Environmental and Health Impacts of Electronic Waste: A Global Concern!!

Electronic waste, commonly referred as e-waste, is waste generated from discarded waste from an alarming number of electronic components which contains toxic substances affecting human health and the environment across the globe. In India, it is of extreme significance as its huge production uses more electronic materials and thus, dumps a significant amount of  e-waste simultaneously. India is still lacking suitable infrastructure and methods is proper recycling and disposal. This review is an overview of current scenario in the developing countries, India and other countries  depicting the magnitude of environmental and health hazards associated with improper recycling and disposal methods

FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO-IN-VIVO EVALUATION OF ALGINATE-CHITOSAN MICROSPHERES OF GLIPIZIDE BY IONIC GELATION METHOD

Objective: The present work is aimed to formulate and evaluate alginate-chitosan microspheres of glipizide for the effective use in the treatment of diabetes.Methods: Sustained release microspheres were prepared by gentle mixing of polymers in water phase with drug by agitation. The polymers used for preparation were sodium alginate and chitosan, which was extruded into 5% calcium chloride solution to produce microspheres by ionic gelation method.Results: Single unit dosage form of Glipizide causes gastric irritation. To convert it in to the multiple unit dosage form will release the drug evenly throughout the stomach which suppresses the irritation. The aim of study towards formulation and evaluation of alginate-chitosan microspheres, which can provide sustained release of the model drug. It shows better in-vitro and in-vivo activity than conventional dosage forms. The work also aims to study various parameters affecting the behavior of microspheres in oral dosage form. Conclusion:  Drugs that are simply absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and having a short half life are eliminated rapidly from the blood flow. To avoid this trouble, the oral sustained release (SR) has been developed as these will release the drug slowly in to the GIT and maintain a stable drug concentration in the serum for a longer period of time

Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and Usage of Folk Bio-Medicines among Rongmei Tribe of Tamenglong District of Manipur, India

Background: Rongmei tribe (Kooki), are inhabitant of the Charoi Chagotlong village, Tupul, Tamenglong district of Manipur have the traditional knowledge of folk bio-medicine based on diverse plant species for the prevention and cure of certain chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to document and preserve the indigenous knowledge of the Rongmei tribe on folk medicines.Material and methods: The present work was based on methodical field survey conducted between 2010, to 2013. Local people of within 30-70 age groups of both sexes were interviewed and a group discussion (using a structured interview schedule), was held to know about the type of plant parts used in folk bio-medicines, and their mode of use. The interviewers were drawn from a wide array of disciplines (Vendors, Farmers club, NGO’s, scientific societies, etc.), to obtain maximum information in relation to folk bio-medicine.Results: A total of 60 species belonging to 36 different families (ranging from gymnosperm to angiosperm with medicinal benefits), were discussed briefly with significant emphasis on their local name, scientific name, family, parts used; they claimed to cure various ailments from these plants in this mode of folk bio-medicine. The different plant parts used were leaves, fruits, bulbs, bark, roots, seeds, tuber, trunk, flower, shoot, whole plant, rhizome, stem, wood and berries. Based on a life form of the reported plants comprise herbs, shrubs, trees, grasses, bulb, vine, climber, tuber and succulent.Conclusion: Efforts should be made to promote the use of traditional biomedicines within rural communities to preserve the traditional knowledge.Keywords: Biomedicinal plants, Manipur, Rongmei trib

