MARKET SAMPLE SURVEY OF CROCUS SATIVUS LINN. TO ASSESS THE GENUINITY FOR USING ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT AND HIGH-PRESSURE THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY USING DETECTION OF FLAVONOIDS

Objective: Herbalism is a traditional medicine or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Many of the drugs used in conventional medicine are dried from herbs. Despite the fluctuation in prices in international markets, saffron was still remained the most expensive spice. The main aim of this study is to examine the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, high-pressure thin layer chromatography using flavanoid analysis and adulteration detection of saffron. Crocus sativus. Linn is a perennial stemless herb of the Iridaceae family. Saffron stigmas of sample1, sample2, sample3and sample4 are collected from different rates of the market sample from Thrissur district, sample5 collected from the Oushadhi premises, and it is collected from Himachal Pradesh. Methods: In this study detecting the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, high-pressure thin layer chromatography using flavanoid analysis of different samples of saffron stigmas. The extracts were prepared by using ethanol as a solvent. Results: Safranal is present only in s5 sample. It is the main essential volatile oil responsible for the saffron characteristic such as odour. Phenolic content is varied in different market samples. The amount of phenolic compounds in the saffron extract was determined using the Folin-ciocalteau reagent. Total phenolic content is the help to detect the pure and fake saffron. The phenolic content is higher in S5. Sample S5 showed 0.737 mg/ml phenolic content. Lowest level of phenolic content in sample S3. Sample S3 showed 0.0887 mg/ml phenolic content. Sample S4 showed 0.564 mg/ml total phenolic content. Sample S1 showed 0.416 mg/ml total phenolic content and sample S2 showed 0.267 mg/ml phenolic content. Antioxidant activity is higher in sample s5. and it is different in different market samples. Sample 5 stigma posses higher antioxidant activity. Sample S5 showing 14.88% antioxidant activity in 100 mg/ml concentration, 7.26% in 80 mg/ml concentration, 2.23% in 60 mg/ml concentration, 2.21% in 40 mg/ml and 1.01% in 20 mg/ml concentration. Sample S3 showed the lower antioxidant activity in 0.1% in 60 mg/ml concentration and 0.1% in 80 mg/ml. Ascorbic acid standard showing 14.89% in 100 mg/ml concentration, 7.26% in 80 mg/ml concentration, 4.56% in 60 mg/ml concentration, and 3.1% in 40 mg/ml concentration, and 1% in 20 mg/ml concentration. Flavonoid content is different in different samples. It is present highly present in sample s1 and s5. sample s3 do not contain the Flavanoid. The quality of the samples depend on the price values. Conclusion: The authenticity of saffron is an extremely important matter for the industry and for the consumers in view of security and protection,quality assurance, active properties and last but not least, economic impact. Despite the fluctuation in prices in international markets, saffron was and still remains the most expensive spice. The genuine saffron samples possess higher price value. The fake saffron available in the market with lower price value. The quality of the saffron depends upon the price values. These observations would be of immense value in the botanical identification and standardization of the drug in crude form and would help to distinguish the drug from its other spices

Dry weather sewage spills impacts on river health

The Yarra River is considered to be an important environmental and recreational asset by the Melbourne community in Australia. The upper reaches of the Yarra provide water for consumptive use including drinking water for the 4.2 Million people in Melbourne and some agricultural use. The lower Yarra is mainly utilized for recreational purposes and is a focal point for tourism in Melbourne. Water quality of the Yarra River in its lower catchments is relatively poor when compared with the upper reaches due to urbanisation. Faecal coliform levels have been observed to be high in the lower sections of the Yarra River even during dry weather periods. One of the contributors to faecal contamination during dry weather has been identified as dry weather sewer spills due to structural collapses or blockages from tree roots and seepage from septic tanks. The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dry weather sewer spills on river water quality and to estimate the survival rate of microbes with time on pervious and impervious surfaces after a spill. Dry weather spills are retained on the ground surface and then mobilized through surface runoff to drains and waterways following storm events. The number of faecal microbes carried to the waterways will depend on the volume of the spill, magnitude of the storm generating runoff, elapsed time after the spill and the antecedent climate conditions before the storm. Actual spill data from 2007 were collected from archived information for two catchments in Melbourne. This research draws conclusions by discussing the potential effects on river water quality due to dry weather spills, the impact of rainfall intensity and its potential to mobilize the microbes towards a stormwater drain to be transported to a nearby water course. Overall, the objectives of this study were achieved and the transport of microbes was estimated at different elapsed times depending on the relative humidity after a dry weather spill event, providing its impact on waterways

