In vitro antifilarial activity, antioxidant potential and phenolic constituents of Quisqualis indica L.

648-654Quisqualis indica L., commonly known as ‘Rangoon-ki-bel’ or ‘Madhumalti’, has been used by the traditional healers as it is active against some of the commonly occurring diseases like boils, fevers diarrhea and helminthiasis. However, no systematic and scientifically validated studies on antifilarial activity of Q. indica are available. In the present study, we report in vitro antifilarial activity of ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts of the leaves (QILE and QILEW) and flowers (QIFE and QIFEW) of this plant on microfilariae (mf) and female adult worms of human lymphatic filariid Brugia malayi using motility and or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-reduction assays. The hydroalcoholic extract of flowers (QIFEW) was found effective as it killed adult female worms (LC100: 62.5 µg/mL) and mf (LC100: 125 µg/mL); IC50 values for the respective parasite stages were 34.50 and 31.88 µg/mL. SI values recorded with respect to motility of female parasite and mf was more than 20. The active principle(s) responsible for antifilarial activity may thus be present in QIFEW. The antioxidant activity results also indicated QIFEW to possess better antioxidant potential than the other extracts studied. HPLC analysis showed that the 02 keyphenolics present in hydroalcoholic extract of the flowers (QIFEW) were gallic acid and ellagic acid. In the different extracts, the concentration of gallic acid was found to vary from 26.9 mg/g to 2.50 mg/g while ellagic acid ranged between 11.5 mg/g to 6.77 mg/g. It was also observed that the leaves were rich in flavonoids whereas the flowers were rich in phenolics. The findings indicate that active molecule (s) of hydroalcoholic extractfrom Q. indica flowers may help in providing new leads for developing antifilarial agents. We believe that this is the first systematically studied report on the in vitro antifilarial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Q. indica flowers

In vitro antifilarial activity, antioxidant potential and phenolic constituents of Quisqualis indica L.

Quisqualis indica L., commonly known as ‘Rangoon-ki-bel’ or ‘Madhumalti’, has been used by the traditional healers as it is active against some of the commonly occurring diseases like boils, fevers diarrhea and helminthiasis. However, no systematic and scientifically validated studies on antifilarial activity of Q. indica are available. In the present study, we report in vitro antifilarial activity of ethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts of the leaves (QILE and QILEW) and flowers (QIFE and QIFEW) of this plant on microfilariae (mf) and female adult worms of human lymphatic filariid Brugia malayi using motility and or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-reduction assays. The hydroalcoholic extract of flowers (QIFEW) was found effective as it killed adult female worms (LC100: 62.5 μg/mL) and mf (LC100: 125 μg/mL); IC50 values for the respective parasite stages were 34.50 and 31.88 μg/mL. SI values recorded with respect to motility of female parasite and mf was more than 20. The active principle(s) responsible for antifilarial activity may thus be present in QIFEW. The antioxidant activity results also indicated QIFEW to possess better antioxidant potential than the other extracts studied. HPLC analysis showed that the 02 keyphenolics present in hydroalcoholic extract of the flowers (QIFEW) were gallic acid and ellagic acid. In the different extracts, the concentration of gallic acid was found to vary from 26.9 mg/g to 2.50 mg/g while ellagic acid ranged between 11.5 mg/g to 6.77 mg/g. It was also observedthat the leaves were rich in flavonoids whereas the flowers were rich in phenolics. The findings indicate that active molecule (s) of hydroalcoholic extractfrom Q. indica flowers may help in providing new leads for developing antifilarial agents. We believe that this is the first systematically studied report on the in vitro antifilarial activity of the hydroalcoholicextract of Q. indica flowers

How Investors’ Financial Well-being Influences Enterprises and Individual’s Psychological Fitness? Moderating Role of Experience under Uncertainty

The study aims to investigate the role of financial well-being of the investor on psychological fitness of clients and organizations in the emerging financial markets of India. A survey was conducted during the pandemic in Indian financial markets wherein most of people’s financial situation was extremely poor and uncertain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, retail investors who availed themselves of financial products and services from leading brokerage houses of India were investigated. The study was conducted on 290 retail investors of Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) and the financial hub of Mumbai. The participants were approached using the purposive sampling method. The study further examined moderating effects of pleasant and unpleasant experience of investors during difficult times. The study applied partial least square multi-group analysis (PLS–MGA) for measuring invariance for pleasant and unpleasant scenarios of investors in the Indian context. The findings suggested that consumers’ well-being enhances individual satisfaction at higher enterprise levels, it also motivates individuals to manage their finances to deal with uncertain times. Additionally, the control variables of age and gender were used to measure pleasant and unpleasant experiences of investors from the base of their satisfaction level. The results suggest that during difficult times in financial markets, females exhibited higher unpleasant experiences than male investors. Further, consumers’ well-being was primarily driven by older investors with pleasant experiences during the pandemic. The present study offers an interdisciplinary approach towards measuring consumers’ psychology in the domain of behavioral finance

Оптоелектронне дослідження наночастинок сульфіду кадмію, покритих крохмалем

Метод зеленого синтезу з використанням розчинного крохмалю як стабілізуючого агента у водному середовищі використовується для отримання наночастинок CdS. Він має перевагу перед звичайним методом із залученням токсичних реагентів. У статті повідомляється про дослідження оптичних властивостей наночастинок CdS, підготовлених методом зеленого синтезу з різними значеннями рН. Зразки готували хімічним шляхом та досліджували методами скануючої електронної мікроскопії, абсорбційної спектроскопії в УФ та видимому діапазонах, інфрачервоної спектроскопії з перетворенням Фур'є та фотолюмінесценційної спектроскопії. Результати експериментів показали синій зсув довжини хвилі поглинання у випадку об'ємного CdS, що вказує на утворення частинок невеликих розмірів та ефект квантового утримання із збільшенням ефективної ширини забороненої зони. Розмір частинок був оцінений за рівнянням Бруса та емпіричною моделлю Ю. Спектри фото-люмінесценції показують випромінювання границі зони та випромінювання станів глибоких пасток. Координати CIE перевіряють випромінення CdS у видимому діапазоні. Синій зсув у випромінюванні границі зони та червоний зсув у випромінюванні станів пасток спостерігаються із меншими значеннями рН. Існування функціональних груп було визначено інфрачервоною спектроскопією з перетворенням Фур'є, це підтверджує наявність крохмалю як стабілізуючого агента. Зміна рН модифікує оптичні властивості та зменшення розміру наночастинок сульфіду кадмію.Green synthesis method using soluble starch as a stabilizing agent in an aqueous medium is used to prepare CdS nanoparticles. It has an advantage over the conventional method involving toxic reagents. Here in, a study on the optical properties of CdS nanoparticles prepared by green synthesis method with different pH values is being reported. The samples were prepared by chemical route and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The experimental results showed a blue shift in absorption wavelength with respect to bulk CdS that indicates small size formation of particles and quantum confinement effect with increase in the effective energy band gap. The size was estimated by the Brus equation and empirical Yu model. Photoluminescence spectra show band edge emission and deep trap states emission. The CIE coordinates verify the emission of CdS in visible region. The blue shift in band edge emission and red shift in trap state emission are observed with lower pH values. The existence of functional groups was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, it confirms the presence of starch as a stabilizing agent. Variation in pH modifies the optical properties and reduction in the size of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles

Not Available

Not AvailableIn order to observe the effect of aluminium toxicity on plant and soil parameters investigation was carried out on twenty cowpea genotypes grown in pots with four aluminium levels i.e. 0, 20, 40, 60 ppm with three replications following factorial complete randomized design. After five weeks of growth, individual, main effect and their interaction were studied for uptake of Aluminium and Manganese by root and shoot, post-cropping parameters of soil (pH, available P, extractable Al and extractable Mn) were observed. Genotypes of cowpea and aluminium treatments exhibited significant differences for all characters. However, interaction effect was found significant for all studied character except manganese content in soil. The genotypes G2, G3, G5 and G15 were found superior for studied character.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableIn order to observe the effect of aluminium toxicity on plant and soil parameters investigation was carried out on twenty cowpea genotypes grown in pots with four aluminium levels i.e. 0, 20, 40, 60 ppm with three replications following factorial complete randomized design. After five weeks of growth, individual, main effect and their interaction were studied for uptake of Aluminium and Manganese by root and shoot, post-cropping parameters of soil (pH, available P, extractable Al and extractable Mn) were observed. Genotypes of cowpea and aluminium treatments exhibited significant differences for all characters. However, interaction effect was found significant for all studied character except manganese content in soil. The genotypes G2, G3, G5 and G15 were found superior for studied character.Not Availabl

Evaluation of Geno Type MTBDRplus Line Probe Assay for Early Detection of Drug Resistance in Tuberculous Meningitis Patients in India

