Synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers of vanillic acid and extraction of vanillic acid from spiked blood serum

Vanillic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) is a phenolic acid found in many plant extracts. It is used as aflavoring and scent agent and produces a pleasant, creamy odor. It is widely used in many applications for therapeuticpurposes to flavoring agent. Molecularly imprinted polymers of vanillic acid were synthesized by precipitationpolymerization with a noncovalent approach for the extraction from blood serum. Three different imprinted polymershave been synthesized with varying molar ratio of monomer. The synthesized polymer particles were characterizedusing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The extraction efficiency of highlyselected imprinted polymer of vanillic acid from spiked blood serum was about 80%.

Pseudocyst of pinna: a clinical experience

Background: Pseudocyst of pinna is an intracartilagenous accumulation of fluid in pinna and is hardly encountered in routine ENT practice. The etiology is unclear. It is seen to affect most commonly middle-aged males. Medical treatment is ineffective. Various treatments are suggested in the literature. The aims of the paper were to study the clinical and demographic characteristic of patients with pseudocysts.Methods: Forty patients were diagnosed with pseudocyst of the auricle between July 2016 and July 2019 on the basis of clinical characteristics, colour of aspirated fluid and absence of infection. Clinical and demographic characteristics were noted.Results: Out of 40 patients only five were females. Involvement of left side was seen more than right one. None had bilateral involvement. Adults in the age group of 31-45 were commonly affected. Most common site of involvement was triangular fossa.Conclusions: Pseudocyst of the pinna is a benign condition characterized by intracartilagenous accumulation of fluid. The disease is seen commonly unilaterally in middle aged males. Many modalities of treatment have been recommended in the literature with varied recurrence and failure rates.

Expression of MUC5AC in normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma by immunohistochemistry

Background: Carcinomas of the stomach are a heterogeneous group of lesions in terms of architecture, pattern of growth, cell differentiation, and histogenesis. Altered MUC5AC expression patterns have been reported previously in intestinal metaplasia as well as in gastric cancer. The aim of the study was to analyse the expression pattern of MUC5AC in normal, pre-neoplastic and neoplastic gastric epithelium.Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections of sixty cases which include twenty cases of each normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma were taken up for the study and subjected to immunohistochemistry using MUC5AC.Results: The intensity of MUC5AC immunostaining in normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma was evaluated. Immunoreactivity was graded as 0 (negative), ± (trace positive), + (positive) or ++ (strongly positive). Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-Square test and significant differences were noted between these 3 groups (p value <0.05).Conclusions: Authors concluded that MUC5AC expression rates might be good parameters in progression of intestinal metaplasia to gastric carcinoma and might be a good prognostic marker for gastric carcinoma as it is very well implicated in understanding of gastric carcinogenesis.

Evaluation of Genetic Variability in Adansonia digitata L. by RAPD Analysis.

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) belonging to Bombacaceae family, is one of the most widely used indigenous tree species in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the present study was to assess molecular variation among A. digitata and to determine the level of genetic similarity among them. The yield of DNA ranged from 15-40 μg/mg of leaf tissue and the purity was between 1.1- 2.9, indicating minimal levels of contaminating metabolites. The technique was ideal for isolation of DNA from A. digitata and the DNA isolated was used for randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using the primer OPB07. The bands obtained ranged in size from 54-795 bp. Two clusters were observed, one group with 8 bands and the other with 11 bands. Present study could be important in domestication, conservation, management & improvement strategies of A. digitata.

Purification and partial characterization of a fructose-binding lectin from the leaves of Euphorbia helioscopia

A lectin was purified from leaves of Euphorbia helioscopia, by a combination of ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. On ion exchange using a DEAE- cellulose column in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, the bound protein was eluted with a linear sodium chloride gradient of 0.1 M to 0.5 M. Further purification of the lectin was achieved by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Euphorbia helioscopia lectin [EHL] agglutinates only chick erythrocytes, showing no agglutination of all human blood group erythrocytes. The EHL induced hemagglutination is inhibited by fructose. The purified protein showed one band, both in non-denaturing PAGE and SDS-PAGE establishing the charge and size homogeneities of the lectin preparation. The molecular mass of the lectin as indicated by SDS-PAGE was approximately 31 kDa and that estimated from G-100 gel filtration chromatography was about 65 kDa establishing that the lectin is a homodimer. The lectin was stable within a temperature range of 0°C-40°C and exhibited a narrow range of pH stability, being optimally active at around pH 7. EHL also possesses antimicrobial activity and is an inhibitor of bacterial growth particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli

Antibacterial activity of bark extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam. against some selected bacteria

The methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous bark extracts of Moringa oleifera were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four bacteria viz. Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus megaterium and Pseudomonas fluorescens using erythromycin as positive control. The activity was analyzed using paper disc diffusion method at different concentration of the extract. The study revealed that all the bark extracts irrespective of their types, in different concentrations inhibited growth of the test pathogens to varying degrees. Ethyl acetate extract showed maximum activity against all the bacterial strains followed in descending order by chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts. The activity decreased with decrease in concentration of the extract. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most sensitive test organism to different extracts of Moringa oleifera. Looking to these results it may be concluded that M. oleifera may be a potential source for the treatment of different infections caused by the resistant microbes

In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Cichorium intybus against some Pathogenic Bacteria.

The root and leaf extracts of Cichorium intybus were investigated for antibacterial activity against gram negative pathogenic bacteria viz. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The sensitivity was analyzed using Disk diffusion method at various concentrations where zone of inhibition was compared with the standard drug Cephotaxime. The extracts showed a wide spectrum of inhibition against the test pathogens. Methanolic extract of root and leaf proves to have the strongest antibacterial activity. Antibacterial activity of the test extracts at different inhibitory concentration varied significantly at 0.05 level of significance. The maximum activity was recorded at 200mg/ml concentration, the activity decreased with the decrease in the concentration of the extract. The present study reveals that the root and leaf extracts of Cichorium intybus would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antibacterial activity and could potentially be exploited as a source of natural antibacterial.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of rhizome of Podophyllum hexandrum against carbon tetra chloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test possible antioxidant activity of n-hexane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum under in vitro and in vivo conditions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by the ability of the extract to interact with the stable free radical DPPH, Superoxide (O2-), Hydroxyl (OH-), Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals, and reducing power ability of the extract was also evaluated. Under in vivo conditions the extract was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity by measuring different biochemical parameters, such as serum alanine aminotransaminase, serum aspartate aminotransaminase and serum lactate dehydrogenase and antioxidant enzymes. Antioxidant status was estimated by determining the activities of antioxidative enzymes, glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and by determining the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hexane extract of P. hexandrum exhibited good radical scavenging capacity in neutralization of DPPH, O2-, OH-, and H2O2 radicals in a dose dependent manner. n-hexane extract of Podophyllum hexandrum at the doses of 20, 30, and 50 mg/kg-day produced hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum marker enzymes, while it significantly increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in a dose dependant manner. The effect of n-hexane extract was comparable to that of standard antioxidant vitamin E.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The extract of Podophyllum hexandrum possess free radical scavenging activity under in vitro conditions and could protect the liver tissue against CCl(4) induced oxidative stress probably by increasing antioxidant defense activities.</p>

Nutritional values and antioxidant potential of some edible mushrooms of Kashmir valley

Mushrooms are considered rich in proteins, carbohydrates and other nutrients. The present study was carried out to evaluate some edible mushrooms of Kashmir valley for their protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents. The highest protein content was found in Boletus edulis [2.20g] followed by Agaricus bisporus [1.80g], Pleurotus ostreatus [1.68g], Morchella esculenta [1.62g] and Pleurotus sajor caju [1.6g]. Carbohydrate content also showed variation in all the five tested edible mushroom species, the highest carbohydrate content observed in Boletus edulis [6.0g] followed by Agaricus bisporus [4.85g], Pleurotus ostreatus [4.30g], Morchella esculenta [4.25g] and Pleurotus sajor caju [3.35g] respectively. Similar results were observed for lipid content. The present study was also investigated for the antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of mushroom species by the methods of DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity. All these in vitro antioxidant activities were concentration dependent, which were compared with standard antioxidant Catechin