Annamalai University

About: Annamalai University is a education organization based out in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Lipid peroxidation & Antioxidant. The organization has 8098 authors who have published 10758 publications receiving 203872 citations.

Distribution of rare earth elements and heavy metals in the surficial sediments of the Himalayan river system

Abstract: Rare earth elements (REEs) are considered as useful tracers of various surface geological processes in the river system. REEs and heavy metals (V, Pb, Cr, Co, Ag, Zn, Cd, Ni) were analyzed from the suspended sediments of Ganges and surficial sediments of Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Padma and Meghna, using VG Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer. Physical weathering process seems to be a major controlling factor for the distribution of REE and trace metals in the sediments of the Himalayan rivers. Weathering of the surface crustal area in the drainage basin shows significant variations due to changes in lithology and influence of tributaries. The distribution of REE shows an almost uniform pattern due to factors such as river transportation processes and high level of terrigenous mixing in the bed sediments. The results show that finer grain size and high content of clay mineral (illite) in these sediments are possible traps for the accumulation of metals. Anthropogenic activities seem to have very little influence in controlling the elemental distribution in the Himalayan rivers.

Effect of Coccinia indica on Blood Glucose, Insulin and Key Hepatic Enzymes in Experimental Diabetes

Abstract: Administration of Coccinia indica leaf extract to normal and streptozotocin diabetic animals exhibited significant hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect and reversed biochemical complications. Oral administration of 200mg/ kg of ethanol extract of Coccinia indica leaves (CLEt) to diabetic animals for 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and an increase in total haemoglobin and plasma insulin. Similarly, the administration of CLEt to normal animals resulted in a significant hypoglycemic effect. The activities of hepatic hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a lipogenic enzyme, were measured in the liver of normal, diabetic, normal rats separately treated with CLEt and glibenclamide, and diabetic rats treated separately with CLEt and glibenclamide. The activities of the lipogenic enzyme and hexokinase were significantly decreased, whereas the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes were signific...