In-vitro antioxidative potential of methanolic aerial extracts from three ethnomedicinal plants of Assam: A Comparative Study.

Antioxidants are the substances that neutralize free radicals or their actions. The traditional antioxidant phytochemicals from plants have been reported to inhibit the propagation of free radical reactions and to protect the human body from disease. The use of synthetic antioxidants has always been questioned because of their toxicity therefore researches are being carried out on plants nowadays to bring out the potent natural antioxidants. With this intent three ethnomedicinal plants of Assam viz., Calamus leptospadix Griff., Heliotropium indicum Linn., Lasia spinosa Lour. were explored with a view to evaluate their in-vitro antioxidative potentials. The methanolic aerial extracts were studied for phytochemical analysis and antioxidative properties by different in-vitro assays: DPPH radical scavenging method, Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity, Total phenolic content and Total flavonoid content. The percentage of inhibition was calculated by comparing the absorbance values of the control and test samples. The study conducted revealed that methanolic extract of Calamus leptospadix (CL) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 29 ± 3.24 μg/ml), Nitric oxide radical scavenging activity (233.33 ± 3.54 μg/ml), Total phenolic content (8.02 ± 0.32 μg/ml expressed as gallic acid equivalents) and Total flavonoid contents (61.71 ± 1.16 μg/ml expressed as quercetin equivalents). Methanolic extract of Lasia spinosa (LS) showed highest hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity (IC50 value of 221.89 ± 2.14 μg/ml). The results obtained in the present study indicate that aerial parts of Calamus leptospadix have potent, Lasia spinosa have moderate and Heliotropium indicum (HI) have mild antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.

Posterior mediastinal mass: Do we need to worry much.

Anesthetic management of mediastinal masses is challenging. There is abundant literature available on anesthesia management of anterior mediastinal mass. Anesthetic management of posterior mediastinal mass lesions normally have uneventful course. We describe airway collapse and difficult mechanical ventilation in the postoperative period in a patient with posterior mediastinal mass.

Investigation of in-vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Calamus leptospadix Griff. Shoot in Indian Adult Earthworm (Pheretima posthuma).

Calamus leptospadix Griff. (Arecaceae), is an important ethnomedicinal plant of Assam known as Lejaibet by the local Assamese community and is being wildly used by various communities in Assam. No detailed study or reports along with scientific evidence are available with this important plant. An exhaustive study was carried out with a view to substantiate the therapeutic potential of the plant in terms of its anthelmintic activity against Pheretima posthuma using Albendazole as a reference standard. 0.9% w/v of normal saline solution, 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml each of standard drug Albendazole and Methanolic, Ethanolic and Aqueous extracts of Calamus leptospadix Griff. were freshly prepared. Forty eight Indian Adult Earthworms were collected, divided into twelve groups containing four worms in each group. Time for paralysis and time for death were recorded for each group. All the three extracts with concentrations of 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml produced dose- dependent paralysis. Methanolic extract of Calamus leptospadix Griff. gave shortest paralysis and death time at 100mg/ml as compared to that of standard and other two extracts. Results are expressed as Mean ± SEM (P< 0.05) of 4 worms in each group. From the investigation, conclusion can be drawn that Calamus leptospadix Griff. (Arecaceae) used by the people of Assam traditionally to treat intestinal worm infections, possesses significant anthelmintic activity.