STANDARDIZATION OF DRIED FLOWERS OF MORINGAOLEIFERA (LAMK.) AND JASMINUMSAMBAC (L.) AITACCORDING TO WHO GUIDELINES

Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate various pharmacognostic standards like macroscopy, microscopy, fluorescence analysis, preliminary phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatography of Moringa oleifera (Lamk.) and Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait.Methods: Cellular arrangement of the flower of M. oleifera and J. sambac were examined under electronic microscope. Fine powder of both flowers was used for powder microscopy. The phytochemical screening of the aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of flowers of M. oleifera andJ. sambac was performed for carbohydrates, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, lignin and fixed oil. The color intensity or the precipitate formation was used as analytical responses to these tests. The aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of both plants were gone through TLC monitoring by reconstituting each extracts with 5 ml solvent respectively. Results: Under microscopic observation the dried powder of M. oleifera revealed abundant calcium oxalate crystals, small spherical oil globules, starch grains, irregular fragments and tannin content. While powder microscopy of flower of J. sambac showed tannin, oil globules and simple fibers. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of both flowers revealed that the strength of active agents i. e, carbohydrate, tannins, fixed oil, terpenes in variable percentage.Conclusion: The findings could be helpful in identification and authentication of Moringa oleifera andJasminum sambac in future for further research and utilization.Â

Strategic Financing of Local Sugar Industry Towards Self Sufficiency in Tanzania.

This study was conducted to examine financing strategies of local sugar industry towards self-sufficiency in Tanzania. The study comprises four objectives namely; to examine the role of venture capital on local sugar industry; to examine the influence of long-term loans on local sugar industry; to assess the strategies used to manage economic exposure on local sugar industry; and to analyse the effect of financing strategies on self-sufficiency of local sugar industry. Positivism philosophy was adopted aside with quantitative approaches. The study employed cross-sectional design to collect data from 42 respondents. Questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Findings of the study revealed that, venture capital have no influence on various aspects of local sugar industry including financial outlook, working team, market opportunities, development of technology, and competitive advantage. It was also found that, long-term loans highly influenced long-term sustainability. Matching currency flows, diversifying production facilities and product markets managed economic exposure. Besides, venture capital, economic exposure, long-term loans, and listing into financial markets accounts for significant 7.1% of self-sufficiency in local sugar industry, given that (p <. 0.5). The study recommends that, with the correct financial plan and budget in place, overall liability will be reduced and the cash flow ratio increased by supporting professional ethics in financial reporting. This will enhance companies' capacity to pay their suppliers on time, manage their competitive market and manage their debts and boost its working capital. Keywords: Sugar Industry, Strategic Financing and Sufficienc

PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF DALBERGIA SISSO ROXB.

Objective: Present study was aimed to standardize the leaves, pods, and bark of Dalbergia sisso Roxb (Fabaceae) plant which is one of the most important species of Pakistan and used in different ailments.Methods: Powders of dried parts of this plant were used for macroscopic and microscopic, histological, fluorescence, micro chemical, proximate, infra-red spectroscopic examinations and extract were used for preliminary phytochemical examination. These entire tests were performed as per World Health Organization (WHO) standards.Results: In preliminary phytochemical analysis D. sisso carbohydrates, alkaloids, and tannins were detected in the pod while leaves contain carbohydrates alkaloids and flavonoids. The different cellular structure provides the basis of different parts identifications like stomata in leave (A), schlerides in pods (B) and tissues in bark (C) parts of the powdered plant. Proximate analysis showed the high level of moisture content and ash values of A, B and C samples. The fluorescence behavior of powdered material of A, B and C revealed the coloration of these samples under different wavelength. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) established the spectrum include aromatic and aldehyde based functional groups for the all three powdered samples of D. sisso Roxb.Conclusion: This research work was performed for the standardization of the plant D. sisso Roxb. as per WHO recommendations and we established the proper identification profile of the plant and its parts

Tree Turmeric (Dar-e-Hald)., A Berberine Containing Unani Medicinal Herb of Pakistan

Tree turmeric (Dar-e-hald) i.e. Berberis aristata is a fomous Greek-o-Unani herb well grown in Pakistan. Dar-e-hald is known for its anti microbial properties in eyes, ear, gastrointestinal and genitourinary infections. Medicinally, the root and root bark, stem and stem bark, berries, flowers and powdered root and stem with the bark were used. Root and stem with the bark used as a potent source of berberine, the important constituent of the plant. The yellow coloured chemical constituent, berberine, gives the powdered dry root with bark its yellow colour and is an antimicrobial, anti inflammatory agent and anti cancer agent

Morphological characterization, phytochemical profile, and cytotoxic and insecticidal activities of diverse parts of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.)

Purpose: To standardize Zakham-e-Hayat (Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam.) as well as determine its cytotoxic and insecticidal activity. Methods: Different parts of the plant (flowers, young leaves, old leaves and stem) and different solvents, viz, methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane were used for the extraction. Morphological characterization (macroscopic and microscopic), phytochemical screening for primary and secondary metabolites, and thin layer chromatography (TLC) using various solvent systems, namely, methanol/chloroform (MeOH/CHCl3), n-hexane/methanol/chloroform (n-hexane/MeOH/CHCl3), methanol/chloroform/water (MeOH/CHCl3/H2O), n-hexane/chloroform (n-hexane/CHCl3), n-hexane/ethyl acetate (n-hexane/EtOAc) were carried out. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was also performed. In addition, the extracts were evaluated for their cytotoxic and insecticidal activities. Results: The methanol fraction of the young leaves had 50% lethal dose (LD50) of 28.46 µg/mL while the ethyl acetate fraction of young and old leaves showed significant cytotoxicity at LD50 of 0.13 µg/mL and 142.68 µg/mL respectively. On the other hand, n-hexane fraction was inactive. The methanol fraction of the flower revealed the presence of carbohydrates, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the presence of carbohydrates and amino acids, while the n-hexane fraction showed the presence of carbohydrates as primary metabolites. Furthermore, alkaloids, flavonoid, saponins and resins were present in the methanol fraction, flavonoid and alkaloids in the ethyl acetate fraction, and alkaloids and resins in the n-hexane fraction as secondary metabolites. Conclusion: Methanol and n-hexane fractions of Bryophyllum pinnatum have some safe bioactive compounds which may exhibit potential health benefits

