12 research outputs found
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Status of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Evaluation of PVL Producing Strains in Belgaum, South India
Background: Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) toxin, responsible for increased virulence and more severe infections can be found in both Methicillin-sensitive and Methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA). Aims & Objectives: To generate baseline data on the extent of MRSA infections and to estimate the frequency of PVL-positive S.aureus in Belgaum, South India. Material & Methods: 70 clinical isolates of S.aureus were obtained from various laboratories in Belgaum city. Theseisolates were identified, phenotypically characterized as MRSA/MSSA by disc diffusion method using oxacillin discs (1 µg) and genetically by multiplex PCR for mecA and fem B genes. PCR was subsequently carried out on all isolates to detect LukS-PV and LukF-PV genes, the markers for potential producers of PVL toxin. Results: 27 out of 70 isolates (38.6%) were confirmed as MRSA by PCR formecA. The prevalence of PVL gene was 85.1% and 48.8% in MRSA and MSSA respectively. The overall prevalence of PVL positive S.aureuswas 62.85%. Conclusion: Our study showed high percentage of PVL positive MRSA and MSSA, higher than the most reports worldwide. In the backdrop of bacterial strains gaining multiple drug resistance, our study warrants further epidemiological studies in hospitals and community levels in the region
Non-codified traditional medicine practices from Belgaum Region in Southern India: present scenario
DOXORUBICIN INDUCED COGNITION IMPAIRMENT IN RAT MODEL
 Objective: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat a variety of cancers despite having well documented adverse sideeffects in organs like heart, liver, and kidney. The damage caused to brain, if any, and to what extent is, however, still not clear and the present studywas undertaken to estimate the possible role of DOX inducing cognitive impairment in Wistar rats.Methods: The study carried out in two groups of Wistar rats (n=6) with one group receiving DOX, and the other only normal saline used as control.During and after the experimentation period cognitive level of each rat was measured using Barnes maze (BM) till 8 weeks. At the end of theobservation period (after 8th week), a series of biochemical and histopathological studies were carried out after sacrificing the animals.Results: Errors to reach target and time taken to reach the target was found in BM experiment, elevated levels of antioxidants and hemoglobin wasfound reduced significantly in the DOX treated group when compared to the controls while histopathology of brain cells of DOX treated group alsoshowed reduction in hippocampal cellularity and cell death in hippocampal area suggesting evidence of oxidative damage caused by DOX treatment.Conclusion: Parameters in this study which not only conclusively show the damage caused to brain by DOX, but also estimates the changes caused toeach indicator by this drug.Keywords: Chemotherapy, Brain, Hippocampus, Oxidative stress
Effects of Duration of Diabetes on Behavioural and Cognitive Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Juvenile Diabetic Rats
Background: Diabetic encephalopathy is a recently recognised
complication of early-onset type 1 diabetes in children. The
abnormalities underlying diabetic encephalopathy are complex and poorly
understood, and the impact of disease duration on behavioural and
cognitive parameters also remains unclear. Hence, the present study was
conducted to determine the effects of different durations of
hyperglycaemia on behavioural and cognitive parameters in young
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in
young, weaned, age-matched rat pups by streptozotocin injection (50
mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally). Diabetic status was confirmed on
post-natal day 30. The rats were tested in the elevated plus maze 10
and 2o days after diabetes induction. Results: Diabetic rats had
significantly impaired behavioural and cognitive functions compared
with age-matched controls. Increased anxiety levels and cognitive
deficits were observed in rats that had been diabetic for 20 days
compared with their 10-day counterparts. Conclusion: It is essential to
diagnose and treat early-onset type 1 diabetes in young children to
prevent irreversible cognitive dysfunction
Assessment of genetic diversity of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: a commercially important, but endangered, forest tree species in Western Ghats, India
