Prerona Saha

Antitumor Activity of Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. Leaves in Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma Cell-Treated Mice

Context. The plant Citrus maxima Merr. (Rutaceae), commonly known as shaddock or pomelo is indigenous to tropical parts of Asia. The objective of present study is to evaluate the methanol extract of Citrus maxima leaves for its antitumor activity against Ehrlichs Ascites Carcinoma cell in Swiss albino mice. Experimental design. The antitumor activity of methanol extract of Citrus maxima leaves (MECM) was evaluated against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line in Swiss albino mice. 2 × 106 cells were inoculated in different groups of animals. MECM (200 and 400 mg/kg BW i.p.) was administered for nine consecutive days. On day 10th half the animals of different groups were sacrificed for determination of tumor and haematological parameters and the rest half were kept with sufficient food and water ad libitum for determination of increase in life span. Result and Discussions. Oral administration of the extract at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased tumor parameters such as tumor volume, viable tumor cell count and increased body weight, hematological parameters and life span in respect of the EAC control mice. Conclusion. Experimental design exhibits significant antitumor activity of the extract (MECM) in a dose dependant manner.

New cavity perturbation technique for microwave measurement of dielectric constant.

A new cavity perturbation technique is presented for microwave measurement of dielectric constant, which uses a modified cylindrical reentrant cavity. Though suitable for only low dielectric constants, the method has the advantages, (a) sample area does not appear in the calculations, (b) only the ratio of frequency shifts due to two samples of same area and different thickness is involved, and (c) calibration of the measuring system with known dielectric is not necessary.

Evaluation of Antihyperglycemic Activity of Citrus limetta Fruit Peel in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

The present paper aims to evaluate antihyperglycemic activity of methanol extract of Citrus limetta fruit peel (MECL) in streptozotocin-induced (STZ; 65 mg/kg b.w.) diabetic rats. Three days after STZ induction, diabetic rats received MECL orally at 200 and 400 mg kg−1 body weight daily for 15 days. Glibenclamide (0.5 mg kg−1 p. o.) was used as reference drug. Blood glucose levels were measured on 0th, 4th, 8th, and 15th days of study. Serum biochemical parameters namely, SGOT, SGPT and ALP were estimated. The TBARS and GSH levels of pancreas, kidney, and liver were determined. MECL significantly (P < 0.001) and dose dependently normalized blood glucose levels and serum biochemical parameters, decreased lipid peroxidation, and recovered GSH as compared to those of STZ control. The present paper infers that in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats, C. limetta fruit peel demonstrated a potential antihyperglycemic effect which may be attributed to its antioxidant property.

Equivalent Circuit of a Gap in the Central Conductor of a Coaxial Line

The equivalent circuit of a gap in the central conductor of a TEM coaxial line has been determined by the variational technique. Theoretically computed circuit parameters show excellent agreement with the experimental data available in the literature. The gap equivalent circuit has also been used to predict, within 2 percent, the experimentally measured tuning characteristic of a long cylindrical reentrant cavity resonator.

Antimicrobial and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of Oxystelma esculentum (Asclepiadaceae)

SUMMARY The aerial parts of methanol extract of Oxystelma esculentum (MEOE) (Asclepiadaceae) was evaluated forin vitro lipid peroxidation and antimicrobial activity. Lipid peroxidation was assayed by thechange in optical density of the various concentrations (20 - 320 µg/ml) and the percentageinhibition was estimated. Ascorbate/FeSO4-induced peroxidation was inhibited by MEOE andstandard antioxidants such as BHA, BHT and the percentage inhibition of the methanol extractwas increased with dose dependent manner. The IC 50 value of the MEOE, BHA and BHT for lipidperoxidation was found to be 135.24 µg/ml, 25.62 µg/ml and 17.13 µg/ml, respectively. Theantimicrobial activity of MEOE was determined by disc diffusion method with three gram-positive, five gram-negative and two fungal microorganisms. MEOE exhibited the antimicrobialactivity against the tested microorganisms except Salmonella typhimurium (MTCC 98). In presentstudy, it is concluded that MEOE has significant effect in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation andpossesses good antimicrobial activity.Key words: Oxystelma esculentum; Lipid peroxidation; Antimicrobial activity