Assessment of Gastroprotective Potential of Delonix regia (Boj Ex Hook) Raf against Ethanol and Cold Restrain Stress-Induced Ulcer in Rats

Purpose: To assess the gastroprotective potential of the stem bark ethanol extract of Delonix regia (EDR) on ethanol and cold restrain stress-induced ulcer in experimental rats.Methods: EDR (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, orally) was evaluated on ethanol and cold restrain stress-induced ulcer in experimental rats. In ethanol induced ulcer model, ulcer index, percent protection, reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) levels in stomach tissue were evaluated. In the cold restrain stress model, ulcer index, percent protection, and GSH levels were evaluated. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay of EDR was also performed.Results: EDR caused a significant (p < 0.05-0.001) decreased ulcer index in ethanol (61.33-76.00%) and cold restrain stress (47.34-84.28 %) models. The EDR caused a significant (p < 0.05 - 0.001) increase in SOD (0.20 - 0.27 U/mg protein, CAT (200 - 270 μmole H2O2/mg of protein/minute), GSH (1.63 - 1.17 μg/mg protein) and reduction in nitric oxide (NO) level, pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) levels and inhibition in neutrophil accumulation (p < 0.001) in ethanol-induced model. EDR exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 45.23 ± 3.23 μg/ml.Conclusion: The results suggest that EDR has gastroprotective effect in the two ulcer models and this may be due to its antioxidant effect.Keywords: Delonix regia, Fabaceae, Ethanol-induced ulcer, Cold restrain stress-induced ulcer, Gastroprotective, Pro-inflammatory cytokine

Asessment of the use of sex pheromone traps in the management of Spodoptera litura F.

The tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera Utura F. is one of the most damaging insect pests on several field and vegetable crops. Sex pheromone, ‘litlure’ was used as an attractant in pheromone traps to monitor male moth activity, and to study the relationship between male moth catches in traps and oviposition in field crops at the Crop Research Centre, Pantnagar, India. Pheromone traps effectively monitored population fluctuations and showed seven peaks during 1988 and 1989. Two peaks were observed during the spring/summer season, three in the rainy season and the remaining two peaks in the postrainy season. Few moths were caught during the winter. Significant correlations were found between number of male moths in traps and number of egg masses laid on sugarbeet during spring, on groundnut and soybean during the rainy season, and on cauliflower during the postrainy season. However, there was no oviposition in Kharif sown urdbean and in summer groundnuts. Pheromone traps, therefore, can be used as a monitoring tool to ensure the rational application of insecticide

Assessment of yield loss due to insect pests at different growth stages of groundnut in Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Field experiments were conducted during the 1988 and 1989 rainy seasons to assess yield loss at different growth stages in groundnut (peanut) due to insect pests. The crop was infested by thrips at the vegetative stage; by thrips, jassids and Spilosoma obliqua Walker at flowering; by thrips, S. obliqua and Spodoptera litura Fabricius at pegging, and by S. litura and S. obliqua at both podding and pod maturity. The greatest yield loss caused by insect pests at any crop stage was 31.4% in 1988 and 23% in 1989. Damage occurring during the bloom and vegetative stages resulted in maximum yield loss. Thus, crop protection measures at the vegetative and bloom stages are most effective in minimizing the yield loss due to insect pests in groundnut

Role of adipokines, oxidative stress, and endotoxins in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, implicated in the pathophysiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Present study aimed to assess the role of adipokines, oxidative stress, and endotoxins in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in T2DM.Methods: Present cross-sectional observational study included healthy controls (n=50; group 1); T2DM patients without NAFLD (n=50; group 2), T2DM patients with NAFLD (n=50; group 3). Study subjects were age and gender matched.Results: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), endotoxin, malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly elevated and adiponectin, ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and glutathione (GSH) were significantly lower (p<0.001) in T2DM patients with NAFLD when compared to T2DM patients without NAFLD and controls. Endotoxin showed significant positive correlation with TNF-α (r=0.304; p<0.001), hs-CRP (r=0.193; p=0.018), and MDA (r=0.420; p<0.001), and significant negative correlation with adiponectin (r=-0.406; p<0.001). TNF-α and IL-6 showed significant positive correlation with MDA (r=0.526; p<0.001, r=0.229; p=0.005) and significant negative correlation with adiponectin (r=-0.396; p<0.001, r=-0.318; p<0.001), FRAP (r=-0.418; p<00.001, r=-0.170; p=0.038), and GSH (r=-0.353; p<0.001, r=-0.301; p<0.001).Conclusions: Authors observed elevated endotoxin, oxidative stress, inflammation and lower adiponectin levels in T2DM subjects compared to controls. These changes were more pronounced in T2DM with NAFLD when compared to T2DM without NAFLD.  Lower adiponectin levels were found to be a better predictor of NALFD in T2DM and is associated with oxidative stress and systemic inflammation

