Acceleration of cutaneous wound healing by Lucilia sericata maggots in diabetic Wistar rats.

The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of maggot therapy in healing of cutaneous infected wound in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic Wistar rat. For live maggots, the sterilized eggs of Lucilia sericata were obtained from colonies established in laboratory. Diabetes model was established in 48 male Wister rat by intra-peritoneal injection of STZ at the dose of 60 mg/kg body-weight. Cutaneous wounds exposed with mixed colonies of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were prepared in all rat. The animals equally divided in 4 groups with 12 rats each being presented as treatment group of control, antibiotic, maggot and maggot with antibiotic in combination. All treatments were done once and hold for 24 hours. Wound kinetics and bacterial bio burden were measured at weekly interval to till complete healing. Significant reduction in wound area with maximum contraction was found (>95%) in maggot treated group when compared to antibiotic treated (79%) and control (72%). In maggot as well as maggot and antibiotic in combination group showed early elimination of bacterial bio-burden 7.88±0.03log CFU/ml to 1.12±0.65log CFU/ml and 7.86±0.04) log CFU/ml to 1.54±0.52log CFU/ml respectively in three weeks of time. Early healing indication was also experienced on histomorphological examination of wounded tissue of maggot treated groups by early and better epithelialization, collagenation and neovascularization with complete healing of wound in three weeks in comparison to antibiotic and control respectively. However, the present study did not show any difference in healing of wound with use of maggot alone or in antibiotic combination. Live maggot of Lucilia sericata effectively lower bacterial bioburden and and accelerate healing of infected cutaneous wound in diabetic conditions.

Acceleration of cutaneous wound healing by Lucilia sericata maggots in diabetic Wistar rats

@#The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of maggot therapy in healing of cutaneous infected wound in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic Wistar rat. For live maggots, the sterilized eggs of Lucilia sericata were obtained from colonies established in laboratory. Diabetes model was established in 48 male Wister rat by intra-peritoneal injection of STZ at the dose of 60 mg/kg body-weight. Cutaneous wounds exposed with mixed colonies of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were prepared in all rat. The animals equally divided in 4 groups with 12 rats each being presented as treatment group of control, antibiotic, maggot and maggot with antibiotic in combination. All treatments were done once and hold for 24 hours. Wound kinetics and bacterial bio burden were measured at weekly interval to till complete healing. Significant reduction in wound area with maximum contraction was found (>95%) in maggot treated group when compared to antibiotic treated (79%) and control (72%). In maggot as well as maggot and antibiotic in combination group showed early elimination of bacterial bio-burden 7.88±0.03log CFU/ml to 1.12±0.65log CFU/ml and 7.86±0.04) log CFU/ml to 1.54±0.52log CFU/ml respectively in three weeks of time. Early healing indication was also experienced on histomorphological examination of wounded tissue of maggot treated groups by early and better epithelialization, collagenation and neovascularization with complete healing of wound in three weeks in comparison to antibiotic and control respectively. However, the present study did not show any difference in healing of wound with use of maggot alone or in antibiotic combination. Live maggot of Lucilia sericata effectively lower bacterial bioburden and and accelerate healing of infected cutaneous wound in diabetic conditions.

Response of water deficit regime and soil amelioration on evapotranspiration loss and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays l.) in subtropical northeastern Himalayas.

Rainfed maize production in the hilly ecosystem of Northeastern Himalayas often suffers from moisture and soil acidity induced abiotic stresses. The present study measured evapotranspiration loss (ETc) of maize crop under controlled condition (pot experiment) of water deficit (W25-25 % and W50-50 % of field capacity soil moistures) and well watered (W100 = 100 % of field capacity (FC)) regimes in strong acid soils (pH = 4.3) of the Northeastern Himalayan Region of India. The response of soil ameliorants (lime) and phosphorus (P) nutrition under differential water regimes on ETc losses and water use efficiency was also studied. The measured seasonal ETc loss varied from 124.3 to 270.9 mm across treatment combinations. Imposition of water deficit stress resulted in significant (p < 0.05) reduction (by 33-50 %) of seasonal ETc losses but was at the cost of delay in tasseling to silking, 47-65 % reduction in dry matter accumulation (DMA), 12-22 days shortening of grain formation period, and complete kernel abortion. Liming @ 4 t ha-1 significantly (p < 0.05) increased ETc losses and DMA across water regimes but the magnitude of increase was higher in severely water deficit (W25) regime. Unlike lime, P nutrition improved DMA only in well-watered regimes (W100) while seasonal ETc loss was unaffected. Vegetative stage (tillering to tasseling) contributed the maximum ETc losses while weekly crop ETc loss was estimated highest during 11th-14th week after sowing (coincided with blistering stage) and then declined. Water use efficiency estimated from dry matter produced per unit ETc losses and irrigation water used varied from 4.33 to 9.43 g dry matter kg-1 water and 4.21 to 8.56 g dry matter kg-1, respectively. Among the input factors (water, P, and lime), water regime most strongly influenced the ETc loss, growth duration, grain formation, and water use efficiency of maize.

