In-Vitro Anti-Fungal Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Stem Bark Extracts from Ventilago denticulata

The objective of the present study was to assess the antifungal activity of pet. Ether extract, acetone extract, ethyl acetate, and ethanol bark extract of Ventilago denticulata (VD).The material was dried in shade made to a coarse powder and weighted quantity of the powder   (1000 g) was subjected to hot percolation in a soxhlet apparatus using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol, at a temperature range of 40-800C. Phytochemical tests were done in presence of phytoconstituents like glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, flavonoids. The anti-fungal activity was carried out by using cup method using Sabraud’s agar as medium. Plates were incubated at 250C for 42hr and later observed for zones of inhibition. The effect of the extracts on fungal isolates was compared with Griseofluvin at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. The Ethyl acetate extract at low as well as high doses gives antifungal effect. Pet-ether extract, acetone extract and ethanolic extract did not produce any antifungal effect at both doses. Ethyl acetate extract shows zone of inhibition at low dose (T1 10 mg/ml) 10 mm and at high dose (T2  20 mg/ml) 16 mm. Keyword: Ventilago denticulata, Anti- fungal, Griseofluvin

Counteractive effects of antenatal glucocorticoid treatment on D1 receptor modulation of spatial working memory

RATIONALE: Antenatal exposure to the glucocorticoid dexamethasone dramatically increases the number of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in rat offspring. However, the consequences of this expansion in midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons for behavioural processes in adulthood are poorly understood, including working memory that depends on DA transmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). OBJECTIVES: We therefore investigated the influence of antenatal glucocorticoid treatment (AGT) on the modulation of spatial working memory by a D1 receptor agonist and on D1 receptor binding and DA content in the PFC and striatum. METHODS: Pregnant rats received AGT on gestational days 16-19 by adding dexamethasone to their drinking water. Male offspring reared to adulthood were trained on a delayed alternation spatial working memory task and administered the partial D1 agonist SKF38393 (0.3-3 mg/kg) by systemic injection. In separate groups of control and AGT animals, D1 receptor binding and DA content were measured post-mortem in the PFC and striatum. RESULTS: SKF38393 impaired spatial working memory performance in control rats but had no effect in AGT rats. D1 binding was significantly reduced in the anterior cingulate cortex, prelimbic cortex, dorsal striatum and ventral pallidum of AGT rats compared with control animals. However, AGT had no significant effect on brain monoamine levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that D1 receptors in corticostriatal circuitry down-regulate in response to AGT. This compensatory effect in D1 receptors may result from increased DA-ergic tone in AGT rats and underlie the resilience of these animals to the disruptive effects of D1 receptor activation on spatial working memory

Nanotechnology and Plant Extracts as a Future Control Strategy for Meat and Milk Products

Plant extracts, well known for their antibacterial and antioxidant activity, have potential to be widely used preservatives in the food industry as natural alternatives to numerous synthetic additives which have adverse impacts on health and the environment. Most plant compounds and extracts are generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The use of preservatives is of great importance for perishable foods such as meat and milk, which, along with their products, are commonly consumed food items globally. However, the bioavailability of plant compounds could be diminished by their interaction with food components, processing, and storage. Nanoencapsulation of plant extracts, especially essential oils, is an effective method for their application in food model systems. This technique increases the bioactivity of plant compounds by increasing their physical stability and reducing their size, without negative effects on organoleptic properties. Furthermore, a recent study showed that plant extracts act as good bioreductants for biosynthesis of nanoparticles. This so-called green synthesis method using plant extracts is a rapid, relatively inexpensive, safe, and efficient method for synthesis of nanoparticles including silver, gold, iron, lead, copper, cobalt, palladium, platinum, zinc, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, magnetite, and nickel. Some of these nanoparticles have antimicrobial potential which is why they are of great interest to the food industry. In this chapter, the nanoencapsulation of plant extracts and plant extract-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles and their potential application in order to improve the safety and quality and prolong the shelf life of meat and milk products are reviewed and discussed