Potential of the plant Thespesia populnea in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

CONTEXT: Thespesia populnea Sol. ex Correa (Malvaceae), an indigenous tree species in India, is of interest to researchers because traditionally its heartwood is used in the treatment of ulcer and colic pain. OBJECTIVE: To validate its folk use in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were administered intrarectal DNBS and then treated with different plant extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg), 30 min before and 24 and 48 h after DNBS infusion. Colonic mucosal injury was assessed by macroscopic and histological examination. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), protease, and hemoglobin (Hb) contents were measured in tissue and blood samples. RESULTS: Administration of various extracts ameliorated macroscopic and microscopic scores which were altered due to DNBS treatment in mice. Hb concentration in blood was restored significantly by the aqueous extract to 17.20 ± 0.5, which was reduced to 13.80 ± 0.5 after treatment with DNBS. MDA level was increased to 10.82 nm/mg and 10.25 nm/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, due to DNBS treatment which was reduced to 2.69 nm/mg and 3.59 nm/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, by aqueous extract treatment. Similarly, MPO level was increased to 412 U/mg and 404 U/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, which was significantly reduced to 205 U/mg and 219 U/ml in tissue and blood, respectively, by aqueous extract treatment. Aqueous extract significantly reduced protease activity which was markedly increased in DNBS-treated animals. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Aqueous extract of heartwood of T. populnea is effective in the treatment of UC.

Antinociceptive activity of Sesbania sesban (Linn) wood extracts, a preliminary study.

The wood of the plant Sesbania sesban, is reported to have antinociceptive activity. To validate its folk use in the treatment of pain, wood was extracted successively with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water to produce respective extracts. The extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg, ip) were screened for antinociceptive activity using hot plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant and dose-dependent activity in both the tests. In order to find out the involvement of opioid receptors, effect of naloxone (1 mg/kg, sc) on the action of extracts was checked in hot plate test. Petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant and dose dependant antinociceptive activity. The antinociceptive action of the extracts was blocked by naloxone, suggesting involvement of opioid receptors in the action.

Influence of stabilizers on quality of sandesh from buffalo milk.

Buffalo milk standardized to solids-not-fat (SNF) to fat ratio of 1.4 was added separately with 0.1% (w/w) each of carrageenan, sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose and then heated, cooled and coagulated to obtain chhana which was converted into sandesh by adding 1.5% (w/w) wheat flour and 25% (w/w) cane sugar followed by heating (40 min/kg chhana). The treated samples of sandesh were compared with control prepared similarly manner but without stabilizer. Addition of stabilizer decreased hardness, fracturability, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness of sandesh and improved sensory body and texture, colour and appearance as well as overall acceptability of the product when compared with control. Textural and sensory properties of different samples of sandesh indicated that the product made by adding carrageenan proved best. Carrageenan at 0.1% produced better results in terms of textural and sensory profile of sandesh as compared to 0, 0.075 and 0.125% (w/w) of carrageenan.

Report: quantitative estimation of beta-sitosterol, lupeol, quercetin and quercetin glycosides from leaflets of Soymida febrifuga using HPTLC technique.

Soymida febrifuga (Meliaceae) dried leaflets (10 gm) were extracted with petroleum ether. Unsaponifiable matter quantitatively used for sample preparation, labeled as SF-U. Another 10 gm leaflet powder was extracted with methanol and quantitatively used for sample preparation labeled as SF-A. Sample and standard solution were dosage on three different plates and developed in its respective mobile phase plates were scanned using TLC scanner III and estimated using integration software CATs 4.05. Calculations for percentage were done considering standard and sample R(f), AUC and dilution factor. Estimation of beta Sitosterol, Lupeol, Quercetin, Quercetin-3-O-galactoside, Quercetin-3-O-xyloside and Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside were determined as 0.02146% w/w, 0.0377% w/w, 0.4079% w/w, 0.6197% w/w, 2.974% w/w and 3.235% w/w respectively with the help of HPLC techniques.

Anxiolytic and antiemetic activity of Zingiber officinale.

