Characterization of Microemulsions Prepared using Isopropyl Palmitate with various Surfactants and Cosurfactants

Purpose: To investigate the effect of various surfactants and  cosurfactants, and their ratio on microemulsions prepared with isopropyl palmitate (IPP)Methods: Tween 20, 40, 60, and 80 were used separately as surfactant with methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol or 1-pentanol as cosurfactant, and IPP as oil phase to prepare various microemulsions. Various surfactant to cosurfactant ratios (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 1:0) were used in the preparation. Pseudoternary phase diagram was used to define the microemulsion area, and samples from the best combinations, i.e., those that produced the largest volume of microemulsion, were subjected to further characterization by polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), zetasizer, rheometer, and for stability.Results: Based on the microemulsion areas produced in the pseudoternary phase diagrams, the the surfactants were ranked in the following order of effectiveness: Tween 80 > 60 > 40 > 20 while the alcohols (co-surfactants) were ranked as follows: 1-butanol > 1-pentanol > 1-propanol > ethanol =methanol. The best surfactant to cosurfactant ratio for microemulsion preparation was 3:1.Conclusion: The selected surfactant/co-surfactant combination (i.e., Tween 80:1-butanol, 3:1) produces a stable microemulsion possesses a good potential as a drug delivery system Keywords: Microemulsion, Palm oil, Thermal analysis, Tween 80, Alcoho

Histological changes in the endometrial of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats under supplementation levels of n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio

This study describes a changed uterine morphometry and its application to the endometrial structure of a pregnant rat. The number and the size of uterine gland and blood vessels changed during the pregnancy period of the rat. This effect on day 15 was significantly changed in the different groups. When the endometrial morphology was related to the circulating progesterone concentrations on day 15, it was observed that relationships were found on day 15 and a high progesterone concentration in the Diet 1:1 group was associated with an increased number of the uterine gland and blood vessel. Furthermore, animals in the Diet 1:30 group were slaughtered on day 15 and a low progesterone concentration on that same day was associated with the decreased uterine gland size, though a simultaneous decrease was found in the number of endometrial gland. In contrast, the number of implanted embryos was significantly lower in the Diet 3 group at 15 days of gestation The results suggest that the endometrial glands do not only grow and regress during the supplementation of high ratio n-6:n-3 fatty acids, but the number and size of the endometrial glands in the endometrial area are controlled by progesterone, which leads to changes in the structure and maintenance of the uterine during the pregnancy period.Key words: n-6:n-3 Fatty acid ratio, progesterone, blood vessel, uterine gland, pregnant rat

Bacterial co-infections in a captive Python bivittatus with septicemia

This case reports bacterial co-infection in a dead albino python (Python bivittatus). The snake was brought in dead to the Universiti Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Necropsy was conducted and organ samples were sent for virus and bacterial isolation, as well as histopathology. Gross pathological lesions include congestion of the heart, spleen and liver and presence of superficial whitish circumscribed spots in the lungs. Bacterial culture showed the presence of Salmonella enterica ssp arizona, Plesiomonas shigelloides and Enterobacter cloacae. Histopathological evaluation showed evidence of necrosis, degeneration and heterophil infiltration in the liver, kidney, heart and lungs. The snake was diagnosed to have died of bacterial septicemia.Keywords: Bacterial isolation, Captive snake, Histopathology, Python bivittatus, Septicemi

A comparative study of lyophilized bovine pericardium and tunica parietalis vaginalis for repair of large abdominal wall defects in a rabbit model

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of lyophilized bovine pericardium and tunica vaginalis in repairing large abdominal wall defect in a rabbit model. Full thickness (all the layers of muscles except the skin) abdominal wall defects (3 x 4 cm) were created in 18 anaesthetized male clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits and randomly divided into two equal group (n= 9 each). The defects of the first group were repaired with bovine pericardium, whereas the second group was with bovine tunica vaginalis parietalis. Three animals were sacrificed at 7th, 14th and 30th days of postimplantation from each group and the explanted specimens were subjected to macroscopic and microscopic examinations. The explanted grafts were replaced by newly formed collagen fibres and neo-vascularisation without any infection as well as formation of seroma. The cellular reaction was almost similar in each group. Therefore, these scaffolds can provide a structural replacement for severe and large abdominal wall defects.Key words: Lyophilized, bovine pericardium, bovine tunica vaginalis parietalis, abdominal wall defect, rabbit

