Influence of Aeroponic System on Growth and Yield Parameters of V-1 Mulberry

In an aeroponic system, nutrients are directly delivered to the plant roots, which results in the faster growth of crops. Furthermore, aeroponics has been extensively used as a research tool for many difficult-to-propagate plant species. The present investigation shows that the plants grown under the aeroponic system were recorded maximum for all the growth parameters except leaf area which was found maximum under nursery conditions. Among treatments, T3 (three buds per cutting) recorded the maximum for all growth parameters followed by T2 (two buds per cutting) and T1 (one bud per cutting). The interaction effect between propagation systems and the number of buds per cutting showed significant results. S1T3 (three budded cuttings under aeroponic system) recorded maximum for growth parameters viz., intermodal length (4.27 cm), plant height (44.39 cm), number of leaves (16.91), leaf yield (10.79 g/plant), whereas least was recorded by S2T1 i.e., one budded cuttings under nursery (2.39 cm, 35.47 cm, 5.88, 4.84g /plant respectively) at 60 DAT. However, S2T3 recorded a maximum leaf area of 95.96 cm2. From these results, it can be concluded that the aeroponic system could be effectively used for the production of V-1 mulberry saplings.

A cross sectional study on self-medication practices among a selected rural community of Hooghly district, West Bengal

Background: Medicines are often used incorrectly; around 50% of all medicines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately, while 50% of patients fail to take their medicines appropriately (WHO 2002). Self-medication is an important concern worldwide and WHO has laid emphasis on correctly investigating and controlling it. Self-medication practices have dramatically increased in the last few decades, especially in developing countries like India. Therefore, the present study was planned to assess the prevalence of self-medication for during acute illness episodes and factors associated among a rural community.Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted from February to March, 2017 in Anandnagar village, Singur block. All the 900 households in village were included in the study. Data regarding pattern of self-medication were collected by using pretested structured schedule from head of the family or next available adult member. Data were analysed by using Microsoft Excel 2016.Results: Amongst 900 household’s data could be collected from 864 households. Majority respondents were housewives in age group 40-60 years and primary educated. 50.7% respondents reported having acute illness among family members in past 3 months, 48.5% amongst them reported using self-medication. Cough (56.6%), fever (20.3%) and pain (11.2%) were the conditions for which self-medication was used. Nearby medicine shop was the source of self-medication among 59.3% respondents. 2.3% reported using old prescriptions.Conclusions:Half of the communities having acute illness were using self-medication. Uncontrolled use of medicines needs to be addressed as it brings potential health hazards, drug resistance and misuse.

Effect of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor against lipopolysaccharide-induced hypothermia in mice.

Bacterial endotoxin produces sepsis associated with alterations in body temperature (fever or hypothermia). The intraperitoneal administration of bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 microg/mouse) led to a decrease in colonic temperature starting 1 hr after the injection. The hypothermic effect was accompanied by a significant increase in hypothalamic leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, zileuton (200 and 400 mg/kg, po) administered 30 min before LPS challenge significantly prevented hypothermia. However, non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10, 20 mg/kg, po) did not reverse the hypothermic response. Further, pretreatment of mice with zileuton prevented LPS-stimulated increase in hypothalamic LTB4 levels and caused a relatively small increase in PGE2 levels. Indomethacin had no effect on LTB4 levels but it reduced PGE2 levels. These results suggest a possible involvement of leukotrienes in LPS-induced hypothermia and the potential protective role of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors in endotoxemia.

Effect of licofelone against NSAIDs-induced gastrointestinal ulceration and inflammation.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of licofelone, a dual inhibitor of cycloxygenase1/2-5-lipoxygenase against indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats and mice in order to assess the role of leukotrienes if any, in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-induced gastrointestinal inflammation. Acute pretreatment with licofelone reversed the indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration, neutrophil adhesion in mesentery venules, neutrophil count in blood, lipid peroxides and vascularity in the stomachs of mice and rats. Further, chronic pretreatment of licofelone also prevented indomethacin-induced gastric morphological changes and cellular infiltration in mesentery venules. Moreover, acute administration of indomethacin elevated leukotriene B4 levels in gastric mucosa, which was reversed by pretreatment with licofelone The results suggest that licofelone offered gastroprotection against NSAIDs-induced gastropathy through its effect on leukotrienes and by inhibiting extravasation of neutrophils.

Inhibitory effect of sildenafil on gastrointestinal smooth muscle: role of NO-cGMP transduction pathway.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important neurotransmitter in the gut and has been demonstrated to be a key physiological mediator of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle. In the present study the effect of PDE 5 inhibitor sildenafil on the gastrointestinal function (gastric emptying and intestinal transit) has been demonstrated in mice. Sildenafil (0.5-2 mg/kg, po) did not alter the percent gastric emptying however, in higher doses (5, 10 and 30 mg/kg, po) it inhibited the gastric emptying. On acute administration (0.5-5 mg/kg, po) it did not alter the intestinal transit but in higher doses (10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) delayed the intestinal transit. Further, the inhibitory effect of sildenafil was significantly blocked by L-NAME (10 mg/kg, ip), a non-selective NOS inhibitor and methylene blue (1 mg/kg, ip), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor. These findings suggest the participation of NO-cGMP transduction pathway in the inhibitory effect of sildenafil (higher doses) on the gastrointestinal smooth muscles and its potential application in patients with nutcracker oesophagus, hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS), achalsia and diabetic gastroparesis or colitis where there is a loss of nNOS.

