DocumentsDate added
Research article:-Microbilogy
*1Brooks, A.A., 2Asamudo, N. U and 1Takon, I.
1Department of Microbiology, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
2Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
Abstract:- Five different types of high sugar pediatric syrups were randomly sampled and examined microbiologically to determine the bacteriological status of the products. A second line investigation was also conducted on samples which did not show any sign of bacterial growth during the first trial, with the view to recovering the injured or stressed but viable bacterial cells in the product. Drugs studied included Tixylix baby cough syrup, Paracetamol syrup, Chloroquine syrup, Becombion syrup and Vitamin C syrup. All the products gave low counts of contaminating bacteria when they were diluted directly, plated out on conventional solid media and colonies counted. Higher counts were obtained when the cells were reactivated and plated on hypertonic mannitol salt agar. The bacterial types isolated and their frequency of occurrence before and after reactivation included Bacillus subtilis (18.1%, 22.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.1%, 33.3% ), Klebsiella sp (9.4%, 13.3% ). Micrococcus sp. (9.4%, 5.6% ), Staphylococcus aureus (9.4%,5.6%), Escherichia coli (6.3%,4.4%),Proteus sp. (3.1%,3.3%) and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus(15.6%,12.2%). The presence of these bacteria is indicative of unwholesome products which may have serious health implications in neonates and children.
Keywords:-Reactivation, Injured cells, Contamination unwholesome, high sugar syrups.
Research article:-
*,1Dr. Jankana Burana-osot and 2Dr. Wandee Yanpaisan
1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, NakhonPathom 73000, Thailand.
2Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, NakhonPathom 73000, Thailand.
Abstract:- A validated reversed-phase HPLC methodhas been employed for the determination of five individual catechins; (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-) epigallocatechin (EGC), (-) epicatechin gallate (ECG), (-) epicatechin (EC), and (+) catechin (C), and caffeine in green tea simultaneously.The separation was performed on a C18-bonded silica column (4.6 x 250 mm, 5μm) using an isocratic mobile phase comprising of 0.1% acetic acid and methanol (70:30, v/v) with a UV detection at 230 nm. The method validation showed good results for specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. The content of 5 catechins and caffeine in commonly consume green tea brands in Thailand were determined and compared. The resulting data revealed extensive variability in catechins and caffeine amounts. The quantities of EGCG ranged from 5.19 to 58.21, EGC from 2.80 to 52.48, EC from 0.74 to 11.58, ECG from 1.01 to 16.45 and C from 0.09 to 6.10 mg/g of dry tea. Caffeine contents were between 5.81-27.62mg/g of dry tea. EGCG was in the highest concentration in almost tea infusions excepting Japanese green tea, while C was the lowest, excepting Chinese green tea.
Key words:- Green tea, Catechins, Caffeine, HPLC.
Research article:- Biochemistry
*AKANDE I. S, 1 SAMUEL T. A1 , AGBAZUE .U1 AND OLOWOLAGBA B. L1
1Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Abstract:-The comparative nutritive values of different tea brands on sale in Nigeria were investigated and compared with natural Lemon grass extracts. The brands include Lipton tea, Top tea, Nescafe and Green tea. The percentage moisture, ash, crude fibres, lipids and protein contents and antioxidant potentials were evaluated and compared. Phytochemical screening for the various tea brands compared to Lemon grass was also carried out. Results from the study showed that there were significant (p<0.05) differences in the proximate composition of the various tea brands compared with lemon grass . Top tea had the highest percentage of moisture (11.2%), crude fibre (84.35%), lipid (6.09%), protein (0.44%) while Nescafe had the highest percentage of ash content (13.03%). Green tea contained the least ash content (4.79%) while Lemon grass had the lowest percentage lipid (0.42%). Phytochemical screening of these samples revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides and conjugated dienes in all the four tea brands investigated. Top tea appeared the most balanced nutritionally while the green tea is the most susceptible to rancidity. Data of the study indicate that our indigenous tea brands including the natural extracts of lemon leaf are good sources of antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds and glycosides in addition to very few calories and only a small amount of fat with corresponding valuable minerals. They are therefore nutritionally acceptable and medicinally valuable.
