Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by extracts/subfractions of Chickrassy (Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss.)

Polyphenols and polyphenol-rich fractions of plants have been reported to have protective effects against lipid peroxidation, most probably by serving as scavengers of free radicals and/or by chelating metal ions. In the present study, the effect of different extracts/subfractions of Chickrassy (Chukrasia tabularis) on peroxyl radical mediated damage to the polyunsaturated fatty acids was investigated. Liver homogenate was used as experimental material. The production of malondialdehyde served as a marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. It was observed that polyphenol-rich fractions, particularly the ethyl acetate fractions of bark and leaves, showed the highest protective activity of 83.02% and 88.62% inhibition, respectively. This study will help in knowing the scientific validation of this plant, for its use in ayurvedic formulations. The current in vitro experiments performed herewith comply with the current laws of India.     

An analysis on e-waste generation in Chandigarh: quantification,disposal pattern and future predictions

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, an assessment of e-waste management in Chandigarh, India was done. A structured questionnaire based survey was used to know about...     

Role of Cadmium in Human and Experimental Hypertension

Acute and chronic studies performed in our laboratory in normal rabbits, dogs, human control subjects, and patients with hypertension are reviewed. Cadmium, a common contaminant of air, water, and food, produces persistent hypertension in the rabbit and dog. The pervasive metal is predominantly deposited in the kidney and liver, and to a lesser extent in the blood vessels of the cadmium-hypertensive rabbits. Vascular responsiveness to angiotensin in the cadmium-hypertensive aortic strips was significantly lower than that of the strips obtained from control normotensive rabbits. Cadmium-hypertensive aortic strips also developed significantly lower passive tension on step-wise increase in the original length of the strips (strain). Administration of cadmium acetate directly into the renal artery, preceding the injection of the vasopressor (angiotensin, epinephrine or norepinephrine), resulted in a dose-related reversible inhibition of the vasopres-sor-induced renal vasoconstriction. It is probable that significant pathophysi-ological changes in experimental cadmium hypertension would occur in the vascular system and the kidney, where cadmium deposition was the greatest. Mean plasma cadmium levels were significantly higher in patients with hypertension. Plasma zinc levels, however, were significantly lower only in hypertensive patients wilh renovascular and renal parenchymal disease but not in essential hypertension patients. A program of detailed epidemiological studies and public health measures is needed for further definition of the role of cadmium in “idiopathic” human hypertension.