Physical appearance antioxidant effect alpha-amylase inhibition and alpha-glucosidase of Carissa carandas products

This research aimed to examine tea production from the leaves and fruit of the Karanda (Carissa carandas) at different stages of development. The antioxidant activity of Carissa carandas leaves was determined by their total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and ferric-reducing capacity (FRAP). The experiment results were freeze-dried and ground into a powder. Young tea leaves had more antioxidants than older ones. Antioxidant capacity DPPH and ferric reduction ability were greater in Carissa carandas juice powder than in Carissa carandas powder. The amount of water extracted is greater. Using Carissa carandas powder, the leftover portion was substituted for tea leaves at weights of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 %. Color, total acid content, and total anthocyanin content were measured. The tea was a deeper shade of crimson. Substituting 20% of the fruit pulp for the Carissa carandas resulted in the greatest increase in redness and total acid content, including the total amount of anthocyanin. Superior to all other formulations to increase the total phenolic content, Carissa carandas development should be blended amongst the leaf portions. In sensory characteristics testing, it was determined that the highest acceptable substitution level on the 9-point Hedonic scale test was the 10% substitution level, with scores on appearance, color, odor, taste, texture, and preference that were distinct from those of other samples: 8.56, 8.89, 8.43, 8.21, 8.76, and 8.38.Monruthai Srithongkerd (Tropical Agriculture Program, Faculty of Agriculture), Amorn Owatworakit (Microbial Product and Innovation Research Group, Mae Fah Luang University), Nongnuch Siriwong (Department of Home Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University)Includes bibliographical references

Mode of Action and Synergy of Ceftazidime and Baicalein against Streptococcus pyogenes

Purpose: To investigate the antibacterial activity of baicalein used alone, or in combination with ceftazidime, against Streptococcus pyogenes.Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), checkerboard assay parameters, and viability curves were determined for S. pyogenes DMST 30653, 30654, and 30655. Cytoplasmic membrane (CM) permeability technique, enzyme assays, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transforminfrared microspectroscopy were used to investigate the changes in the bacterial biomolecules.Results: The MIC of ceftazidime and baicalein against all the S. pyogenes strains were 0.50 and > 256.0 μg/ml, respectively. A synergistic effect against these strains was exhibited by the ceftazidime/baicalein combination (fractional inhibitory concentration index, < 0.37). The results for the viable counts indicate that this synergistic activity was present. Baicalein exerted inhibitory activity against β-lactamase. Compared with the controls, combining baicalein with ceftazidime caused peptidoglycan and morphological damage, significantly increased CM permeability and protein concentrations, and decreased cellular fatty acid and nucleic acid concentrations.Conclusion: Baicalein is a potential synergistic adjunct to ceftazidime for the treatment of S. pyogenes infections.Keywords: Streptococcus pyogenes, Cytoplasmic membrane permeability, Baicalein, Ceftazidime, Synergistic activity, Fourier Transform-infrared microspectroscopy, Transmission electron microscop

Anemia in Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Care Clinic, Mae Sot Hospital

Objectives: To determine prevalence and demographic characteristics of anemic Thai and Myanmar pregnant women attending the Antenatal Care Clinic, Mae Sot Hospital, Mae Sot, Tak province, Thailand. Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in 500 pregnant women between October 2011 and April 2012. Blood samples were obtained for determination of hematocrit level and screening for thalassemia. Information on age, ethnic affiliation, gestational age, gravida, level of education, occupation, household income, and area of residence were recorded.Results:Overall prevalence of anemia was 49% (Thai 36%; Myanmar 60%) and mean hematocrit level was 33.1±3.1%, anemia was significantly focus in second and third trimester more than first trimester of pregnancy (OR = 4.23, 95%CI 2.64 – 6.79 and OR = 6.30, 95%CI 3.35–11.85, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: Anemia in both Thai and Myanmar pregnancy was common in Mae Sot

Chromosomal Damage Risk Assessment to Benzene Exposure among Gasoline Station Workers in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand

This study was a cross-sectional survey study to assess relative risk (RR) of chromosomal damage through benzene exposure in 45 gasoline stations workers compared to 30 controls in central area of Bangkok. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is as genotoxic biomarker, performed in white blood cells, and blood benzene level (BBL) is a biological marker of benzene exposure was performed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) using modified headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) technique. The results showed that the average blood benzene level of these workers was significantly higher than in the controls (p &lt; 0.001) as well as the frequency of sister chromatid exchange. The sister chromatid exchange was strongly and positively associated with blood benzene level of gasoline workers (p &lt; 0.001) with the chromosomal damage relative risk at 2.50 (p &lt; 0.001). Keywords: gasoline worker, benzene, sister chromatid exchange, chromosomal damag

Chemical Education Transfer for Safe Practice Improvement Regarding Volatile Organic Solvents among Gasoline Station Workers, Bangkok, Thailand

