North Eastern Hill University

About: North Eastern Hill University is a education organization based out in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Ruthenium. The organization has 2318 authors who have published 4476 publications receiving 48894 citations.

Challenges and Opportunities of E-resources

Abstract: The advent of e-resources and their increased use have changed the library scenario from physical to virtual. Users’ preferences are more for e-resources and virtual libraries with little attraction for physical libraries. In spite of innumerable advantages of e-resources, there are certain problems also relating to their acquisition, maintenance, management, etc. which need collaborative efforts of professionals and all other bodies associated with creation, distribution and use of these resources to establish the sound practices and the models. The paper highlights these issues, emphasizing the need to develop or procure an ERMS which can integrate all these resources along with printed material to provide single window approach to all resources available locally as well as globally in a universal library.

Phytochemicals from Flemingia vestita (Fabaceae) and Stephania glabra (Menispermeaceae) alter cGMP concentration in the cestode Raillietina echinobothrida.

Abstract: Cyclic GMP (cGMP) mediates various physiological functions of nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) A crude peel extract and purified fraction of Flemingia vestita, as well as a crude rhizome extract of Stephania glabra and fractions were tested with respect to the activity of NOS, NO efflux and cGMP concentration in the cestode Raillietina echinobothrida in order to find out the possible mode of anthelmintic action of these plant-derived components For comparison purposes, the parasites were also treated with pure genistein, sodium nitroprusside (SNP-a known NO donor), and the reference drug, praziquantel (PZQ) At the time of onset of paralysis in the parasites, a significant increase (32%-87%) in the NOS activity and a two to three fold increase of NO efflux into the incubation medium were observed in the treated parasites in comparison to their respective controls The cGMP concentration in the treated parasites' tissue was also increased by 44%-103% However, in the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a potent inhibitor of NOS, there was no increase in the cGMP concentration in the parasite tissue This study indicates that the phytochemicals, in particular genistein and tetrahydropalmatine, from F vestita and S glabra, respectively, disturb the downstream signalling pathway of NO, as indicated by the change in cGMP concentration in the parasite tissue

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity assessment of the methanolic extract from leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. in mice.

Abstract: Background: The leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae) are used for the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea, to promote draining of abscesses and as analgesic agent in the traditional medicine of Cook Islands, Haiti, Japan and Mexico. Aim: The present study investigated the oral acute and subacute toxicity of methanol leaf extract of H. rosa-sinensis in mice. Methods: In the acute toxicity study, a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg of extract was given to five mice at 48 h intervals. Animals were observed individually for any clinical signs of toxicity or mortality for 14 days. In the sub-acute toxicity study, mice were treated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg doses of extract for 14 days. The haematological and biochemical parameters and histopathology of liver and kidney of animals were studied at the end of experiment. Results: For acute treatment, the extract did not revealed any signs of toxicity or mortality in any animal, during the 14-days observation period. The LD50 of extract was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute toxicity study, administration of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg doses of extract to mice for two weeks did not revealed any marked adverse effects on haematological, biochemical parameters and histopathology of liver and kidney in the 400 mg/kg group. But, hepato-renal toxicity as evidenced by elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotranferase (AST), total and indirect bilirubin, urea and creatinine was seen in the animals that received 800 mg/kg doe of extract for 14 days. In addition, in the same group of animals, the histological assessments of liver and kidney also showed various adverse effects viz. dilated sinusoids, apoptotic nuclei and inflammatory infiltrate inside sinusoidal capillaries in the liver, and marked disorganization of tubules and glomeruli, and enlarged interstitial spaces in the kidney. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that for traditional medicine purpose only a low dose of H. rosa-sinensis leaf extract (i.e. 400 mg/kg) should be considered as safe.

Cysticercus fasciolaris infection induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat liver: a strategy for host-parasite cross talk

Abstract: Parasitic helminths have developed various strategies to induce or inhibit apoptosis in the cells of their host, thereby modulating the host's immune response and aiding dissemination to the host. Cysticercus fasciolaris, the larval form of Taenia taeniaeformis, parasitized different intermediate hosts like rats, rabbits, etc. and is cosmopolitan in distribution. In the present study, we have investigated host-parasite interactions and the resulting effect of C. fasciolaris in the liver of rat. Histology of the infected livers showed dilation and damages of hepatic cells near the parasite. Infected liver cells showed an increase in DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation compared to the normal liver. Acridine orange and ethidium bromide dual staining revealed the presence of apoptotic cells in the infected liver. The decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential in the infected liver suggested that the observed apoptosis is mitochondria mediated. Occurrence of an elevated level of active executioner caspases 3/7 in the infected rat liver further confirms the occurrence of apoptosis. Different antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated and revealed a notable decline in the level of glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase activity leading to the augmented generation of reactive oxygen species. Results of the present study revealed that C. fasciolaris infection leads to apoptosis in the liver of rats which may be a surviving strategy for the parasitic larvae.