The effects of Momordica charantia on the liver in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in neonatal rats

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Momordica charantia (MC) fruit aqueous extract on the liver histopathological changes in neonatal rats streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus type II. Diabetes mellitus was induced in one day old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats with STZ (85 mg/kg) and monitored for 12 weeks thereafter. The diabetic rats were separated into three groups as follows: the diabetic control group (nSTZ), the MC treated diabetic group (nSTZ/M), and the glibenclamide treated diabetic group (nSTZ/G). At the end of the treatment, blood glucose, serum insulin, alanine amino transferases (ALT) and aspartate amino transferases (AST) level was measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was measured in the plasma and liver. The liver samples were processed for light microscopy examination. The results showed a reduction of blood glucose, ALT and AST, and increment of insulin level in the nSTZ/M and nSTZ/G rats. Administration of MC reduced the MDA concentration in plasma and liver of the nSTZ/M rats. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity was improved in the nSTZ/M and nSTZ/G groups. The degenerative changes in liver were alleviated in the nSTZ/M and nSTZ/G groups. These results suggested that MC fruit aqueous extract may have a significant role in alleviating liver damage in the nSTZ-diabetic rats.Key words: Diabetes, Momordica charantia, liver, neonatal rat

Effects of varying levels of n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on plasma fatty acid composition and prostanoid synthesis in pregnant rats

This study investigated the effects of varying dietary levels of n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on plasma fatty acid composition and prostanoid synthesis in pregnant rats. Four groups consisting of seven rats pergroup of non pregnant rats were fed diets with either a very low n-6:n-3 ratio of 50% soybean oil (SBO): 50% cod liver oil (CLO) 1:1 group , a low ratio of 84% SBO: 16% CLO 6:1 group, a high ratio of 96% SBO: 4% CLO 30:1 group and control group was given only rat chow diet. Blood samples were taken at day 15 post mating and the plasma was analyzed for fatty acid profile, specifically the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio and prostaglandins F2α and E2. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma of group 1:1 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the other groups, while the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio was significantly lower. The total n-6 PUFA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group 30:1 as compared to the control and 1:1 groups. The total PGF2α and PGE2 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group 30:1 rats fed a diet high in n-6 or n-6:n-3 fatty acids. The diet higher in n-6 fatty acids appear to increase arachidonic acid( AA) and prostaglandins synthesis in plasma of rats. PGE2 productions in plasma were significantly lower in rats fed diets with a lower dietary ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids than in those fed diets with a higher dietary ratio. Regression analysis revealed a significant positivecorrelation between PGF2α and PGE2 and the ratio of n-6:n-3, and significant positive correlation between different ratio n-6:n-3 on fatty acid plasma compstion and PGF2α and PGE2 concentration on plasma. These results demonstrated that the dietary ratio of n-6:n-3 modulates PGF2α and PGE2 production. The n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio significantly affected plasma fatty acids profile and prostaglandin synthesis in pregnant rat.Keywords: n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio, plasma fatty acids, prostanoid synthesis, pregnant ra

Morphological and histochemical observations of the red jungle fowl tongue Gallus gallus

Morphological and histochemical study of the tongue of ten adult red jungle fowl (RJF), Gallus gallus were carried out at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The tongue was triangular with a wide dorsal and ventrolateral surface with median groove at the rostral part. Between the body and the roots appears a transverse row of the lingual conical papillae which was directed backwards. Behind the laryngeal cleft, there was a single row of pharyngeal papillae. The lingual mucosa showed parakeratinization, while there was a clearly recognizable keratinized band on the ventrolateral surface and the conical papillae. The cell cytoplasm of the medial group (MG) of the anterior lingual glands and the posterior glands contained large amounts of mucin compared with the lateral group (LG). The mucin of the lingual glands contained vicinal diol groups. Moreover, the sulphate containing glycoconjugates indicated in the MG and the posterior glands with a strong acid mucin reaction. Meanwhile, the LG of the anterior lingual glands exhibited carboxylated mucin with weak acid mucin reaction. In conclusion, the differences in the arrangement of the lingual and pharyngeal papillae in the RJF than that in other birds particularly domestic chicken may reflects the changes which occurred for the latter during domestication. The contents of mucins in the medial and lateral groups of the anterior lingual gland were varied, however, no differences histochemistry between the medial group and the posterior lingual gland were observed.Key words: Lingual salivary glands, mucin reaction, red jungle, tongue

