December 2009

Anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic activity of the ethanol extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale)

  The acute toxicity test carried out on the ginger extract gave the LD50 value as 1000 mg/kg. The antiinflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic effects of the ethanol extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in adult Wistar rats were studied using values below the lethal dose. Inflammation was induced by injecting 0.1 ml undiluted fresh egg albumin (philogistic agent) into the subplantar surface of the...

Author(s): Chioma A. Anosike, Onyechi Obidoa, Lawrence U. S. Ezeanyika and Meshach M. Nwuba.

December 2009

Modulation of melanin synthesis and its gene expression in skin melanocytes by palm tocotrienol rich fraction

  Melanin is the pigment that determines skin color. Melanin synthesis is catalysed by the enzyme tyrosinase and is controlled by TYR, TYRP1 and TYRP2 genes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti pigmentation property of palm tocotrienol rich fraction by determining melanin synthesis and expression of genes involved in its regulation in skin melanocytes. Palm tocotrienol...

Author(s):   Suzana Makpol, Nur Nadia Mohd Arifin, Zahariah Ismail, Chua Kien Hui, Yasmin Anum Mohd Yusof and Wan Zurinah Wan Ngah   

December 2009

Antifeedant and antimicrobial activity of Tylophora indica

  Crude and pure extracts of Tylophora indica were investigated in view of antifeedant, antibacterial and antifungal properties.  Leaf crude extract showed more antifeedant activity than stem and root against Spodoptera litura, a polyphagous pest on wide ranging crops. Among the pure compounds isolated, Tylophorine showed the highest antifeedant activity followed by Septicine, O-Methyl...

Author(s):   B. Krishna Reddy, M. Balaji, P. Uma Reddy, G. Sailaja, K. Vaidyanath and G. Narasimha