International Journal of Scientific Research in Biological Sciences
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Phytochemical Screening and Analyses of Eight Selected Heavy Metals in an Air-dried and Sun-dried Leaf of Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) O Kuntze
Get PDFThe growing interest in ethno-medicine calls for effective laboratory scrutiny of the part(s) of the medicinal plant(s) being used as raw materials in the preparation of useful products as a way of certifying their bio-safety. To achieve this aim, air-dried and sun-dried leaves of Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) were subjected to preliminary analyses of its phytochemicals and some heavy metals using standard methods. The results confirmed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and absence of phlobatannins, alkaloids, and anthraquinones in both in air-dried (ADS) and sun-dried samples (SDS). The quantity of the phytochemicals were found to be in decreasing order of saponins > terpenoids > steroids > cardic glycosides > flavonoids > Tannins and the heavy metal values also in the order of Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Se > Cd > Co > Pb. The heavy metals in the two samples were within the permissible safe limits recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO); indicating that the leaf of A. brasiliana is not toxic of the analyzed metals. Likewise, it was deduced from the results that air-drying could be a preferred processing method in the preparation of A. brasiliana leaf as more of the phytochemicals and metals were found in the air-dried than the sun-dried leaf sample.
 
Kibreet (Sulphur) A Unani Mineral Drug– Review
Get PDFKibreet (Sulphur) is non-metal mineral drug of Unani Medicine used for the treatment of skin disorders. The Kibreet is used as medicine as early as 3000 BCE. It is also known as Gandhak. When it is used internally after a process of purification the term Gandhak Amla saar is used. The objective of this review is to compile all information available in classical literature and recent research in respect of Kibreet (sulphur). In present review Unani classical literature was searched for its complete description and for toxicological studies, role of sulphur in human health to prove the importance of Kibreet computerized databases such as Medline, Pubmed, Ovid SP, Google Scholar and Science-direct were searched. All the information on Kibreet available in Urdu, Persian, Arabic and studies published abstract were included. Its temperament is hot and dry and having anti-inflammatory, blood purifier, laxative, antiseptic, germicidal and expectorant action. It is used to treat arthritis, skin disorders, constipation, piles, cough due to above mentioned actions. Though this drug is used since long for treating skin disorders in Unani system of medicine, the other aspect of actions of this drug are minimally touched. This is also recommended to relieve respiratory disorders such as cough, cold related symptoms and having the property to disinfest houses from communicable diseases. It is concluded that Kibreet may be used in COVID-19 pandemic condition to relief the patients from respiratory distress and disinfect the houses.
 
Activities of Cinnamaldehyde from Boswellia Serrata on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Get PDFBoswellia serrata also known as Indian frankincense is known for its medical practice for thousands of years. B. serrata is recognized for its anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory actions. Cinnamaldehyde is one of the common compounds derived from B. serrata from Methanolic extract (ME), Dichloromethanol extract (DME) and Hydrodistillate extracts. MCF-7 cell lines were tested to understand the effects of cinnamaldehyde on hemolysis, its cytotoxic effect, and antioxidant activity (Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and Clonogenic Survival Assays). Cinnamaldehyde is a natural substance derived from B. serrata that is known for its anti-proliferative activity. The anti-proliferative effect of cinnamaldehyde was investigated to work out its mechanisms of inhibition of growth proliferation at the morphological level. 100?M of ME was found to be more efficient to deliver the expected results while deriving less inhibition coefficient when compared with 100?M of DME. The study reveals the mechanisms of the anti-proliferative activities of cinnamaldehyde in MCF-7 breast cell lines, and further emphasizes that cinnamaldehyde could be a safe and effective natural agent for the treatment of breast cancer. These studies indicate that Cinnamaldehyde could be a potential candidate for further studies related to chemo therapy for breast carcinoma
 
Predicting US Covid-19 Infection Rate using Time-delay Recurrence Simulation
Get PDFA recursion model is developed to describe the growth of Covid-19 cases in the USA. An essential requirement of any model is confidence in its predictive capability. Published growth rates for Covid-19 in the USA are shown to correlate well with recursive time-delay simulations. Data for six months after March 2020 is compared to predictions from known logistic equations and modified time-delay relations. Simple logistic equations do not show a correlated trajectory with case numbers, whereas a time-delay recurrence equation can be calibrated to follow actual data. Modelling predicts over 10 million infections by January 2021. Growth curves projected to mid-2022 are examined and discussed. Infection totals in the USA is predicted to approach 35 million cases by the end of 2021 without human control.
 
A Qualitative Investigation of Airborne Algae in Government Science College Campus Bengaluru, India
Get PDFAirborne algae are one of the bio components of the atmosphere. They are the least studied organisms in aerobiology although they may exert an unfavourable impact on human health. Airborne algae remain viable in the atmosphere in the form of spores and filaments. To study the diversity of airborne algae in the Government Science College campus, Bangalore, the experiments were conducted by selecting four sites. Air samples were collected by the Petri plate exposure method using Benecks agar medium. A total of fifteen airborne algae belonging to twelve genera were identified and recorded. They belong to the class Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae. Cyanophycean members were the dominant airborne algae over Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae, with a total of seven genera. These were Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, Microcoleus, Chroococcus, Nostoc, Anabaena, Hapalosiphon, Gloeocapsa, and Myxosarcina. The Bacillariophycean members were Cymbella and Nitzschia and Chlorophyceae was represented by Chlorella. The present studies on airborne algae have shown that the majority of species present in air samples were soil algae.
 
