ABSTRACT
The need to revise the curriculum for the postgraduate course (M.D.) in Pharmacology has been perceived by the academicians in India since quite some time. The changing professional requirements of the graduating students, the current scenario vis a vis animal experimentation and the emphasis of the Medical Council of India on a competency based curriculum has triggered this felt need. In spite of the fact that most medical institutions and universities in India offer postgraduate courses in pharmacology, the curriculum lacks uniformity with extreme variations observed at some places. This article attempts to analyze the existing curricula in pharmacology in India and suggest modifications that could be recommended to the suitable regulatory bodies for implementation. A revision of objectives in the three domains of learning, development of skills that help develop suitable competencies, adoption of teaching learning methods in addition to the conventional methods, and a rethink on the assessment methods have been recommended. Development and validation of alternatives skill-based modules in lieu of animal experiments are recommended. Additional skills like medical writing and communication skills, professionalism and ethics, multi and inter-disciplinary integration and collaboration and a wider exposure of students to the pharmaceutical, academic, regulatory and research institutions for onsite learning were also recommended to fulfill their future career requirements.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Graduate , Pharmacology/education , Curriculum , IndiaABSTRACT
Protease was isolated from Sporosarcina RRLJ1 which was collected from acid tea (Camellia sinensis) plantations. It showed potential for production of the enzyme for commercial purposes. The study revealed that optimum pH for growth of the organism was 6.5-7 and supplement of casein (1%) in the medium was required for production of protease. Enzyme production and enzyme activity was maximum in 72 hr old broth culture. Maximum activity of the enzyme was found at pH 6.5.
Subject(s)
Endopeptidases/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Endospore-Forming Bacteria/enzymology , Culture Media , Gram-Positive Endospore-Forming Bacteria/growth & development , Gram-Positive Endospore-Forming Bacteria/isolation & purification , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Tea/microbiologyABSTRACT
Two strains of Proteus isolated from tea plantation soil were tested for their ability to colonise the roots of gram (Cicer arietinum), bean (Phaseolus radiatus) and mung (Phaseolus mungo) using a gnotobiotic system. Seeds bacterized with the two strains grew faster and showed significant increase in root and shoot enlargement of the plants tested. The bioactive fractions obtained from the culture filtrates and separated through HPLC showed that the plant growth promoting fractions were not always fungicidal and that the insecticidal fraction which was found only in RRLJ 16 was not plant growth promoting. These results suggest that the plant growth promotion effect of the plant beneficial bacteria may not always be due to disease suppression.
Subject(s)
Pest Control, Biological , Plants/microbiology , Proteus vulgaris/physiology , Species Specificity , TeaABSTRACT
A strain of Proteus RRLJ 16, isolated from acid (pH 4.5-5.5) iron rich tea (Camellia sinensis) plantation soil, produced siderophores with single absorption peak at 370 nm when cultured in iron free medium. Extracted crude fraction of siderophores and live cultures showed in vitro antibiosis against five species of pathogenic fungi. When the strain was cultured in a normal bacteriological medium without iron stress, it produced an insect repellent compound. The culture filtrate sprayed (dilution of 1:100 in water) on tea plants infected with pink mites or green flies, the insect populations disappeared from the plants. Termite galleries sprayed similarly showed no termite activity after 24 hr of spraying. No reinfestation by insects was observed on treated plants for more than one year.
Subject(s)
Crops, Agricultural , Fungi , Insecta , Pest Control, Biological , Proteus/chemistry , Tea/microbiology , AnimalsABSTRACT
The property of Hydroxylapatite (Ca (5) (PO (4)) (3) OH) to adsorb plant components selectively is used to isolate and purify steroid glycoalkaloids from Solanum khasianum. This method is suitable for botanists seeking higher alkaloid yielding plants and can be performed in experimental plantations where limited laboratory facilities are available.
