No abstract

Treatment based on traditional medicine is very popular in developing world due to inexpensive properties. Nowadays, several types of preparations based on medicinal plants at different dose have been extensively recognized in the diseases prevention and treatment. In this vista, latest findings support the effect of Curcuma longa and its chief constituents curcumin in a broad range of diseases cure via modulation of physiological and biochemical process. In addition, various studies based on animal mode and clinical trials showed that curcumin does not cause any adverse complications on liver and kidney function and it is safe at high dose. This review article aims at gathering information predominantly on pharmacological activities such as anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, hepato-protective activity, anti-inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the potential bene¢t of Bacillus pumilus and a commercial product ('Organic Green' TM ) as a probiotic in the culture of the tilapia nilotica. Two doses of B. pumilus (10 6 and 10 12 g À1 diet fed) and Organic Green TM (1 and 2 g kg À1 diet fed) were used as feed additives and administered for periods of 1 (groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively) and 2 (groups 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively) months; group 1 served as a control. Each group consisted of 4 equal replicates of 320 ¢sh. Body weight, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) activity, haematocrit values and total and di¡erential leucocytic counts (TLC and DLC) were recorded in each group after 1 and 2 months. At the end of the experiment (8 months), survival and individual body weights were recorded. Challenge infections were performed after 1, 2 and 8 months using 0.5 mL culture suspension of a pathogenic reference strain of Aeromonas hydrophila (10 8 bacteria mL À1 ). The NBT values were increased signi¢cantly in all treated groups, except those administered B. pumillus (groups 3 and 6). There were signi¢cant changes in haematocrit values and TLC and DLCs in the treated groups, except group 3, which showed a signi¢cant increase in TLC, lymphocytes and monocytes. There was a statistically signi¢cant increase in the individual body weight in groups 5, 6, 8 and 9. The survival rates of all treatment groups were higher than the control group, the di¡erences being statistically signi¢cant in groups 3 and 9. The challenge infection showed a variable response with the type and dose of treatment and the period of application. The highest relative levels of protection were an average increase of 62.5% after 1 month (groups 3 and 5), 55.6% after 2 months (group 7) and 15.8% after 8 months (groups 8 and 9). Overall, both types of probiotics induced a similar e¡ect. The results show the potential of using probiotics to enhance immune and health status and improve disease resistance in Oreochromis niloticus, thereby improving growth performance. However, further extensive testing, including a full commercial cost^bene¢t analysis, is necessary before recommending their application in aquaculture.Ã RLP, Relative level of protection that was measured after challenge of O. niloticus with Aeromonas hydrophila.Mean AE SE having the same letter in the same row are not signi¢cantly di¡erent at Po0.05.Aquaculture Research, 2008, 39, 647^656 E¡ect of probiotics on the survival and growth in Tilapia nilotica S M Aly et al.

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Cancer is the most dreadful disease worldwide in terms of morbidity and mortality. The exact cause of cancer development and progression is not fully known. But it is thought that cancer occurs due to the structural and functional changes in the genes. The current approach to cancer treatment based on allopathic is expensive, exhibits side effects; and may also alter the normal functioning of genes. Thus, a safe and effective mode of treatment is needed to control the cancer development and progression. Some medicinal plants provide a safe, effective and affordable remedy to control the progression of malignant cells. The importance of medicinal plants and their constituents has been documented in Ayurveda, Unani medicine, and various religious books. Curcumin, a vital constituent of the spice turmeric, is an alternative approach in the prevention of cancer. Earlier studies have shown the effect of curcumin as an antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor and it also has a noteworthy role in the control of different diseases. In this review, we summarize the understanding of chemopreventive effects of curcumin in the prevention of cancer via the regulation of various cell signaling and genetic pathways.