Development of an eco-friendly treatment method for e-waste

E-Waste, the wastes arising from discarded electronic components, is one of the fastest growing waste streams which contain a number of hazardous substances. It is a complex mixture of toxic metals and polymers which, if disposed without proper treatment, can have major adverse impacts on the environment. The toxic metals can leach out and cause ecological and public health impacts. In the present study, an environment friendly method has been developed, which allows the recovery of the toxic metals copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) from printed circuit boards (PCB). In this process, the metals were extracted from the finely ground and sieved PCB wastes by a sequential extraction process using 2N Hydrochloric acid. Stage wise extraction followed by pH adjustment under different conditions was able to selectively enrich Pb from other metals. From a screening of natural waste materials, alkali treated palm leaf powder was selected as a biosorbent to remove the metals from the acid extract. Complete removal of Pb and a high removal (82%) of Cu were observed at a biosorbent dose of 100 g/l. Both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms fitted the batch adsorption data well

Monophonic Distance Laplacian Energy of Transformation Graphs Sn^++-,Sn^{+-+},Sn^{+++}

Let $G$ be a simple connected graph of order $n$, $v_{i}$ its vertex. Let $\delta^{L}_{1}, \delta^{L}_{2}, \ldots, \delta^{L}_{n}$ be the eigenvalues of the distance Laplacian matrix $D^{L}$ of $G$. The distance Laplacian energy is denoted by $LE_{D}(G)$. This motivated us to defined the new graph energy monophonic distance Laplacian energy of graphs. The eigenvalues of monophonic distance Laplacian matrix $M^{L}\left(G\right)$ are denoted by $\mu^{L}_{1}, \mu^{L}_{2}, \ldots, \mu^{L}_{n}$ and are said to be $M^{L}$- eigenvalues of $G$ and to form the $M^{L}$-spectrum of $G$, denoted by $Spec_{M^{L}}(G)$. Here $MT_{G}\left(v_{j}\right)$ is the $j^{th}$ row sum of monophonic distance matrix of $M(G)$ and $\mu^{L}_{1}\leq\mu^{L}_{2}\leq, \ldots, \leq\mu^{L}_{n}$ be the eigenvalues of the monophonic distance Laplacian matrix is $M^{L}(G)$. The monophonic distance Laplacian energy is defined as $LE_{M}(G)$. In this paper we computed the monophonic distance Laplacian energy of $S^{++-}_{n}$, $S^{+-+}_{n}$, $S^{+++}_{n}$ graphs based on its spectrum values.

Aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer : a systematic review of the balance of evidence from reviews of randomized trials

Background: Aspirin has been recommended for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, but overall benefits are unclear. We aimed to use novel methods to re-evaluate the balance of benefits and harms of aspirin using evidence from randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Methods and Findings: Data sources included ten electronic bibliographic databases, contact with experts, and scrutiny of reference lists of included studies. Searches were undertaken in September 2012 and restricted to publications since 2008. Of 2,572 potentially relevant papers 27 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of control arms to estimate event rates, modelling of all-cause mortality and L'Abbé plots to estimate heterogeneity were undertaken. Absolute benefits and harms were low: 60-84 major CVD events and 34-36 colorectal cancer deaths per 100,000 person-years were averted, whereas 46-49 major bleeds and 68-117 gastrointestinal bleeds were incurred. Reductions in all-cause mortality were minor and uncertain (Hazard Ratio 0.96; 95% CI: 0.90-1.02 at 20 years, Relative Risk [RR] 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.00 at 8 years); there was a non-significant change in total CVD (RR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.69-1.06) and change in total cancer mortality ranged from 0.76 (95% CI: 0.66-0.88) to 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84-1.03) depending on follow-up time and studies included. Risks were increased by 37% for gastrointestinal bleeds (RR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.15-1.62), 54%-66% for major bleeds (Rate Ratio from IPD analysis 1.54, 95% CI: 1.30-1.82, and RR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.31-2.00), and 32%-38% for haemorrhagic stroke (Rate Ratio from IPD analysis 1.32; 95% CI: 1.00-1.74; RR 1.38; 95% CI: 1.01-1.82). Conclusions: Findings indicate small absolute effects of aspirin relative to the burden of these diseases. When aspirin is used for primary prevention of CVD the absolute harms exceed the benefits. Estimates of cancer benefit rely on selective retrospective re-analysis of RCTs and more information is needed

