Evaluation of pyracantha crenulata roem for antiurolithogenic activity in albino rats

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of juice extract and alcohol extract of fruit of Pyracantha crenulata (D.Don) Roem  (Rosaceae) against ethylene glycolinduced urolithiasis in male albino rats. Patients and Methods: Lithiasis was induced in rats by administering 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water for 28 days and was manifested by hyperoxaluria as well as increased renal excretion of calcium, phosphate and a low urinary magnesium content. Curative and preventive treatment was then tried by supplementation with juice and alcohol extracts (250 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) of P. crenulata fruit. Results: The increased deposition of stone forming constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats was significantly lowered by curative and preventive treatment using juice and alcohol extracts (250 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) of P. crenulata fruit which showed a regulatory action on endogenous oxalate synthesis.Conclusion: From this study, we conclude that both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with juice and alcohol extract of fruit of P. crenulata may reduce precipitation of calcium oxalate, with improvement of kidney function as well as cytoprotective effectKeywords : Ethylene glycol, hyperoxaluria, nephrolithiasis, Pyracantha crenulat

A review of photochromism in textiles and its measurement

Photochromism is a light-induced reversible change in colour defined as: ‘A reversible transformation in a chemical species between two forms having different absorption spectra brought about by photo-irradiation.’ This issue of Textile Progress provides a review of photochromism, the different methods for producing photochromic textiles, their properties, the measurement of kinetic colour changes, and their application in photochromic textiles. Photochromism can be utilised in a variety of textile products from everyday clothing to high-technology applications such as protective textiles, medical textiles, geo-textiles and sports textiles. Although photochromic materials have been used since 1960 to cut down the transmission of light through the lenses in sunglasses, there has been limited further development since that time due to technical difficulties not only in the application of photochromic colourants, but also with the measurement of kinetic colourchanging properties. Renewed interest in photochromic textiles has arisen due to improved commercial potential in particular for applications as photochromic nanofibres, in ‘smart’ textiles and in ‘smart’ clothing