Evaluation of analgesic activity of Emblica officinalis in albino rats

Background: Amla is one of the most often used herbs in indigenous medicine, whose all parts including fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark, and flowers are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicines. However, studies to establish analgesic potential of amla were limited, so the purpose of the present study was to evaluate analgesic activity of amla, if it possesses any.Methods: Albino rats were divided randomly in three groups of six rats each. Group 1 (control) received distilled water orally, Group 2 (test) received Emblica officinalis extract in dose of 600 mg/kg orally and Group 3 (standard) received Pentazocine in dose 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally.Results: Emblica officinalis extract did not produced statistically significant (p>0.05) analgesia when compared with the control group in hot plate latency, but produced a statistically significant reduction in 6% NaCl induced abdominal writhing (p<0.05). Conclusions: Since the plant extract significantly reduced the number of writhes in abdominal writhing model, but do not increase hot plate latency, the commercially available crude extract of Emblica officinalis exhibit analgesic activity involving peripheral mechanisms

Limb length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review

Correcting limb length inequality without compromising hip stability is one of the major intraoperative challenges in Total hip arthroplasty (THA) as it is a major cause of patient dissatisfaction and litigation against surgeon. Surgeons performing THA should aim to minimize Limb Length Discrepancy (LLD), and therefore should adopt a reliable method of doing so. Thus a reproducible technique which effectively reduces postoperative LLD without increasing operative time and is easy to apply is a need of time. Although various preoperative and intraoperative techniques are described in literature, none is universally applicable and is without limitations. We are presenting a review of 50 articles on limb length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty, its implications and several techniques to avoid it. We suggest that every effort should be made to minimise postoperative Limb Length Discrepancy by combined use of preoperative and intraoperative techniques

Molecular characterization of Nocardiopsis species from Didwana dry salt lake of Rajasthan, India

The genus Nocardiopsis is well known to produce secondary metabolites especially antibacterial bioactive compound. Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds producing novel isolates from unusual habitats are crucial. The present study was aimed to explore Didwana dry salt lake of Rajasthan state in India for the isolation and characterization of actinomycetes. The isolated actinomycetes isolates were characterized based on culture characteristics, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that all the five isolates inhabiting soil of the said dry salt lake of Didwana, Rajasthan belonged to four species of Nocardiopsis viz., N. synnemataformans, N. potens, N. prasina and N. dassonvillei subsp. albirubida. The molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was found accurate and robust. The phylogram generated through multiple sequence alignment of all the test isolates of Nocardiopsis revealed that the isolates aroused from a single branch and validated monophyletic association. The present study is the first report of exploring Nocardiopsis isolates from the dry salt lake. These characterized Nocardiopsis isolates isolated from Didwana dry salt lake habitat are novel stains and can be of significance in the detection and utilization of novel bioactive compounds

Comparative study to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of commercially available extract of Tinospora cordifolia and Phyllanthus emblica in streptozocin induced diabetic rat

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder with significant socioeconomic impact on a developing country like India. Ayurvedic texts have mentioned Tinospora cordifolia (guduchi) and Phyllanthus emblica (amla) to possess antidiabetic properties. The study was conducted to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of commercially available extract of these herbal plants in streptozocin induced diabetic rats and its comparison to standard antidiabetic drug glibenclamide.Methods: The study was carried out with albino rats of either sex weighing between 100-150 gm. All the rats were intraperitonially injected with 35 mg/kg of streptozocin in citrate buffer. Blood glucose was estimated after 1 week high fat diet and rats having blood glucose >200 mg/dl were considered diabetic and included in further study. They were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each. Six groups were given different interventions as distilled water (which were control rats), Tinospora cordifolia extract low dose (200 mg/kg/day), Tinospora cordifolia extract high dose (400mg/kg/day), Phyllanthus emblica extract low dose (200 mg/kg/day), Phyllanthus emblica extract high dose (400 mg/kg/day) and standard drug glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg/day). All the rats received allocated drugs for further 6 weeks. Blood glucose was measured every 2 weeks till the end of sixth weeks by glucose-oxidase method.Results: In both low as well as high dose groups, Tinospora cordifolia and Phyllanthus emblica showed significant reduction (P <0.01) in plasma glucose levels from fourth week onwards.Conclusions: Commercially available extract of Tinospora cordifolia and Phyllanthus emblica have significant anti-diabetic activity in streptozocin induced diabetic rats

Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobia on seed germination and seedling traits in Acacia senegal

Among arid zone tree species, Acacia senegal and Prosopis cineraria are the most important dryland resources of Western Rajasthan desert ecosystem. Due to ecological, biological and molecular similarities, they are often studied together. The climatic conditions in this region restrict the build-up of soil organic matter and soils are generally deficient in nitrogen. Studies were carried out to isolate and molecularly characterize the diverse group of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from root nodules of native A. senegal and P. cineraria and their effect on seed germination and seedling traits in two genotypes of A. senegal. The direct sequencing of 16S rDNA region resulted in molecular identification of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria as Bacillus licheniformis, Sinorhizobium saheli isolated from root nodules of A. senegal and S. kostiense and S. saheli isolated from root nodules of P. cineraria. The partial sequences of 16S rDNA were assigned Gen accession numbers HQ738496, HQ738499, HQ738506 and HQ738508. Scarification treatment with sulphuric acid (98%) for 15 minutes was able to break the exogenous seed dormancy and enhanced germination percentage in control treatment to 90% and 92.5% in A. senegal in genotypes CAZRI 11113AS and CAZRI 35AS, respectively. The treatments with Bacillus licheniformis or S. kostiense, either inoculated individually or as coinoculants, had positive effect on phenotypic traits of germination. Two A. senegal genotypes exhibited significant differences with regard to all the phenotypic traits. On the other hand, treatments with S. saheli isolated from either A. senegal or P. cineraria had negative effects on germination and related phenotypic traits. Values of the coeffivient of determination (R2) over 80% for root length versus shoot length, root/shoot ratio and seedling weight respectively validate that the observed attributes are inter-dependable and linear progression trend can be predicted.</span

Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural and Environmental Science in India

In the last six decades, the consumption of reactive nitrogen (Nr) in the form of fertilizer in India has been growing rapidly, whilst the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of cropping systems has been decreasing. These trends have led to increasing environmental losses of Nr, threatening the quality of air, soils, and fresh waters, and thereby endangering climate-stability, ecosystems, and human-health. Since it has been suggested that the fertilizer consumption of India may double by 2050, there is an urgent need for scientific research to support better nitrogen management in Indian agriculture. In order to share knowledge and to develop a joint vision, experts from the UK and India came together for a conference and workshop on “Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Nitrogen Science in India.” The meeting concluded with three core messages: (1) Soil stewardship is essential and legumes need to be planted in rotation with cereals to increase nitrogen fixation in areas of limited Nr availability. Synthetic symbioses and plastidic nitrogen fixation are possibly disruptive technologies, but their potential and implications must be considered. (2) Genetic diversity of crops and new technologies need to be shared and exploited to reduce N losses and support productive, sustainable agriculture livelihoods. Móring et al. Nitrogen Challenges and Opportunities (3) The use of leaf color sensing shows great potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use (by 10–15%). This, together with the usage of urease inhibitors in neem-coated urea, and better management of manure, urine, and crop residues, could result in a 20–25% improvement in NUE of India by 2030

"Like sugar in milk": reconstructing the genetic history of the Parsi population.

BACKGROUND: The Parsis are one of the smallest religious communities in the world. To understand the population structure and demographic history of this group in detail, we analyzed Indian and Pakistani Parsi populations using high-resolution genetic variation data on autosomal and uniparental loci (Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA). Additionally, we also assayed mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms among ancient Parsi DNA samples excavated from Sanjan, in present day Gujarat, the place of their original settlement in India. RESULTS: Among present-day populations, the Parsis are genetically closest to Iranian and the Caucasus populations rather than their South Asian neighbors. They also share the highest number of haplotypes with present-day Iranians and we estimate that the admixture of the Parsis with Indian populations occurred ~1,200 years ago. Enriched homozygosity in the Parsi reflects their recent isolation and inbreeding. We also observed 48% South-Asian-specific mitochondrial lineages among the ancient samples, which might have resulted from the assimilation of local females during the initial settlement. Finally, we show that Parsis are genetically closer to Neolithic Iranians than to modern Iranians, who have witnessed a more recent wave of admixture from the Near East. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the historically-recorded migration of the Parsi populations to South Asia in the 7th century and in agreement with their assimilation into the Indian sub-continent's population and cultural milieu "like sugar in milk". Moreover, in a wider context our results support a major demographic transition in West Asia due to the Islamic conquest