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Groundwater contamination in India exposes an estimated 70 million people to arsenic. Over 10 million people in the state of Bihar (India) are at risk of arsenic poisoning. As reported 27 districts of the state's thirty-eight districts are under a state of catastrophe. Symptoms noticed by those who have been exposed to the arsenic caused disease are-lack of appetite, neurobehavioral problems, hyperkeratosis, and melanosis on the skin. So, this study's primary objective is to find novel approaches to treat arsenic poisoning in rats using the Charles Foster model. Following permission from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, the animals were divided into three groups: one group served as a control, the second group received arsenic treatment, and the third group received Ganoderma lucidum extract after arsenic treatment. For the arsenic group, the rats were given 8 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite orally every day for 90 days, and then for 60 days, they were given 80 mg/Kg body weight of Ganoderma lucidum extract via gavage. Their biochemical values, including those of the liver and kidneys, were found to be increased. In addition, their levels of free radicals, including lipid peroxidation, were measured and found to be substantially higher. In addition, the levels of arsenic in the kidney and liver tissue were very high. However, biochemical and lipid peroxidation levels were significantly restored after administration of Ganoderma lucidum ethanolic extract. Arsenic levels in rat liver and kidney tissues were also found to be reduced. Ganoderma lucidum has a therapeutic impact against arsenicinduced toxicity, according to the present research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic catastrophe has caused serious health hazards to the exposed population. An estimated 10 million people are exposed to arsenic poisoning through groundwater. The arsenic contamination through ground water has caused health diseases such as skin manifestations, loss of appetite, nausea, bowel disorders, neurological disorders etc. Therefore, there is need for search for proper therapeutic drug against arsenic induced toxicity in rats. In the present study, arsenic induced toxic model was developed by treating Charles Foster rats (n=18) with sodium arsenite orally at the dose of 8 mg/kg body weight daily for 60 days followed by administration of Bacopa moneri (Brahmi) leaf extract at the dose of 30mg/kg body weight daily by gavage method for 60 days. After the completion of the experiment, all the animals were sacrificed and their blood samples were collected along with their vital tissues. Following parameters were assayed such as haematological assay, biochemical assay and histopathological evaluation in the present study. The haematological study comprised of RBC counts, WBC counts, platelets counts and heamoglobin percentage. For biochemical evaluation, the liver function test and the kidney function test parameters along with free radical assay were carried out. The histopathological study also showed very high degree of degeneration in the hepatocytes and the nephrocytes in the vital organ's liver and kidney. But, after the administration of ethanolic leaf extract of Bacopa moneri, there was marked restoration in the studied parameters. The haematological parameters, the biochemical parameters as well as the histopathological study showed very significant outcomes. Therefore, the present studied medicinal plant Bacopa moneri possesses antidote effect against arsenic induced toxicity in Charles Foster rats which can be used as therapeutic drug in the future after clinical approval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bihar, an estimated 10 million are exposed to arsenic poisoning through drinking of water. The entire Gangetic plain region people are exposed to arsenic poisoning which is causing lot of health hazards including the problem of infertility. Usually, the infertility problem is associated with the hormonal imbalances and arsenic is a xenoestrogen toxicant which plays major role in causing the imbalance. Moreover, this reproductive disorder has become a major problem in the society causing social stigma in the exposed population. Therefore, there is indeed need for search of novel drug which may play major role in combating the present problem. The present study therefore aims to discover fertility booster against the arsenic induced male reproductive toxicity in animal models. The current study was conducted on Charles Foster Rats after approval by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institution. A total of n=18 rats (12 weeks of age) with a mean weight of 160±20 g was used in this study. The study group consisted of n=6 controls and n=12 orally treated with sodium arsenite at a dose of 8mg/Kg b.w per day for 40 days. The n= 6 animals were dissected and rest n=6 was administered orally with Asparagus racemosus root ethanolic extract at the dose of 400mg/Kg b.w per day for 40 days. At the end of the entire experiment, all the animals were dissected out and their reproductive organs were taken out especially epididymis for sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm mortality, sperm