Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

348-355

Authors: Umar Ismaila Alhaji, Ndidi Uche Samuel, Mohammed Aminu, Anaedum Vivian Chidi, Zambuk Usman Umar, Umar Aliyu Umar, Bello Mohammed Adewale

Objective: To study the in vitro antitrypanosomal activity, antioxidant property and phytochemical constituents of aqueous extracts of nine Nigerian medicinal plants. Methods: In vitro antitrypanosomal activity test was carried out on aqueous extracts of dried leaves of Acacia albida (A. albida), Artemisia absinthium, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Gongronema latifolium, Holarrhena floribunda, Leptadenia hastata, Pericopsis laxiflora (P. laxiflora) and dried stem barks of A. albida and P. laxiflora. The phytochemical constituents and composition of the extracts and the in vitro antioxidant activity of the extracts were subsequently measured using the α,α-diphenyl-β-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) activity assay and H2O2 radical scavenging activity assay. Results: From the study, it was discovered that the stem bark extracts of A. albida and P. laxiflora were most active against both Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma congolense. There was complete cessation of motility in both trypanosomes within 5 min at 40 mg/mL of the stem bark extract of A. albida and complete cessation of motility within 25 min and 40 min at 40 mg/ mL with P. laxiflora stem bark extract for Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma evansi, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous extracts of the plant parts such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and phenols revealed that the stem barks of A. albida, P. laxiflora and leaves of Leptadenia hastata contained relatively high amount of all the phytochemicals quantified. The stem bark extracts of A. albida, P. laxiflora and leaves of Gongronema latifolium possess more scavenging capacity when compared to other extracts in relation to vitamin C, the reference antioxidant. Conclusions: This study provides scientific evidence for the use of A. albida, and P. laxiflora for the treatment of trypanosomosis and diseases associated with oxidative stress.

363-366

Authors: Neerja Jindal, Renu Bansal, Nitika Dhuria

Objective: To compare the efficacy of rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) and ELISA for detection of dengue specific parameters (NS1 antigen and IgM antibodies) and the association of these parameters with thrombocytopenia. Methods: A total of 1 787 serum samples were obtained from the same number of clinically suspected cases of dengue during an outbreak (2011) of dengue in the Malwa region of Punjab. All the samples were subjected to rapid ICT, dengue early ELISA and dengue IgM-capture ELISA for detection of NS1 antigen and IgM antibodies. Platelet counts of all the cases positive for dengue infection and 150 cases negative for dengue parameters (control group) were recorded. Results: Rapid ICT for NS1 antigen detection showed same specificity (100%) but lower sensitivity (85.81%) than the dengue early ELISA, while it was 100% and 94.10% respectively for IgM antibody detection. The difference in the platelet counts of cases positive and negative for dengue specific parameters was stastically insignificant (standard error of proportions=0.017, Z value=0.84, P value=0.2). Conclusions: The confirmation of serological diagnosis of dengue should always be based on ELISA test and ICT and/or thrombocytopenia should not be used as a stand-alone test.

372-377

Authors: Aras Rafiee, Mohammad Hossein Alimohammadian, TaranehGazori, Farhad Riazi-rad, Seyed Mohammad Reza Fatemi, Amirabbas Parizadeh, Ismaeil Haririan, Mohammad Havaskary

Objective: To to compare the chitosan/alginate, chitosan and alginate nanoparticles as plasmid vectors, to determine the morphological characteristics, size and physicochemical properties of nanoparticle-pEGFP complexes and to evaluate the potential of these nanoparticles in transfection of pEGFP plasmid in to a cultured the human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293 cells). Methods: Nanoparticles comprising chitosan, alginate and both chitosan-alginate polymers were formed through pregel preparation method. The ability of plasmid-complexes in preventing DNA migration were assessed by the agarose gel assay. The efficiency of nanoparticles in transfection of pEGFP plasmid in the cultured HEK 293 cells was measured by flow cytometry. The effect of the nanoparticle-plasmid complexes on the cell viability was determined using cytotoxicity assay. Results: Chitosan, alginate and alginate/chitosan nanoparticles had a mean Z-average diameter of 620 nm, 235.8 nm and 161.8 nm and mean zeta potential of 45 mV, -18.6 mV and 29.3 mV, respectively. Chitosan and chitosan/alginate nanoparticles have greater capacity to maintain plasmid than alginate nanoparticles. Alginate nanoparticles had the greater transfection in comparison to the others. Cell viability assays indicated that nanoparticles had no toxic effect on HEK 293 cells after 4 h or 24 h. Conclusions: The combination of particle surface, hydrophobicity size and zeta potential can influence on transfection efficiency and the cellular uptake of the nanoparticles. Our suitable candidate for gene delivery would be alginate/chitosan nanoparticles.

