Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

846-851

Authors: Amrendra Kumar, Vaishnavi Ramasubbu, Kiran D Rasal, Saravanankumar Ayyappan

Objective: To identify white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) entry into the host-cells of the cultured shrimp Penaeus monodon, we have attempted to localize PmRab7 (Ras-related in brain) which is playing a vital role in the WSSV internalization. Methods: In this study, we have cloned PmRab7 and expressed in Escherichia coli, further purified rPmRab7 was used for antibody production, isolation of lysosomal sub-cellular fractions and western blot against lysosomal protein. Moreover, high fold-change in PmRab7 regulation with increasing copy number of WSSV has been studied by using real-time PCR. Results: 651 bp amplicon size gene was successfully amplified, ligated amplicon with pTZ T-tail vector confirmed by colony PCR and retriction enzyme digestion on agarose gel. Subcloned (pRSET-B) 651 bp gene transformed successfully in Rosetta and after 6 h of induction expressed rPmRab7 was on SDS page, furthermore soluble fraction of rPmRab7 (26 kDa) was purified by ni-NTA column. AntiPmRab7 antibody was received by Merk Pvt. Ltd., and western blot analysis revealed that PmRab7 is present in the lysosomal sub-cellular fraction. Copy number of WSSV was increased 5 fold in 24 h and 20 fold in 72 h of infection and subsequently transcrtipt of PmRab7 was Ct = 1.0 to Ct = 8.5. Conclusions: Presence of PmRab7 on lysosome clearly indicating PmRab7 participating in lysosomal maturation, other hand WSSV may follow the same route of entry. WSSV internalization has directly linked with regulation of PmRab7.

856-860

Authors: Joseph Oghenebukome Onojafe, Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, Jephtha Christopher Nmor

Objective: To determine the ecological parameters affecting the distribution of Simulium damnosum immature stages in some rivers within the endemic areas of Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: Onchocerca larvae were observed and identified for each river. An average sized colander with fine mesh was used to scoop the area to obtain the larvae along with other benthos. Physiochemical characteristics of the water at breeding sites were analyzed for a 12 months period. Correlation analysis was performed to establish the association between the larval densities and physicochemical parameters of blackfly. Results: The seasonal variation in the physical and chemical characteristics of these environments impaired the population dynamics of blackflies. The physicochemical parameters significantly varied among breeding sites (P < 0.05), in which the temperature of surface water ranged between 23.2 °C and 30.3 °C, water flow velocity ranged between 0.4 and 1.3 m/s, dissolved oxygen ranged between 5.1 and 9.0 mg/L and pH ranged between 5.4 and 7.4. The mean collection of Simulium larvae was the highest in River Otor (44.1) and the least in River Namormai (19.1). There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in the number of larvae collected from the sampled rivers. Also, the number of larvae collected significantly correlated with surface water temperature, water flow velocity, dissolved oxygen and pH. Conclusions: This study identified significant correlations between physicochemical parameters and blackfly larvae densities thus providing a precontrol evidence-based data for the control of onchocerciasis in the endemic areas of North Delta.

865-867

Authors: Kaouther Majouli, Malek Besbes Hlila , Guido Flamini , Hichem Ben Jannet, Abderraouf Kenani

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial activity of essential oils from Hertia cheirifolia L. flowers, vegetative part (leaves + stems) and roots against a panel of bacterial strains. Methods: The essential oils from Hertia cheirifolia L. flowers, vegetative part (leaves + stems) and roots were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The antibacterial activity of essential oils was evaluated in vitro by the broth dilution method. Results: The results showed that the essential oil of flowers exhibited a strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.078 mg/mL. Conclusions: The essential oils of Hertia cheirifolia can be a good source of antibacterial compounds. They can be used for pharmaceutical treatments.

874-878

Authors: Karim Samira, Kawsar Md., Farhina Rahman Laboni, Azima Sultana Julie, Uddin Jalal, Zubair Khalid Labu

Objective: To investigate the clot lysis, antimicrobic and membrane stabilizing potentials of ethanolic extractives of the leaves of Heliotropium indicum (H. indicum). Methods: Crude ethanolic extracts of H. indicum leaves were partitioned successively using solvents of different polarity and subjected to determine qualitatively and quantitatively for the presence of different bioactive constitutes and fractions which were assessed for their possible clot lysis, antimicrobic, and membrane stabilizing activities as compared with the known drugs. Results: For the thrombolytic activity, the petroleum ether soluble fraction showed the highest percent of clot lysis (35.4%) among all fractions, while streptokinase and water resulted in 65.15% and 3.77% clot lysis, respectively. With respect to the membrane stabilizing activity, carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction of H. indicum profoundly interdicted the hemolysis of erythrocytes brought about by osmotic induction (39.24%) or by heat (40.20%). The other fractions exhibited less significant membrane stabilizing effect. By contrast, acetylsalicylic acid resulted in 72.25% ± 0.30% inhibition of osmotically induced hemolysis and showed a lower level of protection of heat induced hemolysis (42.56%). Crude ethanolic extracts were moderately sensitive against known pathogenic microbes. Since pharmacological activities of H. indicum are due to the presence of bioactive compounds, we detected and quantified the presence of significant levels of flavonoid and tannin substances. Conclusions: The outcomes of this research show that the leaves of H. indicum have the potential to be used as a remedy for thrombosis, inflammatory diseases and against few important bacterial pathogens.

