluster formation. The size ranged from 20 to 80 nm in size with majority of the BCM displaying spherical in size. The process of bio-conjugation was further studied with FTIR analysis which corresponded with different vibrational stretches owing to the presence of amide, carbonyl alkynes, nitriles and carboxylic acid groups. The presence of functional moieties was also studied using H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra. The crystalline characteristics was confirmed with XRD analysis which displayed Bragg's intensities along with additional peaks occurring at 2 theta angle corresponds to (111), (200), (220), (311) face centric cube of silver planes. The antibacterial activity of BCM's was profound against all the test pathogen which was validated and compared with standard antibiotics. Among the test pathogens, highest activity was conferred against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 435) with 29 mm. The minimal inhibition concentration of BCM's was in the range of 0.97-3.12 mu g/ml. The results of MIC were in accordance with well diffusion assay indicating the Gram + ve test pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis to be the most sensitive. In addition, the broth dilution assay resulted in decrease in the optical density measured at 600 nm against the increase in the concentration of BCM's. The outcome of the present investigation revealed the role of bio-conjugation chemistry to increase fold activity against pathogens which can act as alternative tool to combat drug resistant menace across the globe

Comparison of chemically estimated depositional ages with zircon SHRIMP ages from metacarbonate rocks in the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月30日（金） 国立極地研究所 ３階ラウン

High-Performance Work Systems and Organizational Performance Across Societal Cultures

This paper assesses whether societal culture moderates the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational performance. Drawing on matched employer-employee data from 387 organizations and 7,187 employees in 14 countries, our findings show a positive relationship between HRM practices combined in High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) and organizational performance across societal cultures. Three dimensions of societal culture assessed (power distance, in-group collectivism, and institutional collectivism) did not moderate this relationship. Drawing on the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) model, we further consider the effectiveness of three bundles of HRM practices (skill-enhancing, motivation-enhancing, and opportunity-enhancing practices). This analysis shows opportunity-enhancing practices (e.g., participative work design and decision-making) are less effective in high-power-distance cultures. Nevertheless, in markedly different countries we find combinations of complementary HPWS and bundles of AMO practices appear to outweigh the influence of societal culture and enhance organizational performance

Chromosomal studies of three vulnerable marine fishes from west coast of India

Cytogenetic profiling was carried out in three vulnerable marine ornamental fishes, namely Thalassoma lunare, Zanclus cornutl~s and Arius subrostratus, using silver nitrate, chromoycin A3 CMA3 staining and C- banding techniques to study the variation in localization of NORs and C-bands. Karyotype analyses of these species revealed a diploid chromosome number of 48, all acrocentrics, in T. lunare and Z. cornutus. In A. subrostratus, however, the diploid chromosome number was found to be 58 consisting of 22 metacentric, 16 submetacentric, 10 subtelocentric and 10 telocentric chromosomes with fundamental arm number of 96. The silver stained NORs were observed on 3 pairs of chromosomes in T. lunare, whereas other two species possessed NOR on single pair of chromosome. Within the species, there was complete concordance in number and position of NORs as detected by AgN03 and CMA3 staining. Prominent constitutive heterochromatic bands were detected on 4, 2 and 3 pairs of chromosomes, respectively, in T. lunare, Z. cornutus and A. subrostratus. There was variation found in the number and position on NORs and C-bands among these species, which could be used as species-specific markers. This study describes for the first time the cytogenetic profiling in Z. cornutus and A. subrostratus

Cytogenetic studies of fish species Horabagrus nigricollaris, Puntius denisonii and Puntius sarana subnasutus endemic to the Western Ghats

Cytogenetic studies of fish species Horabagrus nigricollaris, Puntius denisonii and Puntius sarana subnasutus endemic to the Western Ghat