Elucidation of membrane stabilizing Potentials of Methanolic Extract of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) Linn (seed)

Different concentration of methanolic extracts of seeds of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) Linn collected from the local area of Noakhali, Bangladesh were studied for membrane Stabilizing Assay. V.unguiculata Linn seeds were initially collected, processed and extracted with methanol. Then, five different concentration (1mg/ml, 3mg/ml, 5mg/ml, 7mg/ml, 9mg/ml) of methanolic extract of Cowpea (V.unguiculata) were subjected for determination of membrane stabilizing activity. In the assay for membrane stabilizing activity, five different concentration of crude methanol extract capable to inhibit hemolysis of erythrocyte membrane dose dependently in hypotonic solution and heat- induced conditions, which indicates the anti-inflammatory property of the samples. Where, Acetyl salicylic acid was used as standard drug. From the above discussion it is clear that Vigna unguiculata Linn seeds methanolic extract showed significant anti-inflammatory potentials. So, it will be very much possible source for isolating lead compound for curing inflammatory disorder

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Smoking under hypoxic conditions: a potent environmental risk factor for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

Abstract Autoimmune disease management presents a significant challenge to medical science. Environmental factors potentially increase the risk of developing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Among various environmental stresses, cigarette smoke and hypoxia have both been reported to lead to an enhanced risk of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we shed light on all reported mechanisms whereby cigarette smoke and a hypoxic environment can induce inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and discuss how hypoxic conditions influence the cigarette smoke-induced threat of inflammatory and autoimmune disease development. Cigarette smoke and hypoxia both lead to increased oxidative stress and production of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals, which have various effects including the generation of autoreactive pro-inflammatory T cells and autoantibodies, reductions in T regulatory (Treg) cell activity, and enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory mediators [e.g., interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)]. Accordingly, smoking and hypoxic environments may synergistically act as potent environmental risk factors for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. To our knowledge, no studies have reported the direct association of cigarette smoke and hypoxic environments with the risk of developing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Future studies exploring the risk of autoimmune disease development in smokers at high altitudes, particularly military personnel and mountaineers who are not acclimatized to high-altitude regions, are required to obtain a better understanding of disease risk as well as its management

Antiobesity and Lipid Lowering Activitiy of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. Seed in High Fat Diet Induced Obese Mice

Seed of Vigna unguiculata is commonly used as culinary in Bangladesh and many parts of the world. Besides this, seed of V. unguiculata possesses some medicinal values like being an antioxidant etc. In this study, seeds of V. unguiculata were used to determine the link between its total phenolic content and lipid lowering activity. Phytochemicals presents in the seeds were evaluated. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by using folin-ciocalteu method. High fat diet induced obese mice were used for anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic test. Body weight gain, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were analyzed. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that amino acid, phenol, alkaloid and terpenes were very strongly present in cowpea seed, while carbohydrate, cardiac glycoside, was moderately present. The V. unguiculata seeds showed significant total phenolic content with a value of 119.716mg of GAE/gm equivalent. Cowpea seeds, with a dose of 400mg/kg body-weight, showed significant reduction in body weight gain when treated with fat diet compared with normal diet. Cowpea seeds are also capable of lowering the serum cholesterol (p < 0.01) and serum triglyceride level (p < 0.01) more significantly in high fat diet induced obesity. V. unguiculata seeds have a significantly high total phenolic content while the other phytochemicals are moderately present in them. It has anti-obesity activity that can interfere with serum cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. So, it seems like a healthy diet for the management of obesity and other heart related disease

An in vivo study regarding analgesic and anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Typha elephantina Roxb

