iosr-JPBS   Volume-9 ~ Issue-2 ~ March-April 2014

Abstract: Antimicrobials are the most commonly used and at the same time misused drugs in prescriptions. The present pilot survey in a government teaching hospital of tropical diseases has been targeted to generate the utilization data of antimicrobial agents based on which a specific Institutional antimicrobial guideline could be generated. Methods: 100 prescriptions, each containing at least one or more antimicrobial agents were collected in a random sampling manner from the medical indoor of Carmichael Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Assessment of rationality of all prescriptions was performed. Results: The present study showed that out of 100 prescriptions 8 % of the prescriptions were semi-rational, 1% was irrational and the rest were considered rational. Among the different classes of antimicrobial agents cephalosporins remained the most frequently (33%) prescribed agent followed by aminopenicillins (15%). Discussion: Very low incidence of semirational and irrational prescriptions in this pilot study is a good indicator of proficiency of the prescribers and availability of good hospital supply. Polypharmacy was noted in large no. of prescriptions having some associated tropical diseases, especially in multiple infections. In most of the cases first choice antimicrobials were used. Conclusions: For rational use of antimicrobials more importance should be given on laboratory confirmation by culture sensitivity tests of different clinical specimens. Further study is necessary to formulate a standard antimicrobial guideline for common infective ailments in hospital practice of tropical diseases.
Keywords: antimicrobials,cost analysis, prescription audit, tropical disease, tertiary hospital.

Abstract: Three populations of a common road side fern Pteris vittata L. were collected from three different localities situated in Patna with varying level of pollution. Spores were collected from these ferns and cultured in artificial nutrient medium to grow the gametophytes. Gametophytes show various types of abnormalities including ameristic male prothalli, green antheridia ,abnormally elongated prothalli with hyaline and bulbous cells during the course of development, which should be correlated with the various types of pollutants in which these ferns are exposed.
Keywords: Population ,artificial nutrient ,gametophyte, ferns, pollution ,Pterisvittata.

Abstract: Carcinoma of the breast is the third most common cancer in the world. Such increasing Global Incidence Emphasises the need to find a tumor marker for detecting and monitoring the response to treatment. Hence estimation of Sialic Acid, which is simple, cheap and no sophistication requiring investigation is undertaken. 50 cases are histologically confirmed breast malignancy, between the age group 20 to 70 years were studied. In addition 8 cases of Benign tumors of breast and 7 cases of breast abscess were also studied. In these cases Total Sialic Acid (TSA) , Lipd Associated Sialic Acid (LASA) and Serum Total Proteins (TP) were analyzed before treatment and after treatment. 50 healthy females are also studied as controls and analysed for the same parameters. TSA and LASA were estimated by spectrophotometric method using Resorcinol and Serum Total Proteins were estimated by HENRY'S method. TSA /TP and LASA/ TP Ratios were calculated. The Serum TSA, TSA /TP, LASA and LASA/ TP values are significantly increased in breast malignancy as compared to healthy controls. Significant decreases occur in Sialic Acid concentration, after treatment indicating usefulness of Sialic Acid as a marker to monitor the progress of disease to effective treatment.
Keywords: Total Sialic Acid (TSA), Lipid Associated Sialic Acid (LASA), Total Proteins (TP).

Abstract: A novel proximate technique of determining soluble protein equivalents (spe) of Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and Biological Value (BV) using Biuret method, is described. The protein quality of processed Bush mango (I. gabonensis) kernel (PBMK) in five feed formulations of Morinda lucida leaf-PBMK was studied. Young goats weighing 5.4 + 0.5 kg were fed for seven weeks with 25, 50, 75, and 100% PBMK substitutions in the feeds. Results showed that an optimum substitution of 50% promoted liver growth, overall body weight gain, and improved biological protein status of the animals employed.
Keywords: protein quality, proximate indices, soluble protein equivalent, BVspe, PERspe.

