Synthesis, characterization and assessment of antioxidant and antibacterial potential of dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid and their metal derivatives.

Metal complexes of drug are used to inhibit growth of pathogenic microorganisms and reduces drug resistance. Moxifloxacin is a dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid 4th generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic that has tendency to bind with metal ions. In current study four moxifloxacin-metal complexes i.e. Moxifloxacin-sliver (Moxi-Ag), Moxifloxacin-rhodium (Moxi-Rh), Moxifloxacin-titanium (Moxi-Ti) and Moxifloxacin-rubidium (Moxi-Rb) have been synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activities against resistant microorganisms along with antioxidant effects. The structure elucidation was carried out using FTIR, 1H- NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Agar well diffusion method and DPPH (1, 1- dipheny1-2-picrylhydrazyl) methods were used to study the antibacterial and antioxidant activity respectively. Both 1H NMR and FTIR spectra clearly showed that Moxi-metal complexes are formed due to change in their carboxyl stretching band in IR, H-2 and H-5 peak position in 1H NMR. All the Moxi-metal complexes showed distinguished antibacterial effects against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as compared to drug which was found resistant against many microorganisms. Moxi-Rb and Moxi-Ag metal complexes showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 values range from 8.26 - 9.19 µg/ml) than Moxi-Ti and Moxi-Rh metal complexes (IC50 range from 11.23 - 14.65 µg/ml).

Toxicity and Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Grown in a Controlled Environment.

The impact of heavy metal toxicity on the shoot and root lengths, total protein, fiber characteristics, moisture content and nutrient composition of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was evaluated. Plants were grown in pots containing soil and treated with different concentrations (mg/kg) of lead (Pb; 300, 400 and 500), cadmium (Cd; 0.5, 1 and 1.5) and zinc (Zn; 250, 500, and 700) as well as mixtures of Cd and Pb (0.5/300, 1/400, 1.5/500), Cd and Zn (0.5/250, 1/500, 1.5/700), and Pb and Zn (300/250, 400/500, 500/700). Soil contaminated by long-term irrigation with wastewater containing heavy metals was simulated. An increase in concentrations of heavy metals both individually and as mixtures significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the growth parameters and nutrient contents of S. oleracea. The uptake patterns of heavy metals in mixtures showed antagonistic impacts on each other. The toxicities of the mixtures Cd and Pb, Cd and Zn as well as Pb and Zn were higher than those observed in separate heavy metal applications but less than their additive sums. The toxicity caused by individual heavy metals was the highest for Cd followed by Pb and Zn. The highest toxicity was observed in plants grown in soil contaminated by Cd and Pb.

Dynamics of some common epidemics in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the severity, frequency, monthly variability and grouping of some common epidemics and its relation to hygienic conditions and life style of the people in Karachi. METHODS: This ecological study was conducted from 2006 to 2009. Data was obtained from five different localities of Karachi. In each area, physician clinics were selected and questionnaire forms filled by professionals at the clinics, regarding health problems of patients. Multivariate analyses were used to summarize the data, for comparison and grouping the spread of epidemics. RESULTS: The severity of different epidemics varied among months and localities. The effective diseases potential areas with decreasing order were: Lines Area, Korangi, Malir, Metroville and Maymar. In all these areas cough, allergy, asthma, flu, fever and skin rashes were the widely distributed epidemics while the prevalence of other six epidemics prevailed to a lesser extent. Lines Area/Korangi and Malir/Metroville differed considerably with respect to prevalence of epidemics (P < 0.05) into a lesser, while Gulshan-e-Maymar was significantly different (P < 0.001) from the other four areas. Among four distinct groups i.e. 1) allergy/cough, 2) asthma/flu, 3) fever/skin rashes, 4) bronchitis, malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea, rhinitis and sinusitis, the first three groups were widely distributed. CONCLUSION: January was the most crucial month with highest number of patients. Certain epidemics were parallel in different areas with almost similar population size. Multivariate analysis disclosed the four distinct groups of epidemics in which first three groups were widely distributed.