Weathered basalt application for management of Vertisols: A traditional knowledge of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) growers of Gujarat, India

793-799Gujarat tops with 27.87% of total groundnut production. The basaltic shrink-swell soils are generally evaluated as unsuitable for groundnut production in Saurtashtra region of Gujarat. They have untapped source of traditional knowledge for managing heavy shrink-swell soils of basaltic terrain. Groundnut growers of the region are applying weathered basalt (WB, Vēraḍēḍa bēsālṭanuṁ in Gujarati) in pure form which is naturally available or sometimes treated by mixing the farmyard manures (FYM) or groundnut husk, and/or fortified with nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers. A study was planned to find out the reason for higher production of groundnut with the application of WB before sowing the seed. For this study the farmers were divided in to 05 groups on the basis of forms and combinations of WB application in groundnut fields. The participatory approaches and personal interviews were combined to collect the data from 25 farmers of each group. After interviewing the farmers, we came to know that this practice is being followed since 40 years. The study revealed that the practice significantly reduces the contracting and expanding phenomenon in black Vertisols and improve physico-chemical properties of soils like hydraulic characteristics (infiltration, permeability, percolation and drainage), aeration, bulk density, porosity, thermal conductivity and also improve availability of secondary (Ca, Mg & S) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn & Cu). The present study forms the basis for upgrading the traditional management packages for sustainable groundnut production in black soil region of India

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON BARLERIA PRIONITIS (L.)

Barleria prionitis is a famous perennial plant commonly known as porcupine flower or Vajradanti. It is a shrub with yellow flowers and two flat seeds shielded with matted hairs, inhabit most parts of India. Various parts of the plant such as leaves, roots, aerial parts, flowers, and stems are used in the traditional system of medicine. Conventionally, various infusions are prepared using the plant parts and utilized for the treatment of different kinds of diseases. Owing to its incredible odontalgic property, it is extensively used in treating bleeding gums and toothache. From the pharmacological point, the plant has been effectively screened for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifertility, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, anticancer, and anticataract activities. Compounds such as tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenolic acids, phytosterols, and terpenes have been identified in the plant. The plant contains some specific compounds such as barlenoside, barlerine, acetylbarlerine, and balarenone and some common secondary metabolites such as lupeol, β-sitosterol, vanillic acid, and syringic acid. This review provides morphological, ethnomedical, pharmacological, and phytochemical data of the plant B. prionitis

A simple and efficient method for extraction of genomic DNA from tropical tuber crops

DNA extraction in many plants is difficult because of metabolites that interfere with DNA isolation procedures and subsequent applications, such as DNA restriction, amplification and cloning. We havedeveloped a reliable and efficient method for isolating genomic DNA free from polysaccharide, polyphenols and protein contaminants from tropical tuber crops (Elephant foot yam, Cassava, Sweetpotato Taro and Tannia). The method involves inactivation of contaminant proteins by using CTAB/Proteinase K and precipitation of polysaccharides in the presence of high concentration of salt.The purity of genomic DNA was confirmed by A260/280 and A260/230 ratios calculated from the spectrophotometric readings and further by restriction analysis of the isolated DNA using restriction enzymes EcoRI and Hind III. The described protocol also resulted in the isolation of sufficiently higher yield of DNA from leaf sample of tropical tuber crops. The new protocol can be successfully used forboth small and large scale preparation of genomic DNA from leaf tissues of tuber crops which is highly suitable for further down stream processes like PCR amplification and restriction digestion analysis

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY FROM “NEPHROLEPIS EXALTATA”

Objective: Plants contain various types of phytochemicals with different solvent as per solvation properties, depending on their polarity. The goal of this analysis is to compare the effects of different solvents on the phytochemical profile and the characterization of different volatile bioactive compounds of Nephrolepis exaltata, a typical fern belonging to pteridophyte species. Methods: For the screening of phytochemical, a sequential extraction was carried out using different solvent systems namely methanol (MeOH), chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, hexane, and ethyl acetate (EtAc). A varied range of phytochemicals was found in the extracts. The volatile components were analyzed using the hyphenated technique gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: All the extracts were found to be rich in alkaloids, whereas phenols and Phytosterols were extracted only in MeOH. The MeOH extract of the fern presented positive results for six phytochemical tests and the n-Hexane (nH) extract presented positive results for seven phytochemical tests. The present investigation on the plant N. exaltata aimed to prove that pteridophytes should have various kinds of bioactive phytochemicals and the selection of solvent for extraction of phytochemicals should be based on the target compounds. Conclusion: From the % yield of different extract, it can be concluded that some the bioactive phytochemicals are more soluble in more polar solvents such as MeOH, some are soluble in moderate solvents like EtAc and mostly non-polar organic molecules can be extracted using non-polar solvents like nH. The GC-MS characterization indicates the presence of different fatty compounds and sterols in the plant extract

Scrub Typhus Presenting as Acute Mastoiditis.

