ABSTRACT
To assess and compare the nutritional status of children aged 5-14 years in arsenic exposed and non- exposed areas. It was a cross sectional study conducted on 600 children of age 5-14 years from arsenic exposed and non-exposed areas in Bangladesh. Designed questionnaire and check list were used for collection of data. To estimate BMI necessary anthropometric measurements of the studied children were done. Dietary intakes of the study children were assessed using 24-hours recall method. The difference of socio-economic conditions between the children of exposed area and non-exposed area was not significant. On an average the body mass index was found to be significantly [p < 0.01] lower among the children of arsenic exposed area [49%] in comparison to that of children in non-exposed area [38%]. Stunting [p < 0.01], wasting [p < 0.05] and underweight [p < 0.05] were significantly higher in exposed group in comparison to non-exposed group. No significant difference of nutrition intake was found between exposed and non-exposed children as well as thin and normal children. In this study children exposed to arsenic contaminated water were found to be suffered from lower nutritional status
ABSTRACT
The medicinal plant, Coccinia cordifolia L. was analyzed for its chemical composition. The antimicrobial activities of the methanol, water, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Coccinia cordifolia L. plant were evaluated against some Gram positive bacteria [Sarcina lutea, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus], Gram negative bacteria [Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Escherichia coli] and fungi [Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum]. Chemical analysis showed that the plant is rich in nutrients, especially antioxidant compounds such as total phenol, vitamin C and beta-carotene. Phytochemical screening showed that the methanolic extract contains the bioactive constituents such as tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids and terpenoids. In the methanolic extract of the plant, promising antimicrobial potential was observed against the tested microorganism. Methanolic extract showed highest activity against Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans compared to the other extracts. Water extract showed less antimicrobial activity as compared to other extractants
ABSTRACT
This research work was conducted with the root and stem bark of Madhuca indica to find out their toxicological properties employing Brine Shrimp Lethality Bioassay. It was found that the root and stem extracts of the plant contained some constituents that were toxic for the Brine Shrimp Nauplii. The ether and alcohol extracts may have cytotoxic properties as well as other pharmacological activities but the ethyl acetate extracts showed mild activity. The results were discussed with reference to the indication of using the plant extracts as anti-mutagenic agent and appeared to be well-supported by their chemical constituents
Subject(s)
Plant Stems , Plant Roots , Toxicology , Plant ExtractsABSTRACT
The antimicrobial properties of the bark extracts of Oroxylum indicum was investigated using agar diffusion method. In this study, eight pathogenic bacteria namely: Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus pyogenes, Vibrio cholerae. Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Shigella dysenteriae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one fungus, Candida albicans were selected. The ether extracts [EE] and alcohol extracts [AE] were found to be active against almost all of the bacteria and fungus tested. The ethyl acetate extract [EaE] of the root bark showed antimicrobial activity against four micro-organisms viz. Candida albicans, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus pyogenes but that of stem bark showed no activity against any of the micro-organisms. All the activities were compared by measuring the zone of inhibition with the standard antibiotic