Review on Therapeutic Potential of Phytochemicals from Medicinal Plants

Nature has provided plants with a vast range of phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are enriched with different pharmacological activities. These pharmacological activities have a potential to be wisely used for therapeutic purpose. It can be utilized in so many ways for the expansion of therapeutic strategies. With the advancement in the field of medicine and due to increasing side effects of synthetic medicines there emerges a need to discover novel therapeutic remedies. Medicinal plants serve as the best source for the manufacture of new remedies for many diseases. Medicinal plants bear a potential towards treating incurable chronic diseases. The aim of this review is to provide a therapeutic potential of individual phytochemical of different medicinal plants so that it can be further studied, researched and used for manufacturing medicines with lesser side effects and better therapeutic potential

Epidemiology of Obesity in Asia: Challenges and Prevention

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial and largely preventable disease affecting over a third of the world’s population today. In this review, prevalence of childhood and adult obesity, its causes, risk factors, interventions and management in different Asian countries was explored. It has been observed that obesity has grown up as an epidemic and it will intensify in the coming years if appropriate preventive measures are not adopted. Proper policies are needed to be implemented. Additionally, massive nation-wide public awareness programs with better structural infrastructure will be answer to this giant problematic challenge.Keywords: Asia, body mass index; Obesity; Physical Activity; Prevalence; World Health Organization

Biofilm Forming Bacteria Isolated from Medical Implants

Background: Biofilm formation in indwelling medical devices poses serious risk of infection and increases the likelihood of  recurrence of infections. The study was carried out to identify the microbes which form biofilms on medical implants and are thus involved in nosocomial infections, to assess the potential of biofilm producing ability of these isolated microbes and to determine antibiotic resistance towards ampicillin, vancomycin ceftazidime, streptomycin and tetracycline.Methods: For this, 11 samples of 5 different implants were taken from Tertiary Care Hospital Multan, Pakistan. Bacteria were isolated and identified by culture plate method. Tryptone soy broth (TBS) media was used for biofilm development by microbes in plastic tubes. Developed biofilm in tubes was visualized with crystal violet staining method and then biofilm forming potential was estimated by measuring the optical density through spectrophotometer. Antibiotic susceptibility was done by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method to determine the resistance and susceptibility pattern of biofilm producers.Results: Out of 11 different samples of indwelling medical devices, a total of 131 bacterial strains were isolated. The percentage of bacterial isolates which produced biofilms were Staphylococcus spp. (41%) followed by Escherichia coli (18%), Pseudomonas spp. (4%), Proteus spp. (7.2%), Klebsiella spp. (8.6%), Bacillus spp. (8.6%), Fusobacterium spp. (1.4%) Clostridium spp.(1.4%), Enterococcus spp. (7.2%) and Neisseria spp. (1.4%). Sixty-nine isolates were considered positive for biofilm formation while 58 were considered negative. The resistance was maximum against ampicillin (42%) followed by ceftazidime (17.1%), tetracycline (34%) and streptomycin (30%) while against vancomycin no resistance was observed.Conclusion: Biofilms produced on medical implants by different bacteria are considered to be the major cause of hospital acquired infections and are very difficult to eradicate. These biofilms associated implant infections are challenging to treat because of their resistance towards various antibiotic therapies. Therefore, some efficient methods of prevention of biofilm formation should be introduced.Keywords: Bacterial biofilms; Biofilm associated infections; Medical implants; Hospital acquired infections; Antibiotic resistance  

Microbial Status and Resistance Profile of Bacterial Species Isolated from Recreational and Agricultural Sites in Multan

