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Marine algae contain diverse bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical importance. The present study was aimed at exploring one such alga, Sargassum polycystum, belonging to the phaeophyceae family. The seaweed was extracted with two different solvent systems and subjected to phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and antioxidant studies. The extract showed wide variety of phytocomposition and was found to possess significant antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. For antioxidant activities, DPPH assay, Hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, Phosphomolybdenum reduction and Fe3+ reducing power assays were carried out. The extract exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity in all the assays, especially in Fe3+ reducing power assay and hydroxyl radical scavenging, a maximum inhibition of 96.27 and 84.14% was observed, respectively. Also, the GC-MS analysis further confirmed the presence of isoflavone, a phenolic compound that signifies the role in antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine water contamination by hydrocarbon and its by-products are currently a worldwide issue. Microorganisms that can ingest hydrocarbons for growth, sustenance, and metabolic processes, classified as Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria are identified as promising biocontrol agents for the degradation of hydrocarbons. Thus, in the present study, an attempt was made to isolate hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial species that are capable of utilising and degrading Phenanthrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon as the sole carbon source. A total of 16 bacterial isolates were obtained as pure cultures from the samples collected at varying depths of 3 to 3500 m from Indian Ocean by the sequential isolation process with Phenanthrene incorporated into the growth media. Growth specificity of the isolates was estimated by subjecting the isolates to different ranges of pH, salinity and temperature. Based on the specificity tests, 3 isolates were selected as potential candidates that can grow well in Phenanthrene. Further, molecular characterization of these isolates by 16s rRNA sequence revealed the identity as Alcanivorax dieselolei, Rhodococcus pyridinivorans and Halomonas titanicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent impairment in reciprocal social interaction and communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Thus, this pervasive developmental disorder poses a threat of lifelong disability. Two cases of ASD treated with Nux Vomica 1 M and Sulphur 1M at Sarada Krishna Homoeopathic Medical College are presented to show the significance of homeopathic constitutional medicine in ASD treatment. At the initial visit as well as the subsequent follow-up appointments, the Indian Scale for Autism Assessment (ISAA) was utilized to determine the degree of autism. The patients showed remarkable improvement over the course of the treatment. The ISAA score in the first case, which was 143 at the start of the treatment, decreased to 69 after receiving medication for 11 months (ISAA score 143: moderate autism). In the second case, the patient's initial ISAA score of 73 (ISAA score 73: mild autism) dropped to a corresponding 44 after 10 months of treatment. These experiences have brought to light the significance of matching remedies to patients' unique symptoms and demonstrated the value of homeopathic therapy in the treatment of ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the bio efficacy and phyto toxicity of Indaziflam 500 SC in acid lime at Central Block, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam during kharif and rabi seasons of the years 2017 and 2018. Experiments were carried out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments and replicated thrice. Indaziflam 500 SC was sprayed as pre emergence as well as combination with post emergence herbicides in acid lime before the onset of South West Monsoon and North East Monsoon at kharif and rabi seasons respectively. Indaziflam 500 SC either alone or in combination with post emergence herbicide was completely dissolved while making stock solutions. There were no phyto toxicity symptoms on acid lime at higher doses of pre emergence application and combination with post emergence application of Indaziflam 500 SC. Pre emergence application of Indaziflam 500 SC @ 62.5 g a.i./ha recorded significantly lower no. of weed density on 30, 60, 90 and 120 DAA during both the seasons. Increased weed density was observed in untreated control at all stages of crop growth during both the seasons. Pre emergence application of Indaziflam 500 SC @ 62.5 g a.i./ha recorded significantly lower weed DMP at 90 DAA during both the seasons of the study followed by pre emergence application of Indaziflam 500 SC @ 50 g a.i./ha and resulted in higher weed control efficiency at all stages of observation. Significantly higher acid lime fruit yield of 12.45 and 13.85 t/ha was recorded with hand weeding during kharif and rabi respectively due to weed free condition maintained during entire growth stage of the crop and it was followed by pre emergence application of Indaziflam 500 SC @ 62.5 g a.i./ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the anxiolytic effect of Coriandrum sativum (CS) aqueous extract in mice. To compare the antianxiety activity of CS against standard drug diazepam (3 mg/ kg). Materials and Methods: After obtaining Institutional Animal Ethics Committee approval, Swiss albino mice (18-25 g) of either sex were randomly divided intofive groups of six animals each. Dried powder of CS leaves was boiled with distilled water, cooled, filtered, placed on a hotplate for complete evaporation, finally weighed and stored. The control group, test group, and standard drugs group received saline, CS extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), diazepam (3 mg/kg), respectively, by oral feeding. The antianxiety effect was assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice. Results: In EPM, it implied that CS 50 mg/ kg (Group III), 100 mg/kg (Group IV), and 200 mg/kg (Group V) significantly (P < 0.001) increases the number of entries in open arms compared to control. The time spent in open arms also increased in all the doses of CS extract significantly. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates statistically significant dose-dependent antianxiety activity of CS leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was aimed to study the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and in vivo antioxidant properties of the root of Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced type 1 diabetic rats. Administration of ethanolic extract of Sphaeranthus indicus root (EESIR) 100 and 200 mg/kg to the STZ-induced diabetic rats showed significant (P < .01) reduction in blood glucose and increase in body weight compared to diabetic control rats. Both the doses of EESIR-treated diabetic rats showed significant (P < .01) alteration in elevated lipid profile levels than diabetic control rats. The EESIR treatment in diabetic rats produced significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels than diabetic control rats. Administration of EESIR 200 mg/kg produced significant (P < .01) higher antioxidant activity than EESIR 100 mg/kg. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of EESIR revealed the presence of biomarkers gallic acid and quercetin. In conclusion, EESIR possess antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and in vivo antioxidant activity in type 1 diabetic rats. Its antioxidant and lipid lowering effect will help to prevent diabetic complications, and these actions are possibly due to presence of above biomarkers.