PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF ABIES WEBBIANA LEAF: A SIDDHA HERBAL INGREDIENT

ABSTRACTObjectives: To evaluate the therapeutic potential of Abies webbiana (Wall ex D. Don) Lindl, plants leaves belongs to Pinaceae family are grown inNorthern India, Afghanistan, China (Tibet), Nepal, and Pakistan. It is a large tree grows up to 50 m height. Leaves of this plant are useful in Siddha andAyurveda Systems of Medicine. It acts as an expectorant, carminative, stomachic, and tonic. It is the main ingredient in the Siddha formulations suchas Thalisathi choornam and Thalisadi vadagam, which are used for respiratory problems such as cold, cough, wheezing, tuberculosis, indigestion, lossof appetite, and vatha diseases.Methods: In this study, we have investigated the phytochemical profile, pharmacognostic characters, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) compounds of methanolic extract of A. webbiana leaves.Results: Phytochemical screening showed the presence of steroids, terpenes, sugars, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and quinones. The leafmaterial revealed loss on drying (6.90%), total ash (5.23%), acid-insoluble ash (0.57%), water-soluble extractive (23.79%), alcohol-soluble extractive(18.37%), and pH was 5.25. 29 compounds were detected in GC-MS analysis and benzenepropanol, 4-hydroxy-à-methyl, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, and5-(hydroxymethyl) are the predominant components.Conclusions: This study provides the pharmacognostic standards of A. webbiana leaf for their authentication and utilization in herbal medicine.Keywords: Abies webbiana, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemicals, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Herbal medicine

Coordination properties of vic-isonitrosoimines in their copper (II) and palladium (II) complexes

Preparation and structural characterization of palladium (II) complexes of ligands III-V and copper (II) complexes of III are reported. The elemental analyses of the complexes show that the metal: ligand ratio is 1:2. The electrical conductance in acetone shows the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. The diamagnetic character suggests a gross square-planar geometry for the palladium (II) complexes. Copper (II) complexes are paramagnetic with μeff.~1·90 B.M. Spectral data suggest that in all the complexes the ligand coordinates to the metal (II) symmetrically through isonitroso-nitrogen and imine-nitrogen, forming a five membered chelate ring. Amine-exchange reactions of the complexes are discussed and compared on the basis of their structures

On the Determinant of a Product of Two Polynomial Matrices

Abstract: The Cayley Hamilton theorem for an arbitrary matrix A is generalized to a polynomial matrix. It is proved that if h

Spin-ladders with spin gaps: A description of a class of cuprates

We investigate the magnetic properties of the Cu-O planes in stoichiometric Sr$_{n-1}$Cu$_{n+1}$O$_{2n}$ (n=3,5,7,...) which consist of CuO double chains periodically intergrown within the CuO$_2$ planes. The double chains break up the two-dimensional antiferromagnetic planes into Heisenberg spin ladders with $n_r=\frac{1}{2}(n-1)$ rungs and $n_l=\frac{1}{2}(n+1)$ legs and described by the usual antiferromagnetic coupling J inside each ladder and a weak and frustrated interladder coupling J$^\prime$. The resulting lattice is a new two-dimensional trellis lattice. We first examine the spin excitation spectra of isolated quasi one dimensional Heisenberg ladders which exhibit a gapless spectra when $n_r$ is even and $n_l$ is odd ( corresponding to n=5,9,...) and a gapped spectra when $n_r$ is odd and $n_l$ is even (corresponding to n=3,7,...). We use the bond operator representation of quantum $S=\frac{1}{2}$ spins in a mean field treatment with self-energy corrections and obtain a spin gap of $\approx \frac{1}{2} J$ for the simplest single rung ladder (n=3), in agreement with numerical estimates.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures upon request, REVTEX, ETH-TH/93-3

In-vitro biocompatibility studies of nanochitosan/ polyvinylpyrrolidone blends on MC3T3-E1 cells showing beneficial effect in bone tissue engineering

Chitosan is a naturally occurring polymer with numerous biological properties that can be used in the biomedical field. Chitosan was modified to nanochitosan in this study. The polycationic nature of chitosan interacts with polyanions (TPP) to form nanoparticles. The prepared nanochitosan was mixed with polyvinyl pyrollidone to create binary blends with ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1. The polymeric blends were interpreted by using the analytical tools FTIR, XRD and SEM. The results of the FTIR and XRD confirm the formation of binary blends with strong electrostatic interaction. The study aims to investigate the compatibility of the prepared blend as tissue regenerative material. The blends were evaluated in-vitro using fluorscent spectroscopy, MTT assay, NRR assay and ALP assay to study its biocompatibility and cell viability. The results revealed that the quick multiplication followed by a moderate increment in cell number of MC3T3-E1 as cells reacted to the prepared material and hence the materials can be used in the regenerative medicine

Prevalence of Underweight, Stunting, and Wasting among Children Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in South India

Background. Growth failure is a common feature of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Malnutrition increases mortality and may impair the response to antiretroviral treatment. Objective. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting in HIV-infected children in south India and to assess the utility of these parameters in predicting immune status. Methodology. In this cross-sectional study, anthropometric measurements and CD4 counts were performed on 231 HIV-infected children. Z scores for height for age, weight for age, and weight for height were correlated with CD4 cell counts and receiver operating characteristic curves plotted. Results. Prevalence of underweight was 63%, stunting 58%, and wasting 16%, respectively. 33–45% of children were moderately or severely malnourished even at CD4 >25%; sensitivity and specificity of stunting or underweight to predict HIV disease severity was low. Conclusions. Undernutrition and stunting are common among HIV-infected children at all stages of the disease in India. Early and aggressive nutritional intervention is required, if long-term outcomes are to be improved

Thermodynamics of target peptide recognition by calmodulin and a calmodulin analogue: implications for the role of the central linker

The thermodynamics of interaction of two model peptides melittin and mastoparan with bovine brain calmodulin (CAM) and a smaller CAM analogue, a calcium binding protein from Entamoeba histolytica (CaBP) in 10 mM MOPS buffer (pH 7.0) was examined using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). These data show that CAM binds to both the peptides and the enthalpy of binding is endothermic for melittin and exothermic for mastoparan at 25°C. CaBP binds to the longer peptide melittin, but does not bind to mastoparan, the binding enthalpy being endothermic in nature. Concurrently, we also observe a larger increase in α-helicity upon the binding of melittin to CAM when compared to CaBP. The role of hydrophobic interactions in the binding process has also been examined using 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulphonic acid (ANS) binding monitored by ITC. These results have been employed to rationalize the energetic consequences of the binding reaction

Adsorption of chromium from aqueous solution using Chitosan-g-Graphene /Hydroxyapatite composite

The preparation and characterisation of a polymeric composite incorporating graphene, hydroxyapatite, and chitosan as an adsorbent to remove chromium (VI) from wastewater. The FTIR and XRD studies supported the composite's production. Analysis of surface morphology and heat stability involved TGA and SEM studies. A batch adsorption was run to determine the efficacy of the adsorbent by varying contact time, adsorbent dose, and pH. The kinetics of the adsorption process were examined using pseudo-first and second order kinetic models after the equilibrium data had been fitted with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The findings showed that pseudo second order kinetics was utilised for the adsorption of Cr(VI) onto chitosan-grafted graphene/hydroxyapatite (CS-g-Gr/HA) composite