Anti-microbial efficacy of a scientifically developed and standardized herbal-alcohol sanitizer.

Hands are the primary mode of transmission of microbe-based infections, as they harbor normal microbiota and pathogenic microbes. SARS-CoV-2 has endangered lives worldwide, and WHO has recommended good hygiene practices, especially hand hygiene. In addition, other infectious diseases like diphtheria, measles, tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, etc. are spreading in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. The anti-microbial efficiency of two in-house developed herbal-alcohol based hand sanitizers containing Azadirachta indica, Citrus limon, Zingiber officinale, and Aloe vera (HS1) and Zingiber officinale replaced with Ocimum sanctum (HS2) was evaluated. HS1, with Zingiber officinale, and HS2, with Ocimum sanctum, herbal sanitizers showcased in-vitro anti-viral activity on MDCK cells using the reference strain of influenza A virus, A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), and reduced 99.99% of microbial load within 30 s of contact time, estimated by the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Method. On volunteers, HS1 and HS2 were more effective than alcohol-based WHO sanitizers. Moreover, HS2 sanitizer is more effective against viruses and has better efficiency and hedonic qualities in volunteers than HS1. These sanitizers don't irritate or dry up the skin and have a longer shelf life. Overall, findings reveal that herbal-alcohol-based sanitizers are promising hand hygiene products with the capability of reducing microbial load.

Current Landscape of Therapeutics for the Management of Hypertension - A Review.

Hypertension is a critical health problem. It is also the primary reason for coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal vascular disease. The use of herbal drugs in the management of any disease is increasing. They are considered the best immune booster to fight against several types of diseases. To date, the demand for herbal drugs has been increasing because of their excellent properties. This review highlights antihypertensive drugs, polyphenols, and synbiotics for managing hypertension. Evidence is mounting in favour of more aggressive blood pressure control with reduced adverse effects, especially for specific patient populations. This review aimed to present contemporary viewpoints and novel treatment options, including cutting-edge technological applications and emerging interventional and pharmaceutical therapies, as well as key concerns arising from several years of research and epidemiological observations related to the management of hypertension.

Efficacy of jackfruit components in prevention and control of human disease: A scoping review.

The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is one of the natural remedies significantly used in folk medicine. The ethnopharmacological applications of jackfruit are mainly concerned with the management of inflammation, diarrhea, and diabetes mellitus. Flavonoids, stilbenoids, aryl benzofurans, and lectin jacalin are abundant in jackfruit species. Jacalin is a good indicator for evaluating the immunological state of HIV-1 patients. The extracts and metabolites of jackfruit, particularly those from the leaves, bark, stem, and fruit, contain several beneficial bioactive mixtures. New studies are focused on exploring these bioactive compounds used in various biological activities such as antiviral, antiplatelet, anticancer, antiatherosclerotic, immunomodulatory effects, inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase activity, and the formulation of fast-dissolving tablets (orodispersible, rapid melts porous). Multidisciplinary programs that integrate traditional and modern technology play a crucial role in the lies ahead expansion of jackfruit as the prospective inception of therapeutic compounds. This review aims to highlight significant results on the identification, production, and bioactivity of metabolites found in jackfruit, with current developments in jackfruit research in the control and prevention of human diseases.

Prediction and comparison of psychological health during COVID-19 among Indian population and Rajyoga meditators using machine learning algorithms.

Issues of providing mental health support to people with emerging or current mental health disorders are becoming a significant concern throughout the world. One of the biggest effects of digital psychiatry during COVID-19 is its capacity for early identification and forecasting of a person's mental health decline resulting in chronic mental health issues. Therefore, through this study aims at addressing the hological problems by identifying people who are more likely to acquire mental health issues induced by COVID-19 epidemic. To achieve this goal, this study includes 1) Rajyoga practitioners' perceptions of psychological effects, levels of anxiety, stress, and depression are compared to those of the non practitioners 2) Predictions of mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety and depression using machine learning algorithms using the online survey data collected from Rajyoga meditators and general the population. Decision tree, random forest, naive bayeBayespport vector machine and K nearest neighbor algorithms were used for the prediction as they have been shown to be more accurate for predicting psychological disorders. The support vector machine showed the highest accuracy among all other algorithms. The f1 score was also the highest for support vector machine.

Geophysical investigation for seawater intrusion in the high-quality coastal aquifers of India: a review.

