Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2016 in |
Women on different contraceptive methods have been linked with the development of various changes in lipids profile. Therefore, the relationship between contraceptive use and lipids changes needs to be investigated. Method: This was a cross-sectional randomized study conducted on non-lactating, non-pregnant women who were on different methods of contraceptives for at least a period of 6 months and were attending the Family Planning room at Al-shomaly hospital south of Babylon government. The study population consisted of a countryside population. One hundred twenty-five divided into five groups 25 women each group: (1): taken oral contraceptive (microgynon tablet), (2) taken oral contraceptive (microgynon tablet) with 400 IU Vitamin E per day, (3) on injectable contraceptive (depo Provera), and (4): on injectable (depo Provera) with 400 IU Vitamin E per day and (5): not taken any things as control individuals. Conclusion: contraceptives have a series role in elevation of lipids profiles, and use of Vitamin E can reduce a degree of these...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2016 in |
Human eye is a challenging subject for topical administration of the drugs because of its peculiar anatomical arrangements of surface tissue and impermeability of the cornea. Topical instillation of drugs through eye drops is the most important and well-accepted route of administration for the treatment of various eye disorders. Conventional ophthalmic drug delivery systems often result in poor bioavailability and therefore poor therapeutic response. Several new preparations have been developed to prolong the contact time of the medicament on the ocular surface. Successful results have been obtained with inserts and collagen shields. However, these preparations have some disadvantages, such as poor patient compliance, especially by geriatric patients. This problem can be overcome by using in situ gel forming systems of polymers that exhibit reversible phase transition. Such system can be formulated as eye drops suitable for administration by instillation into the eye, which upon exposure to the eye converts to the gel phase. The advantage of these formulations is that unlike inserts and films they do not require sophisticated...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2016 in |
A freshwater microalga, Nostoc sp. isolated from Tamdil Wetland of Mizoram was tested for its algicidal, antibacterial and antifungal activity. Extracts were prepared with methanol, ethanol:water and dichloromethane:isopropanol and tested for their antimicrobial activity against nine microorganisms comprising of three chlorophycean algae (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Selenastrum capricornatum), one cyanobacterium (Anabaena variabilis), three bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Escherichia coli) and two fungal strains (Fusarium udum and Fusarium culmorum). Among the three extracts tested the methanol extract was found most effective on algal test organisms. The highest (60%) inhibitory effect was observed against A. variabilis by methanol extract followed by 31% inhibition by dichloromethane:isopropanol. When tested on bacterial strains, the highest inhibition zone (23.67±1.58mm) was observed in B. subtilis by dichloromethane:isopropanol extract followed by ethanol:water extract. In case of fungal activity, the highest inhibition zone (11.00±0.58mm) was observed in F. culmorum by dichloromethane:isopropanol extract and the rest of the extracts showed almost similar effect. MICs of each extract on all the organisms varied. The extracts were...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2016 in |
Antioxidant potentials and radioprotective properties of curcumin were studied. Free radical scavenging activity of curcumin was measured spectrophotometrically using ferric ion reducing power assay, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) free radical test, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity assay, nitric oxide scavenging assay and superoxide scavenging capacity. The antioxidant properties depended upon concentration of curcumin in the reaction mixture. Curcumin exhibited good protection against low LET radiation-induced DNA damage. Treatment of ethanolic solutions of curcumin before irradiation significantly reduced comet tail DNA and length (P < 0.05.) in bone marrow cells of rat as revealed by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis. Treatment of curcumin solutions to plasmid (pBR322) DNA prior to exposure of radiation under in vitro condition protect the DNA damage as indicated by significant reduction of the gamma radiation-induced conversion of CCC (covalently closed circular) to OC (open circular) form. The findings indicate that curcumin possesses promising antioxidant and radioprotective properties, and hence, has an important role in radiation...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2016 in |
The parts of the Nicotiana tabacum plant have been known to possess a wide range of biological activities. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial activity, phytochemical screening and the antioxidant activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the stem of Nicotiana tabacum. The antibacterial activity was observed against two gram positive bacteria (Bacillus amyloiquefaciens, Staphylococcus aureus) & two gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in its aqueous, ethanolic, acetone and methanolic extracts by agar well diffusion method where maximum antibacterial activity found to be present in the methanolic and ethanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibition length of 10.667±1.527 mm and 8±1.00 mm, respectively. Phytochemical screening of aqueous, ethanolic & methanolic extract revealed the presence of saponin, flavonoids and alkaloids. Flavonoid content in stem was found to be 838 mg QE/g of extract in the 80% of ethanol extract by aluminium chloride colometric method. Antioxidant activity was observed in order to estimate the superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione content, glutathione s transferase &...
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