• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1564-1568
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• 2007

In this study fourteen ethanol extracts from Nepalese medicinal plants were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial and antiradical activity and their total phenolic content was evaluated. The antiradicalactivity was evaluated by free radical scavenging assay, using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH). Plant extracts showed a wide range of radical scavenging activity, with $IC_50$ value ranging in between $5.38\; {\mu}g/\;mL$ - $429.61\;{\mu}g/mL$. Strong radical scavenging activity was shown by flower extract of Woodfordia fruticosa ($5.38\;{\mu}g/\;mL$) and stem bark extract of Azadirachta indica ($5.58 {\mu}g/\;mL$)that also contained high phenolic content. Most of the sample showed activity below the concentration of $100\; {\mu}g/mL$. For antimicrobial activity three test microorganisms namely Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans were used. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts was determined. Most of the plant extracts were effective against bacterial strains only at higher concentration ($800\;-\;1,600\;{\mu}g/mL$) but none of these were effective against Candida albicans below $1,600\;{\mu}g/mL$.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2023

The sustainable management of rice straw is essential for protection of human health and environment. This study assesses the impact of stock density of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) on the quality of the final vermicompost. The vermicompost is produced using different combinations of rice straw, Neem leaves, and cow dung (bulking agent) by varying stock density of earthworms. The vermicomposting experiments are performed in plastic containers (32 cm × 28 cm × 28 cm) in open for 90 days under laboratory conditions. The stock density of the earthworm is found to be an important factor to influence nutritional quality of the final vermicompost. There is observed significant improvement in the total nitrogen (91.8%), phosphate (73.4%), potassium (38.8%), and calcium (59.05%) content of the vermicompost produced with the highest stock density of the earthworms. All the treatments showed decrease in TOC and C:N content after 90 days of vermicomposting. The treatment with Neem leaves showed maximum growth of earthworms (2.65 fold). Neem leaves brought positive changes in the quality of final vermicompost by enhancing the growth and reproduction of the earthworms. The calcium content increased by 39% in the final vermicompost with the addition of Neem leaves at the same stock density of the earthworms. The stock density of the earthworms and Neem leaves are found to significantly improve quality of the final vermicompost as compared with the compost (control). The surface morphology in SEM images showed high degree of fragmentation in the vermicompost as compared with the compost. The combined action of microbes and earthworms resulted in high degree of disintegration in the vermicompost.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.14
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• pp.18.1-18.13
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• 2023

Background and objectives: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is recognized as the most prevalent type of vaginal infection, impacting approximately 19-24% of women in their reproductive years. The recurrence rate of BV is significant, negatively impacting the well-being of affected women. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of a polyherbal Unani formulation and metronidazole in treating bacterial vaginosis. Methodology: In this prospective patient blinded standard controlled trial, a total of 40 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis were randomly assigned to receive either an active control treatment (n = 20) or a test drug (n = 20). In the test drug combination of Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica and Quercus infectoria in tablet (1g) form in the dose of 2 tablets orally twice daily with water was administered for 3 weeks. In the active control standard drug, metronidazole 400 mg tablet, orally twice daily was given for one week. The primary outcome measure was clinical cure; H. negative Amsel's criteria and a reduction in subjective symptoms, while the secondary outcome measure was an improvement in SF-36 quality of life (QOL). Results and conclusion: Both the experimental treatment and the metronidazole demonstrated a significant clinical cure for bacterial vaginosis as well as an increase in health-related quality of life. Based on these findings, it appears that the test medication is a potent Unani formulation for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. A well conducted trial with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findings.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.361-367
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• 2014

Host plants of the Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata are known as Solanaceae plants such as potato, tomato, eggplant and Lycium chinense. Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata (Motschulsky) cause continuous damage from early June to mid-August in leaves of L. chinense under environmental-friendly management in Cheongyang, Chungnam. The developmental period of egg and larva of H. vigintioctomaculata were investigated. H. vigintioctomaculata were reared on L. chinense at several temperatures, for example, 15, 20, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$ in the laboratory. In addition, the control effect of 5 eco-friendly agricultural materials were examined. As results, hatching rate is the highest to 91% at $25^{\circ}C$. Egg periods were 10.8, 7.7, 5.1 and 3.7 days at each tested temperature, respectively. And the total developmental periods from egg to adult were 42.7, 26.3, 18.4 and 19.4 days at each tested temperature, respectively. Otherwise, their eclosion rates from pupa to adult were showed 58%, 77%, 85%, 65% at each tested temperature, respectively. As a result of the control effect, both adults and larvae of H. vigintioctomaculata were shown a high mortality to mixture with extract of Sophora flavescens, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Melia azedarach. Additional, larvae is shown high mortality to extract of Azadirachta indica and Cymbopogon nardus. Thus H. vigintioctomaculata might be controled by using plant extract of eco-friendly agricultural materials in due season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1273-1277
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• 2002

The effect of urea treatment on chemical composition of neem seed kernel cake (NSKC) was investigated by soaking the cake in 2.1% urea solution (1.2 l $kg^{-1}$ NSKC) for five days. The effect on utilisation of nutrients by replacing groundnut cake (GNC) (30%) with urea-treated neem seed kernel cake (UTNSKC) (33%) in a concentrate mixture fed to meet 70% of the protein requirements of lambs (8 males and 8 females), was monitored in a digestibility study. Following urea treatment of NSKC only 9.5% of urea was hydrolysed and the crude protein content of the cake was increased by 6.65%. The tannin content in depulped neem seeds was 37% catechin equivalent. Whereas feeding UTNSKC had no effect on intake of dry matter (72.5 vs 66.3 g/kg $BW^{0.75}day^{-1}$) and digestibility of crude fibre (41.3 vs 43.4%), the cake depressed (p<0.01) the percent digestibility of dry matter (63.7 vs 70.2), crude protein (63.2 vs 70.2), nitrogen free extract (73.8 vs 80.5) and gross energy (64.3 vs 69.1). Digestibility of ether extract (75.8 vs 70.9%) was higher (p<0.05) in animals offered UTNSKC. The nutritive value of the composite ration consumed by lambs offered UTNSKC was lower (p<0.01) in terms of total digestible nutrients (64.7 vs 70.2%) and digestible energy (2.8 vs 3.0 Kcal/g DM). Intake of digestible energy (199.8 vs 194.1 Kcal/kg $BW^{0.75}day^{-1}$) and retention of nitrogen (7.53 vs 8.23 g $day^{-1}$) and calcium (2.12 vs 1.84 g $day^{-1}$) were comparable on the 2 rations. Animals fed UTNSKC retained less (p<0.01) phosphorus (0.37 vs 1.05 g $day^{-1}$). The results indicate that urea treatment increased the protein level of NSKC whereas feeding the treated cake as a replacement of GNC, lowered the digestibility of nutrients and retention of phosphorus.