Sphingobacterium multivorum causing fatal meningoencephalitis: a rare case report

We report a case of fatal meningitis caused by bacteria, Sphingobacterium multivorum, probably first time being reported from India. S. mulivorum has been isolated from various clinical specimens but it is only rarely been associated with serious infections. Sphingobacterium species are generally resistant to aminoglycosides and polymyxin B. Susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics is variable, requiring testing for individual drug. This 36 year male had two weeks history of high-grade fever with altered sensorium and occasional seizures. Patient admitted with septicemia and subsequently developed meningitis and succumbed to his illness after being discharged against medical advice. His CSF culture yielded S. multivorum subsequently confirmed by mini API, bioMérieux Inc. Marcy-l’Etoile France. Due to its rare association with common clinical conditions, it requires a high degree of suspicion and expertise to prove its presence in clinical specimens. Since this bacterium is inherently resistant to many classes of antibiotics, a vigilant and efficient microbiological work up is needed to establish its diagnosis and prompt treatment

Comparative evaluation of antigen detection ELISA and reverse transcriptase PCR in acute stage of Japanese encephalitis prevalent in endemic areas of North-Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Objective of current study was to compare and evaluate different diagnostic tests to establish a reliable and less time consuming diagnostic test for prompt diagnosis of acute Japanese encephalitis cases mainly amongst children and young adults from North-Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh.  Methods: A total of 100 subjects, including 50 suspected cases and 50 diseased controls were investigated to establish the diagnosis of JE in acute encephalitis patients. All CSF samples were subjected to MAC-ELISA, virus cultivation and RT-PCR.Results: Out of 50 cases, 6 showed negative results by all the three tests. 50% (22 out of 44), 47.5% (21 out of 44), and 66% (23 out of 44) were found positive by MAC-ELISA, Virus cultivation and RT-PCR respectively. The rate of detection by Virus cultivation and RT-PCR was higher in case of MAC-ELISA negative cases (57.1% and 78.5%) than that of MAC-ELISA positive cases (22.7% and 27.2%) respectively. Mean age of the patients was 12.5 years, which ranged from 1-24 years with male to female ratio of 3:1.Conclusions: The RT-PCR was found most reliable, sensitive and specific method amongst the three chosen methods for detection of JEV in suspected encephalitis patients

Comparison of BACTEC MGIT with conventional methods for detection of Mycobacteria in clinically suspected patients of extra pulmonary tuberculosis in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Tuberculosis is an important public health problem in India and globally.  Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) constitutes for approximately 15 to 20 per cent of all cases of tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients and accounts for more than 50 per cent of the cases in HIV- positive individuals. Main problem with the extra-pulmonary tuberculosis is the paucibacillary nature of the specimen, which makes the diagnosis difficult and delay the treatment. With this in background, this study aimed at the isolation of Mycobacteria from clinical specimens of patients suspected of extra pulmonary tuberculosis using BACTEC MGIT, Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) media and direct acid-fast bacilli smear examination.Methods: A total of 66 samples were processed for direct AFB smear examination, and culture on MGIT and LJ media. Acid fast staining of the specimens was done using the Ziehl-Neelsen method.Results: Among 66 specimens, MGIT gave a higher yield of mycobacteria (46.9%), lower contamination rate (3%) and shorter time to positive culture as compared to LJ media.Conclusions: MGIT gives higher yield and faster results

Biological activities and Phytochemical analysis of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. leaves and bark extracts collected from Kumaun region, Uttarakhand, India

The methanolic and chloroform extracts of leaves and bark of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. were evaluated for their phytochemical analysis and biological activities. In phytochemical analysis, fargsin was identified as major constituent in leaves methanolic and leaves chloroform extracts. t-butylamine and benzoxazole, 2-(isobutylamino) were identified as the major constituents in bark methanolic and bark chloroform extracts respectively. Both the extracts exhibited moderate antioxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 19.42±0.07 to78.01±0.31 µg. These extracts also possess moderate anti-inflammatory activity with IB50 values ranging from 28.53 ± 0.06 to 89.80 ± 0.05 µg. Moderate anti-bacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus has also been observed in both the extracts. The total flavonoids, orthodihydric phenols and phenolic contents were also quantified in the extracts. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that Zanthoxylum armatum DC. may be used as herbal antioxidant, food preservative, natural anti-inflammatory drug and natural bactericidal, besides generation of data base for judicious exploitation in future

