Chia (Salvia hispanica) experiment at a 30˚ N site in Sichuan Basin, China / Performance agronômica da chia (Salvia hispanica) cultivada aos 30˚ N na Bacia de Sichuan, China

ABSTRACT: The mysterious ancient Mesoamerican Indian crop chia (Salvia hispanica) is revived and expanding worldwide due to its richness of valuable nutraceuticals such as α-linolenic acid (ALA), antioxidants, food fiber, gels, and proteins. We carried out a pilot experiment on chia planting in non-frost Sichuan Basin, at Hechuan Base (30˚0′ 43″ N, 106˚7′ 41″ E, 216 m), Southwest University, Chongqing, China. The split-plot trial contained two factors, 3 spring-summer sowing times as main plots, and 6 densities as subplots, with 3 replicates. Phenological, botanical, adversity, yield, and seed quality traits were investigated. Plants were very tall, suffered from lodging, and flowered in mid-October. Sichuan Basin can be considered as a north edge for growing chia, with low yield (680 kg/hectare) because of insufficient seed filling and maturation in autumn-winter season (1000-seed weight of 1.14 g). However, its ALA content is 5 percent points higher than the seed-donor commercial bottle (65.06%/63.96% VS 59.35%/59.74% for black/white seeds), accompanied by decrease oleic and stearic acid, while linoleic acid and palmitic acid are equivalent. Considering its short-day habit, it is recommended to try sowing in middle summer (from late June to early August) to avoid too long growing period, excessive vegetative growth, and waste of field and climate resources caused by spring-summer sowing. Furthermore, winter sowing of chia with mulch cover could also be tried, with an expectation of harvesting in summer. Most importantly, only when the photoperiod-insensitive early flowering stocks are created, chia can be recommended as a low-risk crop to the farmers of this region.

RESUMO: A chia (Salvia hispanica) é cultivada em todo o mundo por sua riqueza de nutrientes nutracêuticos valiosos, tais como a-ácido linolênico (ALA), antioxidantes, fibras alimentares, géis e proteínas. Entretanto, não há informações sobre sua performance agronômica se cultivada aos 30˚N na China. Assim, realizou-se um experimento com o cultivo de chia na base Hechuan (30°0'43"N, 106°7'41"E, 216m, que não apresenta geada) da Southwest University, Chongqing, China. O delineamento em parcela subdividida contém dois fatores,três épocas de semeadura na primavera-verão como parcelas principais e seis densidades de sementes como subparcelas, com três repetições. Foram investigados os caracteres fenológicos, botânicos, de adversidade, rendimento e qualidade da semente. As plantas se tornaram altas, acamarame floresceram em meados de outubro. A bacia de Sichuan pode ser considerada como uma fronteira limítrofe norte para o crescimento da chia, com baixo rendimento (680kg ha-1) devido ao enchimento e amadurecimento insuficientes na estação outono-inverno (peso de 1000 sementes de 1,14g). No entanto, o seu conteúdo de ALA é de 5 pontos percentuais mais elevado do que a semente comercial, 65,06%/63,96% contra 59,35%/59,74% para as sementes pretas/brancas, respectivamente, acompanhado por diminuição de ácido oleico e ácido esteárico, enquanto que o ácido linoleico e o ácido palmítico são equivalentes. Considerando o seu hábito de dia curto, recomenda-se semear no meio do verão,de junho a início de agosto, para evitar um tempo de cultivo muito longo, desenvolvimento vegetativo excessivo e desperdício de recursos de campo e clima causados pela semeadura de primavera-verão. Além disso, a semeadura de inverno da chia com cobertura morta também poderia ser realizada, com expectativa de colheita no verão. Mais importante ainda, somente quando os estoques de floração precoce insensíveis ao fotoperíodo são criados, pode-se recomendar como uma cultura de baixo risco para os agricultores desta região.

Potential use of Kyethingha-thee (Momordica charantia L. fruit) in the treatment of maturity onset diabetes mellitus

The hypoglycemic efficacy of Kyethingha-thee dired powder capsule was conducted on five uncomplicated type II non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients, who were admitted to the No. 2 Military Hospital, Yangon. Preliminary study revealed that it has hypoglycaemic effect with minimum effective dose of 3 grams for each patient and the time of maximum effect was 4 to 6 hours respectively. Kyethingha-thee was found to be 79.94 percent as effective as tolbutamide and 154.53 percent as effective as TMF 32. So far no adverse side effects were observed in any of these patients.

Clinical trial to compare the analgesic efficacy of selected Traditional Medicine Formulations (TMF-06,-24,-25) on experimentally induced pain in human subjects

Forty clinically healthy volunteers participated in the study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of three Traditional Medicine Formulations (TMF-06, TMF-24 and TMF-25) on experimentally-induced cold compressor stimulation pain. The rationale underlying the study is that these formulations have beenproduced locally and used extensively as standard analgesics for pain relief at the Traditional Medicine Hospitals and dispensaries as well as through self-medication over-the-counter-durgs by the local community for many years but has yet received little investigative attention regarding efficacy and sefety. The study was a placebo controlled double-blind, complete cross-over single dose design using aspirin (acetyl salicylate) as positive standard and was evaluated on three basic pain response parameters namely, pain threshold, pain tolerance and pain sensitivity range. All three formulations showed a significant analgesic efficacy (p < 0.01) when compared to placebo (TMF-25 > TMF-24 > TMF-60). No, adverse effects were noted even when given at maximum recomended dose. It was concluded dose. It was concluded that the three TMFs can be used as an alternative to aspirin for the symptomatic relief of mild to moderate pain.

The use of primaquine in malaria infected patients with red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Myanmar.