Abstract Background Typha elephantina Roxb. is a widely scattered grass like medicinal plant in Bangladesh and thus demands biological investigations to discover its therapeutic potentiality. The aim of our present study was to assess analgesic and anxiolytic properties of methanolic extract of Typha elephantina Roxb. Methods For evaluating analgesic activity, the methanolic extract was subjected to intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered acetic acid-induced writhing test & subcutaneously administered (s.c.) formalin-induced hind paw licking test in Swiss-albino mice. The anxiolytic activity was conducted by using elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole board models. Results For both methods of analgesic test experimental plant extract was found to have significant (p < 0.001) analgesia at the dose of 200 mg/kg & 400 mg/kg body weight in mice when compared to control, where acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg body weight) was used as standard drug. The percentages of inhibition found in case of acetic acid-induced writhing test were 26.27%, 50.45% and 20.29% respectively for acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg), 200 mg/kg extract dose and 400 mg/kg extract dose. On the other hand, during formalin-induced hind paw licking test, the percentages of inhibition also increased when the extract dose increases from 200 mg/kg to 400 mg/kg by 53.95% to 61.79% at early phase and 71.62% to 78.8% at late phase respectively while acetyl salicylic acid (100 mg/kg), responsible for 25.58% and 38.74% of inhibition at both phase sequentially. Again, the crude extract significantly (p < 0.01; p < 0.001) raised the time spent in the open arm (149.2 ± 27.63** sec) & the number of head-dips (50.00 ± 4.66***) at the dose 400 mg/kg body weight in case anxiolytic test, while reference drug diazepam (1 mg/kg body weight) also exhibited significant (p < 0.01) result in case of time spent in open arm (107.0 ± 12** sec) but not for head dipping (14.83 ± 1.6). Conclusion Findings of the present study assure that Typha elephantina Roxb. may be effective for the treatment of pain and anxiety with the demands of further investigations to isolate the active compound(s)

Evaluation of psychopharmacological and neurosafety profile of Swas Kas Chintamani Ras (SKC) in Swiss-Webster mice

Objectives: Swas Kas Chintamani Ras (SKC) is an ayurvedic preparation indicated for respiratory diseases. Our study was aimed to determine the psychopharmacological and neurosafety profile of SKC. Materials and Methods: Psychopharmacological effects and neurosafety profile of this drug were determined by nine complementary test methods namely, open field, locomotor activity, hole cross, hole board test, elevated plus maze, staircase, forced swimming test, and rotarod test. Male mice (Swiss-Webster strain, 20-40 g body weight) bred in the Animal House of the Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, were used for the pharmacological experiments. Results: The drug decreased total ambulation and movement in the central region and standing up behavior and lowered emotional defecation. The drug also made the mice to take a shorter time to come out of the cage. Also, animals spent less time in open arm and the movement in the closed arm and locomotors reduced (p=0.003), where a number of rearing (p=0.04) behaviour indicating possible anxiolytic activity.  Also, no signs of anti-depressant activity were observed among SKC-treated group. Conclusion: We concluded that our drug showed no neurotoxic effect and it also showed some beneficial neuropharmacological properties

Characterization of phytoconstituents and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of silver-extract nanoparticles synthesized from Momordica charantia fruit extract

Abstract Background Our present study was conducted to characterize the phytoconstituents present in the aqueous extract of Momordica charantia and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of silver-extract nanoparticles (Ag-Extract-NPs). Methods Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by reducing AgNO3; and NaBH4 served as reducing agent. After screening of phytochemicals; AgNPs and aqueous extract were mixed thoroughly and then coated by polyaniline. These NPs were characterized by using Visual inspection, UV spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM and TEM techniques. Antimicrobial activities were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results Aqueous extract of M. charantia fruits contain alkaloid, phenol, saponin etc. UV–Vis spectrum showed strong absorption peak around 408 nm. The presence of –CH, −NH, −COOH etc. stretching in FTIR spectrum of Ag-Extract-NPs endorsed that AgNPs were successfully capped by bio-compounds. SEM and TEM result revealed that synthesized NPs had particle size 78.5–220 nm. Ag-Extract-NPs showed 34.6 ± 0.8 mm zone of inhibition against E. coli compared to 25.6 ± 0.5 mm for ciprofloxacin. Maximum zone of inhibition for Ag-Extract-NPs were 24.8 ± 0.7 mm, 26.4 ± 0.4 mm, 7.4 ± 0.4 mm for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi. We found that Ag-Extract-NPs have much better antibacterial efficacy than AgNPs and M. charantia extract has individually. It is also noticed that gram negative bacteria (except S. typhi) are more susceptible to Ag-Extract-NPs than gram positive bacteria. Conclusion Ag-Extract-NPs showed strong antibacterial activity. In order to make a reliable stand for mankind, further study is needed to consider determining the actual biochemical pathway by which AgNPs-extracts exert their antimicrobial effect