Rudimentary Pharmacological Inspection of the Ethanolic Extract of Grewia hirsute Vhal

Background: Screening of plant kingdom for various pharmacologic activities with an aim of discovering new active constituents is a continuous process and a part of systemic analysis. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti-ulcer, and thrombolytic effects of the ethanolic extract of Grewia hirsuta Vahl. (EEGH) in different in vivo and in vitro paradigms in both Swiss Albino mice and Long Evans rats. Materials and Methods: After an oral acute toxicity study, adult male mice and rats according to the testing procedure were treated with EEGH (200, 400, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg, p.o.) and (1000 mg/70kg B.W. p.o Metformin, 10 mg/70kg, B.W. p.o Simvastatin, and 30 mg/70kg, B.W. p.o Omeprazole), and subjected to three in vivo tests and one in vitro test according to various established testing protocol. Results: After testing glucose tolerance test, for hypoglycemic activities, 400 mg/kg EEGH both in 6 weeks and 12 weeks exhibited moderate anti-diabetic effect (8.89 ± 0.09 and 8.12±0.28 mmol/L respectively). Additionally, combination therapy of both 400 mg/kg EEGH + Metformin revealed a substantial fall of sugar level from 16.78± 0.1 to 6.4 ± 0.04 mmol/L, confirming a sign of moderate potentiation. No lipid-lowering effect was observed in the timed-treatment procedure. In the anti-ulcer effect, n-butanol showed a comparable ulcer inhibition index (90.56%) compared to the standard Omeprazole inhibition index of 91%. Additionally, ethyl acetate fraction showed 62% and 66% clot lysis capacity by 200 and 400 mg/kg EEGH, whereas standard Streptokinase’s capacity was 80%. The EEGH showed notable anti-ulcer activities and moderate anti-diabetic and thrombolytic activities. Conclusion: Results extend the current understanding of the impacts of Grewia hirsuta Vahl. on biological parameters and indicate that this plant might be promising for the management of diabetes mellitus, anticoagulant, and gastric ulcer disorders prominently.

Conflict monitoring, error detection, and inhibition: behavioural and electrophysiological features

Event-related potentials of performance monitoring, including N2 (conflict monitoring), error-related negativity and error positivity (ERN and Pe; error monitoring), and P3 (inhibition) have been studied. However, conflict monitoring lacks a behavioural measure, and the functional significance of ERN, Pe, and P3 are debated. To address these issues, a behavioural measure of conflict monitoring was tested by subtracting the reaction time (RT) of a simple from a choice RT task to isolate conflict monitoring; the functions of error monitoring and inhibition were examined. The RT difference correlated with the N2 area (longer conflict monitoring related to a larger N2). ERN and Pe areas were negatively and positively correlated with errors, respectively. P3 magnitude and onset were correlated with an inhibition index. The new behavioural measure provides an accessible way to study conflict monitoring. Theories of conflict monitoring for ERN, error awareness for Pe, and inhibition for P3 were replicated and extended.

Conflict monitoring, error detection, and inhibition: behavioural and electrophysiological features

Event-related potentials of performance monitoring, including N2 (conflict monitoring), error-related negativity and error positivity (ERN and Pe; error monitoring), and P3 (inhibition) have been studied. However, conflict monitoring lacks a behavioural measure, and the functional significance of ERN, Pe, and P3 are debated. To address these issues, a behavioural measure of conflict monitoring was tested by subtracting the reaction time (RT) of a simple from a choice RT task to isolate conflict monitoring; the functions of error monitoring and inhibition were examined. The RT difference correlated with the N2 area (longer conflict monitoring related to a larger N2). ERN and Pe areas were negatively and positively correlated with errors, respectively. P3 magnitude and onset were correlated with an inhibition index. The new behavioural measure provides an accessible way to study conflict monitoring. Theories of conflict monitoring for ERN, error awareness for Pe, and inhibition for P3 were replicated and extended.

