Evaluation of the effect of irrigation on biometric growth, physiological response and essential oil of Mentha spicata (L.)

A field experiment was performed on spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) under different irrigation regimes in a hilly area of Southern Italy. Objectives of the study include evaluating the physiological and biometrical response of mint from plant establishment up to its complete maturation, as well as the yield composition in essential oil at two different dates. Increasing levels of water stress affected later developing leaves and plant’s water status and net photosynthesis (from the beginning of stress (DAT 63), while affecting negatively the biometric response very soon and significantly from 35 DAT. Photosynthesis limitation played a critical role from DAT 53 on, namely later, in the harvest period (DAT 35–70). Under severe water stress, crop restricted water losses by modulating stomatal closure and, at harvest, showing lowered mesophyll conductance. Irrigation treatments did not affect the concentration of organic compounds, while the yield of essential oils was negatively affected by water stress due to reduced crop growth, in terms of total and leaf biomass, leaf area index (LAI) and crop heightinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antioxidant, Phytotoxic and Antiurease Activities, and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Conocarpus lancifolius (Combretaceae)

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant, phytotoxic and anti-urease properties of dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Conocarpus lancifolius in correlation with total phenolic and flavonoid contents.Methods: The whole plant (dried aerial parts and root) of Conocarpus lancifolius was extracted successively with dichloromethane, methanol and water at room temperature. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH, Nitric oxide scavenging and FRAP methods. Phytotoxicity was performed by Lemna minor assay and analyzed relative to control with effective dose (ED50) to determine FI50 values (concentration necessary to inhibit 50 % frond proliferation) and 65 % confidence intervals. Urease inhibitory activity was assessed at a concentration of 125 μg/mL by Berthelot reaction with slight modification. Total phenolic contents were calculated with reference to gallic acid equivalent and confirmed by Folin and Ciocalteau’s phenol method. Total flavonoid was determined with reference to quercetin.Results: The DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of the methanol extract were 93.35 %. The phytotoxicity of the methanol extract was 90 % growth regulation while the anti-urease inhibitory activity was 91.1 % with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 49.1 ± 1.3 μg/mL. Total flavonoid contents of dichloromethane extract was 629.4 ± 1.57 μg/mL. The phenolic content of the extract calculated with reference to quercetin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and 4-hydroxy 3-methoxy benzoic acid equivalent was 45.772, 9.779, 70.304, 74.93 and 57.80 ppm, respectively.Conclusion: The results confirm that Conocarpus lancifolius extracts possess some antioxidant, phytotoxicity and anti-urease potentials due to its phenolic and flavonoid contents.Keywords: Antioxidant, Phenolics, Falvonoids, Phytotoxicity, Anti- urease, Conocarpus lancifoliu

Isolation of squarrosal and squarrosol compounds from methanol root extract of Ruellia squarrosa (Acanthaceae)

Purpose: To identify, characterize and structurally elucidate bioactive compounds from root of Ruellia squarrosa.Methods: One kilogram of crude Ruellia squarrosa root was shade dried for 14 days, ground to a fine powder and subjected to a methanol extraction. The resultant extract underwent column chromatography for further purification. The isolated compounds were subjected to ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), infra-red (IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), 13C–NMR and high resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry (HR-EI-MS) for the identification, characterization and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds. The most active compounds were tested for anticancer activities against human prostate cancer cell.Results: Two active compounds, squarrosol and squarrosal, were obtained with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 15.6 and 26.6 μg/mL, respectively, against human prostate cancer cell lines. Squarrasol showed a significantly (p < 0.05) greater inhibition of cell proliferation than the same dose of squarrasal.Conclusion: These findings suggest that extracts of Ruellia squarrosa containing the bioactive compounds, squarrosol and squarrosal, can potentially be developed for the treatment of human prostate cancer.Keywords: Ruellia squarrosa, Prostate cancer, Squarrosol, Squarrosal, Anit-proliferativ

Nail withdrawal of three selected Malaysian timbers / Mohamad Uzair Hazzard Ahmad Zaini

The study was carried out to determine the right selection of the nail based on the intended purpose while doing nailing process towards Malaysian timber spp and to determine the holding strength properties of nails on the Malaysian timber, spp. also to evaluate the suitability of nail on different category of Malaysian timber spp. that species are Sesenduk (Endospermum Spp), Semarak Api (Delonix Regia, Spp) and Resak (Vatica, Spp). Three samples of each species were produced in size 100mm x 100mm x 100mm with using a common nail. Based on the results of this study it was found that the density of wood affected the withdrawal strength of nailing. That showed in the statistical analyses higher density of species is highly significant. The lowest density of species are suitable use common nail as a fastener in furniture manufacture

