iosr-JPBS   Volume-9 ~ Issue-4 ~ July-August 2014

Abstract: Seeds of Monodora myristica was investigated for its antimicrobial, nutritional and phytochemical properties. Results of the study, shows that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the seeds, were active against both gram negative and gram positive organisms used. Important bioactive constituents found to be present in the extracts were alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Yield extracts of the powdered seeds, was for water 7.94% and ethanol 12.5%, indicating that ethanol was the better of the two solvents used. Results of the antibacterial activity of the extracts reveal that the ethanolic extracts at different concentrations were more active against the test organisms namely Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi than the aqueous extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the aqueous extract ranged between 2.5 and 3.0 mg/ml while that for ethanolic extract was between 2.5 and 3.5 mg/ml. The minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) values for aqueous extract ranged between 3.0 and 3.5 mg/ml while that for ethanolic extract ranged between 3.5 and 4.0 mg/ml. Nutritionally result from the study justifies the use of the seed as both a spice and food component by locals. The seed was particularly found to be very rich in potassium and magnesium. There is therefore the need for further studies on the active components of the seeds of Monodora myristica so as to maximize its medicinal and nutritional potential.

Key Words: Antimicrobial, Monodora myristica, Nutritional, Phytochemical, Spices

Abstract: In this study, a total of 45 samples were collected from the nasal cavity of biology healthy students that taking education in the 2012-2013 in Koya University, Faculty of Science and health, and 35 healthy workers that work in Mas cement factory were attending in this study. From this 45 healthy students seventeen (37.77%) of them had no growth isolated, sixteen of them (35.55%) were found out that they had Streptococcus spp. While nine (20%) students had Staphylococcus spp. two (4.44%) of the isolates were E. coli and two (4.44%) of the isolates overall these 45 students were Klebsiella spp. From 35 healthy workers were attending in this study, two (5.71%) of the workers were found that they had no growth isolated, while eighteen (51.42%) of the workers were found out that they had Moraxella catarrhalis, thirteen (37.14%) of the workers had Candida albicans, five of them (14.28%) had streptococcus faecalis, three (8.57%) of them had E.coli, two (5.71%) of them had Klebsiella spp., and one (2.85%) of the growth found Citrobacter freundii. The nasal Streptococcus spp. Isolates were found out significantly that were higher than other isolates. The nasal Moraxella catarrhalis Isolates were found out significantly higher than other isolates among the workers that have contact with cement.

Key word: Candida albicans, Moraxella catarrhalis, nasal swab, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes.

Abstract: Malaria, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In present study, Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) was found to be lethal to BALB/c strain of Swiss white mice, when injected parasitized erythrocytes. Malaria infection has been reported to induce acute injuries to vital organs i.e. liver, kidney and spleen of infected host. The spleen is the largest secondary immune organ in the body and is responsible for initiating immune reactions to blood-borne antigens and for filtering the blood of foreign material and damaged red blood cells. All the important functions are carried out by two main compartment of spleen: white and red pulp. Splenomegaly was observed with rise in infection. Haematoxylin/Eosin stained transverse sections of normal mouse spleen showed an intact capsular region with trabeculi emanating into splenic parenchyma. Spleen of post-infection mice exhibited disturbed splenic architecture enlarged white pulp area, infected cells, sinusoidal dilation, haemozoin deposition and transient loss of marginal zone due to P.berghei infection.

Keywords: Haemozoin, malaria, Plasmodium, spleen, splenomegaly.

Abstract: Formaldehyde was administrated by gavage into male albino rats for 7 day as a single dose (1ml), and the histological changes in liver and kidney were investigated using paraffin method. This compound has caused hepatotoxicity which included degeneration of the hepatocytes, and appearing of inflammatory leucocytes. This compound has also caused nephrotoxicity which included high inflammation degree and degenerative effect on kidney tubule cells. When given to the formalin exposed rats, vitamin C caused recovery of the changes in the liver and kidney, i.e. it has been succeeded in playing a protective role against formalin hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: Formaldehyde, Vitamin C, liver, kidney

Abstract: This study was conducted in Obesity Research Clinic, Kasthuripuram, Tiruchirappalli 17. Healthy obese and non-obese male subjects with Body Mass Index (BMI) 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2 and 85 healthy obese and non-obese female with Body Mass Index of 25 – 29.9 kg/m2, age group between 9 – 67 years were selected. Parameters such as BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were assessed. BMI was determined from the parameters such as weight and height; the subjects were classified as normal, overweight and obese. Hypertension was determined from the measure of blood pressure. The results show a consistence relation between BMI and hypertension within age groups in both male and female. The tables exhibited a relation of age with BMI and hypertension in both males and females subjects. The results showed a higher trend of hypertension with increasing BMI. In young females it was noticed that due to increased BMI the incidence of hypertension was very high.

Key words: Obesity, Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, hypertension, Age, Gender.

Abstract: Being a multipurpose animal goat can produce meat, milk and hide. India has a good number of Black Bengal goat populations, which has an important role in the lives of local goat rearers. The goal of the present study is to find out the effects of changing seasons on some biochemical parameters ofBlack Bengal goat (Capra aegagrushircus) in two different agro-climatic zones in India. The highest mean value of temperature (42.6 ± 1.5 ºC) has been reported during the month of April or May in the season of pre-monsoon in Purulia. However, the lowest value of temperature (8.6 ± 0.9 ºC) has been reported during the month of December or January in the season of post-monsoon again in Purulia. The parameter studied here are blood pH, blood glucose level, concentration of Hb, RBC count, PCV, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Data has analyzed for the effect of seasonal variation among in both the regions and the current findings implies that not only seasonal variation but the regional variation also influence the major biochemical responses of goats.

