Preliminary study on the effect of a herbal formulation "Deepaniyavati" in hyperlipidemia.

To examine the effect of "DeepaniyaVati", a herbal formulation in the management of hyperlipidemia, a randomized group pre-test post-test study trial was carried out on fifty male (30 to 70 yrs) hyperlipidemic volunteers who were asked to follow their normal routine diet and activity pattern throughout the investigation period. The formulation, prepared by mixing nine plant products in equal proportion, when given in a daily dose of 2g, twice a day for a period of one month, brought about an observable improvement in all the lipid parameters by significantly reducing total cholesterol (10%), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (12.76%), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (27.4%), triglycerides (34.7%) and bringing these values much nearer to the normal levels. In control group, no such effect was noticed. A concomitant significant increase in the HDL-C levels suggests the possible utility of "Deepaniya Vati" in the management of hyperlipidemia and the need for further detailed study.

Nutritional adequacy of boys in orphanages.

PIP: In India, nutritionists gathered information on dietary intake, measured the diet, and calculated nutritional composition of the diet of 118 boys, 4-12 years old, living in all the orphanages in Udaipur, to determine the adequacy of their diet. The orphans consumed inadequate amounts of all food stuffs. For example, the boys consumed 76.2-91.5% of recommended intake for cereals, 30% for pulses, less than 50% for milk, and 30-45% for fats and oils. They consumed almost no leafy vegetables (0/75 g for 4-6 year olds; 1.5/75 g for 7-9 year olds; and 0.8/100 g for 10-12 year olds), but they consumed more than the recommended intake of other vegetables. The orphans were not provided fruits, meat, fish, or eggs. Only those 4-6 years old had adequate intake of protein. Energy and calcium intakes were significantly low in all age groups (p 0.01, except for calcium intake in 4-6 year olds [p 0.05]). In all age groups, phosphorous intake was adequate while iron intake was significantly lower than the recommended daily intake (p 0.01). Beta-carotene intake was insufficient in all age groups (p 0.01). In fact, beta-carotene intake in 7-9 year olds did not even reach 20% of the recommended daily intake. Only the 4-6 year olds had adequate intake of niacin. Vitamin C intake was 30% of recommended levels. These findings show that these school age orphans had inadequate intake of almost all nutrients due to a daily diet limited in cereals, pulses, milk and milk products, leafy vegetable, fats and oils, and sugar. The orphanages should include seasonal green vegetables and other low-cost nutritious foods in the diet of orphan boys.^ieng

Influence of growth regulators on somatic embryogenesis, plantlet regeneration, and post-transplant survival of Echinochloa frumentacea.

After placement on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium supplemented with 3-5 mg/l 2,4-D, immature inflorescence expiants of Echinochloa frumentacea gave rise to three distinct types of callus: a) loosely arranged and soft; b) compact and translucent; c) compact, sticky and mucilaginous. Somatic embryo formation occurred in type 'b' callus in about 18-24 d. Callus types 'a' and 'c' did not produce somatic embryos. The highest percentage of cultures exhibiting somatic embryogenesis occurred on the medium containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin. Somatic embryos also formed directly on the inflorescence (without intervening callus formation) in about 15% of the expiants placed on this medium. The addition of paclobutrazol or uniconazole (0.25 or 1 mg/l) to the medium had no influence on the percentage of cultures exhibiting direct somatic embryogenesis, but paclobutrazol slightly increased the mean number of somatic embryos per culture. Many of the callus-derived somatic embryos germinated when subcultured on basal MS medium supplemented with kinetin. Addition of paclobutrazol or uniconazole to the culture medium at 0.25 or 1 mg/l decreased somatic embryo germination and shoot elongation but increased root length and leaf width. Both paclobutrazol and uniconazole increased survival of the plantlets following transplanting to soil. Increased post-transplant survival was accompanied by reduced water loss from plantlets produced on culture media containing triazoles.