Investigating The Combined Effects of Replacing Cement with Sugarcane Bagasse Ash and Coarse Aggregate with Ceramic Tile Waste in Concrete Production

The aim of this study is to elevate the effects of combine inclusion of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) as cement and ceramic tile waste (CTW) as coarse aggregate replacement on concrete properties. However, SCBA is a waste material and having good pozzolanic properties. The importance of sustainability and recycling has become increasingly recognized and understood in academia and industry over the last several decades. Besides that, the recycling construction waste and debris is one of many avenues that provide a great opportunity to reduce the construction industry reliance on decreasing natural resource supplies. In order to optimize the percent replacement of cement by SCBA, the cement has been partially replaced by SCBA constant, the ceramic waste is replaced at the dosages 10%, 20% and 30% by weight of coarse aggregates. The various outcomes of replacement by SCBA and CTW have been analyzed through evaluation of different properties like workability and compressive strength for 7 days and 28 days. The results further revealed that the workability decreased with the inclusion of SCBA and CTW. The compressive Strength of concrete mix was relatively higher at 10% replacement of cement by SCBA and 10% replacement of CTW, after which it decreased beyond 10% replacement. The maximum compressive strength was observed as 26.57 N/mm2 SCBA in proportion of constant 10% by weight in concrete mixes. It was deduced from the outcomes of this study that 10% SCBA and 10% CTW replacement by cement and coarse aggregates respectively could be considered as optimum replacement

Anti-hyperglycemic activity of Heliotropium strigosum (Boraginaecae) whole plant extract in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

Purpose: To investigate Heliotropium strigosum whole plant extract for its potential to reduce the blood glucose level of alloxan-induced diabetic mice.Methods: Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard  procedures. Diabetes was induced in Balb/c mice by injecting alloxan (200 mg/kg i.p.). The crude methanol extract of Heliotropium strigosum (Hs.Cr, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg doses) was administered daily to alloxan-induced diabetic mice for 15 days and its effect on fasting blood glucose levels, body weight and oral glucose tolerancewas evaluated. Two control groups (non-diabetic control and diabetic control)  received normal saline (0.2 ml). Metformin (500 mg/kg) was used as reference standard.Results: Heliotropium strigosum showed positive for the presence of alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids. The extract (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) caused significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose level of alloxan-induced diabetic mice on days 5, 10 and 15 compared to diabetic control (p < 0.001). In this regard, the  anti-hyperglycemic effect compared to the reference (metformin). The extract also timedependently decreased the body weight of the treated animals as well as improved tolerance of the oral glucose overload.Conclusion: These results indicate that Heliotropium strigosum possesses  anti-hyperglycemic effect, reduces body weight and enhances the tolerance of  glucose overload in mice. Further studies are therefore required to determine its  feasiilty as an alternate herbal medicine in the management of diabetes in humans.Keywords: Heliotropium strigosum, Anti-hyperglycemic, Alloxan-induced diabetic mice, Blood glucose, Oral glucose tolerance, Body weigh

Ethnopharmacological studies on chrozophora prostrata in perspective of its folkloric reputation as purgative

This study was undertaken to validate the medicinal use of Chrozophora prostrata in constipation. The crude extract of C prostrata produced laxative effect in mice at 100 and 300 mg/kg, similar to carbachol and castor oil. In spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum tissues, C. prostrata (0.01-3 mg/mL) exhibited atropine-sensitive spasmogenic effect, which was reproducible in guinea-pig ileum. Interestingly, at high concentrations, C. prostrata showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on rabbit jejunum, suggesting the presence of accompanied spasmolytic activity. When tested on induced contractions, C. prostrata completely relaxed low K+-induced contraction, while partially inhibited high K+, similar to cromakalim. Tetraethylammonium pretreatment abolished the relaxant effect of C. prostrata on low K+-induced contractions while glibenclamide caused partial inhibition, suggesting the involvement of some non-specific and ATP-dependent K+ channels. These data show that C. prostrata possesses laxative effect at low doses mediated through cholinergic action followed by the spasmolytic activity at high doses mediated possibly through K+ channel activation