Keywords: Goats, pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, Purulia, Nadia

Abstract: Anti-microbial properties of ethanol and equeous extracts of locally available plants: Cassia alata; Jatropha curcas, Allium sativum and Aloe barbadensis on Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Streptococcus pyrogenes and Esherichia coli were studied. Paper disc diffusion method was used to determine the inhibitory effects of both the leaf and seed extracts of test plants on the micro-organisms. The plant extract produced inhibitory zones ranging from 0 to 4.0mm against test organisms. The water extracts of the test plant proved effective more than the ethanol extracts, water extracts of Allium sativum were effective only on Candida albicans and Esherichia coli while the extracts of Aloe vera were only effective on E.coli and Streptococcus pyrogenes. Extracts of Jatropha curcas were effective against all the test organisms except Candida albicans while extracts of Cassia alata were effective against all except Streptococcus pyrogenes and Candida albicans.

Keywords: Anti-microbial, Cassia alata, Jatropha curcas, Allium sativum and Aloe barbadensis

Abstract: Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections associated with meat, vegetables, fruits and root crops have occurred with increasing frequency in the recent years. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of citric acid and lactic acid on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 grown on meat and carrot. Five hundred grams each of meat and carrot samples obtained from the market were washed with sterile distilled water and then cut into small pieces using a sterile knife. The substrates were divided into 10g and packed in polythene bags and kept inside freezer for 7days after which they were thawed at 4OC for 24 hours before use. The samples were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 cells at concentration of 105cfu/g. The survival of E. coli O157:H7 cells were determined by dipping the meat and carrot samples separately in solutions containing citric acid and lactic acid at concentrations of 0, 3.0, 3.8, 4.6, 5.4 and 6.2 for the period of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min. The effects of the combination of the two acids were also determined by dipping the two substrates in solution containing both acids at the same concentrations for 0, 10, 20 and 30 min. After acid treatments the numbers of E. coli O157:H7 cells that survived were determined by plate count method. The results show that at pH levels of 6.2 and 5.4, citric acid was not effective (p>0.05) in reducing numbers of E. coli O157:H7 attached to meat and carrot surfaces at dipping times of up to 60 min. However, at pH levels of 4.6, 3.8 and 3.0, citric acid reduced counts of the organism (p>0.05) with increase in dipping time for up to 40 min. The results show that at pH values of 6.2 and 5.4, lactic acid was also ineffective (p>0.05) in reducing numbers of E. coli O157: H7 attached to the meat and carrot surfaces at dipping times of 60 min, while at pH value of 5.4, reduction started occurring at dipping time of 50 min.

Abstract: Antioxidant like Selenium and Zinc trace elements are usually reduced in HIV/AIDS patients but the difference in deficiency between the two trace element is not known. This study was carried out to determine Selenium and Zinc trace element in HIV positive individuals. Serum Selenium, Zinc, albumin and total protein concentration of twenty five HIV positive individuals were compared with twenty five HIV negative individuals. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method was used to determine concentration of Selenium and Zinc while Bromocresol green method and Biuret method were used to determine albumin and total protein respectively. The result showed that mean ± standard deviation for Selenium was 31.76 ± 1.13 mg/L, zinc was 0.46 ± 0.10mg/L, albumin 33.18 ± 12.61g/L and total protein 31.35 ± 9.05g/L in HIV positive individuals while the control includes selenium 75.15 ± 1.93 mg/L, zinc 1.56 ± 1.46 mg/L, albumin 39.68 ± 13.2g/L and total protein61.22 ± 26.85g/L respectively. This study showedthat HIV positive individuals exhibit greater deficiency in zinc than in Selenium (p < 0.05). This difference can be attributed to compensatory antioxidant response to HIV by Selenium in well nourished HIV subjects.

Keywords: Antioxidant, free radical, trace elements, zinc, Selenium, total protein, albumin.

Abstract: The total lipids (TL), neutral lipid (NL) and phospholipids (PL) with their constituents were studied in midgut of white grub adults of Leucopholis lepidophora by employing thin layer chromatography (TLC) and bioassay technique. The midgut of male adults exhibits three fold more neutral lipids than the female adults midgut. The percentage of neutral lipids were 90.54 and 88.27, whereas NL:PL ratio were 10:1 and 7:1 respectively. Neutral lipids consisted of triacylglycerol (TG) as the major component, monoacylglycerol (MG) and diacylglycerol (DG) in moderate concentration, whereas cholesterol (CHO), cholesterol ester (CE) and free fatty acids (FFA) in low concentration. Phosphatidyl-choline (PC) and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (PE) were major phospholipid constituents. Phosphatidyl-inositol (PI), lysophosphatidyl- choline (LPC), sphingomyelin (SPG) phosphatidyl-serine (PS), and phosphatidiec acid (PA) in low amound. The physiological significance with their constituents were discussed in relation with midgut. Key Words: Neutral Lipids, Phospholipids, TLC, Midgut and Leucopholis lepidophora.