384-390

Authors: Thamaraiselvan Rengarajan, Peramaiyan Rajendran, Natarajan Nandakumar, Maruthaiveeran Periyasamy Balasubramanian, Ikuo Nishigaki

Objective: To investigate whether D-pinitol efficiently scavenge free radicals using various in vitro models [1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, superoxide anion and total antioxidant activity] and in vivo models. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (150-160 g) were divided into four groups and each group consisting of six animals. Group I and group IV were vector and drug control. The group II and group III animals were treated with 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) 20 mg/kg body weight to induce mammary carcinoma. Rats received cancer bearing Group III animals were treated with D-pinitol at the concentration of 200 mg/kg bodyweight for 45 d orally. Five different concentrations of D-pinitol (100 to 500 µg/mL) were used in in vitro studies. Results: The results revealed that D-pinitol efficiently scavenges DPPH radicals and the IC50 was found to be 290 µg/mL and it also exhibited a dose dependent antioxidant activity at different concentrations. In addition, the superoxide and nitricoxide radicals were also significantly inhibited by D-pinitol at the concentrations of 360 and 390 µg/mL respectively. On the other hand, D-pinitol has significantly increased antioxidant enzymes during DMBA induced mammary carcinoma. Conclusions: It can be concluded from the investigation that D-pinitol has an excellent antioxidant activity which could be due to the scavenging capacities on the stable DPPH radicals, superoxide, nitric oxide and DMBA induced free radicals thereby it exhibits remarkable total antioxidant activity.

398-400

Authors: Annie George, Sasikala Chinnappan, Yogendra Choudhary, Praveen Bommu, Murthy Sridhar

Objective: To explore the immunomodulatory properties of aqueous extract of Polygonum minus Huds (P. minus), on swiss albino mice using carbon clearance assay. Methods: The study was performed using in-vivo carbon clearance assay or phagocytosis. Aqueous extract of P. minus was administered by oral route to Swiss albino mice for seven days. Levamisole, 2.5 mg/kg was used as standard drug. Results: The phagocytic function of reticuloendothelial system was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced by levamisole and P. minus aqueous extract groups compared to the control. Treatment with aqueous extract of P. minus at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight resulted in dose dependent increase in phagocytic index (K) where phagocytic index of aqueous extract of P. minus at 400 mg/kg body weight is comparable to the standard drug Levamisole at 2.5 mg/kg body weight. Conclusions: Aqueous extract of P. minus has exhibited significant increase in phagocytosis at doses of 200 mg/kg body weight and 400 mg/kg body weight.

402-407

Authors: Syed Md Shariar Alam, Md. Abul Kalam, Md. Sakil Munna, Saurab Kishore Munshi, Rashed Noor

Objective: To isolate and quantify the microflora from the burn patients admitted in the Division of Plastic Surgery and Burns outdoor patients in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Methods: Thirty wound surface swab samples of first and second degree burn patients were collected and the microbial analysis as well the study of antibacterial susceptibility was conducted. Microbial inhibitory concentration of tobramycin was tested to be applied as effective antimicrobial agent in burn patients. Activity of four disinfectants was also tested against the pathogens. Results: Among all samples, 28 was found to be populated with the total viable bacteria up to 10 7 CFU/mL. The predominant pathogen was Pseudomonas spp., followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Kebsiella spp. Three of the samples harbored Enterobacter spp. while 2 were found to be proliferated with Escherichia coli. Most of the pathogens were found to be drug-resistant while several isolates were noted to be multi-drug resistant. Dettol partly showed efficacy among the tested disinfectants to prevent pathogenic proliferation. Conclusions: Huge bacterial onset with an alarming threat of multidrug resistance would potentially raise the necessity of proper care and management of burn wound patients in hospital.

412-415

Authors: Hassan Yousefidaredor, Mohammad Zare-Bidaki, Hamid Hakimi, Shokrollah Assar, Vahid Bagheri, Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most prevalent metabolic disease worldwide. Previous studies revealed that immune responses, genetic factors, and inflammatory processes played important roles in the pathogenesis and complications of T2D. It has been documented that some people who have T2D are suffering from serious organ-specific pathophysiological conditions including nephropathy and retinopathy. The mechanisms responsible for progression of the disease and its long-term complications are yet to be clarified. IL-17A as a pro-inflammatory cytokine has a dual function, inducing early immune responses against infections and participating in autoimmunity and destructive inflammatory conditions. Therefore, the aim of this review was to address the recent information regarding the status and association of IL-17A with T2D and its related disorders.