EVALUATION OF ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ALANGIUM SALVIFOLIUM LEAVES IN ANIMAL MODELS

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the anticancer potential of ethanolic extract of Alangium salvifolium leaves (EASL) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in animal model. Methods: The ethanolic extract of A. salvifolium was prepared by continuous method using Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical analysis of EASL was conducted. Anticancer activity of the extract was evaluated by EAC model in Swiss albino mice. EASL was administered at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight once a day orally for 14 days, after 24 h of tumor inoculation. Results: A. salvifolium leaves extract treatment produced significant decrease in tumor volume and body weight, and increase in total and non-viable cell count, along with elevated life span of EAC-bearing mice. The EASL exhibited potent dose-dependent antitumor activity. Further, the altered hematological parameters such as red blood cells, hemoglobin, and white blood cells levels as well as biochemical parameters such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and total protein levels in EAC mice were significantly (p<0.05) regained following treatment with EASL. The anticancer potential of EASL can be attributed to the presence of phenols and flavonoids. Conclusion: Results suggest that EASL possesses significant anticancer activity against EAC tumor-bearing Swiss albino mice

EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MIMOSA PUDICA ROOT L. ON ACUTE RESTRAINT STRESS-INDUCED ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Objective: The present study is undertaken to study the ameliorative effects of ethanolic extract of Mimosa pudica root (EMPR) on stress-induced anxiety and depressive-like behavior in Swiss albino mice.Methods: The animals were subjected to acute restraint stress (ARS) for 7 days, and on the 8th day after drugs administration, the antianxiety effect was evaluated using elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Antidepressant activity was evaluated by animal despair models-forced swim test and tail suspension test. Phytochemical analysis of the extract was also conducted.Results: EMPR (1000 and 2000 mg/kg) and the combined test groups have shown significant antianxiety effects similar to the standard diazepam as indicated by an improved open arm exploratory behavior in EPM model. EMPR also significantly reduced the immobility time in the animal despair models tested.Conclusion: Results suggest that EMPR possesses significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in male Swiss albino mice

EVALUATION OF ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF MIMOSA PUDICA ROOT LINN IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Objective: To evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Mimosa pudica root (EMPR) in experimental mice models.Methods: Ethanolic extract of root parts of Mimosa pudica (EMPR) was prepared by a continuous method using soxhlet apparatus. EMPR in doses of 1000, 2000 mg/kg body wt along with valproate were administrated to albino mice by oral route and anti-epileptic activity was assessed by maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure models. Abolition of tonic hind limb extension phase and an increase in seizure latency period, when compared to control group, were taken as a measure of protection in MES and PTZ induced convulsion models respectively.Results: EMPR in the dose of 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body wt of mice showed significant anti-epileptic property in both MES and PTZ induced seizure models. There was a significant abolition of tonic hind limb extension phase in MES model. There was also a significant increase in seizure latency period in PTZ induced seizure model.Conclusion: Results suggest that ethanolic extract of Mimosa pudica roots possess significant anti-epileptic activity. Further investigations are required to determine its active constituents and also its antiepileptic mechanism of action

Marker-assisted backcross breeding for heat tolerance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Manipulation of flowering time for adaptation through natural or genetic approaches may combat heat-stress damage that occurs at the reproductive stages in production conditions. HD2733, a popular wheat variety of the eastern plains of India, is largely sensitive to heat stress. Therefore, the current study aims to improve heat tolerance of HD2733 by introgression of QTLs associated with early anthesis and high kernel weight linked to markers Xbarc186 and Xgwm190, respectively, through marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) from a tolerant donor, WH730. A total of 124 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers distributed evenly across the genome were used for the background selection. The alleles of Xbarc186 and Xgwm190 were fixed in BC2F1 and BC1F2 generations by selecting individual plants heterozygous for both marker loci and backcrossed with HD2733 and simultaneously selfed to generate BC2F1 and BC1F2 populations, respectively. Furthermore, the selected BC1F2 were selfed to generate the BC1F4 population. By background screening, a total of 39 BC2F3 and 21 BC1F4 families homozygous for the targeted QTLs with 90.9–97.9% and 86.8–88.3% RPG recoveries were selected. The best performing 17 BC2F3 and 10 BC1F4 lines were evaluated for various morpho-physiological traits. Phenotypic evaluation and multi-location trials of the introgressed lines under late sown conditions led to the selection of three promising lines with early anthesis and higher grain yield. The improved lines will serve as an excellent genetic material for functional genomics and expression studies to understand the molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying the stress tolerance

Ultrasound as a relevant primary mode of investigation in the non-traumatic acute abdomen in adults and its correlation with treatment

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the spectrum of abdominal disease as well as the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound in non-traumatic acute abdominal patients at Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) and Chamarajanagar District Hospital. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of 100 patients aged 14 and up who presented to the emergency department with non-traumatic acute abdomen and were admitted as inpatients and referred to the Radiology Department at CIMS, Chamarajanagar. A real-time ultrasound scanner-Alpha Prosound 6 from Aloka Technologies [(Curvilinear probe (frequency 1-15 MHz) (linear probe (frequency 1-15 MHz)] with Doppler capabilities was used to evaluate intra-abdominal organs, and the results were compared to clinical and surgical findings in those cases that were operated. The maximum age group in the study of 100 patients was 31-40 years (24 percent), and the mean age group was 57.84. In this study, the most common cause of acute abdomen in adults was renal colic (calculi), which was followed by appendicitis, appendicular mass, biliary disease, hydronephrosis, and others. Conclusion: Sonography should be used as the primary mode of diagnosis for patients with a history of acute non-traumatic abdomen.&nbsp

