ABSTRACT
SUMMARY Currently, there is a growing interest in identifying alternative sources of fatty acids due to the present increasing demand for oil-rich botanicals in industrial applications. The main objective of this work was to identify the fatty acid compositions of ether extracts of dried leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam., Ficus exasperata Vahl., Gossypium herbaceum Linn. and Hilleria latifolia (Lam.) H. Walt. The fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Among the evaluated ether extracts, the higher contents of saturated fatty acids were found in H. latifolia (27.96%) with the principal presence of stearic acid compared to the content of the saturated fatty acids in B. pinnatum (0.53%), F. exasperata (0.04%) and G. herbaceum (0.47%). Equally, the result showed that H. latifolia contained the highest percentage of unsaturated fatty acids with the predominant presence of oleic acid with the amount of 41.04%. Linoleic acid was also found to have the highest value in H. latifolia with the amount of 20.41%. Stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were found in all the samples. The extract of H. latifolia contained a healthy mixture of different types of fatty acids thus suggesting it as a probable source of suitable fatty acids.
RESUMEN Actualmente, existe un creciente interés en identificar fuentes alternativas de ácidos grasos debido a la creciente demanda actual de productos botánicos ricos en aceite en aplicaciones industriales. El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue identificar las composiciones de ácidos grasos de extractos de éter de hojas secas de Bryophyllum pinnatum Lam., Ficus exasperata Vahl., Gossypium herbaceum Linn. y Hilleria latifolia (Lam.) H. Walt. Los ácidos grasos fueron analizados por cromatografía de gases con detector de ionización de llama. Entre los extractos de éter evaluados, los mayores contenidos de ácidos grasos saturados se encontraron en H. latifolia (27,96%) con presencia principal de ácido esteárico en comparación con el contenido de los ácidos grasos saturados en B. pinnatum (0,53%), F. exasperata (0,04%) y G. herbaceum (0,47%). Igualmente, el resultado mostró que la H. latifolia contenía el mayor porcentaje de ácidos grasos insaturados con presencia predominante de ácido oleico con una cantidad de 41,04%. También se encontró que el ácido linoleico tiene el valor más alto en H. latifolia con una cantidad de 20,41%. Se encontró ácido esteárico, ácido oleico y ácido linoleico en todas las muestras. El extracto de H. latifolia contenía una mezcla saludable de diferentes tipos de ácidos grasos, lo que sugiere que es una fuente probable de ácidos grasos adecuados.
ABSTRACT
Eleusine coracana is considered one of the most nutritious cereals. It has different names in local languages. It is known as Ragi in Telugu and Kannada/aariyam in Tamil, and Madua in Hindi and in Nigeria, it is known as Okababa in Yoruba, Dawa in Hausa, etc. This study sought to investigate the protective ability of ethanolic extracts of Eleusine coracana in Arsenic trioxide induced hepatotoxicity using rat models. Animals were grouped into four (4). Group A received only distilled water, in group B,C and D hepatotoxicity was induced using 5 mg/dl Arsenic Trioxide solution for 14 days, followed by treatment in group C and D daily with 200 mg and 500 mg per kg body weight respectively for 14 days, and changes in body weight and Liver Function parameters were determined. Eleusine coracana contains Tannins, phlobatannins,Falavonoids and Terpenoids but not Steriods and Saponins, Eleusine treated groups had a significant decrease in the organ-body weight index. The mean weight and Total Protein was significantly reduced in the intoxicated-untreated group (group B). The AST, direct and total Bilirubin level was significantly higher in group B compared to control and other treated groups. Eleusine cocarna as a plant and source of food contains certain phytochemicals which are capable of managing hepatic cell injury, this serve as a point for pharmacological intervention.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the current study is to evaluate the inhibition of α-glucosidase activity by stem bark extract of Albizia chevalieri. The activity of alpha glucosidase was assayed in vitro using 50 mM acetate buffer pH 6.0 (prepared from acetic acid and sodium acetate) and various concentration of maltose (0.5 mM to 10 mM). Five test tubes, labeled TA – TE, each containing 1.5 ml of acetate buffer, 0.5 ml of alpha glucosidase and 0.5 ml of a known concentration of plant extract and control tubes (CA – CE) were assessed for Alpha glucosidase activity. The results showed that hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts inhibited α-glucosidase activity. The results further indicated that the extracts act by competitive inhibition with inhibition constant of 232 mg/ml, 157 mg/ml and 67 mg/ml for hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, respectively. The value for the inhibition constants shows that there is a strong binding of the enzyme to the inhibitor as the polarity of solvent increases. The inhibitory activity of Albizia chevalieri may be due one or more of the phytochemicals present in the extracts.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION@#Antibiotics have been used customarily in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis since their introduction and have become the standard of care. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy versus no antibiotic therapy in the treatment of uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis.@*METHODS@#An electronic search for randomized controlled trials comparing antibiotics versus no antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated diverticulitis was conducted. The outcomes considered were associated morbidity (abscess formation and sigmoid perforation); need for sigmoid colon resection, and recurrence of diverticulitis. The included studies were evaluated for risk of bias. Meta-analysis with Forest plot was performed using Review Manager Version 5.3.@*RESULTS@#Two trials, consisting of 1,151 subjects, were included in the meta-analysis. There was no difference in the risk of sigmoid perforation (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.30, 3.49). Abscess formation and incidence of sigmoid resection were lower in the antibiotics groups (RR 2.24, 95% CI 0.51, 9.95 and RR 1.59, 95% CI 0.75, 3.36, respectively) but the differences were not significant. There was no difference in the recurrence of diverticulitis (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.74, 1.78) between the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#There is no definite advantage in giving antibiotics to patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis. Not giving antibiotics may be an acceptable treatment option for patients with acute uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis.
ABSTRACT
Con el objetivo de evaluar el impacto de la internación hospitalaria sobre la práctica del amamantamiento se evaluó en forma prospectiva un grupo de 108 lactantes con edades menores de seis meses que se internaron en el área de cuidados intermedios y moderados del Hospital de Pediatría J. P. Garrahan. El 79 por ciento de los lactantes se alimentaba al pecho al momento de su internación. De estos, 60 por ciento abandonaron la lactancia al momento del alta del Hospital. Las causas invocadas por las familias para la suspensión de la lactancia fueron en 20 por ciento de los casos relacionadas con la enfermedad de base, 6 por ciento por enfermedad concomitante o tratamiento de la madre, 42 por ciento por causa de la internación y 32 por ciento por hipogalactia. Se concluye que el abandono de la lactancia como consecuencia de la internación pediátrica es muy alto y en un 75 por ciento de las ocasiones por causas no debidamente justificadas. El desarrollo de estrategias de promoción adecuadas a las condiciones de la internación y el rol más activo del equipo de salud pueden resultar en tasas de amamantamiento mayores al egreso hospitalario.