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of extracts of Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. from Uttarakhand Himalayan region

The medicinal traits of Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl. have been used in traditional and folklore medicinal system, however, scientific evaluation of such medicinal plants have not been much explored yet. Different solvent extracts of the whole plant of C. macrophylla from the Himalayan region are the key subject of interest to evaluate and exhibit their antioxidant properties concerning its phytochemical composition. The different polarity extracts of C. macrophylla were prepared using the Soxhlet apparatus and both of their GC-MS profile outlined their individual components. The antioxidant activity of both extracts was evaluated for DPPH radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity, and reducing power activity. Thirty-two compounds were identified in the hexane extract, accounting for 63.56% of the total extract composition with tetratetracontane (9.78%), as the prominent compound. A sum of 26 compounds making up 79.74% of the total methanolic extract composition was identified and the major compound was a diterpenoid, trachylobane (31.87%). The methanolic extract exerted potent antioxidant properties when compared, in vitro, to hexane extract as it showed better IC50 values of DPPH radical scavenging activity (91.97 ± 0.33 µg/ml), metal chelating activity (10.90 ± 1.40 µg/ml) and reducing power activity (56.72 ± 0.67 µg/ml). The antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract was also comparable to standards. Therefore, the methanolic extract exhibited better results as compared to hexane extract and had comparable potential with standards in vitro, if further explored might be utilized as an antioxidant agent in various pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries

Micromorphology and distribution of trichome in Saxifraga L. species from Western Indian Himalaya and its taxonomic implications

Trichomes are present in all species of Saxifraga L. barring few exceptions. In present study trichomes of 27 species, (among which 14 species not studied earlier), occurring in Indian Western Himalaya were examined and their distribution on plant parts was recorded. Eight types of trichomes were recognized. Among the all plant parts, trichomes are present on the pedicel of maximum species (26 species) worked out. Structural diversity and distribution of trichomes in different sections and subsections show a little systematic relevance. However, a species level differentiation is possible in this genus and an artificial key based on structure and distribution of trichomes is proposed for species identification

Gentiana saginoides Burkill (Magnoliopsida: Gentianales: Gentianaceae) rediscovered from Sunderdhunga Valley in Uttarakhand 155 years after description: notes on its population status

Gentiana saginoides Burkill (Gentianaceae) was described by Burkill in 1906 based on a collection from Sunderdhunga, Uttarakhand by T. Anderson in 1857. The species was not collected after its type collection despite attempts by several workers in the past. A field survey in and around the type locality was conducted in June 2012 and the species was re-discovered after a lapse of 155 years since its type collection. The species is tentatively categorised as ‘Critically Endangered’ based on field observations. A full description and diagrams of the species are provided here based on new specimens collected.</p

Chemo-profiling of methanolic and ether oleoresins of Salvia coccinea and in vitro pesticidal evaluation with in silico molecular docking and ADME/Tox studies

The objective of the present study was to examine the chemical compositions of Salvia coccinea oleoresins prepared in methanol and petroleum ether. GC-MS analysis of Salvia coccinea methanolic oleoresin (SCMO) and Salvia coccinea ether oleoresin (SCEO) resulted in the identification of 15 and 12 constituents, comprising 84.7 and 81.2% of the total composition, respectively. Both SCMO and SCEO varied in their chemical composition in terms of quantity, namely, oleic acid (22.3-25.9%), palmitic acid (8.9-8.4%), stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one (3.4-11.8%), stigmasterol acetate (3.5-5.3%), neophytadiene (4.8-1.7%), phytol (1.6-7.8%) and phthalic acid (2.1-3.1%). In addition to the qualitative differences between SCMO and SCEO concomitantly, both oleoresins were examined for their pesticidal activities. Oleoresins demonstrated significant nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita, insecticidal activity against Lipaphis erysimi, antifungal activity against Curvularia lunata, and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. For nematicidal activity, SCMO and SCEO exhibited a high mortality of 65.66±1.69 and 54.33±1.24 and egg hatching inhibition of 26.33±1.20and 33.33±1.24 at 200 μg/mL. Similarly, SCMO and SCEO exhibited excellent insecticidal activity with 94.87±1.44 % and 86.75±1.85 %   mortality at 1000 μg/mL. However, both oleoresins exhibited moderate antifungal and antibacterial activities compared to standards. Due to the quantitative difference in chemical composition and the presence of several phytoconstituents that were absent in SCEO, SCMO displayed stronger pesticidal effects than SCEO. To estimate the binding energy and structure-activity relationships between chemical constituents and pesticidal activities, in silico molecular docking and ADME/Tox studies have also been performed using a web-based online tool. On the basis of the present study, it is inferred that the herb Salvia coccinea might be a good source of phytochemicals and can be used for the development of herbal-based pesticides/formulations after proper clinical trials

