EVALUATION OFANTI-OXIDANT AND ANTI-ACNE ACTIVITIES (IN-VITRO) OF THE FORMULATED HERBAL GELS

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-acne activities (in-vitro) of the formulated herbal gels. Methods: Herbal extracts and volatile oils were prepared and procured. Preliminary screenings for the anti-oxidant and anti-acne activities (in-vitro) were carried out to select the suitable candidates for the preparation of anti-acne herbal gels. Gels were further evaluated for the activities. Results: The herbal gel (F2) containing the herbal extracts (Azadirachtaindica, Ocmium sanctum, Curcuma longa) each (1%) and volatile oils (Melaleucaalternifoliae, Salviaesclareae and Citrus sinensis) each (0.05%) showed maximum anti-oxidant activity (IC50 value 0.407 mg) amongst all four gels. Significant anti-acne activity against P. acne and S. epidermidis was showed by F2 when compared with the marketed synthetic gel (Clindac gel). Conclusion: The study proves that the herbal actives used in the formulation have promising anti-oxidant and anti-acne activity

Ageratum enation virus Infection Induces Programmed Cell Death and Alters Metabolite Biosynthesis in Papaver somniferum

A previously unknown disease which causes severe vein thickening and inward leaf curl was observed in a number of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) plants. The sequence analysis of full-length viral genome and associated betasatellite reveals the occurrence of Ageratum enation virus (AEV) and Ageratum leaf curl betasatellite (ALCB), respectively. Co-infiltration of cloned agroinfectious DNAs of AEV and ALCB induces the leaf curl and vein thickening symptoms as were observed naturally. Infectivity assay confirmed this complex as the cause of disease and also satisfied the Koch’s postulates. Comprehensive microscopic analysis of infiltrated plants reveals severe structural anomalies in leaf and stem tissues represented by unorganized cell architecture and vascular bundles. Moreover, the characteristic blebs and membranous vesicles formed due to the virus-induced disintegration of the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles were also present. An accelerated nuclear DNA fragmentation was observed by Comet assay and confirmed by TUNEL and Hoechst dye staining assays suggesting virus-induced programmed cell death. Virus-infection altered the biosynthesis of several important metabolites. The biosynthesis potential of morphine, thebaine, codeine, and papaverine alkaloids reduced significantly in infected plants except for noscapine whose biosynthesis was comparatively enhanced. The expression analysis of corresponding alkaloid pathway genes by real time-PCR corroborated well with the results of HPLC analysis for alkaloid perturbations. The changes in the metabolite and alkaloid contents affect the commercial value of the poppy plants

Nations within a nation: variations in epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990–2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study

18% of the world's population lives in India, and many states of India have populations similar to those of large countries. Action to effectively improve population health in India requires availability of reliable and comprehensive state-level estimates of disease burden and risk factors over time. Such comprehensive estimates have not been available so far for all major diseases and risk factors. Thus, we aimed to estimate the disease burden and risk factors in every state of India as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2016

Vegetation response and landscape dynamics of Indian Summer Monsoon variations during Holocene: an eco-geomorphological appraisal of tropical evergreen forest subfossil logs.

The high rainfall and low sea level during Early Holocene had a significant impact on the development and sustenance of dense forest and swamp-marsh cover along the southwest coast of India. This heavy rainfall flooded the coastal plains, forest flourishing in the abandoned river channels and other low-lying areas in midland.The coastline and other areas in lowland of southwestern India supply sufficient evidence of tree trunks of wet evergreen forests getting buried during the Holocene period under varying thickness of clay, silty-clay and even in sand sequences. This preserved subfossil log assemblage forms an excellent proxy for eco-geomorphological and palaeoclimate appraisal reported hitherto from Indian subcontinent, and complements the available palynological data. The bulk of the subfossil logs and partially carbonized wood remains have yielded age prior to the Holocene transgression of 6.5 k yrs BP, suggesting therein that flooding due to heavy rainfall drowned the forest cover, even extending to parts of the present shelf. These preserved logs represent a unique palaeoenvironmental database as they contain observable cellular structure. Some of them can even be compared to modern analogues. As these woods belong to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, they form a valuable source of climate data that alleviates the lack of contemporaneous meteorological records. These palaeoforests along with pollen proxies depict the warmer environment in this region, which is consistent with a Mid Holocene Thermal Maximum often referred to as Holocene Climate Optimum. Thus, the subfossil logs of tropical evergreen forests constitute new indices of Asian palaeomonsoon, while their occurrence and preservation are attributed to eco-geomorphology and hydrological regimes associated with the intensified Asian Summer Monsoon, as recorded elsewhere

