Synthesis, spectral characterisation and antimicrobial properties of Cu(II) and Fe(II) complexes with xanthone / Rabuyah Ni, Mohammad Isa Mohamadin and Vivien Yi Mian Jong

The new complexes [CuL2(H2O)2] and [FeL2(CH3O)2] in which L = β-mangostin were synthesised and characterised. The structure of the ligand, β-mangostin was confirmed using NMR and the purity of ligand was determined using HPLC. Both Cu(II) and Fe(II) complexes were prepared by reaction between the ligand and the acetate of the metals in one-step reaction. The synthesised compounds have been characterised using UV-Visible, FTIR and CHNS analyser. Ligand and metal complexes were tested against bacteria to assess on their antimicrobial properties using Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) method. The elemental analysis and spectra data suggested octahedral geometry for both Cu(II) and Fe(II) complexes. The IR spectroscopy revealed that the chelation of Cu2+ and Fe2+ ion occurred with hydroxyl and carbonyl group at C9 and C1 respectively of β-mangostin. Both Cu(II) and Fe(II) complexes showed stronger inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella pneumonia at concentration 900 mg/mL and Escherichia coli at 450 mg/mL compared to the ligand itself

MDAB programme is a waste of money? / Nor Hazizah Julaihi … [et al.]

The MDAB programme is a remedial course introduced by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in June 2010. The main objective of the programme is to give an opportunity to Bumiputera students having under qualified entry results and coming from low income families to further their tertiary studies in UiTM. The students entering this programme are fully sponsored and to date about 22000 students have undergone this programme and about RM20 million has been spent just for the students’ allowance. Thus, this research was embarked to investigate the overall performance of the students in this programme in order to justify that the money invested was indeed well spent and also such remedial courses have helped the students. The performance of all MDAB students for the last nine semesters as well as the performance of a particular MDAB programme namely Pre-Science at UiTM Sarawak are reported in this paper. The results showed that 83.43% of the overall MDAB students managed to complete the courses and continued their studies at diploma level. However, only 70.94% of Pre-Science students in UiTM Sarawak managed to complete their courses. In general, the overall performance showed that the programme has indeed succeeded in helping the students to further their studies at a higher level

Bioadsorption of multiple heavy metal ions by Rhizophora Apiculate sp. and Elaesis Guineensis sp. / M.B. Nicodemus Ujih …[et al.]

Heavy metal ions contamination has become more serious which is caused by the releasing of toxic water from industrial area and landfill that are very harmful to all living organism especially human and can even cause death if contaminated in small amount of heavy metal concentration. Currently, peoples are using classic method namely electrochemical treatment, chemical oxidation/reduction, chemical precipitation and reverse osmosis to eliminate the metal ions from toxic water. Unfortunately, these methods are costly and not environmentally friendly as compared to bioadsorption method, where agricultural waste is used as biosorbent to remove heavy metals. Two types of agricultural waste used in this research namely oil palm mesocarp fiber (Elaesis guineensis sp.) (OPMF) and mangrove bark (Rhizophora apiculate sp.) (MB) biomass. Through chemical treatment, the removal efficiency was found to improve. The removal efficiency is examined based on four specification namely dosage, of biosorbent to adsorb four types of metals ion explicitly nickel, lead, copper, and chromium. The research has found that the removal efficiency of MB was lower than OPMF; whereas, the multiple metals ions removal efficiency decreased in the order of Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Ni2+ > Cr2+

Association between blood lead levels and environmental exposure among Saudi schoolchildren in certain districts of Al-Madinah

