iosr-JPBS   Volume-10 ~ Issue-1 ~ Jan-Feb 2015

Abstract: In the present study the total and the defatted alcoholic extracts of seeds of Cassia tora Linn. (Leguminosae) were screened for hepatoprotective activity using adult Wister albino rats (120-170 g) as the experimental animals. Hepatic injury caused by carbon tetra chloride, was analyzed through estimation of AST, ALT, ALB and platelets in blood samples taken from the veins of orbital plexus of each animal as well as the histopathological examination of the liver.The effects of the extracts were comparable with standardhepatoprotective drug Silymarin. On the other hand GC-MS analysis was performed on the fatty acid composition of the lipoidal fraction for the seeds. The separated fatty acids were converted to their methyl ester and then subjected to the analysis. Keywords: Fatty acids, Hepatoprotective, Silymarin, Carbon tetra chloride, Cassia tora.

Abstract: Enterococci are one of the culprits causing nosocomial infections!!!!!!!.....predominantly affecting immuno-compromised patients or patients with multi-morbidity. The appearance of VRE has limited the therapeutic options available for clinicians due to the transferrable glycopeptide resistance of the vanA and vanB genotypes in VRE.Thus a study was undertaken to describe the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections (VRE) in Medical college, vadodara during January 2009–December 2010.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to screen for the microorganisms in the domestic wastes and tannery effluents and characterize it's antibiogram to know the prevalence of resistant pathogens. A total of 109 isolates of 16 different genera were isolated from 38 samples by aerobic culture method. Fourteen and ninety-five isolates were obtained from six domestic wastes and 32 tannery waste samples, respectively. The isolates belonged to the genus Micrococcus (18.3%), Alcaligens (15.6%), Staphylococcus (11.0%), Enterobacter (4.6%), Shigella (14.7%), Klebsiella (6.4%), Haemophilus (4.6%), Citrobacter (3.7%), Actinobacillus (3.7%), Escherichia (4.6%), Corynebacterium (4.6%) and others (8.2%). It was interesting to notice that most of the isolates were Gram-negative bacillus (63.3%) and few were Gram-positive cocci (36.7%).

Abstract: The cost of administering modern anti diabetic drugs is usually beyond the reach of most people in the low income group especially those in the developing world where the disease is on the increase. This has led to the current shift to the use of preparations from various parts of plants because of the current increase in the knowledge of their toxicity, side effects, active constituents and doses. This study was conducted to compare the effects of the aqueous Carica papaya seed and leaf extracts on serum biochemistry of alloxan induced diabetic rats especially glucose level. Male Wister rats weighing 150-200g were induced with single freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight).Diabetes was confirmed after seven days in alloxan-induced rats showing fasting blood glucose levels ≥ 200mg/dl. The diabetic rats were randomly allocated into three experimental groups which received Seed extract, leaf extract or normal saline depending on the group. The extracts were administered orally for twenty-eight days after which the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for Biochemical analyses. The results showed that both extracts have significant hypoglycaemic, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects although extract of the seed proved to be more potent than that of the leaf.

Keywords: alloxan, diabetics, Carica papaya, kidney, liver; rats.

Abstract: The need for detoxification of less utilized crops with similar nutritional composition with soybeans as potential substitute or supplement for soybeans in conventional feeds production is obvious as price of soybean continue to rise. Jatropha curcas is one of such crops which can serve as a potential source of dietary energy and protein. However, the presence of anti-nutritional factors restricts the utilization of the Jatropha curcas seed in animal feed. Several researchers however have shown that this obstacle can be overcome by detoxifying the seeds, but many of them failed to established the effects of these detoxification methods on the nutritional content of Jatropha curcas .The main objective of this study therefore was to determine the effect of three simple inexpensive physical methods of detoxification (soaking, roasting and fermentation) on the proximate and toxicological compositions of Jatropha curcas seed meal. To achieve this, Jatropha curcas seeds sample used were divided into four parts. The first three parts were subjected to the three different physical treatments after which they were dried to constant weight and while the fourth part was dried to constant weight and milled. These four samples were then analysed for their proximate and toxicological composition .The results showed that fermentation deactivated the antinutrients most in the seeds and did not adversely affect the nutritional composition of the seeds.

Keywords: Anti-nutrients, Detoxified, Jatropha carcus, Fermentation, Roasting, Soaking.

