Phytochemical Characterization and Neuroprotective Assessment of Standardized Extract of Pedalium Murex Linn. Leaves

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are threatening worldwide. Epidemiological studies obviously represent substantial burden on well-being. Previously countless medications are obtainable for ND, but all the drugs are symptomatic relief only and they do not ameliorate the total mechanism of illnesses. ND was traditionally treated with numerous herbal medicines because to minimize side and adverse effects, chemical pollution from synthetic medications. Publics are accepting the herbal medicines due to long history of usage, better patient tolerance, easy availability, cost effective, time consuming. Huge number of behavioural changes are associated with ND such as depression, anxiety, memory loss, stress and so on. It affects not only adult, even small kids also suffering a lot due to depression and stress. Effective drugs need to cure the ND from nature. Now a day, people are focused on an organic product from herbal plants. In this present study, we had evaluated the phytochemical characterization and neuroprotective assessment of standardized extract (90% v/v Ethanol) of Pedalium murex Linn. leaves against LPS-induced endotoxemia in SD rats. Previously many work had been done on this plant except LPS-induced neurodegeneration along with behavioural and biochemical alterations. Preliminary phytochemical studies in Pedalium murex Linn. leaves confirm the presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, tannins, phenolic compounds in four different extracts such as n-Hexane extract, Chloroform extract, Ethyl acetate extract, 90% v/v of Ethanol extract. In vitro free radical scavenging activity proved that, the 90% v/v of ethanol extract of Pedalium murex Linn. leaves (EEPM) were significantly acts against the free radicals. IC50 values were represents, EEPM possessed strong antioxidant activity when compared to n-hexane extract, chloroform extract, ethyl acetate extract of Pedalium murex Linn. leaves. From the results of preliminary phytochemical and in vitro free radical scavenging studies, EEPM was selected for phytochemical characterization and neuroprotective assessment. TLC study has been performed on pre-coated silica gel plates for elution. Based on trial and error method, 5:4:1 ratio of Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid were used as a mobile phase, iodine vapors used as detecting agent. Six spots were observed. From the TLC study, isolation of active constituents of EEPM was done by column chromatography (CC) through isocratic elution technique with the help of same solvent system. Two compounds were isolated from CC fractions, 25-28, 33-36 and named as PM I, PM II. These two compounds were subjected to physical, chemical and spectral studies to authorizing the purity and characterization of isolated compounds of EEPM. Spectral data of isolated compounds strongly suggested that PM I showed the structural similarities with 4´, 5, 7- trihydroxy flavone may be Apigenin and PM II showed the structural similarities with 3,5,7-Trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4Hchromen-4-one which may have the presence of kaempferol. PM I and PM II may be a flavonoids type of compounds. HPTLC fingerprint profile of flavonoids and steroids showed that more number of flavonoids and steroidal compounds were present in EEPM. Quantitative estimation also recommended the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in EEPM. EEPM was subjected to animal studies. Acute toxicity studies revealed up to 2000 mg/kg dose of EEPM did not show any toxic signs in animals. The present study proved that endotoxin (LPS) administration reduces the social, exploratory and locomotor activity which was leads the depression, anxiety, cognition impairment such as long-term memory, short-term memory, attention capacity of the animal. LPS completely degenerate the CA1 hippocampal region of the brain. The data of our present study revealed that LPS significantly decreases the food, water intake and body mass which was recovered EEPM treated rats. In open field test, reduced level of animal’s locomotion indicates that the depression and anxiety level was significantly more in LPS-induced rats. EEPM 400 mg/kg significantly increases the movement of animal through diminish the depression. Elevated plus maze test showed repeated animal entries in closed arms represents the immune activation and depression was produced by LPS, which was significantly antagonized by EEPM in different doses. Immobility time was increased in LPS-treated rats in forced swim test, hence EEPM treated rats were anticipated to recover from depression. Moreover, treatment with EEPM different doses attenuated or completely abolished these symptoms of depression and anxiety. EEPM provides excellent activity against cognitive impairment, increases the learning and memory power of the animals. LPS-treated rats attained long-term memory loss that’s why the swimming length was increased due to confusion to reach circular platform of water maze apparatus & EEPM 400 mg/kg significantly recover the memory power of animals. Short-term memory power loss and minimum number of rewards (food pellets) induced by LPS in radial arm maze test. EEPM 400 mg/kg increases the maximum no of rewards and minimum number of errors and enhance the learning, memory power of the animals. Attention capacity was measured in choice reaction time task test. Incorrect lever pressing for reward (food pellets) was increased in LPS-treated rats recovered by EEPM 400 mg/kg. Antioxidant enzymes includes SOD, CAT, GR, GPX levels were decreased in LPS-treated rats. An increased level of these antioxidant enzymes was observed after administration of EEPM, which indicates the antioxidant activity. ACh level was decreased and AChE level was increased in LPS-treated rats due to beta amyloid precursor protein degeneration which was reversed by EEPM treated rats. An increased level of nitric oxide and lipid per-oxidation (LPO) and decreased level of protein in LPS-treated rats was antagonized by various doses of EEPM. Histopathological results also support the neuroprotective effect of EEPM against LPS-induced neurodegeneration. From the above results, we may conclude that EEPM may be a potential candidate for LPS-induced brain damage which may be attributed to the presence of potent antioxidants in EEPM. The results of this study warranted further research on active constituents of EEPM through molecular docking will lead new therapeutic approaches from nature

