A comparative phylogenetic analysis of medicinal plant Tribulus terrestris in Northwest India revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers

Kumar A, Verma N. 2012. A comparative phylogenetic analysis of medicinal plant Tribulus terrestris in Northwest India revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers. Biodiversitas 13: 107-113. Several DNA marker systems and associated techniques are available today for fingerprinting of plant varieties. A total of 5 RAPD and 8 ISSR primers were used. Amplification of genomic DNA of the 6 genotypes, using RAPD analysis, yielded 164 fragments that could be scored, of which 47 were polymorphic, with an average of 9.4 polymorphic fragments per primer. Number of amplified fragments with random primers ranged from 6 (AKR-1) to 10 (AKR-4) and varied in size from 200 bp to 2,500 bp. Percentage polymorphism ranged from 16% (AKR-4) to a maximum of 41% (AKR-4), with an average of 29.6%. The 8 ISSR primers used in the study produced 327 bands across 6 genotypes, of which 114 were polymorphic. The number of amplified bands varied from 7 (ISSR 7) to 12 (ISSR 1&3), with a size range of 250-2,800 bp. The average numbers of bands per primer and polymorphic bands per primer were 40.87 and 14.25, respectively. Percentage polymorphism ranged from 24% (ISSR 4) to 53.84% (ISSR 2), with an average percentage polymorphism of 35.59% across all the genotypes. The 3′-anchored primers based on poly (AC) and poly (AT) motifs produced high average polymorphisms of 53.84% and 40.81%, respectively. ISSR markers were more efficient than the RAPD assay, as they detected 35.59% polymorphic DNA markers in Tribulus terrestris as compared to 29.6% for RAPD markers. Clustering of genotypes within groups was not similar when RAPD and ISSR derived dendrogram were compared, whereas the pattern of clustering of the genotypes remained more or less the same in ISSR and combined data of RAPD and ISSR

A Bacillus sphaericus Based Biosensor for Monitoring Nickel Ions in Industrial Effluents and Foods

A microbial-based biosensor has been developed based on enzyme inhibition bioassay for monitoring the presence of Ni(II) in real-time samples. The sensing element is immobilized Bacillus sphaericus MTCC 5100 yielding urease enzyme. The transducer is an NH 4 + ion selective electrode in conjunction with a potentiometer. Heavy metals are potentially toxic to human beings. Nickel is associated with causing adverse health effects such as dermatitis and vertigo, in humans. Toxicity is manifested by affecting T-cell system and suppressing the activity of natural killer cells. Nickel finds applications in electroplating, coinage, electrodes, jewellery, alloys. The foods rich in Ni(II) are nuts, beans, oats, and wheat. The range of Ni(II) detection by the developed biosensor is 0.03–0.68 nM (0.002–0.04 ppb) with a response time of 1.5 minutes. For application, the Ni(II) effluent was procured from an electroplating industrial unit and was found to have a concentration of 100.0 ppm Ni(II). In foods, wheat flour sample was acid digested and Ni(II) was specifically complexed in the presence of other cations, and had an Ni(II) concentration of 0.044 ppm. The developed system has a reliability of 91.5% and 90.6%, respectively, for the samples and could possibly replace the existing conventional techniques of analysis

Nature curing cancer – review on structural modification studies with natural active compounds having anti-tumor efficiency

AbstractCancer treatment has raised many drugs and radiation therapies whose side-effects are visible. Ongoing research throughout the world for effective treatment mainly concentrates on methods either in the form of drugs or therapies against this lethal disease. However returning to ayurvedic roots enlightens the fact that nature has many efficient components with anti-cancerous, anti-proliferating and anti-angiogenesis effects. Evidences confirm the participation of plants extracts in synthesizing many medicines against already existing and even emerging diseases. Structure activity relationship (SAR) studies and structural modifications are helping in observing the basis of compounds characteristics to exhibit inhibitor’s nature against carcinogenic agents by modifying parent compounds for creating an improved and potent compound. Many components are under clinical trials but most of them still need attention. In this review an attempt has been made to focus on the natural components gifted by nature and even included in our diet with their structures and sources that could be supportive in designing drug either by computational methods or by experimental methods

Hematological changes in pregnancy induced hypertension in their third trimester at Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, India

Background: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is one of the most common and potential life-threatening complications of pregnancy. This study is aimed to investigate and correlate the hemoglobin, haematocrit, white blood cell count, lymphocytes and platelets in PIH patients in their third trimester.Method: Total 126 subjects were studied out of them 63 patients (case) and 63 healthy pregnant women (control) visiting the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar were registered in the study and followed during their pregnancy. Two millilitre of blood sample was drawn aseptically using the 5ml syringe from the median ante cubital vein of all the cases and control participants into EDTA-anticoagulated tubes. Haematological parameter calculated by using Sysmex XN-9100™ Automated Haematology System.Results: The mean hemoglobin level of the case group (8.8206±2.53779) was significantly lower than that of the control group (9.7289±2.47033) (p<0.05). The mean platelet count of the case group (131.4937±62.05999) was significantly lower than that of the control group (324.9683±230.78764) (p<0.05). The mean lymphocytes level of case group (1.2510±0.56369) was significantly lower than that of the control group (1.9295±1.4150) (p<0.05). The mean WBC level of case group (36.3467±119.90635) was significantly high than control group (11.5260±4.83059) (p<0.05). The mean haematocrit level of case group (32.6851±7.29789) was significantly high than control group (30.0424±23.38116) (p<0.05).Conclusion: The mean hemoglobin, mean platelets and mean lymphocytes are lower in PIH patients. The mean WBC and haematocrit are higher in PIH patient.

