Analgesic and CNS depressant activity of methanolic extracts of cissus vitegenia and cissus pallida.

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate analgesic and CNS depressant activity of methanolic extracts of stem and roots of Cissus pallida and aerial parts of Cissus vitegenia in experimental animals. The analgesic activity was evaluated by Eddy’s hot plate method and CNS depressant activity was evaluated by using digital actophotometer. The study was carried out by using two different doses (200 and 400mg/kg body weight) of both the extracts. The preliminary pharmacological screening showed that both the extracts showed moderate analgesic activity and significant CNS depressant activity.

Occurrence and seasonal variation of bacterial indicators of faecal pollution along Thoothukudi Coast, Tamil Nadu.

Theprevalence and seasonal variation of bacterial indicators of faecal pollution such as total coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and faecal streptococci were investigated in samples of water and beach sand from the four fish landing centres of Thoothukudi. Further the samples were screened for Salmonella to study the reliability of faecal indicator bacteria as an index of human pathogenic bacteria. Total coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were isolated from all four landing centres from undetectable to the maximum detectable level of over Most Probable Number 140 throughout the year with no obvious seasonal variation. Faecal streptococci were also detected in most samples. There was no discernable relationship between faecal indicators and physical parameters. The relationship between faecal indicators and Salmonella was not significant (p > 0.05). The results showed that the coastal waters along Thoothukudi is polluted and presents a potential risk to public for recreational and fishing activities.

A primate model of respiratory syncytial virus infection.

To determine whether bonnet monkeys are susceptible to infection and disease due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 4 juvenile bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata) were inoculated with RSV intratracheally and sacrificed at 3, 5, 7 and 9 days post infection. RSV was cultured from pre-autopsy broncheoalveolar lavage fluid from all 4 animals with a peak titre of virus on day 9. Serum RSV neutralizing antibody was present by day 7. Animals developed tachypnoea and chest retractions by 5th day post infection and 2 animals had lobular pneumonia on chest radiography. The pathological changes were of a bronchovascular inflammation, interstitial pneumonia and alveolitis, akin to that seen in humans. These findings show that bonnet monkeys can be infected with RSV, and can develop immune response and clinical and pathological changes similar to those seen in human infants with RSV disease. Thus intractracheal RSV inoculation of juvenile bonnet monkeys appears to be a good model to study pathogenesis of RSV disease.