morphology. The blood samples were taken for hormonal determination (testosterone and luteinizing hormone), as well as for haematological and biochemical analysis. The study showed a severe degeneration in the reproductive organs of the arsenictreated rats. There were degenerative changes in sperm count, sperm motility, sperm mortality, sperm morphology, in the hormonal parameters, as well as in the hematological and biochemical parameters in the arsenic treated rats. But, in the Asparagus racemosus root ethanolic extract treated group, there was significant normalization in all these parameters. Therefore, in the present study, the Asparagus racemosus root ethanolic extract at the dose of 400mg/Kg/body weight per day shows significant fertility boost effect on arsenic induced Charles Foster rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Municipal Corporation is a legal entity created by a state or local government to administer a specific urban area. The governing body delivers essential services, including water supply, waste management, public safety, and urban planning. This study highlights the intricacy of people's participation in different functional areas of Shimla Municipal Corporation by examining the complex linkages between residents' awareness and satisfaction with the various amenities provided by the Shimla Municipal Corporation. A proposed conceptual framework has been developed to highlight the relationship between residents' awareness, participation and satisfaction with the various amenities. We collected data from 388 respondents of Shimla Municipal Corporation. The Smart-PLS 4.0 program evaluated the measurement model's validity and analysed the data. The results of this investigation demonstrate a significant and positive impact of the interaction between residents' Awareness, participation, and Satisfaction regarding various amenities provided by Shimla Municipal Corporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to develop the antidote against arsenic induced male reproductive toxicity in animal models. The study was carried out on Charles Foster rats after the approval from Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. A total of n=18, rats (12 weeks old) of an average weight of 160 ± 20 g were used for the study. The study group included n=6 control and n= 12 treated with sodium arsenite orally at the dose of 8mg/Kg body weight daily for 40 days. The n= 6 animals were dissected and rest n=6 was administered orally with Curcuma longa rhizome ethanolic extract at the dose of 600mg/Kg body weight per day for 40 days. At the end of the entire experiment, all the animals were dissected out and their reproductive organs were taken out, especially epididymis for sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm mortality, sperm morphology. The blood samples were collected for the hormonal assay (testosterone and luteinizing hormone), as well as for hematological and biochemical analysis. The study showed, high magnitude of degeneration in the reproductive organs of the rats in the arsenic treated group. There were degenerative fluctuations in the sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm mortality, sperm morphology and in the hormonal parameters, as well as in the hematological and biochemical parameters in the arsenic treated rats. But, after the administration of Curcuma longa, there was significant amelioration in all these parameters. Therefore, the present study shows that Curcuma longa plays vital role to combat arsenic induced male reproductive toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, 300 million people worldwide are exposed to groundwater arsenic poisoning in the recent time, while an estimated 10 million population are exposed to arsenic poisoning in Bihar (India). The arsenic contamination in ground water has caused serious health hazards in the exposed population. The typical symptoms of arsenicosis are observed in the exposed population mostly skin manifestations such as hyperkeratosis, melanosis, loss of appetite, neuro-behavioral disorders etc. Hence, the present study aims to develop novel drug discovery against arsenic induced toxicity in rat models. In the present study treatment groups received sodium arsenite orally at the dose of 8 mg/kg body weight daily for 90 days followed by administration of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) seed extract at the dose of 500 mg/ kg body weight daily by gavage method for 60 days. Their biochemical levels like liver and kidney function tests were assayed and were found with elevated levels. Furthermore, their free radical assessment such as lipid peroxidation levels were assayed which was also found to be many folds higher. Furthermore, the arsenic concentration in the tissue of liver and kidney was significantly very high. But, after the administration of ethanolic seed extract of Ocimum sanctum, there was significant restoration in the biochemical and lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, there was also reduction in the arsenic content in the liver and kidney tissues of rats. The phytoremedial effect of this novel plant (Ocimum sanctum) denotes that it possesses antidote effect against arsenic induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]