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Salmonella ser. Typhi is common pathogenic bacteria found in the environmental reservoirs, responsible for major disease outbreaks. Prevalence of drug-resistant strains of Salmonella ser. Typhi in environment is alarming for human health. The present study aims to generate drug-resistance profiling of Salmonella ser. Typhi, isolated from potable water of Gwalior and develop an alternative antimicrobial agent. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by chemical approach and characterised by UV-visible spectroscopy and Electron Microscopy. The morphology of nanoparticles was found to be quite spherical within the size range of 20-30 nm. Synthesized AuNPs were used as antimicrobial agent against drug-resistant Salmonella ser. Typhi. Study revealed that the synthesized AuNPs were effective against Salmonella ser. Typhi. The study can further be used in development of a potential antimicrobial agent against drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Plumbago zeylanica (family: Plumbaginaceae) is a widely accepted ethnomedicine around the world including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Early in vitro researches of Plumbago zeylanica were focused on antioxidant activity in root only a few were concerned with stem. Similarly in Eclipta alba antioxidant activity of whole plant is explored. Objective: The present study highlights the comparative antioxidant potential and enzymatic contents of both plants along with recent updates on phytochemical contents. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant potential of the plants was established by DPPH free radical scavenging assay, Nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging activity, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity, Catalase activity along with determination of Total Phenolic Contents in the plant extracts. Results: The results revealed that Eclipta alba has notable activity than Plumbago zeylanica in quenching of DPPH while Plumbago zeylanica shows comparatively better activity in nitric oxide scavenging, super oxide scavenging and Catalase activity. The Eclipta at 10 µg/ml showed maximum scavenging of DPPH (16.60 %), nitric oxide (66.21%), super oxide (4.76%) and Catalase activity 31.9 at 1 mg/g fresh weight against the Plumbago zeylanica which showed maximum scavenging of DPPH 13.24%, Polyherbal extract 11.78%, nitric-oxide (69.45%), super oxide (5.12%) and catalase activity 23.7 at 1 mg/g fresh weight respectively at the same concentration. The phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of considerable amount of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolic compounds and glycosides which might be responsible for the antioxidative potential of the selected plants. Conclusion: The results of this study strongly indicate that the Plumbago zeylanica has comparatively more potent antioxidant potential than Eclipta alba. Moreover, the study reveals that polyherbal extract for the very first time for this combination have shown a strong antioxidant activity which is directly correlated with suppression of free radical induced diseases i.e. cancer. These findings encourage studying these plants and their polyherbal extracts further as a potential agents against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Asparagus adscendens Roxb (Liliaceae) has a promising role in modulation of various disorders such as leucorrhea, diarrhea, dysentery, diabetes, senile pruritus, asthma, fatigue antifilarial, antifungal, spermatorrhea, and sexual debility/seminal weakness. Objective: To investigate dose-dependent effects of Asparagus adscendens root (AARR) extract on anabolic, reproductive, and sexual behavioral activities with a view to emphasize the pharmacological basis. Materials and methods: Rats were divided into five groups: Group I (control), Groups II-IV (AARR treated, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively, orally for 30 d) and Group V (standard control treated with sildenafil citrate, 5 mg/kg body weight). On day 31, copulatory and potency tests were carried out and an autopsy was done to study the reproductive function, namely, organ weights, spermatogenesis, daily sperm production rate (DSP), and epididymal sperm counts (ESC). Results: AARR extract (200 and 300 mg/kg doses) caused a significant increase in body ( p < 0.02 and p < 0.001) and testes ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, control versus treated) weights. Reproductive activity showed significant a increase in testicular tubular diameter ( p < 0.005-0.001), the number of round/elongated spermatids ( p < 0.02-0.001), DSP, and ESC ( p < 0.05-0.001). The sexual behavioral parameters including mounting/intromission frequency (13.0 ± 0.32/11.8 ± 0.37 and 18.2 ± 2.12/14.8 ± 1.15 versus 11.2 ± 0.66/8.2 ± 1.16), ejaculation latency (187.4 ± 1.91 and 191.4 ± 1.72 versus 180.0 ± 3.47), and penile erections (13.5 ± 0.3 and 14.5 ± 0.5 versus 8.5 ± 0.2) showed a significant increase at 200 and 300 mg/kg doses (ED50 300 mg/kg), but less than a standard control. In contrast, 100 mg/kg dose caused an increase ( p < 0.005) in mounting latency only. Conclusion: These results indicate increased anabolic, reproductive, and sexual activities by AARR treatment. Thus, the data provide scientific rationale for its traditional use as an aphrodisiac or for sexual disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piracetam is clinically being used nootropic drug but the details of its neuroprotective mechanism are not well studied. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of piracetam on rotenone induced oxidative stress by using both ex vivo and in vivo test systems. Rats were treated with piracetam (600 mg/kg b.w. oral) for seven constitutive days prior to rotenone administration (intracerebroventricular, 12 µg) in rat brain. Rotenone induced oxidative stress was assessed after 1 h and 24 h of rotenone administration. Ex vivo estimations were performed by using two experimental designs. In one experimental design the rat brain homogenate was treated with rotenone (1 mM, 2 mM and 4 mM) and rotenone+piracetam (10 mM) for 1 h. While in second experimental design the rats were pretreated with piracetam for seven consecutive days. On eighth day the rats were sacrificed, brain homogenate was prepared and treated with rotenone (1 mM, 2 mM and 4mM) for 1h. After treatment the glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were estimated in brain homogenate. In vivo study showed that pretreatment of piracetam offered significant protection against rotenone induced decreased GSH and increased MDA level though the protection was region specific. But the co-treatment of piracetam with rotenone did not offer significant protection against rotenone induced oxidative stress in ex vivo study. Whereas ex vivo experiments in rat brain homogenate of piracetam pretreated rats, showed the significant protection against rotenone induced oxidative stress. Findings indicated that pretreatment of piracetam significantly attenuated the rotenone induced oxidative stress though the protection was region specific. Piracetam treatment to rats led to its absorption and accumulation in different brain regions as assessed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. In conclusion, study indicates the piracetam is able to enhance the antioxidant capacity in brain cells in region specific manner. The study is also revealing the rationale for its clinical use in cognitive impairment and other neurological diseases.