Phytochemical, in vitro radical scavenging and in vivo oxidative stress analysis of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) leaves extract

This current work aims to determine phytochemicals, in vitro radical scavenging, and in vivo oxidative stress reduction activities of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) ethanolic extract (PEE). The Clule method was used to determine the phytochemical content. An in vitro antioxidant with radical scavenging activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. An in vivo antioxidant with oxidative stress reduction was carried out for 10 days on 25 male Sprague–Dawley rats (divided into five groups). Every day, each group was given positive control, negative control, 5, 10, and 20 mg/200 gr of body weight (BW) of the extract. The blood plasma was taken for malondialdehyde analysis. A phytochemical identification of PEE revealed more compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, essential oils, and tannin. PEE exhibits significant in vitro radical scavenging activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 126.695 µg/mL. In the in vivo antioxidant with oxidative stress reduction experiments, 5 mg/200 gr BW was the most effective dose, as evidenced by a considerable drop in malondialdehyde level (0.312 nmol/mL) after and before treatment. In conclusion, PPE has the potential to be developed as a herbal antioxidant based on in vitro and in vivo test results.

Addition of L-arginine in skim milk extender maintains goat spermatozoa quality in chilled temperature for five days

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of L-arginine addition in skim milk extender to maintain the quality of goat spermatozoa in chilled storage.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 18 ejaculates from three healthy goats with weight and age of 45 kg and 4-5 years, respectively, were divided into three groups. The control group contained goat semen diluted in a skim milk extender without L-arginine; Treatment I and Treatment II contained goat semen diluted in a skim milk extender with added L-arginine 4 and 6 mM, respectively. These three groups were chilled at 5°C and evaluated daily for 5 days. Observed variables were viability, motility, intact plasma membrane (IPM), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, necrosis, and apoptosis of spermatozoa.

Results:

The addition of L-arginine 4 mM was the best treatment in maintaining viability, motility, and IPM and a decreased MDA level, percentage of necrosis, and apoptosis of goat spermatozoa. An ejaculate in this extender can be divided into 37 doses for intracervical insemination in <1 ml volume with 125 million motile spermatozoa.

Conclusion:

Goat semen retained its quality when kept for 5 days in chilled storage by adding L-arginine in skim milk extender.

Factors predicting mortality in newborn ventilation

OBJECTIVE

Prediction of mortality among newborns on mechanical ventilation is difficult. Our aim was to develop a scoring system for predicting mortality among such neonates.

METHODS

This multi centre prospective study was performed to develop and validate a scoring system among two equal cohorts of ventilated newborns in India. Mechanical ventilator was used in pressure-limited time-cycled mode. Arterial blood gas, initial pulmonary pressures, septicemia screen along with other basic parameters were recorded in a pre-structured proforma. Blood samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde to determine the possible role and predictive validity of free radical injury. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to find out independent predictors of mortality for the variables those were significantly associated with outcome after univariate analysis.

RESULTS

On univariate analysis, birth-weight, oxygenation-index, septicaemia, malondialdehyde level, and inotropic support were significantly associated with mortality. However, after multiple regression analysis gestational-age, pH and FiO₂ lost their significance as predictors. According to cut-off values of ROC-curve, a scoring system ranging from 0 to 20 and four mortality risk groups were developed. Area under ROC-curve was 0.94, compared to 0.90 for both APACHE-III and CRIB-scores; and 0.92 for PRISM-score.

CONCLUSIONS

Birth-weight, oxygenation-index, malondialdehyde level, inotropic support, and septicemia are independent mortality predictors of neonatal ventilation. Increase in malondialdehyde level is associated with higher mortality rate, indicating possible role of free radical injury. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:271-275. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.