Background: Humans are in continuous contact with recreational areas and agricultural fields. However, recent discovery of resistant bacteria in these sites have posed serious threats to the community.Methods: This study is designed to investigate prevalence of resistant bacteria in agricultural and recreational areas i.e., parks and rivers, to investigate their resistant profiling against antibiotics and metals by culture dependent agar techniques and to investigate effect of local medicinal plants on isolated resistant bacteria.Results: A total of 106 isolates from 35 water and sediments samples were isolated. A resistant rate of 46.05% was reported against antibiotics; the highest against ampicillin (75%) and the lowest against streptomycin (8.9%). Identified resistant strains were Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Co-occurrence of metal resistance with antimicrobial resistance was also reported. Ethanolic leaves extracts showed promising results against isolated resistant bacteria. The highest and lowest zone of inhibition was reported in Syzygium cumini (37mm) and Ziziphus mauritiana (10mm).Conclusion: The finding of this study has demonstrated presence of resistant bacteria in publicly accessed areas that support various needs. The potential of Syzygium cumini, Ficus benghalensis and Psidium guajava against resistant bacteria in combination can be explored as an alternative green method against resistant bacteria.Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Irrigational land; Medicinal plants; Metal resistance; Multi drug resistance; River   

Psychological complications of polycystic ovarian syndrome and women’s health

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 5-10% females of reproductive age worldwide. Recent research shows that this syndrome is associated with psychological upset and devastating effects on women′s mental health and wellbeing.  Lack of clinicians′ awareness of adverse psychological effects is a major concern in developing countries to provide standard care and to improve overall health outcomes.Purpose of study was to determine the frequency of anxiety and depression among women with PCOS in order to promote awareness among clinicians about psychological complications of disease.Methods: Present study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/ University Medical and Dental College, from October 2018 to March 2019. Sixty patients with diagnosis of PCOD and sixty participants without this disease were included in the study. Participants having other endocrine or metabolic disorders were excluded from study. Hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to detect anxiety and depression among both groups. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. Chi- square test was applied to compare prevalence of anxiety and depression in both groups, p-value ˂0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: Women having PCOD exhibited statistically significant prevalence of anxiety (78.3% vs 35%) and depression (60% vs 30%) with p value of 0.0001 and 0.001 respectively.Conclusions: It is highly recommended that initial evaluation of these patients should include assessment of psychological domain of disease to provide more comprehensive treatment to improve overall health related quality of life

Clinical outcome of post placental IUD CuT380 insertion in terms of expulsion

Background: Insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) immediately after delivery has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), as one of the safe and effective methods of temporary contraception. In the immediate post delivery period the women are highly motivated and need an effective method for contraception so that the child can be brought up with a relaxed mind without the worry of unintended pregnancy. This approach is more applicable to our country where delivery may be the only time when a healthy woman comes in contact with health care personnel. However, immediate post-partum IUD insertion may have disadvantages as well. The risk of spontaneous expulsion may be unacceptably high.Methods: After taking approval from hospital ethical committee, all women planning vaginal delivery desiring IUD, admitted through OPD and emergency were evaluated in detailed on design Performa Performa include patient’s identity, age, parity, gestational age, no of alive children, outcome and timings of insertion. Informed consent was obtained. With aseptic precautions IUD was inserted with kellys forceps in the uterine cavity up to the fundus, then cervix was examined for thread (that should not be visible at cervix if proper insertion done). The procedure was performed by myself. Patients were followed at 6week by examining the threat of IUD. All the information was recorded by myself. Follow up was done by taking patients contact number.Results: In our study, out of 300 cases, 63.67% (n=191) were between 18-30 years of age while 36.33% (n=109) were between 31-40 years of age, mean+sd was calculated as 29.49+4.62 years, mean gestational age was calculated as 38.53+0.94 weeks, mean parity was calculated as 3.49+1.06 paras. Frequency of expulsion in post placental intra uterine device cuT 380 insertions reveals in 8.67% (n=26).Conclusions: We concluded that the frequency of expulsion in post placental intra uterine device cuT 380 insertions is not significantly higher and appears to be safe and effective method of contraception.

