Impact of climate change on phenology of Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. across Mumbai

The average annual temperatures are gradually increasing over time since few decades. This has led to global warming and change in climate. The increase in temperature has not only affected the humans but the flora too. In many flowering plants the temperature has altered the phenology (timing) of flowering, example Cassia fistula, Samanea saman, Delonix regia etc. An attempt is made to investigate the tree Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. commonly known as Gulmohar. It is monitored for its flowering time since 2016 to 2019. The area selected for study was Bhayandar, Mira road, Andheri and Vile Parle in Mumbai. The data obtained was further analyzed with the literature from different Flora’s and research papers. The actual flowering time according to the old literature was April to June. Since few years it has been observed that Gulmohar flowered twice i.e. October to December and also April to June. The amount of flowers bloomed during October – December was scanty while mass bloom was witnessed during April to June. The phenology of flowering has shifted earlier in response to warming during October – December. The shift in the timing of flowering may have resulted in reproductive failure in the plant. This behaviour of plants is of great concern. More broadly it is important to mitigate climate change by controlling global warming in order to conserve the D. regia trees. It can be used as bio indicator stating the climate change in Mumbai

Pharmacognostical investigation of Clitoria ternatea L. leaves

Clitoria ternatea L. (Family: Fabaceae) is also commonly known as Aparajita or Shankapushpi. The folklore claims the use of whole plant for curing various ailments. The leaves are used for hepatic problems, otalgia and eruptions. Pharmacognosy is an indispensable aid in standardization of herbal drugs. For the present investigation, pharmacognostical evaluation of C. ternatea L. leaf is carried out for quality standards. The study involves the following parameters like macroscopic, microscopic, histochemical analysis, powder microscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening, and physicochemical analysis. The keystone characteristic of microscopic studies under light and scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of sclerenchyma ring around the vascular bundle in the midrib region and; two types of non-glandular bicellular trichomes, first type is smooth walled with curved apex, and second type is warty walled with blunt apex. The presence of wax crystalloids on the surface of the leaflets was clearly observed in ESEM. Powder study goes concurrent with microscopy. The physicochemical studies revealed i.e. total ash (8.15 %), water soluble ash (6.58 %), acid insoluble ash (1.88 %) and sulphated ash (9.05%); water soluble extractive value (14.92%) and alcohol soluble extractive values of (9.66%) which are comparatively higher to other solvents. The preliminary phytochemical and histochemical studies showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, anthraquinone glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids etc. In the current studies, pharmacopeial standards are laid down for the leaves of C. ternatea L

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of universal precautions among medical and nursing students

Background: Universal precautions is an approach to infection control to treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens. The CDC recommends Standard Precautions for the care of all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infection status. Health care personals are at risk of being exposed to blood-borne pathogens. The aim of the study to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and nursing students towards universal precautions.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out at S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka. The participants were medical and Nursing undergraduate students. A questionnaire was prepared based on the WHO and CDC guidelines on Universal Precautions and was validated and pre-tested before finalization. Degree of knowledge was ascertained by means of yes-no questions on each item being evaluated.Results: All students were aware of Universal precautions, but soundness of their knowledge is very poor. Compliance in Universal precautions is good to average in nursing students but poor to average in medical students.Conclusions: It can be concluded that interventions to improve Universal precautions among medical students, nursing students urgently needed. So, there is a need for developing strategies to promote the use of Universal precautions which take into account behaviour change and accuracy of knowledge including its integration into practice. Teaching universal precautions early in their curriculum is necessary for better learning and practices during their posting

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Pharmacognostical studies on stem bark of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Madhuca</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">longifolia</i> (Koen.) Macbr. var. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">latifolia</i> (Roxb.) A. Cheval.</span>

232-236Madhuca <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">longifolia (Koen.) Macbr. var. latifolia (Roxb.) A. Cheval. of Sapotaceae family is commonly known as Mahuwa. The stem bark is used by the aboriginals of Maharashtra in curing itch, bleeding gums, cyst, ulcers, madhumeha, etc. Although the bark is in use, deliberate attempt to study them has lacked. Pharmacognosy is the first step in deciding the status of a plant organ as a crude medicine; hence the current study was done. The present study comprises macroscopy, microscopy, histochemistry, physicochemical parameters, fluorescence analysis and preliminary phytochemistry. TLC of saponin present in the drug is carried out to establish the biomarker compound. These studies will help in establishing the pharmacopoeial standards for the said drug.</span

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Pharmacognostical studies of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Nyctanthes arbor-tristis</i> L. stem bark – A common but less known folklore herb</span>

284-287Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L., popularly known as Parijataka or Night jasmine, belongs to family Oleaceae. Nyctanthes is commonly grown as a sacred tree in Maharashtra. It is also known for its medicinal cure by the aboriginals residing in this region. Leaves and bark are said to be antibilious and expectorant. Bark in combination with arjuna sadada is considered to be useful in internal injuries and healing of wounds including fractured bones. The decoction of bark is recommended for periodic fever. In spite of these therapeutic uses and easy availability, no detailed pharmacognostic study has been done. The present investigation deals with macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the stem bark. Various physicochemical parameters were also established. Preliminary Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, etc. Such a study would serve as a useful tool in standardization of the stem bark