32 subjects with Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes, and 31 cases with Plasmodium vivax infection from two military hospitals (Lashio, Mandalay) were treated with quinine 600 mg three times a day for 7 days followed by primaquine 45 mg single dose for gametocytes and 45 mg weekly x 8 weeks for vivax malaria. Although screening of red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) was done prior to primaquine treatment, G6PD deficient subjects were not excluded from the trial. 20 patients hemizygous for mild G6PD deficiency (GdB- variant), 2 patients hemizygous for severe deficiency (Gd-Myanmar variant) completed the trial. No case of acute hemolysis was observed in all 22 patients with two genotypes of red cell G6PD deficiency status. Therefore, a single dose of primaquine 45 mg and/or weekly for 8 weeks is adequate for the treatment of patients with P. falciparum gametocytes and/or P. vivax malaria ignoring these red cell G6PD enzyme deficient variants in Myanmar.

Clinical trial of antidiabetic traditional medicine formulation (TMF) No. 32

Clinical trial to determine the therapeutic efficacy of a traditional antidiabetic drug, TMF-32, was carried out on six Type II NIDDM patients who were admitted to the Traditional Medicine Hospital, Yangon. All patients, 3 males and 3 females, had a fasting blood glucose level of more than 150 mg percent (205.2 + 35.6) and a 2 hour post-prandial blood glucose level of more than 200 mg percent (323.0 + 62.09) and were clinically free from complications of diabetes. The study was a complete cross-over design, using tolbutamide as a control and was conducted under strict diabetic diet wupplying approximately 2500 kcals per day. Hypoglycaemic efficacy calculated from oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) curves indicated that TMF-32, at doses of 2G and 3G, significantly reduces the blood glucose levels in these patients (p < 0.01 in both doses). The maximum hypoglycaemic effect was seen at approximately 2 hours after dosing and the duration of action lasted only up to 6 hours. Construction of log. dose-response curves showed TMF-32 of having a hypoglycaemic potency of 73 percent of tolbutamide but frequent side effects and cost of drug give rise to contradicting questions on whether it may be useful as a standard traditional antidiabetic drug.

Bronchodilating activity of some traditional medicine formulations on the in vitro tracheal ring test model

The efficacy of seven reputed bronchodilating traditional medicine formulations were studied on the in vitro model of tracheal chain preparation using rabbit and guinea-pig. A new carbachol-induced model was introduced and comparison of its eficacy with normal preparation showed more promising results. Three formulations were found to produce significant relaxation as much as 127 12 Percent and 108 18 Percent in rabbit and guinea-pig models respectively.

Effect of acute diarrhoea on the bioavailability of chloroquine in Myanmar subjects

Considering the possibility of altered bioavailability of during acute diarrhoea, there is a need to determine the therapeutic status of chloroquine as an antimalarial prophylactic during an attack of acute diarrhoea and to develop a reasonable basis for dose adjustment if necessary, in such clinical situations. Chloroquine 300 mg base was administered orally to 16 adult diarrhoeal patients from the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yangon and 12 healthy non-diarrhoeal volunteers. The drug serum levels at various time intervals up to 96 hours were analysed fluorometrically and the pharmacokinetic profile studied. Acute diarrhoea was found to decrease the rate, but did not alter the extent of absorption of chloroquine. Since the overall bioavailability of chloroquine remains unchanged, it was concluded that if there is no vomiting, dosage adjustment is not necessary in acute diarrhoea.

Chemical aspects of locally produced oral rehydration honey salts

Oral rehydration honey salts developed by Department of Traditional Medicine, Ministry of Health, replacing glucose with honey was investigated for its chemical aspects, comparing with standard oral rehydration salts. Three physico-chemical test parameters pH, electrolytes and total reducing sugar contents were tested. pH value of honey salts solution was found to be very similar with standard oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution. There were slight increases in electrolyte concentrations and total reducing sugar contents of honey salts when compared with standard ORS. Results obtained were discussed and recommandation proposed for therapeutic effectiveness of oral rehydration honey mixture preparation.

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) pharmacokinetics in contraceptive pill-using Myanmar women

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) pharmacokinetic study was made on a total of 16 healthy adult Myanmar women of reproductive age, half of whom were pretreated chronically for 6 month with an oral contraceptive steroid (OCS), namely, Combination 5. Single oral dose (930 mg) of acetaminophen showed similar extent of maximum plasma acetaminophen concentration in either group. However, the OCS causes significant effect (p<0.05) on plasma acetaminophen resulting in shortening of half-life by 21.6 per cent and augmentation of clearance by 5.9 per cent. The OCS affected predominantly the sulphate conjugation of acetaminophen. In regimen requiring repeated dosing, acetaminophen should be administered more frequently in the pill-users.

Clinical trial of indigenous antipyretic: Testing of antipyretic efficacy of five triditional medicine formulation on TAB-induce pyrexial volunteers

Two grams each of five traditional medicine formulations (TMF), TMF-06, TMF-24, TMF-25, TMF-35A and TMF-35B- orally administered with 150 ml of betel leaf preparation, had underwent a clinical trial of antipyretic efficacy on a total of 315 TAB-induced pyrexial Burmese volunteers. Both positive control of acetyl sallicylate 600 mg orally and negative control of no drug treatment were included. The trial design was performed on a single (observer) blind basis. Effectiveness of the agents at the peak of induced pyrexia were observed for three hours. Only TMF-06 possessed the antipyretic efficacy (78-88 per cent) as could be observed in 87-96 per cent of responders, in comparison to those of the acetyl salicylate. Nevertheless, TMF-24 and TMF-35B showed a lesser antipyretic activity. Therefore, TMF-06 was found to be the most recommendable antipyretics to be used at indigenous medicine centres.