Around the globe, seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifer is a significant problem. Excessive groundwater extraction because of population growth, industrialization, tourism, and other anthropogenic activities and geogenic processes initiates and accelerates this problem. The contaminated groundwater impacts the health, economic activities, and social and cultural development of coastal regions. This work aims to explore the current status and a holistic comprehending review of geophysical studies applied to delineate the seawater intrusion in the high-quality coastal aquifers in India, as well as its origin and causes, mitigation strategies, and recent advancements in geophysical techniques to access the qualitative and quantitative properties of the complex aquifer system. In the future, it is recommended to do a detailed subsurface imaging of the entire coastal belt of India to decipher the lateral and vertical variation of the lithological conditions and seawater intrusion in space and time with improved/advanced geophysical techniques, which can lead toward sustainable development.

Spirulina- An Edible Cyanobacterium with Potential Therapeutic Health Benefits and Toxicological Consequences.

Spirulina is a blue-green algae which is cultivated not only for its maximum protein content but also due to the presence of other essential nutrients such as carbohydrates and vitamins (A, C and E). It is also a storehouse of minerals including iron, calcium, chromium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Simultaneously, γ- linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid), as well as pigments such as chlorophyll A and phycobiliproteins (C-phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and ß-carotene), is also a major component of its rich nutritional profile. Spirulina is known to have various promising effects on the prevention of cancer, oxidative stress, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and anemia. Moreover, it also plays a positive role in treating muscular cramps. The safety recommended dosage of Spirulina is approximately 3-10 g/d for adults and it's biological value (BV) is 75 with a net protein utilization (NPU) of 62. Spirulina does not have pericardium due to which it does not hinder the absorption of iron by chelation with phytates or oxalates. On the contrasting note, it may have some adverse effects due to the toxins (microcystins, ß-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA)) produced by Spirulina which might contribute to acute poisoning, cancer, liver damage as well as gastrointestinal disturbances. Its long-term consumption may also lead to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The current review focuses on the various aspects of spirulina including its cultivation, nutritional composition, extraction techniques, health benefits, adverse effects, industrial scope and market value which could be beneficial for its utilization in the development of value-added products and supplementary foods due to its high content of protein and bioavailability of nutrients.

• Spirulina is a nutrient-dense cyanobacterium which is composed of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and pigments including chlorophyll A and Phycocyanin.• To avoid the contamination of Spirulina species by other algae, the specific pH maintenance of the media around 9-11 (alkaline) is mandatory.• Positive effects were noticed on the yield and productivity of Spirulina after its biomass was grown in polybags and greenhouse.• Its beneficial effects have been identified in particular reference to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, anemia, cancer, oxidative stress, arthritis, immunity as well as muscular cramps.• The toxins such as microcystins and hepatotoxins, produced by Spirulina, are accountable to cause acute poisoning, liver damage, gastrointestinal disturbances and cancer.• The safe recommended dosage of Spirulina for adults accounts to approximately 3-10 g/d, with 30 g/d being the maximum limit for consumption.

Drug susceptibility testing of circulating lung cancer cells for personalized treatment.

The presence of Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been proven to be correlated with disease progression and the patient's response to treatment. However, the culture of CTCs for clinical utility is still a big challenge. We have developed a short-term method that enables CTCs culture and provides an opportunity to monitor drug susceptibility testing in individual patients. In a proof-of-concept study, we established a unique method using Matrigel® coated in 96 well plate to enable cancer cell clusters to attach and proliferate. The culture method using Matrigel® provides in vitro conditions and improves the attachment and differentiation of anchorage-dependent epithelial cells proliferation and mimics the tumor microenvironment. We further treated the cells attached to Matrigel® with the same drug regimen as the patient has undergone. Around 30.7% of the CTCs were viable after the drug treatment. We also correlated the decrease in cell viability after drug treatment with the reduction in the pleural effusion of the patient as seen by the images obtained from CT scans pre-and post-treatment. Moreover, as per the RECIST criterion, the patient had exhibited a positive response to the treatment. The short-term culturing of CTC along with the drug susceptibility testing offers a novel method to predict patient response to the treatment and could be utilized for screening suitable drug combinations for personalized treatment.

Reliability and factor analysis of Hindi version of IES-R scale: Effect of Rajyoga meditation on perceiving the impact of COVID-19.

