ABSTRACT
Due to rapid urbanization in a context of economic constraints, the majority of urban residents in Hyderabad live in slums often characterized by a lack of basic services such as water and sewerage. Consequently, the urban poor often use inexpensive pit latrines and at the same time may draw domestic water from nearby local taps. Overcrowding in slums limits the adequate distance between taps and pit latrines so that micro-organisms migrate from latrines to water sources. Sanitary practices in these overcrowded slums are also poor, leading to contamination of this tap water. The DNA sequencing results indicated the microbial diversity, revealing that the dominant bacteria present in Khairathabad slum area of Hyderabad is Acinetobacter sp. whereas the dominant bacteria in Varasiguda slum area of Hyderabad is Alpha-proteobacteria. Futhermore, cluster analysis of the DGGE profiles indicated significant diversity in the bacterial community by depicting two distinct clusters for each waste water treatment plant. These data endorse the ability of PCR-DGGE method to identify and characterize bacterial community from Usage water.
ABSTRACT
Background: Nutmeg a well-known spice used as a folk medicine in India to treat stomach ailments. Worldwide it is commonly used for food preservation and fragrance. Abundant references were given for nutmeg in ayurveda, unani, and siddha as a single drug or as an important constituent in formulations. Objective: In the present study, nutmeg aqueous extract (NMAET) was evaluated against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant enzymes, liver functions tests, and lipid profi le tests were performed using standard procedures. Histological examination of liver was done by fi xing in formaldehyde solution and hematoxylin staining. Results: Oral administration of NMAET effectively inhibited the ISO-induced changes in the activities of hepatic marker and antioxidant enzymes in plasma and heart tissue along with lipid peroxidation levels. The liver sections of ISO administered rats showed massive fatty changes, necrosis, ballooning degeneration, and broad infi ltration of the lymphocytes and the loss of cellular boundaries; these changes were completely absent in groups treated with extract. Analysis of variance and Duncan’s Multiple Range tests were used to perform statistical analysis. Conclusion: Results suggest that the NMAET possess signifi cant potential as hepatoprotective and antioxidative agent against ISO-induced damage in rats.
ABSTRACT
Flavonoids are constituents of fruits, vegetables, and plant derived beverages, as well as components in herbal dietary supplements. The objective of this investigation was to characterize and determine the effect of the Flavonoids on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) which is an important protein involved in multidrug resistance (MDR). Homology modeling of Pglycoprotein (Human) has been performed based on the crystal structure of the 2HYD (Chain A; Structure of a bacterial multidrug ABC transporter) by using Modeller software. With the aid of the molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods, the final model is obtained and is further assessed by procheck and verify 3D graph programs, which showed that the final refined model is reliable. With this model, a flexible docking study of P-glycoprotein with a group of Flavonoids which were selected from the previous publications was performed. The results indicated that GLN- 47, TYR -53, SER -83, ILE- 87, GLY -100, ARG -154 in P- glycoprotein are important determinant residues in binding as they have strong hydrogen bonding with Flavonoids. These hydrogen binding interactions play an important role for stability of the complex. Among the 13 Flavonoids docked, Acetylgenistin showed best docking result with Pglycoprotein. Our results may be helpful for further experimental investigations.