vitro antioxidant effect of Camellia sinensis on human cell cultures

Camellia sinensisis traditionally used in many polyherbal preparations for the treatment of different diseases and infections. Its action has been associated with its antioxidant activities. In this study, antioxidant effect of Camellia sinensis on hydrogen peroxide-induced human lymphocyte cell cultures was estimated. Camellia sinensis showed high contents of ascorbic acid, phenols, flavonoids, and flavonols. Good scavenging activity was evident by scavenging assays e.g. 2,2-DiPhenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl Hydrate [DPPH], 2,2-Azinobis [3-ethyl-BenzoThiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid [ABTS] radical assay and reducing power assay. Moreover, High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC-UV] chromatographs showed many notable peaks of unidentified bioactive compounds. In vitro antioxidant actions were determined by the activities of catalase [ELISA kit method], superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation and total protein contents on lymphocyte cell cultures. In vitro experimental trial showed strong antioxidant repair mechanism of plant against oxidative stress. Results of extraction with solvent methanol showed the highest antioxidant activity. Camellia sinensis is promising source of natural antioxidants and further studies might be a likely source of its use in remedy of different diseases

Screening of endophytic Streptomycetes isolated from Parthenium hysterophorus L. against nosocomial pathogens

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is an obnoxious weed of the family asteraceae recognized for its detrimental effects and significant economic losses to agriculture. In this study 42 endophytic streptomycetes strains were isolated from its roots and leaves. The isolates were identified by morphological, microscopic, biochemical and physiological characterization as members of genus Streptomyces. In 16S rRNA gene sequencing the selected isolates exhibited maximum similarity with Streptomyces rochei [99%], Streptomyces litmocidini [99%], Streptomyces enissocaesili [99%], Streptomyces djakartensis [99%], Streptomyces olivaceus [99%], Streptomyces spp [99%], Streptomyces plicatus [99%], Streptomyces geysiriensis [99%] and Streptomyces vinaceusdrappus [99%]. In biological screening the crude extracts of 12 strains exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against multi drug resistant nosocomial pathogens including Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Bacillus, Escherichia coli, Staphlococcus aureus and Candida albicans. In chemical screening by Thin Layer Chromatography [TLC] the extracts exhibited an impressive diversity of the bioactive secondary metabolites. Additionally High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC-UV] chromatographs revealed many impressive peaks of unidentified bioactive metabolites. As such this is a first study reporting the isolation, identification and screening of endophytic Streptomyces from the invasive weed. The results provide an insight into an untapped endophytic environment yet to be explored which might be a promising source of lead antimicrobial agents

Early diagnosis of hypertension with molecular genetic techniques

To standardize the molecular techniques for early diagnosis of genes of hypertension. These techniques include extraction of DNA in which we extracted DNA by manual method with results of high yield, less purity and it was more time consuming. On the other hand with kit [Fermentas] method yield was low with high purity and less time consuming. The purity of DNA was checked by spectrophotometer by using DNA/RNA ratio. Conditions for diagnosis was optimized for specific DNA sequence by using primers for genes Agt and Ace. Restriction digestion was done with the amplified product with restriction enzymes Lwel and Nco1 the result was found negative with no polymorphism. Single stranded conformational polymorphism [SSCP] was performed which is more efficient method of obtaining information about level of polymorphism with in anonymous nuclear loci than the restriction enzyme protocol. SSCP is also more specific because it gives idea which specific portion of gene is highly polymorphic. The result was again negative. This preliminary study of molecular analysis optimized the conditions for detection of polymorphism of candidate genes associated with hypertension. Following the same standardized conditions this is possible that we can study and diagnose thousands of hypertensive patients. This is very much helpful for future planning of persons who are prone to hypertension due to family history

Seroprevalence of rubella IGG and IGM antibodies in infants suspected of having rubella infection

This study was conducted to assess clinical and laboratory screening for suspected congenital rubella syndrome [CRS] and to evaluate the efficacy of reporting of CRS cases at the Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health. A total of 100 infants suspected of having rubella infection were included in the study. Rubella titer was used as an indicator. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect rubella specific IgM and IgG. The data was analyzed on infants 'birth weight, infants' clinical characteristics and laboratory evaluation. The study shows that out of 100 Infants, only three [3%] met the definition for confirmed rubella whereas thirty-four patients were positive for Rubella IgG only. Ninety-seven other children had clinical presentation that met the definition for a probable case but when they were tested for Rubella specific IgM antibodies, the tests were negative. Rubella IgG positive patients were further categorized on the basis of their age; 33 [97%] infants were of less than six months and only 1 [3%] infant was of more than six months. Average age of the patients was 2.2 months [SD +/- 1.55]. The common clinical presentations in rubella positive patients [n=3] were failure to thrive [100%], cataract [67%], patent ductus arteriosus [67%], microcephaly [67%], intracranial calcification [33%], buphthalamus [33%], and hepatosplenomegaly [67%]. With regard to hematological abnormalities in the three rubella confirmed cases, three had anemia [loon two infants had thrombocytopenia [67%], and only one infant had leucopenia [33.3%]. The relatively high rate of susceptibility indicated a risk of a rubella outbreak, and the resulting. Congenital rubella syndrome is an under-recognized public health problem in Pakistan and can be reduced by vaccinating all seronegative women. There is an urgent need for the collection of appropriate data to estimate the cost effectiveness of a potential Rubella Control Programme

Growth improvement of Sunflower seedlings by Cr[VI]-resistant bacteria

In the present study, three chromium resistant bacterial strains [CrT-1, CrT-2, CrT-3] which could resist very high concentration of K2CrO4 [up to 40 mg ml-1 on nutrient agar plates and 10 mg ml-1 in acetate-minimal medium] were used to inoculate the sunflower seeds both as control and under chromium stress. Cr[VI] caused severe reduction in different growth parameters [seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight g-1 fresh weight] as compared to control, while bacterial inoculations improved different growth parameters both as control and under chromate stress when compared with non-inoculated respective controls. With respect to biochemical parameters, acid phosphatase and auxin content showed marked increment with bacterial inoculation both in chromium stress and unstressed condition. Uptake of chromium in inoculated plants decreased significantly as compared to non-inoculated control. Cr [VI] application also severely damages different plant cells/tissues but bacterial inoculation not only improves the growth and yields parameters but also prevent cell damages caused by the Cr [VI] salt

Bacterial reduction of toxic Cr (VI) into Cr (III) / 生物工程学报

Two chromium-resistant bacterial strains CrT-1 and CrT-13, which can tolerate K2CrO4 up to 40 mg x mL(-1) on nutrient agar, 25 mg x mL(-1) K2 CrO4 in nutrient broth, and up to 10 mg x mL(-1) in acetate-minimal media, were used in this study. On the basis of 16S rRNA, strain CrT-1 was identified as Ochrobactrum intermedium and CrT-13 as Brevibacterium sp.. Uptake of chromate was greater in living cells than in heat-killed cells. Ochrobactrum intermedium CrT-1 reduced 73% and 41% of Cr(V) while Brevibacterium CrT-13 reduced 62% and 48% Cr(VI) at an initial chromate concentration of 750, and 1500 microg x mL(-1), after 96 hours with an inoculum size of 9.6 x 10(7) cells mL(-1). Different heavy metals at low concentrations did not affect the reduction potential of the strains significantly. Ochrobactrum intermedium CrT-1 reduced 84% and 65% while Brevibacterium CrT-13 reduced 60% and 44% of Cr(VI) at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 250 and 500 microg x mL(-1), respectively, in an industrial effluent sample.