Utilization of Wild Edible Plants in Thiruppuvanam Region of Sivagangai District in Tamil Nadu, Southern India
Get PDFWild edible plants have sustained human populations in each of the inhabited continents. In India, the parts collected from the wild edible plants play a significant role in the food and nutrient security of rural and tribal people. Hence, the present study focused to document the traditional knowledge of wild edible plants utilized by the rural people dwelling in various localities of Thiruppuvanam region. By this study, the different parts of 40 plants have been recorded to be used for edible purposes. Out of 40 species recorded, 39 species belongs to angiosperm and 1 to pteridophyte. Research attention is needed to increase awareness on the use and management of wild edible plants for their conservation. The nutritional values of these plants should also be evaluated.
 
Prevalence and Susceptibility Profiles Of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates from Outpatients and Inpatients at UCTH, Calabar, Nigeria
Get PDFThis study determined the prevalence and susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. 120 swab specimens from patients were screened for staphylococci using standard microbiological protocol. Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) isolates were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing for further identification. By disk diffusion method, antibiotic susceptibility test was evaluated in all the S. aureus strains. Results revealed that 46 (38.3%) CoPS and 52 (43.1%) coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated. Morphological and biochemical characterization showed that of the 120 samples used, 98 (81.7%) yielded staphylococci, out of which only 9 strains of S. aureus were identified on the basis of 16S rRNA sequencing. The gender distribution ratio of prevalence of staphylococci was 25:21 (54.3%:45.7%) female to male but with male showing preponderance. There was no significant relationship between sex of patients and prevalence rate of CoPS at significant level (P?0.05). All the S. aureus strains were highly susceptible to ceftriaxone and cefixime and resistant to vancomycin, penicillin and chloramphenicol. There was significant difference (p?0.05) in the resistance patterns of the 9 strains of S. aureus. The results proved that S. aureus isolates from the clinical samples are relatively resistant to commonly used antibiotics. The outcome of this study is useful in moderating the right prescription of antibiotics against S. aureus infections especially in hospital settings.
 
To Study the Prescribing Pattern of Drugs in Dengue Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective and Observational Study
Get PDFDengue fever (DF) is an acute febrile illness which is transmitted by mosquito bite. Annually 5 lakhs of patients are hospitalized and more than 20,000 deaths are reported worldwide. Till today there is no specific therapy available for DF, therefore it is very essential to study the prescribing pattern of drugs among dengue patients in order to make the pharmacotherapy streamline and reduce the mortality rate. A Prospective observational prescription pattern study was conducted for a period of six months in a tertiary care hospital. The sample size of the study was 100 from medicine and pediatric departments and relevant information were extracted from respective files and selected patients. A total of 661 drugs were prescribed among selected dengue patients, in whom 145 were anti-invectives, out of them 143 drugs were antibiotics, Cefixime contributes 35% and followed by Doxycyclin 25.8% and remaining 516 drugs were as supportive therapy. DF was more prevalent in males and prominent in age group of 11-20 years. As concern with the laboratory diagnosis, it was seen that the NS1positive were 97% and IgM positive were 3%, indicates the most of the patients were brought to the hospital in time, because the NS1 is detected early stage of dengue infection. The hematological values (SBP, DBP, PCV, PLT & TC) were in the optimal range indicating the treatment was started abruptly and prescription was most appropriate to the medical condition of patients.
 
Ameliorating Efficacy of Curcumin on Cadmium Induced Thyroid Dysfunction in Albino Rats
Get PDFCadmium (Cd) is one of the hazardous heavy metals as it causes various forms of physiological and hormonal imbalances. The aim of the present study was to investigate pharmacological effects of curcumin, a derivative of Curcuma longa Linn., in the prevention of oxidative stress induced by CdCl2 on the thyroid gland of albino rats. In this study, rats were divided into 5 groups (n=5). Group 1 rats kept as control. Group 2 rats administered a single oral dose of 50mg/kg body weight of CdCl2 on day 1 and left for 30 days. Group 3 rats were given an oral dose of 150mg/kg body weight of curcumin daily for 30 days and kept as a positive control. Group 4 rats, acted as a post-treated group, administered a single oral dose of 50mg/kg body weight of CdCl2 on day 1 and 150mg/ kg body weight of curcumin daily for the next 30 days. Group 5 rats, acted as a pre-treated group, were given an oral dose of 150mg/kg body weight of curcumin daily for 30 days and 50 mg/kg body weight of CdCl2 on last day. In rats, acute CdCl2 treatment caused increased oxidative stress, decreased SOD, CAT and irregularities in normal levels of serum hormones (T3, T4, and TSH). In curcumin supplemented rats, level of Cd-induced lipid peroxidation was significantly lowered, the activity of SOD and CAT were significantly increased and improved serum hormone levels were noticed, which shows that curcumin to some degree could alleviate the toxic effects of CdCl2.
 
Ethnobiology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Usnea Longissima: A Review
Get PDFLichenized fungi or lichens are believed to be one of the most inconspicuous living forms on the earth. The traditional knowledge of numerous benefits which lichens possess has been transcended over the centuries within and among the humans. All the different growth forms of lichens have been used by man in one way or the other. These find their use as source of different medicines, food, fodder, dye and as ingredients in perfumery. They are pioneers in ecological succession and also serve as indicators of pollution. Usnea longissima is a fruticose form of lichen that has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries. Scientific studies have proved that the pharmacological properties of the species are due to presence of several important secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites possess antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial activity and thus can be used for the control and treatment of several diseases. The present communication gives a review of the multifarious benefits associated with Usnea longissima along with the emphasis on its pharmacological properties.