Umanarkudi and Salt

This article is intended to understand the life and trade practices of the salt merchants, who are the Umanarkudi ethnic group. It is known that the Umanas traded without any economic purpose. The information on the trade of Umanarkudi became the subject of study in order to look at its earlier background on the grounds that salt still occupies a significantly larger place in the market economy today. The study of salt in the life of the ancient Tamils, the price of salt, the close relationship between the Umanars and the oxen, and the diet of the Umanars reveals the status of the Umanars and the value of salt

Application of Core Vector Machine for Prediction of Day-Ahead Electricity Prices

This paper presents Core Vector Machine (CVM) applied for short term electricity price forecasting in an Indian energy market. The accuracy in electricity price forecasting is very crucial for the power producers and consumers. With the accurate price forecasting, power producers can maximize their profit and manage short term operation. Meanwhile, consumers can maximize their utilities efficiently. The objective of this research is to develop models for day-ahead price forecasting using CVM during various seasons. A feature selection technique is used along with the CVM to reduce the variables for accurate price forecasting. Simulation results reveal that the CVM along with feature selection gives better results when compared with other machine learning techniques

Strategies developed on the modification of titania for visible light response with enhanced interfacial charge transfer process: An overview

The modification of titania by metal / non metal ion doping, coupling with narrow band gap sensitizer, surface flourination, metal deposition, and together with recent ventures on application of 001 facets of anatase titania for visible light response with enhanced charge carrier separation are briefly overviewed. © Versita Sp. z o.o

Influence of physicochemical-​electronic properties of transition metal ion doped polycrystalline titania on the photocatalytic degradation of Indigo Carmine and 4-​nitrophenol under UV​/solar light

To understand the role of dopant inside TiO2 matrix, anatase TiO2 was doped with transition metal ions like Mn2+, Fe3+, Ru3+ and Os3+ having unique half filled electronic configuration and their photocatalytic activity was probed in the degrdn. of Indigo Carmine (IC) and 4-​nitrophenol (NP) under UV​/solar light. For comparison, TiO2 was also doped with V5+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ metal ions having d0, d8 and d10 electronic configuration resp. Irresp. of excitation source UV​/solar light and nature of the org. pollutant, photocatalytic activities of doped photocatalysts followed the order: Mn2+-​TiO2 > Fe3+-​TiO2 > Ru3+-​TiO2 ≥ Os3+-​TiO2 > Zn2+-​TiO2 > V5+-​TiO2 > Ni2+-​TiO2 at an optimum concn. of dopant. Based on the exptl. results obtained, it is proposed that the existence of dopant with half filled electronic configuration in TiO2 matrix which is known to enhance the photocatalytic activity is not universal! Rather it is a complex function of several physicochem.-​electronic properties of doped titania. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of Mn2+ (0.06 at.​%)​-​TiO2 was attributed to the combined factors of high pos. redn. potential of Mn2+/Mn3+ pairs, synergistic effects in the mixed polymorphs of anatase and rutile, smaller crystallite size with high intimate contact between two phases and favorable surface structure of the photocatalyst. Despite the intense research devoted to transition metal ion doped TiO2, it is rather difficult to make unifying conclusion which is highlighted in this study