Comparative chemical composition and pesticidal evaluation of Acorus calamus accessions collected from different geographical locations

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the phytochemical composition of essential oils (EO) from rhizomes of Acorus calamus collected from Jorhat, Assam; Munsyari and Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India.  EOs were studied for different pesticidal activities viz; nematicidal, insecticidal, and herbicidal activity. To study the synergistic effect of EOs on pesticidal activity, four combinations of EOs were prepared. Phenylpropanoids with β-asarone as the main compound were identified in all collections with varying percentages. Its contribution was found to be 85.8% in Munsyari EOs followed by 74.3% in Pantnagar and 62.6% in Assam collections. All EOs exhibited dose-dependent in vitro nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita in terms of immobility and inhibition of egg hatching. The activity was observed as maximum in the EO combination of all three collections (1:1:1) whereas minimum in the Assam collections. In insecticidal activity against Lipaphis erysimi and Selepa celtis, maximum mortality was observed in Munsyari collections. The oils were assessed for sprout inhibition activity in terms of seed germination inhibition, coleoptile growth of the shoot and root against Raphanus raphanistrum. Maximum seed germination inhibition, % shoot, and root growth inhibition were found in all collections EO combinations. To predict the possible mode of action and the structure-activity relationship between major compounds of EOs and biological activities, in silico molecular docking and ADME/Tox studies were performed. The docking results revealed the mode of action of proteins of insects, nematodes, and weeds and were found in support of in vitro experiments. The study may be helpful for the development of herbal-based pesticides after proper clinical trials

Composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of different polarity extracts of Artemisia nilagirica collected from hilly areas in the Himalayan terrain of Uttarakhand

The plant Artemesia nilagirica, collected from the terrain of the Himalayan region in Uttarakhand, India, was evaluated for its phytochemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. The different polarity extracts of the plant were prepared and subjected to GC-MS analysis for their phytochemical composition. Twenty-six compounds were identified in the hexane extract of Artemisia nilagirica that represents 73.30% of the total area. The main compounds were tetracontane (15.21%), heneicosane (6.52%), and phytyl tetradecanoate (5.11%). The methanol extract yielded 26 compounds, accounting for 83.78% of the total compounds detected. The main compounds were palmitic acid (13.25%), alpha-linolenic acid (10.32%), oleamide (9.41%), phytol (8.58%), muco-inositol (7.27%), and neophytadiene (5.05%). The hexane and methanol extracts showed significant metal chelating activity having IC50 values of 2.23±0.01 and 2.41±0.02 µg/mL, respectively, with standard EDTA having an IC50 value of 2.22±0.01 µg/mL. The methanol extract showed a better anti-inflammatory property having an IC50 value of 2.97±0.03 µg/mL compared to the standard diclofenac potassium having an IC50 value of 3.79±0.01 µg/mL. The hexane extract showed better antioxidant activity in terms of metal chelating activity and reducing power activity than the methanol extract. The anti-inflammatory activity of both hexane and methanol extracts showed better results than the standard marketed drug diclofenac potassium. The current study reveals that Artemisia nilagirica plant extracts have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The effective biological compounds of plant extracts, such as phenols and flavonoids, can be potential alternatives to standard pharmaceuticals