GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS FROM THE RHIZOME EXTRACT OF NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI DC

ABSTRACTIn this study, the bioactive compounds of Nardostachys jatamansi have been evaluated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thechemical composition of the rhizome of N. jatamansi, petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethanol extract was investigated using agilent 7890 GC-MSinstrument. N. jatamansi extract contains 61 compounds, i.e., actinidine (11.2%), indane (28.7%), aristolene (7.2%), gurjuenen (5.5%), valencene(8.9%), globulol (8.2%), betapatachoulene (8.4%), etc. Actinidine and indane are the major compounds in the ethanol extract along with few minorcompounds.Keywords: Chloroform extract, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, Nardostachys jatamansi

A Criminological Study on Family Environmental Factors Affecting Child Sexual Abuse in Sri Lanka

Child sexual abuse is a serious crime prohibited by Sri Lankan criminal law, which is discussed under child abuse. There are various factors that contribute to the sexual abuse of children. This research has conducted a criminological study of the family environmental factors affecting child sexual abuse in Sri Lanka. The research was conducted in the Kalutara and Colombo districts of the Western Province and 228 sexually abused children were used as the main sample in 2015-2020. Two separate samples were also used for officers on duty with regard to parents and children from the victims. The data obtained from the research have been extensively analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. 87% of victims of sexual abuse are girls. The majority of 42% represent the 15-17 category. 47% of the majority are victims of corruption. The boyfriend (42%) is responsible for most of the abuse. 33% of victims have been sexually abused in their own home and 32% in the home of the abuser. Family vulnerabilities such as family economic difficulties, parental ignorance, extramarital affairs, single parent family, parental separation, family disputes, parental emigration, paternal and drug abuse, various physical and mental disorders of the parents, family moral decline, and breakdown of parent-child cooperation And various problems of children, problems in the social environment can be identified as factors contributing to sexual abuse. A child faces many problems when he or she is sexually abused. This physical, mental and social impact is detrimental not only to the child affected but also to his family, society and the country as a whole. It can be pointed out that an integrated approach is more effective in controlling and preventing child sexual abuse.    DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v07i02.08 &nbsp

Conjugation of Au Nanoparticles with Chlorambucil for Improved Anticancer Activity

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 30–40 nm in size has been prepared using A. hirsutus leaves extract as reducing agent for Au3+ ions under microwave irradiation from 60 to 360 s. These biocapped AuNPs were effectively conjugated with activated folic acid (FA, receptor) and chlorambucil (CHL, anticancer drug) molecules. The formation of AuNPs–FA–CHL was confirmed from different characterization techniques such as XRD, UV–Visible spectra, FT-IR and TEM images. The anticancer activity of these bioconjugated AuNPs was tested against human cancer cell lines (HeLa, RKO and A549) in comparison with normal epithelial cells (Vero). Unlike AuNPs and CHL alone, AuNPs–FA–CHL showed high toxicity towards human cancer cells by significantly decreasing the percentage viability of cells. Furthermore, the amount of drug released was found to be maximum at an ideal tumor environment pH 5.3. Keyword

Natural occurrence of aflatoxin, aflatoxigenic and nonaflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus in groundnut seeds across India

A survey across different agro-climatic regions of India was done and 38 groundnut seed samples were collected from various sources. Upon analysis, all samples were found infected with Aspergillus flavus ranging from 2 to 50% incidence with aflatoxin content of 0.0 to 28 ppb. Greenhouse studies revealed no correlation between incidence of A. flavus and aflatoxin content on seedling emergence, root length, shoot length and dry weight. Seeds were predominantly contaminated with aflatoxin B1 followed by aflatoxin B2. Among the tested A. flavus isolates, 31 were found aflatoxigenic and seven were nonaflatoxigenic when analyzed through cultural, thin layer chromatography, competitive direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Present study reveals the current scenario of aflatoxin contamination, and aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic fungal infection in groundnut seeds collected across India.Keywords: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin, enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), groundnutAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2587-259

Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Indian medicinal plants against clinical and phytopathogenic bacteria

The ethnobotanical efficacy of Indian medicinal plants; Achyranthes aspera, Artemisia parviflora, Azadirachta indica, Calotropis gigantean, Lawsonia inermis, Mimosa pudica, Ixora coccinea, Parthenium hysterophorus and Chromolaena odorata were examined using agar disc diffusion method against clinical bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and phytopathogenic bacteria (Xanthomonas vesicatoria and Ralstonia solanacearum). Leaves were extracted using different solvents such as methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform. Among treatments, maximum in vitro inhibition was scored in methanol extracts of C. odorata which offered inhibition zone of 10, 9, 12 and 12 mm against E. coli, S. aureus, X. vesicatoria and R. solanaccearum, respectively, followed by chloroform extract of the same plant leaf with inhibition zone of 8, 4, 4 and 4 mm, respectively. A significant inhibition of E. coli was found in aqueous and in all tested solvent extracts of A. indica. In case of S. aureus, maximum inhibition of 8 mm was obtained in aqueous extracts of A. indica and 6 mm from methanol extract of L. inermis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for the clinicalbacteria ranged between 0.35 to 4.0 mg/ml and 0.25 to 4.0 mg/ml for phytopathogenic bacteria when tested with all four solvents extracts of C. odorata. Whereas, extracts of A. aspera, A. parviflora, C. gigantean, L. inermis, M. pudica and I. coccinea were found to be ineffective or showed poor inhibition on tested human and phytopathogenic bacteria

