Bioactive compounds of thai red hot chili dip (nam prik ta dang) and effects on antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation in rats (in vitro and in vivo models).

This study aimed to study the efficacy of Thai Red hot chili dip (Nam Prik Ta Dang) on antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation inhibitor in vitro and in vivo models. Healthy recipe of Nam Prik Ta Dang (NPTD) was developed by Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University used in this study. Fresh NPTD was determined for some bioactive compounds, and the antioxidant activities were evaluated by two different methods as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The result showed that NPTD contained total polyphenol and also carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein. In vitro antioxidant activity values of NPTD was 204.3 ± 8.5 and 17.2 ± 2.7 micromole Trolox equivalent/gram for ORAC and FRAP, respectively. Freeze-dried NPTD was used for evaluating antioxidant activity and antilipid peroxidation in healthy rats. Daily administration of normal diet mixed NPTD for 2 months, serum ORAC significantly increased to compare with control group (p < 0.01). Lipid peroxidation marker as serum Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) significantly decreased to compare with control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, healthy recipes of Thai red hot chili dip or Nam Prik TA Dang obtained various bioactive compounds which exhibited significantly antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, daily consumption of NPTD showed the efficacy in inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Further study, it could be studied in oxidative stress condition and human clinical trials.

Antioxidant and antiplasmodial activities of curcuma longa and aegle marmelos on malaria infeced mice (in vitro and in vivo).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Thai Curcuma longa and Aegle marmelos, and their parasite suppressive effects on malaria infection in mouse model. The polyphenol content and antioxidant activities (Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)) were measured in crude extracts of Curcuma longa and Aegle marmelos. Seven-week old female ICR mice were divided into 5 groups randomly. First two groups served as control and placebo, the other 3 served as experimental groups with various concentrations; 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg, respectively. On day 0, 106 Plasmodium yoelii 17X (lethal) strain were inoculated to all mice. At day 1, placebo mice were given 30% ethanol. The latter 3 groups were treated with each concentration of each herb. Parasitemia was checked daily by tail snip bleed staining with Giemsa staining. Suppressive effects on day 4 were calculated. Student t-test was performed to display the difference among groups. Significantly different was justified at p <0.05. The antioxidant activities (both ORAC and FRAP) and polyphenol content of A. marmelos were higher than those of C. longa significantly. The suppressive effect on parasite in infected mice, there showed no effect of C. longa treatment, oppositely, at the doses of 20 and 40 mg/ kg body weigh of A. marmelos showed suppressive effect on infection by the parasite. In conclusion, a Thai traditional fruit, A. marmelos exhibited high antioxidant and antiplasmodial activities, this might be one of the candidates of the traditional plants for curing malaria.

The origin of profunda femoris artery in Thais.

This study was to investigate the variation patterns of the origin of profunda femoris artery (PFA) in terms of normal and variation patterns in human preserved cadavers. Two hundred and twenty four femoral triangles in human preserved cadavers were dissected. Sites of origins were identified. Diameter and distance of PFA were measured. We found that PFA was mostly originated from posterior site of femoral artery (FA) at a distance of 35 mm from midpoint of inguinal ligament. Compared between sexes and sides, these distances in females (31.54 mm) approved more proximally than those of males (37.68 mm) at p=0.017. Moreover, the distances on the left sides (33 mm) approved more proximally than the right sides (36.22 mm) at p=0.006. The average diameters of PFA were 5 mm, females (5 mm) were smaller than males (5.42 mm) with p=0.017. In conclusion, PFA that we found was originated from posterior site of FA and average distance of its origin was about 35 mm. Regarding undertaking operative or interventional procedures within the femoral region, this knowledge could be applied to prevent complication during surgical approach or percutaneous vascular access.

Anatomical consideration of length and angulation of the styloid process and their significances for eagle's syndrome in Thais.

Objectives: Elongated styloid process was reported concerning dento-maxillofacial and ear-nose-throat patients. Several studies described that its length as well as the anterior and medial angulations occasionally involved in the symptom of Eagle’s syndrome and the surgical shortening of the process could alleviate neck and cervicofacial pain in patients. This study aimed to investigate the length and the angulation of the styloid process, and to study the occurrence of the elongated styloid process in Thais. Methods: The investigation was done in both sides of 176 Thai dry and 150 cadaveric skulls with intact styloid processes. The length and the angulation (anterior and medial angles) of the styloid process were measured and expressed as Mean±SD. A styloid process longer than 30 mm was identified as an elongated styloid process. Results: The means of length, and anterior and medial angles of styloid process were 24.12 ± 7.28 mm, and 28.03 ± 9.85 and 23.53 ± 10.19 degrees, respectively. Out of all styloid processes, 18.40% (11.70% in males, 6.70% in females) were the elongated styloid process. There was no statistical difference of angles between groups with normal and elongated styloid processes (P>0.05). Conclusions: The elongated styloid processes were found up to 18.40% of Thais. The presence of the elongated styloid process and its angulation, though rare, does highlight the importance of routine examination of the styloid process as it may cause pain in craniocervical region.

Anatomic and morphometric consideration for external landmarks of foramen spinosum in Thai dry skulls.

Background and Objectives: The foramen spinosum (FS) is an important opening on the greater wing of the sphenoid bone and transmits the middle meningeal artery to the middle cranial fossa. Because the presence of FS is important in microsurgery of this area, the anatomic and morphometric consideration for localizing the FS using external landmarks were studied. Methods: One hundred and three dry skulls were examined for the FS in the middle cranial fossa and at the extracranial view of the skull base. The type of FS was classified according to its shape. Its diameter and the distances to the zygomatic arch (ZA) and the external acoustic meatus (EAM) were also measured. Results: The FS in both views of the skull base was mostly round in shape (43.2% intracranially and 49.5% extracranially) and was present bilaterally 30.1% extracranially. The maximum and minimum diameters of the FS and the FS-ZA distance were greater in males than females and the ZA-EAM distance was greater on the right than the left sides significantly. (P<0.05) Conclusion: Although a great variation was found in the shapes of the FS, prior estimation of the location of FS was suggested using external landmarks as the point on the ZA 16.42 mm anterior to the EAM and 34.19 mm from that point medial and perpendicular to the ZA. These findings may help neurosurgeon to approach the middle cranial fossa more precisely and gain better preservation of surrounding neurovascular structures.