Scrub typhus, a zoonosis, is known to present with varied clinical presentation. We present a case of acute mastoiditis who did not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy. The detailed repeat clinical examination revealed lymphadenopathy with eschar and IgM antibodies for scrub typhus by ELISA were positive. Patient had dramatic response to doxycycline therapy

A study on light trap catches of some rice pests in relation to meteorological factors

The effect of meteorological factors on the population build up of green leafhopper Nephotettix virescens Dist (Cicadellidae, Hemiptera), plant hoppers Cofana spectra Dist (Delphacidae, Hemiptera) and C. yasumatsui Young (Kolla mimica, Hemiptera) and rice gundhi bug Leptocoriza acuta Thunberg (Alydidae, Hemiptera) in rice growing season (July to November) was studied through light trap collection during ten years (1988–1997). Maximum populations of Nephotettix virescens Dist (Cicadellidae, Hemiptera) and C. yasumatsui Young (Kolla mimica, Hemiptera) were recorded in the third week of October during all the years. Cofana spectra Dist had maintained peak activity in respect of population in the last week of September and third week of October. Leptocoriza acuta Thunberg (Alydidae, Hemiptera) had maximum population in second and third weeks of October during the aforesaid period. No meteorological factors have significant effect on the population build up of Nephotettix virescens Dist, Cofana spectra Dist and C. yasumatsui Young in the month of October. In the case of Leptocoriza acuta Thunberg, no other factor but rainfall had positive correlation of order 0.857 with population build up in the fourth week of September.Key words/phrases: Meteorological factors, path analysis, regression analysis, rice insect pests SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science: Vol. 27 (2) 2004: 165–17

Sexual dimorphism in cervical vertebral canal measurements of human foetuses

Little is known about postembryonic development of the human vertebral canal. Cervical parts of vertebral canal in 30 normal human foetuses was exposed in coronal plane and were divided in groups 1 and 2 which correspond with 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy respectively. Groups 1 and 2 included 18 and 12 foetuses respectively with equal number of males and females in each. Length of cervical part of spinal canal and transverse diameter with height at different vertebral levels were recorded. Sexual dimorphism was noticed in foetuses of third trimester only. Length of cervical canal and height of vertebral bodies were significantly more in males while transverse diameter was statistically high in females. Cervical part of vertebral canal in human fetuses displays sexual dimorphism. Males have narrower and longer spinal canal compared to females.Keywords: foetuses, cervical, vertebral canal, dimorphis

Price variation among different brands of anticancer medicines available in hospital pharmacies of Nepal.

Objective:To assess the variation in price among different brands of anticancer medicines available in hospital pharmacies at Nepalese cancer hospitals. Methods:The price of different brands of the same anticancer medicines available in the hospital pharmacies of two cancer hospitals was assessed. Prices of different dosage forms such as a single tablet, capsule and vial were calculated. The difference in the maximum and minimum price of the same drug manufactured by different pharmaceutical industries was determined, and the percentage variation in price was calculated. The prices of medicines (brands) were also compared with the price determined by the government where available. Results:Price variation was assessed for 31 anticancer medicines belonging to six broad categories. Prices were found to vary maximally among the following medicines, each belonging to separate categories: among alkylating agents, the price of temozolomide 100 mg capsule varied 308%; among antimetabolite agents, the price of pemetrexed 500 mg injection varied 134%; among hormonal drugs, the price of letrozole 2.5 mg tablet varied 200%; among antibody class, the price of trastuzumab 440 mg injection varied 73%; among natural products, the price of irinotecan 100 mg injection varied 590%; and among miscellaneous agents, the price of bortezomib 2 mg injection varied 241%. There was a significant difference in the mean MRP of the alkylating agents with the antimetabolites (p-value 0.006) and the monoclonal antibody (p-value <.001). Antimetabolites, natural products, hormonal therapy all had significant mean differences in their MRPs with the monoclonal antibodies. (p-value <.001) and the monoclonal antibodies had a significant mean difference in the MRP with the miscellaneous agents. (p-value <.001). Conclusions:There was a considerable variation in the price of different brands of anticancer medicines available in the Nepalese market. The Government of Nepal has regulated the prices of some medicines, including anticancer medicine. However, it is not enough as prices of the majority of anticancer medicines are still not regulated. Therefore, further strategies are needed to address the variation in the prices of anticancer medicines available in the Nepalese market