Practice of Ethnobotanical Plants for the Treatment of Jaundice among Tharu Tribe of Far Western Nepal

( Pragya Bhatt ),( Madhusudan Subedi ),( Rajendra Dev Bhatt ) 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: Ethnomedicine is a system of therapy using natural agents and their derivatives to treat ailments by the ethnic communities. This study was aimed to analyze and record the knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants for treating liver disorders among tharu tribe of far western Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional observational study was conducted in ten Tharu Tribe inhabited villages of Kanchanpur district of Far West Nepal. Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), ‘Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were employed to collect data from four Guruwas, the main traditional healer, as key informants, some knowledgeable persons, (but not Guruwas) as informants and some youths in Tharu tribes, categorizing them into three groups. The information shared was further discussed among all three groups. Results: This study enumerated an encouraging data of 39 plant species being used for the treatment of liver and related diseases by tharu community. Out of these, 9 plant species (8 families) were solely used for jaundice and biliary ailments.33 other plant species were also recorded for being used to cure digestive system related disorders which might be related to liver diseases.Fresh plants and their parts including leaves (maximum used), barks, fruits, flowers, roots, rhizome and latex in the form of juice, powder, decoction, and paste and pulverized were used and administered by oral route. Some dietary restrictions (no alcohol, less oil etc.) were also made during medication. Consult the Guruwas for traditional healing was found to be the first choice for jaundice in the selected community. Around 43% jaundiced get well with traditional treatment while rest of the patients visited hospitals. Conclusions: A proper documentation and further elaborated research for ethnomedicinal plant being used by this tribal people is essential to understand the mechanism of action of these plants for jaundice and other liver diseases.

Effect of Different Seasons on the Performance of Grey Giant Rabbits under Sub-Temperate Himalayan Conditions

Bhatt, R.S.,Sharma, S.R.,Singh, Umesh,Kumar, Davendra,Bhasin, V. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.6

An experiment was conducted on 190 progeny (winter -74; summer -59; rainy -57) of 12 Grey Giant rabbits (10 female +2 males), to assess the effect of different seasons in a year, on their reproductive, growth and productive performances along with feed efficiency, under sub-temperate Himalayan conditions. The daily meteorological attributes recorded during winter (October to March), summer (April to June) and rainy (July to September) seasons, and analysed were minimum and maximum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Various biological parameters recorded were doe weights at mating and kindling, litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, kit mortality, litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning, weekly body weight up to 98 d and weaner mortality. Individual weight gains, dressing percentages, meat weights, liver weights, raw-pelt weights, processed pelt weights and processed pelt areas at slaughter on d 84 and 98, respectively were also recorded. The feed and fodder compositions and their nutritive values during different seasons were also analysed. Average ambient temperature during winter, summer and rainy seasons were $13.2{\pm}2.8$, $22.4{\pm}3.7$ and $24.8{\pm}2.3^{\circ}C$, respectively. The average relative humidity and total rainfall for winter, summer and rainy seasons were $68.9{\pm}1.5$% and $48{\pm}26.6$mm, $66.3{\pm}4.8$% and $125.6{\pm}56.8$ mm, and $77.3{\pm}1.3$% and $116.3{\pm}90.4$ mm, respectively. The weight of doe at mating and kindling, litter size at birth, litter weight at birth and litter size at weaning were comparatively higher whereas litter weight at weaning was significantly (p<0.05) higher during winter as compared to summer and rainy seasons. The kit mortality was significantly (p<0.05) higher during winter while the weaner mortality was significantly (p<0.05) higher during rainy season. At 84 d, the live weight per doe, slaughter weight, dressing percentage and liver weight were significantly (p<0.05) higher during winter than summer and rainy. Similarly, the gain in weight and meat weight at 84 and 98 d were significantly (p<0.05) higher during winter. The weight of raw pelt and processed pelt were recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher during winter while no difference in the area of processed pelts during different seasons could be observed. No difference in the biological performance could be observed between sexes in any of the seasons. Roughage analysis revealed comparatively higher crude protein percent and lower crude fibre percent during summer and rainy seasons than in winter. The roughage dry matter intake was comparatively higher during summer and rainy seasons vis-a-vis constant amount of concentrate supplied during all the three seasons. The digestibilities of dry matter was significantly (p<0.05) lower, whereas that of crude fiber, acid detergent fibre and cellulose were negative during winter. Interestingly, the feed:gain was exceedingly well during winter than in other seasons and it is concluded that it was the best season for production of rabbits under sub-temperate Himalayan conditions.

