ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the phytochemical constituents responsible for the plausible antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of the seed, pulp and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora Lour. Methods: Fresh seed, pulp, and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora fruits were extracted with methanol (MEBRse, MEBRpu, MEBRpe) and evaluated by phytochemical analysis for their content of innumerable metabolites (primary and secondary) viz. carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, proteins, and fixed oils. The antioxidant efficacy was assessed through different assay methods viz. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power capacity (RPC). Estimation of total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) was also done to confirm the presence of these phytochemicals. Results: It was revealed from the phytochemical analysis of MEBRse that alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, phenols, and flavonoids were present, while that of MEBRpu showed the existence of carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, and fixed oils. Presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids were found in the MEBRpe. A significant antioxidant activity was revealed by the MEBRpu [EC
ABSTRACT
Background: Repeated blood transfusion is the main life line support for thalassaemic children and so they are more prone to be infected with HBV. In Bangladesh the main source of blood for transfusion is the professional donors and so the possibility of HBV infection is higher. Objective: To assess the frequency of HBV among children who received more than 3 blood transfusions. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional analytical study was conducted in Pediatrics ward of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka during the period of July 2003 to June 2004. Ninety five children aged less than 15 years, suffering from b thalassaemia major and Hb E b thalassaemia having blood transfusion more than three times and 20 controls of similar age and sex were included in this study. Seromarkers of HBV were tested and the results were analyzed using SPSS version Windows 11.0. Results: Out of 115 children 68 were b thalassaemic (mean age 6.8 ± 2.84 yrs and male:female is 4.2:1), 27 were Hb E b thalassaemic children (mean age 8.78 ± 2.99 yrs and M:F 1.4:1) and 20 were nontransfused, age and sex matched controls (mean age 6.23 ± 1.88 yrs and M:F 1:2.3). Out of 95 thalassaemic children 21 (22.1%) were positive for HBsAg. Among them 13 were b thalassaemic and 8 were Hb E b thalassaemic. None of the controls showed HBsAg positivity indicating a significant statistical difference (p=0.033). 28 (29.5%) children were positive for anti-HBc. Among them 23 were b thalassaemic and 5 were Hb E b thalassaemic and there was no core antigen positivity among the controls showing a significant statistical difference (p=0.022). Four (4.2%) patients showed HBeAg positivity, out of whom 3 were b thalassaemic and 1 was Hb E b thalassaemic. But this antigen was not found in any control and thereby, no statistical significant difference was observed (p=0.637). Among 20 controls, 2 were positive for anti-HBe antibody, but none of the thalassaemic children was positive for this antibody showing statistically significant difference (p=0.008). Conclusion: A significantly higher sero-prevalence of hepatitis B viral marker was observed among the multitransfused thalassaemic children.