Prevention of acetaminophen induced hepatorenal damage in mice with rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra A histophysiological study.

Protective role of Gycyrrhiza glabra rhizomes (roots) at three dose levels (100, 75, & 50 mg/kg/bw) against sublethaldose (300 mg/kg/bw) of acetaminophen (paracetamol) induced hepatorenal damage has been assessed in mice. Parameters of study were glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), billirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as liver function tests, creatinine and urea as kidney function tests and histology for pathology. G.glabra could antagonize acetaminophen induced both,hepato and nephrotoxicity in dose dependent manner. No protection provided by a single dose of G.glabra (1.5 gm/kg/bw) against lethal dose of acetaminophen (1gm/kg/bw). Probable protective role is discussed.

Local breeds, livelihoods and livestock keepers' rights in South Asia.

In South Asia, and throughout the developing world, the predominant official approach to livestock development has been improvement of production by means of upgrading local breeds via cross-breeding with exotic animals. This strategy has led to the replacement and dilution of locally adapted breeds with non-native ones. This has resulted in an alarming loss that has been estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to amount to one breed every two weeks. Based on selected case studies this paper argues that development strategies using locally adapted breeds and species are much more likely to benefit livestock keepers whilst also maintaining domestic animal diversity and bearing a smaller ecological footprint. It also analyses the rationale for "Livestock Keepers' Rights", a principle that grew out of the struggle of traditional livestock keepers to retain control over their production resources, such as grazing areas and breeding stock, in the face of unfavourable policy environments.

Hypocholesterolemic effect of Terminalia chebula fruit (Myrobalan) in mice.

Cholesterol fed mice were administered powdered myrobalan, the fruit of Terminalia chebula, to evaluate its antiatherogenic activity. Male mice were fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol with or without myrobalan for 100 days. The cholesterol containing diet fed to mice caused increased food intake, body weight, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, thickening of the walls of aorta and shrinkage in its lumen (group 2) . The oral administration of myrobalan to mice on atherogenic diet successfully reversed these effect (group 3). However, the food intake was observed to be high as compared to the control animals. Control animals (group 1) received only the vehicle. The results suggest that myrobalan has hypocholesterolemic effect in animals fed with atherogenic diet.

Prevention of toxic effects of mercuric chloride on Some male accessory organs in mice with a Multiherbal drug "Speman".

Adult Swiss albino male mice exposed to mercuric chloride via drinking water at 5 µg/ml for 100 days revealed significant reduction in the wet weight and severe histopathological changes in male accessory organs, poor level of serum testosterone and infertility. These effects were reduced remarkable and fertility was restored when drug (12.50 mg/mouse/day orally) was administered during mercury exposure for 100days or after Hg-exposure for next 60 days (Post therapy). Natural recovery after mercury exposure for 60 days remind ineffective. Probable action of herbal drug based on the presence of the active principles of constituents (i.e Orchis mascula, Mucuna pruriens, parmelia perlata, Argyreia speciosa, Tribulus terristris, Leptadenia reticulate, Lactuca scariola and Hygrophila spinosa) is discussed in detail.

Haematological effects of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in mice--results and possibilities.

Adult male Swiss albino mice when exposed to a chlorinated insecticide hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH or BHC) at 100 mg/mouse/ once oral and i.p. both for acute exposures and 500 ppm and 10 ppm in food for 100 and 400 days respectively for intermediate and chronic exposures. Haematological observations revealed HCH-induced anaemia.

Prevention of mercuric chloride induced histopathological changes in the small intestine of mice with LIV-52.

Mercuric chloride was administered in drinking water to mice at 1 mM and 5 mM for 100 and 30 days respectively. Lower concentration caused mild pathological changes in the small intestine while higher concentration caused severe pathological changes. Pathological symptoms were less pronounced when Liv52 was administered along with 5 mM mercuric chloric and Hg-induced changes were totally absent when drug was used along with 1 mM HgCl2 solution. After Hg-exposure at both concentrations mice were allowed to recover naturally or with drug (Post-therapy). Again, use of drug appeared useful. At least under laboratory conditions this herbal drug seems to reduce Hg-induced pathological changes in small intestine of mice.

Studies on removal of malathion from water by means of activated charcoal.

The utility of activated charcoal for the removal of malathion from saline waters has been explored. The adsorption capacity of charcoal for malathion has been found to be 117 mg g-1. Adsorption follows the Freundlich adsorption isotherms, the value of k and 1/n for charcoal being 1.6 and 0.60, respectively. Malathion can be eluted with methanol or ethanolic potassium hydroxide.

Studies on the effects of neomycin on puffing in Chironomus.

Fourth instar Chironomus sp. larvae were used. Isolated salivaries (1/2) were incubated in RINGER containing various amounts of neomycin sulphate for various durations. Another half of salivaries, incubated in RINGER for corresponding durations served for controls. for in vivo experiments larvae were exposed to distilled water containing neomycin. Analysis of squashed preparations has revealed that puffing varies with incubation period in in vitro experiments with low concentration of drug. In in vivo studies also puff induction was evident. Higher concentrations of neomycin both in in vivo or in vitro treatments disorganized chromosomes. Present results suggest that neomycin can activate genes in an insect (or in other words in eukaryotes).

Efficacy of metronidazole in dracunculiasis. A clinical trial.

In a clinical trial of metronidazole for dracunculiasis (75 cases), the drug was effective in giving symptomatic relief but had no preventive or vermicidal action. It was well tolerated. No difference was observed in the results of two dose schedules (200 mg or 400 mg three times daily for 10 days).

A simple method for dissolution of tantalum pentoxide.

A simple and reproducible procedure has been developed for the dissolution of tantalum pentoxide. The oxide is fused with potassium nitrate and potassium carbonate in the ratio of 2:5:5. The cooled melt is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid. If a tartaric acid solution is desired the sulphuric acid is evaporated and the residue dissolved in 20% tartaric acid solution.

Selective detection of carboxylic acids, ureas and phenols and semiquantitative determination of citric acid by capillary solid-state spot-tests.

Solid-state spot-tests for the selective detection of carboxylic acids, ureas and phenols have been developed. Mixtures of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde with N-methylurea and of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde with phthalic acid are used as reagents. Based on these tests a semiquantitative determination of citric acid is also developed. These tests utilize three properties of the coloured boundary: colour, length and direction of movement. Our work on capillary solid-state spot-tests,(1) has now been extended to some further organic compounds.

Detection of some nitrogen compounds and the semiquantitative determination of diphenylamine with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde by capillary solid-state spot-tests.

Capillary solid-state spot-tests for nitrogen compounds by reaction with p-dimethylamino-benzaldehyde are described. The tests are neither specific nor universally applicable for nitrogen compounds.

Studies on chromium(III) hydroxide, arsenate, antimonate, molybdate and tungstate.

Five water-insoluble compounds of chromium(III) have been synthesized by mixing 0.10M solutions of chromic chloride and the appropriate sodium salts in the volume ratio of 1:2, at pH 6-7. Their ion-exchange characteristics have been compared. The tungstate has the highest chemical stability and the arsenate has the highest ion-exchange capacity. Chromium(III) molybdate columns have been used to separate Pb(2+) from numerous metal ions.