The Role of Workplace Partnership Strategies in Employee Management Relations

Goal of every commercial organization is to make profits though its operations. Employers adapt different strategies to be profitable. Partnership has been given a lot of significance by trade union congress (TUC) and chartered institute of personnel and development (CIPD) as one of the key business strategy towards having a healthy employee management relationship and a successful business technique. In this research article we have investigated the role that “Workplace partnership” strategies play in employee management relations. Keywords: Workplace partnership, employee management, Industrial relations

Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, cytotoxic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory potential of whole plant of Astragalus creticus (Fabaceae)

Purpose: To determine total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the cytotoxic, immunemodulatoryand anti-inflammatory potentials of the whole plant of Astragalus creticus (Fabaceae).Methods: Folin-Ciocalteu (FCR) method was used for determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanol and dichloromethane extracts of Astragalus creticus. The cytotoxic potential of the extracts on 3T3 and HeLa cell lines were evaluated using MTT assay. Brine shrimp larvae mortality was determined by lethality bioassay, while inhibitory effects were determined on mouse fibroblast (3T3)and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines. In vitro immunomodulatory and in vivo anti-inflammatory effectswere assessed using reactive oxygen species (ROS) chemiluminescence and formalin-induced rat paw edema assays, respectively.Results: Dichloromethane extract had higher contents of phenolics (TPC = 324.75 ± 2.47 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (TFC = 95.51 ± 0.82 QE/g) than the methanol extract (TPC = 79.82 ± 1.53 mg GAE/g, TFC = 56.11 ± 0.93 QE/g). The dichloromethane extract exhibited high cytotoxic andimmunomodulatory potentials, with 76.66 % mortality in brine shrimp lethality bioassay and 83.9 % inhibition (IC50 = 18.0 ± 1.1 μg/mL) in chemiluminescence assay. The extract also resulted in 22 and 13 % inhibition of viability of HeLa and 3T3 cells, respectively, while the methanol extract produced 13 % inhibition of both cell lines. The methanol extract produced very significant anti-inflammatory activity,with a maximum of 49 % inhibition of paw edema at a dose of 160 mg/kg (p < 0.01).Conclusion: These results suggest that the dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Astragalus creticus (Fabaceae) exert cytotoxic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. These findings provide scientific validation for the traditional medicinal use of the Astragalus genus

Formulation and characterization of a multiple emulsion containing 1% L-ascorbic acid

The purpose of the study was to prepare a stable multiple emulsion containing a skin anti-aging agent and using paraffin oil. Vitamin C, was incorporated into the inner aqueous phase of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) multiple emulsion at a concentration of 1%. Multiple emulsion was prepared by two step method. Stability studies were performed at different accelerated conditions, i.e. 8 oC (in refrigerator), 25 oC (in oven), 40 oC (in oven), and 40 oC at 75% RH (in stability cabin) for 28 days to predict the stability of formulations. Different parameters, namely pH, globule size, electrical conductivity and effect of centrifugation (simulating gravity) were determined during stability studies. Data obtained was evaluated statistically using ANOVA two way analyses and LSD tests. Multiple emulsion formulated was found to be stable at lower temperatures (i.e. 8 and 25 oC) for 28 days. No phase separation was observed in the samples during stability testing. It was found that there was no significant change (p > 0.05) in globule sizes in most of the samples kept at various conditions. Insignificant changes (p > 0.05) in both pH and conductivity values were determined for the samples kept at 8, 40, and 40 oC at 75% RH, throughout the study period. Further studies are needed to formulate more stable emulsions with other emulsifying agents. KEY WORDS: Multiple emulsion, Vitamin C, StabilityBull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2010, 24(1), 1-10.

Effect of Mulligan’s Mobilization on Unilateral Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis; A Randomized Control Trial

Objective: To determine the effect of Mulligan’s Mobilization on unilateral tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. Methodology: A randomized control trial was conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Khyber Teaching Hospital, and Naseer Ullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital Peshawar. Thirty patients with unilateral tibiofemoral osteoarthritis were randomly assigned into two groups. Both males and females aged 40 to 60 years and diagnosed with case of tibiofemoral OA were included in the study. Patients with a history of TKR and metabolic and endocrine disease were excluded from the study. Each group consists of 15 patients. Group “A” received Mulligan’s Mobilization along with diathermy (experimental group). Group “B” received conventional physical therapy along with diathermy (control group). Both groups were treated for four weeks with three sessions per week on alternate days. WOMAC scale was used for functional activity, stiffness, and pain. VAS was used for pain severity. A goniometer was used for the assessment of the range of motions. Results: A total of thirty patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis participated in this study, the percentage of male and female participants were 33.3% and 66.7% respectively. The experimental and control groups showed no statistical differences in pain intensity post-study with a P = 0.60 (P>0.05). The scores of WOMAC also show no statistical differences in both groups after intervention with a P = 0.34 (P>0.05). The experimental and control groups showed no statistical differences in flexion range post-study with a P = 0.30 (P>0.05). Conclusion: Both Mulligan’s Mobilization and conventional therapy can effectively increase the range of motion, decrease pain, and increase the functional activity of patients with knee osteoarthritis