C-Peptide Prevents Hyperglycemia-Induced Endothelial Apoptosis Through Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species–Mediated Transglutaminase 2 Activation

Bhatt, Mahendra Prasad,Lim, Young-Cheol,Hwang, JongYun,Na, SungHun,Kim, Young-Myeong,Ha, Kwon-Soo American Diabetes Association 2013 Diabetes Vol.62 No.1

<P>C-peptide is a bioactive peptide with a potentially protective role in diabetes complications; however, its molecular mechanism of protection against cardiovascular damage caused by hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis remains unclear. We investigated the protective mechanism of C-peptide against hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and streptozotocin diabetic mice. High glucose (33 mmol/L) induced apoptotic cell death in endothelial cells via sequential elevation of intracellular Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as subsequent activation of transglutaminase 2 (TG2). C-peptide (1 nmol/L) prevented endothelial cell death by inhibiting protein kinase C– and NADPH oxidase–dependent intracellular ROS generation and by abolishing high glucose–induced TG2 activation, without affecting intracellular Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> levels. Consistently, in the aorta of streptozotocin diabetic mice, hyperglycemia stimulated transamidating activity and endothelial cell apoptosis that was inhibited by C-peptide replacement therapy (35 pmol/min/kg) using osmotic pumps (control and diabetes, <I>n</I> = 8; diabetes + C-peptide, <I>n</I> = 7). In addition, C-peptide prevented hyperglycemia-induced activation of transamidation activity and apoptosis in the heart and renal cortex of streptozotocin diabetic mice. Thus, C-peptide protects endothelial cells from hyperglycemia-induced apoptotic cell death by inhibiting intracellular ROS-mediated activation of TG2. Furthermore, TG2 may be a promising avenue of therapeutic investigation to treat diabetic vasculopathies.</P>

Couette-Poiseuille flow based non-linear flow over a square cylinder near plane wall

Bhatt, Rajesh,Maiti, Dilip K.,Alam, Md. Mahbub,Rehman, S. Techno-Press 2018 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.26 No.5

A numerical study on the flow over a square cylinder in the vicinity of a wall is conducted for different Couette-Poiseuille-based non-uniform flow with the non-dimensional pressure gradient P varying from 0 to 5. The non-dimensional gap ratio L (=$H^{\ast}/a^{\ast}$) is changed from 0.1 to 2, where $H^{\ast}$ is gap height between the cylinder and wall, and $a^{\ast}$ is the cylinder width. The governing equations are solved numerically through finite volume method based on SIMPLE algorithm on a staggered grid system. Both P and L have a substantial influence on the flow structure, time-mean drag coefficient ${\bar{C}}_D$, fluctuating (rms) lift coefficient ($C_L{^{\prime}}$), and Strouhal number St. The changes in P and L leads to four distinct flow regimes (I, II, III and IV). Following the flow structure change, the ${\bar{C}}_D$, $C_L{^{\prime}}$, and St all vary greatly with the change in L and/or P. The ${\bar{C}}_D$ and $C_L{^{\prime}}$ both grow with increasing P and/or L. The St increases with P for a given L, being less sensitive to L for a smaller P (< 2) and more sensitive to L for a larger P (> 2). A strong relationship is observed between the flow regimes and the values of ${\bar{C}}_D$, $C_L{^{\prime}}$ and St. An increase in P affects the pressure distribution more on the top surface than on bottom surface while an increase in L does the opposite.

C-peptide replacement therapy as an emerging strategy for preventing diabetic vasculopathy

Bhatt, Mahendra Prasad,Lim, Young-Cheol,Ha, Kwon-Soo Oxford University Press 2014 Cardiovascular research Vol.104 No.2

<P>Lack of C-peptide, along with insulin, is the main feature of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and is also observed in progressive β-cell loss in later stage of Type 2 DM. Therapeutic approaches to hyperglycaemic control have been ineffective in preventing diabetic vasculopathy, and alternative therapeutic strategies are necessary to target both hyperglycaemia and diabetic complications. End-stage organ failure in DM seems to develop primarily due to vascular dysfunction and damage, leading to two types of organ-specific diseases, such as micro- and macrovascular complications. Numerous studies in diabetic patients and animals demonstrate that C-peptide treatment alone or in combination with insulin has physiological functions and might be beneficial in preventing diabetic complications. Current evidence suggests that C-peptide replacement therapy might prevent and ameliorate diabetic vasculopathy and organ-specific complications through conservation of vascular function, as well as prevention of endothelial cell death, microvascular permeability, vascular inflammation, and neointima formation. In this review, we describe recent advances on the beneficial role of C-peptide replacement therapy for preventing diabetic complications, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, impaired wound healing, and inflammation, and further discuss potential beneficial effects of combined C-peptide and insulin supplement therapy to control hyperglycaemia and to prevent organ-specific complications.</P>

Radical Scavenging Activity of Gallic Acid from Woodfordia Fruticosa Flowers

Bhatt, Lok Ranjan,Yook, Chan-Nam,Choi, Hwa-Jung,Baek, Seung-Hwa The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and T 2008 동의생리병리학회지 Vol.22 No.4

Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz (Lythraceae) is used in the treatment of various ailments in traditional medicines. DPPH activity guided fractionation and purification process was used to identify the free radical-scavenging components from the flowers of this plant. The methanolic extract of the plant was first fractionated into four extracts; namely, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water fractions. Among them, the ethyl acetate fraction was found to be the most effective and was further subjected to activity guided-fractionation and isolation procedures. After successive column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, gallic acid, which is responsible for the radical scavenging activity, was isolated and its structure was elucidated by spectral methods ($^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR) and by comparison with literature.

