INDIGENOUS VOLATILE OILS AS IMPERATIVE GIFT FROM NATURE - A REVIEW

Volatile oils are concentrated odorous essences extracted from various plant parts such as flowers, fruits, heart-wood, rhizome and leaves. They are frequently employed in food flavoring, perfume, medicine and aromatherapy. Essential oils are extracted from various processes such as hydro distillation, effleurage and eucelle depending upon the plant part containing the essential oil. Essential oils are inhaled in the form of fine mist of vapour through aromatherapy and some of them are highly beneficial when ingested. These oils have been used traditionally for preservation of foods, spices and condiments. Essential oils or ethereal oils are natural, complex, multi-component, highly concentrated essences of aromatic plant systems composed mainly of terpenes units in addition to some other non-terpene components. These units biosynthesized by mevalonic acid pathway. Isoprenes/hemi-terpenes are five carbon compound having two unsaturated bonds. In this review paper an attempt has been done to emphasize the most valuable essential oils of Indian origin from nature with focus particularly on the chemical constituents, medicinal and pharmacological usage of volatile oils

Comparative clinical profile of patients of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) with and without Metabolic Syndrome: a prospective observational study

Background: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of common disorder in men of old age group. The pathogenesis of BPH is multi-factorial and still not been fully elucidated. There are numerous reports which suggest possible link between several metabolic alterations known as Metabolic Syndrome. In the present study, the aim was to establish relation between Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Metabolic Syndrome and to find out effects of therapeutic intervention of Metabolic Syndrome on prostatic parameters.Methods: 93 patients of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia enrolled who met qualifying criteria for inclusion in study and divided into three groups on the basis of Metabolic Syndrome and its treatment administered. Administration of alpha adrenergic blocker was common to all patients of all groups. Metabolic parameters including Fasting blood glucose, High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides (TGs), waist circumference and prostatic parameters that is prostate volume, prostate specific antigen (PSA), uroflometry, International prostate symptom score (IPSS) were assessed at baseline, after 3 and 6 months follow-up. Further appropriate statistical tests were applied for comparison of parameters among groups.Results: Patients receiving no treatment for Metabolic Syndrome were having most deranged prostatic parameters as compared to patients without Metabolic Syndrome or patients with Metabolic Syndrome receiving treatment for same. Further patients receiving treatment for Metabolic Syndrome and alpha adrenergic blocker were having better clinical profile than patients of alpha adrenergic blocker alone.Conclusions: These findings show probable link between Metabolic Syndrome and worse prostatic profile. Metabolic Syndrome must be looked for and treated in patients of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Metabolic derangements must not be overlooked and must be treated accordingly

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Not AvailableThe study aims to elucidate the impact of organic inputs on strength and structural stability of aggregates in a sandy loam soil of Indo-Gangetic Plain Zone of India. Tensile strength, friability and water stability of aggregates, and the carbon contents in bulk soil and in large macro (>2 mm), small macro (0.25-2 mm), micro (0.053-0.25 mm) and silt+ clay size (<0.053) The aggregate were evaluated in soils with different sources and amounts of organic C inputs as partial substitution of N fertilizer. Addition of organic substrates significantly improved soil organic C contents, but the type and source of input had different impacts. Tensile strength of aggregates decreased and friability increased through organic inputs, with a maximum effect under rice residue-farmyard manure and wheat residue substitution.The aggregate strength and density were lower with organic substitution (p < 0.05) while water retention by aggregates at field capacity was 2–4% higher with organic inputs. Macro-aggregates (>0.25 mm) constituted 58–92% of water stable aggregates and varied significantly among treatments and soil depths. Organic material incorporation improved soil aggregation and structural stability and resulted in higher C content in macro-aggregates. Higher macro-aggregates in the crop residue- and farmyard manure-treated soils resulted in a higher aggregate mean weight diameter, which also had higher soil organic C contents. The bulk soil organic C had a strong relation with the mean weight diameter of aggregates, but the soil organic c content in all aggregate fractions was not necessarily effective for aggregate stability. The soil organic C content in large macro-aggregates (2-8mm) had a significant positive effect on aggregate stability, although a reverse effect was observed for aggregates<0.25 mm. Partial substitution of nitrogen by organic substrates improved aggregate properties and the soil organic C content in bulk soil and aggregate fractions, although the relative effect varied with the source and amount of the organic inputsNot Availabl