Mechanical, tribological, and surface morphological studies on the effects of hybrid ilmenite and silicon dioxide fillers on glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites.

Recently, researchers have been attempting to enhance the mechanical and tribological characteristics of thermosetting epoxy composites by incorporating inorganic nanoparticles and ensuring their uniform distribution throughout the matrix. This study characterises ball-milled ilmenite (FeTiO3-size of 63 nm) and silicon dioxide (SiO2-size of 67.5 nm) fillers added to epoxy in proportions of 0:0, 2.5:2.5, 5:5, and 7.5:7.5% by weight. A liquid ultrasonic technique is used to blend the fillers with the epoxy, and compression moulding is used to fabricate the composite. Mechanical tests were performed based on ASTM standards. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and elongations at break(tensile and flexural test) of 5:5 wt % are 30.54%, 12.2%, 32.22%, 28.98%,23.78% and 23.53% higher than neat sample respectively. Shore "D" hardness and Izod's impact strength are 4.65% and 98.93% higher at 5:5 wt % than neat sample respectively. Specific wear rate decreased from 2.6 × 10-11 m3/Nm (neat GFRP: 0 wt % glass fibre reinforced polymer composite) to 0.7 × 10-11 m3/Nm at 5:5 wt % filler. Nanoparticles lowered the coefficient of friction by around 16.66%, 60.42%, and 33.33% at sliding distances of 100 m for 2.5:2.5, 5:5, and 7.5:7.5 wt % respectively with the neat sample. A 5:5 wt percent resulted in 76.68% less wear volume loss than pure GFRP. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis revealed element distributions, particle size, pullout of fibers, damaged interfaces, filler dispersion, voids, wear debris, interfacial debonding, and cavities. Thus, this approach enhances GFRP composite's mechanical, tribological, and structural properties.

Antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of amaranthus spinosus.

INTRODUCTION: Depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disorder, which affects 21% of the world population. The presently using drugs can impose a variety of side-effects including cardiac toxicity, hypopiesia, sexual dysfunction, body weight gain, and sleep disorder. During the last decade, there is a growing interest in the therapeutic effects of natural products on mental disorders. Amaranthus spinosus was investigation for antidepressant activity. METHODS: Antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus (MEAS) was investigated by using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) models. Escitalopram and Imipramine were used as reference standards. RESULTS: It has been observed from our study that both the MEAS at higher concentration showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in immobility in tail suspension and forced swim model of depression comparable to Escitalopram and Imipramine. DISCUSSION: However further study is needed to understand mechanism of action and to identify active component responsible for antidepressant like activity.

Evaluation of safety profile of black shilajit after 91 days repeated administration in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of shilajit by 91 days repeated administration in different dose levels in rats. METHODS: In this study the albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I received vehicle and group II, III and IV received 500, 2 500 and 5 000 mg/kg of shilajit, respectively. Finally animals were sacrificed and subjected to histopathology and iron was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and graphite furnace. RESULTS: The result showed that there were no significant changes in iron level of treated groups when compared with control except liver (5 000 mg/kg) and histological slides of all organs revealed normal except negligible changes in liver and intestine with the highest dose of shilajit. The weight of all organs was normal when compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: The result suggests that black shilajit, an Ayurvedic formulation, is safe for long term use as a dietary supplement for a number of disorders like iron deficiency anaemia.

Anti Diabetic and Hypolipidemic Activity of Bark of Ethanolic Extract of Ougeinia Oojeinensis (ROXB.).

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Ethanolic extract of Ougeinia oojeinensis (200mg/kg) bark was evaluated with measurements including, Body weight, blood glucose level, urine glucose and biochemical parameters. The ethanolic extracts of the powdered bark was tested for its efficacy in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Animals were induced for diabetes with Alloxan (150 mg/kg of body weight- i.p.) and treated orally with Ethanolic extract of Ougeinia oojeinensis. The extracts were also evaluated for acute oral toxicity studies and its effect on different biochemical parameters. The extracts showed significant (p<0.01) antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activity as compared to diabetic control. The extract shows beneficial effects on blood glucose and urine glucose level. It also reduces the elevated biochemical parameters such as triglycerides (TGL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), Total Cholesterol (TC) and increased the reduced level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and body weight, which might be due to presence of steroids, tannins, alkaloids and triterpenoids present in that extract. Thus ethanolic extract could serve as good oral hypoglycemic agents and seems to be promising for the development of phytomedicines for diabetes mellitus.