Key Words:- Tea, Moisture, Antioxidant, Proximate, Flavonoids, Citrus hystrix.
Research article:-Biotechnology
*1Singh Mukesh (Ph.D), 2Majumdar Anurima (Ph.D), 3Momi Navneet (M.S, Ph.D pursuing) 4Bhattacharjee Aishwarya (M.Tech), 4Majumdar Kaustav (Ph.D pursuing), 4Kundu Soumyabrata (M.Tech), 4 Paul Rituparna (B.Tech), 4 Maity Dipanjana (B.Tech), 1Sasmal Kankaayan (B.Tech pursuing) and 1Sarkar Ankita (B.Tech pursuing).
*1Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Purba Medinipur, Haldia, India.
2University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
3University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
4Department of Biotechnology, Bengal College of Engg. & Technology, Durgapur, India.
Abstract:- Free radicals can cause damage to biomolecules and thus alter biological metabolism leading to dreadful diseases like cancer, diabetics, and age related disorder. From ancient times, plants have been known to possess medicinal properties and hence they have immense therapeutic potential. Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is one of the most common beverages and people all over the world consume it on daily basis. Tea has many bioactive components like polyphenols, catechins, flavonoids etc. that have the intrinsic power to scavenge reactive oxygen species. The present research was undertaken to measure the effects of tea leaves’ extracts in reducing the oxidative stress induced by Mohr’s salt (Fe 2+) ions and H2O2 (Fenton system) in Calf thymus (CT) DNA. In addition, superoxide scavenging activity of the same extracts was also measured by auto-oxidation of hematoxilin. Boiled aqueous extracts of fresh green leaves and semi-fermented leaves were used for the above said study. This study showed that there was a dose-dependent protection of Fe 2+ ions and H2O2 stressed CT DNA and inhibition of superoxide radicals. Both gel electrophoresis and superoxide assay results correlated each other. These results suggested that tea leaves have the potential to serve as a beverage as well as a medicine against free-radical-associated oxidative damage and related degenerative diseases involving metabolic stress, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity.
Key words:- Antioxidant activity, Camellia sinensis, DNA strand, reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Research article:- Pharmacy
Dr. Srisombat Nawanopparatsakul1,Dr.Patamawan Phuagphong2 and Nudchanart Kitcharoen 2
1Associate.Prof, 2,3Assistant .Prof. Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakornpathom, Thailand.
Abstract:- The objective of this study was to screen inhibitory effects of selected herbs on plant growth. The peels of three species of Citrus, Citrus maxima (Burm.f) Merr., Citrus reticulata Blanco and Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.), were selected for various extractions. Three extraction solvents: methanol, 80% methanol and water were used in this study. The test methods were seed germination bioassay which focused on percent inhibition of seed germination, and seedling length bioassay that reflected the inhibitory effects on root elongation of seedling plants of lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa L with suitable germination and growth rate as the representative for weeds in the test such as sensitivity, simplicity, low cost and suitability. The result showed that the 1 mg/ml of 80% methanol extracts of Citrus aurantifolia had significant inhibitory effects on germination of lettuce seeds. For the seedling length bioassay, three extracts of Citrus aurantifolia had inhibitory effects on root elongation of lettuce seeds with EC10 of 0.01 µg/ml, 0.11 µg/ml, 0.01 µg/ml for MeOH, 80% MeOH and aqueous extracts, respectively. The study is worthy of further investigation since this could provide potential bioherbicide and may lead to the discovery of new effective and applicable bioherbicide.
Keywords:- Citrus spp, seed germination bioassay, seedling length bioassay, bioherbicide.