Comparative adsorption capabilities of rubbish tissue paper-derived carbon-doped MgO and CaCO3 for EBT and U(VI), studied by batch, spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

Water pollution due to organic dyes and radionuclides is a challenging issue to the modern world. Cheap and efficient adsorbents are needed for their removal from wastewaters. Carbon-doped magnesium oxide (C-MgO) and calcium carbonate (C-CaCO3) were synthesized by the in situ hydrothermal treatment of Mg(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2 with carbon, and applied for the removal of eriochrome black T (EBT) at pH = 2.0 and uranium (U(VI)) at pH = 6.0. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacities of C-MgO (3.62 × 10-4 mol/g for EBT and 8.10 × 10-4 mol/g for U(VI)) were higher than those of C-CaCO3 (2.53 × 10-4 mol/g for EBT and 5.92 × 10-4 mol/g for U(VI)). The high adsorption capacity of C-MgO was also evidenced with DFT calculations which showed that the sorption energies (ΔE) of C-MgO for EBT (20.62 kcal/mol) and U(VI) (63.41 kcal/mol) were higher than those of C-CaCO3 for EBT (10.21 kcal/mol) and U(VI) (34.29 kcal/mol). In all cases, the electrostatic interactions were involved in the adsorption process. The sorption kinetic data followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The results demonstrate that both C-MgO and C-CaCO3 are reusable and can be effectively applied for the elimination of EBT and U(VI) from wastewater.

Report: Antibacterial and antifungal activities of leaf extract of Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) from Pakistan.

Alcoholic extract and various fractions of Achyranthes aspera leaves, traditionally used in Pakistan for treatment of infectious diseases was screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity. The chloroform and butanol fractions were found to be the most active among the fractions, showing considerable antibacterial activity against Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli. The highest activity was found in the ethylacetate fraction (17 mm zone of inhibition) against gram-negative (Salmonella typhi) bacteria, with MIC value as 0.29 mg/mL. In antifungal screening, moderate activity was shown by the chloroform fraction (50 % inhibition) against Microsporum canis, with MIC value as 0.25mg/mL. Considerable level of antifungal activity was depicted by crude extract, hexane and butanol fractions against Aspergillus flavus and Microsporum canis. The ability of various extracts of Achyranthes aspera to inhibit different strains of fungi and bacteria indicates its potential use for the treatment of microbial infections.

Report: screening of selected medicinal plants for their enzyme inhibitory potential - a validation of their ethnopharmacological uses.

In present study four medicinal plants namely Valeriana wallichii, Xanthium strumarium, Achyranthes aspera and Duchesnea indica belonging to different families were collected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and crude extract and subsequent fractions were analyzed for their inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Valeriana wallichii, Xanthium strumarium and Achyranthes aspera were significantly active against cholinesterases. Chloroform and ethylacetate fractions of Valeriana wallichii exhibited significant activity against acetylcholinesterase (IC50: 61µg/ml) and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes (IC50: 58µg/ml), respectively. Similarly ethylacetate fraction of Achyranthes aspera showed significant activity against acetylcholinesterase (IC50: 61 µg/ml) and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes (IC50: 61 µg/ml), respectively. In case of α-glucosidase enzyme, the chloroform fraction of Xanthium strumarium exhibited significant inhibitory activity (IC50: 72 µg/ml) as compared to the standard compound acarbose (IC50: 483 µg/ml). Duchesnea indica showed no such activities.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of selected medicinal plants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

In present study, the anti-inflammatory potential of three medicinal plants, Xanthium strumarium, Achyranthes aspera and Duchesnea indica were evaluated, using both in vitro and in vivo assays. Carrageenan induced hind paw edema model was used to carry out the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, while for in vitro screening lipoxygenase inhibition assay was used. Crude extract of all the selected plants depicted significant (plt;0.001) anti-inflammatory activity, at late phase of inflammation. Achyranthes aspera also showed considerable anti-inflammatory activity (47%) at relatively lower concentration (200 mg/ml), at the initial phase of inflammation. Similarly the ethyl acetate fraction of all the selected plants showed significant lipoxygenase inhibition activity when compared with the standard drug (Baicalein). The results obtained from both in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of the crude extract of all the selected plants can be used for the isolation of new lead compounds with better anti-inflammatory activity.

Anti-inflammatory activity of the topical preparation of Valeriana wallichii and Achyranthes aspera leaves.

