Nutritional improvement of wheat by foliar application of moringa leaf extract

A field experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, during rabi season to evaluate the effect of foliar application of moringa leaf extract on productivity and nutrient uptake efficiency of wheat plants. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1 (Control), T2 [moringa leaf extract (MLE) sprayed only at tillering stage], T3 (MLE sprayed at tillering and jointing stages), T4 (MLE sprayed at tillering, jointing and booting stages), T5 (MLE sprayed at tillering, jointing, booting and heading stages) and T6 (MLE sprayed only at heading stage). The application of moringa leaf extract significantly increased nutrient content as well as nutrient uptake by grain and straw. The content of N, P, K and S in both grain and straw of wheat was the highest in T4 treatment which produced the maximum biological yield of 9.05 t ha-1. Again, treatment T4 resulted in the highest total uptakes of N, P, K and S in wheat, which were 131.91, 15.55, 122.27, and 24.16 kg ha-1, respectively. The results of this study indicate that foliar application of MLE can potentially be a viable option to increase biological yield and nutrient uptake efficiency of wheat plants, particularly N, P, K and S. In this study, the foliar application of moringa leaf extract on tillering, jointing and booting stages of the crop showed the best performance and therefore, it might be used due to its eco-friendly nature for yield enhancement as well as nutrient enrichment in wheat. [Fundam Appl Agric 2018; 3(3.000): 565-572

Microbiological Evaluation of the Efficacy of Soapy Water to Clean Hands: A Randomized, Non-Inferiority Field Trial

We conducted a randomized, non-inferiority field trial in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh among mothers to compare microbial efficacy of soapy water (30 g powdered detergent in 1.5 L water) with bar soap and water alone. Fieldworkers collected hand rinse samples before and after the following washing regimens: scrubbing with soapy water for 15 and 30 seconds; scrubbing with bar soap for 15 and 30 seconds; and scrubbing with water alone for 15 seconds. Soapy water and bar soap removed thermotolerant coliforms similarly after washing for 15 seconds (mean log10 reduction = 0.7 colony-forming units [CFU], P < 0.001 for soapy water; mean log10 reduction = 0.6 CFU, P = 0.001 for bar soap). Increasing scrubbing time to 30 seconds did not improve removal (P > 0.05). Scrubbing hands with water alone also reduced thermotolerant coliforms (mean log10 reduction = 0.3 CFU, P = 0.046) but was less efficacious than scrubbing hands with soapy water. Soapy water is an inexpensive and microbiologically effective cleansing agent to improve handwashing among households with vulnerable children

Liposomal Drug Delivery of Blumea lacera Leaf Extract: In-Vivo Hepatoprotective Effects

Background: Blumea lacera (B. lacera) is a herbaceous plant commonly found in south-east Asia. It shows significant therapeutic activities against various diseases. The objectives of this study were to evaluate hepatoprotective effects of Blumea lacera leaf extract and also to investigate the comparative effectiveness between a liposomal preparation and a suspension of B. lacera leaf extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage. Methods: B. lacera leaf extract was characterized using a GC-MS method. A liposomal preparation of B. lacera leaf extract was developed using an ethanol injection method and characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electronic microscopic systems. The hepatoprotective effects of B. lacera leaf extracts and its liposomal preparation were investigated using CCl4-induced liver damage in Long Evan rats. Results: GC-MS data showed the presence of different components (e.g., phytol) in the B. lacera leaf extract. DLS and microscopic data showed that a liposomal preparation of B. lacera leaf extracts was in the nano size range. In vivo study results showed that liposomal preparation and a suspension of B. lacera leaf extract normalized liver biochemical parameters, enzymes and oxidative stress markers which were elevated due to CCl4 administration. However, a liposomal formulation of B. lacera leaf extract showed significantly better hepatoprotective effects compared to a suspension of leaf extract. In addition, histopathological evaluation showed that B. lacera leaf extract and its liposomal preparation treatments decreased the extent of CCl4-induced liver inflammations. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that B. lacera leaf extract was effective against CCl4-induced liver injury possibly due to the presence of components such as phytol. A liposomal preparation exhibited significantly better activity compared to a B. lacera suspension, probably due to improved bioavailability and stability of the leaf extract

Expanding the Family of Tetrahalide Iron Complexes: Synthesis, Structure and Biological Applications.

A neutral octahedral mononuclear iron(II) tetrabromide complex, [Fe(Hampy)2Br4], that consists of equatorial bromide and protonated aminopyrazinium axial ligands is successfully synthesised through redox chemistry and analysed using X-ray crystallography. The iron(II) oxidation state is balanced by the protonated pyrazinium nitrogen just outside the coordination sphere. The biological properties of this and two other related complexes are investigated using both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as methicillin resistant strains. They all exhibit some antimicrobial properties albeit at moderate to poor concentrations. However, the tetrahalide complexes analysed exhibit excellent anti biofilm properties well below cytotoxic levels

Incidences of severe acute respiratory virus infections among children aged <5 years in Matlab, Bangladesh, June–October 2010.

<p>Incidences of severe acute respiratory virus infections among children aged <5 years in Matlab, Bangladesh, June–October 2010.</p

Respiratory viruses identified among children aged <5 years with severe acute respiratory infections during the typical influenza epidemic period in Bangladesh rainy season, 2010.

<p>Respiratory viruses identified among children aged <5 years with severe acute respiratory infections during the typical influenza epidemic period in Bangladesh rainy season, 2010.</p

Clinical features, treatment and status at discharge of the hospitalized children aged <5 years with severe acute respiratory infections in Matlab, Bangladesh, June–October 2010.

<p>*Information available for 62 cases.</p>†<p>Not Applicable.</p>‡<p>Did not recover fully, but with improvement of clinical condition were discharged with advise to continue treatment at home.</p

Health care seeking pattern of hospitalized and non-hospitalized children aged <5 years with severe acute respiratory infections in Matlab, Bangladesh, June–October 2010.

<p>*Community Health and Research Worker.</p>†<p>Includes untrained practitioner, pharmacy/drug seller and homeopath.</p

Age distribution and follow-up duration of children aged <5 years in Matlab, Bangladesh, June–October 2010<b>.</b>

<p>Age distribution and follow-up duration of children aged <5 years in Matlab, Bangladesh, June–October 2010<b>.</b></p