Abstract: Anti-depressants play a major role in today's life style. There are evidences of the ayurvedic formulation withania somnifera (roots) being effective in various neuro- psychiatric conditions. The anti-depressant activities of aqueous extract Withania somnifera roots (AEWS) were studied using - Forced swim test (FST). Effect of different doses of AEWS (30,40,50 mg/kg), Imipramine (15mg/kg)were studied on behavioural despair tests induced immobility time . WS produced dose dependent decrease in immobility time in FST, maximum effect being observed with WS 50 mg/kg. The findings support the use of WS as potential adjuvant in depressive disorders.

Keywords: Withania somnifera, anti depressant activity, forced swim test.

Abstract: Novel thiazolidinone derivatives TQ-VI(1-10) were designed, synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity. Synthesis of 3-(4-(7-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl) 4-oxo-quinazolin-3(4H)-yl) phenyl) -2-arylthiazolidin-4-one TQ-VI(1-10) have been achieved from the starting material 2-amino-4-chlorobenzoic acid TQ-I on cyclization with p-chlorobenzoyl chloride TQ-II to yield 7-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one,TQ-III, which on treatment with p-phenylindiamine gave 3-(4-aminophenyl)-7-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one, TQ-IV in good yield. Then, TQ-IV on reaction with substituted aromatic aldehydes converted to TQ-V(1-10), which on cyclization with thioglycolic acid gave TQ-VI (1-10). All the synthesized compounds have been characterized on the basis of IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds containing 4-OH, 4-OCH3 and 3,4,5-(OCH3)3 showed good activity. The title compounds were screened for qualitative (zone of inhibition) and quantitative antimicrobial activity (MIC) by agar cup plate method and serial dilution technique, respectively. Among the synthesized compounds in the series, the compound TQVI4 and TQVI5 were found to exhibit significant antifungal activity at lower concentration of 31.25 μg/ml, against A.niger. The compound TQVI5 and TQVI4 showed zone of inhibition of 17mm and 15mm against A.niger and C.albicans respectively which is comparable to that of standard drug. The rest of the analogues in the series displayed weak to moderate antimicrobial activity when compared to the standard positive controls Ampicillin and Amphotericin B.

Key Words: Thiazolidinone, quinazolinone, benzoxazinone, synthesis, characterization.

Abstract: In last decade, Tissue Engineering has moved a way ahead and has proposed solutions by replacing the permanently or severely damaged tissues of our body. The field has expanded to tissue regeneration of cartilage, bone, blood vessels, skin, etc. The domain of tissue engineering is very wide and is the combination of bioengineering, biology & biochemistry. This review is focus on recent research advancement in bone tissue engineering. Bone grafting techniques are used to replace the severely damaged due to any accident, trauma or any disease. These are either allograft, autologous or synthetic bone properties similar to bone. Bone Tissue Engineering is part of a synthetic technique and overcome the limitations faced in other two mentioned techniques. Bone Tissue engineering is rapidly developing field and has become important due to its remarkable therapeutic properties. Mesenchymal stem cells are used as starting cells in tissue regeneration. These cells get differentiated into bone cells and start multiplying to form bone. One inevitable requirement of these growing human cells is a strong support which helps in the proper growth. This support is known as scaffold, in tissue engineering. For proper regeneration of cells scaffold materials plays vital importance in the field of bone tissue engineering. This review attempts is illustrate the biology of natural bone, various desirable properties of scaffold, biomaterials used for fabrication of scaffold and various fabrication techniques with examples of bone regenerate.

Keywords: Bone regenerate, Grafting, Mesenchymal stem cell, Scaffold, Tissue Engineering.

Abstract: The present study was aimed to investigate the potential effect of Mucuna pruriens on masculinisation of Nile tilapia during its in vivo application through direct feeding and immersion techniques and to determine an ideal concentration for each method for production of all-male tilapia population. Three days old mixed sex juveniles of Nile tilapia (mean weight 0.025 ± 0.009 g; mean length 1.25 ± 0.012 cm) were subjected to dietary treatment with powdered M. pruriens seeds (0.0, 2.0, 3.5 and 5.0 g/kg feed) and immersion treatment with aqueous extract of the plant seeds (0.02, 0.035, 0.05 g/l) for one month. For dietary treatment, the highest percentage of survival (94.33±0.33) was obtained in the 5.0 g/kg category, while treatment with 0.05 g/l yielded the highest survival percentage (92.33±0.33) for immersion treatment. Dietary and immersion treatment with the plant material resulted in significantly higher (P<0.05) percentage of males compared to the control groups. Among the fish fed powdered M. pruriens seed containing diets, the highest percentage (73.33±0.67) of males was observed in 5.0 g/kg group. During immersion treatment, the highest percentage (74.67±0.33) of males was obtained in 0.05 g/l category, which was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to all the treatment groups. Keywords: Mucuna pruriens, Oreochromis niloticus, Phytochemicals, Sex reversal