Vegetation Response and Landscape Dynamics of Indian Summer Monsoon Variations during Holocene: An Eco-Geomorphological Appraisal of Tropical Evergreen Forest Subfossil Logs

<div><p>The high rainfall and low sea level during Early Holocene had a significant impact on the development and sustenance of dense forest and swamp-marsh cover along the southwest coast of India. This heavy rainfall flooded the coastal plains, forest flourishing in the abandoned river channels and other low-lying areas in midland.The coastline and other areas in lowland of southwestern India supply sufficient evidence of tree trunks of wet evergreen forests getting buried during the Holocene period under varying thickness of clay, silty-clay and even in sand sequences. This preserved subfossil log assemblage forms an excellent proxy for eco-geomorphological and palaeoclimate appraisal reported hitherto from Indian subcontinent, and complements the available palynological data. The bulk of the subfossil logs and partially carbonized wood remains have yielded age prior to the Holocene transgression of 6.5 k yrs BP, suggesting therein that flooding due to heavy rainfall drowned the forest cover, even extending to parts of the present shelf. These preserved logs represent a unique palaeoenvironmental database as they contain observable cellular structure. Some of them can even be compared to modern analogues. As these woods belong to the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, they form a valuable source of climate data that alleviates the lack of contemporaneous meteorological records. These palaeoforests along with pollen proxies depict the warmer environment in this region, which is consistent with a Mid Holocene Thermal Maximum often referred to as Holocene Climate Optimum. Thus, the subfossil logs of tropical evergreen forests constitute new indices of Asian palaeomonsoon, while their occurrence and preservation are attributed to eco-geomorphology and hydrological regimes associated with the intensified Asian Summer Monsoon, as recorded elsewhere.</p></div

List of identified sub fossil logs and partially carbonized woods from the wetlands of Kerala.

<p>List of identified sub fossil logs and partially carbonized woods from the wetlands of Kerala.</p

Radiocarbon dates of the Holocene woods/peat/sediments of the wetlands of Kerala.

<p>Radiocarbon dates of the Holocene woods/peat/sediments of the wetlands of Kerala.</p

Sand, mud, organic carbon and nitrogen contents in the sediments of Pangod quarry along with the concentration of δ¹⁵ N and δ ¹³C _org.

<p>Sand, mud, organic carbon and nitrogen contents in the sediments of Pangod quarry along with the concentration of δ¹⁵ N and δ ¹³C _org.</p

Wood anatomical details of <i>Calophyllum</i> sp. (1–4) and <i>Careya arborea</i> Roxb. (5–10).

<p>1. Transverse section showing distribution of obliquely arranged tylosed vessels and apotracheal parenchyma bands. Scale bar  = 250 µm; (BSIP Museum Slide No. 40078 A-1). 2. Tangential longitudinal sections showing uniseriate rays and tylosed vessel elements. Scale bar  = 100 µm; (BSIP Museum Slide No. 40078 A-2). 3. Tangential longitudinal sections magnified showing uniseriate rays ands solitary crystal Scale bar  = 50 µm; (BSIP Museum Slide No. 40078 A-3). 4. Radial longitudinal section showing heterocellular rays. (BSIP Museum Slide No. 40078 A-4). 5. Transverse section showing distribution of tylosed vessels and apotracheal parenchyma lines. Scale bar  = 250 µm; BSIP Museum Slide No. 40080-1. 6. Transverse section of another sample showing distribution of tylosed vessels and apotracheal parenchyma lines. Scale bar  = 250 µm; BSIP Museum Slide No. 40080-2. 7. Tangential longitudinal section showing distribution of multiseriate rays and tylosed vessels. Scale bar  = 250 µm; BSIP Museum Slide No. 40080-3. 8. Tangential longitudinal section enlarged of another sample showing a multiseriate rays. Scale bar  = 100 µm; BSIP Museum Slide No. 40080 - 4. 9. Tangential longitudinal section showing bordered, alternate hexagonal intervessel pits. Scale bar  = 50 µm; BSIP Museum Slide No. 40080 -5. 10. Radial longitudinal section showing heterocellular ray cells. Scale bar  = 100 µm. BSIP Museum Slide No. 40080 - 6.</p

Landward extension of Kerala–Konkan basin showing fossil wood locations associated with wetlands and major river basins of south west India.

<p>Landward extension of Kerala–Konkan basin showing fossil wood locations associated with wetlands and major river basins of south west India.</p