Effect of 5-lipoxygenase inhibition on events associated with inflammatory bowel disease in rats.

Leukotrienes play a part in inflammatory response. The unique role of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in the production of leukotrienes makes it a likely therapeutic target for inflammatory conditions like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of zileuton, an orally active selective 5-LOX inhibitor against the events associated with dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis in a rat model of IBD. The animals were administered simultaneously zileuton (100mg/kg) or sulphasalazine (100mg/kg) orally for 7 days. On day eight, rats were sacrificed, and distal colon isolated to determine myeloperoxidase activity, in vivo superoxide dismutase activity, prostaglandin E2 levels and histological examination. Both zileuton and sulphasalazine significantly prevented the development of inflammatory events associated with colitis. The effect of zileuton was more pronounced towards reducing myeloperoxidase activity and increasing PGE2 levels in distal colon. The results show that chemotactic leukotrienes are responsible for inflammatory surge in damaged colon and, zileuton, significantly improved healing by inhibition of neutrophil recruitment and indirectly through increase in prostaglandins at the site of inflammation. It is suggested that inhibitors of 5-LOX enzyme may have useful therapeutic role in the treatment of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Modulatory effect of diclofenac on antispasmodic effect of pitofenone in cholinergic spasm.

Biliary, ureteric and intestinal colic are extremely common clinical conditions associated with smooth muscle spasm. In the present study, antispasmodic activity was carried out against acetylcholine (10-640 ng/ml)-induced contractions on guinea pig ileum. Acetylcholine (10-640 ng/ml) induced concentration-dependent contraction of smooth muscle. Diclofenac, in varying concentration (9.4 x 10(-5) mol/l and 14.1 x 10(-5) mol/l) shifted the concentration response curve of acetylcholine to the right without suppressing the maximal response. However, in higher concentration diclofenac (18.9 x 10(-5) mol/l) blocked the response in an unsurmountable fashion. Further, analgin (11.09 x 10(-5), 16.63 x 10(-5) and 22.18 x 10(-5) mol/l) in equimolar concentrations did not alter the concentration response curve of acetylcholine, but in higher concentration analgin (44.36 x 10(-5) mol/l) also blocked the response in an unsurmountable fashion. Pitofenone (2.5 x 10(-6) mol/l) also, shifted the concentration response curve of acetylcholine to right in a parallel fashion with no change in maximal response. The present study confirms the potent antispasmodic activity of diclofenac-pitofenone combination in comparison to analgin-pitofenone in molar equivalent concentration (in comparison to diclofenac) against acetylcholine-induced contractions of guinea pig ileum.

Cholinergic-NO-cGMP mediation of sildenafil-induced antinociception.

Acetylcholine and cholinomimetic agents with predominant muscarinic action are known to increase the concentration of cGMP by activation of nitric oxide signaling pathway in the nociceptive conditions. The present study was aimed to investigate the NO-cGMP-PDE5 pathway in nociceptive conditions in the experimental animals. Nociceptive threshold was assessed by acetic acid-induced writhing assay (chemonociception) or carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia. Sildenafil [1-5 mg/kg, ip, 50-200 microg/paw, intraplantar (ipl)] produced dose dependent antinociception in both the tested models. Coadministration of acetylcholine (50 mcg/paw, ipl) or cholinomimetic agent, neostigmine (0.1 mcg/kg, ip and 25 ng/paw, ipl) augmented the peripheral antinociceptive effect of sildenafil. This effect was sensitive to blockade by L-NAME (20 mg/kg, ip, 100 microg/paw, ipl), a non-selective NOS inhibitor and methylene blue (1 mg/kg, ip), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, which per se had little or no effect in both the models of nociception. Further, the per se analgesic effect of acetylcholine and neostigmine was blocked by both L-NAME and methylene blue in the models of nociception, suggesting the activation of NO-cGMP pathway. Also, both L-NAME and methylene blue blocked the per se analgesic effect of sildenafil. These results indicate the peripheral accumulation of cGMP may be responsible for antinociceptive effect, and a possible interaction between cholinergic agents and PDE5 system in models of nociception.

Pharmacodynamic interactions of omeprazole with CNS active drugs in rats.

A pharmacodynamic interactional study with omeprazole was undertaken in rats. Omeprazole (7 mg/kg, orally once daily for 14 days) significantly prolonged pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg, ip) induced hypnosis while it had no effect on haloperidol (1 mg/kg, ip) induced catalepsy or morphine (5 mg/kg, ip) induced analgesia models in rats. The study highlighted the fact that dynamic interaction with omeprazole was selective.