Analgesic Activity of Leaf Extract of Olea dioica (Roxb.)

The present study was carried out to investigate the analgesic activity of leaf extract of Olea dioica (Roxb) belonging to the family Oleaceae. Acute toxicity was determined by administering single oral dose of 2000mg/kg b.w to Swiss albino mice. The results showed no toxicity in terms of general behavior change and mortality and LD50 was found to be more than 2,000 mg/kg. Analgesic effect of extract was evaluated in Swiss Albino mice by Tail flick method. The animals were administered with 100, 200 and 300 mg extract/kg b.w and the positive control used for the study was Pentazocine (5mg/kg). The extract and Pentazocine showed significant analgesic activity as compared to control. The extract increased pain threshold indicating that the extract exhibit analgesic activity.Keywords: Oleadioica Analgesic activity Tail flick metho

Cytotoxic Activity of Croton gibsonianus Nimm. Grah

The present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic activity ofmethanol extract of Croton gibsonianus Nimm. Grah (Euphorbiaceae) leavesby brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The powdered leaf material was extractedwith methanol. The cytotoxicity activity of methanol extract was tested usingbrine shrimp (Artemia nauplii) lethality assay. The mortality of shrimps weredetermined and LC50 was calculated. Cytotoxic activity, in terms of mortalityof brine shrimps, was dependent on concentration of the extract. Highestmortality (87%) was observed at extract concentration 1000ìg/ml. The LC50of methanol extract was found to be 109.48ìg/ml. The result of the studyindicated that the extract possesses cytotoxic property. Further studies onisolation of active constituents possessing cytotoxic activity their cytotoxicityon various cancer and tumor cell lines are under investigation

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Green Tea Polyphenols

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity is one of the most popular approaches for treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s  disease and others. In the present study, we evaluated inhibition of  acetylcholinesterase activity by different concentrations of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) extract using acetylthiocholine as substrate. The green tea extract inhibited AChE activity dose dependently with an IC50 value of 42.05µg/ml. The observed inhibitory activity could be ascribed to the polyphenolic content of green tea extract. Consumption of green tea might provide protection against neurological disorders

Butea monosperma Silver Nanoparticles Anticancer Activity Against MCF 7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

In this research, silver nanoparticles were synthesized from Butea monosperma for in vitro cytotoxicity efficacy against MCF-7 cells. Silver nanoparticles are deemed the most positive, considering their strong volume surface region, and are of concern for study because of the improved microbial tolerance to antibiotics and medicines. Therefore, green synthesis of nanoparticles of silver using biomolecules derived from various plant sources in the form of extracts can be applied for the screening of different diseases which trigger microorganisms and for the physical and biological characterization of plant-derived silver nanoparticles. The experiment involved the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Butea monosperma leaf extract. Biosynthesized Butea monosperma-AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The intensity of peak broad range 200-800nm in UV-vis spectra, EDS test. The SEM shows the actual size of the nanoparticles. The MTT assays were carried out for cytotoxicity of various concentrations of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed a significant anticancer activity against both MCF-7. Our study thus revealed an excellent application of greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles. At the Concentration 80µg/ml, Sample Code A, B, C, D samples showed good percent inhibition MCF7cell line as compared to standard drug.The study also suggested the potential therapeutic use of these nanoparticles in cancer study

Global Epidemiology of Tuberculosis: Past, Present and Future

No9 abstract

Antioxidant Activity of Natural Products against Aluminium Fluoride Induced Oxidative Stress

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of natural products against Aluminium fluoride (AlF4) induced oxidative stress in albino mice were represented in the present study. Gossypin, Quercetin dehydrate, (-)-Epicatechin gallate, Gallic acid and Suramin sulphate (G-protein inhibitor) were evaluated for antioxidant activity by measuring various biochemical / enzymatic markers such as lipid peroxidation, glutathione, total thiols, catalase and  superoxide dismutase. Exposure to Aluminium fluoride resulted in the oxidative stress and free radical mediated damage. The flavonoids like Gossypin, Quercetin, (-) -Epicatechin gallate, Gallic acid and Suramin sulphate are significantly reduced lipid peroxidation, reversed the reduced protective enzymes SOD,CAT and non-enzymatic like glutathione and total thiols levels were approached to normal levels in Aluminium fluoride  exposed mice. All the test compounds were showed significant protectionagainst fluoride toxicity. Results of the present study reveals that the flavonoids and Suramin sulphate showed significant antioxidant activity on Aluminium fluoride induced oxidative stress. Further research warranted to study their exact mechanism of action

INSECTICIDAL, ANTIBACTERIAL, AND ANTIRADICAL ACTIVITY OF NICOTIANA PLUMBAGINIFOLIA VIV. (SOLANACEAE)

