Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Capsicum chinense Jacq.

The present study investigated on the comparative evaluation of the extraction, quantification, phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Capsaicin from acetone and acetonitrile extracts of Capsicum chinense Jacq. The polar aprotic solvent extracts showed high amount of Capsaicin with pungency level of 1,529,500 Scoville Heat Units. The Thin layer chromatography method is providing a fingerprint of plant extract. The Capsaicin extracted in the solvents on TLC chromatogram was viewed under UV 254 nm and UV 366 nm and documented. The extraction and estimation of chlorophyll and Carotenoids were also performed for the plant sample following standard procedure. Phytochemical analysis shows that acetone and acetonitrile extract of callus, leaf, shoot, fruit and seed which shows abundant presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saphonins etc. The acetone and acetonitrile extract showed maximum zone of inhibition of Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus against the gram positive and gram negative bacteria respectively through agar well diffusion method. The acetone and acetonitrile extract was found to be more effective at different concentration against all the tested bacteria and fungi. The results revealed that the Capsaicin and other secondary metabolites present in the acetone and acetonitrile extract of Capsicum chinense would contribute for the further extraction and purification of capsaicin as an antimicrobial agent

A REVIEW ON TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A NOVEL TOOL FOR IMPROVING BIOAVAILABILITY

Among all the dosages, oral is the best route of administration for its advantages but due to flow of its demerits like poor bioavailability due to first pass metabolism and unpredictable nature of gastrointestinal absorption. Moreover, oral route is cost prohibitive and inconvenient. Transdermal patches are medicated adhesive patches when it was placed on the skin layer it will deliver the drug into the blood stream through skin layer. To overcome the side effects caused by the oral route, drugs given through transdermal are preferred as transdermal patch. By employing sustained release polymers, transdermal patches can be prepared using solvent casting method. Drug excipients compatibility studies are very important to determine whether the excipients are suitable for that drug or not. These compatibility studies are very important to maintain the stability of dosage form. Evaluation studies are very important to determine the accuracy of dosage form at the same time therapeutic action also. Some of the parameters such as weight variation, physical appearance, drug content, moisture uptake, folding, endurance, swelling study and physical appearance, in vitro dissolution studies, ex vivo studies, and in vivo studies were evaluated

Standardization of the method for estimation of ethambutol in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluid

A simple column chromatographic method for determination of ethambutol (EMB) in pharmaceutical preparations containing EMB in combination with other anti-TB drugs is presented. The method involved extraction of EMB into an organic solvent. followed by basification and column chromatographic separation on Amberlite CG 50 (100-200 mesh) and elution with suitable eluants and estimation at a wavelength of 270 nm. The assay was linear from 25 to 400 μg/ml. The relative standard deviations of intra and inter day assays were lower than 5%. Ethambutol was recovered from human urine quantitatively and stable for a period of atleast one week in urine stored at-20°C

Raman scattering investigation of electron-phonon coupling in carbon substituted MgB<SUB>2</SUB>

Room temperature Raman scattering measurements have been carried out on well characterized samples of MgB2-xCx. The Raman line corresponding to the E2g phonon mode shows progressive hardening from 620 cm&#8722;1 in pristine MgB2 to 775 cm&#8722;1 in the sample with carbon fraction x = 0.2. The corresponding line width on the other hand increases from a value of about 220 to 286 cm&#8722;1 in samples with x = 0.1, beyond which it decreases to a value of 167 cm&#8722;1 for x = 0.2. From the average mode frequency and the line width obtained from Raman measurements and taking the values of N(0) obtained from the calculated variation in &#963;-hole density of states in MgB2-xCx, the electron-phonon coupling strength to the E2g phonon, &#955;2g, is evaluated using Allen's formula. This remains large for low C fraction, but shows a rapid decrease for x&gt;0.10. Using this value of &#955;2gappropriately weighted, TC is obtained from McMillan's equation. These values are in good agreement with the experimentally measured TC variation in MgB2-xCx

Fecal Lipocalin 2, a Sensitive and Broadly Dynamic Non- Invasive Biomarker for Intestinal Inflammation

Inflammation has classically been defined histopathologically, especially by the presence of immune cell infiltrates. However, more recent studies suggest a role for low-grade inflammation in a variety of disorders ranging from metabolic syndrome to cancer, which is defined by modest elevations in pro-inflammatory gene expression. Consequently, there is a need for cost-effective, non-invasive biomarkers that, ideally, would have the sensitivity to detect low-grade inflammation and have a dynamic range broad enough to reflect classic robust intestinal inflammation. Herein, we report that, for assessment of intestinal inflammation, fecal lipocalin 2 (Lcn-2), measured by ELISA, serves this purpose. Specifically, using a well-characterized mouse model of DSS colitis, we observed that fecal Lcn-2 and intestinal expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, CXCL1, TNFa) are modestly but significantly induced by very low concentrations of DSS (0.25 and 0.5%), and become markedly elevated at higher concentrations of DSS (1.0 and 4.0%). As expected, careful histopathologic analysis noted only modest immune infiltrates at low DSS concentration and robust colitis at higher DSS concentrations. In accordance, increased levels of the neutrophil product myeloperoxidase (MPO) was only detected in mice given 1.0 and 4.0% DSS. In addition, fecal Lcn-2 marks the severity of spontaneous colitis development in IL-10 deficient mice. Unlike histopathology, MPO, and q-RT-PCR, the assay of fecal Lcn-2 requires only a stool sample, permits measurement over time, and can detect inflammation as early as 1 day following DSS administration. Thus, assay of fecal Lcn-2 by ELISA can function as a non-invasive, sensitive, dynamic, stable and cost-effective means to monitor intestinal inflammation in mice