884-886

Authors: Emmanue Ogboma Dania , Temitayo Fayehun, Osemhengbe Ruth Akhabue

Objective: To investigate the effect of different crude oil fractions (whole crude and water soluble fraction) at 2% contamination (98% distilled water) and the effect of 2 g of palm bunch ash (PBA) on the phytotoxicity of crude oil fraction on growth parameters such as percentage of seedling emergence, plant height, number of leaves, length of root, length of radical and leaf area in maize (Zea mays). Methods: A total of 180 bags containing 500 g of loamy soil each were used for this study, of which 30 bags containing loamy soil each served as control, 60 bags of soil were added each 2% crude oil fraction and 60 bags of soil were added each 2% crude oil fraction and 2 g PBA each, while 30 bags of soil contained each 2 g of PBA only. The maize grown on the soil was harvested after 7, 14 and 21 days of seedling emergence and assessed for growth parameters. Results: The growth parameters (plant height, length of root, length of radicle, number of leaves, and leaf area) in maize were significantly reduced in the crude oil fraction treatment (P ≤ 0.05). The treatment containing PBA was found to have significant improvement compared to the crude oil fraction contaminated treatment. Conclusions: The study has revealed the deleterious effect of crude oil at 2% on maize and its effect was ameliorated using PBA.

890-895

Authors: Bamidele Akinsanya, Adedotun Adesegun Adenusi, Oluwatobi Dolapo

Objective: To determine malaria prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices at residents of Lagos Island Local Government. Methods: Two hundred blood samples were collected from adults attending the General Hospital, Marina while 100 questionnaires were administered to individuals still in the same hospital. Majority of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 30 years (44%), while the age group 60 and above had the lowest population (9%). Results: More than half of the respondents (68%) were employed and engaged in different occupations such as entrepreneur (32%), students (31%), trader (24%), and civil servant (10%). Stratification of the respondents by income revealed that 71% earned above the minimum wage, while 29% earned below. The prevalence of malaria by microscopy method was 10.5%. Malaria parasite had significant effect on the packed cell volume of infected individuals (P < 0.05). Preventive measures employed by the respondents were majorly insecticide (72.2%), while some others (5.6%) used mosquito net. Majority of the respondents (98%) believed that malaria was caused by mosquito. Conclusions: Therefore, it is appropriate to put in place preventive measures against malaria to avoid high prevalence of the number one killer in tropical Africa.

898-901

Authors: Kifayatullah Muhammad, Shahimi Mustapha Mohd , Amin Muhammad , Hameed Sardar, Ullah Izhar

The use of natural products as a source of remedies has long history since ancient times. Currently, medicinal plants are traditional practices for an extensive range of therapeutics and pharmacological activities like hypoglycemic, immunological, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatic, cardiovascular and central nervous effect. In the past, the use of plant based medicines was mainly restricted to developing countries because of insufficient resources, but currently the trend is changed and natural products as a source of medicines are growing rapidly in developed countries. It is confirmed from research articles that nearly about 75%– 80% of the reserved zone inhabitants used natural products for their health remedies. In all, about 250 000–500 000 species of plants exist worldwide and almost 800 plants have been documented for use in folklore systems of medicine. Regarding to this, Malaysia is being accepted as one of the largest biodiversity countries. In Malaysia, 12 000 species of natural products exist and 1200 are documented to have remedial potential against various diseases. In the market, a variety of allopathic drugs are available, but are linked to various side effects. Hence, there is rising interest in the direction to plant based medicines remedies with a basic tactic towards the nature. The anti-diabetic drugs from natural products source in current use and their same way of producing action are preferred mainly due to affordable price, easy availability and minor harmful effect on human beings. Therefore, the aim of the present research work was to review various Malaysian medicinal plants having potential in attenuation of high level of blood glucose. All over the world, diabetes mellitus is claimed to be one of the most common chronic hereditary non-communicable disease, fourth leading cause of mortality in the most developed countries. The disease is also spreading in many developing and newly industrialized nations. According to International Diabetes Federation, the diabetes will affect 592 million people in 2035.

918-924

Authors: Mubashir Hussain, Yamin Bibi , Naveed Iqbal Raja , Muhammad Iqbal , Sumaira Aslam , Nida Tahir, Muhammad Imran , Anam Iftikhar

Medicinal plants are the nature’s gift for the humanity to treat various ailments and to spend a prosperous healthy life. There are almost 300 species of Ajuga. Among them, Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth (A. bracteosa) is an important medicinal plant of Himalaya regions. Its medicinal potential is due to the presence of various pharmacologically active compounds such as neo-clerodane diterpenoids, flavonol glycosides, iridoid glycosides, ergosterol-5,8- endoperoxide and phytoecdysones. The aim of this review article was to gather information about A. bracteosa which is currently scattered in form of various publications. This review article tried to attract the attention from people for therapeutic potential of A. bracteosa. The present review comprises upto date information of botanical aspects, active ingredients, traditional uses, and pharmacological activities such as antitumor, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic activity, antiarthritic activity, antioxidant activity and in vitro production of secondary metabolites for pharmaceuticals. Due to remarkable medicinal potential and commercialization, this species is indexed into critically endangered category and it is facing extremely high risk of extinction. Conservation practices and management techniques should be carried out to protect this important species from extinction. Recent biotechnological approaches will be quite helpful for its conservation.