In vivo and in vitro screening of anti inflammatory activity of Valeriana wallichii and Achyranthes aspera leaves crude extract was performed, using standardized procedures. Methanolic crude extract topical formulation (cream) of Valeriana wallichii and Achyranthes aspera leaves (Family Valerianaceae and Amaranthaceae respectively), were screened for their anti-inflammatory activity, through "Carrageenan induced hind paw edema" test, for their effect on the acute and chronic phase inflammation models in male Wistar rats. Methanolic extract and its fractions were also evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity using lipoxygenase inhibition assay. Leaves of Valeriana wallichii showed significant (P<0.001), dose dependant anti inflammatory activity, comparable with that of the standard, in animal model. The ethyl acetate fraction of Valeriana wallichii also showed considerable (IC 50=73 ± 0.36) in vitro anti-inflammatory activity as compared to standard (6.11 ± 0.02). Similarly Achyranthes aspera leaves showed relatively weak (p>0.05) in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. However, its activity was comparable with that of standard at 10% concentration after 5 hrs of carrageenan injection. This activity was present in ethyl acetate fraction during in vitro screening (IC 50=76 ± 0.14) as compared to that of standard (IC 50=6.11 ± 0.02). The combined in vitro and in vivo Anti-inflammatory screening shows that the ethyl acetate fraction of the crude extract of Valeriana wallichii and Achyranthes aspera can be used for the isolation of new Anti-inflammatory lead compounds.

Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of leaf extract of Valeriana wallichii DC.

Valeriana wallichii DC (Valerianaceae) is one of the most widely used traditional remedies for various complications associated with nervous system and digestion. No antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory studies have so far been carried out on the aerial parts of the plant. The present work was focused to evaluate the antimicrobial (antifungal and antibacterial) and anti-inflammatory properties of V. wallichii using reported methods. Chloroform fraction (VW-2) and hexane fraction (VW-3) exhibited significant activity against S. aureus and B. subtilus, respectively. The chloroform fraction (VW-2) showed significant activity against S. aureus with 0.27 mg/ml MIC, where 0.31 mg/ml MIC was deduced for VW-3 fraction against B. subtilus. VW-3 fraction was also found to be the most potent inhibitor of M. canis, showing 70% inhibition with an MIC value of 0.19 mg/ml. Considerable inhibitory activity was also observed for VW-2 and water fraction (VW-6) against M. canis and A. flavus. A remarkable anti-inflammatory like activity was observed for the crude extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg at all observed durations. Other doses of the sample also showed excellent activity. Looking to these results it may be concluded that V. wallichii may be a potential source for activity guided isolation of natural products with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory-like properties.

Toxicity-structure activity evaluation of limonoids from Swietenia species on Artemia salina.

CONTEXT: Many plant extracts and compounds are being investigated for their cytotoxicity and hence their medicinal or therapeutic properties. Reports of toxicity studies with limonoid analogs have been sparse and have involved mainly crude extracts. In this study, individual natural limonoids have been isolated and their toxicity manipulated via semisynthesis. OBJECTIVE: The lethality of limonoid analogs from Swietenia macrophylla King and Swietenia aubrevilleana Stehlé & Cusin (Meliaceae) against Artemia salina Leach was determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four known natural limonoids were isolated from the dry ground seeds of S. macrophylla and S. aubrevilleana, modified using acylation and hydrolysis reactions and tested in A. salina lethality assays at 1-400 ppm. A 50% lethal concentration (LC(50)) was determined by probit analysis. RESULTS: Higher levels of toxicity were achieved in most of the prepared analogs compared with the parent natural limonoids. The compound showing the highest toxicity with LC(50) 3.9 ppm was 3-O-benzoyl-3-detigloylisoswietenine (20). Other analogs with high toxicity were 6-O-benzoylswietenolide (7), 6-O-benzoylswietenine (17), and 3,6-O,O-dipropionylswietenolide (9), which showed LC(50) values of 4.3, 7.5, and 28.5 ppm, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Toxicity can be improved via semisynthesis. The compounds exhibiting high toxicity (low LC(50)) may be good candidates for cytotoxicity studies.

