RESUMEN
Abstract The inhibition of calculi forming oxalate by dietary Basella rubra plant organs leaf and stem pod has been investigated. The weight reduction assay was studied. Also a concoction of the plant organs was tested. Leaf extract was found with considerable activity whereas the concoction seems to be not much active as the stem pod extract. Soluble oxalate of the plant organs are partially removed prior to extraction of active constituents. The active component/s seem to be a non-protein and non-tannin molecule/s that may act through inhibition of calcium accumulation there by proving the positive activity against the calculi or kidney stone. Regular consumption of leaf and stem pod extracts of our plant would be helpful in calculi prophylaxis.
RESUMEN
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are one of the most common infectious diseases globally imposing a significantincrease in morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. There is an exponential increase in antibioticresistance attributed to indiscriminate use of antibiotics, lack of monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility patterns, crossinfections, etc. The study was carried out to isolate and identify the common bacteria causing RTIs among the patientsattending two secondary care hospitals. Sputum and throat swab samples were collected from clinically diagnosedRTI in 50 patients, in an aseptic condition and then cultured on the appropriate bacteriological media. Antimicrobialsusceptibility testing was performed by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and results were interpreted according tothe Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. The antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed Amikacin, Gentamicin, andCeftriaxone as highly sensitive and ciprofloxacin a widely used antibiotic in Nilgiris as the most resistant one.