Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine

673-674

Authors: Yasir Waheed

West Africa is facing the worst Ebola outbreak with 3 685 cases and 1 841 deaths reported from Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leona and Nigeria. There is no vaccine or direct treatment available to treat the patients with Ebola. World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the use of experimental drugs for Ebola patients. Health workers are at high risk. The governments and WHO are responsible to provide necessary protective equipment to health workers dealing with Ebola. There is a strong need to identify the invisible chains of virus transmission. World Bank pledges $200 million to fight against Ebola, while WHO said $430 million are needed to control the Ebola outbreak. Ebola can be contained by early detection and isolation of case, contact tracing, monitoring of contacts and adaptation of rigorous procedures for virus control.

676-681

Authors: Pinar Kuru

Tamarindus [Tamarindus indica L. (T. indica)], belongs to the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae), commonly known as Tamarind tree, is one of the fruit tree species that is used as traditional medicine. The aim of this article is to review the current literatue on health related effect of T. indica. Literature review about this plant was conducted between 2003 and 2014 through Pubmed and Google. The keywords Tamarind, T. indica were used for search. Only the health related articles selected. Tamarind tree is found especially in the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and most of the tropical countries. It is preferred to be used for abdominal pain, diarrhea and dysentery, some bacterial infections and parasitic infestations, wound healing, constipation and inflammation. It is a rich source of most of the essential amino acids and phytochemicals, and hence the plant is reported to possess antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antivenomic, antioxidant, antimalarial, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antiasthmatic, laxative and anti-hyperlipidemic activity. T. indica has ameliorative effects on many diseases. It can also be preferred as a nutritious support for malnourished patients as it is cheap and easy to access. Those effects should be clarified with further research.

695-700

Authors: Ricardo Hernández-Lambraño, Karina Caballero-Gallardo, Jesus Olivero-Verbel

Objective: To determine the biological effects of essential oils (EOs) isolated from Cymbopogon nardus, Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon martinii grown in Colombia against two Lepidoptera larvae, common pests in the oil palm. Methods: Specimens were captured in the field and the antifeedant activity and dermal contact lethality of EOs were measured against Acharia fusca and Euprosterna elaeasa (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) at various concentrations 0.002-0.600 μL/cm2 and 0.002-8 μL/g, respectively. Results: All EOs exhibited strong antifeedant and toxicity activity toward Acharia fusca and Euprosterna elaeasa larvae. Cymbopogon martinii oil was the most active against both pest insect species, although all tested EOs were better than the synthetic repellent IR3535 on both insects. Conclusions: Colombian EOs have potential for integrated pest management programs in the oil palm industry.

707-713

Authors: Ezenyi Ifeoma Chinwude, Kulkarni Roshan, Joshi Swati, Salawu Oluwakanyinsola Adeola, Emeje Martins

Objective: To evaluate the antiplasmodial properties of fractions of chloroform portion of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) methanol extract and identify a suitable chemical marker present therein. Methods: Chloroform portion of P. niruri methanol extract was separated from silica gel using gradient systems of hexane, ethylacetate and methanol. The fractions were screened for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum HB3 and FcM29. Fractions with IC50<10 µg/mL against parasites were further screened for peripheral analgesic activity, while cytotoxicity was evaluated using THP-1 cells. Results: Fractions 12-14 were very active (IC50<10 µg/mL) against Plasmodium falciparum and showed no significant cytotoxicity. Fractions 12 and 13 exhibited significant (P<0.01) reduction in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, decreasing the number of writhes by 66.67% and 65.22% respectively and comparable with 100 mg/kg aspirin (65.22%). From fraction 12, a compound was isolated and identified as sitosteryl-6-β-D-glucoside-6’-palmitate by 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopies. Conclusions: Our findings illustrate antiplasmodial column fractions of P. niruri with analgesic activity and identify sitosteryl glucoside palmitate as a chemical marker of activity.