3-Dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship and molecular docking studies of tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivatives as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2

Background:Design and development of new drugs is simplified and made more cost-effective because of the advances in the concepts of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies. A methodology of QSAR studies is one of the approaches to the rational drug design.Methods:3-Dimensional QSAR studies were performed on a series of tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivatives by using Scigress Explorer software suite. Docking studies of these compounds were also performed to understand the interactions with amino acid residues of COX-2 protein.Results:The multiple linear regression analysis was used to correlate the physicochemical descriptors with the COX-2 inhibitory activity of 24 training set of compounds and the best QSAR model was developed. The best model was validated using leave-one-out method and found to be statistically significant, with coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.835. This model was further used to predict the COX-2 inhibitory activity of 10 test set of compounds. Docking analysis revealed that most of the compounds formed H-bond interactions with amino acid residues of COX-2 protein (PDB ID: 1CX2). Predicted pIC50 value of one of the test compounds was 7.048 and it showed H-bond interactions with His90 & Tyr355 residues.Conclusion:The present study shall help in rational drug design and synthesis of new selective COX-2 inhibitors with predetermined affinity and activity and provides valuable information for the understanding of interactions between COX-2 and the novel tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivative compounds.

3-Dimensional QSAR and molecular docking studies of a series of indole analogues as inhibitors of human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2

Background:Design and development of new drugs is simplified and made more cost-effective because of the advances in the concepts of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies. A methodology of QSAR studies is one of the approaches to the rational drug design.Methods:3-Dimensional QSAR studies were performed on a series of indole analogues as inhibitors of human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipaseA2 (PLA2) by using Scigress explorer software suite. Docking studies of these compounds were also performed to understand the interactions with amino acid residues of PLA2 protein.  Results:The multiple linear regression analysis was used to correlate the physicochemical descriptors with the PLA2 inhibitory activity of 20 training set of compounds and the best QSAR model was developed. The best model was validated using leave-one-out method and found to be statistically significant, with coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.788. This model was further used to predict the PLA2 inhibitory activity of 12 test set of compounds. Docking analysis revealed that most of the compounds formed H-bond interactions with amino acid residues of PLA2 protein (PDB ID: 1DB4). Predicted pIC50 value of one of the test compounds was 7.454 and it showed H-bond interactions with Asp48, Cys44, His27, Gly29 and Gly31 residues.Conclusion:The present study shall help in rational drug design and synthesis of new selective PLA2 inhibitors with predetermined affinity and activity and provides valuable information for the understanding of interactions between PLA2 and the novel indole analogue compounds.

Clinical, socio-demographic profile and outcome of neurocysticercosis in children: a hospital based study

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is perhaps the most common parasitic infection of human nervous system. The objective of this study was to study the spectrum of clinical, socio-demographic profile and treatment outcome of 60 paediatric neurocysticercosis cases over a mean duration of two years from September 2006-August 2008.Methods: Diagnosis was made mainly on the basis of clinical features, ring enhancing lesions on Computed Tomography scan of brain and exclusion of other causes. Patients were treated with Albendazole for 28 days, Prednisolone and anticonvulsant.Results: 10-14 years was the most affected age group with no sex predilection. Seizure was the most common initial presentation (86.66%) followed by headache and vomiting. Generalized tonic clonic seizure was the most common type of seizure. Four patients returned with relapse.Conclusions: Neurocysticercosis is a disease of lower socioeconomic group with poor sanitation and poor hand hygiene. Generalized tonic clonic seizure is the main presentation. Anticysticercal therapy has a good outcome

Study of primary caesarean section in multigravida patients

Background: Caesarean section is the most commonly performed major surgery among women. The aims and objective of this study was to know the incidence of primary Caesarean section in multigravidas, its indications and to know the maternal and foetal outcome among these patients.Methods: It was a prospective study of primary caesarean section in multigravida admitted at Kamla Raja Hospital, G.R. Medical College and J. A. Group of Hospitals, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh, India) during the period of 1 year from September 2014 to August 2015. Multigravida with pregnancy of >28 weeks gestation (gravida 2 and above), each of whom has had a previous vaginal delivery of > 20 weeks gestation were included. Women with previous abortions and previous section and Pregnancy with medical disorders were excluded.Results: During the study period of one year, total 8185 deliveries occurred, out of which 3061 (37.39%) underwent caesarean section and 386 (12.61%) were primary caesarean section in multigravida. Out of these multigravida patients who underwent primary caesarean section- most of the patients were unbooked (77.72%). Majority of the cases were direct admission in the hospital (61.13%). Maximum number of the patients were in the age group of 25-30 years (55.95%). Two third of the patients were literate (69.44%) Maximum number of patients were Gravida 2 (49.72%). Almost all of them (95.85%) underwent emergency caesarean section. The most common indication for primary LSCS in multigravida patients was Malpresentation 115 (29.79%) followed by Fetal distress in 71 (18.39%) patients, APH in 71 (18.39%), Obstructed labour in 33 (8.55%), Severe preeclampsia and Antepartum eclampsia in 39 (10.1%), Twin pregnancy in 21 (5.44%). Most common maternal complication was pyrexia 40 (10.36%). Postoperative morbidity was 21.24% among unbooked, 14.25% in Referred, 23.58% in those operated as an emergency, 12.43% in patients belonging to of low socioeconomic status and 3.88%, in patients with moderate to severe anemia. Birth asphyxia was found in 6.21% of neonates. Neonatal mortality was 2.33%. Neonatal mortality is more in Unbooked cases (90.47%).Conclusions: Many unforeseen complications occur in women who previously had a normal vaginal delivery. It is recommended that all antenatal patients must be booked and receive proper and regular antenatal care. Also 100% deliveries in multigravida should be institutional deliveries in order to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality