Plant Products as Biopesticides: Building On Traditional Knowledge of Vrkshayurveda: Traditional Indian Plant Science

Today there is a global search for alternatives to chemical pesticides and as part of this process there are various efforts to test the use and efficacy of natural products for pest control and crop protection. Our Centre has been involved in exploring the traditional knowledge regarding the use of natural products for pest control and crop protection. As part of this effort, we have looked at the traditional folk practices prevalent among farmers as well as information from classical literature on the subject drawn from Vrkshayurveda (traditional Indian plant science). Following this, we have carried out experiments for standardizing and field testing promising natural products by determining the precise range and kind of pests controlled by them, determining the optimum concentration where they can be effective against pests without being harmful to useful organisms and predators as well as studying their mode of action. Subsequently, we have also developed storage forms of various of these products by using methods based on Ayurveda. Studies on the stability and shelf life of these products are also being carried out through an insect rearing laboratory. Finally, we have also set up village based biopesticides units where a range of these products are being prepared thus providing valuable inputs to sustainable agriculture and a means of livelihood to rural women and farmers

Anti-ulcer activity of arachidonic acid (PUFA) oils in different induced ulcer animal models

Background: Ulcers of the lower part of the oesophagus, the stomach and the first part of the duodenum are also known as peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers can affect people of any age, but they are more common as you get older. There is a focus on research for better tolerated and efficacious anti-ulcer agents.Methods: Effect of anti-ulcer activity of fish oil and Arasco oil was evaluated in different animal models of ulcers i.e. ethanol induced, water immersion and pyloric ligation techniques. The Superoxide dismutase activity in gastric tissue was also ascertained in two groups of animals. The animals received either fish oil (40 µl, PO), Arasco oil (40 µl, PO), omeprazole (20 mg/kg PO) or ranitidine (30 mg/kg PO). The gastro-protection was calculated based on ulcer index, pH and gastric juice volume.Results: The results of this study suggest that poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contained in fish oil and Arasco oil have moderate anti-ulcer activity although probably lesser in potency than the available anti-ulcer drugs like omeprazole and ranitidine.Conclusion: These  results  have  shown  that  PUFA containing oils  provided  moderate  gastrointestinal  protection  in  all  the induced ulcer models employed. Thus it can be concluded that PUFA containing oils like the Fish oil and Arasco oil have anti-ulcer properties and the mechanisms involved in these actions need to be investigated.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication post-oesophageal stenting: an unusual case.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication post-oesophageal stenting is uncommon and yet to be reported. We report the case of a 57-year-old palliative lady who underwent surgery for symptomatic relief of severe gastrooesophageal reflux post-oesophageal stenting. Surgery was carried out successfully with no complications. On the evening post-surgery she was able to lie supine for the first time in months without symptoms of reflux. In conclusion, surgery is still valuable and may play an important role, even in a palliative setting

In vitro comparative study of sorption and solubility of three modified glass ionomer cements

Aim: To evaluate and compare the sorption and solubility of three modified glass ionomer cements –Glass Hybrid Restorative System (Equiaforte), Zirconomer Improved and resin modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) in artificial saliva. Materials And Methods: A total of 45cylindrical specimens (4mm diameter and 6mm height) were prepared for each material following the manufacturer’s instructions. After subjecting the specimens to thermocycling of 500 cycles between 5 and 55 degree Celsius with the dwell time 15secs,45 specimens evaluated for sorption and solubility, first weighing them by a precision weighing scale (W1), then immersing them in artificial saliva for 28days and weighing them(W2), and finally dehydratingin an oven for 24 hours and weighing them(W3). Since the obtained values show normal distribution differences between the groups data were analyzed using the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). For pairwise evaluation between the groups post hoc dunnet t3 test was used. Results: The sorption and solubility values in artificial saliva were minimum for zirconomer improved glass ionomer cement with the mean value of sorption 52.91 ± 1.73 µg/mm3 and solubility 10.47 ± 1.52 µg/mm3 when compared with other groups.The difference between groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in terms of sorption and solubility