Study of white frangipani flower and bitter grape stem ethanol extract combination on antibacterial and antioxidant activities

Frangipani flower (Plumeria acuminata) and bitter grape (Tinospora crispa L. Miers) stem extract alone shows antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, there is a limited report about the actions from the combination of both extracts. Combinations of ethanol extract of white frangipani flower (EFF) and ethanol extract of the bitter grape stem (EBS), each of 0, 1, 2, and 3% were tested for inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus growth and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl,2-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals. A yield of 3.17 and 2.62 g of EFF and EBS, respectively, were resulted from 100 g of dried powdered of the white frangipani flower and bitter grape stem using 200 mL of absolute ethanol. The antimicrobial test was assayed using a 10% stock solution of extract diluted in water. The combination of EFF and EBS showed a synergistic effect on antimicrobial activity, but it proved an antagonistic effect on antioxidant activity. The combination of EFF 3% and EBS 3% showed the highest inhibition index on the S. aureus growth , i.e. 2.02±0.06, which is higher than the inhibition index of Amoxycillin 2%, i.e. 1.85±0.09. The highest antioxidant activity showed by 1% EFF alone (57.5 ± 0.60%), while the lowest was from the combination of EFF 1% and EBS 3% (23.4±0.30%).

In vitro trypanocidal effect of sera from Erythrocebus patas (Red Patas monkey) and Chlorocebus tantalus (Tantalus monkey) on Trypanosoma brucei brucei Plimmer & Bradford, 1899 and Trypanosoma congolense Broden, 1894

ABSTRACTAnti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei and anti-Trypanosoma congolense activities of sera from two species of uninfected zoo-primates, Erythrocebus patas (red patas monkey) and Chlorocebus tantalus (tantalus monkey) were investigated. The sera were screened using thick films and haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT), to ensure that the donor primates were not infected with trypanosomes. Trypanosoma brucei brucei (Federe strain) and Trypanosoma congolense were suspended in supplemented RPMI (Rossvelt Park Memorial Institute) 1640 medium and the motility of the parasite was used as index of viability after the addition of each test serum. The selected primate sera exhibited some degree of anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei activities in vitro. Red patas monkey serum had an inhibition index of 0.27, while that of Tantalus monkey was 0.34, against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, with mean survival times of 22.00±1.73 hours for red patas monkey serum and 19.67±0.58 hours for tantalus monkey serum, which are significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of the control (30.00±0.00 hours). The selected primate sera had pronounced inhibitory activities against Trypanosoma congolense. Sera from the two species of primate had very high anti-Trypanosoma congolense activity showing an inhibition index of 0.91 for Red patas monkey serum and 0.90 for Tantalus monkey serum, with marked and significant reduction (P<0.05) in survival time of 7.00±1.73 hours in Red patas monkey serum and 7.67±0.58 hours in Tantalus monkey serum, compared with the control (74.00±1.00 hours). The in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity of the serum samples was shown to be cidal in nature. The activity was not associated with xanthine oxidase. This study revealed that sera from red patas monkey and tantalus monkey had a moderate anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei activity and a very high anti-Trypanosoma congolense activity in vitro suggesting the presence of some non-specific materials.Authors’ SummaryThe mechanisms that allow trypanosomiasis-resistant animals to control blood trypanosomes are being investigated, to identify non-specific factors that kill trypanosomes or limit their proliferation, contributing to host resistance. For instance, xanthine oxidase has been isolated and identified as the protein that kills trypanosomes in Cape buffalo. Humans and several other primates are also known to be resistant to infection by several animal-specific trypanosome species. In this study, sera from some zoo primates, red patas monkey and tantalus monkey, tested on Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma congolense in vitro, showed a slight anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei activity and a very high anti-Trypanosoma congolense activity. These activities were shown to be cidal in nature and not associated with the protein xanthine oxidase. The authors suggest that non-specific factors other than the enzyme xanthine oxidase might have accounted for the sera anti-trypanosomal activities.

Time-dependent effect of deuterium depletion on tumor growth and metastasis

Objective ― impact of different time regimens of deuterium depletion on progression of syngeneic grafted tumor in mice was investigated. Material and Methods ― Experiment was performed on 64 C57Bl/6 mice divided into two groups with substitution of regular water for deuterium depleted water: 30 days prior to tumor cell inoculation and sinse the 1st day of inoculation. Mice taking destilled mineralized water were considered as a control group. Half of the mice were injected melanoma B16 cells subcutaneously for assessment of survival rate and tumor growth inhibition index. The other mice were intravenously injected melanoma cells for estimation of lung hematogenous metastasis. Results ― Deuterium depletion began at the day of tumor inoculation did not change the parameters of survival rate (38.83±7.69 days vs. 41.33±6.22days in the control). Tumor growth inhibition was found only at initial stage of tumor progression. Number of melanoma lung metastasis did not differ from the control values (32.30±6.12 and 28.33±5.38. consequently). The group of mice with preliminary consumption of deuterium depleted water demonstrated significantly higher survival rate (70.10±16.20 days), tumor inhibition index, and attenuation of lung metastasis (6.0±1.20). Conclusion ― Our findings demonstrate that deuterium depletion exerts antitumor effect by both inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, but development of the effect is time-dependent.

