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Use of different solvent systems for extraction of plant materials may cause variation in their bioactivities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the presence of different phytoconstituents and to compare in vitro bioactivities of petroleum ether, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol extracts of Bombax ceiba (B. ceiba) roots available in Bangladesh. Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted using specific standard procedure. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging assay. Determination of total phenolic and flavonoid content was also carried out. Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities were investigated using disc diffusion method and brine shrimp lethality bioassay, respectively. All the experiments were carried out from February 2016 to September 2016. Phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and steroids. The methanol extract showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and had the highest phenolic (187.42 ± 3.77 mg/g, GAE) and flavonoid content (74.67 ± 4 mg/g, QE) followed by the DCM and petroleum ether extracts. The extracts showed positive correlation between DPPH radical scavenging activity with the phenolic and flavonoid content. All the extracts showed mild to moderate in vitro antibacterial activity with zone of inhibition ranging from 7 mm to 13 mm. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the observed LC 50 values for petroleum ether, DCM and methanol extracts were 70.72 μg/ml, 37.72 μg/ml and 22.58 μg/ml, respectively which revealed strong cytotoxic potential of the extracts compared to the positive control. The results indicated that B. ceiba roots could be a very potent source of natural radical scavenger and cytotoxic agent.

Pomegranate is an important medicinal plant containing versatile bioactive compounds and traditionally was used in the treatment of different diseases. The ripe fruit is tonic, astringent, laxative and diuretic, used in brain diseases, chest troubles, bronchitis and earache. Bark and fruit rind are administered orally to prevent dysentery, diarrhea, piles, bronchitis, biliousness and as an anthelmintic. [2] The dried flowers, known as Gulnar, are efficaceous to treat hematuria, hemoptysis, diarrhea, dysentery, bronchitis, nasal hemorrhage. [3] Pomegranate flowers have been prescribed in Unani and Ayurvedic medicines for the treatment of diabetes. [4] It has been demonstrated that flower extract shows hypoglycemic activity in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic animals. [5] Flower juice is recommended as a gargle for sore throat, oral and throat inflammation, in leucorrhea, hemorrhage and ulcers of the uterus and rectus. [3] Some studies have reported that both the pomegranate flowers and fruit extracts exhibited high activity on lowering

Awareness of common eye diseases and their early detection can play a vital role in encouraging people to seek timely eye care and therefore help in reducing the burden of visual impairment. This study was designed to reveal the assessment of awareness of eye diseases among the population of Bangladesh in different locations. For this, a total of 750 respondents were selected by convenient sampling and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. From this study, we found that only 50% of the respondents were aware of glaucoma and only 35% had knowledge about glaucoma. About 52% of the study population was aware of cataract and 19% of them had knowledge that the risk of cataract increases by getting older. About 38% of the participants had an understanding of night blindness. Diabetes can lead to eye diseases and this was known to 40% of the study population. Only 23% of the respondents were concern about their family’s present eye health condition. Frequency of taking nutritional food for optimum health was very poor. Daily nutritional foods were taken by 17% of the participants. About 36% of study subjects maintained their blood pressure and obesity. From our survey results, it can be implied that the level of awareness and knowledge about common eye diseases among the population of Bangladesh was not satisfactory. Highlighting importance to the tertiary eye care, imposing health education and raising awareness will assist to understand the importance of routine eye examination for early detection and treatment of such conditions. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2019, 5(4): 292-296

Introduction: Pneumonia and diarrhoea are amongst the most common causes for hospital admission for children in low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh. Undernourished children often have more severe infections and a higher morbidity and mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical features and outcomes of pneumonia in severely malnourished children with and without diarrhoea. Methodology: A retrospective chart analysis was carried out on children under 5 years of age who were admitted in intensive care unit of the Dhaka hospital of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). A total of 245 severe acute malnourished children with pneumonia and diarrhoea (PD group) were compared with 89 children with pneumonia only (PO group). Results: A significantly higher number of children from the PD group had some/severe dehydration (16.3% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.005) when compared with children from the PO group. The PD group showed less cough (83.3% vs. 100%; p < 0.001), lower chest wall indrawing (40.4% vs. 60.7%; p = 0.001), and crackles (62.4% vs. 87.6%; p < 0.001) compared to the PO group at the time of admission. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment of some/severe dehydration in addition to WHO recommended other routine treatment of diarrhoea, pneumonia and severe acute malnutrition in children may help to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries.