Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by various ethnic tribes of Mizoram, India.

Mizoram has a diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups, including the Lushai, Mara, Lai, Bawm, Hmar, Chakma, and Bru. Through practice and experience in their protracted battles with disease and the harsh natural environment, they have amassed rich folk medicine knowledge. The preservation of indigenous knowledge, identification of bioactive compounds, and the eventual discovery of novel medicinal plant species all depend on the documentation of the traditional uses of medicinal plants. Therefore, the present study was designed to document the ethnomedicinal knowledge related to the usage of medicinal plants in Mizoram, India. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was carried out in 17 villages of 5 districts in Mizoram between September 2022 and January 2023. A total of 128 informants (77 males and 51 females) were interviewed. Information was gathered through field observations, group discussions, and semistructured interviews. The data were presented using descriptive statistics. To assess the importance of medicinal plant species, quantitative indices such as the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV), and cultural index (CI) was used. In our ethnobotanical investigation, 102 medicinal plant species from 95 genera and 58 families were recorded and documented. The majority of them (90 species) were obtained from wild habitats. The majority of the documented species were trees (48), followed by herbs (23 species) and shrubs (21 species). The most common method of preparation was decoction (67 species). Diabetes had the highest ICF value (0.81), followed by cancer, liver problems, and hypertension (0.8). The fidelity level (FL) of indigenous communities in the study area was evaluated to determine the dependability and consistency of herbal drug use. Indigenous knowledge and the variety of medicinal plant species that are used are of great values. The therapeutic applications of documented plants provide fundamental information for additional studies centered on pharmacological investigations and the preservation of the most significant species.

Hybrid-DFT study of halide perovskites, an energy-efficient material under compressive pressure for piezoelectric applications.

Recent studies have reported that lead-halide perovskites are the most efficient energy-harvesting materials. Regardless of their high-output energy and structural stability, lead-based products have risk factors due to their toxicity. Therefore, lead-free perovskites that offer green energy are the expected alternatives. We have taken CsGeX3(X = Cl, Br, and I) as lead-free halide perovskites despite knowing the low power conversion rate. Herein, we have tried to study the mechanisms of enhancement of energy-harvesting capabilities involving an interplay between structure and electronic properties. A density functional theory simulation of these materials shows a decrease in the band gaps, lattice parameters, and volumes with increasing applied pressure. We report the high piezoelectric responses and high electro-mechanical conversion rates, which are intriguing for generating electricity through mechanical stress.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the indigenous community of the western region of Mizoram, India.

BACKGROUND: Plants have long been utilized as traditional medicines by the inhabitants. However, until recently, the traditional knowledge had not been extensively documented from the hilly state of Mizoram, India. The present study was designed to perform a quantitative analysis of ethnomedicinal plants used by Mizo tribes using quantitative ethnobotanical indices. The study attempts to find new ethnomedicinal plant species that could be a source for the discovery of new drug formulations. METHODS: The information was obtained through extensive and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative indices such as informant consensus factor (ICF), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and relative importance index (RI) were used to quantify the advantages, significance, and coverage of ethnomedicine. All the collected data were analyzed using the ethnobotanyR package in R. RESULTS: A total of 124 ethnomedicinal plant species, distributed in 112 genera under 60 families, were documented from 206 informants. Herbs (49.19%) were the most dominant growth form, and leaves (49.19%) were the most common plant parts used for the preparation of herbal medicine while decoction (61.21%) was the most popular formulation. Asteraceae (11) were the most common families among the documented species. Digestive disease, burns, cuts, and wounds had the highest ICF value (0.94), and Lepionurus sylvestris had the highest FL (91%). Oroxylum indicum (6.25) was the most commonly utilized ethnomedicinal plant based on UV, RI had the highest value in Blumea lanceolaria (1.12), and O. indicum (0.29) had the highest RFC value. According to the findings, the traditional medicinal plant treatment is still widely used in the research area. CONCLUSION: Documentation of new ethnomedicinal species and their therapeutic usage will encourage further phytochemical and pharmacological research, potentially leading to the discovery of new drug formulations.

Tenofovir diphosphate in dried blood spots and HIV-1 resistance in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal antiretroviral (ART) adherence can lead to virologic failure with consequent HIV-1 resistance. Tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood spots (DBS) is a powerful biomarker of cumulative adherence, predictive of future viremia. It has been associated with resistance in Persons With HIV (PWH) in South Africa and the US. We explored the relationship of TFV-DP concentrations with antiretroviral drug resistance at the time of treatment failure in SA. METHODS: Adult PWH from health clinics in Cape Town, South Africa on efavirenz-based first-line ART containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with an undetectable (< 50 copies/mL) HIV-1 viral load (VL) were prospectively enrolled in an observational cohort for 12 months. Monthly study visits included blood collection for HIV-1 VL and DBS for TFV-DP. The first confirmed viral breakthrough (VB) > 400 copies/mL triggered HIV-1 genotyping at the subsequent visit. An electronic adherence (EA) device monitored ART adherence in real-time, estimated as a percent for the 30-days prior to VB. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare median [IQR] TFV-DP by genotype outcome. RESULTS: Of 250 individuals, (n = 195, 78% women), 21 experienced VB, with a median of 5 [4;7] months on study, and a median EA of 33.3 [13.3;53.3]%. Demographic characteristics between those with and without VB were similar. Median VL at VB was 4.0 [3.2;4.5] log copies/mL. TFV-DP concentrations trended down towards the VB visit. Median TFV-DP concentrations were significantly higher in those HIV-1 genotype did not amplify due to being virally suppressed at the subsequent visit (n = 10; 380 [227-661] fmol/punch, p = 0.035; EA 45 [24.9; 59.2]%); than in those who were successfully genotyped with evidence of drug resistance (n = 5, 241 [150-247] fmol/punch, EA 20 [6.7;36.7]%) and in individuals who did not have resistance (n = 3, 39.9 [16.6; 93.9] fmol/punch; EA 33.3 [16-38]%). Three genotype collections were not done. Only non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-associated mutations were identified on resistance testing. (K103N, E138K, Y118H). CONCLUSION: TFV-DP in DBS showed a step-wise inverse relationship with VB and drug resistance, with evidence of low cumulative ART adherence in PWH who developed antiretroviral resistance. Monitoring TFV-DP concentrations could be a valuable tool for predicting future VB and future resistance.

Bacterial diversity of a floating vegetation (Phumdi) of Loktak Lake and its extracellular enzymes and bacterial antagonistic property.

134 bacterial strains were isolated from phumdis of Loktak Lake. Through 16S rRNA sequencing, Bacillus sp. (23, 17.1%), Staphylococcus sp. (14, 10.4%), Pseudomonas sp. (11, 8.2%) and Acinetobacter sp. (8, 5.9%) were identified as the predominant bacterial taxa of Loktak Lake. B. pumulis (12, 8.9%), S. arlettae (4, 2.9%), P. knackmussii (6, 4.4%) are the leading species of Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, respectively. Similarly, A. seifertii (2, 1.4%) and A. calcoaceticus (2, 1.4%) are the common species of Acinetobacter. 75 (55.9%) bacterial strains showed the ability to hydrolyze one or more extracellular enzymes tested. Among the extracellular enzymes produced by the bacterial isolates, the presence of elastase activity cannot be underestimated, since the enzyme is involved in the process of bacterial lung infection. Phosphate solubilizing activity could be seen in 11.1% of the bacterial isolates. 27 (20.1%) of the strains shown to have antagonistic activity against one or more tested pathogens. An isolate, MRC 52 showed antagonistic activity against eleven different pathogens including carbapenem resistant E. coli which was further subjected to extraction and identification of the biomolecule exerting the antimicrobial property. Based on GC-MS analysis, the bioactive compound was identified as phenyl ethyl alcohol.

New insight into the pigmented rice of northeast India revealed high antioxidant and mineral compositions for better human health.

Northeast (NE) India possesses a rich diversity of rice cultivars including pigmented and non pigmented varieties. The pigmented rice is reported to possess a considerable amount of antioxidant compounds, free radical scavengers etc. In this study, eleven (black, red and white) rice cultivars of NE India were analyzed for antioxidant potentials, mineral and protein contents. Total phenolic content ranged from 94.8 (Idaw) to 900.90 mg GAE/100 g (Lumre). Total flavonoid content varied from 3.46 (Idaw) to 286.76 mg QE/100 g (Menil mibabaret). Total anthocyanin content varied from 0.23 (Farel) to 93.52 mg/100 g (Chakhao poireiton). The pigmented rice is also good sources of Catalase (CAT), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) that can significantly reduce stress oxidative reactions. Chakhao poireiton possessed the highest Ni and Mn content, Tsulu tsuk had the highest Zn content, while Fazu and Tasung contained the highest Fe and Ca. The highest total protein was found in Chakhao poireiton (11.06%). And all the cultivars were found to be aromatic. Fourier Transformed Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR) identified various signature peaks and could discriminate the cultivars into pigmented and non pigmented. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) revealed the grouping of the cultivars based on the functional groups present. The present study could provide a better understanding of choosable rice lines for human consumption and also as germplasm resources for future rice improvement programs.

Feeding silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) oil to growing rabbits improves the fatty acid composition of meat, liver and perirenal fat.

Silkworm oil was used in a rabbit diet to evaluate its benefit on the fatty acid (FA) profile of different carcass portions. Two experimental diets were prepared: a control diet (commercial diet with 13 g/kg sunflower oil) and a silkworm oil diet (SWO) (commercial diet with 13 g/kg silkworm oil). Rabbits received the experimental diets the last three weeks before slaughter, which occurred at 10 weeks of age. At slaughter, hind leg meat, liver, and perirenal fat were sampled for FA profile analysis. The SWO diet significantly increased the n-3 FA of all three sampling sites and halved the n-6/n-3 ratio of hind leg meat and perirenal fat. Furthermore, the liver of SWO rabbits was also richer in C22:6 n-3 compared to that of control rabbits. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the total dietary replacement of sunflower oil with silkworm oil in fattening rabbits positively changed the FA profile of the considered carcass tissues.

ANN-GA based biosorption of As(III) from water through chemo-tailored and iron impregnated fungal biofilter system.

The iron impregnated fungal bio-filter (IIFB) discs of luffa sponge containing Phanerochaete chrysosporium mycelia have been used for the removal of As(III) from water. Two different forms of same biomass viz. free fungal biomass (FFB) and modified free fungal biomass (chemically modified and iron impregnated; CFB and IIFB) have been simultaneously investigated to compare the performance of immobilization, chemo-tailoring and iron impregnation for remediation of As(III). IIFB showed highest uptake capacity and percentage removal of As(III), 1.32 mg/g and 92.4% respectively among FFB, CFB and IIFB. Further, the application of RSM and ANN-GA based mathematical model showed a substantial increase in removal i.e. 99.2% of As(III) was filtered out from water at optimised conditions i.e. biomass dose 0.72 g/L, pH 7.31, temperature 42 °C, and initial As(III) concentration 1.1 mg/L. Isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies proved that the process followed monolayer sorption pattern in spontaneous and endothermic way through pseudo-second order kinetic pathway. Continuous mode of As(III) removal in IIFB packed bed bioreactor, revealed increased removal of As(III) from 76.40 to 88.23% with increased column height from 5 to 25 cm whereas the removal decreased from 88.23 to 69.45% while increasing flow rate from 1.66 to 8.30 mL/min. Moreover, the IIFB discs was regenerated by using 10% NaOH as eluting agent and evaluated for As(III) removal for four sorption-desorption cycles, showing slight decrease of their efficiency by 1-2%. SEM-EDX, pHzpc, and FTIR analysis, revealed the involvement of hydroxyl and amino surface groups following a non-electrostatic legend exchange sorption mechanism during removal of As(III).

GC-MS and molecular docking analyses of phytochemicals from the underutilized plant, Parkia timoriana revealed candidate anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory agents.

Plants are excellent sources of functionally bioactive compounds and essential nutrients. The phytochemical constituents have enormous potential in treating both plant and human diseases. Parkia timoriana (Yongchak/Zawngtah), one of the most important underutilized plants popularly consumed in Manipur and Mizoram states of Northeastern region of India, is known for its ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal values. A significant DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and Phosphomolybdate scavenging activity corresponding to high antioxidant potentials was shown by the extracts from different edible parts of P. timoriana. P. timoriana extract showed significant antibacterial potential against Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtillis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of the extracts revealed the functional groups and bioactive compounds present in different edible parts of the plant. Characteristic peaks of phenols, carboxylic acids, alkenes, glycogen, alkyl halides, halogen, aliphatic amines, primary and secondary amines, esters, ether, aromatics, lipids, triglycerides, nitro compounds that had antimicrobial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties etc. were observed. The GC-MS analysis also revealed the occurrence of 49 bioactive compounds that are known to possess a variety of pharmacological activities. Subsequently, in silico molecular docking studies of the identified bioactive compounds predicted potential anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first-hand report on the bioactive compounds of edible parts of P. timoriana extracts showing antioxidant, antimicrobial and pharmacological significance. This study can lead to the production of new herbal medicines for various diseases employing P. timoriana and perhaps leading to the creation of new medications.

Cannabidiol and refractory epilepsy: parental and caregiver perspectives of participation in a compassionate access scheme.

BACKGROUND: The Compassionate Access Scheme (CAS) being delivered through the Queensland Children's Hospital is designed to allow access to an investigational purified Cannabidiol oral solution to paediatric patients with severe refractory epilepsy. The objectives of this study were to conduct semi-structured interviews to: 1. Understand families' expectations and attitudes about the use of an investigational cannabinoid product for their child's seizures; 2. Understand families' perceptions of Cannabidiol's efficacy for their child's seizures; and other aspects of their child's behaviour, quality of life and/or cognition. METHODS: Children aged 2-18 years had been enrolled in, or were enrolled in a compassionate access scheme for Cannabidiol at the time of the study. Semi-structured interviews (n = 19) with parents or caregivers (n = 23) of children diagnosed with refractory epilepsy were voice-recorded, transcribed and analysed to generate common themes. RESULTS: Key themes emerged relating to seizure activity, family and school engagement, drug safety and legal access, efficacy, clinical support, social acceptance of the medication and program delivery. The use of Cannabidiol was perceived to have benefits in relation to reducing the severity and frequency of seizure activity for almost a third of patients experiencing refractory epilepsy. Participants described other benefits including improved social engagement, wakefulness and a reduction of side effects related to a reduction of conventional medication dosage. CONCLUSION: This study provided unique perspectives of families' experiences managing untreatable epilepsy, their experiences with conventional and experimental pharmacological treatments and health services. Whilst families' perceptions showed the use of Cannabidiol did not provide a therapeutic reduction in the seizure activity for all patients diagnosed with refractory epilepsy, it's use as an additional pharmacological agent was perceived to provide other benefits by some patient families.

Comparative genomic analyses of multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Nepal and other geographical locations.

Nepal exhibits a tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate that is comparable to neighbouring high TB incidence countries. In addition, it records >500 cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB each year. The objective of this study was to perform whole-genome bioinformatic analysis on MDR-TB isolates from Nepal (n = 19) to identify the specific mutations underlying their phenotypic resistance. In addition, we examined the dominant genotype among the Nepal MDR-TB isolates, the East-Asian Beijing sub-lineage, to determine its relatedness to a panel of 1274 genomes of international strains available from public databases. These analyses provided evidence that the XDR-TB isolates in our collection were not derived from importation of primary XDR-TB to Nepal but were more likely the result of acquisition of second-line drug resistance in Nepal. Resistance to fluoroquinolones was detected among a high proportion of the Nepal isolates. This has implications for the management of TB, including appropriate antimicrobial stewardship and susceptibility testing for fluoroquinolones and other second-line TB drugs, to minimise the development of XDR-TB among Nepal TB cases.

N-doped direction-dependent electronic and mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) from a first-principles density functional theory (DFT) and MD-simulation.

In this paper, the electronic and mechanical properties of Nitrogen (N) doped (6,1) single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) is analysed based on the first principles density functional theory (DFT) and Molecular dynamic (MD) calculation. A systematic N-doping on SWCNT was performed along zigzag (zz) and armchair (ac) direction, where the armchair doping is parallel to tube axis while zigzag is along the cross-section perpendicular to tube axis. The zz and ac doping resulted in variations in the electronic properties of the even and odd number of N-dopant atoms. To evaluate the mechanical properties, ab - initio MD-simulations was carried out. We found a dependence of the tensile response of the tube on the dopant concentration and doping pattern. Single N-doped system show enhanced tensile stress by 55% as compared to the pristine SWCNT with marginal changes in the young's modulus for all N-doped systems.

ONCOCYTIC ADRENOCORTICAL CARCINOMA IN A YOUNG PATIENT.

Context: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare neoplasm with an aggressive course and poor prognosis. The worldwide incidence is about 0.5 to 2 cases per million population per year. Oncocytic adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare histopathological variant of ACC with only a few reported cases in the literature. Case report: We report a case of an oncocytic variant of adrenocortical carcinoma in a 21-year-old male patient who presented with a left adrenal mass. Imaging studies confirmed a large left adrenal mass with involvement of the left renal vein and inferior vena cava. Endocrine workup showed mildly elevated serum cortisol levels. Discussion: Oncocytic AAC is a rare histopathological variant of ACC, as well as a rare subgroup of oncocytic adrenal neoplasms Hormonally active or functioning adrenocortical carcinomas most commonly secrete cortisol whereas co-secretion of multiple steroid hormones is a rare phenomenon. Conclusions: Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, but most of the patients present late with large masses and eventually become unsuitable for curative resection.

Comparison of prevention of parent-to-child HIV transmission programme & national biennial HIV sentinel surveillance data for tracking HIV epidemic in India.

Background & objectives: HIV sentinel surveillance (HSS) among antenatal women in India has been used to track the epidemic for many years. However, reliable tracking at the local level is not possible as ANC sentinel sites are limited in number and cover a smaller sample size at each site. Prevention of parent-to-child-transmission (PPTCT) programme data has a potential advantage due to better geographical coverage, which could provide more precise HIV case estimates; therefore, we compared HSS ANC data with PPTCT programme data for HIV tracking. Methods: Out of the 499 surveillance sites, where HSS and PPTCT programme was being conducted in 2015, 210 sites (140 urban and 70 rural) were selected using a stratified random sampling method. HSS (n=72,981) and PPTCT (n=112,832) data records were linked confidentially. The sociodemographic characteristics of HSS and PPTCT attendees were compared. HIV prevalence from HSS ANC was compared with the PPTCT programme data using Chi-square test. State- and site-level correlation of HIV prevalence was also done. Concordance between HSS and PPTCT HIV positivity was estimated using kappa statistics. Results: The age distribution of HSS and PPTCT attendees was similar (range: 23 to 27 yr); however, HSS ANC participants were better educated, whereas PPTCT recorded a higher proportion of homemakers. The correlation of HIV prevalence between HSS and PPTCT was high (r=0.9) at the State level and moderate at the site level (r=0.7). The HIV positivity agreement between HSS ANC and PPTCT was good (kappa=0.633). A similar prevalence was reported across 26 States, whereas PPTCT had a significantly lower prevalence than HSS in three States where PPTCT coverage was low. Overall HIV prevalence was 0.31 per cent in HSS and 0.22 per cent in PPTCT (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: High-quality PPTCT programme data can provide reliable HIV trends in India. An operational framework for PPTCT-based surveillance should be pilot-tested in a phased manner before replacing HSS with PPTCT.

Polymorphisms in the hypervariable control region of the mitochondrial DNA differentiate BPH populations.

The brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens) is one of India's most destructive pests of rice. BPH, a monophagous migratory insect, reported from all major rice-growing ecosystems of the country, is capable of traversing large distances and causing massive crop loss. A crucial step for developing viable management strategies is understanding its population dynamics. Very few reliable markers are currently available to screen BPH populations for their diversity. In the current investigation, we developed a combinatorial approach using the polymorphism present within the mitochondrial Control Region of BPH and in the nuclear genome (genomic simple sequence repeats; gSSRs) to unravel the diversity present in BPH populations collected from various rice-growing regions of India. Using two specific primer pairs, the complete Control Region (1112 to 2612 bp) was PCR amplified as two overlapping fragments, cloned and sequenced from BPH individuals representing nine different populations. Results revealed extensive polymorphism within this region due to a variable number of tandem repeats. The three selected gSSR markers also exhibited population-specific amplification patterns. Overall genetic diversity between the nine populations was high (>5%). Further, in silico double-digestion of the consensus sequences of the Control Region, with HpyCH4IV and Tsp45I restriction enzymes, revealed unique restriction fragment length polymorphisms (digital-RFLPs; dRFLPs) that differentiated all the nine BPH populations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of markers developed from the Control Region of the BPH mitogenome that can differentiate populations. Eventually, such reliable and rapid marker-based identification of BPH populations will pave the way for an efficient pest management strategy.

Displaced Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures: Evaluation of Clinical and Radiological Outcome Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation with Locking Branched Calcaneal Plate.

Background An introduction of the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSC) is essential to promote surgical safety. Objective To obtain country-specific information regarding the checklist in a leading medical institution in Nepal. Method The present research was a cross-sectional study with a survey conducted among healthcare professionals working in the operation theatre at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu, Nepal. A questionnaire was distributed to 150 healthcare professionals working in the operating theatre. Responses to the questionnaire were analysed descriptively and regression analyses used to identify factors associated with awareness of the checklist. Result In total, 127 healthcare professionals participated in the study, of whom 118 (92.9%) had been aware of the WHO SSC. A substantial proportion of participants (108, 91.5%) were not satisfied with the prevailing practice whereby the checklist was not routinely used during surgery. Lack of appropriate training was the most prevalent barrier to the checklist use (72, 67.9%), followed by unwillingness of staff to use the checklist (54, 50.9%), and lack of experience (42, 39.7%). The mean score on the survey was 6.0 out of 10. Regarding the results of the regression model on survey scores, surgeons had higher scores compared to nurses (unadjusted coefficient 0.80, 95% CI 0.20-1.40). Conclusion Most of the healthcare professionals were aware of the WHO SSC, however multiple barriers to the checklist use were identified. It is important to establish an effective use of WHO SSC in the operation theatre.

Traditionally used edible Solanaceae plants of Mizoram, India have high antioxidant and antimicrobial potential for effective phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Solanaceae plants have been used as traditional medicines in Mizoram, India. This warrants the presence of therapeutic compounds and various bioactive phytochemicals in these plants, and characterizing their structures could lead to a possible focus for drug development. AIM OF THE STUDY: Solanaceae plants are incredible sources of proteins and minerals; some even have high medicinal values which has been recognized traditionally. The present study was designed to explore and document the ethnobotany, phytochemical and mineral nutrient composition, antimicrobial properties, antioxidant potential and to identify functional groups from edible species of Solanaceae from Mizoram, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Field surveys and samples collection was conducted from Aizawl District, Mizoram, India. All the studied samples were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus for the analysis of bioactive compounds. The total phenol, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin contents were determined using standard methods. The antioxidant activities were measured using DPPH free radical scavenging, APX, CAT and SOD activities. The proximate analyses and mineral contents were determined by standard methods. The antibacterial potential was determined using the agar well diffusion method, and the functional groups were analysed using FTIR. All the results were reported as the mean ± standard deviation. The linear regression coefficient (R2) for total flavonoid and phenolic content with antioxidant activity was analysed using Graph Pad Prism Version 5. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The phytochemical screenings showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and saponins in all the samples. The highest total phenolic content was found in Solanum anguivi Lam. (29.51 mg GAE/g), and Capsicum annuum L. contained the highest total flavonoids (35.15 ± 0.03 mg/g). Proteins and carbohydrates contents were found to be the highest in Solanum melongena L. (28.49 mg/g) and Physalis angulata L. (35.64 mg/g) respectively. Elemental analysis showed the presence of Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) and Sodium (Na) in high proportion in all the studied samples. All the plant extracts showed effective antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra revealed multiple functional groups in these plants species which could be used to identify bioactive compounds that can be subsequently utilized as herbal remedies for various ailments. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a considerable amount of nutrients, biologically active and therapeutic compounds are present in the studied samples and these plants could be potential sources for new phyto-pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preparations.

Outcomes and rate of return to play in elite athletes following arthroscopic surgery of the hip.

BACKGROUND: The tremendous physical demands of elite performance increase the risk of elite athletes sustaining various orthopaedic injuries. Hip pain is common in high-level athletes representing up to 6% of all athletic injuries. Expedient diagnosis and effective treatment are paramount for their future sporting careers and to prevent subsequent joint degeneration. PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the outcome and the rate of return to play (RTP) following arthroscopic procedures in the hip (osteoplasty, chondroplasty, labral repair and/or debridement, capsulotomy, capsulorrhaphy or any soft tissue procedure) in elite athletes. Elite athletes were defined as those who represented their country in international contests or were competing professionally for the purpose of this study. METHODS: A computer-based systematic search, following the PRISMA Guidelines, was performed on CENTRAL, PUBMED, EMBASE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Google Scholar and Web of Science from inception until January 1, 2020, identifying studies that looked at return to sports post-hip arthroscopy in elite athletes. Weighted means were calculated for the RTP rate and duration and for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). RESULTS: After eligibility screening, 22 articles were included with a total of 999 male and seven female patients, 1146 hips and a mean age of 28.4 ± 3.2 years. The mean follow-up period was 35.8 ± 13.4 months and 15.9 ± 9.6% of athletes had undergone bilateral procedures. Overall, 93.9% (95% CI: 90.5, 96.6, P < 0.0001) of patients demonstrated RTP after 6.8 ± 2.1 months post-surgery and all PROMs improved post-operatively. During follow-up, 9.6% (95% CI: 5.2, 15.2, P = 0.025) patients needed further intervention. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of elite athletes return to the same level of competition after hip arthroscopy, with a low rate of further interventions. Hip arthroscopy appears to be an efficacious treatment for hip and/or groin pain, caused by pathologies such as FAI or labral tears, in elite athletes in the shorter term. Long term outcomes need further evaluation.

How does the cam morphology develop in athletes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: A higher prevalence of cam morphology has been reported in the athletic population but the development of the cam morphology is not fully understood. The purpose of this systematic review is to establish the timing of development of the cam morphology in athletes, the proximal femoral morphologies associated with its development, and other associated factors. DESIGN: Embase, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles related to development of the cam morphology, and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Data was pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black criteria and evidence quality using the GRADE framework. RESULTS: This search identified 16 articles involving 2,028 participants. In males, alpha angle was higher in athletes with closed physes than open physes (SMD 0.71; 95% CI 0.23, 1.19). Prevalence of cam morphology was associated with age during adolescence when measured per hip (ß 0.055; 95% CI 0.020, 0.091) and per individual (ß 0.049; 95% CI 0.034, 0.064). Lateral extension of the epiphysis was associated with an increased alpha angle (r 0.68; 95% CI 0.63, 0.73). A dose-response relationship was frequently reported between sporting frequency and cam morphology. There was a paucity of data regarding the development of cam morphology in females. CONCLUSIONS: Very low and low quality evidence suggests that in the majority of adolescent male athletes, osseous cam morphology developed during skeletal immaturity, and that prevalence increases with age. Very low quality evidence suggests that osseous cam morphology development was related to lateral extension of the proximal femoral epiphysis.