718-724

Authors: Sadia Rashid, Malik Irshadullah

Objective: To determine the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the male and female haematophagous caprine worms, Haemonchus contortus infecting Capra hircus, and their E/S products and also to analyse the effect of Haemonchus infection on the level of host SOD. Methods: The SOD activity was analysed by using the pyrogallol autoxidation assay and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by specific enzyme staining by riboflavin-nitroblue tetrazolium method. Results: The adult females were found to have higher enzyme activity than the male worms. Appreciable amount of SOD activity was also detected in the worm culture medium and female worms secreted more SOD in comparison to the male parasites. The SOD activity was negatively correlated to the worm burden. Statistically significant decrease in SOD activity (P<0.05) was observed in the heavily infected host tissue in comparison to the control non-infected host tissue. SOD profile of the crude extracts of both the sexes revealed polymorphism and a fast migrating activity band being characteristic of E/S products. The SOD activities were found highly sensitive to potassium cyanide indicating the Cu/Zn form of SOD. Conclusions: Haemonchus contortus is a key model parasite for drug and vaccine discovery. The presences of SOD activity in appreciable amount in the parasite as well as its E/S products indicate that it has a well-developed active antioxidant system to protect itself from the host immune attack. SOD could be the target for vaccine development which is the need of the hour as mass drug administration for parasite control has resulted in anthelmintic resistance across the globe and threatens the viability of sheep and goat industry in many regions of the world. The infection with Haemonchus causes a drastic reduction in SOD activity of the host tissue thus effecting its protective potential. One characteristic SOD band was found in the females which was not present in any other preparations and thus could be exploited for further studies on diagnostic/control measures.

729-735

Authors: Rishikesh Gupta, Sunil Kumar Prajapati, Snigdha Pattnaik, Peeyush Bhardwaj

Objective: To develop and characterize multiple-unit-type oral floating microsphere of fa motidine to prolong gastric residence time and to target stomach ulcer. Methods: The floating microspheres were prepared by modified solvent evaporation method. Eudragit S-100 was used as polymer. Microspheres were characterized for the micromeritic properties, floating behavior, entrapment efficiency and scanning electron microscopy. The invitro release studies and floating behavior were studied in simulated gastric fluid at pH 1.2. Different drug release kinetics models were also applied for all the batches. Selected formulations were also subjected for X-ray radiographic study. Results: Floating microspheres were successfully prepared by modified solvent evaporation technique. Microspheres showed passable flow properties. The maximum yield of microspheres was up to (95.11±0.35)%. On the basis of optical microscopy particle size range was found to be ranging from (52.18±182.00) to (91.64±5.16) µm. Scanning electron microscopy showed their spherical size, perforated smooth surface and a cavity inside microspheres. Microspheres were capable to float up to 20 h in simulated gastric fluid. X-ray radiographic studies also proved its better retention in the stomach. Conclusions: On the basis of the results, such dosage forms may be a good candidate for stomach targeting and may be dispensed in hard gelatin capsules.

740-742

Authors: Robson Miranda da Gama, Marcelo Guimarães, Luiz Carlos de Abreu, José Armando-Junior

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant activity of extracts of dried flowers of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) A. Gray (T. diversifolia) dry flower-a shrubby plant belonging to the Asteraceae family and very common in Brazil, providing data to help prevent premature aging skin. Methods: The tests of phytochemical screening included total phenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins. The active antioxidant was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. Results: The phytochemical screening of T. diversifolia dry flowers revealed the presence of phenolic compounds (tannins, flavonoids and total phenols), while alkaloids and saponins were not detected. The IC 50 values showed a strong antioxidant activity of the plant extracts. Conclusions: Therefore, this study suggests the possibility of using dry flowers extracts of T. diversifolia for the prevention of cell aging, as was shown to have significant antioxidant activity.

746-750

Authors: Fouad El-Akhal, Abdelhakim El Ouali Lalami, Yassine Ez Zoubi, Hassane Greche, Raja Guemmouh

Objective: To evaluate the larvicidal activity of essential oil of Origanum majorana (Lamiaceae) cultivated in Morocco against Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). Methods: The analysis and the identification of the various constituents of essential oil were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Biological test was performed according to a standard methodology inspired by the World Health Organization protocol with slight modification. Results: This oil mainly consisted of monoterpene and sesquiterpenes. The majority compounds are 4-terpinene (28.96%), γ-terpinene (18.57%), α-terpinene (12.72%) and sabinene (8.02%). The lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) measured for the essential oil Origanum majorana, were respectively of the order of 258.71 mg/L and 580.49 mg/L. Conclusions: The results could be useful in search for newer, safer, and more effective natural larvicidal agents.

755-756

Authors: Isaac Aguirre Maldonadoa, Silvia Cruz Duartea, Felipe González Velázqueza, Alfonso Alexander Aguilerab

The creeping verminous dermatitis or cutaneous larva migrans is a parasitosis caused by percutaneous penetration and migration of larval nematode parasites characterized by producing one or more serpiginous erythematous, indurated, raised and pruritic lesion. The most common cause of cutaneous larva migrans is the Ancylostoma braziliense located in warm climate zones. In the present study, authors reported a case of cutaneous larva migrans with a characteristic clinical picture: erythematous-papular and vesicular lesion and serpiginous path, with progressive, and pruritic growth and it shown that a living area with immigration, tropical weather conditions and poverty may lead to this common infection.