ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ORAL FEEDING OF CYNODON DACTYLON EXTRACT ON DIABETES-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS

The present study is an extension of our previous research work and it deals with the scientific evaluation of antioxidant potential of the aqueous extract of Cynodon dactylon on diabetes-induced oxidative stress of diabetic rats. The most effective dose of 500 mg/kg of extract was given orally to diabetic rats for 30 days. Different oxidative stress parameters were analyzed in various tissues of control and treated diabetic rats. The observed elevated level of LPO comes down significantly ( P <  0.05), and decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, SOD, GPx and GST got increased ( P <  0.05) significantly in diabetic rats on extract treatment. The flavonoids present in the aqueous extract of this plant might be responsible for its marked antioxidant efficacy at tissue level in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The Cynodon dactylon has been shown to possess varied medicinal properties. The aqueous extract of the rhizome is used as anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiemetic, antidiabetic and blood-purifying agent. Recently, it has been reported by our research group that the extract of C. dactylon has hypoglycemic as well as antidiabetic potential. The present communication is an endeavor in the direction of evaluating its in vivo antioxidant effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats so that it can be used as a value-added agent for managing diabetes as well as oxidative stress associated with it.     

Analysis of two-unit stand-by redundant system under partial failure and pre-emptive repair priority

A two-unit cold stand-by system is analysed under the assumption that each unit works in three different modes-normal, partial failure and total failure. The failure and repair times are assumed to follow arbitrary distributions and several reliability characteristics of interest to system designers as well as operations managers have been evaluated. A number of results obtained earlier are derived as particular cases     

An order-level-lot-size model with uniform replenishing rate and variable mark-up of prices

This paper considers the interaction of an order-level—lot-size model having uniform replenishing rate with the marketing policy involving mark-up of prices varying with capital intensity and turnover of finished product. Under two different policies considered in this paper, the optimum values of decision variables are obtained so that the profit for the system is maximized.     

PHYTOCONSTITUENTS AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENCY OF RHODIOLA ROSEA – A VERSATILE ADAPTOGEN

Rhodiola rosea, a popular medicinal plant in Russia and Scandinavia, has been exploited as an adaptogen at high altitudes in these countries. Root extract from this plant is known to affect favorably various physiological functions, including cognition, work performance, high‐altitude sickness and cardioprotective effects. However, R. rosea found in the Indian Himalayas needs to be investigated for its beneficial health effects. In the present study, the proximate composition, total phenols, flavonoids, tannins and antioxidant potency of this plant were determined. The results indicated that the roots contained a significant amount of total phenols (153 ± 2 mg/g of extractable compounds). Antioxidant activity of the root extract measured by radical scavenging, β‐carotene bleaching and thiocyanate methods revealed that the roots had excellent antioxidant potency. Thus, the roots of this unique phytoadaptogen may have an important role in alleviating oxidative stress in biological systems as well as peroxidative changes in food systems. Therefore it can be exploited for the development of nutraceuticals and health foods.     

Availability analysis of a four-state Markov system

This paper presents a mathematical model of a system with four modes : normal, partial failure, down and failed. The problem is formulated on the assumption that all the failure and repair time distributions are arbitrary. The case when all the rates are negative exponential has been worked out. Laplace transforms of transient probabilities are employed to obtain the pointwise availability of the system and earlier results are verified.