Strong and nonspecific synergistic antibacterial/antibiofilm impact of nano-silver biosynthesized and decorated with active ingredients of Oscimum basilicum L.

In this study, Ocimum basilicum (a proven broad spectrum medicinal plant for broad-spectrum pharmacological activities) leaf extract was used as conjugates for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNP). Color change of the reaction mixture and UV-Visible spectrophotometry indicated the fabrication of silver nanoparticles, further X-ray diffraction (XRD) crystallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopic images (TEM), and Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) confirms the purity, monodispersity, and morphology including size (22.4 nm) and conjugated functional group of Ocimum basilicum. The conjugation of functional OH, N-O, and C=O groups was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The engineered AgNP have shown significantly efficient antibacterial and antibiofilm activities (92.7% biofilm inhibition) on diverse clinical strains and thus showed its potential for use in clinical applications.

Larvicidal & emergence inhibitory activities of NeemAzal T/S 1.2 per cent EC against vectors of malaria, filariasis & dengue.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Vector control, using agents of chemical origin, continues to be practiced in the control of vector borne diseases. However, due to some drawbacks including lack of selectivity, environmental contamination, and emergence and spread of vector resistance, development of natural products for vector control has been a priority in this area. In the present study we evaluated the larvicidal and emergence inhibitory activities of a neem based formulation Neem Azal T/S 1.2 per cent EC against the vectors of malaria, filariasis and dengue. METHODS: Larvicidal and emergence inhibition (EI) activity of a neem formulation, NeemAzal T/S 1.2 per cent EC, was studied in the laboratory respectively against early 4(th) and early 3(rd) instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti following standard procedures. RESULTS: Among the three vector species studied, An. stephensi was highly susceptible to NeemAzal T/S as revealed by the LC(50) and LC(90) values (1.92 and 2.76 ppm). The formulation produced an overall mortality or inhibition of emergence of 90 per cent (EI(90), when 3(rd) instar larvae were treated) at 0.046, 0.208 and 0.866 ppm in An. stephensi, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti, respectively. The corresponding EI(50) values were 0.006, 0.048 and 0.249 ppm. On treatment, NeemAzal T/S induced certain morphogenetic abnormalities, broadly characterized in five types, in larvae, pupae and adults of all the three vector species. The percentage of dead specimens of any stage showing morphogenetic abnormalities was the maximum in Cx. quinquefasciatus (14.4%; n=2113) followed by Ae. aegypti. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that because of its emergence inhibition activity, NeemAzal T/S 1.2 per cent EC could be a promising candidate for the use in integrated vector management programme and replace chemical insecticides.

Umbilical cord blood nutrients in low birth weight babies in relation to birth weight & gestational age.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Low birth weight (LBW) babies are a vulnerable group and represent two outcomes--preterm birth (preterm LBW) and term with intrauterine growth retardation (term LBW). LBW babies are considered to have low nutrient reserve, but the extent of deficiency as compared to the normal babies and the differences between preterm LBW and term LBW are unclear. This study was carried out to look at key anthropometric, biochemical and clinical (ABC) parameters of LBW babies, both preterm and term, in comparison to a control group of term normal weight babies. METHODS: A group of 500 babies was selected at birth from a tertiary care teaching hospital and categorized into LBW (n = 251) with preterm LBW (n = 59), term LBW (n = 192) and term controls (n = 249). Two controls were dropped as tests could not be performed in the available cord blood sample. Key anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. Socio-economic status, age, parity, height and pre-delivery haemoglobin of the mothers were also recorded. RESULTS: The maternal characteristics were comparable in the three groups. Socio-economically, majority of them belonged to lower middle or upper lower class (Class III and IV) representing the non affluent. All the anthropometric measurements and nutrients measured namely total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron were significantly lower in LBW babies compared to term control babies. These values were lowest in preterm LBW followed by term LBW. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) showed inverse association with iron. Some of the babies including control babies had protein, albumin, calcium and iron below the normal range and mean albumin, calcium and iron levels were below the normal range in all the three subsets. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Preterm and term LBW babies are born with significantly lower nutrient reserves at birth compared to term control babies. Normal weight babies from the non affluent sections also have low nutrients especially albumin, calcium and iron. As these levels are liable to be further lowered by recurrent infections and inappropriate feeding habits, nutritional surveillance, extra feeding and supplements like calcium and iron are recommended for such vulnerable babies to promote optimum growth and to prevent deficiencies. This is important as currently, there are no clear or uniform recommendations for extra feeding and nutrient supplements to LBW babies and no supplements other than exclusive breast feeding are recommended for term normal birth weight babies. Extra nutritional inputs for LBW and selected non affluent babies along with care of the prospective and prenatal mothers for ensuring adequate transfer of nutrients to the offspring seem necessary. Such interventions can be integrated with the existing health care programmes to reach all the beneficiaries.

In vitro antibacterial activity of Psidium guajava Linn. leaf extract on clinical isolates of multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In the present study, antibacterial activity of aqueous and organic extracts of Psidium guajava leaves was evaluated against multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus strains collected from hospitals in northern (Malabar region) Kerala. The strains which exhibited resistance against all the antibiotics tested was selected for antibacterial assays. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for methanolic and aqueous extracts was found to be 625 ug/ml and 7.5 mg/ml, respectively. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) recorded for methanolic and aqueous extracts was 1.25 and 12.5 mg/ml, respectively. Methanolic extract at minimum bactericidal concentration inhibited the growth of MDR strain by 80%. Time-kill assay revealed that methanolic extract (4 mg/ml) killed MDR bacteria within 10 hr. Total polypeptide profiling of bacterial cultures by SDS-PAGE indicated a high degree of protein degradative activity of the extract. Finally, a human RBC based haemolytic assay showed absence of haemolysis even at concentrations higher than that of MBC, advocating thereby its safety in therapeutic use.

Immunomodulatory effects of a polysaccharide from Tamarindus indica.

A polysaccharide isolated and purified from Tamarindus indica shows immunomodulatory activities such as phagocytic enhancement, leukocyte migration inhibition and inhibition of cell proliferation. These properties suggest that this polysaccharide from T. indica may have some biological applications.

An alternative pathogenetic pathway for oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF).

Oral submucous fibrosis is a potent pre-cancerous condition which occurs almost exclusively in Indians but cases have been reported from several countries. The definite aetiology of OSMF is still unknown and there is no known treatment for it. Chilles, tobacco use, vitamin deficiencies and betel quid chewing have been implicated. Ramanathan is of the view that OSMF seems to be the Asian version of sideropenic dysphagia. He suggests that OSMF appears to be an altered oral mucosa following prolonged period of chronic deficiency of iron and/or vitamin "B" complex especially folic acid. This changed state of the oral mucosa subsequently appears to develop more easily a hypersensitivity to oral irritants such as spices especially chillies and to the betel quid. We hold that the hypersensitivity caused by local irritants and the resultant persistent juxta epithelial inflammatory response noted in OSMF (in a host system already primed by an intrinsic genetic defect) act as the initiating factor leading to a defective inflammatory--reparative response, culminating in fibrotic healing. The role of iron and "B"complex together with others may be contributory (promotor) to this pre-existing pathologic response of the lamina propria.

Tissue binding patterns of lectins in premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity.

Lectins from the seeds of Jackfruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) and winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) were isolated using an immobilized N-acetyl D-galactosamine column and conjugated to type VI horse radish peroxidase. The purified conjugate was used for the study of tissue specificities using diaminobenzidine as the substrate on dewaxed tissue sections of normal, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, verucous carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. In spite of having a common inhibitory sugar, winged bean lectin did not bind to any lectins whereas Jackfruit lectin showed varying degrees of binding towards the above tissues. The difference in the nature and intensity of binding of the Jackfruit lectin suggest the utilizing this lectin in the differential diagnosis of the premalignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity.

Tissue staining properties of lectins from the seeds of the jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) and the winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus).

N-acetyl-D-galactosamine binding lectins from winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and jack fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia) were isolated, purified and conjugated with horse radish peroxidase and their tissue staining properties studied. Despite having an apparently common inhibiting sugar, the lectins showed differences in their staining properties. The lectin from the winged bean stained none of the mouse and human tissues tried even after neuraminidase treatment whereas the jack fruit lectin stained most of the untreated cells. The staining was found to be improved by the prior treatment of the cells with neuraminidase and inhibited completely by the inhibiting sugar. The differences in the staining properties of the lectins are discussed.