Association between depression and diabetes in the South-Eastern zone of the state of Uttar Pradesh-India: A cross-sectional study

Background: Depression is among the most common mental health problems among people with chronic complications like type 2 diabetes mellitus is brought on by flaws in insulin secretion and activity; however, genetic factors also play a role in both insulin resistance and beta-cell failure, but environmental factors also play a role in aggravating both problems. The presence of depression in patients with type 2 diabetes may interfere with treatment and efficacy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression in this metabolic variant clinical condition, type 2 diabetes mellitus, in major tertiary care hospitals in the South-Eastern Uttar Pradesh cities of Allahabad and Varanasi. Subjects and methods: For this study, 206 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus from rural and urban areas were recruited. Demographic, clinical, and diabetes-related data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9), a standardized questionnaire developed in the United States and validated in the Indian population. Results: The prevalence of depression in diabetics in the community was 43.2%. The most common type of depression was mild (29.3%, 26), and the least common was severe depression (3, 3.37%). Several factors were associated with depression in the female gender: living in a rural area, unemployment, and being single. The complications of diabetes and other chronic conditions, such as hypertension and obesity, are also associated with depression. Conclusion: Depression was found to be particularly high in the study population. Because depression can significantly impede patient adherence to treatment, there is an urgent need for early diagnosis and treatment. This requires integrating mental health care for diabetes patients

Response of sorghum to moisture stress using line source sprinkler irrigation I. Plant-water relations

The response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) to moisture stress during the post-rainy season was studied at ICRISAT research center on a medium deep Alfisol using a line source sprinkler irrigation system. Changes in soil moisture content, stomatal conductance, leaf-water potential and leaf temperature of sorghum as a function of distance away from the line source sprinkler system were monitored throughout the season. Use of the line source technique facilitated the imposition of a range of moisture stress levels as indicated by increased water use by sorghum closer to the line source compared with the crop farther away from the line source. Canopy response measured in terms of stomatal conductance, leaf-water potential, and leaf temperature clearly reflected the gradient in moisture stress perpendicular to the line sourc

Advances in Developing Therapies to Combat Zika Virus: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Zika virus (ZIKV) remained largely quiescent for nearly six decades after its first appearance in 1947. ZIKV reappeared after 2007, resulting in a declaration of an international “public health emergency” in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Until this time, ZIKV was considered to induce only mild illness, but it has now been established as the cause of severe clinical manifestations, including fetal anomalies, neurological problems, and autoimmune disorders. Infection during pregnancy can cause congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly and neurological degeneration, and in other cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome, making infections with ZIKV a substantial public health concern. Genomic and molecular investigations are underway to investigate ZIKV pathology and its recent enhanced pathogenicity, as well as to design safe and potent vaccines, drugs, and therapeutics. This review describes progress in the design and development of various anti-ZIKV therapeutics, including drugs targeting virus entry into cells and the helicase protein, nucleosides, inhibitors of NS3 protein, small molecules, methyltransferase inhibitors, interferons, repurposed drugs, drugs designed with the aid of computers, neutralizing antibodies, convalescent serum, antibodies that limit antibody-dependent enhancement, and herbal medicines. Additionally, covalent inhibitors of viral protein expression and anti-Toll-like receptor molecules are discussed. To counter ZIKV-associated disease, we need to make rapid progress in developing novel therapies that work effectually to inhibit ZIKV

Effect of pattern and severity of moisture-deficit stress on stalk-rot incidence in sorghum. II. Effect of source/sink relationships

Stalk-rot of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is most commonly associated with weakly parasitic root and stalk-rot fungi when the host plants are subjected to environmental stresses. The incidence of rots is generally more in high-grain-yield environments associated with high plant density or fertilizer application. The effects of time of occurrence and degree of moisture deficit stress (moisture stress) on grain and biomass yields, and the natural incidence of stalk-rots were studied. Stress during grain-filling had a greater effect on incidence of rots than stress at earlier stages. Grain-yield and disease incidence were differently affected by timing and severity of moisture stress. Stalk-rot incidence was most commonly and strongly associated with moisture stress at the terminal stage of growth. However, stress during panicle development induced changes in the sink size (grain number) or root-growth pattern, which in turn influenced both the timing and extent of stalk-rot incidence. The amount of biomass produced during the later part of the grain-filling period was positively correlated with lower disease susceptibility. The distribution index (i.e., the ratio of grain-yield to biomass produced after flowering) could be generally used to predict disease susceptibility. There were no simple correlations between biomass, grain-yield or yield components, and stalk-rot