Pomegranate – an Insight into its Antioxidative, Thrombolytic and Membrane Stabilizing Property

The present study is focused on exploring the antioxidative, thrombolytic and membrane stabilizing property of the peel and aril of pomegranate. Antioxidative property was deliberated based on their free radical scavenging ability in which the peel exerted higher radical scavenging potential. Thrombolytic potential of pomegranate was notably higher in aril (30.36%) than in peel (27.62%) while the standard streptokinase exhibited 58.38%. The membrane stabilizing activity was assessed under hypotonic and varying temperature conditions and compared with standard acetyl salicylic acid. The synergistic effect of the fruit could be further explored to be one of the best sources for atherothrombotic diseases. Keywords: Pomegranate, Thrombolysis, Membrane stability, Free radical scavengin

Evaluation of the oral hypoglycemic activity of methanolic extract of Garcinia indica seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic Albino rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disorder with several microvascular and macrovascular complications. Several plants have been used as dietary adjuvants to conventional drug therapy. Garcinia indica exhibits significant hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of methanolic extract of seeds of Garcinia indica on blood glucose levels in Streptozotocin induced diabetic albino rats.Methods: Five groups of wistar albino rats (n=6) weighing 150-200g of either sex aged 3-4 months were obtained for the study. After overnight fasting, streptozotocin (50mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Five groups are: Group-1: Non diabetic control group, Group-2: diabetic control, Group-3: diabetic standard, Group-4: test group, Group-5: half of test + half of standard. Fasting blood sugar was estimated on 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28th day by capillary blood glucose method. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis.Results: In this study, following Streptozotocin administration the blood glucose levels increased in all groups on day 0. In group 2, blood glucose level gradually increased to 445.6±1.75mg/dl over a period of 4 weeks. Following glibenclamide administration in Group 3 - there was a gradual reduction in blood glucose levels: 269.8mg/dl - day 7 to 101.8mg/dl - week 4. Group 4 - persistent and significant (p<0.05) fall in blood glucose levels reaching upto 107mg/dl at the end of 4 weeks. Group 5 - 330mg/dl on day 1 which significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 101mg/dl on day 28. There was improvement in weight in group 4 and group 5 diabetic rats.Conclusions: The extract alone and in combination with glibenclamide showed significant hypoglycemic activity in comparison to diabetic control group

Angular separations of the lensed QSO images

We have analyzed the observed image separations of the gravitationally lensed images of QSOs for a possible correlation with the source redshift. Contrary to the previously noted anti-correlation based on a smaller data set, no correlation is found for the currently available data. We have calculated the average image separations of the lensed QSOs as a function of source redshifts, for isothermal spheres with cores in a flat universe, taking into account the amplification bias caused by lensing. The shape of the distribution of average image separation as a function of redshift is very robust and is insensitive to most model parameters. Observations are found to be roughly consistent with the theoretical results for models which assume the lens distribution to be (i) Schechter luminosity function which, however, can not produce images with large separation and (ii) the mass condensations in a cold dark matter universe, as given by the Press-Schechter theory if an upper limit of 1-7$\times 10^{13}$ M$\odot$ is assumed on the mass of the condensations.Comment: 20 pages, 7 postscript figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Quaternion-Octonion SU(3) Flavor Symmetry

Starting with the quaternionic formulation of isospin SU(2) group, we have derived the relations for different components of isospin with quark states. Extending this formalism to the case of SU(3) group we have considered the theory of octonion variables. Accordingly, the octonion splitting of SU(3) group have been reconsidered and various commutation relations for SU(3) group and its shift operators are also derived and verified for different iso-spin multiplets i.e. I, U and V- spins. Keywords: SU(3), Quaternions, Octonions and Gell Mann matrices PACS NO: 11.30.Hv: Flavor symmetries; 12.10-Dm: Unified field theories and models of strong and electroweak interaction

A LITERATURE REVIEW ON ANUKTA DRAVYA AND ITS PARIBHASA: STRATEGY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONFINES OF ANUKTA

Ayurveda deals with the Dravya, Guna and Karma of helpful and harmful materials (...yatascha aayushyyaani anaayushyani cha dravyagunakarma ani vedayatyato apyaayurvedaha….). It is not possible to speak about everything every time but one should decide their specific and own application as per necessities and should determine appropriately. The entities which are not much important and unavailable and if unavailable are not discussed it remains Anukta. Need of Anukta aushadi dravya is important because there is no material which cannot be used as drug (Jagat evam anoushadam). Anukta literally means unsaid, unuttered. In the context where nothing is clearly said, Anukta is taken as standard parameter. It helps not only in understanding the classical concepts but also becomes base for understanding the new diseases, drugs and treatment principles and so on. Problem facing related to Anukta dravya is Pratyaksham hi alpam, apratyaksham hi analpam i.e., known is less, unkown is more. Problem facing is difficulty in assessment of new drug in all aspects Naama, Rupa, Guna, Karma, Prayoga. Already we find scattered references regarding guidelines to know Anukta dravya based on classical text mainly according to Charaka. So this proper perception fulfils the scarcity of classical references to know the Anukta dravya, which in turn may help to take a clinical research based on this literary research