The purpose of this study is to present the Hindi translation and validation of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and to evaluate psychometric qualities of this scale in a sample of regular Rajyoga meditators to examine the psychological impact of Coronavirus on them. The convenience sampling method was used to collect the data from 801 Rajyoga meditators through online survey. Data were analysed using SPSS 26.0. The Hindi version of IES-R demonstrated good internal consistency with the value of alpha coefficient being 0.91 for the scale and ranging between 0.81 to 0.83 for the subscales. The correlations between the subscales varied between 0.55 and 0.66. Principal components analysis using Varimax rotation was run with three-factor solution based on eigen value greater than one. This solution explained 54 percent of the total variance. It generated mainly two factors, an intrusion hyperarousal factor and an avoidance factor and third factor with one item only. Only 4.7 percent of the meditators rated the outbreak's psychological impact as moderate or severe. The mean score of IES-R was 10.01 (with an S.D. of 11.107). Significant positive correlations were found among IES-R scores and the presence of COVID symptoms. Thus, in clinical and research contexts, the scale appears to be a valid measure of post-trauma occurrences. The present study was conducted to generate a validated Hindi version of the IES-R that is easier and more compatible for use in the Indian population.

Twisted BODIPY derivative: intersystem crossing, electron spin polarization and application as a novel photodynamic therapy reagent.

The photophysical properties of a heavy atom-free BODIPY derivative with a twisted π-conjugated framework were studied. Efficient intersystem crossing (ISC quantum yield: 56%) and an exceptionally long-lived triplet state were observed (4.5 ms in solid polymer film matrix and 197.5 µs in solution). Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy and DFT computations confirmed the delocalization of the triplet state on the whole twisted π-conjugated framework and the zero-field-splitting (ZFS) D parameter of D = -69.5 mT, which is smaller than that of 2,6-diiodoBODIPY (D = -104.6 mT). The electron spin polarization (ESP) phase pattern of the triplet state TREPR spectrum of the twisted BODIPY is (a, a, e, a, e, e), which is different from that of 2,6-diiodo BODIPY (e, e, e, a, a, a), indicating that the electron spin selectivity of the ISC of the twisted structure is different from that of the spin orbital coupling effect. According to the computed spin-orbit coupling matrix elements (0.154-1.964 cm-1), together with the matched energy of the S1/Tn states, ISC was proposed to occur via S1→T2/T3. The computational results were consistent with TREPR results on the electron spin selectivity (the overpopulation of the TY sublevel of the T1 state). The advantage of the long-lived triplet state of the twisted BODIPY was demonstrated by its efficient singlet oxygen (1O2) photosensitizing (ΦΔ = 50.0%) even under a severe hypoxia atmosphere (pO2 = 0.2%, v/v). A high light toxicity (EC50 = 1.0 µM) and low dark toxicity (EC50 = 78.5 µM) were observed for the twisted BODIPY, and thus the cellular studies demonstrate its potential as a novel potent heavy atom-free photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent.

A quinoline alkaloid rich Quisqualis indica floral extract enhances the bioactivity.

A volatile alkaloid quinoline-4-carbonitrile (QCN) was isolated from the floral extract of Quisqualis indica. Major compounds were trans-linalool oxide (1.0, 4.5%), methyl benzoate (1.0, 4.0%), 2,2,6-trimethyl-6-vinyl-tetrahydropyran-3-one (7.4, 17.8%), 2,2,6-trimethyl-6-vinyl-tetrahydropyran-3-ol (1.0, 1.2%), (E,E)-α-farnesene (29.1, 16.1%), QCN (5.7, 1.3%) in live and picked flowers, respectively. Flower compositions were altered due to change in enzymatic reaction at the time of picking. Some rearrangements of oxygenated terpenoids occurred in the process of hydrodistillation to obtain essential oil. Chemical synthesis of QCN and its selectively reduced products derived from QCN were prepared through green reaction process. The catalytic modification of QCN has produced quinoline-4-methylamine; the later compound has shown enhanced bio-activities. QCN and floral extract (absolute) have shown potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Besides, floral absolute has shown significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities due to improved QCN (19.7%) content to synergize amongst terpenoids and benzenoids as compared to the essential oil with 1.1% of QCN.

Cyclic Derivative of Host-Defense Peptide IDR-1018 Improves Proteolytic Stability, Suppresses Inflammation, and Enhances In Vivo Activity.