Topological and electrostatic properties of diclofenac molecule as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug: An experimental and theoretical study

International audienceDiclofenac is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), which highly inhibits the lipoxygenase pathways and reduces the formation of leukotriene lipids. In this work, we report on measurements and calculations of the electron density of Diclofenac, obtained from high resolution experimental X-ray diffraction data at 110K and theoretical calculations. The supramolecular structure is dominated by the formation of a dimer through COOH homo-synthon. The analysis of the molecular electron density (by means of quantum theory of atoms in molecules), the electrostatic potential, the crystal packing and intermolecular interactions (through Hirshfeld surface analysis) enables gaining more insight into the nature of the 2 molecule and its ability to interact with other molecules. Furthermore, the topological properties of the dimer interactions in both the crystal phase and human transthyretin protein environment were identified. The electrostatic potential map shows that the high electronegative regions appear around the carboxyl group of the diclofenac molecule in both the crystal and protein environment. This study is complemented by a molecular dynamics simulation of the interaction of diclofenac with transthyretin protein, which enables to test the hypothesis made with the charge density analysis

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) Life-Stage Risks from Foliar and Seed-Treatment Insecticides

Conservation of North America\u27s eastern monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) population would require establishment of milkweed (Asclepias spp.) and nectar plants in the agricultural landscapes of the north central United States. A variety of seed-treatment and foliar insecticides are used to manage early- and late-season pests in these landscapes. Thus, there is a need to assess risks of these insecticides to monarch butterfly life stages to inform habitat conservation practices. Chronic and acute dietary toxicity studies were undertaken with larvae and adults, and acute topical bioassays were conducted with eggs, pupae, and adults using 6 representative insecticides: beta-cyfluthrin (pyrethroid), chlorantraniliprole (anthranilic diamide), chlorpyrifos (organophosphate), imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam (neonicotinoids). Chronic dietary median lethal concentration values for monarch larvae ranged from 1.6 x 10-3 (chlorantraniliprole) to 5.3 (chlorpyrifos) μg/g milkweed leaf, with the neonicotinoids producing high rates of arrested pupal ecdysis. Chlorantraniliprole and beta-cyfluthrin were generally the most toxic insecticides to all life stages, and thiamethoxam and chlorpyrifos were generally the least toxic. The toxicity results were compared to insecticide exposure estimates derived from a spray drift model and/or milkweed residue data reported in the literature. Aerial applications of foliar insecticides are expected to cause high downwind mortality in larvae and eggs, with lower mortality predicted for adults and pupae. Neonicotinoid seed treatments are expected to cause little to no downslope mortality and/or sublethal effects in larvae and adults. Given the vagile behavior of nonmigratory monarchs, considering these results within a landscape-scale context suggests that adult recruitment will not be negatively impacted if new habitat is established in close proximity of maize and soybean fields in the agricultural landscapes of the north central United States

Design and Implementation of Modified Zeta Converter for Solar Water Pumping Application

The linear increase in the growth of the population demands a requisite for energy resources. Knowing the loathsome truth that non-renewable sources will ultimately exhaust, the significance of renewable sources cannot be undervalued. Considering various factors, many work areas are reliant upon fossil fuels for the generation of electricity. The use of fossil fuels will increase the quality of power production but will drain one day, and industries must change to renewable sources. The earliest system that strikes a chord with regard to renewable energy is the photovoltaic (PV) energy system. In this specific circumstance, interest in solar systems is expanding step by step, and its installations are becoming broad. The implementation of the solar water pumping method used for irrigation purposes using a Zeta converter was best suited for small and minor farmers, but still, the efficiency of the system can be upgraded with the use of filters. The vantage of the ZETA converter has less result voltage ripple and smooth water pumping application. The PV-based system has reached the point where it is used in Electric vehicles by enhancing the standard operating condition of the converter under the steady and dynamic behavior of a PV system. Eventually, it can be worked considerably under minimum solar irradiance. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of the signal had dominant performance in a zeta converter circuit while sign levels ripple current, and voltage on the output side was compact

The Adaptor Protein AP-3 Is Required for CD1d-Mediated Antigen Presentation of Glycosphingolipids and Development of Vα14i NKT Cells

Relatively little is known about the pathway leading to the presentation of glycolipids by CD1 molecules. Here we show that the adaptor protein complex 3 (AP-3) is required for the efficient presentation of glycolipid antigens that require internalization and processing. AP-3 interacts with mouse CD1d, and cells from mice deficient for AP-3 have increased cell surface levels of CD1d and decreased expression in late endosomes. Spleen cells from AP-3–deficient mice have a reduced ability to present glycolipids to natural killer T (NKT) cells. Furthermore, AP-3–deficient mice have a significantly reduced NKT cell population, although this is not caused by self-tolerance that might result from increased CD1d surface levels. These data suggest that the generation of the endogenous ligand that selects NKT cells may also be AP-3 dependent. However, the function of MHC class II–reactive CD4+ T lymphocytes is not altered by AP-3 deficiency. Consistent with this divergence from the class II pathway, NKT cell development and antigen presentation by CD1d are not reduced by invariant chain deficiency. These data demonstrate that the AP-3 requirement is a particular attribute of the CD1d pathway in mice and that, although MHC class II molecules and CD1d are both found in late endosomes or lysosomes, different pathways mediate their intracellular trafficking