RAPD Analysis for Determination of Components in Herbal Medicine

In this study, the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) technique was employed for determination of the components in an Ayurvedic herbal prescription, Rasayana Churna. One-hundred-and-twenty decamer oligonucleotide primers were screened in the RAPD analysis to identify three Ayurvedic medicines, dried stem of Tinospora cordifolia, dried fruit of Emblica officinalis and dried fruit of Tribulus terestris, the Ayurvedic prescription. Primer OPC-6 simultaneously generated three distinct amplicons, each specific to one component. The marker with 600 bp is specific to Tinospora cordifolia; the marker 500 bp is specific to Emblica officinalis and the remaining marker >1000 bp was present in Tribulus terestris. Presence of three herbal medicines was determined when RAPD reaction with OPC-6 was performed. The technique was proved to contribute to the identification of components in Ayurvedic herbal preparation and thus helping to serve as a complementary tool for quality control

SEPARATION OF BACOSIDE A 3 AND BACOPASIDE II, MAJOR TRITERPENOID SAPONINS IN Bacopa monnieri, BY HPTLC AND SFC. APPLICATION OF SFC IN IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORM DESIGN FOR HERBAL DRUG STANDARDIZATION, WITH THERMODYNAMIC STUDY

SUMMARY Development, optimization, and validation of new analytical methods for standardization of bacoside A 3 and bacopaside II, the major triterpenoid saponins present in Bacopa monnieri extract, are needed to improve the quality assurance of derived extracts and phytomedicines. Two chromatographic methods are described for evaluation of the quality of Bacopa monnieri extract and its commercial formulations. The first is reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography (RP-HPTLC), the second is packed column supercritical-fluid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (PC-SFC-DAD). SFC conditions were optimized by uniform design. The effect of temperature on the separation of the saponins was studied in detail. The Van't Hoff plots for retention and selectivity were found to be linear. To obtain a better understanding of the different separations, the temperature dependence was studied to determine the thermodynamic data ∆H°, ∆S°, ∆∆H° and ∆∆S°. These data revealed that separation of bacoside A 3 was enthalpically favoured in the range of temperatures investigated whereas entropy-controlled separation was observed for bacopaside II. Both methods were validated for precision, robustness, recovery, and limits of detection and quantitation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t-test were used to correlate results from quantitative determination of the markers by RP-HPTLC and PC-SFC-DAD. -126

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of different fractions of Boswellia serrata

The study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of different fractions of Boswellia serrata. The effect of different fractions of Boswellia serrata were studied using carrageenan induced paw edema, acetic acid induced writhing response, formalin induced pain, hot plate and tail flick method for studying anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, respectively. The different fractions of B. serrata, essential oil (10 ml/kg), gum (100 mg/kg, resin (100 mg/kg) oleo-resin (100 mg/kg) and oleo-gum-resin (100 mg/kg) significantly reduces carrageenan induced inflammation in rats and shows analgesic activity, as determined by acetic acid induced writhing response, formalin induced pain, hot plate and tail flick method. The different fractions of B. serrata showed prompt anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity due to the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase enzyme.Keywords: Analgesic; Boswellia serrata; Inflammation; 5- lipoxygenase; Burseraceae

Coupon scale Z-pinned IM7/8552 delamination tests under dynamic loading

Dynamic impact onto laminated composite structures can lead to large-scale delamination. This can be mitigated by the introduction of through-thickness reinforcement, such as z-pins. Here, mode I & II and mixed-mode delamination tests have been designed and conducted at high loading rate, for both unpinned and Z-pinned coupons to study the effect of rate of loading. It was found that the Z-pins were not effective in delaying the dynamic crack initiation or resisting the dynamic propagation of delaminations shorter than 5 mm. However, the further growth of cracks was substantially delayed by Z-pinning, especially for the pure mode I and mode I dominated failure modes. On the other hand, the effectiveness of Z-pins in shear tests was relatively modest. The mode I dominated delamination resistance of Z-pinned laminates was found to be sensitive to the loading rate

Tracing the architecture of caffeic acid phenethyl ester cocrystals: studies on crystal structure, solubility, and bioavailability implications

YesCaffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a polyphenolic active compound present in popular apiproduct, ‘propolis’ obtained from beehives. Though it has broad therapeutic capability, the bioavailability of CAPE is limited due to poor solubility. In this study, we report novel cocrystals of CAPE engineered using coformers such as caffeine (CAF), isonicotinamide (INIC), nicotinamide (NIC) with enhanced solubility and bioavailability of CAPE. The cocrystals were prepared by microwave-assisted cocrystallization and characterized using PXRD, DSC and Raman spectroscopy. PXRD and DSC confirm the successful formation and phase purity of CAPE-CAF, CAPE-INIC and CAPE-NIC cocrystals. Raman spectra of CAPE cocrystals complement these results in confirming the formation of novel crystalline phases. CAPE-NIC cocrystal was further subjected to X-ray crystallography to understand its molecular arrangement and hydrogen bonding in the crystal structure. The CAPE-NIC cocrystal structure is found to be stabilized by a rare 1,2-benzenediol-amide heterosynthon. Cocrystallization of CAPE with NIC improved its aqueous solubility and pharmacokinetic profile thereby demonstrating 2.76 folds escalation in bioavailability.We thank UKIERI: UK-India Education and Research Initiative (TPR26) and EPSRC (EP/J003360/1, EP/L027011/1) for providing financial support during this study

