A. Anton Smith

Anticancer and Antimicrobial Activity of Aspergillus protuberus SP1 Isolated from Marine Sediments of South Indian Coast

Abstract Aim To explore the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of the fungi isolated from marine sediments of south India coastal belt. Methods Marine sediments were collected from different coastal locations of Kanyakumari District, South India. Aseptically collected marine sediment samples were serially diluted and cultured using SDA media with seawater under appropriate culture conditions. Antimicrobial activity was confirmed by crowded plate techniques. Antimicrobial activity of marine fungi isolate was evaluated against six human pathogenic bacteria viz., Enterobacter aerogenes., Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus , and Klebsiella pneumoniae ., with different solvents like n -butanol, chloroform, water and acetone. Anticancer activity of the selective fungal extracts was tested against Hep 2 cells using MTT assay. Results Fungus isolated from Muttom coast of south India showed activity against human pathogens. The fungi isolate Aspergillus protuberus SP1 was identified by partial sequence of large subunit ribosomal RNA (GenBank accession No.: HQ 386016). Different polar and non-polar solvent extracts of the marine-derived fungus isolate showed antibacterial activity towards various Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens. The n -butanol extract of mycelium showed maximum inhibition. Based on antibacterial activity, the n -butanol extract was selected for anticancer test against Hep 2 cell line. The n -butanol extract was subjected to column chromatographic separation using different solvent compositions with ethanol : methanol (9 : 1) giving better sepeartion. The fraction was analyzed by GC-MS study showing the presence of nine compounds. Conclusion These results are useful for further investigation of the fungus in the future.

Spectral characteristics of tramadol in different solvents and β-cyclodextrin

Effect of solvents and beta-cyclodextrin on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of tramadol drug has been investigated and compared with anisole. The solid inclusion complex of tramadol with beta-CD is investigated by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), DSC and semiempirical methods. The thermodynamic parameter (DeltaG) of inclusion process is determined. A solvent study shows (i) the spectral behaviour of both tramadol and anisole molecules is similar to each other and (ii) the cyclohexanol group in tramadol is not effectively conjugated with anisole group. However, in beta-CD, due to space restriction of the CD cavity, a weak interaction is present between the above groups in tramadol. beta-Cyclodextrin studies show that tramadol forms 1:2 inclusion complex with beta-CD. A mechanism is proposed for the inclusion process.

Effect of an active fraction isolated from the leaf extract of Leptadenia reticulata on plasma glucose concentration and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIM To evaluate the effect of an active fraction from Leptadenia reticulata leaves on serum glucose and lipid profile in normal and diabetic rats. METHOD Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin in Wistar rats. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Leptadenia reticulata leaves were administered orally at a dose of 200 mg·kg(-1), p.o. Metformin was used as standard anti diabetic drug (50 mg·kg(-1), p.o). The extract showing higher antidiabetic activity was subjected to column chromatography and led to the isolation of an active fraction, which was given trivial name Lr-1. Lr-1 (100 mg·kg(-1), p.o.) was studied for its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic potential. RESULTS The ethanol extract was found to lower the FBG level significantly (P < 0.05) in diabetic rats. Lr-1 caused a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in FBG level, and additionally it caused reduction in cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and an improvement in the HDL level in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION Reduction in the FBG, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and an improvement in the HDL by Lr-1 indicates that Lr-1 has antidiabetic activity, along with cardioprotective potential, and provides a scientific rationale for the use as an antidiabetic agent.

P035: Costs of illness analysis of community and hospital acquired gastroenteritis in a small South Indian town

Occurrences of gastroenteritis have been increasing and become a threat to public health. While the morbidity of rotavirus gastroenteritis are extensive in developing countries like India; the date on the cost of illness are not easily available. The present study was aimed to analyze and compare the expenditure incurred during community and hospital acquired rotavirus and norovirus gastroenteritis in the paediatric and elder patient populations. The present study was a prospective epidemiologic study conducted in selected rural areas of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Cost of illness was calculated as average cost per episode per case in ambulatory setup. Rotavirus and norovirus were identified in 42 of the 68 and 34 out of 79 in stool samples tested of paediatric and elder patients respectively. Patients mean age was 18.36 ± 1.35 months and 65.88 ± 4.71 years in paediatric and elder patients respectively. 7 patients were admitted to hospital due to severe condition. The average period of fever was observed as 2.1 and 1.9 days while vomiting was present for 1.6 and 1.4 days and diraahoea was for 3.1 and 2.7 days in paediatric and elder patients respectively. The total cost per episode varied from ₹87 ± 1.55 to ₹309 ± 20.01 and from ₹112 ± 3.33 to ₹459 ± 23.27 in the ambulatory setting for paediatric and elder patients respectively. The total cost includes direct, direct nonmedical and indirect costs. The majority of hospital-related costs were paid out of their pocket. No one was reimbursed by health insurance payers. The average workdays lost by parents, guardians and other relatives varied between among study population care givers and settings, ranging from 1.7 to 5.3 days and this was the significant cost spent. From the result of the present study we conclude that in infants regular vaccination for rotavirus may improve immunity and decrease cost of illness whereas in elder patients affected by gastroenteritis, sufficient improvement in quality of life could be achieved by increasing funds in health sector.