Invitro Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Ficus religiosa L. and Ficus bengalensis L. against Diarrhoeal Enterotoxigenic E. coli

The barks of Ficus religiosa L. and Ficus bengalensis L., which belongs to family Moraceae, were investigated for invitro antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis. The various solvents extract like aqueous, methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and hexane were screened for antibacterial activity against Enterotoxigenic E. coli isolated from diarrhoeal patients. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the methanol extracts of both the plants showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, aminoacids, steroids, saponins and tannins. The extracts were subjected for antibacterial activity against Enterotoxignic E.coli (ETEC) at 200mg/ml concentration by disc diffusion method. The results of antibacterial activity revealed that methanol extracts of both the plants barks exhibits good activity compared to chloroform and aqueous extracts. Petroleum ether and hexane extracts did not show any activity. The antibacterial activities of extracts were compared with standard antibiotics

Plants used as Medicine by Paliyar Tribes of Shenbagathope in Virudhunagar District of Tamilnadu, India

The traditional medicinal uses of 58 angiospermic plant species belonging to 54 genera of 31 families for various diseases and ailments like wounds, cuts, stomach pain, diabetes, fever, cold, poisonous bites etc., by the Paliyar tribes of Shenbagathope in Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu, India, are mentioned. Generally, fresh part of the plant is used for the preparation of medicine. When fresh plant parts are not available, dried parts are also used. Attention should be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these ethnomedicinally important plant species

Theoretical Study of Physisorption of Nucleobases on Boron Nitride Nanotubes: A New Class of Hybrid Nano-Bio Materials

We investigate the adsorption of the nucleic acid bases, adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T) and uracil (U) on the outer wall of a high curvature semiconducting single-walled boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) by first principles density functional theory calculations. The calculated binding energy shows the order: G>A\approxC\approxT\approxU implying that the interaction strength of the (high-curvature) BNNT with the nucleobases, G being an exception, is nearly the same. A higher binding energy for the G-BNNT conjugate appears to result from a stronger hybridization of the molecular orbitals of G and BNNT, since the charge transfer involved in the physisorption process is insignificant. A smaller energy gap predicted for the G-BNNT conjugate relative to that of the pristine BNNT may be useful in application of this class of biofunctional materials to the design of the next generation sensing devices.Comment: 17 pages 6 figure

Repurposing cancer drugs, batimastat and marimastat, to inhibit the activity of a group I metalloprotease from the venom of the Western Diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox

Snakebite envenomation causes over 140,000 deaths every year predominantly in developing countries. As a result, it is one of the most lethal neglected tropical diseases. It is associated with an incredibly complex pathophysiology due to the vast number of unique toxins/proteins found in the venoms of diverse snake species found worldwide. Here, we report the purification and functional characteristics of a group I metalloprotease (CAMP-2) from the venom of the western diamondback rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox. Its sensitivity to matrix metalloprotease inhibitors (batimastat and marimastat) was established using specific in vitro experiments and in silico molecular docking analysis. CAMP-2 shows high sequence homology to atroxase from the venom of Crotalus atrox and exhibits collagenolytic, fibrinogenolytic and mild haemolytic activities. It exerts a mild inhibitory effect on agonist-induced platelet aggregation in the absence of plasma proteins. Its collagenolytic activity was completely inhibited by batimastat and marimastat. Zinc chloride also inhibits the collagenolytic activity of CAMP-2 by around 75% at 50 M, while it is partially potentiated by calcium chloride. Molecular docking studies demonstrate that batimastat and marimastat are able to bind strongly to the active site residues of CAMP-2. This study demonstrates the impact of matrix metalloprotease inhibitors in the modulation of a purified, group I metalloprotease activities in comparison to the whole venom. By improving our understanding of snake venom metalloproteases and their sensitivity to small molecule inhibitors, we can begin to develop novel and improved treatment strategies for snakebites

Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Coriander sativum Against Infectious Diarrhea