Genetic diversity studies in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

The present investigation was undertaken to assess genetic diversity in seventy genotypes of kodo millet. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant variation among the genotypes for all 13 characters. Higher genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), heritability and genetic advance as per cent mean were recorded for thumb raceme length, number of productive tillers per plant, length of panicle, raceme length and grain yield per plant, indicating that simple selection could be practised for improving these traits. Seventy genotypes were grouped into seven different clusters on the basis of magnitude of D2 values by Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Cluster I had 51 genotypes followed by cluster II with 14 genotypes, while clusters III, IV, V, VI and VII were mono genotypic. The inter–cluster distance was high between clusters II and III and therefore it is suggested to use these genotypes as parents for hybridization to evolve potential segregants

Решение обратной задачи кинематики шестизвенного робота

Материалы XX Междунар. науч.-техн. конф. студентов, аспирантов и молодых ученых, Гомель, 23–24 апр. 2020 г

Lipidomics Reveals Early Metabolic Changes in Subjects with Schizophrenia: Effects of Atypical Antipsychotics

There is a critical need for mapping early metabolic changes in schizophrenia to capture failures in regulation of biochemical pathways and networks. This information could provide valuable insights about disease mechanisms, trajectory of disease progression, and diagnostic biomarkers. We used a lipidomics platform to measure individual lipid species in 20 drug-naïve patients with a first episode of schizophrenia (FE group), 20 patients with chronic schizophrenia that had not adhered to prescribed medications (RE group), and 29 race-matched control subjects without schizophrenia. Lipid metabolic profiles were evaluated and compared between study groups and within groups before and after treatment with atypical antipsychotics, risperidone and aripiprazole. Finally, we mapped lipid profiles to n3 and n6 fatty acid synthesis pathways to elucidate which enzymes might be affected by disease and treatment. Compared to controls, the FE group showed significant down-regulation of several n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including 20:5n3, 22:5n3, and 22:6n3 within the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine lipid classes. Differences between FE and controls were only observed in the n3 class PUFAs; no differences where noted in n6 class PUFAs. The RE group was not significantly different from controls, although some compositional differences within PUFAs were noted. Drug treatment was able to correct the aberrant PUFA levels noted in FE patients, but changes in re patients were not corrective. Treatment caused increases in both n3 and n6 class lipids. These results supported the hypothesis that phospholipid n3 fatty acid deficits are present early in the course of schizophrenia and tend not to persist throughout its course. These changes in lipid metabolism could indicate a metabolic vulnerability in patients with schizophrenia that occurs early in development of the disease. © 2013 McEvoy et al

Reduced antioxidant defense in early onset first-episode psychosis: a case-control study

Background:Our objective is to determine the activity of the antioxidant defense system at admission in patients with early onset first psychotic episodes compared with a control group. Methods: Total antioxidant status (TAS) and lipid peroxidation (LOOH) were determined in plasma. Enzyme activities and total glutathione levels were determined in erythrocytes in 102 children and adolescents with a first psychotic episode and 98 healthy controls. Results: A decrease in antioxidant defense was found in patients, measured as decreased TAS and glutathione levels. Lipid damage (LOOH) and glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in patients than controls. Our study shows a decrease in the antioxidant defense system in early onset first episode psychotic patients. Conclusions: Glutathione deficit seems to be implicated in psychosis, and may be an important indirect biomarker of oxidative stress in early-onset schizophrenia. Oxidative damage is present in these patients, and may contribute to its pathophysiology

Mapping private pharmacies and their characteristics in Ujjain district, Central India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In India, private pharmacies are ubiquitous yet critical establishments that facilitate community access to medicines. These are often the first points of treatment seeking in parts of India and other low income settings around the world. The characteristics of these pharmacies including their location, drug availability, human resources and infrastructure have not been studied before. Given the ubiquity and popularity of private pharmacies in India, such information would be useful to harness the potential of these pharmacies to deliver desirable public health outcomes, to facilitate regulation and to involve in initiatives pertaining to rational drug use. This study was a cross sectional survey that mapped private pharmacies in one district on a geographic information system and described relevant characteristics of these units.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study of pharmacies was a part of larger cross sectional survey carried out to map all the health care providers in Ujjain district (population 1.9 million), Central India, on a geographic information system. Their location vis-à-vis formal providers of health services were studied. Other characteristics like human resources, infrastructure, clients and availability of tracer drugs were also surveyed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total 475 private pharmacies were identified in the district. Three-quarter were in urban areas, where they were concentrated around physician practices. In rural areas, pharmacies were located along the main roads. A majority of pharmacies simultaneously retailed medicines from multiple systems of medicine. Tracer parenteral antibiotics and injectable steroids were available in 83.7% and 88.7% pharmacies respectively. The proportion of clients without prescription was 39.04%. Only 11.58% of staff had formal pharmacist qualifications. Power outages were a significant challenge.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first mapping of pharmacies & their characteristics in India. It provides evidence of the urban dominance and close relationship between healthcare provider location and pharmacy location. The implications of this relationship are discussed. The study reports a lack of qualified staff in the presence of a high proportion of clients attending without a prescription. The study highlights the need for the better implementation of regulation. Besides facilitating regulation & partnerships, the data also provides a sampling frame for future interventional studies on these pharmacies.</p