Home delivery and newborn care practices among urban women in western Nepal: a questionnaire survey

BACKGROUND: About 98% of newborn deaths occur in developing countries, where most newborns deaths occur at home. In Nepal, approximately, 90% of deliveries take place at home. Information about reasons for delivering at home and newborn care practices in urban areas of Nepal is lacking and such information will be useful for policy makers. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the immunisation clinics of Pokhara city, western Nepal during January and February, 2006. Two trained health workers administered a semi-structured questionnaire to the mothers who had delivered at home. RESULTS: A total of 240 mothers were interviewed. Planned home deliveries were 140 (58.3%) and 100 (41.7%) were unplanned. Only 6.2% of deliveries had a skilled birth attendant present and 38 (15.8%) mothers gave birth alone. Only 46 (16.2%) women had used a clean home delivery kit and only 92 (38.3%) birth attendants had washed their hands. The umbilical cord was cut after expulsion of placenta in 154 (64.2%) deliveries and cord was cut using a new/boiled blade in 217 (90.4%) deliveries. Mustard oil was applied to the umbilical cord in 53 (22.1%) deliveries. Birth place was heated throughout the delivery in 88 (64.2%) deliveries. Only 100 (45.8%) newborns were wrapped within 10 minutes and 233 (97.1%) were wrapped within 30 minutes. Majority (93.8%) of the newborns were given a bath soon after birth. Mustard oil massage of the newborns was a common practice (144, 60%). Sixteen (10.8%) mothers did not feed colostrum to their babies. Prelacteal feeds were given to 37(15.2%) newborns. Initiation rates of breast-feeding were 57.9% within one hour and 85.4% within 24 hours. Main reasons cited for delivering at home were 'preference' (25.7%), 'ease and convenience' (21.4%) for planned deliveries while 'precipitate labor' (51%), 'lack of transportation' (18%) and 'lack of escort' during labor (11%) were cited for the unplanned ones. CONCLUSION: High-risk home delivery and newborn care practices are common in urban population also. In-depth qualitative studies are needed to explore the reasons for delivering at home. Community-based interventions are required to improve the number of families engaging a skilled attendant and hygiene during delivery. The high-risk traditional newborn care practices like delayed wrapping, bathing, mustard oil massage, prelacteal feeding and discarding colostrum need to be addressed by culturally acceptable community-based health education programmes

ACUTE AND SUB CHRONIC TOXICITY STUDIES OF PURIFIED WITHANIA SOMNIFERA EXTRACT IN RATS

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic (90 d; repeated dose) toxicity of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) extract in rats.Methods: The acute toxicity was evaluated as per OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) guidelines 423. Purified ashwagandha extract (PAE) was fed at 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) to overnight fasted female rats. The animals were observed daily for clinical signs of abnormality/mortality. After 14 d, animals were sacrificed and gross pathological changes were recorded. Sub-chronic toxicity of PAE was studied by feeding the extract at 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw daily to rats as per OECD guidelines 408. After 90 d feeding, heamatological and biochemical parameters of treated rats were compared with control animals. Histopathology of all the major organs was also studied.Results: In the acute toxicity study, no mortality or clinical signs of toxicity were observed in any of the animals at maximum recommended dose level of 2000 mg/kg bw; therefore the LD50 is>2000 mg/kg bw in rats. The repeated administration of PAE for 90 d in rats at the maximum dose level of 1000 mg/kg bw did not induce any observable toxic effects, when compared to its corresponding control animals. The hematology and biochemistry profile of treated rats was similar to control animals and difference was non-significant (p>0.05). The histopathology of major organs of all the control and treated animals was normal. In this study the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) was calculated as 1000 mg/kg bw daily for rats.Conclusion: The present study clearly indicates that PAE does not have any toxic effects in animals at the dose evaluated as evidenced by acute and sub chronic toxicity studies in rats

