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@# Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus serves as an important ectoparasite of livestock and a vector of several pathogens resulting in diseases, subsequently affecting the agricultural field as well as the economy. The extensive use of synthetic acaricides is known to cause resistance over time and therefore a much safer, effective and environmentally friendly alternative to overcome tick infestation should be implemented. Larval immersion tests (LIT) were done to evaluate the effects of Citrus hystrix (Family: Rutaceae) and Cymbopogon citratus (Family: Poaceae) essential oils (EOs) for their individual and combined (1:1) acaricidal activity against the cattle tick. Results showed that LC50 and LC90 values in 24 and 48 hours for Cit. hystrix EO were 11.98% and 24.84%, and 10.95% and 21.71% respectively. LC50 and LC90 values for Cym. citratus EO were 1.21% and 6.28%, and 1.05% and 6.12% respectively. The mixture of EOs from two plants in 1:1 ratio (Cit. hystrix 50%: Cym. citratus 50%) was found to exhibit antagonistic effect (synergistic factor < 1). The 24 hours and 48 hours LC50 and LC90 values for combined EOs were 1.52% and 2.84%, and 1.50% and 2.76% respectively. Individual and combined essential oils were subjected to qualitative analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to screen the chemical components present in EOs. Our results showed that the combination of Cit. hystrix and Cym. citratus at 1:1 ratio resulted in an antagonistic effect and the use of Cym. citratus alone is more toxic to R. (B.) microplus, making it a better alternative to chemical based acaricide.
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Objective: To optimize the ultrasonication method for efficient extraction of P-sitosterol and lupeol from the roots of Astragalus atropilosus using Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM), and its validation by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. Methods: Ultrasonication method was used to extract β-sitosterol and lupeol from Astragalus atropilosus (roots). RSM was used to optimize the different extraction parameters viz. liquid to solid ratio (10-14 mL/g), temperature (60-80 °C) and time (40-60 min) to maximize the yield of β-sitosterol and lupeol. The quantitative estimation of β-sitosterol and lupeol was done in chloroform extract of Astragalus atropilosus by validated HPTLC method on 10 cm × 20 cm glass-backed silica gel 60F
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a simple, selective, sensitive and accurate high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method to determine the quantity of hesperidin in different varieties of citrus fruits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The method was carried out in aluminum-backed silica gel 60 F254 plates with ethyl acetate-methanol-water 15:3:2 (%, v/v) as mobile phase.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A compact band was obtained for hesperidin at Rf value of (0.40±0.04). The calibration plot was linear in the range of 100-800 ng/spot of hesperidin and the correlation coefficient of 0.998 6 was indicative of good linear dependence of peak area on concentration. Limit of detection (8.87 ng/spot), limit of quantification (23.21 ng/spot), accuracy (less than 2%) and recovery (ranging from 98.55-99.38) were found satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The method developed can be used for routine analysis of hesperidin in crude drug as well as in herbal and pharmaceutical dosage form containing citrus fruits as an ingredient.</p>
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BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress forms the foundation for the induction of multiple cellular pathways which can lead to the complications of diabetes mellitus that the most debilitating ones are diseases of the nervous system. In this study, we evaluated whether treadmill running could alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis rate in the hippocampus of streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10): Control group (CR), exercised group (CE), diabetic group (DR) and diabetic-exercised group (DE). Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin in male rats. All rats in the trained group run on a rodent motor-driven treadmill for eight weeks. At the end of eight weeks, hippocampi of animals were immediately removed on ice and kept frozen. The light supernatant was taken and stored at -80°C. They were used for determination of antioxidant enzymes and TBARs level. Index of apoptosis was detected by cell death detection ELISA Kit. RESULTS: Levels of TBARs in DR and DE groups were significantly higher than CR group. SOD and GPx activities significantly increased in CE group and decreased in DR group. CAT activity significantly decreased in DR group versus CR group. The apoptosis rate significantly increased and decreased in DR and CE groups respectively compared to CR. CONCLUSION: Exercise had beneficial effects in the diabetic exercised rats, possibly in part because of alterations in the ability to adapt to exercise-induced oxidative stress.
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INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is a key component of atherosclerosis. It has been suggested that amlodipine inhibits oxidative stress. In this study, we evaluated the effects of amlodipine on the total antioxidant capacity of heart tissue and blood in 36 control and cholesterol-fed male New Zealand white rabbits. METHODS: The rabbits were divided into four groups (n = 9). Group 1 rabbits were fed a regular diet, group 2 were fed a diet with 2% cholesterol, group 3 were fed a regular diet plus 5 mg/kg/day oral amlodipine, and group 4 were fed 2% cholesterol diet plus amlodipine 5 mg/kg/day. At the end of eight weeks, blood samples were drawn and at the same time heart tissue was isolated and frozen in liquid nitrogen. After homogenisation, the solution was centrifuged and the light supernatant was stored at -80°C. This was used for determination of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and (MDA) levels. RESULTS: Eight weeks of amlodipine treatment significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in the group on the hypercholesterolaemic diet (p < 0.05). In the blood, the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances increased in the rabbits on the 2% cholesterol diet (group 2) and 2% cholesterol-plusamlodipine diet (group 4) and decreased in the amlodipineonly group (group 3) (p < 0.05). Lipid peroxidation in the heart tissue was similar to that in the blood, except in the amlodipine-only group (group 3). In the blood, the activity of total SOD (tSOD) decreased in the group on the 2% cholesterol diet (group 2) (p < 0.05) and markedly increased in the amlodipine-only (group 3) and 2% cholesterol-plusamlodipine groups (group 4) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Amlodipine decreased oxidative stress in the heart and blood and improved the lipid profile in cholesterolfed rabbits. Therefore, it may be considered a useful tool for the reduction of oxidative stress and improvement of lipid profiles in diseases related to atherosclerosis.
