Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicological Studies

1-6

Authors: Muhammad Sarwar

Malaria is a major public health issue in many regions of the world and is transmitted to the human by the bite of the infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It isa major health problem that particularly causes considerable morbidity and mortality in humans. Symptoms of malaria are nighttime fevers, chills, body aches, headaches, nausea, vomiting and general uneasiness that can range from mild to severe condition. This article provides information on the risks, symptoms and treatment of disease, and general preventative measures against mosquitoes. The risk of disease increases during wet seasons when accumulated water causes mosquitoes to breed. Blocking the transmission of the parasite from patient to patient is a key to the malaria eradication. The mosquitoes which drive parasite transmission are key targets for interventions of adopting vector control measures. One important control strategy against this mosquito borne malaria disease is the mosquito control, which aims to reduce human-mosquito contact. Different control measures can be used routinely against mosquitoes and their larvae including chemical (insecticide), biological (larvivorous fish or pathogenic fungi), environmental (land filling or drainage) and personal protection (mosquito repellents formulated as pills, coils, ointments, lotions, and sprays; and insecticide-treated or untreated bed nets). For adults’vector control, certain tools such as indoor spraying and space spraying, both alone and in combination, are the key factors. Thisinformation generated will ensure the sustainability of the vector control strategy to avoid increased malaria threatens.

1-11

Authors: J K Lalla

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in the tropics, with a geographical spread similar to malaria.Caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, each serotype is sufficiently different that there is no cross-protection and epidemics caused by multiple serotypes (hyperendemicity) can occur. It is transmitted to humans by the mosquito.The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. Over 2.5 billion people –over 40% of the world's population –are now at risk from dengue. WHO currently estimates there may be 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide every year.The rapidly expanding global footprint of Dengue is a public health challenge with an economic burden that is currently unmet by licensed vaccines,specific therapeutic agents or vector control strategies.This review highlights current understanding of dengue, including its clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic tests, its management & prevention

1-6

Authors: N Lakshmi Bhavani

The present paper deals with study of In-vitro cytotoxicity effect of isolated gossypol from Bt and Non-Bt cotton seeds on HeLa cell lines. Gossypol is a polyphenolic binaphthyl diadehyde natural yellow colored pigment. It is not only resistance substance for cotton plant’s self –defense system against insect pests and possibly some diseases but also an important phytochemical compound of immense interest due to its several biological properties including anti-cancer,anti-HIV,anti-oxidation, antimicrobial and as male contraceptive. During this study gossypol exhibited broad spectrum of anti-cancer activity against the HeLa cell lines. The cytotoxicity effect of gossypol was detemined by MTT (3-(4-,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-dipheniltetrazolium bromide) assay. Gossypol from Bt and Non-Bt cotton seeds has shown dose dependent cytotoxicity effect against HeLa cell lines. In-vitro screening of the gossypol showed potential cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell lines. Mortality rate of 11.5884% and 22.6058% with 3μg/1μl concentration of isolated gossypol from Bt and Non-Bt cotton seed extracts was observed on HeLa cell lines respectively. Hence the inhibitory concentration at 50% (IC50) was fixed at 3μg/1μl of gossypol for HeLa cells.The standard anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin (1mg/ml) was also used in this study to confirm anti-cancer activity of gossypol isolated from Bt and Non-Bt cotton seed with 1.7828% cell viability. The present study confirms the mild toxic effect of gossypol onHeLa cell lines and can preferably be used as anti-cancerous drug in combination with other natural similar compounds to replace the synthetic chemical drugs for fewer side effects

1-8

Authors: Brindha Durairaj

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Penicillium notatumand further characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopyto support the nanoparticles biosynthesis by fungi. The synthesized AgNPs were further investigated for its antibacterial and larvicidal activity in mosquitoes. AgNPs treatment caused considerable mortality rate against 2ndand 3rdinstar larvae of Culixquinquefasciatus after 24 hours exposure. However, higher concentration of AgNPs was required to induce mortality against 3rdinstar than 2ndinstar. In general, lipid and protein contents were found to be reduced in larval tissues after AgNPs treatment; whereas level of carbohydrate was found to be increased. AgNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium andSalmonella shigella. Characterization studies reveal that Penicillium notatum biologicallysynthesizedsilver nanoparticles by reducing silver nitrate into nanosized silver ions. It can be concluded that rapid synthesis of fungi based silver nanoparticles will be helpful in developing a biological process for mosquito control using nanotechnology.