Suppression of inflammatory mediators by aqueous leaf extract of Crotalaria verrucosa: in vivo and in vitro analysis

Background: Crotalaria verrucosa is a traditional plant frequently prescribed by the tribes for its medicinal value against inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate the scientific basis for medicinal value in inflammation by in vivo and in vitro analysis.Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of the plant’s leaf was evaluated by two in vivo methods - carrageenan induced rat paw edema and xylene induced mice ear edema. Moreover, in vitro analysis was performed through heat induced hemolysis and heat induced protein denaturation methods.Results: The inflammation produced by carrageenan and xylene were effectively suppressed by the aqueous leaf extract of C. verrucosa (CVAQ) at 600 mg/kg body weight which was comparable to the standards. In heat induced hemolysis test the extract was able to inhibit the lysis up to 70% at 500 µg/ml whereas in heat induced protein denaturation test it reduces the percentage till 69% at the same concentration.Conclusions: The findings suggested that CVAQ possess moderate to high anti-inflammatory activity when applied in low to high concentrated doses. However, the study can only conclude from this basic evaluation that the extract needs to be further investigated for identifying the potential compound which contributed to such medicinal value of the plant

Petroleum Ether and Chloroform Soluble Fractions of Whole Plant Extract of Acanthus ilicifolis Linn. Possesses Potential Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities.

Background: Medicinal plants are the major sources of traditional treatment of disease and new drug discovery due to major side effects of synthetic drug. Objectives: The aim of study was to evaluate analgesic and antioxidant activities of petroleum ether and chloroform soluble fractions of whole plant extract of Acanthus ilicifoius. Materials and Methods: The plant extract, standard diclofenac, and distilled water as control was administered post orally in Swiss albino mice and observe the analgesic activity by acetic acid (0.6%) induced writhing method. The plant extract was also subjected to perform reducing power assay, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and FRAP assay to evaluate antioxidant activity. Results: The pet ether, and chloroform soluble fraction of plant extract revealed significant analgesic activity on mice model. Notably, the pet ether and chloroform fraction showed (40.14 ± 2.32) % and (40.12 ± 0.9) % analgesic inhibition, whereas standard diclofenac revealed (52.79 ± 2.62) % analgesic inhibition. In antioxidant activity assay, the plant extract showed mild to moderate antioxidant activities compare to standard ascorbic acid. Conclusion: From the results, it could be concluded that, the pet ether and chloroform fractions of whole plant extract of A. ilicifolius possesses potential analgesic and antioxidant properties

Conductive textiles for signal sensing and technical applications

Conductive textiles have found notable applications as electrodes and sensors capable of detecting biosignals like the electrocardiogram (ECG), electrogastrogram (EGG), electroencephalogram (EEG), and electromyogram (EMG), etc; other applications include electromagnetic shielding, supercapacitors, and soft robotics. There are several classes of materials that impart conductivity, including polymers, metals, and non-metals. The most significant materials are Polypyrrole (PPy), Polyaniline (PANI), Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), carbon, and metallic nanoparticles. The processes of making conductive textiles include various deposition methods, polymerization, coating, and printing. The parameters, such as conductivity and electromagnetic shielding, are prerequisites that set the benchmark for the performance of conductive textile materials. This review paper focuses on the raw materials that are used for conductive textiles, various approaches that impart conductivity, the fabrication of conductive materials, testing methods of electrical parameters, and key technical applications, challenges, and future potential

Changes of Soil Fertility Status in Some Soil Series of Tista Floodplain Soils of Bangladesh, during 1996-2016

The study of several soil series of Tista Floodplain soils were carried out to find the changing trend of nutrients status from 1996 to 2016. The studied values of different soil quality variables were changed likewise pH 5.87 ± 0.47 to 5.95 ± 0.33, organic matter 1.37 ± 0.31% to 1.47 ± 0.41%, ,total nitrogen 0.49 ± 0.13 cmol/kg to 0.64 ± 0.07 cmol/kg , phosphorous 0.10 ± 0.04 cmol/kg to 3.19 ± 0.34 cmol/kg, potassium 0.31 ± 0.29 cmol/kg to 2.93 ± 0.26 cmol/kg, sulfur 0.19 ± 0.05 cmol/kg to 8.66 ± 2.74 cmol/kg, iron 1.09 ± 0.46 cmol/kg to 2.07 ± 0.99 cmol/kg, manganese 0.10 ± 0.02 cmol/kg to 0.31 ± 0.30 cmol/kg, copper 0.03± 0.01 cmol/kg to 0.02 ± 0.01 cmol/kg, zinc 0.01 ± 4.8E-20 cmol/kg to 0.01 ± 0.01 cmol/kg in 1996 and 2016 respectively. Almost all variables changed over significantly at 5% (P < 0.05) level except pH, organic matter, total Nitrogen and Copper content whose were not significant at 5% (P < 0.05) level not even 10% (P < 0.10) level. The increasing trends of total Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Iron were positively correlated from 1996 to 2016 than other variables. The copper and zinc content did not showing any effective change over these 20 years. The overall nutrients were adequate except organic matter and total nitrogen content. But, the trends had positive direction of all nutrients due to application of organic and inorganic fertilizer that might be correlated with increasing concern about nutrients management concept among the farmer