Background Quality of life (QOL) in children with celiac disease (CD) has been sparsely studied. Aims We aimed to study QOL in pediatric CD and the effect of a gluten‐free diet (GFD) in a North Indian population. Methods QOL was assessed at baseline and 6 months after GFD using a pediatric symptom checklist (PSC) score. The effect of GFD was assessed using a CD‐specific questionnaire on domains such as dietary compliance, parental behavior and perceptions, children's feeling, and difficulty identifying gluten‐free foods. Results A total of 60 CD children (age 6.03 ± 0. 42 years, range: 2–12 years, M:F 2:1) were prospectively enrolled. The median PSC score at baseline was 11.5 (2–35), which showed a statistically significant improvement after GFD to 2.5 (0–34) (P < 0.001). Significant concerns regarding specific domains emerged: difficulty in maintaining GFD 26.2%, at school 14.3%, at parties 43.2%, poor taste 11.4%, special diet a burden 28.5%, felt left out at school or friend's home 40.9%, felt different from other kids 40.9%, felt embarrassed to bring GFD to parties 54.6%, felt angry about following a special diet 56.8%, felt not invited out for meals because of CD 13.6%, and difficulty determining if food available was gluten free in 75%. Conclusion GFD has a significant impact on emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial domains in children with CD. Proper labeling of commercially available food items, counseling, and patient support groups are the need of the hour.

Introduction: Polygonum amplexicaule (Polygonaceae) is an herbal drug used to treat fractures, rheumatism, osteoporosis, muscle injuries and pain. It has also been reported to be effective to treat atherosclerosis and its antibiotic and antivirus effects. Methods: The plant Polygonum amplexicaule including leaves, stem, and flowers were extracted by hydro distillation method for 6 hours using Clevenger apparatus. Results: Total fifty one compounds were identified constituting 96.09% of the total oil. The main compounds was Geraniol (19.91%), β-Linalool (19.63), Citronellol (16.22%), 2-Methyl-6-hepten-1-ol (7.77%), Heptan-2-ol (5.66).

Background and AimPatients with celiac disease (CD) have a poor health‐related quality of life (HR‐QOL). We assessed the QOL in patients with CD using both generic (SF‐12) and specific (CD‐QOL) questionnaires, and the effect of gluten‐free diet (GFD) on HR‐QOL.MethodsWe conducted a prospective follow‐up study based on consecutive patients of suspected CD between June 2014 and November 2015. After taking a detailed history, all patients were subjected to laboratory investigations (including complete blood count, biochemistry, and the IgA tTG antibody), followed by endoscopy and duodenal biopsies for histopathology. The HR‐QOL was assessed using SF‐12 and CD‐QOL questionnaires. Patients who were strictly adherent to GFD were re‐assessed at the end of 6 months for laboratory parameters and QOL.ResultsSixty adult patients of CD, with mean age of 28.85 ± 12.43 years, and a M:F ratio of 1.3:1, were enrolled in the study. The mean PCS (physical health composite scale score) and MCS (mental health composite scale score) at baseline were 37.20 ± 11.09 and 41.88 ± 8.39, which showed a statistically significant improvement after GFD to 50.30 ± 9.88 and 50.22 ± 9.04, respectively. Though there was no significant difference in the total CD‐QOL score after GFD, there was a significant improvement in the dysphoria and health‐concern subscales. We also found a negative correlation of the pre‐GFD symptom score (based on number of positive symptoms) with PCS and MCS and a positive correlation with the CD‐QOL score.ConclusionThis study has shown a reduced HR‐QOL in adult CD patients, which improves significantly on GFD, and is associated with a higher symptom number.

Numerous scientific studies showed that tissue culture induced mutation has been detected in all species studied. Therefore, it is very important to study the degree of genetic similarity by comparing the gene sequence of regenerated plants with the mother plant. In this study, a Polymorphic Chain Reaction (PCR) based methods such as RAPD and ISSR marker techniques were used to study the genetic similarity of in-vitro cultured plants of Ventilago maderaspatana Geartn. Fourteen individuals were randomly tagged from the population of regenerated plants for the genetic similarity analysis. ISSR method carried using 22 primers from which a total of 98 clear and reproducible bands was scored. Out of 98 bands, 72 were monomorphic bands (73.47%) and 26 were polymorphic bands (26.53%). Dendrogram cluster analysis of data generated from 22 ISSR primers showed an estimated genetic distance of 0.07. RAPD method carried using 21 primers from which a total of 194 clear and reproducible bands was scored. Out of 194 bands, 126 were monomorphic bands (64.94%) and 68 were polymorphic bands (35.05%). Dendrogram cluster analysis of data generated from 21 RAPD primers showed an estimated genetic distance of 0.065. ISSR and RAPD data analyzed using NTSYS-pc showed that micro propagated plants exhibit maximum similarity with the mother plant.