Replication, Neurotropism, and Pathogenicity of Avian Paramyxovirus Serotypes 1–9 in Chickens and Ducks

Avian paramyxovirus (APMV) serotypes 1–9 have been isolated from many different avian species. APMV-1 (Newcastle disease virus) is the only well-characterized serotype, because of the high morbidity, mortality, and economic loss caused by highly virulent strains. Very little is known about the pathogenesis, replication, virulence, and tropism of the other APMV serotypes. Here, this was evaluated for prototypes strains of APMV serotypes 2–9 in cell culture and in chickens and ducks. In cell culture, only APMV-1, -3 and -5 induced syncytium formation. In chicken DF1 cells, APMV-3 replicated with an efficiency approaching that of APMV-1, while APMV-2 and -5 replicated to lower, intermediate titers and the others were much lower. Mean death time (MDT) assay in chicken eggs and intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) test in 1-day-old SPF chicks demonstrated that APMV types 2–9 were avirulent. Evaluation of replication in primary neuronal cells in vitro as well as in the brains of 1-day-old chicks showed that, among types 2–9, only APMV-3 was neurotropic, although this virus was not neurovirulent. Following intranasal infection of 1-day-old and 2-week-old chickens, replication of APMV types 2–9 was mostly restricted to the respiratory tract, although APMV-3 was neuroinvasive and neurotropic (but not neurovirulent) and also was found in the spleen. Experimental intranasal infection of 3-week-old mallard ducks with the APMVs did not produce any clinical signs (even for APMV-1) and exhibited restricted viral replication of the APMVs (including APMV-1) to the upper respiratory tract regardless of their isolation source, indicating avirulence of APMV types 1–9 in mallard ducks. The link between the presence of a furin cleavage site in the F protein, syncytium formation, systemic spread, and virulence that has been well-established with APMV-1 pathotypes was not evident with the other APMV serotypes

Care seeking behaviour for childhood illness- a questionnaire survey in western Nepal

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization estimates that seeking prompt and appropriate care could reduce child deaths due to acute respiratory infections by 20%. The purpose of our study was to assess care seeking behaviour of the mothers during childhood illness and to determine the predictors of mother's care seeking behaviour. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the immunization clinics of Pokhara city, Kaski district, western Nepal. A trained health worker interviewed the mothers of children suffering from illness during the preceding 15 days. RESULTS: A total of 292 mothers were interviewed. Pharmacies (46.2%) were the most common facilities where care was sought followed by allopathic medical practitioners (26.4%). No care was sought for 8 (2.7%) children and 26 (8.9%) children received traditional/home remedies. 'Appropriate', 'prompt' and 'appropriate and prompt' care was sought by 77 (26.4%), 166 (56.8%) and 33 (11.3%) mothers respectively. The mothers were aware of fever (51%), child becoming sicker (45.2%) and drinking poorly (42.5%) as the danger signs of childhood illness. By multiple logistic regression analysis total family income, number of symptoms, mothers' education and perceived severity of illness were the predictors of care seeking behaviour. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that the mothers were more likely to seek care when they perceived the illness as 'serious'. Poor maternal knowledge of danger signs of childhood illness warrants the need for a complementary introduction of community-based Integrated Management of Childhood Illness programmes to improve family's care seeking behaviour and their ability to recognize danger signs of childhood illness. Socioeconomic development of the urban poor may overcome their financial constraints to seek 'appropriate' and 'prompt' care during the childhood illness