Assessment of rickettsial diseases presenting as acute undifferentiated febrile illness using clinical tools in a government tertiary care teaching hospital, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka

Background: Rickettsial diseases are re-emerging in India. Acute undifferentiated febrile illness is a difficult case to treat (AUFI). The greatest problem for clinicians is the early diagnosis of these diseases when antibiotic therapy is most successful.To determine the prevalence of RDs, therapy outcomes, and socio-demographic factors associated with RDs in AUFI. Patients and Methods: Fever and/or clinical signs of Rickettsial infection in patients admitted to the CIMS teaching hospital in Chamarajanagar for four years. Purposive sampling found AUFI in 1638 people. The diagnosis of rickettsial disease relied on clinical features. The Weil-Felix test was one. Then came a 48–72-hour estimate of doxycycline response. Results:Out of 1810 AUFI cases, 198 (10.93%) were rickettsial, with 190 (95.95%) having an RGA score of 14 or more, and 18 (9.09%) having an RGA score of 14 or less. Males aged 30-40 were most affected. Leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, etc. were found. Doxycycline was effective in 151 (89.35%) of cases within one week of onset. The remaining 18 (10.65%) required longer-term doxycycline with other drugs, three had severe complications, and one died. RD prevalence 70.01 %. Enteric fever, Dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, and Rickettsial diseases were the most common diseases diagnosed in patients with undifferentiated febrile illness.&nbsp

INVITRO EVALUATION OF INDIGENOUS BIOAGENTS ON EGG HATCHING AND LARVAL MORTALITY OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE (MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA) INFECTING MULBERRY

In vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy culture filtrate of different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) of the indigenous bioagents viz. Trichoderma viride. Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma harzianum, Aspergillus niger, Pochonia chlamydosporia and Fusarium ax-ysporum on egg hatching and larval mortality of root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita at three exposure periods. All the indigenous bioagents had significantly suppressed egg hatching and viability of freshly hatched second stage juveniles of the nematode. However, at all concentrations of the indigenous bioagents tested, T viride was superior over other five bioagents tested in inhibition of egg hatching (61-68.74 per cent) and larval mortality (30-75.33 per cent)

Residual strength of SBR-latex modified high strength concrete under repeated impact loading

In the field of concrete technology the conventional ingredients were slowly and safely replaced by new and more efficient materials, which have opened a wide scope for research on their specific uses. Once the concrete has subjected to any kind of external force, the deterioration or decay of concrete will start. The present approach is aimed to study the post-impact behavior of SBR-latex modified reinforced high strength concrete beams. Experimental study has carried out on six concrete beams with dimension of 150 mm à 230 mm à 3300 mm to obtain the load time variation under repeated impact loading, natural frequencies, and the load-deflection variation of test specimens under static loading. Experimental investigation has shown decrease in natural frequencies in all the beams, with increase in number of blows and Dynamic Response Index (DRI), which is an indirect measure of stiffness and strength of the test specimen, reduces with increase in number impact blows. © 2009 Taylor & Francis Group

Marker-assisted identification of novel genetic lines for salinity tolerance and their categorization for utilization in development of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Identification of new sources of salinity-tolerant genotypes is prerequisite for rice breeding programs in different saline ecosystems. In the present experiment, we characterized 177 landraces from the Western Ghats of Karnataka under natural saline field conditions for two years using morpho-physiological and grain quality parameters. Significant variation was present among landraces for seedling stage and reproductive stage salinity tolerance. The nutrient composition analysis of grain revealed an increase in average grain protein and carbohydrate content under saline conditions. Evaluation of twenty-two SSR markers associated with the Saltol region validated RM140, RM1287 and RM562 as best markers to classify landraces for saline tolerance. Polymorphism Information Content and genetic diversity indices showed that the markers RM10748 and RM10864 were highly useful for distinguishing landraces. Further, to benefit the exploitation of heterosis, eleven maintainers were identified among tolerant landraces and these genotypes could be further developed into male sterile lines for production of salinity-tolerant rice hybrids. Comparison with ‘Pokkali’ for morpho-physiological traits along with molecular confirmation showed that the landraces ‘Doddabaikalu,’ Kalaadikonda,’ Gajagunda’ and ‘Anekombina batha’ were superior donors carrying genomic regions for salinity tolerance

Correction to: Marker-assisted identification of novel genetic lines for salinity tolerance and their categorization for utilization in development of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Identification of new sources of salinity-tolerant genotypes is prerequisite for rice breeding programs in different saline ecosystems. In the present experiment, we characterized 177 landraces from the Western Ghats of Karnataka under natural saline field conditions for two years using morpho-physiological and grain quality parameters. Significant variation was present among landraces for seedling stage and reproductive stage salinity tolerance. The nutrient composition analysis of grain revealed an increase in average grain protein and carbohydrate content under saline conditions. Evaluation of twenty-two SSR markers associated with the Saltol region validated RM140, RM1287 and RM562 as best markers to classify landraces for saline tolerance. Polymorphism Information Content and genetic diversity indices showed that the markers RM10748 and RM10864 were highly useful for distinguishing landraces. Further, to benefit the exploitation of heterosis, eleven maintainers were identified among tolerant landraces and these genotypes could be further developed into male sterile lines for production of salinity-tolerant rice hybrids. Comparison with ‘Pokkali’ for morpho-physiological traits along with molecular confirmation showed that the landraces ‘Doddabaikalu,’ Kalaadikonda,’ Gajagunda’ and ‘Anekombina batha’ were superior donors carrying genomic regions for salinity tolerance