Abstract: The present investigation highlights the use of plants for various ailments by malayali tribe living in Jawadhu hills, Thiruvannamalai district, Tamilnadu, India, A total of 40 traditional plant species used by them as herbal medicines to treat several common diseases such as cold, cough, fever, skin diseases, rheumatic problems, diabetic problems and various ailments were documented. During present study it has been observed that the ethno botanical systems and herbal medicines as therapeutic agents are of a paramount importance of addressing the health problems of traditional communities.The indigenous knowledge available with these people plays an important role in quick and proper identification of natural resources. Methods: The extensive field survey was carried out in the Jawadhu hills. The 124 Malayali tribes were selected in this study for collecting the ethnobotanical data through the questionnaires, discussions, and personal interviews during the regular field trips. Results and discussion: The study reveals that about 40 medicinal plants belonging to 27 families have been documented with the scientific name, family name, vernacular name (Tamil name) and various plant parts used by the malayali local tribes of Jawadhu hills for the treatment of many diseases. Conclusion: We observed and analyzed that the documented ethno medicinal plants were used to cure various diseases such as cold, fever, jaundice, asthma, ulcer, diabetes, and cancer treatment by the local malayali tribes of Jawadhu hills.
Keywords: Ethno botany, Malayali tribes, Jawadhu hills, Ethno botanical knowledge, Ethnomedicine.

Abstract: Albizia zygia Benth is used in ethnomedicine in West Africa for the management of painful conditions associated with tropical diseases. In the present study, the analgesic activity as well as the toxicological profile of the aqueous methanol stem bark extract was evaluated to confirm traditional usage and justify continuous usage. The analgesic activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing response and hot plate model in Swiss albino mice. Acute toxicological evaluation was carried out in mice while 28-day assessment was done in rats. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. The aqueous methanol extract (20-80 mgkg-1 body weight) significantly (p <0.01) inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and also significantly (p <0.05) prolonged the reaction latency to pain thermally-induced in mice by the hot plate. The activity of the extract at 80 mgkg-1 was comparable to the reference standards Aspirin (Acetic acid-induced writhing) and Morphine (Hot plate model). Oral doses as high as 5 gkg-1 did not cause death or toxicological symptoms in mice. There were no marked adverse alterations or degeneration of tissues of the major organs during acute toxicity test.
Keywords: Albizia zygia; analgesic; writhing; toxicological profile.

Abstract: A total of ten Ensifer meliloti were isolated from root nodules of Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) collected from different areas of Babylon province of iraq through the period of November-2012 to February-2013. The isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, in addition to traditional methods.The PCR analysis showed that the isolates were harboured the nodbox 4 locus and the mucR genes which confirm that these isolates belong to E. meliloti.The symbiotic properties of the isolates atpH 5 – 10 were studied. It was found that the optimum pH for growing of Em1, Em3, Em4, Em6 and Em8 isolates was pH7 , while for the remaining isolates, represented by Em2, Em5, Em7, Em9 and Em10was pH8. All isolates were able to infect the root hairs and form nodules on the roots of alfalfa plants (Nod+)at pH7,pH7.5 and pH8. The plants nodulated by these isolates were healthy and green (indicating that nitrogen was being fixed). However , the growth of isolates at pH6.5 (except for Em1 and Em8 isolates )and pH8.5 were unable to infect the root hairs and failed to elicite nodules on M. sativa (Nod-).These plants were weak, stunted and became chlorotic six weeks after inoculation and resembled to the control (without inoculum) plants in all respects. These results indicate that the pH was significant factor and play essential role in the optimum nitrogen fixation.
Keywords: pH, Esifer meliloti , Medicago sativa , symbiosis.

Abstract: This study assessed the effect of Dichlorvos on the organosomatic index (hepatosmatic, cardiosmatic, renatosomatic and splenosomatic indices) and behavioural responses of Clarias gariepinus. Thirty five healthy juvenile Clarias gariepinus species. (mean weight 57.92 + 1.85g; mean length 24.17+0.17 cm) were exposed to sublethal concentrations of dichlorvos (0.30,0.40,0.5.50 and 0.60 ppm). The fluctuations in the organosomatic indices were not significant (p>0.05). However, all the indices recorded their highest values at the highest concentration of dichlorvos (0.60PPm). Obvious abnormal behavioral responses such as restlessness, quick circular movements, rolling on the back, excessive mucus productions on the body surface were observed among the exposed fish. This study showed that sub lethal concentrations of dichorvos had adverse effects on Clarias gariepinus. Thus, dichlorvos should be used with caution in agricultural field applications likely to introduce acute levels of the toxicant into the environment.
Key words: Organosomatic index, Behavioural responses, Dichlorvos, Clarias gariepinus, Nigeria.

