Efficacy of Treatment in Ayurveda for the Management of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Case Study

Diabetic Nephropathy is one of the serious clinical condition that originated as a complication of the Diabetes Mellitus. It is the main culprit for end-stage renal diseases, which ultimately may lead to life-threatening conditions. A 58 years old male patient was having diabetes mellitus and hypertension for 15 years came to Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved College, Hospital and research centre, Wardha, Maharashtra (India) having bilateral pedal edema, vomiting, nausea, general weakness, frequent nocturnal micturition, hiccough from last two months. He was treated with Gokshuradi Guggulu, Chandraprabha Vati, Bhumyamalaki Churna, a freshly prepared decoction of Trunpanchmula [combination of Kush (Desmostachya bipinnata), Kash (Saccharum pontaneum), Darbha(Saccharum munja), Nal (Saccharum officinarum)and kandeshu] 50 ml daily twice a day after food. All other allopathic treatments for hypertension and Diabetes were continued as before, but the patient took only Ayurveda’s treatment for Nephropathy. After continuous treatment for two months, Blood Urea level was remarkably decreased from 51 mg/dl to 45 mg/dl & Serum Creatinine also reduced from 3.0 mg/dl to 1.5 mg/dl with a gross decrease in proteinuria. Both Blood sugar fasting & post- prandial were also reduced from 246mg/dl & 346 mg/dl to 190mg/dl & 225mg/dl respectively. The present Case report is discussed here to show the efficacy of Ayurveda in diabetic Nephropathy.

Assessment of Anti-Anemic Effects of Saccharum Munja Roxb Roots Extract

Anticancer agents often cause bone marrow suppression resulting in progressive anemia which may influence the therapeutic effects of different cancer treatment. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate, effects of ethanolic extract of Saccharum munja roxb (Kaana or Sirkanda) on hemoglobin and red blood cells counts suppressed by carboplatin. Methodology: Anemia was induced in mice with a single iv dose of 50 mg/kg carboplatin. Hematological responses including, RBC and Hb was measured at 3rd, 5thand 8th day. Saccharum munja roxbethanolicextract with dose of 25mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg were given to different treatment groups. Results: In the low dose (R. ext 25mg/kg) group hemoglobin level was found to be 11g/dl on 8thday. However (R.ext 50mg/kg) showed more improvement in hemoglobin levels i.e11.5 g/dl at 8th day. The mice treated with higher doses of extract (R.ext100mg/kg) showed major improvement in hemoglobin levels at 8th day which was 12.6g/dl.RBC count increased after oral administration of Saccharummunja extract (R.ext 25mg/kg) to 6.4 ×106cells /mm3 on 8thday. However, in (R.ext 50mg/kg) extract treated group RBC count was found to be 6.9 × 106cells /mm3 on 8thday. In (R.ext 100mg/kg) treated group the RBC count was 7.4 × 106 /mm3 on 8thday. Conclusion: Thus, the results suggested that ethanolic-extract ofSaccharum munja roxb at different dosesshow beneficial effects in improving different parameters of blood.This study also appropriately described the time course of hematological changes after carboplatin induced anemia in mice. Therefore, this study method can be useful tool to explore potential strategies for the management of anemia caused by chemotherapeutic agents. Keywords: Carboplatin, heamoglobin, Saccharummunja

Utilization of a Newly Developed Nanomaterial Based on Loading of Biochar with Hematite for the Removal of Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Media

In order to conserve the energy used for remediation of harmful metals from aqueous media, an adsorption process was performed. It is efficient and low-cost method with zero carbon emissions as compared to other methods. A hematite-based novel nanomaterial loaded onto biochar was utilized for the remediation of toxic cadmium metal ions from aqueous media. Saccharum munja has been employed as low-cost feedstock to prepare the biochar. Three adsorbents i.e., raw Saccharum munja (SM), Saccharum munja biochar (SMBC) and hematite-loaded Saccharum munja bichar (HLSMBC) were used in batch adsorption tests to study uptake of metal ions by optimizing the experimental parameters. Experimental data and calculated results revealed maximum sorption efficiency of Cd(II) removal was given by HLSMBC (72 ppm) and SMBC (67.73 ppm) as compared with SM (48.7 ppm). Among adsorption isotherms applied on work best fit for Cd(II) adsorption on SM was found for a Freundlich isotherm with high values of correlation coefficient R2 ≥ 0.9 for all sorbents and constant 1/n values between 0–1. Equilibrium results were evaluated using five different types of errors functions. Thermodynamic studies suggested feasible, spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption process, while, the ∆H parameter < 80 kJ/mol indicated physiosorption and positive ∆S values promoted randomness of ions with increase in adsorption process. Data fitted into type I of pseudo second order kinetics having R2 ≥ 0.98 and rate constants K2 (0–1). Desorption process was also performed for storage, conservation and reuse of sorbent and sorbate materials.

Phenol-Furfural Resin/Montmorillonite Based High-Pressure Green Composite from Renewable Feedstock (Saccharum munja) with Improved Thermo-Mechanical Properties

This research endeavour aimed to explore the potential of a native, nonedible and low market value plant feedstock, i.e., Saccharum munja for green synthesis of woodware materials and improve its features by incorporating an economical blending material. A significant amount of furfural, i.e., 58%, was extracted from Saccharum munja through the modified acid digestion method. Extracted furfural was reacted with phenol to prepare phenol-furfural resin, an alternative to phenol-formaldehyde resin but with no harmful effects for humans. The synthesized resin was also blended with montmorillonite clay after modification via Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment for improved thermo-mechanical properties. These resins and composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. Resultant resins and composites were further employed as a binding agent to make high-pressure composite from leftover plant residue by hot-press method. The resultant product was subjected to TGA analysis and furnished high value of degradation temperature (Tdeg), i.e., 607 °C. Prepared high-pressure composite samples were mechanically tested through compression tests by Tinius Olsen Testing Machine and hardness tests by Rockwell Hardness Tester. Its tensile strength value was 58.3 MPa while hardness value was found to be 64 RHB which was greater than mild copper with hardness value 48.9 RHB. Thus, green high-pressure composite material was successfully developed by employing Saccharum munja and montmorillonite clay while no toxic resin was used, nor was any residue left over.