Secondary metabolites from resins of Aloe vera and Commiphora mukul mitigate lipid peroxidation

Oxidative stress is often considered detrimental for cellular processes and damaging for the lipid bi-layer. Counteracting such stresses with the aid of nature-based chemical constituents can be an ideal therapeutic approach. The current study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents of resins derived from the well-known Aloe vera and less known Commiphora mukul trees and their effect in mitigating the lipid peroxidation (LPO) process. The bio-guided isolation of bioactive fractions from both resins afforded 20 chemical constituents (17 from A. vera and 3 from C. mukul). These compounds belonged to anthraquinones, anthraquinone glycosides, quinones, coumarins, polypodane-type terpenoids and benzene derivatives. Major chemical constituents of the resins of A. vera and C. mukul were from the classes of quinones and terpenoids. Feroxidin (4, from A. vera) showed slightly higher inhibition (IC50 = 201.7 ± 0.9 µmol L–1) than myrrhanone C (18, from C. mukul: IC50 = 210.7 ± 0.0 µmol L–1) and methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate from A. vera (13, IC50 = 232.9 ± 0.2 µmol L–1) compared to the other compounds. Structure-activity relationship showed that the existence of hydroxyl, methoxy and ether groups might play a major role in countering oxidative stress. To the best of our knowledge, anti-LPO activities of compounds 1–4, 14, 18 and 20 are reported for the first time. Such chemical constituents with high anti-lipid peroxidation activity could be helpful in synthesizing candidate drugs

Systematic review of polyherbal combinations used in metabolic syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disease, whose main stay of prevention and management is life-style modification which is difficult to attain. Combination of herbs have proven more efficacious in multi-targeted diseases, as compared to individual herbs owing to the effect enhancing and side-effect neutralizing properties of herbs, which forms the basis of polyherbal therapies This led us to review literature on the efficacy of herbal combinations in MetS. Methods: Electronic search of literature was conducted by using Cinnahl, Pubmed central, Cochrane and Web of Science, whereas, Google scholar was used as secondary search tool. The key words used were metabolic syndrome, herbal/poly herbal, metabolic syndrome, clinical trial and the timings were limited between 2005-2020. Results: After filtering and removing duplications by using PRISMA guidelines, search results were limited to 41 studies, out of which 24 studies were evaluated for combinations used in animal models and 15 in clinical trials related to metabolic syndrome. SPICE and SPIDER models were used to assess the clinical trials, whereas, a checklist and a qualitative and a semi-quantitative questionnaire was formulated to report the findings for animal based studies. Taxonomic classification of Poly herbal combinations used in animal and clinical studies was designed. Conclusion: With this study we have identified the potential polyherbal combinations along with a proposed method to validate animal studies through systematic qualitative and quantitative review. This will help researchers to study various herbal combinations in MetS, in the drug development process and will give a future direction to research on prevention and management of MetS through polyherbal combinations

Moringa oleifera Lam. (family Moringaceae) leaf extract attenuates high-fat diet-induced dyslipidemia and vascular endothelium dysfunction in Wistar albino rats

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MEMO) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced dyslipidemia and vascular endothelium dysfunction. Methods: Dose-dependent attenuating effect of MEMO was tested at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day in an in vivo model of HFD-induced dyslipidemia using rats whereas vascular endothelial reactivity was assessed in isolated rat aorta using ex vivo organ bath setup. Results: MEMO administration in HFD-induced dyslipidemic rats for 3 consecutive weeks, resulted in significant decrease in rat body weight, LW/BW and RFPW/BW ratio when compared to rats treated with HFD only where an increase in body weight was observed. Decrease in the average daily feed intake and significant reductions in waist, Lee index and BMI was also observed after MEMO treatment in HFD-induced dyslipidemic rats. Lipid profile data indicate that HFD group showed significant increase in total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and VLDL levels while HDL levels decreased significantly. On the other hand, MEMO treatment improved lipid profile compared to HFD group. Ex-vivo isolated aorta results revealed that MEMO treatment reversed HFD-induced endothelium dysfunction when compared to SD group. Conclusion: MEMO treatment produces dose-dependent improvement in lipid profile and vascular endothelium protection, thereby rationalizing its traditional medicine use in the treatment of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular related endothelial disorders