The benzene fraction (BF) of a petroleum ether extract of dried rhizomes of ginger, which contained anticonvulsant principle(s), was screened for anxiolytic and antiemetic activity. Motor coordination was not affected by BF per se, but diazepam-induced motor incoordination was potentiated. Animals treated with BF showed decreased occupancy in the closed arm of the elevated plus maze suggesting the presence of anxiolytic principles in the BF. BF also blocked lithium sulphate-induced conditioned place aversion indicating antiemetic activity. These findings suggest that the fraction (BF) possesses anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and antiemetic activity.

Antimicrobial activity of extracts of Terminalia catappa root.

The effect against bacteria of petroleum ether (60-80 degrees C), chloroform and methanolic extract of dried root of Terminalia catappa Linn. (combrataceae) was employed by cup plate agar diffusion method. The chloroform extract showed prominent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli as compared to other tested microorganisms, while petroleum ether extract was devoid of antimicrobial activity. The methanolic: extract exhibited MIC of 0.065 mg/ml against E. coli. and chloroform extract exhibited MIC of 0.4 mg/ml against S. aureus The chloroform has well as methanolic extracts showed good antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms.

Nootropic and anxiolytic activity of saponins of Albizzia lebbeck leaves.

The effect of saponin containing, n-butanolic fraction (BF), extracted from dried leaves of Albizzia lebbeck, was studied on cognitive behavior and anxiety in albino mice. The elevated plus maze was used for assessment of both nootropic and anxiolytic activity. The nootropic activity was evaluated by recording the effect of BF (0, 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) on the transfer latency, whereas anxiolytic activity was assessed by studying its effect on the duration of occupancy in the closed arm. Results showed significant improvement in the retention ability of the normal and amnesic mice as compared to their respective controls. Animals treated with BF (25 mg/kg) spent more time in the open arm in a dose-dependent manner. The BF was without any significant effect on motor coordination. However, it significantly inhibited passivity and hypothermia induced by baclofen (10 mg/kg), a GABA(B) agonist. The data emanated in the present study suggests involvement of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the nootropic and anxiolytic activity of saponins obtained from A. lebbeck.

Anti - Inflammatory and analgesic Activity of Anacardium Occidentale Leaf Extracts.

The extracts of the dried leaves of Anacardium occidentale  were screened for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan induced rat paw edema model. The petroleum ether and chloroform extract and acetone soluble fraction of methanolic extract showed 57.14%, 47.61% and 61.90% inhibition of paw edema respectively. Acetone soluble extract showed better activity than petroleum either and chloroform extracts.

Characterisation and identification of broad spectrum antibiotic producing Streptomyces hygroscopicus D 1.5.

A streptomycete strain D1.5 capable of producing broad spectrum antiobiotic was isolated from soil. The morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical characters were studied, compared to known species and identified as Streptmoyces hygroscopicus. Antibiotic activity of the strain was tested against both Gram positive and negative bacteria as well as fungi. It exhibited complete resistance to beta-lactum antibiotics.

Nutrient optimization for production of broad spectrum antibiotic by Streptomyces antibioticus SR15.4.

Antibiotic production by Streptomyces antibioticus Sr15.4 was studied under various cultural conditions. During nutrient optimization it was found that the strain utilized glycerol as the best source of carbon at 1.044 molar level, and 0.020 molar arginine as the best source of nitrogen. The strain exhibited significant enhancement in antibiotic production when grown at pH 6.8.

Multi-drug resistant typhoid fever in hospitalised children. Clinical, bacteriological and epidemiological profiles.

A total of 592 children with clinical diagnosis of typhoid fever admitted to the Dr B. C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children, Calcutta, India during the period between February 1990 and January 1992, were screened for Salmonella typhi by blood culture. S. typhi was isolated from 221 (37.3%) cases. The majority of the strains (92.3%) showed multi-drug resistant (MDR). They were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. However, all the strains were uniformly (100%) susceptible to gentamicin, amikacin, furazolidone, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the antimicrobial agents against the resistant strains of S. typhi ranged between 200 and > 1600 micrograms/ml. Phage type 0 was most frequently encountered. The rate of isolation of S. typhi was more or less the same in all the pediatric age groups. The majority of the cases came from lower socio-economic classes with poor personal hygiene. Fever was the main presenting feature in all the cases. Other associated features of the MDR typhoid fever cases, who were uncomplicated during admission, were headache (36.0%), chill and rigor (23.2%), diarrhea (37.2%), anorexia (26.2%), vomiting (23.8%), cough (18.0%) and abdominal pain (19.8%). Hepatosplenomegaly was present in 42.4% cases. However, complications were less frequently encountered among the MDR typhoid fever cases who were uncomplicated during admission and treated as in-patients. Fourteen bacteriologically-confirmed MDR typhoid fever cases had jaundice and another 18 cases had an abnormal state of consciousness during admission. Four (2.0%) bacteriologically-confirmed MDR typhoid fever patients died during the period of observation.

Alpha-amylase production in lactose medium by Bacillus circulans ACB.

Alpha-amylase production by Bacillus circulans ACB was studied in various cultural conditions. During nutrient optimisation, it was found that 2% lactose can be utilized by the strain as source of carbon providing better growth and enzyme yields than starch. Ammonium sulfate of the basal medium can be replaced by ammonium nitrate for better growth and alpha-amylase activity. The strain demonstrated significant enhancement in alpha-amylase production when grown at pH 6.6.

New phage typing scheme for Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor strains.

The conventional phage typing scheme proposed by S. Basu and S. Mukerjee (Experientia 24:299-300, 1968) has been used routinely for identification of the strains at the Vibrio Phage Reference Laboratory since 1968. However, because of limitations of this scheme, a new phage typing scheme using five newly isolated phages was incorporated into the conventional scheme. A different definition of routine test dilution (almost confluent lysis) was found to be more useful than the one previously used (confluent lysis). The 1,000 strains tested could be clustered into 27 types with the five new phages. With the new scheme of 10 phages (5 new phages and 5 phages of Basu and Mukerjee), the 1,000 strains could be grouped into 146 types. The new phages were different from each other and also from those of Basu and Mukerjee, as revealed by lytic pattern, electron microscopy, restriction endonuclease digestion, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and antiphage antiserum studies. With the new typing scheme, 99.6% of the strains were typeable. Phage type 115 was the most common and includes 119 (11.9%) of the 1,000 strains tested. Next most common were phage types 142 (9.4%), 143 (7.0%), 104 and 116 (both 5.4%), 3 (5.3%), 5 (4.1%), 4 (3.9%), 24 (2.1%), and 100 (1.7%). The larger number of types would be useful for further classification of the strains for epidemiological purposes. This newly developed scheme is highly applicable to, and could be widely adopted for, phage typing of Vibrio cholerae O1 biotype El Tor strains.

Value of a single Widal test in the diagnosis of typhoid fever.

Results of a single Widal test in patients with bacteriologically confirmed typhoid fever (116), clinically suggestive but culture negative fever (170) and non-typhoidal febrile illness (98) and in normal control children (54) were analysed. Positive Widal test (antibody titre against S. typhi O antigen of 1:160) was recorded in 61.2 per cent of patients with bacteriologically confirmed typhoid fever and in 58.8 per cent with culture negative but clinically suggestive typhoid fever. In contrast, the same titre was observed in 10.2 per cent patients with other febrile illnesses of known etiology and in 1.8 per cent of normal children. Differences in the positivity of Widal test in patients with bacteriologically confirmed typhoid fever and clinically suggestive but culture negative fever were highly significant (P < 0.000001) when compared to that of patients with non-typhoidal febrile illnesses and normal controls. High specificity and positive predictive value in 1:160 dilution makes the Widal test acceptable as a diagnostic tool.

Significance of Cryptosporidium as an aetiologic agent of acute diarrhoea in Calcutta: a hospital based study.

The significance of Cryptosporidium as a causative agent of acute diarrhoea has been assessed in a year long hospital based study. A significantly higher detection of Cryptosporidium (P < 0.01) was observed in cases as compared to controls. Cryptosporidium was detected alone from 3% of acute diarrhoeal patients and from 5.5% in combination with other enteric pathogens. However, only 1.1% of control subjects were positive for Cryptosporidium. The highest detection rate of Cryptosporidium oocysts was in the first two years of life, in both cases and controls. No sex specific predilection for Cryptosporidium was observed in either the cases or controls.

