Plants of genus Clerodendron belongs to family Verbenaceae and have been widely employed for controlling the various disease. Objective of the present study was to do preliminary phytochemical screening of Methanolic Extract of leaves of Clerodendron infortunatum. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of this plant confirms the presence of various phytochemicals like sterols, terpenoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, tannins, and glycosides in its methanolic extract. Whereas flavonoids, phenols and saponins were found to be absent. This preliminary study draws attention to the need for further studies of the active secondary metabolites identified in the reported species for the treatment of many diseases also to understand their mode of action in controlling various dreadful diseases.

Background & objectives:Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae), the established vector for kala-azar is presently being controlled by indoor residual spray of DDT in kala-azar endemic areas in India. Search for non-hazardous and non-toxic biodegradable active molecules from botanicals may provide cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The present study was aimed at evaluating various plant extracts from endemic and non-endemic areas of Bihar for their insecticidal activity against sandfly to identify the most effective plant extract.Methods:Bio-assay test was conducted with larvae and adult of P. argentipes with different plant extracts collected in distilled water, hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. Thin layer chromatography (TLC), column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were conducted for detection of active molecules.Results:Adults and larvae of sandflies exposed to the aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum resulted in 100 per cent mortality. The hexane extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum was found to kill 77 per cent adults but was ineffective against larvae. Bio-assay test of the ninth fraction (hexane extract-methanol phase) separated by column chromatography was found to be 63 per cent effective. The purple spot on the TLC of this fraction indicated the presence of a diterpenoid. HPLC of this fraction detected nine compounds with two peaks covering 20.44 and 56.52 per cent areas with retention time of 2.439 and 5.182 min, respectively supporting the TLC results.Interpretation & conclusions:The column separated 9th fraction of C. infortunatum extract was found to be effective in killing 63 per cent of adult P. argentipes. Compounds of this fraction need to be evaluated further for identification and characterization of the active molecule by conducting individual bio-assay tests followed by further fractionation and HPLC. Once the structure of the active molecule is identified and validated, it may be synthesized and formulated as a product.

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In-depth analytical study was carried out in five selected wetlands in the district of Madhubani (Bihar, India) in terms of their chemical parameters, biomass production and trophic relationship that was modeled with help from an ecological simulation software. These perennially water-logged bodies belonged to three categories that may be said to be (a) reverine with flowing water courses, (b) lacustrine with water depth 2 metre or more at the centre, and (c) palustrine with water less than 2 metre deep before rains. With little innovation and intensive planning, these bodies may be positively exploited for significant biomass production, aquaculture, waterfowl management and cultivation of economically useful crops including fibre yielding plants a few of which can be additionally customized to get rid of undesirable pollutants and heavy metals carried in by the in-flowing water stream or run off water during rains. The paper suggests a well-documented scheme for proper utilization and conservation of these water bodies and discusses a research protocol with three-pronged approach that includes genetic induction of heavy metal tolerance and disposal ability into a common sub-aquatic plant Typha angustifolia Linn. that is well-suited for cultivation in such conditions, while simultaneously being highly exploitable economically in terms of food, fodder and medicine.

Introduction: Changing demographic patterns worldwide and improvement in healthcarehas contributed to increasing visits to the emergency department byelderly patients. Geriatric patients usually have multiple co-morbidities and declining physiological functional status. This complex interplay of various factors requires a specific and curated approach from the emergency physicians. Our aim was to study the pattern and prevalence of geriatric emergencies and the profile of infectious and non-infectious causes of fever in geriatric population in our tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital of north India and included all patients aged more than 18 years who visited the emergency department over a period of six months (July 2018 to December 2018). Detailed data regarding demographic, clinical and diagnosis was obtained retrospectively from the hospital records system. The patients were divided into two groups, age less than 60 years and elderly patients more than 60 years of age for comparison. Results: A total of 24768 patients above the age of 18 years visited the emergency department over a period of six months. Out of which 5399 (27.5%) patients belonged to the geriatric age group more than 60 years of age. 2474 (45.8%) geriatric age group patientswere triaged to critical areas level one and level two as compared to 4668 (24.1%) patients aged less than 60 years. Ninety (1.8%) geriatric patients succumbed to death as compared to 77 (0.4%) patients aged less than 60 years. 651 (21.9%) geriatric patients were shifted to intensive care unit as opposed to 1038 (14.8%) patients of the younger age group.226 (4.2%) geriatric patients presented with fever in the emergency department.116 (73.4%) patients having underlying co-morbidities , had fever due to infectious causes whereas 42 ( 26.5%) patients had fever due to non-infectious causes. Conclusion: The clinical presentation mortality and morbidity pattern of geriatric patients differs significantly from that of younger population and requires a customized approach and dedicated emergency setups.