Brown−Vialetto−Van Laere and Fazio−Londe syndromes: SLC52A3 mutations with puzzling phenotypes and inheritance

BACKGROUND: Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere Syndrome (BVVLS) and Fazio-Londe Disease (FLD) are rare neurological disorders presenting with pontobulbar palsy, muscle weakness, and respiratory insufficiency. Mutations in SLC52A2 (hRFVT-2) or SLC52A3 (hRFVT-3) genes can be responsible for these disorders with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. The aim of this study is to screen for mutations in SLC52A2 and SLC52A3 among Indian families diagnosed with BVVLS and FLD. METHODS: SLC52A2 and SLC52A3 were screened in one FLD and three BVVLS patients by exon-specific amplification using PCR and sequencing. In silico predictions using bioinformatics tools and confocal imaging using HEK-293 cells were performed to determine the functional impact of identified mutations. RESULTS: Genetic analysis of a mother and son with BVVLS was identified with a novel homozygous mutation c.710C>T (p.Ala237Val) in SLC52A3. This variant was found to have autosomal pseudo-dominant pattern of inheritance, which was neither listed in the Exome variant server or in 1000 genomes database. In silico analysis and confocal imaging of the p.Ala237Val variant showed higher degree of disorderness in hRFVT3 that could affect riboflavin transport. Furthermore, a common homozygous mutation c.62A>G (p.Asn21Ser) was identified in other BVVLS and FLD patients. Despite having different clinical phenotypes, both BVVLS and FLD disorder can be attributed to this mutation. CONCLUSION: A rare and peculiar pattern of autosomal pseudo-dominant inheritance is observed for the first time in two genetically related BVVLS cases with Indian origin and a common mutation c.62A>G (p.Asn21Ser) in SLC52A3 can be responsible for both BVVLS and FLD with variable phenotypes

Laxative Property of Safoof-E-Sana, a Unani Formulation

An investigation was carried out to study the laxative property of aqueous extract Safoof-ESana in the unani formulation. Aqueous extract of Safoof-E-Sana was evaluated for laxative property and was measured by weighing the fecal out at 8th and 16th hour of drug administration. Safoof-E-Sana at 50, and 100 mg/kg showed dose dependent laxative effect. The results are compared with standard Senna. Safoof-E-Sana was showed significant laxative activity

Low energy excitations in crystalline perovskite oxides: Evidence from noise experiments

In this paper we report measurements of 1/f noise in a crystalline metallic oxide with perovskite structure down to 4.2K. The results show existence of localized excitations with average activation energy $\approx$ 70-80 meV which produce peak in the noise at T $\approx$ 35-40K. In addition, it shows clear evidence of tunnelling type two-level-systems (as in glasses) which show up in noise measurements below 30K.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys Rev B, vol 58, 1st Dec issu

Estimating time since infection in early homogeneous HIV-1 samples using a poisson model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The occurrence of a genetic bottleneck in HIV sexual or mother-to-infant transmission has been well documented. This results in a majority of new infections being homogeneous, <it>i.e</it>., initiated by a single genetic strain. Early after infection, prior to the onset of the host immune response, the viral population grows exponentially. In this simple setting, an approach for estimating evolutionary and demographic parameters based on comparison of diversity measures is a feasible alternative to the existing Bayesian methods (<it>e.g</it>., BEAST), which are instead based on the simulation of genealogies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have devised a web tool that analyzes genetic diversity in acutely infected HIV-1 patients by comparing it to a model of neutral growth. More specifically, we consider a homogeneous infection (<it>i.e</it>., initiated by a unique genetic strain) prior to the onset of host-induced selection, where we can assume a random accumulation of mutations. Previously, we have shown that such a model successfully describes about 80% of sexual HIV-1 transmissions provided the samples are drawn early enough in the infection. Violation of the model is an indicator of either heterogeneous infections or the initiation of selection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>When the underlying assumptions of our model (homogeneous infection prior to selection and fast exponential growth) are met, we are under a very particular scenario for which we can use a forward approach (instead of backwards in time as provided by coalescent methods). This allows for more computationally efficient methods to derive the time since the most recent common ancestor. Furthermore, the tool performs statistical tests on the Hamming distance frequency distribution, and outputs summary statistics (mean of the best fitting Poisson distribution, goodness of fit p-value, etc). The tool runs within minutes and can readily accommodate the tens of thousands of sequences generated through new ultradeep pyrosequencing technologies. The tool is available on the LANL website.</p