Biochemical and immunological studies on soluble antigens of Entamoeba histolytica.

The soluble antigens of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites were analysed in detail by biochemical and immunochemical methods. The antigen was highly complex and heterogeneous as revealed by Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography, which showed four distinct fractions. The molecular mass of fractions FI, FII, FIII and FIV was 660, 170, 65 and 13 kDa, respectively. Protein was the major constituent in crude soluble antigen (CSA) and fractions FI and FII (67%, 80% and 90%, respectively). Polysaccharide was predominant in the FIII fraction (59%). Antigenic activity observed after different physico-chemical treatments revealed that CSA and FI antigens were predominantly glycoprotein in nature. However, the antigenicity of FIII antigen was greatly reduced after sodium meta-periodate treatment, whereas no alteration in reactivity was discerned after trypsin treatment. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacryl-amide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis demonstrated nearly 28 Coomassie blue bands for CSA and 20, 16, 15 and 3 polypeptide bands for the FI, FII, FIII and FIV fractions, respectively. The molecular mass of the polypeptides of these bands ranged from 210 to 20 kDa. Antigenic activity was observed in CSA and in the first three fractions, both in counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) and in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, the highest antigenic activity was noted in fraction FI. Major immunoreactive polypeptides of CSA and FI antigens against whole trophozoite antibody were observed in the 10- to 170-kDa regions. However, major differences in the immunoreactivity of the two antigens were noted at 116 and 14 kDa for FI antigen and at 84, 30 and 20 kDa for CSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of admission weight on neonatal mortality amongst hospitalised neonates in Calcutta.

The study was conducted on 785 neonates aged up to 28 days to evaluate the influence of admission weight on mortality. It was observed that there were 200 (25.5%) cases of septicaemia, 134(17.1%) of diarrhoea, 120(15.3%) each of prematurity related conditions and neonatal jaundice, 117(14.9%) of respiratory diseases and 94 (11.9%) cases of convulsion. There were total 182(23.18%) deaths comprising 70(38.5%) from prematurity related conditions, 40(22%) from diarrhoea, 35(19.2%) from respiratory diseases, 26(14.3%) from septicaemia, 8(4.4%) from neonatal jaundice and 3(1.6%) deaths from convulsion. The incidence of deaths among neonates weighing less than 2500 g on admission was 59.2% in diarrhoeal diseases, 53.4% in respiratory diseases and 44.6% in other conditions compared to those of 10%, 8.2% and 7.1% respectively in neonates having admission weight more than 2500 g. The findings are statistically significant. The results of the study indicate that low admission weight should be considered as a predictor of mortality among neonates.

Prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases amongst tribals of Car Nicobar Island, India.

In a cross sectional study of total 14514 tribal Nicobarese people of Car Nicobar Island, an union territory of India, situated in Bay of Bengal, morbidity, mortality and treatment practices of diarrhoeal diseases of under-five children were surveyed. The incidence of diarrhoea (0.2 episode/ch.year), Crude death rate (3.6/1000) and IMR (31/1000 live births) were exceedingly low as compared to SouthEast Asian Countries including mainland of India. ORS utilisation rate was high (41%) as compared to the National figure (12.0%). This is the first study of it's kind carried out in this island and amongst the Nicobarese tribe in India. A preliminary study carried out among the mothers of the hospitalised children indicated that protective behaviours like breast feeding, hand washing, use of chlorinated water and proper disposal of stool were regularly being practiced by the community traditionally. An in-depth study on risk factors of diarrhoea in this island can yield useful clue for describing the same.

Efficacy of norfloxacin for shigellosis: a double-blind randomised clinical trial.

In a double-blind, randomised, clinical trial on 122 adults with acute Shigella dysentery, 60 patients were treated with norfloxacin and 62 with nalidixic acid. Of these, 32 patients in the norfloxacin group and 28 patients in the nalidixic acid group had Shigella in their stool. Patients of the two treatment groups were clinically comparable on admission. No significant differences in clinical responses were observed in the two groups among the Shigella-positive cases, Shigella-negative cases and among the total cases. All isolates of Shigella were susceptible to norfloxacin, whereas 13.8% of the strains were resistant to nalidixic acid.