Studies on tracheorelaxant and anti-inflammatory activities of rhizomes of polygonatum verticillatum

Background: The present study describes the tracheorelaxant and anti-inflammatory effects of Polygonatum verticillatum which may support its medicinal use in hyperactive airway complaints and inflammatory disorders.Methods: The tracheorelaxant activity of crude extract of the rhizomes of P. verticillatum (PR) was assessed in isolated guinea-pig tracheal tissues immersed in tissue organ bath filled with Tyrode\u27s solution and a continuous supply of carbogen gas (95% O2 and 5% CO2). The contractile and relaxant responses of the tissue were measured using isometric transducers coupled with Power-Lab data acquisition system. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, while the lipoxygenase inhibitory activity was performed in the in-vitro assay. Various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were used for the isolation and characterization of pure molecules.Results: In isolated guinea-pig tracheal preparations, PR caused complete inhibition of the high K+ (80 mM) and carbachol-induced contractions however, it was more potent against K+ than CCh, similar to verapamil. Pretreatment of the tissue with PR, displaced the Ca2+ concentration-response curves to the right, similar to that induced by verapamil, indicating the presence of Ca2+ channel blocking like activity. When tested on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, PR demonstrated a marked reduction in edema with 65.22% protection at 200 mg/kg, similar to aspirin. In the in-vitro assay, PR showed lipoxygenase inhibitory activity (IC50: 102 ± 0.19 μg/mL), similar to baicalein. Bioactivity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid and β-sitosterol.Conclusions: These results indicate that the plant possesses tracheorelaxant, mediated possibly through a Ca2+ channel blockade mechanism, and anti-inflammatory activities, which may explain the medicinal use of this plant in airway disorders and inflammation

5-epi-Incensole: synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and absolute configuration by means of ECD and VCD studies in solution and solid state

Incensole 1 and its acetate 2, found in incense, demonstrate interesting biological activities. Incensole acetate 2 was prepared on a large scale by employing the Paul and Jauch protocol from the crude extracts of Boswellia papyrifera Hochst. 5-epi-Incensole 3, obtained as colorless crystals, was prepared from incensole acetate via three steps; deacetylation, oxidation and reduction. The structure of 5-epi-incensole 3 was elucidated by means of spectroscopic data analysis, and the absolute configuration was established by single crystal X-ray analysis in combination with electronic and vibrational circular dichroism. In particular, the applicability of the solid-state ECD/TDDFT protocol to a compound with only two non-conjugated alkene chromophores was verified

Constructing domain ontology for Alzheimer disease using deep learning based approach

Facts can be exchanged in multiple fields with the help of disease-specific ontologies. A range of diverse values can be produced by mining ontological approaches for demonstrating disease mechanisms. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an incurable neurological brain illness. An early diagnosis of AD can be helpful for better treatment and the prevention of brain tissue destruction. Researchers have used machine learning techniques to predict the early detection of AD. However, Alzheimer’s disorders are still underexplored in the knowledge domain. In the biomedical field, the illustration of terminologies and notions is essential. Multiple methods are adopted to represent these notions, but ontologies are the most frequent and accurate. Ontology construction is a complex and time-consuming process. The designed ontology relies on Disease Ontology (DO), which is considered the benchmark in medical practice. Ontology reasoning mechanisms can be adopted for AD identification. In this paper, a deep convolutional neural network-based approach is proposed to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, using an AD dataset acquired from Kaggle. Machine learning-based approaches (logistic regression, gradient boosting, XGB, SGD, MLP, SVM, KNN, random forest) are also used for a fair comparison. The simulation results are generated using three strategies (default parameters, 10-cross validation, and grid search), and MLP provides superior results on a default parameter strategy with an accuracy of 92.12%. Furthermore, the deep learning-based approach convolutional neural network (CNN) achieved an accuracy of 94.61%. The experimental results indicate that the construction of ontology, with the help of deep learning knowledge, can produce better results where the robustness and scalability can be enhanced. In comparisons to other methods, the CNN results are excellent and encouraging