Activities of amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin of pancreas and small intestinal contents in the red jungle fowl and broiler breed

The digestive enzyme activities of the pancreas and small intestinal segments were examined in two breeds of chickens that differ in growth rate over the period of 1 day (1-d) to 4-months (120-d) of age. The total body weight (BW) of the red jungle fowl (RJF) increased slowly during the experiment, in contrast to the commercial broiler chicken (CBC) which showed markedly increase (P < 0.05) over the same experiment. The pancreas weight (g/100 g BW) was greater (P < 0.05) in the RJF during the experiment, with the exception of 1-day old group. There was significantly higher (P < 0.05) pancreatic enzyme activity (unit/g) and (unit/100 g) BW for the CBC, particularly at 10-days. However, there were no differences between the breeds at (20 to 56 days) for amylase and (120 days) for chymotrypsin. The enzyme activity (unit/g) for all intestinal segments increased with age. The CBC attained a maximal value on 10 days for jejunal and ileal trypsin, and duodenal, jejunal and ileal chymotrypsin. Activities (unit/100 g BW) showed decrease with age for both breeds. The CBC had a relatively greater value (P < 0.05) at 1 day, except for the jejunal trypsin and the chymotrypsin. Thereafter, the relative activities were higher for the RJF until the end of the experiment. Although significant differences in the digestive enzyme activities were obtained between the two breeds, these differences were generally associated with differences in body weight. The effects of selection affected the development rate of the synthesis of these enzymes according to the body requirements and biological function and this may affect the digestion and finally the growth rate.Keywords: Pancreatic enzyme, small intestine, amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsi

Morphological study of pancreatic duct in red jungle fowl

Morphological and histochemical study of the pancreas and pancreatic ducts of ten adult red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) were carried out by means of light microscopy. The bulk of the pancreas consists of a dorsal, ventral, third and small splenic lobe. Three pancreatic ducts were recognized as they join the proximal end of the ascending duodenum. The exocrine units were composed of main pancreatic tissues, while the endocrine units were observed frequently in the third and splenic lobes. A single layer of pyramidal cells with acidophilic zymogen granules and small centro-acinar cells were formed in the exocrine acinus. The intercalated duct was lined by flattened epithelium which changed to cuboidal in the intralobular duct, while the interlobular and main pancreatic ducts were lined by simple columnar epithelium. Three types of cells were detected within the surface epithelium: principal, light and basal cells. These cells possess short luminal projections with a fuzzy surface coat. Apical neutral and sulfomucin reaction indicated involvement of these epithelial with secretion. Neither goblet cells nor ductal glands were found in the pancreatic ducts. Secretion of both neutral and sulfated materials by the epithelial lining the pancreatic ducts, suggesting that they are acting not only to facilitate thetransport of the pancreatic juice, but also as a protective barrier to protect the gland from autodigestion.Key words: Red jungle, morphological study, pancreatic duct, histochemical, mucin

Determination of antioxidant activity in methanolic and chloroformic extracts of Momordica charantia

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the antioxidant activity of methanolic and chloroformic extracts of Momordica charantia (MC) fruit. In this study, the total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in methanolic and chloroformic were measured by ferric thiocyanate (FTC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the MC extracts were also evaluated. The total antioxidant activity results indicated that, the inhibition percent of methanolic extract was significantly higher than the inhibition percent of chloroformic extract in the FTC and TBA methods. A higher IC50 value for free radical scavenging was found for methanolic extract when compared with chloroformic extract. Methanolic extract contained a significantly higher concentration of total phenols and flavonoids when compared with chloroformic extract. Methanolic extract contained more potent antioxidant and high polyphenol compounds when compared with chloroformic extract. The present study, confirmed that, the type of solvent has an important role in detecting plant compounds. The natural plant antioxidants and phenolics compounds in MC have the capability of being used in food systems to preserve food quality.Key words: Momordica charantia, antioxidant activity, polyphenol compounds, phenolics, flavonoids