EFFICACY OF AYURVEDIC THERAPIES ON PSORIASIS: A REVIEW ON RESEARCHES CONDUCTED AT GUJARAT AYURVED UNIVERSITY, JAMNAGAR

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that has substantial psychological and social impact on a patients life. However the treatment options available in contemporary system of medicine are not much satisfactory. Psoriasis is far more than just a skin disease and is equated to Eka Kushtha in Ayurveda. Various clinical studies have been carried out at different research centers in India on Psoriasis (Eka Kushtha). Present study is aimed to compile such available research works in various departments of two PG institutes under Gujarat Ayurved University. Total 27 completed research works on Psoriasis were found at PG (24) and PhD (3) levels, which revalidated the impact of various Ayurvedic treatment modalities (viz. Shodhana and Shamana). In Shamana therapy maximum drugs were of Vata Kapha Shamaka, Rakta Prasadana, Vishaghna, Kushthaghna and Kandughna etc. properties, which effectively counteract the etio-pathogenesis of Psoriasis. Whereas, in Shodhana therapy maximum times Virechana procedure was carried out. The therapies were found to be significantly effective and clinically safe as no adverse drug reactions were reported during treatment period

Awareness, Practices and Treatment Seeking Behavior of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Delhi

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a multisystem disorder that is associated with number of complications. Patient’s awareness and practices are crucial components in reducing the burden of diseases and its complications.Aim: To assess patient’s knowledge about their disease and its complications, practices, treatment seeking behavior and average expenditure incurred by its management.Subjects and Methods: A community based cross‑sectional study was conducted in rural and urban slum areas of Delhi selecting a total of 98 diabetic patients diagnosed during the two community surveys and interviewed using pretested and predesigned questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 17 (Chicago II, USA). Chi‑square, fisher or Mann–Whitney tests were used for test of significance and considered statistically significant at P < 0.05.Results: Of 98 participants, 31.6% (31/98) were from urban slum area, and 68.4% (67/98) were from the rural area. In both urban and rural areas, majority were Hindu, married, literate and unemployed. Significantly less subjects (61.3%, 19/31) of urban slum area than of rural area (85.1%, 57/67) could name at least one complication of DM (P < 0.01, odds ratio [OR] =3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.3–9.6). Majority of participants in both urban slum and rural area have knowledge about at least one component of management but significantly lesser in urban (83.9%, 26/31) than rural area (97.0%, 65/67) were reported (P = 0.02, OR = 6.2, 95% CI = 1.1–34.2). Significantly more subjects (29.0%, 9/31) in urban slum area than rural areas (7.5%, 5/67) reported that they were not taking any treatment for DM (P < 0.01, OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.6). In urban area, 32.2% (10/31) patients told that it is a burden on their family while in rural area 44.7% (30/67) of the patients told that they have to squeeze money from the family expenditure to afford drugs.Conclusion: Patients need to be made aware of the asymptomatic phase of DM and its long‑term complications. At the same time, efforts should be made to sensitize them about the importance of taking regular treatment and management.Keywords: Diabetic mellitus type 2, Economic impact, Knowledge, Practice

Analysis of genetic diversity in female, male and half sibs willow genotypes through RAPD and SSR markers

Willows belong to the genus Salix (Salicaceae) and consist of large number of species with large phenotypic variations. As a result, it has a low diagnostic value for identifying pure species and interspecific hybrids. Genetic characterization of 34 reference genotypes (4 female, 10 male, and 20 half sibs) of Salix collected from Naganji Nursery of University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India were analyzed using 10 SSRs and 15 RAPDs PCR-based molecular markers. RAPD analysis yielded 87 polymorphic fragments (98.9%), with an average of 5.8 polymorphic fragments per primer. Similarly, SSR analysis produced 33 bands, out of which 26 were polymorphic (78.8%) with an average of 2.6 polymorphic fragments per primer. The genetic diversity was high among the genotypes (Nei’s genetic diversity = 0.468 and Shannon’s information index = 0.659) as measured by combination of both RAPD and SSR markers. The mean coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst) was 0.034, indicating 96.6% of the genetic diversity resided within the genotypes. The genetic diversity among genotypes of Salix sp. was found to be high, suggesting the importance and feasibility of introducing elite genotypes from different origins for Salix germplasm conservation and breeding programs.Keywords: Salix sp., half sibs, molecular markers, genomic DNA fingerprinting.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(29), pp. 4578-458