Medium Optimization for Antimicrobial Production By Newly Screened Lactic Acid Bacteria

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important for prevention of spoilage and pathogenic bacterial growth in foods due to their ability to generate antimicrobial substances. The objective of this study was to screen LAB for antimicrobial activity and to optimize culture medium for antimicrobial production using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD). Optimization of antimicrobial production of selected LAB was conducted with different combinations of glucose, NaCl, inoculum, and temperature. Our experimental results showed that from 129 LAB isolates, 55 showed significant inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. No isolates inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus. Lactobacillus plantarum LIPI13-2-LAB011 was selected for further study on culture medium optimization to inhibit the growth of C. albicans. From statistical analysis, the production of antimicrobial substances was significantly influenced by temperature, NaCl, and concentration of glucose. Furthermore, the optimum concentrations of glucose, concentration of inoculum, temperature, and NaCl were 1.63 %, 3.03%, 33.74°C, and 3.4%, respectively, with a maximum predicted inhibition index of 1.916, which increased 3.56-fold compared to that obtained in medium before optimization processes. The result was confirmed as when the optimum concentration of nutritions used, the inhibition index increased 3.12-fold.

Medium Optimization for Antimicrobial Production By Newly Screened Lactic Acid Bacteria

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important for prevention of spoilage and pathogenic bacterial growth in foods due to their ability to generate antimicrobial substances. The objective of this study was to screen LAB for antimicrobial activity and to optimize culture medium for antimicrobial production using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD). Optimization of antimicrobial production of selected LAB was conducted with different combinations of glucose, NaCl, inoculum, and temperature. Our experimental results showed that from 129 LAB isolates, 55 showed significant inhibition against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. No isolates inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus. Lactobacillus plantarum LIPI13-2-LAB011 was selected for further study on culture medium optimization to inhibit the growth of C. albicans. From statistical analysis, the production of antimicrobial substances was significantly influenced by temperature, NaCl, and concentration of glucose. Furthermore, the optimum concentrations of glucose, concentration of inoculum, temperature, and NaCl were 1.63 %, 3.03%, 33.74°C, and 3.4%, respectively, with a maximum predicted inhibition index of 1.916, which increased 3.56-fold compared to that obtained in medium before optimization processes. The result was confirmed as when the optimum concentration of nutritions used, the inhibition index increased 3.12-fold.

Ethylene Emission of Apples Treated with 1-Methylcyclopropene During Storage

The effect of post-harvest application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on ethylene emission in early-winter apple (cv. ‘Calville’), winter (‘Gloster’, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Jonagold’), and late-winter cultivars (‘Granny Smith’, ‘Idared’ and ‘Reinette Simirenko’) w as investigated. The fruits were picked at a commercial harvest time and half of them were treated with 1-MCP (‘SmartFresh™’ 0.068 gm-3) for 24 h at 5 °C. Then both groups of apples were placed in a common storage at the temperature of 2 °C. The intensity of fruit ethylene emission (rate of ethylene production) was measured and 1 -MCP inhibition index was calculated. During storage, activity of ethylene emission by control apples of ‘Calville’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ showed typical climacteric pattern, while the intensity of ethylene emission of apples of other cultivars only increased gradually. The change of ethylene activity of early-winter apple cv. ‘Calville’ and winter cv. ‘Jonagold’, both treated with 1-MCP after harvest, had exponential character, especially actively increasing after 3 months of storage. At the same time ethylene emission of 1 -MCP treated fruits of other cultivars changed steadily to a low level and was effectively suppressed during the whole 6-month period of storage in normal atmosphere. The value of inhibition index of fruits treated by 1-MCP confirmed the consistent restoration of the ability to ethylene synthesis and thus to post-harvest ripening of some apples cultivars.