The preliminary phytochemical study and invitro antimicrobial activity of Coriander sativum (Apiaceae) was investigated against some pathogens isolated from patients with infectious diarrhea. The various solvents extract like aqueous, methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and hexane were screened for antimicrobial activity against Enterotoxigenic E.coli, Enteropathogenic E.coli,, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella entertidis, Shigella dysentriae, Shigella flexineri, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei isolated from diarrhoeal patients. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the methanol extracts of the plant showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, aminoacids, steroids, sterols, saponins and tannins. The extracts were subjected for antimicrobial activity against at 200mg/ml concentration by disc diffusion method. The results of antimicrobial activity revealed that methanol extract of the plant exhibit good activity compared to chloroform and aqueous extracts to E.coli, Salmonella sp and Shigella sp. Petroleum ether and hexane extracts did not show any activity. None of extracts exhibits antifungal activity. The antimicrobial activities of extracts were compared with standard antibiotics

Challenges in diagnosing and treating snakebites in a rural population of Tamil Nadu, India: the views of clinicians

Snakebites cause death, disability and economic devastation to their victims, people who live almost exclusively in rural areas. Annually an estimated two million venomous bites cause as many as 100,000 deaths worldwide as well as hundreds of thousands of deformities and amputations. Recent studies suggest that India has the highest incidence of snakebite and associated deaths worldwide. In this study, we interviewed 25 hospital-based clinicians who regularly treat snakebites in Tamil Nadu, India, in order to gauge their opinions and views on the diagnostic tools and treatment methods available at that time, the difficulties encountered in treating snakebites and improvements to snakebite management protocols they deem necessary. Clinicians identified the improvement of community education, training of medical personnel, development of standard treatment protocols and improved medication as priorities for the immediate future

Quantitative perfusion MRI of tumor model in mouse

INTRODUCTION: Perfusion in the body provides valuable information about physiological status and disease progression. Measuring perfusion in tumors is considered important with the recognition of angiogenesis, the process of developing new blood vessels, as a key element in the pathophysiology of tumor growth and metastasis1. Many studies have used Gd contrast agents to evaluate tumor blood flow and vasculature but quantification has been complicated and model/agent dependent. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a noninvasive and quantitative technique that measures perfusion by magnetically labeling water as a freely diffusible endogenous tracer. Application of ASL to measure perfusion in tumor is a challenge due to the low perfusion values and artifacts caused by …postprintThe 19th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM 2011), Montréal, QC., 7-13 May 2011. In Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2011, v. 19, p. 108

Distinct RNA profiles in subpopulations of extracellular vesicles: apoptotic bodies, microvesicles and exosomes

Introduction: In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of studies aiming to understand the biology of exosomes, as well as other extracellular vesicles. However, classification of membrane vesicles and the appropriate protocols for their isolation are still under intense discussion and investigation. When isolating vesicles, it is crucial to use systems that are able to separate them, to avoid cross-contamination. Method: EVs released from three different kinds of cell lines: HMC-1, TF-1 and BV-2 were isolated using two centrifugation-based protocols. In protocol 1, apoptotic bodies were collected at 2,000×g, followed by filtering the supernatant through 0.8 µm pores and pelleting of microvesicles at 12,200×g. In protocol 2, apoptotic bodies and microvesicles were collected together at 16,500×g, followed by filtering of the supernatant through 0.2 µm pores and pelleting of exosomes at 120,000×g. Extracellular vesicles were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry and the RNA profiles were investigated using a Bioanalyzer®. Results: RNA profiles showed that ribosomal RNA was primary detectable in apoptotic bodies and smaller RNAs without prominent ribosomal RNA peaks in exosomes. In contrast, microvesicles contained little or no RNA except for microvesicles collected from TF-1 cell cultures. The different vesicle pellets showed highly different distribution of size, shape and electron density with typical apoptotic body, microvesicle and exosome characteristics when analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry revealed the presence of CD63 and CD81 in all vesicles investigated, as well as CD9 except in the TF-1-derived vesicles, as these cells do not express CD9. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that centrifugation-based protocols are simple and fast systems to distinguish subpopulations of extracellular vesicles. Different vesicles show different RNA profiles and morphological characteristics, but they are indistinguishable using CD63-coated beads for flow cytometry analysis