EXPLORATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS OF THUNBERGIA COCCINEA, ITS PHARMACOGNOSTIC, ANTIOXIDANT, GCMS AND ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC STUDIES

Objective: An effort currently made to appraise the preliminary phytochemical, pharmacognostic criteria, antioxidant, GCMS and antihyperglycemic investigations of the Thunbergia coccinea leaves. Thunbergia coccinea (T. coccinea) is an ornamental plant considerably practiced by the tribes of forest areas of Assam (INDIA) as an analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antidote, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic and detoxificant substance. Methods: A comprehensive literature survey was conducted to recognize the ethnomedicinal value of T. coccinea, which is currently grown practically in all provinces. The physicochemical constants like moisture content, ash values especially total ash, insoluble acid ash, water-soluble ash and foreign organic matter were determined for the assessment of the drug. Pharmacognostic parameters like fluorescence examination and microscopic characters of the leaf were studied that would serve to verify for contamination. The extract secured by maceration was subjected to the phytochemical inquiry to determine the existence of substances and their antioxidant activity. The antihyperglycemic characteristic of alcoholic extract of the leaf was examined with the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) studies of alcoholic extract of the plant leaf have undertaken to get an insight into the therapeutic properties of the molecules present based on online PASS prediction. Results: Various physicochemical, microscopic parameters studied gave a clear distinguishing and identifying features of T. coccinea leaf. Phytochemical screening gave an insight into the secondary metabolites existing in the plant leaf through picturizing its therapeutic properties against various ailments. Both extracts of T. coccinea leaf showed enhanced antioxidant activities. Nevertheless, the alcoholic leaf extract has shown significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 171.38±2.51 μg/ml and AQTC an IC50 value of 206.29±4.5 μg/ml respectively by DPPH method. Further, ACTC showed a better-reducing potential with an IC50 value of 105.74±0.61 μg/ml in comparison with AQTC IC50 value of 203.702±0.97 μg/ml by FRP method. The inhibition potentiality of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was found to be 71.66 % and 83.74 %, respectively at 500 µg/ml that rationally an adequate remedy in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. GCMS studies of the alcoholic extract unveiled the presence of different molecules like Glycerol, tris (trimethylsilyl) ether, 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, Undecanoic acid, Ethyl ester, Phytol in comparison with NIST library, thereby giving its predicted therapeutic properties like sugar phosphatase inhibitor, antifungal, phobic disorders treatment, antiviral and so on. Conclusion: The selected plant had many proven therapeutic traits and, possibly, successively united on to the sort of potential therapeutic plants. Besides, isolation and discoveries will lead to the detection of certain novel compounds, which will be of potential medicinal value

CARDIO PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TAMARINDUS INDICA. LINN AGAINST ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cardioprotective activity of Tamarindus Indica. Linn in Isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced Myocardial Infarction in rats.Methods: In vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous fruit extract (AQFE), alcoholic fruit extract (ALFE), aqueous seed extract (AQSE) and alcoholic seed extract (ALSE) of TI was carried by well-established in vitro methods. The extracts were investigated for in vivo cardioprotective activity against IPRT induced myocardial infarction where the animals were treated with the extracts (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) for 30 d. Standard vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight) was used to compare the effect of the extracts. Change in body weight, ECG, heart weight, serum parameters, myocardial infarct area and enzyme estimation in heart homogenate were assessed.Results: ALSE, AQSE and ALFE showed potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 12.94±0.14, 252.49±0.47 and 647.39±1.15 μg/ml. ALSE 250 mg and 500 mg showed dose-dependent cardioprotective activity in cardiotoxic rats. IPRT treated animals showed a marked increase in serum marker enzymes, an increase in the percent infarction area increase in heart weight and a decrease in body weight along with the increase in endogenous enzyme levels were observed.Conclusion: The administered extracts significantly reversed the effects caused by IPRT. ALSE 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight showed maximum reversal while the other extracts AQSE, ALFE and AQFE were observed to have good antioxidant activity in vitro.Keywords: Isoproterenol, Tamarindus indica. Linn, Antioxidant, Myocardial infarction, Electrocardiography, Cardiac marker

A study to evaluate the in-vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model using Swiss albino mice

Background: Herbs having ethnomedical uses is one of the best approaches in searching novel anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma induced liquid tumor model using Swiss Albino mice.Methods: Acute toxicity test was performed using Wistar albino rats before starting the in-vivo anticancer activity, were the MTD was more than 5000 mg/kg. Animals were divided into six groups of six animals each. 250mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of HI leaves, was administered orally for 9 days and Cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg, i.p., single dose). Various parameters like Change in body weight, Mean Survival Time, Percentage Increase in Life Span, Hematological & Biochemical parameters were assessed.Results: All the parameters were considerably restored towards the normal values. HIAL500mg/kg showed more significant results than 250 mg/kg. Hence 500mg/kg was taken for combination study with standard drug Cisplatin.Conclusions: On the basis of the above result it was suggested that, the in-vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves possess significant anticancer property with the dose dependent effect. This may probably due to the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids

