Animesh Samanta

Analysis of phytochemical profile of Terminalia arjuna bark extract with antioxidative and antimicrobial properties

OBJECTIVE To investigate phytochemical screening, antimicrobial activity and qualitative thin layer chromatographic separation of flavonoid components, antioxidant activity and total flavonoid compound of Terminalia arjuna. METHODS For phytochemical screening, some common and available standard tests were done. Antimicrobial bioassay was done through agar well diffusion method. Detection of antioxidant activity and flavonoid compounds were done through thin layer chromatography. Total antioxidant activity was measured by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in colorimetric method. Aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for total flavonoid determination. RESULTS Phytochemical screening showed the active compounds presence in high concentration, such as phytosterol, lactones, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and tannins and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity of extract showed that greater inhibition zone against Gram negative bacteria than Gram positive bacteria. This methanolic extract showed a promising antioxidant activity, as absorption of DPPH redicles decreased in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Flavonoids components having antioxidant property present in the methanol extract at a level of 199.00 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried methanol extract in colorimetric method. CONCLUSIONS The Terminalia arjuna bark extract revealed the presence of bio-active constituents which are known to exhibit medicinal as well as physiological activities.

Hypoxia: A cause of acute renal failure and alteration of gastrointestinal microbial ecology

Oxygen is very important to the existence of life. Oxygen deficiency, defined as hypoxia, elicits adaptive responses in cells and tissues. Lower oxygen concentration can cause the alteration of renal function, affects the maintenance of a balance of the body fluids, electrolytes, pH, and blood pressure homeostasis. Impaired fluid regulation could, in addition, contribute to the precipitation of pulmonary edema and exacerbate hypoxemia which may accelerate the progression of chronic kidney disease. In this context, the present study attempted to evaluate the association of renal injury and oxidative stress at different atmospheric pressures (1829, 3657, and 5486 m). Limited fecal analysis of experimental animals was also done to evaluate the impact of hypobaric hypoxia on the composition of dominant gastrointestinal microbiota. The study was performed on 24 male Wister strain rats and divided into four groups (C, HA-I, HA-II, and HA-III), and exposure was carried out for seven days period. In hypoxic exposure rats, plasma urea, creatinine, electrolytes and malonaldehyde level elevated and catalase and superoxide dismutase level diminished significantly compared to the controls. Increase in blood uremia profile, toxicity markers, and lipid peroxidation marker enzymes indicated that hypoxia causes renal failure. Histological structures of the kidney of group HA-II and HA-III animals showed severe disorganization of glomerulus and dilation of renal tubules. These results indicate nephrotoxicity or acute renal failure can occur at hypobaric hypoxia and it also affected the gut microbial population. This alteration was observed significantly above 3000 m.

A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES BETWEEN LEAF AND DUST OF BLACK TEA EXTRACTS

The present study is designed to investigate the comparison level of antimicrobial, antioxidant properties and as well as the total phenolic content estimation of aqueous extract between dusts and leaf black tea. Antimicrobial assay as well as antioxidant activity of phyto-compounds in both types of black tea was detected by using agar well diffusion and chromatographic technique respectively. Total antioxidant activity and phenolic content were measured by using coloriemetric method. In comparison level the antimicrobial activity and screening of phytochemical compounds like saponins, phenolic compounds & tannins, flavonoids, triterpenoids were significantly (P<0.05) different in both aqueous extract of leaf black tea and dust black tea. Total phenolic contents in the leaf black tea were 130.51mg Gallic acid equivalent/g of dried aqueous extract. In conclusion the leaf black tea has potential to be used as a natural antioxidant which is attributed to the rich presence of secondary metabolites and exhibit medicinal as well as physiological activities.