Stability Study of Pashanbhedadi Churna Used in Treatment of Ashmari (Renal Calculi): with Respect to Baseline Microbial Diagnostic Modalities

Ashmari (Renal Calculi) is most common disease of urinary system. Ashmari or calculus looks like small gravels/stones hence they are termed as Ashmari. For the treatment of Ashmari Pashanbhedadi Churna was taken as a trial drug. As Pashanbhedadi Churna was trial drug it was necessary to check the stability. Stability of the drug is the time period from the drug production until the time it is intended to be consumed. So, present study was carried out to know the stability of Pashanbhedadi Churna and to check microbial contamination in the Pashanbhedadi Churna at different time interval. Pashanbhedadi Churna was stored in plastic bag. Microbial study of the drug was done at different climatic conditions, humidity and temperature set ups with regular intervals for a period of 11months to analyse mycological and bacteriological findings by wet mount preparation and Gram stain test respectively. Though in different climate, temperature and humidity conditions, at the end of microbial study, Churna has shown absence of microbes for approx.11 months of preparation of drug. So, it is showed that drug is stable in minimum 32°C temperature to maximum 38°C and minimum humidity 23% to maximum 74% humidity. That means stability duration of drug after preparation is approx. 11 months which showed that drug was in a standard condition. Hence it is concluded that stability test of Pashanbhedadi Churna with respect to microbiological findings was negative at room temperature, warm and cold, dry and humid conditions.

Desaguamento do lodo de estações de tratamento de água por leito de drenagem/secagem / Dewatering of sludge from water treatment plants using drainage/drying bed

Vários estudos têm mostrado a eficiência das técnicas naturais de desaguamento do lodo das estações de tratamento de água no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o sistema de desaguamento por leito de drenagem/secagem, com manta geotêxtil dos lodos de decantadores de duas diferentes estações de tratamento de água, em ensaios de laboratório e escala reduzida. Foram considerados os parâmetros técnicos de projeto: densidade da manta; taxa de aplicação dos sólidos; taxa de aplicação volumétrica e secagem em diferentes condições climáticas. Na fase de drenagem, entre 78 a 91% do volume total dos líquidos percolados apresentaram qualidade compatível com o padrão de enquadramento dos corpos de água doce classes I e II, segundo a Resolução 357/05 do Conama. Na fase de secagem, foi possível obter teores de sólidos totais entre 15,9 e 20,3%, cujos valores são da mesma ordem de grandeza que aqueles obtidos por desaguamentos mecânicos, mesmo em condições críticas de secagem.

Several studies have showed the efficiency of natural techniques to dewater the sludge from water treatment plants in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dewatering system through drainage/drying with a geotextile blanket using the sludge of decanters from two types of water treatment plants, in laboratory experiments and reduced scale. The following technical parameters of project were considered: density of blanket, application rate of solids, volumetric application rate, and drying in different climate conditions. In the drainage phase, 78 to 91% of the total volume of percolated liquid presented a compatible quality to the standardized limits for freshwater bodies from classes I and II, according to Resolution 357/05 from the National Council of Environment. In the drying phase, it was possible to obtain total solid rates between 15.9 and 20.3%, values of the same magnitude order as those obtained by mechanical drainages, even in critical drying conditions.

Efeito do déficit hídrico em características químicas e bioquímicas da soja e na degradação da clorofila, com ênfase na formação de metabólitos incolores / Influence of drought stress on chemical and biochemical characteristics of soybean and on chlorophyll degradation, with focus on the formation of non-coloured chlorophyll catabolites

O Brasil é o segundo maior produtor e exportador de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) no mundo. A produção é altamente dependente de fatores climáticos, incluindo a temperatura e quantidade de chuva. A soja cultivada no sul do país em 2005 sofreu déficit hídrico causado por temperaturas altas acompanhado por umidade baixa durante o estádio reprodutivo. Pouco se sabe sobre a influência do déficit hídrico na degradação da clorofila e na qualidade dos grãos em geral. Nesse trabalho foram analisadas, numa primeira etapa, as características químicas e bioquímicas de cinco amostras de soja, provenientes de três cultivares que cresceram sob déficit hídrico e que não atendiam aos padrões para comercialização por conter altas quantidades de sementes verdes. Os grãos foram analisados quanto a diversos parâmetros físico-químicos e bioquímicos incluindo a análise dos pigmentos verdes imediatamente após a colheita e após 20 meses de armazenamento. A acidez foi medida adicionalmente após 30 meses de armazenamento. A atividade de água e umidade foram 0,6-0,7 e 8,7 %-11,9 %, respectivamente, e não mudaram durante a estocagem, mas houve um aumento em acidez o que indica atividade de lipases. A atividade da lipoxigenase 1 foi significativamente prejudicada. Imediatamente após a colheita os pigmentos verdes correspondiam a feofitina a, feofitina b e pequenas quantidades de clorofila a e b, e traços de outros derivados da clorofila, em ordem decrescente. Após 20 meses de estocagem quase todos os pigmentos haviam desaparecido. O déficit hídrico provavelmente aumentou a permeabilidade das membranas, o que levou a um aumento do pH e promoveu a transformação das clorofilas para feofitinas. Na segunda etapa do trabalho foi estudado o estágio avançado da degradação natural da clorofila na qual desaparece a coloração esverdeada dos grãos. Esta etapa corresponde à formação de catabólitos incolores (NCC), mas existem controvérsias se essas substâncias são os produtos finais da degradação...

Brazil is the second largest soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) producer and exporter in the world. The production depends on climatic factors, like temperature and rain volume. Soybeans cultivated in the south of the country in 2005 suffered drought stress imposed by adverse high ambient temperature, accompanied by low humidity during the reproductive stage. Little information is available regarding drought stress on quality of grains. In this study, firstly, chemical and biochemical characteristics of five soybean samples belonging to three cultivars grown under drought stress and did not meet standards for marketing due to high amounts of green seeds, were evaluated. Grains were analyzed for several physicochemical ad biochemical parameters, including analysis of pigment contents, immediately after harvest and after 20 months of storage at room temperature. Acidity was measured additionally after 30 month of storage. Water activity and humidity were 0.6 - 0.7 and 8.7 % - 11.9 %, respectively, and did not change during storage time, but there was an increase in acidity, which alludes to lipase activity. The activity of lipoxygenase 1 was significantly prejudiced. Immediately after harvest, green pigments corresponded mainly to pheophytin a, followed by pheophytin b, small quantities of chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a and traces of other chlorophyll derivatives. After 20 months of storage almost all green pigments had disappeared. Drought stress probably enhanced membrane permeability, which led to a lower pH and promoted transformation of chlorophylls to pheophytins. In the second part of the study, the advanced stage of natural chlorophyll degradation was investigated, in which the green colour of the seeds disappears. This stage corresponds to the formation of non-coloured chlorophyll catabolites (NCC), but there are controversies if those are the final products. Thus, the formation and degradation of NCC during soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)...