Background:Mangroves have the ability to grow where no other vascular plants survive. Rhizophora mucronata is a true mangrove and traditionally used to treat diabetes and its allied complications.Objectives:In the present study, we standardized the 80% methanolic standardized extract of R. mucronata leaves (RH) and found out its antiradical and antidiabetic activities.Materials and Methods:The methanolic extract of R. mucronata leaves (RH) was standardized and quantified for phenolics, flavonoinds, gallic acid, quercetin, and coumarin. The reducing abilities and antiradical activities of RH were performed in vitro methods like, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxides, superoxides, hydroxyl, and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid). Thereafter, RH was evaluated for it antidiabetic potentialities on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type-2 diabetes. STZ (90 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was administered to 2 days old pups to induce diabetes. RH was fed at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg and glibenclamide (positive control) at 5 mg/kg, when the rats were 6 weeks old and continued for 10 weeks. Fasting glucose was monitored before and after the treatment. Further, lipid peroxides and reduced glutathione level were estimated on rat liver.Results:The results obtained from this study revealed RH possesses flavonoinds and also gallic acid, quercetin, and coumarin. Further, it has antiradical activities. It has also reduced blood glucose level in type-2 diabetic rats and reduced the formation of lipid peroxidation in liver. RH enhanced the level of glutathione in liver tissue.Conclusion:RH exhibits source of natural antioxidants and great potentialities as an antidiabetic agent by improving the hyperglycemia through its antiradical action.

In the present two-year study, an attempt was made to estimate the grain yield, grain nutrient uptake, and oil quality of three commonly grown maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrids fertilized with varied levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Results obtained from both the experimental years indicated that application of 125% of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) recorded maximum grain yield (10.37 t ha -1 ; 124% higher than control). When compared with 100% RDF, grain yield reduction with nutrient omission was 44% for N omission, 17% for P omission, and 27% for K omission. Nitrogen uptake was increased with increasing NPK levels up to 150% RDF that was statistically at par ( p ≥ 0.01) with 125% RDF. Increasing trend in P and K uptake was observed with successive increase in NPK levels up to 125% RDF, above which it declined. The protein content was significantly higher in grains of var. P 3396 with 125% RDF. Nutrient management has significant ( p ≤ 0.01) role in the grain oil content. Saturated fatty acids (palmitic, stearic and arachidic acid) content decreased, and unsaturated fatty acid (oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid) increased with increasing NPK levels. The average oleic acid desaturation and linoleic acid desaturation ratios were increased with increasing NPK levels up to 100 and 125% RDF, respectively. However, average monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA): poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), saturated: unsaturated as well as linoleic: linolenic acid ratios were increased on receiving 75% RDF, and beyond that it showed decreasing trend. The omission of K had the highest inhibitory effect on corn oil quality followed by N and P omission.

Background:Bruguiera gymnorrhiza L. (family Rhizophoraceae) is a true mangrove habitat in Indian Sunderban and traditionally uses for liver disorders.Objectives:The aim was to evaluate antioxidant and hepatoprotective actions of leave extract of B. gymnorrhiza L.Materials and Methods:Hydro-methanolic extract of mangrove leaves (BR) was standardized using spectrophotometric and high-performance thin layer chromatography methods. Radical scavenging activities were assessed in different in vitro methods, like 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid +, superoxides, nitric oxides and hydroxyl radicals. Hepatoprotective efficacy of BR (125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, p.o) was measured in D-galactosamine (GalN) induced (200 mg/kg, i.p) hepatitis in Wistar rats. Silymarin (25 mg/kg, p.o) was used as known hepatoprotective agent.Results:Polyphenols such as gallic acid, quercetin, and coumarin obtained from BR exhibited powerful antioxidant properties. Moreover, it produced dose-dependent protection against GalN induced hepatitis in rats. It significantly reduced GalN induced elevation of enzymes (alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) in serum and resist oxidative stress marked by lipid peroxides, glutathione, and catalase in hepatic parenchyma.Conclusions:Polyphenols rich B. gymnorrhiza L. leaves ameliorate hepatic tissue injury through its antioxidant effects.

The puffer fishes Chelonodon patoca, Sphaeroides oblongus, Lagocephalus lunaris, and L. inermis of Indian coastal waters are wasted in huge quantity. The livers of these fishes were investigated for their lipid contents and fatty acid compositions in different seasons. It was found that monsoon season is the suitable time to obtain the maximal lipids (40.1-48.8%) from their livers, an amount similar to cod liver lipid content (39.5-55.0%). The fatty acids were mostly saturates and monoenes (60-70%). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations (7-12%) were high during monsoon season. Neutral lipids were the predominant lipid class (>80%) and comprised triglycerides (277-674 mg/g) and cholesterol (0.6-3.1 mg/g). Quality indices of puffer liver lipids, e.g., specific gravity, refractive index, acid value, iodine value, saponification value and unsaponifiable matter, were evaluated. Puffer liver lipids were quantitatively and qualitatively comparable to other commercially important marine fish oils. The overall study suggests the possibility of future commercial utilization of liver lipids from puffer, an unconventional, cheap, and easily available source.

BackgroundTrikatu, Sitopaladi, Hingavastaka, Avipattikara, Sringyadi and Talisadya are very popular Ayurvedic (churna) medicines practiced in India; however, unfortunately, they possess several quality control issues.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to find out a simple, accurate and sensitive HPTLC method for the detection and quantification of marker molecule, piperine (alkaloid) on these Ayurvedic formulations for standardization.Materials and methodsMethanolic extraction (reflux) was performed from the above six churnas as well as three single ingredients Piper longum (pipul), Piper nigrum (marich) and Piper chaba (chai). HPTLC was done using piperine as a standard. The mobile phase was a mixture of toluene-ethyl acetate (7:3, v/v) and detection at 342λ.ResultsThe Rf was detected at 0.39. Piperine was quantified in all samples. P. nigrum showed higher piperine than P. longum and P. chaba. The maximum piperine was noted in Hingavastaka churna and followed by Sringyadi churna, Sitopaladi churna, Talisadya churna, Trikatu churna and Avipattikara churna.ConclusionThis method can be successfully employed for standardization and quantitative analysis of piperine in Ayurvedic formulations (churnas) and also be helpful to clinicians and pharmacists to draw significant role of piperine present in all these samples.