Chemical Enrichment at High Redshifts

We have tried to understand the recent observations related to metallicity in Ly $\alpha$ forest clouds in the framework of the two component model suggested by Chiba & Nath (1997). We find that even if the mini-halos were chemically enriched by an earlier generation of stars, to have [C/H] $\simeq$ -2.5, the number of C IV lines with column density $>10^{12} cm^{-2}$, contributed by the mini-halos, at the redshift of 3, would be only about 10% of the total number of lines, for a chemical enrichment rate of $(1+z)^{-3}$ in the galaxies. Recently reported absence of heavy element lines associated with most of the Ly $\alpha$ lines with H I column density between $10^{13.5} cm^{-2}$ and $10^{14} cm^{-2}$ by Lu et al (1998), if correct, gives an upper limit on [C/H]=-3.7, not only in the mini-halos, but also in the outer parts of galactic halos. This is consistent with the results of numerical simulations, according to which, the chemical elements associated with the Ly $\alpha$ clouds are formed in situ in clouds, rather than in an earlier generation of stars. However, the mean value of $7 \times 10^{-3}$ for the column density ratio of C IV and H I, determined by Cowie and Songaila (1998) for low Lyman alpha optical depths, implies an abundance of [C/H] =-2.5 in mini-halos as well as in most of the region in galactic halos, presumably enriched by an earlier generation of stars. The redshift and column density distribution of C IV has been shown to be in reasonable agreement with the observations.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, To appear in Astrophysical Journa

Anticonvulsant activity of nitrendipine in albino mice

Background: The objective is to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of nitrendipine in seizure-induced mice.Methods: Albino mice (25-30 g) of either sex were randomly selected and divided into four groups of six mice each. After overnight fasting, Group I received 0.25 ml of propylene glycol and served as the control, Group II received valproic acid (110 mg/kg orally) as standard, Groups III received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 100 mg/kg of valproic acid, Group IV received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 75 mg/kg of valproic acid, and Group V received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 50 mg/kg of valproic acid all of which were administered orally 60 mins prior to the test in this acute study. The anticonvulsant activity was screened using maximal electroshock (MES) model and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model.Results: The nitrendipine showed a considerable reduction in the duration of hindlimb extensor phase in MES model and also delayed the latency of seizures induced by PTZ when compared with control group. The probable mechanism of anticonvulsant action of nitrendipine could be due to its interference with the gamma amino butyric acid type aminergic mechanism, modulation of nicotinic, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.Conclusion: Nitrendipine possesses the anticonvulsant activity and has a beneficial role in epilepsy

FIIs and Indian Stock Market: A Causality Investigation

While the volatility associated with portfolio capital flows is well known, there is also a concern that foreign institutional investors might introduce distortions in the host country markets due to the pressure on them to secure capital gains. In this context, present chapter attempts to find out the direction of causality between foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and performance of Indian stock market. To facilitate a better understanding of the causal linkage between FII flows and contemporaneous stock market returns (BSE National Index), a period of nineteen consecutive financial years ranging from January 1992 to December 2010 is selected. Granger Causality Test has been applied to test the direction of causality.Aczkolwiek brak stabilności związany z przepływami kapitału portfelowego jest dobrze znany, to istnieje również obawa, że zagraniczni inwestorzy instytucjonalni mogą wprowadzać zakłócenia na rynkach krajów przyjmujących z uwagi na wywieraną na nich presję, aby zapewniać zyski kapitałowe. W tym kontekście niniejszy rozdział próbuje poznać kierunek przyczynowości pomiędzy zagranicznymi inwestorami instytucjonalnymi (FIIs) i działaniem indyjskiej giełdy. Aby ułatwić lepsze zrozumienie związku przyczynowego między przepływami FII i mającymi miejsce w tym samym czasie wynikami giełdy papierów wartościowych (BSE National Index), wybrany został okres dziewiętnastu kolejnych lat począwszy od stycznia 1992 do grudnia 2010. Do zbadania kierunku przyczynowości zastosowano test przyczynowości Grangera

Quaternion-Octonion Unitary Symmetries and Analogous Casimir Operators

An attempt has been made to investigate the global SU(2) and SU(3) unitary flavor symmetries systematically in terms of quaternion and octonion respectively. It is shown that these symmetries are suitably handled with quaternions and octonions in order to obtain their generators, commutation rules and symmetry properties. Accordingly, Casimir operators for SU(2)and SU(3) flavor symmetries are also constructed for the proper testing of these symmetries in terms of quaternions and octonions

Study of the oral hypoglycemic activity of Moringaoleifera leaves alone and in combination with Glibenclamide in streptozotocin induced diabetic albino rats

Background: Oringaoleifera is a widely used plant with high medicinal value, well known for its pharmacological actions and is used in various conditions. It has been reported to have many biological properties like anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antitumour including antidiabetic activity.Methods: The study was carried out in Wistar albino rats with body weight 150-250gms. Diabetes was induced by injecting Streptozotocin intraperitoneally- dose 55 mg/kg BW. Animals were divided into 5 groups with 6 animals in each group. First group (Control) was given 2% gum acacia. Other 4 groups were induced diabetes by giving Streptozotocin. Diabetic control group received gum acacia (0.5 ml), Standard group received Glibenclamide (0.5mg/kg BW), Test group received Moringaoleifera extract (300mg/kg) and Test+ Standard group receiving combination of Moringaoleifera and glibenclamide at half the above doses. All drugs were given orally for 28 days and blood glucose levels analyzed using Glucometer on Day 0 before drug and on D1, D3, D7, D14, D21, and D28. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey‘s Post Hoc test.Results: Hypoglycemia produced by Moringaoleifera extract was significant (p<0.001) when compared to diabetic control group from day 7 to day 28. The percent reduction of blood glucose level was 52.9% as compared to Glibenclamide group 61.3%. The combination group also showed significant hypoglycemic activity the percentage reduction being 56.44%.Conclusions: Thus, Moringaoleifera decreased blood glucose level efficaciously as compared to diabetic control group and similar to standard group at p<0.001