Host-defense peptides have drawn significant attention as new drugs or drug adjuvants to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we report the development of cyclic derivatives of the immunomodulatory and antibiofilm innate defense regulator peptide (IDR)-1018 based on three different synthetic strategies including head-to-tail cyclization (C1), side-chain-to-tail cyclization (C2), and a disulfide bond cross-linkage (C3). The generated mimetics showed enhanced proteolytic stability and reduced aggregation in vitro and in vivo. The C2 derivative exhibited exceptional ability to suppress inflammation and significantly reduce bacterial loads in a high-density Staphylococcus aureus murine skin infection model. The findings describe different routes to the creation of enzymatically stable mimetics of IDR-1018 and identify a promising new cyclic analogue against bacterial infections.

Investigation on protective effect of Terminalia bellirica (Roxb.) against drugs induced cardiotoxicity in wistar albino rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Various traditional texts like Ayurveda and Materia Medica profoundly mentioned the ethnopharmacological use of Terminalia bellirica fruit for its protective effect on heart and various other vital organs. Hence the present research was focussed to scientifically prove the effect of T. bellirica in support of its traditionally claimed use as cardioprotective agent. AIM THE STUDY: The aim and objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of T. bellirica (Roxb.) against drugs viz. Doxorubicin (DOX) and Isoproterenol (ISO) induced cardiotoxicity in wistar albino rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cardiotoxicity was induced using DOX (15 mg/kg, i.p.) and ISO (85 mg/kg s.c.) models. Methanolic extract of T. bellirica (METB) was subjected to rats in two different doses (low dose of 250 mg/kg p.o.; and high dose of 500 mg/kg p.o.) for the purpose of investigation of various biochemical markers present in cardiac tissue as well as in blood serum, in order to assess the improvement in drugs induced cardiotoxicity. Also, the histopathological study was carried out in terms of ultrastructural changes occurred in the myocardium during drugs induced cardiomyopathy, to ensure the proposed cardioprotective effect of METB. RESULT: Biochemical investigation of cardiac tissue using METB showed significant decrease in CK-MB (creatine kinase-muscle/brain) activity and MDA (malondialdehyde) levels and increase in GSH (reduced glutathione) levels. It also increased the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase). In serum, METB increased the levels of oxidative stress markers like ALP (alkaline phosphatase), UA (uric acid), ALT (alanine transferase), and AST (aspartate transaminase) near to their normal values as in control group. The use of METB also decreased the levels of total cholesterol and TGs (triglycerides) in serum and significantly increased HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels. Treatment with METB also proved a considerable restoration in histopathological findings of myocardium. CONCLUSION: In the present study it was concluded that T. bellirica fruit has profound potential for the treatment of drugs induced cardiotoxicity suggesting the consumption of T. bellirica for cardiac benefits during routine treatment of cardiotoxicity.

The nexus between air pollution, green infrastructure and human health.

Cities are constantly evolving and so are the living conditions within and between them. Rapid urbanization and the ever-growing need for housing have turned large areas of many cities into concrete landscapes that lack greenery. Green infrastructure can support human health, provide socio-economic and environmental benefits, and bring color to an otherwise grey urban landscape. Sometimes, benefits come with downsides in relation to its impact on air quality and human health, requiring suitable data and guidelines to implement effective greening strategies. Air pollution and human health, as well as green infrastructure and human health, are often studied together. Linking green infrastructure with air quality and human health together is a unique aspect of this article. A holistic understanding of these links is key to enabling policymakers and urban planners to make informed decisions. By critically evaluating the link between green infrastructure and human health via air pollution mitigation, we also discuss if our existing understanding of such interventions is sufficient to inform their uptake in practice. Natural science and epidemiology approach the topic of green infrastructure and human health very differently. The pathways linking health benefits to pollution reduction by urban vegetation remain unclear and the mode of green infrastructure deployment is critical to avoid unintended consequences. Strategic deployment of green infrastructure may reduce downwind pollution exposure. However, the development of bespoke design guidelines is vital to promote and optimize greening benefits, and measuring green infrastructure's socio-economic and health benefits are key for their uptake. Greening cities to mitigate pollution effects is on the rise and these need to be matched by scientific evidence and appropriate guidelines. We conclude that urban vegetation can facilitate broad health benefits, but there is little empirical evidence linking these benefits to air pollution reduction by urban vegetation, and appreciable efforts are needed to establish the underlying policies, design and engineering guidelines governing its deployment.

Ameliorative Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Glutathione in Combating the Cryoinjuries During Cryopreservation of Exotic Jack Semen.