Antimicrobial activity of leaf extract of Basilicum polystachyon (L) Moench.

Phenolic extract of leaves of Basilicum polystachyon (L) Moench was tested for in vitro antimicrobial activity against five bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus leuteus) and three fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Helminthosporium oryzae). Efficacy of organic solvents, methanol and ethanol, as agents for extraction was compared with acidic water (2M; HCl). High-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) data showed that acidic extraction (2M; HCl) resulted in higher yield of caffeic acid (0.437 mg g(-1)) and rosmarinic acid (0.919 mg g(-1)). Acidic extract showed high activity against Gram (+) ve bacteria, but was less active against Gram (-) ve bacteria. Amongst the tested fungi, maximum activity was exhibited against Aspergillus niger. This is the first report on the phenolic constituents and bioactivity of B. polystachyon.

Studies on L-ascorbic acid metabolism in rats under chronic toxicity due to organophosphorus insecticides: effects of supplementation of L-ascorbic acid in high doses.

The effects of chronic administration of two organophosphorus insecticides, parathion and malathion on the growth rate, ascorbic acid metabolism and some other nutritional and physiological parameters in rats were studied. Both parathion and malathion toxicity retarded the growth rate of rats. Inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase was taken as an index of organophosphorus insecticide toxicity. Haemoglobin concentration of blood and organ weights were not affected under the toxic conditions. Parathion and malathion administration stimulated the activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase along with a simultaneous increase in the tissue storage and urinary excretion of vitamin C. The activities of other enzymes of ascorbic acid metabolism, dehydroascorbatase, uronolactonase, and L-gulonate dehydrogenase and decarboxylase were altered under the experimental conditions. Only minor histological changes of the liver and kidney tissues were noted under parathion and malathion toxicities. Excess intake of vitamin C under the toxic conditions was found to be very effective in counteracting the growth retardation and also the alterations produced by parathion and malathion both at the enzymatic and histological levels.

Biochemical studies on polychlorinated biphenyl toxicity in rats: manipulation by vitamin C.

The effects of chronic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compound toxicity on L-ascorbic acid metabolism in rats have been studied. PCB treatment brought about a depression in the activities of the enzymes L-gluonolactone oxidase and dehydroascorbatase along with an increased tissue levels and urinary excretion of L-ascorbic acid. PCB toxicity drastically disturbed the normal histological pattern of the liver cells and also significantly changed the hepatic lipid composition. L-ascorbic acid supplementation to the toxicated group of animals, although could not prevent the growth retardative effect of PCB, could afford a definite protection against the enzyme activity alterations and histological changes as caused by PCB toxicity.

Effects of chronic vanadium pentoxide administration on L-ascorbic acid metabolism in rats: influence of L-ascorbic acid supplementation.

1. Rats toxicated with vanadium pentoxide showed drastic retardation in growth rate and supplementation of L-ascorbic acid to these rats could not reverse this effect. The urinary excretion of L-ascorbic acid and D-glucuronic acid was decreased in the toxicated group of rats. 2. Considerable lowering of L-ascorbic acid content of the liver tissues of rats was observed under vanadium toxicated conditions. Supplementation of L-ascorbic acid to this group raised the tissue Vitamin C reserve considerably. 3. The normal histological patterns of the liver and kidney tissues of rats were severely disturbed under vanadium toxicated conditions. L-ascorbic acid supplementation to this group of rats showed marked signs of restoration in this respect. 4. Vanadium pentoxide treatment brought about a significant reduction in the biosynthetic capacity of L-ascorbic acid, along with an enhanced utilization of this vitamin. Subsequent supplementation of L-ascorbic acid to the toxicated group of rats was found to be effective in reversing these effects almost to the basal level.