Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic and Neurotoxicity Profile of Aqarqarha (<i>Anacyclus pyrethrum</i>) DC (Compositae) Root Ethanolic Extract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Aqarqarha (Anacyclus pyrethrum) DC root has long been used as a traditional an-tiepileptic remedy in Unani system of medicine over centuries. Aim of the Study: To rationalize the ethnomedical claim and screen for anxiolytic and neurotoxicity profile of ethanolic extract of Aqarqarha (Anacyclus pyrethrum) root (APE). Materials and Methods: The anticonvulsant and anxiolytic potential of APE (100-800 mg/kg) was evaluated against Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), Bicuculline (BCL), Increasing current electroshock (ICES) and Elevated plus maze(EPM) models. Rotarod test was employed as neurotoxicity model including an additional higher dose (1600 mg/kg). Results: The APE showed significant anticonvulsant activity (p i.p.) in a dose-dependent manner but against BCL (30 mg/kg, i.p.) at the dose 800 mg/kg only (p 0.05). The extract also showed anxiolytic behaviour in EPM (p Conclusions: The results suggested significant anticonvulsant activity of APE against PTZ and BCL but failure against ICES. Moreover, APE also exhibited anxiolytic potential without any evidence of neurotoxicity at the effective dose level. We concluded that anticonvulsant effect of APE is probably mediated by enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission.

环境参数对小麦干物质产量的影响

在灌溉条件下,作物的生物量是由接收太阳能、可能的水分需求的蒸发需要和在作物不同生长阶段的有效的温度几方面决定的.因此,本试验试图找出小麦干物质产量和累积热量单位、累积平面蒸发和累积蒸散量等天气参数间的关系. 灌溉小麦试验是Hisar试验农场。

Parents’s knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B can influence the vaccination of their children

BACKGROUND Birth-dose(Hep-BD)followed by three additional doses(Hep-B3)of hepatitis B virus(HBV)vaccine are key to eliminating HBV by 2030.Unfortunately,Hep-BD and Hep-B3 coverage in our country is poor.AIM To studied the parent’s knowledge and awareness about HBV infection,its prevention,consequences and vaccination.METHODS Parents of 6 months to 8 years old children were interviewed to assess their knowledge&awareness about hepatitis B,its transmission,prevention,illness caused by this,and vaccination.Eighteen close-ended questions were admini-stered,and responses were recorded as‘yes’,‘no’,or‘not sure’.HBV knowledge score was calculated based on the sum of correct answers.Each correct response scored one point and incorrect,missing or‘not sure’responses received no points.Categorical data are presented as number(%)and numerical data are expressed as median.Data were compared using Chi2 tests and level of significance was kept as P<0.05.RESULTS Parents(58.3%mothers)of 384 children(89.9%age<5 years;82%age-appropriately vaccinated)were included.Three hundred and twenty-two(83.9%)children were Hep-B3 vaccinated.94.3%,87.5%,and 29.2%parents knew about polio,tetanus,and hepatitis B vaccine.Overall,41.2%,15.8%,and 23%parents knew about hepatitis B transmission,consequences of infection,and prevention respectively.Only 7.6%parents knew about three-dose schedule of hepatitis B vaccination.Only 23%parents believed that vaccine could prevent HBV,15.7%knew that HBV affects liver.Parents of Hep-B3 vaccinated children were significantly more aware about HBV than the parents of unvaccinated children(P<0.05 for 17/18 questions).CONCLUSION The knowledge and awareness among the parents about hepatitis B is poor.The Increasing knowledge/awareness about HBV among parents may improve Hep-B3 vaccination coverage.

A Modified Plate Assay for Rapid Screening of Potassium-Solubilizing Bacteria

The utility of microorganisms for solubilizing the unavailable forms of potassium(K) from soil has led to renewed interest in fabrication of rapid and sensitive plate assays for their isolation and screening. The present study developed a modified plate assay and compared it with previously reported methods for the isolation and screening of K-solubilizing bacteria. The newly developed plate assay is based on improved visualization of halo zone formation around the colonies on agar plates, through inclusion of an acid-base indicator dye, bromothymol blue(BTB), to modify the previously reported Aleksandrov medium. The halo zone exhibited a significant correlation(R = 0.939) with K released in liquid medium. The visualization of potential K solubilizers was improved using this method, which would help in detection of weak/non-acid producers based on secretion of organic acids in the medium. Organic acids in plate diffuse radially and form halo zones in response to reaction with the acid-base indicator dye BTB. Furthermore, K solubilization on plates with this method can be observed within 48–72 h, against the incubation time of 4–5 d needed in the earlier method. Therefore, the newly developed protocol for the plate assay was time saving, more sensitive, and beneficial in comparison to the previously reported Aleksandrov plate assay.

Gastric antisecretory and cytoprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Plumeria alba Linn. leaves in rats

OBJECTIVE： This study was conducted to evaluate the antiulcerogenic property of hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the leaves of Plumeria alba Linn. METHODS： Antiulcer assays were performed using the protocols of ulcer induced by non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ethanol and pylorus ligation. The hydroalcoholic extract （HAPA）, and various fractions of HAPA like, n-hexane extract （HPA）, ethyl acetate extract （EAPA） and n-butanol extract （BPA） were administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg for HAPA and 100 and 200 mg/kg for fractions of extracts. Parameters of gastric secretion （volume, pH, total protein, and free and total acidity） were determined by the pylorus ligation model. Parameters like aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were also determined in ethanol- induced ulcer model. To determine the mechanism of action, role of nitric oxide was also evaluated. RESULTS： EAPA and BPA （100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.） showed gastric ulcer-healing effect in indomethacin-induced ulcer model, while HAPA （200 mg/kg） and HPA showed no significant antiulcer effect. Both EAPA and BPA showed gastric cytoprotective effect in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and inhibited gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. CONCLUSION： The results of the present study show that some hydroalcoholic extract of Plumeria alba L. displays antiulcer activity, as demonstrated by the significant inhibition of ulcer formation induced by different models, which is consistent with the literature report in folk medicine.

Thiamine deficiency perturbed energy metabolism enzymes in brain mitochondrial fraction of Swiss mice

BACKGROUND： Thiamine is an essential cofactor associated with several enzymes in energy metabolism and its deficiency may lead to neurological deficits. Current research evaluated the biochemical and molecular changes in TCA cycle enzymes using the mitochondrial fraction of the brain following thiamine deficiency （TD） in mice. METHODS： The investigation was carried out on Swiss mice （6-8 week old） allocated into three groups. First group was control; second and third group were made thiamine deficient for 8 and 10 days. RESULTS： Current study showed that alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase （KGDHC） （thiamine-dependent enzyme） level found to be significantly reduced in experimental groups as compared to control group. In comparison to control group, a significant decrease in the succinate dehydrogenase （SDH） activity was calculated in group II and group III （p 〈 0.0001） mice. Diminished enzymatic activity of fumarase and MDH enzyme in thiamine deficient groups exposed for 8 and 10 days was calculated as compared to control group. The expression analysis of different genes governing TCA cycle enzymes in different experimental groups showed that there was a negotiable change in the expression of fumarase and DLD （dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase- E3 subunit of KGDHC） whereas a declined in the expression of SDH and two subunits of KGDHC i.e. OGDH （2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase- E1 subunit of KGDHC） and DLST （dihydrolipoyllysine-residue succinyltransferase- E2 subunit of KGDHC） was observed as compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS： Hence, current findings strongly entail that TD promotes alteration in energy metabolism in brain mitochondria which will decline the neuronal progression which may lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer＇s diseases.