MONSTER PHASE OF ACETAMINOPHEN USE IN PREGNANCY: CURRENT VISION OF AN OLD DRUG

In various countries, Acetaminophen [APAP] is the frequently used painkiller found in hundreds of medications during pregnancy. It has been broadly used for eras and health care professionals prefer acetaminophen as a choice during pregnancy for relieving pain and fever. Current research reports bothersome inclinations in the rate of acetaminophen exposure and related pregnancy outcome. The exposure of pregnant women to acetaminophen is of great concern. Existing literature evidence shows that acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy may leads to preterm birth, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, male infertility, asthma in pediatrics. Therefore, the prophylactic anticipation of acetaminophen exposure can be a far-sighted approach in order to safeguard humans and wildlife from enduring dangerous effects. This article reviews the epidemiological findings and aims to shed awareness into the second generation outcome of an old drug in pregnant women

Effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge and attitude regarding cord blood stem cell therapy among antenatal mothers in selected private hospitals

Cord blood stem cell research has been extensively explored worldwide to enhance human health in medical setting. Stem cells have tremendous promise to helping us to understand and treat a range of various diseases, injuries and other health-related conditions. Their potential is evident in the use of cord blood stem cells to treat diseases of the blood, A cord blood stem cell therapy has saved the lives of thousands of children with leukemia; and can be seen in the use of stem cells for tissue grafts to treat diseases or injury to the bone, skin and surface of the eye. Important clinical trials involving stem cells are underway for many other conditions and researchers continue to explore new avenues using stem cells in medicine. Genetic disorder rate in India 64.4 % (per 1000 live births), Rao and Ghose (2005) report that 1 out of 20 children admitted to hospital has a genetic disorder that ultimately account for about 1 out of 10 childhood deaths. In India ultimately urban area are affected with congenital malformation and genetic disorder are the third most common cause of mortality in newborns. There are an estimated 60-80 million people in the world who carry the beta thalassemia trait. People who carry thalassemia in India alone number approximately 30 million. The main objective of the study is to assess effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge and attitude regarding stem cell therapy among antenatal mothers in selected private hospitals at Namakkal district. One group pretest and posttest design was used for this study. The independent variable in this study is structure teaching program on cord blood stem cell therapy. The dependent variables in this study are knowledge and attitude. The study was conducted at jayaa and suguna hospital Tiruchengode which is a 100 bedded hospitals. Sample includes antenatal mothers with stem cell therapy at jayaa and suguna hospitals, who fulfils the inclusion criteria were selected by non probability convenient sampling technique. Structured teaching on knowledge and attitude regarding stem cell therapy among antenatal mothers. The comparison of pretest, the mean score of knowledge was 11.50 with S.D 2.70 whereas in the post test the mean score of knowledge was 33.06 with S.D 3.93. The calculated paired‗t‘ value of t = 57.742 was found to statistically significant at p<0.001 level. This clearly shows that the structured teaching programme imparted to antenatal mothers had significant improvement in the post test level of knowledge regarding cord blood stem cell therapy. There was a significant improvement of knowledge and attitude regarding stem cell therapy among antenatal mothers at Jayaa and Suguna hospitals after structured teaching as an intervention. Thus structured teaching on stem cell therapy was an effective intervention in the enhancement of knowledge and attitude among antenatal mothers. The present study conducted by the investigator, mainly focused on the structured teaching programme to improve the knowledge and attitude on stem cell therapy and was found effective and also the researcher insisted the antenatal mothers should improve the knowledge of stem cell therapy

Esophageal Dysplasia in High Risk Group and Significance of Agnor in Esophageal Dysplasia.

