Evaluation of phytoconstituents and assessment of adaptogenic activity in vivo in various extracts of Rhododendron arboreum (leaves).

Natural products particularly of plant origin with antistress property and nutraceutical value have become the focus of scores of scientific investigation in recent times. Against this background the present study was carried out to analyse the phytochemical components and adaptogenic activity of Rhododendron arboreum which grow in high altitudes. Adaptogenic activity of the plant extract was evaluated in vivo in rat and mice animal models. Methanol, hydroethanol and aqueous extract of the leaves were prepared and preliminary screening of the phytochemical constiteunts was carried out. The important phytoconstituents viz. flavonoids and phenolics were estimated and amount of gallic acid and quercetin were evaluated by HPTLC. Adaptogenic activity of the extract was studied in vivo using rat and mice as test animals. The criteria taken were forced swimming test in rat and mice and tail suspension test in mice. Methanol extract showed the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, tannin, phenolics. Hydroethanol extract showed the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, saponin, glycosides, alkaloids, tannin and aqueous extract showed the presence of tannin, glycosides, triterpenes, flavonoids, diterpenes. Quantitative analysis exhibited that the methanol extract have the highest amount of flavonoid and phenolics. The HPTLC profile of methanol extract showed the presence of highest amount of quercetin. Gallic acid was detected only in methanol extract. In vivo study in test animals revealed that the methanol extract of R. arboreum exhibited potent anti stress activity. Hence, presence of these compounds which are known to have strong anti-oxidant activity in high quantity might be responsible for adaptogenic activity.

Comparative evaluation of antigens used in immunofluorescence [IFAT] antibody test for serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis

The diagnostic value of antigens used in the IFAT for serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis has been evaluated. Cryosections of Schistosoma mansoni adults, formaline fixed cercariae and cryosections of infected liver, from gold hamster, which contained granuloma were used as antigens in this evaluation. The cryosections of adult worm were more reliable and more specific as an antigen for immunofluorescence [diagnostic efficacy was 95.52%]. The cercarial antigens gave the same results as the cryosection of adults. The IFAT using cryosection of infected liver contains granuloma was less reliable due to autofluorescence of eggs in the granuloma with negative sera [diagnostic efficacy was 49.01]

Otitis media and aural myiasis

Myiasis is a diseased condition caused by larvae of myiasis producing flies. Still little is known about such an important subject in Egypt. In this paper, the author described three human cases of otitis media associated with aural myiasis. The causative larvae were those of W. magnifica and S. falculata

relation between intestinal troubles and parasitic infection in Cairo

Stool and urine from 320 subjects in Ain shams region, and 200 subjects in Nasr city were collected and examined for parasites. All these subjects were suffering from abdominal troubles. The results revealed a marked relation between parasitic Infection and abdominal troubles, especially in Ain shams region [80%], and to a lesser extent in Nasr City [51%]. The commonest parasite in Ain shams was Giardia lamblia [20.3%], and in Nasr city was E. histolytica [13%]

Precautions on using eggs of schistosoma haematobium as an antigen in COPT

The circumoval precipitin test was performed on 60 male patients with active bilharziasis and 20 control normal subjects. Both types of S. mansoni and S. haematobium eggs were used as an antigen. The percentages of positivity, egg reactivity, and the refraction's precipitation intensity were lower on using S. haematobium eggs than with S. mansoni