Redox Kinetics Study of Fuel Reduced Ceria for Chemical-Looping Water Splitting

Chemical-looping water splitting is a novel and promising technology for hydrogen production with CO₂ separation. Its efficiency and performance depend critically on the reduction and oxidation (redox) properties of the oxygen carriers (OC). Ceria is recognized as one of the most promising OC candidates, because of its fast chemistry, high ionic diffusivity, and large oxygen storage capacity. The fundamental surface redox pathways, including the complex interactions of mobile ions and electrons between the bulk and the surface, along with the adsorbates and electrostatic fields, remain yet unresolved. This work presents a detailed redox kinetics study with emphasis on the surface ion-incorporation kinetics pathway, using time-resolved and systematic measurements in the temperature range 600–1000 °C. By using fine ceria nanopowder, we observe an order-of-magnitude higher hydrogen production rate compared to the state-of-the-art thermochemical or reactive chemical-looping water splitting studies. We show that the reduction is the rate-limiting step, and it determines the total amount of hydrogen produced in the following oxidation step. The redox kinetics is modeled using a two-step surface chemistry (an H2O adsorption/dissociation step and a charge-transfer step), coupled with the bulk-to-surface transport equilibrium. Kinetics and equilibrium parameters are extracted with excellent agreement with measurements. The model reveals that the surface defects are abundant during redox conditions, and charge transfer is the rate-determining step for H₂ production. The results establish a baseline for developing new materials and provide guidance for the design and the practical application of water splitting technology (e.g., the design of OC characteristics, the choice of the operating temperatures, and periods for redox steps, etc.). The method, combining well-controlled experiment and detailed kinetics modeling, enables a new and thorough approach for examining the defect thermodynamics in the bulk and at the surface, as well as redox reaction kinetics for alternative materials for water splitting

Alleviation of alloxan-induced diabetes and its complications in rats by Actinodaphne hookeri leaf extract

Leaves of Actinodaphne hookeri Meissn (Family Lauraceae; local name: Pisa) has been in use traditionally for the treatment of diabetes and disorders of the urinary tract which are more common in Chattisgarh and eastern part of India. In the present study, leaves of A. hookeri were subjected to phytochemical investigation and evaluated for anti-diabetic activity. The ethanol and the chloroform extract were found to have significant (p<0.01) blood glucose lowering effect. The extracts also significantly (p<0.01) lowered the increased serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels. Preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenoids and glycosides as the major constituents in the ethanol extract. The chloroform extract also showed significant (p<0.01) antihyperglycemic activity and contained alkaloids and triterpenes. It is concluded that the antidiabetic activity of A. hookeri may be due to the presence of alkaloids and triterpenes, and might be promising for the development of phytomedicine for diabetes mellitus along with its associated complications

MICROSTRUCTURAL STUDY AND TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF WC-Co COATINGS ON STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCED BY HVOF SPRAY TECHNIQUE

ABSTRACT Tungsten Carbide (WC) coatings exhibit high wear resistance at low and high temperatures, WC -Cobalt coatings will demonstrate anti-resistive and wear characteristics better than those of conventional materials. Research in this area has shown that the service life of the WC-Co coatings depended on varying compositions of tungsten and cobalt. WC-Co coating is developed on the stainless steel AISI 304 by High Velocity Oxy-Fuel spray technique. The grain size of WC is varied in three ranges of 10-40µm, 15-63µm and 45-90µm. Microstructure, chemical composition, phases present in the coating on the steel substrate was studied by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction method. Microstructure shows uniform distribution of WC in the matrix. WC coatings exhibit increased in hardness and resistance to wear. The wear rate of tungsten carbide of sample C mesh size (45 to 90 µm) is less compare to two remaining two samples by considering different loads

Raw test data on VKI-1 profile obtained at NAL transonic cascade tunnel

A Gas Turbine Rotor Blade Section - quot;VKI-1 Profilelf'- was tested at NAL 'Transonic Cascade Tunnel' 1acility. This report documents the raw test data obtained during the wake traverse measurements and surface pressure distribution, measurements for different outlet Mach numbers.13

CHEMOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF NONI (MORINDA CITRIFOLIA L.) FRUIT JUICE AGAINST CISPLATIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY

Objective: Cisplatin (CIS) consumption has become a common problem that affects the health of patients around the globe. Kidney has been suspected to be particularly susceptible to the destructive effects of CIS and nephrotoxic effects are still contentious which in turn affects the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients and increase the mortality rate. This study was conducted to investigate the nephroprotective effect of Noni Juice (NJ) and Divine Noni Gold (DNG) as herbal medicine with established antioxidant properties against the controversial nephrotoxic effect of CIS in mice.Methods: Mice were divided into four groups, each group contained six mice. Group I was kept as normal, Group II received CIS (5.0 mg/kg b. wt. i. p.) on day one for 14 d. Group III and IV received NJ (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) and DNG (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) respectively once daily for 14 d, Group V received CIS (5.0 mg/kg b. wt. i. p.) on day one and NJ (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) once daily for 14 d. Similarly, Group VI received CIS (5.0 mg/kg b. wt. i. p.) on day one and DNG (0.35 ml/mouse p. o.) once daily for 14 d. On day 15 blood from all the mice was collected from the carotid vein and cardiac puncture routes, and the biochemical markers viz. lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and urea were assessed. Kidney from all the animals was isolated, and catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiols and lipid peroxidase (LPO) were estimated.Results: CIS-induced marked kidney injury; congestion of tubules, glomerular distortion foci, thickened and blocked blood vessels. Also showed significant elevation of LDH, CPK, and urea with significant inhibition of CAT, GSH, SOD, thiols activities and simultaneously elevation of LPO level. Co-administration of NJ and DNG respectively with CIS protected kidney tissues via oxidative stress inhibition.Conclusion: NJ and DNG possess protective effect against CIS-induced cellular damage in the kidney by decreasing the level of serum biochemical markers, enhancing the level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and maintaining the LPO level. Results suggest that NJ and DNG have strong nephroprotective effect against CIS-induced nephrotoxicity