Immune components (IgA, IgM, IgG, immune cells) of colostrum of Bangladeshi mothers.

BACKGROUND: Colostrum is the first defense for neonates. It is rich in immune components including immunoglobulins and viable immune cells. In the present study, human colostrum collected from 105 postpartum mothers was analyzed for its IgA, IgM, IgG levels, and peripheral immune cells. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the serum immunoglobulin concentrations. Immune cells were estimated by counting 200 cells. RESULTS: IgA was the dominant immunoglobulin and ranged from 2.84 to 8.69 g/L (mean 5.61 g/L). Mean IgM and IgG concentrations were 0.4 g/L (0.16-0.66 g/L) and 0.095 g/L (0.04-0.15 g/L), respectively. Neutrophil-macrophage (neu-mac) predominated in cell count (59%) followed by lymphocyte-plasma cells (lymph-plasma; 40%). The influence of maternal nutritional status, age, parity and income levels on the colostral immunological factors was studied. No significant association could be traced for immunoglobulin content, suggesting that maternal characteristics do not have any bearing on the immunoglobulin content of colostrum. Mean value of eosinophils was found to be higher among the underweight than the normal mothers (F= 3.143, r=-0.101). Maternal age was positively correlated with eosinophil (F= 3.296, r= 0.162). Concentration of neu-mac had a positive significant correlation with parity (t=-2.07, r= 0.205), while it was negatively significant for lymphocyte-plasma cells (t= 2.073, r=-0.101). However, the correlation coefficients of the immunologic parameters with other maternal characteristics were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Colostrum has enough humoral and cellular elements to protect babies. Therefore, immune protection derived from breastfeeding depends on the immunoglobulin level of the colostrum as well as the amount of colostrum ingested.

Cytotoxic diterpenes from Scoparia dulcis.

Four new labdane-derived diterpenes, iso-dulcinol (1), 4-epi-scopadulcic acid B (2), dulcidiol (4), and scopanolal (5), together with two known diterpenes, dulcinol/scopadulciol (3) and scopadiol (6), were isolated from the aerial parts of Scoparia dulcis. The structures were determined by extensive NMR studies. The crude extracts as well as the pure diterpenes showed cytotoxicity against a panel of six human stomach cancer cell lines.

Screening of eight alkaloids and ten flavonoids isolated from four species of the genus Boronia (Rutaceae) for antimicrobial activities against seventeen clinical microbial strains.

Eight alkaloids and ten flavonoids isolated from four species of Boronia of the Rutaceae were screened against 17 clinical microbial strains. Of the test compounds, three acridone and one quinolone alkaloids and eight flavonoids were reported as novel natural products. Screening was carried out by the standard disc diffusion method. Of the tested compounds, six alkaloids and seven flavonoids including the novel products were active against six clinical strains. The active compounds showed mild to moderate activities against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Sarcina lutea, exterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella sp. Of the active flavonoids, some exhibited fairly significant activity towards Staphylococcus aureus, Sarcina lutea, Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella sp. The flavonoids were observed to have higher spectrum and magnitude of activity than those of the alkaloids. A standard ampicillin disc was used to compare the results.

Constituents and cytotoxicity of Zanthoxylum rhesta stem bark.

3,5-Dimethoxy-4-geranyloxycinnamyl alcohol (1), 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine (2), xanthyletin and sesamin have been isolated from petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhesta. The petroleum ether extract and 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine showed cytotoxicity on brine shrimp nauplii.