Background: Molecular methods which allow for rapid and reliable detection of drug resistance have yet not been sufficiently evaluated for timely management of patients with tuberculous meningitis. Aims: We aimed to evaluate Geno Type MTBDRplus line probe assay for early detection of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and CSF samples of confirmed tuberculous meningitis patients. Settings and Design: This was a multicentric prospective study carried out from July 2011 to December 2013 in tertiary care hospitals of Delhi. Materials and Methods: The assay was performed on 89 M. tuberculosis isolates and 31 direct CSF samples from microbiologically confirmed tuberculous meningitis patients. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay was calculated in comparison to drug susceptibility testing by BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Results: The sensitivity, specificity for detection of resistance to Isoniazid was 93%, 97% and to Rifampicin was 80%, 98.8%, respectively by this assay in comparison with the phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. The line probe assay could detect M. tuberculosis in 55% of CSF samples from patients with microbiologically confirmed tuberculous meningitis. Only 5/89 isolates (5.6%) were resistant to both Isoniazid and Rifampicin while 9/89 (10%) isolates were additionally resistant to Isoniazid. Resistance to any of the drugs, namely Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Streptomycin or Ethambutol, was seen in 24.7% of strains. Conclusion: The line probe assay has a good sensitivity and specificity for detection of drug resistance to Isoniazid and Rifampicin in M. tuberculosis culture isolates. However, this assay has limited role in detection of M. tuberculosis and drug resistance from direct samples with confirmed diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis

Characterization of active/binding site residues of peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase using biophysical and computational studies

All mRNAs cannot be translated into full-length proteins due to ribosome-stalling that leads to release of peptidyl-tRNA which can be lethal for bacterial survival. The enzyme peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (PtH) hydrolyses the ester bond between nascent peptide and tRNA of peptidyl-tRNA and rescues the cells from toxicity. PtH is an essential enzyme in bacteria and inhibiting this crucial enzyme can serve to combat bacterial diseases. But due to lack of understanding about the catalytic mechanism of PtH, its inhibitors have not been developed. In this work, we have carried out the binding studies of M. tuberculosis and E. coli PtH with the peptidyl-tRNA analogue (puromycin) using ITC, FTIR, CD experiments followed by docking and MD simulations to identify the potential active site residues that would help to design PtH inhibitors. Binding studies of puromycin with both PtH by ITC experiments demonstrate similar thermodynamic parameters and three fold difference in their KD. CD and FTIR studies detected changes in secondary structure composition of PtH in the presence of puromycin with different degree of perturbation. Though interactions with puromycin are conserved in both proteins, modelling studies revealed that water mediated interactions in M. tb-PtH resulting in higher affinity to puromycin

Salbutamol Attenuates Diabetic Skeletal Muscle Atrophy by Reducing Oxidative Stress, Myostatin/GDF-8, and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Rats

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that leads to accelerated skeletal muscle atrophy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of salbutamol (SLB) on skeletal muscle atrophy in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 6): control, SLB, HFD/STZ, and HFD/STZ + SLB (6 mg/kg orally for four weeks). After the last dose of SLB, rats were assessed for muscle grip strength and muscle coordination (wire-hanging, rotarod, footprint, and actophotometer tests). Body composition was analyzed in live rats. After that, animals were sacrificed, and serum and gastrocnemius (GN) muscles were collected. Endpoints include myofibrillar protein content, muscle oxidative stress and antioxidants, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-2, and interleukin-6), serum muscle markers (myostatin, creatine kinase, and testosterone), histopathology, and muscle 1H NMR metabolomics. Findings showed that SLB treatment significantly improved muscle strength and muscle coordination, as well as increased lean muscle mass in diabetic rats. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and muscle markers (myostatin, creatine kinase) indicate muscle deterioration in diabetic rats, while SLB intervention restored the same. Also, Feret’s diameter and cross-sectional area of GN muscle were increased by SLB treatment, indicating the amelioration in diabetic rat muscle. Results of muscle metabolomics exhibit that SLB treatment resulted in the restoration of perturbed metabolites, including histidine-to-tyrosine, phenylalanine-to-tyrosine, and glutamate-to-glutamine ratios and succinate, sarcosine, and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) in diabetic rats. These metabolites showed a pertinent role in muscle inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. In conclusion, findings showed that salbutamol could be explored as an intervention in diabetic-associated skeletal muscle atrophy