Evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of hydromethanol extract of Cocos nucifera L.

Cocos nucifera L. (family: arecaceae) is generally straight unbranched plant, traditionally cultivated for its fruit (coconut) in home gardens. In the present study, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive (analgesic) activity of hydromethanol extract of Cocos nucifera L. (HECN) was evaluated in animal models. HECN showed significant (p < 0.05) and dosedependent anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw oedema models of inflammation and the result was comparable with the standard drug diclofenac. In addition, the extract also showed highly significant (p < 0.01) antinociceptive activity. HECN treated group showed increase in the reaction time in hot plate method and decrease the writhing induced by acetic acid in mice when compared with control group animal. The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity observed in the present study could be attributed largely to the presence of its antioxidant phytoconstituents such as flavonoid, saponin and polyphenols.

Evaluation of antipyretic potential of Vernonia cinerea extract in rats.

The methanol extract of the whole plant of Vernonia cinerea (MEVC) was evaluated for its antipyretic potential on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. MEVC significantly reduced the normal body temperature at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight p.o. MEVC also lowered the elevated body temperature in the case of yeast-induced pyrexia in a dose dependent manner. The antipyretic effect of the extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg was identical to that of the standard drug paracetamol.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Vernonia cinerea Less. extract in rats.

The methanol extract of the whole plant of Vernonia cinerea Less. was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity in acute (carrageenin, histamine and serotonin induced rat paw edema) and a chronic model (cotton pouch induced granuloma). The methanol extract (250 and 500 mg/kg(-1) p.o.) exhibited significant activity (p < 0.001) against all phlogistic agents used in a dose dependant manner. In the chronic model (cotton pouch granuloma method) the methanol extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity. All these effects were compared with standard drug phenylbutazone (100 mg/kg(-1) p.o.).

Antibacterial activity of Vernonia cinerea.

The benzene extract of Vernonia cinerea showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial activity of Terminalia pallida.

The methanol extract of the dried fruit powder of Terminalia pallida was evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The methanol extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.

Serological study of human toxoplasmosis in Calcutta.

A total of 248 randomly selected subjects from urban, semiurban and rural areas of Calcutta was studied serologically for the prevalence of antibody to Toxoplasma gondii using latex agglutination technique. Fifty-nine (23.79%) out of these 248 subjects were found to possess anti-toxoplasma antibody. Seropositivity was found to be higher in females (25%) as compared to males (22.32%). Agewise highest positivity (30.5%) for toxoplasma antibody was observed in the third decade and lowest in the first decade of life, though all the age groups were involved by this protozoal infection. Sexwise distribution of anti-toxoplasma antibody showed highest positivity rate in the third decade in males and in the fourth decade in females. Twenty-five per cent of the subjects had history of contact with cat and/or soil and most of the subjects belonged to the middle and low income groups.

N-Phenyl-N'-acetylthiourea-a specific reagent for photometric determination of ruthenium.

N-Phenyl-N'-acetylthiourea is recommended as a specific chelating agent for the spectrophotometric determination of ruthenium. The blue complex formed in 5-8M hydrochloroic acid is not extractable into common organic solvents but is soluble in 30% ethanol solution. The colour is stable for up to 48 hr and Beer's law is obeyed at 650 nm over the metal concentration range 2-18 mug/ml. The molar absorptivity is 4.7 x 10(3) l.mole(-1). cm(-1).

Intra-H-2 recombination inH-2(b)/H-2 (t1) heterozygotes in the mouse : II. Characterization of recombinant haplotypesat2, at3, andat4.

Four cases of intra-H-2 recombination were detected during serological screening of 1066 backcross animals produced fromH-2(b)/H-2(t1) heterozygous mice. Three of the intra-H-2 recombinants received theK region fromH-2(t1) and theD region from theH-2(b) parental chromosome. The remaining recombinant received theK region from theH-2(b) parental chromosome and theD region fromH-2(t1). Three of the four recombinants have been developed into inbred lines TBR2, TBR3, and TBR4 and were assigned the haplotype designations at(2), at(3), and at(4). Ss typing revealed that TBR2 and TBR3 originated fromK- S interval crossover events, while the remaining two recombinants resulted from crossing over in theS- D interval.