The present study was designed to study the adverse effects of cryopreservation and evaluation of the cryoprotective effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation on exotic jack semen in combination or alone. For this, 24 semen samples from four adult and fertile jacks were collected via artificial vagina using an estrus jenny as dummy. After semen collection, the semen was evaluated for various qualitative and quantitative parameters in fresh, cooled, and frozen-thawed semen. The semen pellet was extended with the freezing extender containing either AA (0.9 g/L), GSH (2.5 mM), or combination of both (AA 0.9 g/L + GSH 2.5 mM), and another aliquot was kept as control without adding the antioxidants. The jack semen underwent cryodamage, which was evident by the observation of significant (P < .05) decline in the seminal quantitative parameters at various stages of cryopreservation process. Prefreeze and postthaw semen evaluation revealed that the values of plasma membrane, acrosome integrity, and chromatin integrity were found to be significantly higher (P < .01) in the group of samples supplemented with the combination (0.9 g/L AA +2.5 mM GSH) than AA- and GSH-alone or control groups. Supplementation of antioxidants to the freezing extender improved jack prefreeze and postthaw semen quality with the superiority of GSH over AA alone. From the present study, it was inferred that, exotic jack spermatozoa are susceptible to injuries because of cryopreservation, but these cryo-induced damage can be ameliorated significantly (P < .05) with the use of antioxidants and contribute to the improvement of semen cryopreservation procedures.

Chronic Exposure to Chewing Tobacco Induces Metabolic Reprogramming and Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties in Esophageal Epithelial Cells.

Tobacco in its smoke and smokeless form are major risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, molecular alterations associated with smokeless tobacco exposure are poorly understood. In the Indian subcontinent, tobacco is predominantly consumed in chewing form. An understanding of molecular alterations associated with chewing tobacco exposure is vital for identifying molecular markers and potential targets. We developed an in vitro cellular model by exposing non-transformed esophageal epithelial cells to chewing tobacco over an eight-month period. Chronic exposure to chewing tobacco led to increase in cell proliferation, invasive ability and anchorage independent growth, indicating cell transformation. Molecular alterations associated with chewing tobacco exposure were characterized by carrying out exome sequencing and quantitative proteomic profiling of parental cells and chewing tobacco exposed cells. Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed increased expression of cancer stem cell markers in tobacco treated cells. In addition, tobacco exposed cells showed the Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) phenotype with decreased expression of enzymes associated with glycolytic pathway and increased expression of a large number of mitochondrial proteins involved in electron transport chain as well as enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Electron micrographs revealed increase in number and size of mitochondria. Based on these observations, we propose that chronic exposure of esophageal epithelial cells to tobacco leads to cancer stem cell-like phenotype. These cells show the characteristic OXPHOS phenotype, which can be potentially targeted as a therapeutic strategy.

Dexmedetomidine as an Additive to Local Anesthesia: A Step to Development in Dentistry.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to compare the effect of dexmedetomidine added to lidocaine against epinephrine added to lidocaine on local anesthetic potency and to look for future prospects of dexmedetomidine as an additive to local anesthesia in dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 25 healthy volunteers in whom extraction of all first premolars was scheduled as part of their orthodontic treatment plan. In this split-mouth, double-blind, crossover, randomized controlled trial, patients were randomized into 2 groups: Group 1 received injection lidocaine plus dexmedetomidine, and group 2 was administered lidocaine plus epinephrine. Patients were assessed for the onset of action of anesthesia, duration of analgesia, pain perception, and vital signs. RESULTS: The mean values (±standard deviations) for the onset of anesthetic action in groups 1 and 2 were 113 ± 24.9 and 141 ± 34.8 seconds, respectively, for the mandible. For the maxilla, the mean values were 113 ± 24.9 seconds for group 1 and 165 ± 43.8 seconds for group 2. The duration of anesthesia was longer in group 1 (lidocaine plus dexmedetomidine), in which the requirement for the first analgesic on request was seen after a longer time interval, when compared with group 2 (lidocaine plus epinephrine). Pain perception elicited statistically significant results with less perception of pain in group 1 (lidocaine plus dexmedetomidine). The vital parameters remained stable, and the results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that the addition of dexmedetomidine to lidocaine for maxillary and mandibular nerve blocks significantly prolonged the block duration and shortened the onset of action, as well as improved postoperative analgesia in terms of the need for fewer analgesics in the postoperative period. Furthermore, the vital parameters remained stable and no complications were encountered. The findings were supportive of the use of dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to local anesthetics in dental procedures.