Metal analysis, phytotoxic, insecticidal and cytotoxic activities of selected medicinal plants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the present study four medicinal plants traditionally used in Pakistan for treatment of various ailments were evaluated for their heavy metals content, insecticidal, cytotoxic and phytotoxic actions. The metals like Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe and Co were determined in crude extract and various fractions. Soil samples were also tested for heavy metals to determine assimilation of any metal by the plant. Lead, Chromium, copper, nickel and cobalt exceeded the permissible limit in most of the tested samples while the concentration of zinc, manganese and iron was within the permissible limit. Chloroform fraction from Achyranthes aspera and ethyl acetate fraction from Duchesnea indica showed significant phytotoxic activities. Crude extract and chloroform fraction from Xanthium strumarium showed insecticidal activity comparable to that of permethrin and thus could be a significant source of natural insecticide. The butanol fraction from X. strumarium showed significant cytotoxicity with LC(50) 1.9306 µg/ml, having mortality rate 93% at highest dose, while the crude extract from Valeriana wallichii showed 90% mortality rate (LC(50) 4.9730 µg/ml) at highest dose. However, the extracts from other plants were not effective against the brine shrimps tested.

Identification of new limonoids from Swietenia and their biological activity against insects.

BACKGROUND: Natural limonoids are one group of compounds being studied for their insecticidal properties. To discover new limonoids with better activities, analogs were prepared via acylation and hydrolysis, and bioassayed. RESULTS: Analogs were identified using one- and two-dimensional (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) (1) H and (13) C NMR, IR and MS. 3-O-Isovalerylswietenolide (13) and 3-O-isobutyrylswietenolide (14) showed excellent antifeedant activity, with DC(50) values of 0.19 and 0.009 mg L(-1) respectively, compared with the natural limonoid swietenolide (80.6 mg L(-1) ) against fourth-instar Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) larvae. CONCLUSION: This work shows that limonoid analogs prepared through semi-synthesis can be used as lead compounds for the development of new insecticides.

Effect of a compound recipe (medicinal plants) on serum insulin levels of alloxan induced diabetic rabbits.

BACKGROUND: The present study was planned to observe the hypoglycaemic effect of the 'Compound recipe' a combination of traditional medicinal plants in normal and alloxan induced diabetes mellitus. This study was performed to study the possible role of indigenous medicinal plants in the regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells and in treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The 'Compound recipe' was administered daily in doses of 400-mg/kg body weight to normal and alloxan induced diabetic rabbits for a period of 4 months. The blood glucose and serum insulin levels were estimated before and 1, 2, 3 and 4 months after the administration of the extract. RESULTS: The extract exerted a significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic effect in alloxan diabetic rabbits. The hypoglycemic effect was not significant (p>0.05) in normal rabbits. The extract exerted a significant (p<0.05) increase in insulin levels in alloxan diabetic rabbits. The effect on the insulin levels was not significant (p>0.05) in normal rabbits. The doses used did not show acute toxicity or result in behavioral changes. CONCLUSION: From this study it may be concluded that the Compound recipe causes an increase in serum insulin levels in alloxan induced diabetic rabbits possibly due to regeneration of pancreatic beta cells.

Quantitative evaluation of salivary gland dysfunction after radioiodine therapy using salivary gland scintigraphy.

AIM: The most frequent non-thyroidal complication of high-dose (131)I therapy for thyroid carcinoma is salivary gland dysfunction, which may be transient or permanent. In this study, we assessed radioiodine-induced permanent salivary gland dysfunction using quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy. METHODS: Salivary scintigraphy was performed with (99m)Tc-pertechnetate on 50 thyroid carcinoma patients who had been given radioiodine for thyroid ablation; 20 normal subjects were imaged as the control population. Dynamic scintigraphy was performed and time-activity curves for four major salivary glands were generated. The glandular functional parameters maximum secretion, time at maximum count and uptake ratio of the parotid and submandibular glands were calculated. Correlation of the administered dose and subjective symptoms with findings of salivary gland scintigraphy was evaluated. RESULTS: The maximum secretion and uptake ratio were decreased in 46% and 42% of patients who received radioiodine therapy, respectively. Salivary gland dysfunction correlated well with the administered dose. The parotid glands were more affected than the submandibular glands. Fifty-two per cent of patients were symptomatic, 69.23% of whom showed salivary gland dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Parenchymal damage to the salivary glands induced by radioactive iodine treatment can be evaluated by salivary gland scintigraphy. The impairment was worse in parotid glands and increased with the total dose. The maximum secretion and uptake ratio were found to be sufficiently sensitive to distinguish the severity of the damage.