Abstract Background Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde is a valuable tree used in traditional medicine against a variety of ailments. Almost all parts of the tree are used for various commercial herbal preparations. Due to overexploitation, the species is rapidly disappearing from Western Ghats where it is native and grew extensively until recently. Conservation of this important medicinal plant is therefore an urgent need. To plan effective conservation strategies, a scientific assessment of the genetic diversity and distribution is needed. Methods Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA fingerprinting was employed and the population genetic structure of seven wild and three cultivated populations totalling 160 individuals of S. asoca in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa for analysis. Results Variation of 89% was observed within populations while 11% was observed among the populations of S. asoca. Gene flow (Nm) of 2.01 was observed, and 0.19 was the degree of genetic differentiation recorded. Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analysis generated a dendrogram that showed an admixture of all genotypes but with two major clusters, which was also supported by a STRUCTURE-based Bayesian model. One wild population was well, but inexplicably, differentiated from the rest. Conclusions The study shows that there is still considerable genetic diversity existing in natural populations of S. asoca, suggesting good natural cross-pollination, giving encouraging indications that the gene pool is under no immediate threat. Any conservation strategy should utilise the observed genetic variation in the choice of planting stock for programmes of conservation, propagation and reforestation
<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt" lang="EN-GB">Determination of betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Achyranthes aspera</i> L. using RP-UFLC-DAD analysis and evaluation of various parameters for their optimum yield </span>
196-202Achyranthes aspera
L. is a well known herb commonly used in
traditional system of Indian medicine to treat various disorders, such as
cough, dysentery, gonorrhea, piles, kidney stone, pneumonia, renal dropsy, skin
eruptions, snake bite, etc. Here, we used RP-UFLC-DAD method for determining
triterpenoids betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA)
from A.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal"> aspera. Optimum yield of these compounds were studied and
evaluated using parameters viz.,
method of extraction, time of extraction, age of plant and plant parts (leaves,
stem and roots). Linear relationships in RP-UFLC-DAD analysis were obtained in
the range 0.05-100 µg/mL with 0.035, 0.042 and 0.033 µg/mL LOD for BA, OA and
UA, respectively. Of the variables tested, extraction method and parts used
significantly affected content yield. Continuous shaking extraction (CSE) at
ambient temperature gave better extraction efficiency than exposure to ultra
sonic extraction (USE) or microwave assisted extraction (MAE) methods. The
highest content of BA, OA and UA were determined individually in leaf, stem and
root extracts with CSE. Collective yield of these triterpenoids were higher in
leaf part exposed to 15 min USE method. To best of our knowledge, the study
newly reports UA from A. aspera and the same was confirmed using ATR-FT-IR
studies. This study explains the distribution pattern of these major
triterpenoids and optimum extraction parameters in detail.
</span
Compound Specific Extraction of Camptothecin from Nothapodytes nimmoniana and Piperine from Piper nigrum Using Accelerated Solvent Extractor
Effects of varying temperatures with constant pressure of solvent on extraction efficiency of two chemically different alkaloids were studied. Camptothecin (CPT) from stem of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Grah.) Mabb. and piperine from the fruits of Piper nigrum L. were extracted using Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE). Three cycles of extraction for a particular sample cell at a given temperature assured complete extraction. CPT and piperine were determined and quantified by using a simple and efficient UFLC-PDA (245 and 343 nm) method. Temperature increased efficiency of extraction to yield higher amount of CPT, whereas temperature had diminutive effect on yield of piperine. Maximum yield for CPT was achieved at 80∘C and for piperine at 40∘C. Thus, the study determines compound specific extraction of CPT from N. nimmoniana and piperine from P. nigrum using ASE method. The present study indicates the use of this method for simple, fast, and accurate extraction of the compound of interest
Compound Specific Extraction of Camptothecin from Nothapodytes nimmoniana and Piperine from Piper nigrum Using Accelerated Solvent Extractor
Effects of varying temperatures with constant pressure of solvent on extraction efficiency of two chemically different alkaloids were studied. Camptothecin (CPT) from stem of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Grah.) Mabb. and piperine from the fruits of Piper nigrum L. were extracted using Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE). Three cycles of extraction for a particular sample cell at a given temperature assured complete extraction. CPT and piperine were determined and quantified by using a simple and efficient UFLC-PDA (245 and 343 nm) method. Temperature increased efficiency of extraction to yield higher amount of CPT, whereas temperature had diminutive effect on yield of piperine. Maximum yield for CPT was achieved at 80 ∘ C and for piperine at 40 ∘ C. Thus, the study determines compound specific extraction of CPT from N. nimmoniana and piperine from P. nigrum using ASE method. The present study indicates the use of this method for simple, fast, and accurate extraction of the compound of interest