Abstract: This study was done to carry out a survey of Human Parainfluenza Virus in children aged 1-12years in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Diagnostic kits. Of the 376 samples tested for IgG antibody of HPIV 1, 2 and 3, 288 were seropositive (76.6%). Risk and demographic factors such as age of the children parental occupation, parental educational status, vitamin A deficiency, frequency of eating, household size, duration of breastfeeding, environmental smoke, respiratory symptoms, fever, sickle cell and underlying diseases were analysed. Age (χ2=17.408, p=0.001), parental occupation (χ2=10.116, p=0.039), duration of breastfeeding (χ2=8.439, p=0.015), presence of respiratory symptoms (χ2=5.116, p=0.024) were significantly associated with the infection. Observation from the study showed the importance of Human Parainfluenza Virus as an agent of respiratory tract infection in children. As antiviral drugs are not readily available, preventive measures should be adhered to in the control of the infection.

Keywords: Human Parainfluenza Virus, Children, Nigeria

Abstract: Gels are semi-solid dosage forms that comprise small amount of solids dispersed in relatively large amount of liquid but still having solid-like structure. Rheological properties of gels may affect the release of proposed medicaments from the polymeric gels. The objective of this research was to find the relationship between the elasticity of polymeric gels and the in vitro release of Ketoconazole anti-fungal drug from different types of gel structures. Five types of gel bases were prepared, glycerin of starch, gelatin-glycerin, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, Carbopol 934 and Eudragit L100. The rheological properties of gels were determined using Rheometer. Whereas the in vitro release of ketoconazole from the mentioned gel bases were determined using Franz Diffusion Cell. The results obtained showed that the higher the elasticity of the gel the more release of the drug.

Keywords: Elasticity, Viscosity, Gel bases, ketoconazole, Rheometer, Franz Diffusion Cell

Abstract: The study deals with investigation of thechemopreventive potential and antilipidperoxidative effects of ethanolic leaf extract of mulberry, Morus alba (L) (TpEt) on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)- induced buccal pouch carcinoma in Syrian hamster, Mesocricetusauratus (L). Oral squamous cell carcinoma was developed in the buccal pouch of Syrian golden hamsters, by painting with 0.5% DMBA in liquid paraffin, thrice a week, for 14 weeks. The tumor incidence, volume and burden were determined. Oral administration ofTpEt at a dose of 300 mg/kg, body weight, to DMBA (on alternate days for 14 weeks)- painted animals significantly prevented the incidence, volume and burden of the tumor. TpEt showed potent antilipidperoxidative effect, as well as enhanced the antioxidant status in DMBA- painted animals. TpEt has potent chemopreventive efficacy and significant antilipidperoxidative effect, in DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis. The active principle of mulberry leaf may have the abilities of induction of apoptosis, which involve disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome C and activation of caspase. With it's bioactive compounds, mulberry, Morus alba (L) may open a new avenue in the cancer prevention and treatment.

Keywords: Syrian hamster ;Buccal pouch carcinoma ; Mulberry.

Abstract: The study involved a laboratory experiment on the use of Eicchornia crassipes in the phytoremediation of a stream polluted by waste water from Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company. The physiochemical characteristics of the waste water were determined before and after the treatment. The experiment lasted for three weeks and the rate of reduction was recorded. The highest rate of mean reduction were for heavy metals accounting 99.0%, 95.0%, 96.3%, 100%, 99.3% and 94.3% of Cd, Hg, Zn, Mn, Pb and Ag respectively. Other physiochemical parameters include Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 90%, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 54.3%, Nitrate 86.3%, Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD) 13.7%, Conductivity 11%, Total suspended Solids (TSS) 55.7%, Turbidity 18%, 87% Total Solids (TS) and the pH 4%. Ecchornia crassipes is a suitable candidate for effective phytoremediation of water from Romi stream.

Keywords: Efficiency, Eicchornia crassipes. Phytoremediation, Romi Stream.