Volume 20, Issue 4, 2020 October-December

Volume 20, No 4 Pages:
2020 October-December Articles: 4

Ability of the generalized van der Waals and Berthelot equations of state to determine the thermodynamic stability of liquid lead

The known van der Waals and Berthelot equations of state do-not precisely describe the thermodynamic properties of fluids. To improve its accuracy, the attractive term of the van der Waals equation of state has been modified in six different ways. These generalized equations of state have been employed to determine the spinodal (thermodynamic stability boundary) and the thermodynamic limit of superheat of liquid lead. The equations of state are rewritten in reduced form, from which follows the law of corresponding states. The appropriate modification of the attractive term of the equation of state yielding the value of thermodynamic limit of superheat agreeing with the experimental value for lead has been established. It has been established that liquid lead can be superheated, under rapid heating, up to a temperature 4565 K. That is, liquid lead can be superheated to 2544 K above the normal boiling temperature. At the thermodynamic limit of superheat, the volume of the liquid lead is 4.0095 × 10-5 m3 mol-1. This fact is to be taken into account when liquid lead is subjected to rapid heating.

Ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry-based review on the antimalarial potential of Acacia pennata (L.) Willd.

A protozoan infection called malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. In 2018, it infected more than 228 million people and caused 405,000 fatalities. Worryingly, the present antimalarial drugs had developed drug resistance. Furthermore, they are associated with adverse effects and price issues. Amidst the gloomy scenario, drug discovery based on natural products had renewed the hope to overcome the burdens associated with the present antimalarial drugs. Auspiciously, medicinal plants had contributed significantly to the modern pharmacotherapy of malaria. Interestingly, Acacia pennata (L.) Willd. was also documented as a traditional antimalarial agent. However, there is still no scientific evidence regarding its antimalarial activity. Therefore, this article was aimed to study the phytochemical profile of A. pennata and explore their potential activity against malarial parasites. A. pennata contains different classes of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, phytosterols, and saponins whose antimalarial activities had been reported. Accordingly, the future scopes and challenges regarding the possible antimalarial activity for A. pennata are also discussed. To maximize the chances for finding a new antimalarial chemical entity from A. pennata, a schematic flow chart on the ethnopharmacology based drug discovery approach is also provided. Thus, this literary work may be used by researchers as a referential guide in the search for new antimalarial phytochemicals.

Mitigating infectious diseases in Mizoram - A lesson from COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic has created huge havoc in public health in India and across the world. One among the small states of India, Mizoram lies between Bangladesh and Myanmar compelling a transmission risk of various infectious diseases across the boundary. The responsibilities of the authority to establish a screening and diagnostic laboratory is crucial to identify the infectious etiological agents, control, prevent morbidity, mortality, and burden of the diseases. We aim to discuss the need for an infectious disease surveillance system, the importance and role of advanced diagnostic and research laboratory in Mizoram, learning from SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Commonly used medicinal plants in N. Mualcheng, Mizoram, India

Medicinal plants are the source of therapeutic agents in traditional medicines. The present study investigated Mizo traditional medicinal plants commonly used and available at N. Mualcheng, a village in Mizoram, India. The most important plants in terms of usage and availability as 10 species belonging to 9 families, of which Asteraceae contributes two species (such as Blumea lanceolaria, Acmella sp.), while Fabaceae, Acanthaceae, Costaceae, Orobanchaceae, Proteaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Smilacaceae and Plantaginaceae contribute one species each such as Mimosa pudica, Thunbergia grandiflora, Chamaecostus cuspidatus, Aeginetia indica, Helicia robusta, Elaeagnus caudata, Smilax perfoliata and Plantago asiatica respectively. An important feature of these medicinal plants is that some of them are used for complex diseases including kidney problem, gastric ulcer and diabetes mellitus.