Biomedical Applications of Lumazine Synthase.

Lumazine synthase (LS) is a family of enzyme involved in the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of riboflavin. Its enzymatic mechanism has been well defined, and many LS structures have been solved using X-ray crystallography or cryoelectron microscopy. LS is composed of homooligomers, which vary in size and subunit number, including pentamers, decamers, and icosahedral sixty-mers, depending on its species of origin. Research on LS has expanded beyond the initial focus on its enzymatic function to properties related to its oligomeric structure and exceptional conformational stability. These attributes of LS systems have now been repurposed for use in various biomedical fields. This review primarily focuses on the applications of LS as a flexible vaccine presentation system. Presentation of antigens on the surface of LS results in a high local concentration of antigens displayed in an ordered array. Such repetitive structures enable the cross-linking of B-cell receptors and result in strong immune responses through an avidity effect. Potential issues with the use of this system and corresponding solutions are also discussed with the objective of improved utilization of the LS system in vaccine development.

Phytochemicals As Uropathognic Escherichia Coli FimH Antagonist: In Vitro And In Silico Approach.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The UPEC initiate pathogenesis by expressing type 1 pili, which attach to membrane receptors on the uroepithelial cells. Inhibition of attachment can provide a valuable target for prophylaxis in symptom-free milieu. METHODS: The antibacterial efficacy of alcoholic, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of four plants namely Achyranthes aspera, Andrographis paniculata, Artemissia vulgaris and Glycyrrhiza glabra was evaluated against seven isolated bacterial strains and procured E. coli (UTI89/UPEC) strain. Screening of isolated strains was based on morphological characteristics and biofilm forming ability followed by physiological and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: The hydroalcoholic extracts of G. glabra at 50 µg/ml showed an impending antioxidant (DPPH) effect of 95.65% compared to ascorbic acid. The MIC values of all the plant extracts against selected bacterial strains ranged between 125 to 1000 µg/ml. In silico molecular docking performed to make out the antiadhesive role of 115 documented phytochemicals from selected plants identified quercetin-3-glucoside, ethyl caffeate, liquiritoside, liquiritin and isoliquiritigenin as potential phytochemicals. Molecular dynamics simulation performed by PTRAJ module of Amber11 package to monitor the stability of hydrogen bond showed that quercetin-3-glucoside and ethyl caffeate are potential phytochemicals as antiadhesive forming H-bonds with the FimH protein ligand. CONCLUSIONS: Aforesaid phytochemicals demonstrate effective antibacterial activity through the anti-adhesion mechanism.

Kafirin adsorption on ion-exchange resins: isotherm and kinetic studies.

Kafirin is a natural, hydrophobic and celiac safe prolamin protein obtained from sorghum seeds. Today kafirin is found to be useful in designing delayed delivery systems and coatings of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals where its purity is important and this can be obtained by adsorptive chromatography. This study is the first scientific insight into the isotherm and kinetic studies of kafirin adsorption on anion- and cation-exchange resins for practical applications in preparative scale chromatography. Adsorption isotherms of kafirin were determined for five anion- and two cation-exchange resins in batch systems. Isotherm parameters such as maximum binding capacity and dissociation constant were determined from Langmuir isotherm, and adsorptive capacity and affinity constant from Freundlich isotherm. Langmuir isotherm was found to fit the adsorption equilibrium data well. Batch uptake kinetics for kafirin adsorption on these resins was also carried out and critical parameters including the diffusion coefficient, film mass transfer coefficient, and Biot number for film-pore diffusion model were calculated. Both the isotherm and the kinetic parameters were considered for selection of appropriate resin for kafirin purification. UNOsphere Q (78.26 mg/ml) and Toyopearl SP-650M (57.4 mg/ml) were found to offer better kafirin binding capacities and interaction strength with excellent uptake kinetics under moderate operating conditions. With these adsorbents, film diffusion resistance was found to be major governing factor for adsorption (Bi<10 and δ<1). Based on designer objective function, UNOsphere Q was found be best adsorbent for binding of kafirin. The data presented is valuable for designing large scale preparative adsorptive chromatographic kafirin purification systems.

Cystic fibrosis presenting with bilateral facial palsy.

A 15-week old male infant presented with bilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy of unknown cause. Subsequently his growth deteriorated and he developed progressively worsening cough and wheeze. A diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was confirmed and hypovitaminosis A detected. Improvement of the facial palsy was noted following standard management of cystic fibrosis including vitamin A supplementation.