Analgesic activity of various extracts of Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch leaves

Abstract: The various extracts of leaves Holoptelea integrifolia (Ulmaceae) were investigated for analgesic activity in mice by tail flick method. The fresh plant leaves of H. integrifolia were collected, dried, cleaned, weighed and chopped into small pieces and percolated in ethanol. The fractionation of crude extract, followed by the addition of distilled water, ethyl acetate and n-butanol to an aqueous portion of each solvent, to obtain the dried masses of each four layers. Qualitative chemical examination indicates the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavones, phenol, steroids, tannins and triterpenoids. No acute oral toxicity was observed and extracts considered being safe at the dose of 50-2000 mg/kg body weight. At the dose of 500 mg/kg various extracts of leaves of H. integrifolia were found statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). A maximum effect was established at 150 min, after drug administration. Diclofenace sodium used as a standard

Anti-acne activity of Casuarina equisetifolia bark extract: A randomized clinical trial

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Casuarina equisetifolia bark extract (5% cream) in comparison with benzoyl peroxide as the standard drug for acne vulgaris. After exclusion, fifty patients were included in the study (n=50) with age group distribution between 17-34 years of age. Patients were distributed into Group 1 (5% cream) and Group 2 (benzoyl peroxide), and were advised to apply the herbal cream twice a day topically. The clinical efficacy of the herbal cream and severity of acne vulgaris was assessed by Cook's acne grading scale. Results revealed that there was no significant difference found in both test and standard control groups. Further, remarkable improvement was found in acne grading in the test group

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis Of Obesity As Risk Factor Of Covid-19 Related Mortality

A person with obesity has a high risk of getting a severe complication of COVID-19. This is related to the increasing of chronic illness cases caused by obesity. Obesity itself has been known to take part in the disruption of the human immune system. A person with obesity will be more susceptible to the infection and is suspected to be one of the risk factors that cause death in COVID-19. This study used observational analysis with a systematic review method and continued with Meta-Analysis. This study has been held at the Public Health Department of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, in July 2020. The data sources of this study come from online literature, such as published journals that match our inclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria for this study were journals that study the relation of obesity and mortality in COVID-19 cases, journals with a cross-sectional design, journals that used samples age >18 y.o., and journals that used BMI as the obesity classification. Five journals matched our criteria and were analyzed in this study. Four of 5 journals show that there is a relationship between obesity and mortality of COVID-19. There are 2133 subjects with COVID-19, and 361 of them have obesity. There are 1861 subjects with COVID-19 who are not dead; 1567 of them don’t have obesity. An analytic study with a random effect model shows that obesity is the risk factor of mortality in COVID-19 cases (OR = 2.041; 95% CI 1.027-4.058). It also shows that there is a significant relationship between obesity and mortality in COVID-19 cases (p=0.042). Most journals analyzed with a systematic review and meta-analysis in this study show that obesity is the risk factor of mortality in COVID-19 cases

Nicotine Promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Nicotine is the major addictive component of tobacco smoke. Although nicotine is generally thought to have limited ability to initiate cancer, it can induce cell proliferation and angiogenesis in a variety of systems. These properties might enable nicotine to facilitate the growth of tumors already initiated. Here we show that nicotine significantly promotes the progression and metastasis of tumors in mouse models of lung cancer. This effect was observed when nicotine was administered through intraperitoneal injections, or through over-the-counter transdermal patches.In the present study, Line1 mouse adenocarcinoma cells were implanted subcutaneously into syngenic BALB/c mice. Nicotine administration either by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection or transdermal patches caused a remarkable increase in the size of implanted Line1 tumors. Once the tumors were surgically removed, nicotine treated mice had a markedly higher tumor recurrence (59.7%) as compared to the vehicle treated mice (19.5%). Nicotine also increased metastasis of dorsally implanted Line1 tumors to the lungs by 9 folds. These studies on transplanted tumors were extended to a mouse model where the tumors were induced by the tobacco carcinogen, NNK. Lung tumors were initiated in A/J mice by i.p. injection of NNK; administration of 1 mg/kg nicotine three times a week led to an increase in the size and the number of tumors formed in the lungs. In addition, nicotine significantly reduced the expression of epithelial markers, E-Cadherin and beta-Catenin as well as the tight junction protein ZO-1; these tumors also showed an increased expression of the alpha(7) nAChR subunit. We believe that exposure to nicotine either by tobacco smoke or nicotine supplements might facilitate increased tumor growth and metastasis.Our earlier results indicated that nicotine could induce invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cultured lung, breast and pancreatic cancer cells. This study demonstrates for the first time that administration of nicotine either by i.p. injection or through over-the-counter dermal patches can promote tumor growth and metastasis in immunocompetent mice. These results suggest that while nicotine has only limited capacity to initiate tumor formation, it can facilitate the progression and metastasis of tumors pre-initiated by tobacco carcinogens