ABSTRACT
The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Acorus calamus was evaluated for antibacterial activity against clinically important bacteria viz.. Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Escherichia coli (MTCC 443), Proteus mirabilis (MTCC 1429), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 424). The in-vitro antibacterial activity was performed by agar well diffusion method. The ethanolic extracts of A. calamus was active against all the investigated bacterial strains while aqueous extract was totally inactive against the studied gram negative bacterial strains (E. coli, P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa) and showed moderate antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria B. subtilis and Stap. aureus only at high concentration (200ml). However, further works are needed to identify the chemical nature of the active substances as well as their modes of actions on the bacterial cells and their roles in disease curing.
ABSTRACT
During immune challenge hippocampal region shows time-dependent changes in neurotransmitter levels. Hence in the present study the effect of electrolytic lesion in the dorsolateral hippocampus (DLH) and ventral hippocampal formation (VHF) (to create a disturbance in neurotransmitter levels) on humoral immunity in albino rats has been studied along with appropriate controls. Haemagglutination titre, IgM and IgG levels were monitored on the 5th day after an immune challenge by sheep red blood cells (SRBC) suspension. Antigen challenged lesioned animals had low circulating antibody titre levels compared with the controls and their site-specific sham lesioned groups. The IgM levels were significantly lowered in both DLH and VHF lesioned and immunized animals compared to their immunized sham groups as well as immunized controls. However, only immunized VHF lesioned group showed a significant decrease in IgG level from their immunized sham group. It was concluded from the results that an intact hippocampal region is essential for the normal humoral immunity for the primary immune response in rats. Probably VHF region may be required for the secondary immune response as indicated by the alteration in IgG levels in these animals.