Oral versus intravenous maternal hydration in isolated third trimester oligohydramnios

Background: To study the effect of oral and intravenous maternal hydration in patients with isolated oligohydramnios in terms of mean change in amniotic fluid.Methods: A total number of 38 patients included in the study which fulfill the selection criteria.  Patients were randomly divided in two groups. Amniotic fluid index (AFI) of all patients was measured before the hydration therapy according to the method of Phelan et al.  In maternal oral hydration (Group A), every patient was instructed to drink two liters of water over two hours daily for 1 week. In intravenous hydration (Group B), every woman infused two liters of 0.9% normal saline in two hour daily for 1 week. After 48 hours and 1 week of oral and intravenous hydration, the AFI was reassessed by the same observer. Patients were monitored closely for sign and symptoms of fluid overload. Data was stratified for mean difference in improvement in amniotic fluid index.Results: After oral hydration therapy AFI was 5.926±0.4593 after 48 hours and 8.286±0.6000 after 7 days in Group A. In Group B AFI was 5.784±0.4622 after 48 hours and 7.868±0.2810 after 7 days of intravenous hydration. P value after 48 hours is 0.348 and p=0.014 after 7 days means oral hydration therapy significantly increase amniotic fluid index.Conclusions: Oral maternal hydration significantly increase the amniotic fluid index in patients with isolated oligohydramnios. It is simple, safe and non-invasive method

Pronunciation of English velar nasal (angma) by undergraduate students in Pakistani universities

Pakistani English (PakE) is an emerging variety of English that is in the process of developing its own norms and standards. Besides, distinguishing lexical and syntactic structures, it also has unique phonological features (Baumgardner, 1993; Hassan, 2004; Rahman 1991). Many Pakistani linguists have discussed unique consonantal and vocalic features of Pakistani English (PakE). However, there has not been any significant research conducted on the pronunciation of English velar nasal or angma /ŋ/ by Pakistani English speakers. This study analyses the pronunciation of English velar nasal by Pakistani English speakers. The sample was selected from 20 undergraduate students of the Department of English studying in the first semester of a large-scale public sector university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. A number of 20 English lexical items were selected and were divided into three categories according to the distribution of angma in the English language. The items were presented to the participants in diagnostic sentences. PRAAT, the speech and phonetics analysis software, was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that Pakistani English speakers pronounce angma inaccurately in the medial position and insert velar plosive /ɡ/ in the poly-morphemic words. However, in the final position, angma is pronounced correctly by most Pakistani English speakers. The findings highlight that Pakistani English speakers are not concerned about the morpheme boundary and pronounce angma without /ŋɡ/ coalescence. Thus, it is found that Pakistani English speakers have distinguished pronunciation. The study recommends more research on Pakistani English pronunciation as well

3,6-Dimethyl-o-phenyl­enedimethanol

The title compound, C10H14O2, synthesized by reduction of 4,7-dimethyl-2-benzofuran-1,3-dione, crystallizes with two independant mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, both showing an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond. The crystal packing is stabilized by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Comparative Antibacterial Analysis of Four Different Medicinal Plants Against Human Skin Flora

Background: As we are facing continuously increasing antibiotic resistance, increased infections, diseases and pandemics, the researching community is turning to find the solutions from nature and plants play a vital role in this scenario. Pakistan due to its unique geography and a variety of climatic zones harbors a huge floral diversity.Methods: In this study extracts of four plants of Pakistan namely Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Moringa oleifera and Eucalyptus camaldulensis prepared by Aqueous. Ethanol and Methanol extract preparation methods were examined for their phytochemical content by employing various reagents and methods like foam test for saponins, xanthoprotein test for proteins, Braemar’s test for tannins etc. Antibacterial activity against stored human skin flora samples was performed using the agar well diffusion assay and statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA one way analysis on Microsoft Excel 2010.Result: Each plant extract exhibited antibacterial activity and statistical analysis performed for extracts of each plant showed p value for A. indica as 0.36 (P > 0.05), for C. longa as 0.09 (P > 0.05), for M. oleifera as 0.67 (P > 0.05) and for E. camaldulensis as 0.02 (P < 0.05), which indicates significant antibacterial activity of E. camaldulensis depending on the size of zones of inhibition produced by it. Conclusion: All the extracts prepared from selected plants showed some degree of antibacterial activity against the human skin flora that can also act as opportunistic pathogen. This supports the use of traditionally used plants and herbs for fighting present day soaring health related issues as antimicrobial resistance. Study also suggests further investigations for estimating exact concentrations of extracts to be used that work efficiently in relevant cases and molecular mechanism of action of these extracts.Keywords: Skin Flora; Antibiotic Resistant; Plant Extract; Antibacterial Activity, Medicinal plants