Mohammed Adnan Zolaly1, Manal Ibrahim Hanafi2,3, Nashaat Shawky4, Khalid el-Harbi1, Ahmed M Mohamadin5,61Pediatric Department, 2Family and Community Medicine Department, Medical College, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia; 3Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 4Ophthalmology Department, Medical College, 5Chemistry for Health Sciences Department, Deanery of Academic Services, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia; 6Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptIntroduction: Both occupational and environmental exposures to lead remain a serious problem in many developing and industrializing countries. When humans are exposed to high levels of lead, there is damage to almost all organs and organ systems (most importantly, the central nervous system, kidneys, and blood), which often culminates in death.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of blood lead levels (BLLs) and to identify the sources of environmental exposure and potential risk factors for elevated BLLs among Saudi schoolchildren.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to May 2010. The study population included 557 Saudi school students of both sexes. A multistage random sampling technique was used. Information about socioeconomic status, house and school construction, and parents' education and employment was collected using questionnaires. Lead was analyzed in a blood sample using an atomic absorption technique and hemoglobin was measured using a Sysmex hematological analyzer.Results: The mean BLL was 4.94 ± 3.38 µg/dL (range 0.45–26.3 µg/dL). A total of 19% had BLLs <1.0 µg/dL, 16% had BLLs <2.5 µg/dL, 15% had BLLs <5.0 µg/dL, 20% had BLLs <7.5 µg/dL, 25% had BLLs <10.0 µg/dL, and about 6% had BLLs >10.0 µg/dL. Analysis of odds by controlling all risk factors (adjusted odds ratio [OR]) that affect BLLs (≥10 µg/dL) indicated that using cosmetics (OR = 18.5, confidence interval [CI] = 14.4–19.8), putting colored toys in mouth (OR = 15.7, CI = 3.6–16.2), eating canned food (OR = 9.8, CI = 7.0–10.1), and using newspaper during food preparation (OR = 7.6, CI = 6.3–8.2) are risk factors. There were significant correlations between BLLs and family habits (r = 0.225, P = 0.000), personal habits (r = 0.321, P = 0.000), eating habits (r = 0.128, P = 0.002) and school building characteristics (r = 0.469, P = 0.000). There was a significant correlation between BLLs and anemia in age group 6 < 12 years (P = 0.000) and age group 12 to less than 18 years, among males (P = 0.000) and females (P = 0.041).Conclusion: The BLLs of children are affected by multiple factors. Female students have higher BLLs and lower hemoglobin concentration than males. The possible sources of lead exposure were use of toothpaste, use of kohl, putting colored toys in the mouth, use of both canned food and canned juice, use of lip gloss in females, and different methods of handling newspaper while preparing food.Keywords: blood, lead, exposure, cosmetics, schoolchildren, anemi

Seasonal prevalence of hydatidosis in buffaloes –A retrospective study

Aim: To identify the prevalence of Hydatidosis in buffaloe-calves, heifers and adults slaughtered in slaughter house of Mirha Exports Pvt. Ltd. between March 2010 to Feb. 2011.Materials and Methods: 2,09,615 buffaloes slaughtered were included in this study and were categorized into three groups (A, B and C) based on their age at the time of ante-mortem examination. Group Aconsisted of calves (>1 year), accounting for 5100 out of the total number of animals. Group B consisted of heifers (2-3 years) accounting for 7840. Group C consisted of adult buffaloes (3-7 years) accounting for 1, 96675. Results:Our study revealed an overall prevalence of hydatidosis as 50.96%. Furthermore, the group wise analysis showed the prevalence as 3.52%, 5.58% and 54% in calves, heifers and adult buffaloes, respectively.Conclusion: Based on the factors considered, we conclude that the higher prevalence of infections in buffaloes slaughtered in the Mirha Exports is likely due to an overpopulation of stray dogs in the areas from which the plant gets its supply of animals

Protective Effects of Simvastatin, a Lipid Lowering Agent, against Oxidative Damage in Experimental Diabetic Rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible protective effects of simvastatin (SMV) against oxidative stress in streptozotocin- (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced experimentally in rats by i.p. injection of STZ in a dose of 60 mg/kg bwt. After 5 weeks of STZ injection, there were apparent reductions in the animal body weight and significant increase in blood glucose, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, and lipid profiles with a concomitant decrease in total hemoglobin, plasma glutathione and vitamin C as compared to the control group. The treatment with SMV at a dose (10 mg/kg, orally) normalized all the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In vitro studies confirmed the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of SMV. Therefore, the present results revealed that SMV has a protective effect against STZ-induced oxidative damage by scavenging the free radicals generation and restoring the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems

Aqua­(2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)bis­(4-iodo­benzoato-κO)copper(II)

The CuII atom in the title compound, [Cu(C7H4IO2)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)], is N,N′-chelated by a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand and is coordinated by two monodentate carboxyl­ate ions and a water mol­ecule in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The apical site is occupied by one of the carboxyl­ate O atoms. The water mol­ecule forms intra­molecular hydrogen bonds to the uncoordinated carboxyl O atoms. The crystal studied was a nonmerohedral twin with minor components in 0.381 (3) and 0.108 (2) proportions

Aqua­(2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)(3,5-dinitro­benzoato-κO 1)copper(II) tetra­hydro­furan monosolvate

The title complex, [Cu(C7H3N2O6)2(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·C4H8O, features a penta­coordinate CuII atom bound by two monodentate carboxyl­ate ligands, a bidentate 2,2′-bipyridine mol­ecule [dihedral angle between pyridine rings = 5.0 (2)°] and a water mol­ecule. The resulting N2O3 donor set defines a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with the coordinated water mol­ecule in the apical position. In the crystal, the presence of O—Hw⋯Oc (w = water and c = carbon­yl) hydrogen bonding leads to the formation of a supra­molecular chain propagating along the c axis, which associates into a double chain via C—H⋯ O and π–π contacts between pyridyl rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.527 (3) Å]. The solvent mol­ecules, which are disordered over two orientations in a 0.678 (11):0.322 (11) ratio, occupy voids defined by the complex mol­ecules and are held in place via C—H⋯O inter­actions

Antioxidant and cardioprotective activity of Stachys schimperi Vatke against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

AbstractCardiotoxicity is one of the major side effects of anthracycline antibiotics. Most studies implicated increased oxidative stress as the major determinant of doxorubicin (DOX) cardiotoxicity. The aim of the current investigation was to study the possible cardioprotective effect of Stachys schimperi Vatke (family Lamiaceae) on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats based on biochemical and histopathological parameters. The phenolic profile of the methanol extract was determined qualitatively by HPLC. Isoscutellarein 7-O-[2″-O-(6″′-acetyl)-β-d-allopyranosyl]-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound 1) was isolated and identified from EB fraction as a major constituent for the first time from this Stachys species. The methanolic extract and the combined EtOAc and n-butanol fractions (EB) as well as compound 1 showed prominent free radical scavenging activity when assessed by the DPPH method. The methanolic extract showed moderate protection against DOX-induced alteration in cardiac oxidative stress markers; GSH and MDA, and cardiac serum markers; CK-MB and LDH activities. Additionally, histopathological study denoted mild protection against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.It was concluded that Stachys schimperi Vatke methanolic extract protected against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, at least in part, by virtue of its antioxidant activity

The Protective Effects of Green Tea Extract against L-arginine Toxicity to Cultured Human Mesangial Cells

The aim of this study was to investigate whether green tea extract (GTE) has the protective effects on excess L-arginine induced toxicity in human mesangial cell. Human mesangial cells treated with L-arginine were cultured on Dulbecco's modified eagle medium in the presence and absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor and GTE. The cell proliferation was determined by 3 (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphengltetrqzolium bromide, a tetrazole assay. The iNOS mRNA and its protein expression were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by NO enzyme-linced immuno sorbent assay kit. L-arginine significantly inhibited the proliferation of human mesangial cells, and induced the secretion of NO to the media. NO production by L-arginine was significantly suppressed by GTE and iNOS inhibitor (p<0.01). The expression level of iNOS mRNA and its protein that was significantly increased by L-arginine was decreased by iNOS inhibitor but not by GTE. GTE protected the mesangial cells from the NO-mediated cytotoxicity by scavenging the NO rather than by iNOS gene expression. Therefore, we conclude that GTE has some protective effect for renal cells against oxidative injury possibly by polyphenols contained in GTE