Biosciences

Indian medicinal plants used in the Ayurveda traditional system to treat diabetes are a valuable source of novel anti diabetic agents. Alpha amylase inhibitors offer an effective strategy to lower the level of postprandial hyperglycemia via control of starch breakdown. Aloe vera has been considered as hypoglycemic agent. In the study, we compared the alpha amylase inhibitory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids extracted from Aloe vera leaves in two districts of Rajasthan- Jaipur and Bharatpur which sears approximately similar climatic conditions. Alpha amylase inhibitory activities were evaluated by both qualitative and quantitative assays. Results showed that Flavonoids have very high anti diabetic potential in both districts than alkaloid extracts. IC50 value of flavonoids in Bharatpur district is the lowest value i.e. 0.003 mg/ml while it is the highest value of alkaloids in Bharatpur district. In both districts results showed few variations due to climatic and some other effects.

This study evaluated the presence of ochratoxin producing fungi and levels of ochratoxin A contamination in the most popular cassava food product (garri) in West Africa circulating in Ogun State, Nigeria. Results obtained revealed that the rate of total filamentous fungal contamination in all the sampled zones of Ogun State, Nigeria were not statistically significant (F= 0.327, P>0.05). For the black Aspergilli, the maximum contamination rate was 4.2 x 107 CFug-1 for a sample in Egba zone while the minimum concentration of 2.5x102 CFug-1 was obtained in a particular market in Remo zone. It was noted, that Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarius have the highest isolation rate of 21(24%) among the isolated filamentous fungi (F= 88.167, p< 0.05). 918 (92%) of the total samples of 1000 examined, contained detectable levels of OTA while samples from egba region have highest contamination rate (Fvalue = 3.504, P<0.005). These detectable levels found in our study satisfies the 0-5.0ppb recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (1997). It can be concluded, that garri found in Ogun State are variously contaminated by different filamentous fungi, however black aspergilli remain the main ochratoxigenic moulds present in this staple food.

The present workflow was designed to identify potential inhibitors for HIV-1 protease that is essential for the life-cycle of HIV. The in silico binding affinities of existing inhibitors namely Atazanavir and Ritonavir were compared using Glide module in Schrodinger suit 2013. Atazanavir was found to have the highest affinity towards HIV-1 protease. The structure based virtual screening on the basis of the binding modes of best inhibitor (Atazanavir) was performed and best scoring hits were identified.

Seeds of Vigna aconitifolia Jacq.(mataki seeds) pre-soaked in cell free culture filtrate of post-harvest sapota fungi viz.Geotrichum candidum, Aspergillus niger and Rhizoctonia solani. Impact of effect of incubation period, pH and temperature on fungal metabolites from culture filtrates on seed germination was studied for toxicity. It is clear from the result that culture filtrate of all the post-harvest sapota fungi hampered percentage of mataki seed germination and showed reduction in root length and shoot length as compared to control.

The aim of this study was focused on investigating the possible protective effect of Alpinia Purpurata rhizome against Gentamicin -induced nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity was measured by various methods like creatinine, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and suppressed superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in renal tissues. Activity of serum creatinine and urea levels significantly increased as a result of nephrotoxicity in the Gentamicin group. Also, creatinine and urea levels significantly decreased in Alpinia Purpurata + Gentamicin groups. In the Gentamicin group, increased significantly (p<0.05) and SOD and GSH-Px activities decreased significantly (p<0.05) when compared with control group. Alpinia Purpurata administration with Gentamicin injection result significantly increased SOD and GSH-Px activities when compared with GS group. mononuclear cell infiltration, glomerular and basement membrane alterations were histopathologically detected in the kidneys of the Gentamicin group. Co-treatments with Alpinia Purpurata considerably decreased the renal damage when compared with the Gentamicin group. In conclusion Alpinia Purpurata rhizome acts in the kidney as a potent scavenger of free radicals to prevent the toxic effects of Gentamicin both in the biochemical and histopathological parameters.

Rotenoids are group of natural insecticidal compounds. Six rotenoids (deguelin, dehydrodeguelin, rotenol, rotenone, tephrosin and sumatrol) were isolated and identified from callus cultures of Lablab purpureus L using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Growth Index (GI) of in vitro grown cultures showed a sigmoid pattern of growth curve with maximum GI at 4 weeks and minimum at 2 weeks old culture after fresh subculturings. Gradual decrease in rotenoid content with age and passage of subculturings of the tissues was observed on maintaining the callus for a period of 12 months. Use of various treatment doses of amino acid precursors (phenylalanine and methionine) and immobilization of cell cultures significantly increased the rotenoid content in callus culture. Immobilization of in vitro grown cells released the rotenoids in the medium, which was ideally found useful in maintaining the cell culture and harvesting the insecticides from the nutrient medium.

