No abstract

Boerhaavia diffusa, a green leafy vegetable and medicinal plant as whole was traditionally used in treating different ailments due to its multiple pharmacological activities viz., immuno suppressant, anti-diabetic, analgesic, hepatoprotective, antiviral and antifibrinolytic activity, etc. The therapeutic importance of plants is mainly due to polyphenols and their antioxidant properties. In the present study, the antioxidant potency of methanolic extract of B. diffusa (BDE) was investigated using various in vitro model systems such as DPPH, superoxide, nitric oxide radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power and iron chelating activity. Antiperoxidative activity of B. diffusa was also studied in linoelic acid emulsion system. BDE showed significant scavenging activity against hydroxyl and superoxide radical. It also significantly inhibited the lipid peroxidation in linoleic acid emulsion system. Multiple antioxidant activity of BDE was also evident from its significant reducing power and ferrous ion chelating potency. The data obtained in the in vitro models clearly establish the antioxidant potency of BDE. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSBoerhaavia diffusa is a well known green leafy vegetable plant, consumed by South Asian population due to its nutraceutical properties. This plant is one of the major ingredients of many herbal preparations for various disorders. But the scientific validation of the mechanism responsible for the nutraceutical properties of the plant is not fully done. So we made an attempt to evaluate the antioxidant potential of this plant, since oxidative stress play very important role in the etiology of many diseases. These results can be used to explain the beneficial effects and further application of this plant as a medicinal food against various disorders.

Twenty female kids of local goats (6.4290.28 kg, 3-month-old) were divided into two equal groups. Kids in experimental group received Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCDC-49 (5.6)10 9 cells/head/day) whereas the control was unsupplemented. This study lasted for 120 days. Rumen liquor was collected for three consecutive days after two months and at the end of the experiment before offering feed. The body weight gain, height at withers and heart girth were higher with superior feed conversion in the treatment group. Colony forming units were higher with lower NH 3 concentration in yeast culture fed kids. It is concluded that S. cerevisiae NCDC-49 supplementation improved growth and feed conversion efficiency and had some positive influence on the rumen fermentation parameters.

Microwave irradiation (MWI) of acetophenones and substituted benzaldehydes in water resulted in a "green-chemistry" procedure for the preparation of chalcones (1-14), through base catalyzed Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction, in good yields. Further 3,5-diaryl-6-carbethoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-ones (1a-14a) were prepared through base catalyzed cyclocondensation of above chalcones with ethylacetoacetate using MWI as the energy source and silica as support. Out of fourteen cyclohexenones, ten (1a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a and 13a) are reported for the first time in literature. The synthesized compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, viz. ((1)H NMR and IR) and screened for their antifungal activity in vitro against Sclerotium rolfsii and Rhizoctonia solani by poisoned food technique. The compounds tested were found to be active against R. solani whereas against S. rolfsii, moderate activity was observed, as evident from LC(50) values. The most potent compounds against R. solani were 1-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-3-phenyl-propenone (13) and 1,3-Diphenyl-propenone (14) having LC(50) values of 2.36 and 2.49 mg L(- 1) respectively (LC(50) of Hexaconazole = 1.12 mg L(- 1)) and against S. rolfsii 3-(4-Fluoro-phenyl)-5-(3-nitro-phenyl)-6-carbethoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one (12a) was most active having LC(50) value of 285 mg L(- 1)compared to Hexaconazole (LC(50) = 1.27 mg L(- 1)).

A study was conducted from June to September 2004 to evaluate the effect of sprinkling and fan on the biochemical and hormonal responses of buffalo heifers. Eighteen Murrah buffalo heifers between 15 and 30 months of age were divided into three equal groups on the basis of body weight viz. T 1 Á Control without fan and sprinkling, T 2 Á provided with only fan and T 3 Á provided with fan and sprinkling. Among haematological parameters, only haemoglobin differed significantly (PB0.01) among treatment groups. All the biochemical parameters viz. blood glucose, protein, albumin, globulin, sodium and potassium differed significantly (PB0.05) among the groups. Among the enzymatic and hormonal parameters, only cortisol differed significantly (PB0.05) between treatment groups and was higher in T 1 than T 2 and T 3 . It was concluded that provision of sprinkling and fan provided comfortable environment to the buffalo heifers which was evident through the biochemical and hormonal responses.

Controlled release (CR) formulations of azadirachtin-A, a bioactive constituent derived from the seed of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae), have been prepared using commercially available polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and laboratory synthesized poly ethylene glycol-based amphiphilic copolymers. Copolymers of polyethylene glycol and various dimethyl esters, which self assemble into nano micellar aggregates in aqueous media, have been synthesized. The kinetics of azadirachtin-A, release in water from the different formulations was studied. Release from the commercial polyethylene glycol (PEG) formulation was faster than the other CR formulations. The rate of release of encapsulated azadirachtin-A from nano micellar aggregates is reduced by increasing the molecular weight of PEG. The diffusion exponent (n value) of azadirachtin-A, in water ranged from 0.47 to 1.18 in the tested formulations. The release was diffusion controlled with a half release time (t(1/2)) of 3.05 to 42.80 days in water from different matrices. The results suggest that depending upon the polymer matrix used, the application rate of azadirachtin-A can be optimized to achieve insect control at the desired level and period.

In the genus Orthosiphon (Lamiaceae), Orthosiphon aristatus, Orthosiphon pallidus, Orthosiphon thymiflorus, Orthosiphon stamineus are widely used in traditional medicine to prevent different diseases such as diabetes, kidney stone, edema, rheumatism, hepatitis, hypertensive and jaundice. A different variety of phytoconstituents has been isolated from the Orthosiphon species which include monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, saponins, organic acid and flavonoids compound. Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, analgesic and nephroprotective activities have been reported in the plant extract and phytoconstituents. Hence, the purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive report about the Orthosiphon genus based on its toxicity in order to identify its therapeutic potential and future prospects for betterment of research.

Controlled release formulations of Thiram (Dimethylcarbamothioylsulfanyl-N,N-dimethylcarbamodithioate), a contact fungicide, have been prepared using laboratory synthesized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) based functionalized amphiphilic copolymers. The kinetics of thiram from developed controlled release (CR) formulations were studied in comparison with that of the commercially available 75 WS. Release from the commercial formulation was faster than with the developed CR formulations. Maximum amount of thiram was released on 35th day for PEG-2000 4d, 28th day for PEG-1500 4c, 21st day for PEG-1000 4b and 15th day for PEG-600 4a in comparison to commercial formulation (7th day). The diffusion exponent (n) of thiram in water ranged from 0.356 to 0.545 in the tested formulations. The half-release (t(1/2)) values ranged between 14.78 to 22.1 days, and the Period of Optimum Availability (POA) of thiram ranged from 7.79 to 25.15 days. An effort has also been made to identify the suitable polymers that could reduce the seed deterioration during storage and also act as an effective carrier of fungicide thiram. The results demonstrate that the seeds coated with the different formulations deteriorated at a slower pace as manifested in high germination percentage over control. Apart from the fungicidal effect of thiram, the polymers acted as barriers to moisture reducing the rate of seed deterioration and checked the degradation of thiram. The CR formulation 4d, with PEG 2000, was found to be most effective as seed coat.