Emerging of RNA Viruses: A Threat of Epidemics Around-The-Clock.

Viral infections are global public health concern and RNA viruses are the major cause of morbidity and mortality across the world due to their high error rate of replication and better adaptability inside the host cell. Some of the recent viral outbreaks around the globe are mainly hepatitis and its subtypes, influenza and its subtypes, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, ebola and the chikungunya. Vaccines are available only for some of these diseases. Therefore, organisation comprising WHO in accordance with the International Health Regulations of 2005 keeps on to track the evolving infectious diseases and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, establishes the human and technical resources to diagnose these outbreaks and thereby check the virus growth. In this review article, we are discussing the outbreaks, precautions along with the appropriate preparedness of individual as well as the government for dealing with these viral diseases.

Comparison of Total Flavonoid, Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity in Leaf and Seed Extracts from White Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum).

Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as the white holy basil herb belonging to Lamiaceae family is one of the oldest and popular medicinal plant rich in various phytonutrients and antioxidants. In this study, the comparative evaluation of flavonoids, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity was carried out in methanolic extract prepared from O. sanctum leaves and seeds. The TAC, TPC, and the TFC were measured by ammonium molybdate, Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminum chloride method respectively. Antioxidant activity was also determined by using DPPH and FRAP assay. In response to the above assays, TACs of O. sanctum leaf and seed extracts were 25-248 and 0.011-0.109 μg AAE/10 mg of extract respectively. The TFC assay showed that leaf extract of O. sanctum (14- 225 μg QE/10mg extract) had higher flavonoid content than the seed extract (0.009-0.119 μg QE/10 mg extract) and the TPC assay in the leaf extract (4.49-9.31 μg GAE/mg extract) was higher than those present in seed (4.10-9.05 μg GAE/mg extract). In DPPH assay, % inhibition in O. sanctum leaf extract was determined in the range 18-76% while in seed extract it was 6-29% and in FRAP assay, leaf extract displayed reducing power in range 0.48- 5.50 μg FSE /mg extract while in seed extract it was 0.16-5.46 μg FSE /mg extract. It was observed that O. sanctum leaf extract had high total phenolic and flavonoid content in addition to antioxidant capacity as compared to its seed extract. Abbreviations: TAC: Total Antioxidant Capacity TPC: Total Phenolic Content TFC: Total Flavonoid Content DPPH: 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl FRAP: Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power