Density Functional Theory (DFT) Calculations for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Mechanisms on Metal-, Nitrogen- co-doped Graphene (M-N₂-G (M=Ti, Cu, Mo, Nb and Ru)) Electrocatalysts

Bhatt, Mahesh Datt,Lee, Geunsik,Lee, Jae Sung Pergamon Press 2017 Electrochimica Acta Vol. No.

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to study the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on M-N<SUB>2</SUB>-G (M=Ti, Cu, Mo, Nb and Ru) electrocatalyst surfaces. In order to explain catalytic properties of M-N<SUB>2</SUB>-G (M=Ti, Cu, Mo, Nb and Ru) electrocatalysts, adsorption properties of all six intermediates O<SUB>2</SUB>, O, OOH, OH, H<SUB>2</SUB>O and H<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>2</SUB> are analyzed. We also calculate the adsorption property of ORR intermediates on Cu-N<SUB>2</SUB>-G (for example, an ideal catalyst) with the presence of H<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUP>+</SUP> ion (acid), OH<SUP>−</SUP> ion (base) and water molecule. After analysis, we can see clearly that the stable adsorption site for ORR intermediates in presence of acid, base and water is atop. Moreover, the adsorption properties of ORR intermediates in acid are quantitatively more stable than in base and water respectively. The catalytic activity of the ORR intermediates is found to be enhanced with the increase in the concentration of acid and base, but not of water. Our calculated results reveal that the ORR via a 4 electron transfer mechanism is energetically favorable on the M-N<SUB>2</SUB>-G (M=Ti, Mo, Nb and Ru) electrocatalyst surfaces to form two water molecules, while Cu-N<SUB>2</SUB>-G catalyst surface favors 2 electron transfer pathway to form unwanted hydrogen peroxide. Such types of electrocatalysts will be useful in the practical applications of polymer electrolyte fuel cells.</P>

Free Radical Scavenging Activity and Kinetic Behaviorof Essential Oil from Artemisia vulgaris

Bhatt, Lok Ranjan,Kang, Jeong-Il,Baek, Seung-Hwa The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and T 2007 동의생리병리학회지 Vol.21 No.2

The radical scavenging activity of Artemisia vulgaris essential oil was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) assay in this study. Essential oil exhibited a significant free radical scavenging activity, with the highest activity at 15 ${\mu}$L/mL concentration. The reaction rate was slow and concentration-dependent

C-peptide protects against hyperglycemic memory and vascular endothelial cell apoptosis

Bhatt, Mahendra Prasad,Lee, Yeon-Ju,Jung, Se-Hui,Kim, Yong Ho,Hwang, Jong Yun,Han, Eun-Taek,Park, Won Sun,Hong, Seok-Ho,Kim, Young-Myeong,Ha, Kwon-Soo Bioscientifica 2016 The Journal of endocrinology Vol.231 No.1

<P>C-peptide exerts protective effects against diabetic complications; however, its role in inhibiting hyperglycemic memory (HGM) has not been elucidated. We investigated the beneficial effect of C-peptide on HGM-induced vascular damage <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo</I> using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and diabetic mice. HGM induced apoptosis by persistent generation of intracellular ROS and sustained formation of ONOO<SUP>−</SUP> and nitrotyrosine. These HGM-induced intracellular events were normalized by treatment with C-peptide, but not insulin, in endothelial cells. C-peptide also inhibited persistent upregulation of p53 and activation of mitochondrial adaptor p66<SUP>shc</SUP> after glucose normalization. Further, C-peptide replacement therapy prevented persistent generation of ROS and ONOO<SUP>−</SUP> in the aorta of diabetic mice whose glucose levels were normalized by the administration of insulin. C-peptide, but not insulin, also prevented HGM-induced endothelial apoptosis in the murine diabetic aorta. This study highlights a promising role for C-peptide in preventing HGM-induced intracellular events and diabetic vascular damage.</P>

Effect of doping on metal doped semiconductor

Bhatt Mahesh Datt,Shugo Suzuki,Takeaki Sakurai,Katsuhiro Akimoto 한국물리학회 2011 Current Applied Physics Vol.11 No.2

The effect of doping on position of interface states for metal doped bathocuproine (BCP) was studied with density functional theory (DFT). The doping of Ca atoms with BCP induces the formation of interface states with shift in their relative positions from Fermi level and approximately no shift in HOMO position of BCP molecule. The shift in the position of interface states towards higher binding energy was believed to be due to the presence of doping excess electrons from Ca at the interface. The analysis of modification in intensity of LUMO or EF or interface states, suggests the formation of multiply charged anions in heavily doped film. It clearly gives the direct evidence for the origin of the doping interface states in organic molecules. The effects of Ca doping on electrical properties were discussed.