Abstract: The antimicrobial activity of the root and leaf extracts of the Senna alata plant against some infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa etc) and fungi (spergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans etc) as well as the physiochemical and microbiological quality of the plant was determined using the cup plate agar diffusion method. The freshly collected fresh mature leaves and roots were chopped into pieces and shade-dried at 32-350C to constant weight for 5 days. 50g each of the plant parts was coarsely powdered using a mortar and pestle and finely powdered using an electric blender. Each of the powdered air-dried plant material was extracted with water, acetone and methanol. All the extracts demonstrated considerable activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria and some fungi with the organic extracts showing higher activity than the aqueous extracts.
Keywords: Antimicrobial qualities, Senna alata, phytochemicals, microorganisms.

Abstract: The causative agent of leprosy Mycobacterium leprae has a lipid rich cell wall which contributes to virulence and antibiotic resistance. Acyl Coenzyme A Synthetase catalyzes the step fatty acid activation during fatty acid synthesis. Analysis of genes FadD26 and FadD13 of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis respectively demonstrated that melonate can be consider as FadD26 ligand and beetroot source of melonate can be use as an herbal treatment of leprosy.
Keywords: Acyl Coenzyme A synthetase, Beetroot, FadD genes, Fatty acid synthtase system, lipid rich cell wall, Mycobacterium Leprae, Melonate.

Abstract: Zingiber officinale commonly known as ''Ginger'' is a rhizome of the monocotyledonous perennial plant. Ginger is used as a remedy for treating many ailments such as arthritis, painful menstrual periods, nausea etc and contains sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenoids. The sesquiterpenoids include (-) zingiberene as the main component, lesser β-sesquiphellandrene, bisabolene and fernesene, while the monoterpenoids include β-phellandrene, cineol and citral. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of ginger on the histomorphology of the stomach using male adult wistar rats. Thirty adult wistar rats weighing between 190-200g were divided into control (group A) and two experimental groups B and C, each group containing ten rats. The animals in control group A received water only while the experimental groups B and C received 9mg/kg of ginger for 14 and 28 days respectively. 24 hours after the last administration, the animals were sacrificed and routinely processed histologically. At the end of the experiment, the results showed no significant changes compared to the control group. The cells, lamina propria, gastric pit, submucosa, muscularis externa and the serosa remain the same as that of the control.
Keywords: Ginger, Stomach, Wistar Rats.

Abstract: The marine environment remain an important source of compounds that possess anticancer activities and some other demonstrated activities likeantitumor, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, allergy, analgesia. The purpose of this article is to present different different compounds of anticancer agent which are derived from marine sources and present their structured part and different mode of action of all these different drugs. The drugs which are included in this article, some of them are in pre-clinical trials or clinical development and some are available in market such as Cytarabine and ET-743.

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to develop filler-binder co-processed excipient (CPE) from MCC PH 102 and Povidone® K 30 combination. The mixture was varied and co-processed by spray drying technique. Optimum proportion was determined by testing the flow ability and compressibility expressed in Tapping Index (T.I) and hardness, respectively. The test result indicates that the flow ability was fluctuating in different CPE proportions, while compressibility improved with the increase in proportion of Povidone® K 30. Optimum proportion was reached at 71 % MCC PH 102 and 29 % Povidone® K 30, with the values of T.I and hardness of 16,22 ± 0,39 % and 7,61 ± 0,12 kg, respectively. Optimum CPE generates tablets of paracetamol model drug that meet the USP requirements of tablet dosage, which include hardness, friability, disintegration time, and dissolution.
Keywords: Co-processed excipient; spray drying; MCC PH 102, Povidone® K 30.

Abstract: For growth in the aquaculture sector to be sustainable in the long term, there is a critical need to make operations more efficient through effective disease control management and with optimized (and stage specific) feeds and improved feed conversion ratios. An enhanced level of integration spanning from breeding centres, to hatcheries, to nurseries and farm production is a pre-requisite for growth.Synthetic compounds use in aquaculture has created resistant bacteria, immune-suppression and destabilization of helpful bacterial population as well as environmental pollution. To replace their effects, the search for natural alternatives has begun. Through natural compound use it can be hoped to achieve the same results as in the use of synthetic compounds. The present study is a review of the use of some natural substances and of the researches made to reveal their effects on fish. Research have shown the diverse effects of these natural compounds used in fish as immune-modulators, immune-stimulants, bio-productive, antioxidants, antimicrobials, stimulants of the enzymatic equipment, stimulants of nitrogen absorption. A major advantage in the use of natural compounds is the fact that they are natural substances and do not pose any threat to fish, man or environment.
Keywords: Chemistry; Management; Pollution; Environment.