Esophageal Cancer Is The Sixth Most Common Fatal Cancer In The World. The Five Year Survival Rate Is Among The Lowest For All Cases (14%)1 , The Main Reason Being Cancer Of The Esophagus Becomes Symptomatic At An Advanced Phase With A Late Diagnosis, When The Tumor Is Already Incurable. Most Of These Cases Come To Clinical Attention After They Have Spread Beyond The Esophagus And Become Inoperable. The Only Way To Prevent This Is By Early Detection Of Esophageal Malignancies. For This ,The Susceptible Population Should Be Subjected To Some Type Of Screening Programme To Identify Any Precancerous Conditions. Squamous Dysplasia And Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ Are The Two Major Categories Which Are Thought To Be Precursor Lesions Of Frank Esophageal Malignancy. All Grades Of Squamous Dysplasia And Carcinoma In Situ Are Associated With A Significantly Increased Risk Of Developing Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Increasing Grades Of Dysplasia Are Associated With Dramatically Increased Risk. If These Dysplastic Lesions Can Be Identified In The High Risk Population, This Dreadful Condition Can Be Dealt With More Effectively. There Is Well Documented Epidemiologic Studies Linking Tobacco And Alcohol Use With The Development Of Esophageal Cancer. Alcohol Was Estimated To Be Causally Associated With Approximately 80% Of Esophageal Cancers And The Relative Risk Increases With The Amount Of Alcohol Consumed. Likewise, The Risk Associated With Tobacco Use Appears To Increase With The Number Of Cigarettes Smoked Per Day, Duration Of Smoking And Tar Content. Ex-Smokers Have Reduced Risk Compared To Current Smokers. A Synergistic Effect For The Combined Habit Of Alcohol Use And Smoking Or Tobacco Chewing Has Been Reported. It Is Likely That These Agents May Also Have A Causal Role In Dysplasia Of Esophagus. By Studying This High Risk Group For The Development Of Dysplasia, A Causal Association Can Be Established, Which Can Be Used As A Basis For Devising Effective Screening Protocols To Pick Up Cases At An Early Stage. Once Dysplasia Is Documented, It Can Be Classified As Mild, Moderate Or Severe Based On The Extent To Which The Immature Cells Replace The Normal Epithelium. Mild Dysplasia Might Be Reevaluated Periodically Or Treated By Chemoprevention. Moderate Dysplasia May Be Followed More Closely Or Treated By Focal Endoscopic Therapy. Severe Dysplasia And Carcinoma In Situ Should Be Treated By Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Which Is A Therapeutic Method Based On The Principle Of Strip Biopsy For Resection Of Flat Lesions Of Gastro Intestinal Tract Which Helps To Prevent These Lesions From Progressing To Inoperable Stage. With Changing Social Habits, More And More People Are Becoming Habituated To The Use Of Alcohol And Tobacco, Which Makes This Kind Of Screening Programme All The More Mandatory. Hence An Attempt Has Been Made Here To Establish A Causal Association Between These Risk Factors And Development Of Dysplasia. The High Risk Group Has Been Defined As Individuals With Habits Like Alcohol Consumption, Smoking, Tobacco Chewing And Intake Of Hot Beverages Like Coffee And Tea Either Alone Or In Combination Who Are More Prone To Develop Dysplasia. Esophageal Biopsies Of Asymptomatic Individuals Who Belong To High Risk Group Are Examined For The Presence Of Dysplasia, Comparing The Findings With Age Matched Subjects Without The Risk Factors. Correlation Of Duration Of Risk Factors And The Occurrence Of Dysplasia Is Also Evaluated. Further The Significance Of Agnor Study In Dysplasia Of The Esophagus Is Also Evaluated. Various Studies In Different Organs Have Proved That Agnor Numbers Are Increased In Malignant Cells Compared To Corresponding Benign Or Normal Cells. Moreover Interphase Agnor Numbers Are Closely Related To The Proliferative Activity Of Cells. The Agnor Numbers In Quiescent Cells Is Generally Low While In Proliferating Cells Such As Cancer Cells, A High Agnor Number Is Present. Agnor Staining And Counting Of Agnor Numbers Is Done To Determine Any Increase In Agnor Numbers In Dysplastic Esophagus Compared To Normal Esophagus, Thereby Evaluating The Degree Of Proliferative Activity In Dysplastic Cells. Dysplastic Cases Are Further Subdivided Into Mild, Moderate And Severe And The Variation In Agnor Numbers Is Also Analysed, Which Could Help In Determining The Prognostic Significance Of These Lesions. It Is An Attempt To Find Out The Presence Of Dysplasia In Asymptomatic Individuals Belonging To The High Risk Group And Evaluate The Significance Of The Role Of Risk Factors In Causation, Which Can Be Used For Prevention Research And Also For Early Detection Of Cases By Specific Protocols In Susceptible Population Thereby Reducing The Morbidity And Mortality Associated With This Dreadful Disease