ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF MARINE MACROALGAE SARGASSUM ILICIFOLIUM AND PADINA TETRASTOMATICA IN MICE

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate an anxiolytic effect of chloroform and ethanol extract of Sargassum ilicifolium (SI) and Padina tetrastomatica (PT) in mice.Methods: Acute toxicity study was done as per OECD 423 guidelines. Based on acute toxicity studies, doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg of SI and PT extracts were selected, and the anxiolytic activity was assessed using Elevated plus maze (EPM) and light/dark exploration (L/DE) tests.Results: Diazepam (2 mg/kg), the ethanol extract of SI (400 mg/kg) as well as ethanol extract of PT (600 mg/kg) significantly increased time spent and entries into the open arm in EPM test. In L/DE test Diazepam, chloroform extract (600 mg/kg) and ethanol extract (400 mg/kg) of SI as well as chloroform extract (600 mg/kg) and ethanol extract (600 mg/kg) of PT significantly increased time spent in light box and transition between the boxes.Conclusion: in the present investigation, ethanol extract at 400 and chloroform extract at 600 mg/kg of Sargassum ilicifolium as well as ethanol extract at 400 and 600 mg/kg and chloroform extract at 600 mg/kg of Padina tetrastomatica exhibited an anxiolytic effect in the experimental model of anxiety. However, additional research will be necessary to investigate the mechanism underlying this anxiolytic activity. Keywords: Sargassum ilicifolium, Padina tetrastomatica, Brown algae, Anxiolytic activit

Investigation of Neolamarckia cadamba phytoconstituents against SARS-CoV-2 3CL Pro: An In-Silico Approach

In present study, the inhibitory potential of Neolamarckia cadamba phytoconstituents was investigated against SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CL pro) (PDB ID: 6M2N). Molecular docking was analyzed using AutoDock Vina software by setting the grid parameter as X= -33.163, Y= -65.074 and Z= 41.434 with dimensions of the grid box 25 × 25 × 25 Å. Remdesivir was taken as the standard for comparative analysis along with inhibitor 5, 6, 7-trihydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one. Furthermore, the exploration of 2 D Hydrogen-bond interactions was performed by Biovia Discovery Studio 4.5 program to identify the interactions between an amino acid of target and ligand followed by assessment of physicochemical properties using Lipinski’s rule and Swiss ADME database. The decent bonding scores of secondary metabolites owing to hydrogen bonding with catalytic residues suggest the effectiveness of these phytochemicals towards 3CLpro. The results are further consolidated positively by Lipinski’s rule and Swiss ADME prediction. Thus reasonably, observations with docking studies suggest possibility of phytochemicals from Neolamarckia cadamba to inhibit the 3CLpro and consequently would be explored further as agents for preventing COVID-19

Hypothermia predicts mortality in critically ill elderly patients with sepsis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advanced age is one of the factors that increase mortality in intensive care. Sepsis and multi-organ failure are likely to further increase mortality in elderly patients.</p> <p>We compared the characteristics and outcomes of septic elderly patients (> 65 years) with younger patients (≤ 65 years) and identified factors during the first 24 hours of presentation that could predict mortality in elderly patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was conducted in a Level III intensive care unit with a case mix of medical and surgical patients excluding cardiac and neurosurgical patients.</p> <p>We performed a retrospective review of all septic patients admitted to our ICU between July 2004 and May 2007. In addition to demographics and co-morbidities, physiological and laboratory variables were analysed to identify early predictors of mortality in elderly patients with sepsis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 175 patients admitted with sepsis, 108 were older than 65 years. Elderly patients differed from younger patients with regard to sex, temperature (37.2°C VS 37.8°C p < 0.01), heart rate, systolic blood pressure, pH, HCO₃, potassium, urea, creatinine, APACHE III and SAPS II. The ICU and hospital mortality was significantly higher in elderly patients (10.6% Vs 23.14% (p = 0.04) and 19.4 Vs 35.1 (p = 0.02) respectively). Elderly patients who died in hospital had a significant difference in pH, HCO₃, mean blood pressure, potassium, albumin, organs failed, lactate, APACHE III and SAPS II compared to the elderly patients who survived while the mean age and co-morbidities were comparable. Logistic regression analysis identified temperature (OR [per degree centigrade decrease] 0.51; 95% CI 0.306- 0.854; p = 0.010) and SAPS II (OR [per point increase]: 1.12; 95% CI 1.016-1.235; p = 0.02) during the first 24 hours of admission to independently predict increased hospital mortality in elderly patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The mortality in elderly patients with sepsis is higher than the younger patients. Temperature (hypothermia) and SAPS II scores during the first 24 hours of presentation independently predict hospital mortality.</p

Phytochemical Screening and HPTLC study of Padina tetrastromatica (Hauck)

The marine ecology is diverse with innumerable types of natural substances, both of plant and animal origin. Padina tetrastromatica (PT) (Hauck) is a brown algae belonging to the order Dictyotales, found in coastal region. The objective of present investigation was to evaluate phytochemical profile of extracts of PT. The air dried plant material was defatted and extracted successively with solvents of increasing polarity. Incumbent study was performed with standard qualitative phytochemical tests and HPTLC fingerprint analysis using CAMAG HPTLC system. The results showed the presence of phytoconstituents like sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids and carbohydrates. Furthermore, components present in extracts were resolved in best possible solvent system by HPTLC. The chloroform extract of PT displayed eight peaks, in which those with Rf values 0.28 and 0.72 were more predominant. Whereas ethanol extract of PT exhibited nine peaks, in which maximum Rf value was found to be 0.82. In conclusion, the data of this study provide useful guide and suitability for investigation of biological activity of the plant according to the phytochemical groups observed. However, further work is needed to standardize the above chemical constituents in comparison with biomarker and this result can also be measured along with the other data for setting up the standards to this plant

Ethnomedicinal and pharmacological potential of marine macroalgae for CNS disorders: An overview

Marine macroalgae or seaweeds have created a favourable implication in the area of biomedical sciences, due to the present of potential bioactive substances. Extensive studies are reported on neuropharmacological effects of terrestrial plants and their constituents but there is inadequate information on the potential application of marine macroalgae for behavioural and neurological disorders. This review will emphasize on recent studies and/or updates on bioactive compounds or extracts from marine macroalgae and their potential toward CNS disorders