The cross-sectional study was designed to survey on six gasoline station workers in Bangkok. Forty-one workers were participated to find out prevalence of knowledge (K), attitude (A) and practice (P) before and after 7-day appropriate intervention regarding volatile organic solvents. The results showed that before the intervention the workers had good attitude toward the harmful of using solvents, but they lacked of good knowledge on effect of volatile organic solvents as well as safe practice [using personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand washing]. After a 7-day appropriate intervention of educational training on knowledge of chemical toxicity and prevention was conducted the prevalence of workers had significantly increased in good knowledge (p &lt; 0.001) and safe practice (p &lt; 0.001), but significantly decreased in good attitude (p &lt; 0.05). The safe practice after appropriated intervention was positively associated with good knowledge (p &lt; 0.01) and good attitude (p &lt; 0.05). The study showed that the workers required good knowledge on occupational hazards by engaging in good attitudinal approach toward better hazard prevention at workplace for their safe practice during work-shift. Therefore, making awareness and the regulation of using PPE should be considered to improve proper behavior toward safe practice of gasoline station workers. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Volatile organic solvents, Appropriate intervention, Gasoline statio

Factors Associated with Pesticide Risk Behaviors among Rice Farmers in Rural Community, Thailand

The need to use large amounts of pesticides has raised environmental health and human health concerns. Several reports reveal that many farmers in Thailand continue to be poisoned through unsafe practices in the use of pesticides. Few studies exist that examine pesticide risk behaviors and beliefs among rice farmers in Thailand. The study objective was to evaluate health beliefs and behaviors associated with pesticide risk behaviors among rice farmers in the Khlong Seven community from March to December 2010. Data collection from 482 rice farmers was completed by observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. We found the main potential exposure pathways included: take-home exposure; ingestion from food intake, especially vegetables and drinking water; environment risks, especially the proximity of family homes to farms, spray drift areas, and; the most concern stemmed from their practice. Major factors of pesticide poisoning in the Khlong Seven community were the unsafe use of pesticides including erroneous beliefs of farmers about pesticide toxicity, lack of attention to safety precautions, environmental hazards, and information about first aid and antidotes written on the container labels, the use of faulty spraying equipment or lack of proper maintenance of spraying equipment, and wearing protective gear and appropriate clothing during the handling of pesticides. This study concludes that an intervention program is necessary to improve safer pesticide behaviors and to decrease pesticide exposure among rice farmers in Khlong Seven community. Keywords: rice farmers, pesticide exposure, risk behaviors, rural communit

Performance of treated distillate aromatic extract oil-coated petroleum-based sulfur on properties of natural rubber/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blends

Petroleum-based sulfur is one of the sulfur types used in rubber vulcanization. The use of such sulfur still faces poor dispersion in the rubber matrix especially in acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and its blends. The use of oil as a dispersing agent acts as a key factor to improve the dispersibility of the sulfur. The effects of treated distillate aromatic extract (TDAE) oilcoated petroleum-based sulfur on the properties of natural rubber/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NR/NBR) blends were studied. In this work, sulfur was coated with 20 wt% TDAE-oil and then the effects on the properties of NR/ NBR blends were investigated. The results revealed that the TDAE oil-coated sulfur offered a significant improvement in sulfur dispersion without significant changes in cure behaviors which led to an enhancement of mechanical properties

Inhalation Exposure of Organophosphate Pesticides by Vegetable Growers in the Bang-Rieng Subdistrict in Thailand

This study investigated inhalation exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) and evaluated the associated health risks to vegetable growers living in the Bang-Rieng agricultural community. Air samples were collected by using personal sampling pumps with sorbent tubes placed in the vegetable growers' breathing zone. Samples were collected during both wet and dry seasons. Residues of organophosphate pesticides, that is, chlorpyrifos, dicrotofos, and profenofos, were analyzed from 33 vegetable growers and 17 reference subjects. Results showed that median concentrations of OPPs in air in farm areas were in the range of 0.022–0.056 mg/m3 and air in nonfarm areas in the range of <0.0016–<0.005 mg/m3. The concentration of the three pesticides in the vegetable growers was significantly higher than that of the references during both seasons. The results also indicate that the vegetable growers may be at risk for acute adverse effects via the inhalation of chlorpyrifos and dicrotofos during pesticide application, mixing, loading, and spraying. It is suggested that authorities and the community should implement appropriate strategies concerning risk reduction and risk management

Cadmium Contamination in Farmland Soil and Water Near Zinc Mining Site

This study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Phatadpadaeng Subdistrict, Mae Sod District, Tak Province, Thailand. This study aimed to determine cadmium concentration in farmland soil and water as well as at the residence of farmers and households. As many as 48 samples of farmers' residence soil and water, twelve samples of households and six samples of farmland soil and eight samples of farmland water were investigated for cadmium concentration using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the analysis of the difference of cadmium concentration between farmland soil and residence soil, farmland water and residence water. The results showed no statistically difference among all matrixes, however, farmland soil and farmland water showed highest concentration compared to those of resident farmers and households. The cadmium concentrations in all samples were far below the limit values. This study clearly showed that working conditions of farmers demonstrated higher level of cadmium compared to the living conditions. The cause of this contamination might be from the activities of the surroundings industry. Therefore, it would be recommended that farmers should consider for cadmium exposure while working in farm