Sweet flag (Acorus calamus) is mentioned in Ayurveda and belongs to the genus Acorus L. of the family Acoraceae and is widely distributed temperate to sub temperate regions. It is commonly used in traditional medicinal systems of Asian and European countries to treat appetite loss, diarrhoea, digestive disorders, bronchitis indigestion, chest pain, nervous disorders. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of essential oils, phenyl propanoids, sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes as well as xanthone, glycosides, flavones, lignans, steroids and inorganic constituents.

Plant essential oils are potential source of antimicrobials of natural origin. Essential oils and extracts obtained from many plants have recently gained a great popularity and scientific interest. Consumer demand for natural preservatives has increased, whereas the safety aspect of chemical additives has been questioned. The plant oil has been reported to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic and antidermatophytic properties. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of three essential oils (EOs), against Picher guilliermondii and Candida albicans strains. Three medicinally important plants Swertia ciliata, Acorus calamus and Viola serpens were evaluated for their antifungal activities. The oil of Swertia ciliata had moderate to good activity against the tested Candida albicans pathogens and the oil of Acorus calamus and Viola serpens show good activity against Pichia guilliermondii on the basis of zone of inhibition and MIC values. These results support the plant oils can be used to cure mycotic infections and plant oils may have role as pharmaceutical and preservatives.

The families Violaceae (alternatively known as Alsodeiace or Leoniaceae or Retrosepalaceae) comprise twenty genera and about 800 species. Viola serpens belongs to family Violaceae and commonly known as “Banafsa”. It is a small glabrous, perennial herb, which is found throughout India in moist woods and hilly districts. The essential oil of aerial parts of V. serpens, were extracted by steam distillation. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of volatile essential oil constituents of the plant was done by Gas Chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass Spectrometry. A total of 50 components of the essential oil of V. serpens were identified, accounting for 81.38% of the total oil. The main compounds found were Bis (2- ethylhexyl) maleate (15.62%), 2, 4, 4, 6-Tetramethyl-2-heptene (11.52%), Hexen-3-ol (6.56%), and Cis Verbeno (l 4.77%). The chemical constituents in the essential oil from V. serpens were identified in the following classes or groups of chemical compounds, such as monoterpens, sesquiterpenes volatile organic compounds and their oxygenated hydrocarbons. Therefore, the essential constituents could be used as antioxidant, antifungal or antimicrobial agent in new drugs preparation for therapy of infectious diseases. Key words: Viola serpens, essential oil, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry.

In the present study, ethanol and aqueous extracts of leaf galls of Cinnamomum verum were prepared to evaluate the antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay and superoxide radical scavenging assay with ascorbic acid as a standard, and analgesic activity by tail immersion test and acetic acid-induced writhing test methods using diclofenac sodium as the reference drug. Swiss albino mice maintained under standard laboratory conditions were used for analgesic tests. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay it was found that the aqueous and the ethanol extract possessed almost equal capacity to inhibit free radicals (IC50=13.3 and 13.53 µg/ml) but found less than ascorbic acid (IC50=9.96 µg/ml). And in superoxide assay the ethanol extract was found to be more potent in scavenging super oxide radicals when compared to ascorbic acid and the aqueous extract (IC50=237.1 and 197.8 µg/ml) with the IC50=119.7 µg/ml. For analgesic activity, ethanol extract showed the maximum time required for response against thermal stimuli (6.75±0.47 s) and maximum % of writhing inhibition (44.57%) when compared to aqueous extract (5.25±0.48 s and 32.61%), whereas diclofenac showed response in 7.25±0.25 s 67.39% inhibition in tail immersion and writhing tests, respectively. These results demonstrate that the ethanol extracts of leaf galls possessed high antioxidant and analgesic activity.

The genus Viola (Violaceae) consists of approximately 500 species widely distributed throughout the world.Phytochemically, different groups of compounds have been isolated from various species of this genus like cyclotide alkaloids, flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, salicylic acid and triterpenoids.Traditional knowledge when tested pharmacologically and phytochemically could provide new effective therapeutic agents.The family Violaceae having an important medicinal herb, mentioned in traditional medicine for a variety of therapeutic applications including purification of blood and the treatment of bruises and ulcers in the Chinese system of medicine it is recommended for use against cancer disorders.The genus mostly used in the traditional medicinal system for cough, cold, flu, fever, malaria and is also given as anticancerous drug.The article reviews is an attempt to compile and documented information on different aspect of Viola species pharmacological properties and highlight the need for research and their potential development.

The experiment was carried out to find suitable packaging material (wrapping and cushioning) for guava fruits in respect of physical and chemical properties. Fruits were packed in different wrapping and cushioning materials viz. Tissue paper, Cling wrap, Banana leaves and Teak leaves as wrapping materials, Neem leaves, Rice straw, Bamboo leaves as cushioning materials and control. All the treatments are kept at room temperature in corrugated fibre board (CFB) boxes. Fruits wrapped in Cling wrap showed minimum per cent loss in weight after 7th day of storage. TSS, ascorbic acid and total sugar were affected significantly by wrapping and cushioning materials. Maximum retention of ascorbic acid and pectin was recorded from fruits which were wrapped in cling wrap after 7th day of storage.