  Objectives: Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. belongs to the family Solanaceae. The present study was carried out to determine insecticidal, antibacterial, and antiradical activity of aerial parts of N. plumbaginifolia.Methods: Extraction was carried out by maceration process using methanol. Insecticidal activity was assessed, in terms of larvicidal effect, against II and IV instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against a panel of 7 bacteria by agar well diffusion assay. Antiradical activity was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays.Results: The extract was found to cause dose-dependent mortality of larvae of A. aegypti. The lethal concentration 50 value of extract for II and IV instar larvae was found to be 0.41 and 0.99 mg/ml, respectively. Extract was effective in inhibiting all bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria displayed marked susceptibility when compared to Gram-negative bacteria. Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were susceptible to highest and least extent, respectively. Extract scavenged both DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals dose dependently. Extract scavenged ABTS radicals more efficiently (inhibitory concentration [IC50] value 13.51 μg/ml) when compared to DPPH radicals (IC50 value 17.43 μg/ml).Conclusions: The plant N. plumbaginifolia appears to be a promising resource for developing agents with insecticidal, antibacterial, and antiradical activity. The observed bioactivities could be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals which are to be isolated, characterized, and subjected for bioactivity determinations. The plant can be used to prevent arboviral diseases, infectious diseases, and oxidative damage

Comparative Study on Antimicrobial Activity of Vitex negundo var. negundo and Vitex negundo var. purpurascens

The present study was conducted with an aim of determining antimicrobial activity of Vitex negundo var. negundo (Vnvn) and Vitex negundo var. purpurascens (Vnvp).The powdered leaf materials of both varieties were extracted using methanol in soxhlet assembly. The content of total phenolics and flavonoids were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and Aluminium chloride colorimetric estimation method respectively. Antibacterial activity of extracts was determined against five drug resistant urinary tract pathogens by agar well diffusion assay. Poisoned food technique was performed to determine antifungal effect of extracts. The extracts caused concentration dependent inhibition of urinary tract isolates. Marked antibacterial effect was shown by extract of Vnvp. Among bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were inhibited to high and least extent respectively by extracts. The extracts were effective in inhibiting test fungi as revealed by reduction in mycelial growth in plates poisoned with extracts. Here also, high inhibitory activity was observed in case of extract of Vnvp. Among fungi, Helminthosporium sp., Alternaria sp., and C. capsici displayed similar susceptibility to both extracts at concentration 1mg/ml. Aspergillus flavus was inhibited to least extent by extracts. Phytoconstituents viz., tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and glycosides were detected in extract of both Vnvn and Vnvp. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were high in extract of Vnvp. The extracts were effective against bacteria and fungi. The presence of high phenolic and flavonoid content could be ascribed to the marked inhibitory activities of the extract of Vnvp

Na-K-Cl Cotransporter-1 as a Regulator of Manganese-induced Astrocyte Swelling

Astrocyte swelling leads to brain edema, intracranial pressure, brain herniation and acute liver failure (fulminant hepatic failure) which is the major cause of death in this condition. Manganese has been strongly implicated as an important factor in astrocyte swelling. Manganese in excess is neurotoxic and causes a CNS disorder that resembles  Parkinson¡¦s disease (manganism). Manganese highly accumulates in astrocytes, which renders these cells more vulnerable to its toxicity. In addition to manganism, increased brain levels of manganese have been found in hepatic encephalopathy. Manganese is known to cause cellswelling in cultured astrocytes, although the means by which this occurs has not been fully elucidated. A disturbance in one or more of these systems may result in loss of ion homeostasis and cell swelling. In particular, activation of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) has been shown to be involved in cell swelling in several neurological disorders.We therefore examined the effect of manganese on NKCC activity and its potential role in the swelling of astrocytes. Cultured astrocytes were exposed to manganese (50 µM), and NKCC activity was measured. Manganese increased NKCC activity at 24 h. Inhibition of this  activity by bumetanide diminished manganese-induced astrocyte swelling.  Manganese (Mn) also increased total as well as phosphorylated NKCC1. These results suggest that activation of NKCC1 is an important factor in the mediation of astrocyte swelling by manganese and that such activation appears to be mediated by NKCC1 abundance

ANTIMICROBIAL, INSECTICIDAL, AND ANTIRADICAL ACTIVITY OF SOLANUM VIRGINIANUM L. (SOLANACEAE)

  Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine antimicrobial, antiradical, and insecticidal activity of methanolic extract of the whole plant of Solanum virginianum L. (Solanaceae).Methods: Extraction of shade dried and powdered plant material was carried out by maceration process. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of extract were determined by agar well diffusion and poisoned food technique, respectively. Antiradical activity of extract was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Insecticidal activity, in terms of larvicidal activity, was evaluated against 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti.Results: The extract exhibited inhibitory activity against all bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria showed greater susceptibility to extract when compared to Gram-negative bacteria. The extract was effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of all test fungi with marked activity against Curvularia sp. and Alternaria sp. The extract scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals dose dependently with an inhibitory concentration value of 45.66 and 7.37μg/ml, respectively. The extract showed concentration-dependent larvicidal activity with high lethal activity observed against 2nd instar larvae with lethal concentration value of 0.82 mg/ml.Conclusion: In suitable form, the plant can be used as an effective agent against microbial infections and oxidative damage and to control insect vectors which transmit several diseases