Many ciliates species are the common parasites found in Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma. During the period of two years (Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2008) total 2609 number of earthworm animals were examined. In the first year (Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2007) 1146 P. posthuma were examined, 693 of these were positive for ciliate infection. The percentage of prevalence being (60.47%), in second year (Jan. 2008 to Dec. 2008) total 963 animals were examined, 560 of these were positive with ciliates. The percentage of prevalence was 58.15%. A month wise analysis of the percentage of prevalence of ciliates during the first year (Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2007) was maximum in June to August (83.33%, 81.88%, 84.32%), minimum in April and May (36.19%, 36.67%) and moderate in remaining months. While In second year (Jan. 2008 to Dec. 2008) the maximum percentage of prevalence showed during August and September (84.72%, 81.33%), minimum in February to May (49.43%, 45.45%, 50.67%, 50.98%) and moderate in remaining months. While the observation of gut of the host P. posthuma it is seen that the four species of genus Anoplophrya were investigated. Out of that the two species are new to the sciences which are A. chakravartii, A. krishnamurthii, A. nikamai n. sp. and A. infundibulii n. sp. The parasite ciliates were first observed in 0.6% saline solution fixed in Schauddin’s fixative and then stained with phaspho-tungastic acid hematoxyline stain.

Bacterial communities exist everywhere in the universe so in the caves. The ever increasing human activities inside any cave, in the form of ecotourism exert a major impact on its native microbial communities, which often stops its growth and pollutes the whole ecosystem. The situation is often found to be responsible for producing some human pathogenic bacteria inside it, which might pose a threat of infection to the other tourist. Kotumsar cave is a well known tourist pulling limestone cave of central India. In the present study the soil bacterial communities earlier isolated and characterized from different microhabitats of Kotumsar cave have been further confirmed by molecular identifications by applying 16S rDNA analysis and serotyping. All bacterial strains were also assayed for antibiotic resistance. Among the tested strains, support the PIB-win results and also shows the maximum resistance (about 69.23%) to Vancomycin and Polymyxin B.

Sixteen (16) yearling West African Dwarf Sheep were used to assess body weight gain, feed intake and haematological indices as influenced by the four dietary treatments. The average weight gain of sheep fed supplemental diets were 2.70±0.09kg in Gliricidia sepium, 2.80±0.09kg in Moringa oleifera and 3.15±0.45kg in Gliricidia sepium + Moringa oleifera compared to 1.57±0.10kg for sheep fed basal diet only. The average weight gains in sheep fed supplemental diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than sheep fed only the basal diets. The linear body measurement gain such as heart girth gain were 11.00±1.73cm in Gliricidia sepium, 8.67±2.08cm in Moringa oleifera, 13.34±1.04cm in Gliricidia sepium + Moringa oleifera compared to 8.33±0.58cm for sheep fed basal diet only. The heart girth gains of sheep fed supplemental diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than sheep fed basal diets only. The height at whither gains were 8.55±4.04cm in Gliricidia sepium, 9.00±4.36cm in Moringa oleifera, 9.00±1.00cm in Gliricidia sepium + Moringa oleifera compared to 6.33±1.53cm for sheep fed Panicum+cassava peels only. The height whither gains of sheep fed supplemental diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than sheep fed control diets. The body length gains were 8.00±1.73cm in Gliricidia sepium, 10.00±3.61cm in Moringa oleifera, 10.66±3.06cm in Gliricidia sepium + Moringa oleifera compared to 11.66±5.13cm for sheep fed basal diet only. The body length gains in sheep fed supplemental diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than sheep fed basal diets. The haematological parameters such as packed cell volume (31.50 – 32.50 %), red blood cells (9.85 – 10.17 X106mm-1), haemoglobin concentration (9.97 – 10.07g 100mm-1), Erythocyte sedimentation rate (0.62 – 0.34), mean Corpuscular haemoglobin (0.99 – 1.08 pg), mean corpuscular volume (3.15 – 3.29µm3), Eosinophils (3.00 – 4.25%), Basophils (0.50 – 1.00 %), Monocytes (6.50 – 8.75%), Lymphocyte (60.00 – 65.25%), Neutrophils (21.25 – 31.25%) of animals fed supplemental diets were significantly (P<0.05) higher than animals fed Panicum-cassava peels ration. From all indications, sheep fed supplemental diets had better growth performance and were haematological stable than sheep fed basal diet only.

In order to identify the presence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection, and to determine the impact of some factors such as age, sex, location (rural and urban) and nutritional habits of children and also the occupation of their parents, this cross sectional study was carried out on 132 stool samples of primary school children in Okwelle, Onuimo (rural) and Owerri municipal(urban), Imo State, Nigeria. Using direct wet mount techniques(using physiological saline and lugol’ iodine) to process the samples (faeces), 74(56.1) out of 132 samples collected were found positive for various gastrointestinal parasites with E. histolytica accounting 36.4%, Ascaris lumbricoides10%, Trichuris trichuria and Hookworm7.6%, Gardia intestinalis 4.5% and Strongyloides stercolaris 3.0% respectively. Cases of polyparasitism were also detected but no pupil had more than two parasite species. Infection was higher in male (64.8%) than female (44.1%), people living in the rural areas (58.5%) than those in the urban centers (48.0%), lower age group (76%) than higher age group (45%). It is concluded that sanitary measures and de- worming programs be conducted in primary schools especially those in rural areas to decrease the rate of intestinal parasite infection.