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Byline: Ritu Paliwal, Prateek Sharma, Arun Kansal Keywords: QUAL2E-UNCAS; Water quality modelling; River Yamuna; First-order error analysis; Monte Carlo analysis Abstract: This paper describes the utility of QUAL2E as a modelling package in the evaluation of a water quality improvement programme. In this study, QUAL2E was applied to determine the pollution loads in the river Yamuna during its course through the national capital territory of Delhi, India. The study aimed at examining the influence of different scenarios on river water quality. Four different pollution scenarios were analysed besides the 'business as usual' situation. The study revealed that it was necessary to treat the discharge from drains to the river Yamuna and diversion of a substantial load to the Agra canal for further treatment was also essential. It was also established through this study that maintaining a flow rate of more than 10m.sup.3/s in the river could also help preserve the river's water quality. To clearly display the model outcomes and demarcate polluted zones in the river stretch, model results were interfaced with a Geographical Information System (GIS) to produce cartographic outputs. In addition, uncertainty analysis in the form of first-order error analysis and Monte Carlo analysis was performed, to realise the effect of each model parameter on DO and BOD predictions. The uncertainty analysis gave satisfactory results on simulated data. Author Affiliation: School of Environmental Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110006, India Article History: Received 28 August 2004; Revised 2 January 2006; Accepted 1 February 2006

Presence of drugs or antibiotics residue in food above the maximum level has been recognized worldwide by various public and government authorities. Antibiotic residues occur in various types of foods of animal origin including milk, egg and meat due to large-scale application of antibiotics in veterinary practice and creates problems not only in dairy industry but also have immense public health significance. Greater attention from a public health aspect is needed on the safety of drug residues as a result of indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the expanding general increase of chemicals and drugs in the food supply. The frequent use of antibiotics may result in drug residues that can be found at different concentration levels in products from animal origin, such as milk, meat and other food products. In general, harmful effects of drug and chemical residues may be carcinogenic, teratogenic, reduction in reproductive performance, drug allergy and acute toxicity or poisoning. In accordance with the label directions of the drug product, the safety levels must be strictly observed so that meat, milk or egg products will not contain illegal residues when they are sold for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ancient ayurvedic literature including Vir Charak Samhita, Sushrut and Gad Nigrah suggests a number of pharmacological applications of the substances obtained from Panchgavya. Panchgavya (PG) is combination of five major substances obtained from cow that includes cow dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee. All these five products of PG have been claimed to possess medicinal properties against several disorders such as renal disorders, arthritis, hyperlipidemia, immunosuppression and stress. In the present study PG obtained from CCRAS, New Delhi was evaluated for central actions in albino rats. PG was administered orally at the dose rate of 50 mg per rat for 30 consecutive days. The experiment was designed in different groups of rats consisting six rats in each group including control and various treatments. The central actions of PG was determined on Spontaneous Motor Activity, muscle tone and pain by actophotometer, rota rota rod test and hot plate method respectively in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To scrutinize the protective role of hydroethanolic extract of Euphorbia neriifolia leaves (HEEN) against N-nitrosodiethylamine (DENA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male Swiss albino mice., Methods: Experimental mice were pretreated with 150 and 400 mg/kg of HEEN, or 0.5% and 1% of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a standard for 14 d prior to the administration of a single dose of 50 mg/kg of DENA. Levels of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome (Cyt) P450 and Cyt b5, activities of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total protein and cholesterol content in the liver tissues were measured to determine the hepatotoxicity caused by DENA., Results: The levels of Cyt P450 and Cyt b5 were significantly increased, and GST and GSH were significantly depleted after DENA treatment (P<0.01). The activities of AST, ALT and ALP, and the total protein content were also significantly dropped off (P<0.01). The total cholesterol level was markedly increased by DENA as compared with the normal group (P<0.01). However, the pre-supplementation of HEEN showed a remarkable amelioration of these abnormalities, and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes in the liver were significantly restored, which exhibited the dose-dependent protective effect against DENA-induced hepatotoxicity., Conclusion: HEEN exerts its chemopreventive effects by alleviating the xenobiotic enzymes and enhancing the levels of antioxidants and biochemical assays in DENA-induced carcinogenesis by reducing the formation of free radicals.

Objective: To investigate the potential of hydroethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (MOHE) against 7, 12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA)-induced toxicity in male Swiss albino mice., Methods: Experimental mice were respectively pretreated with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MOHE, and 0.5% and 1% of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for two weeks prior to the administration of 15 mg/kg of DMBA, respectively. Levels of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome (Cyt) P450 and Cyt b5, activities of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and renal aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and content of protein and total cholesterol were measured to determine the nephrotoxicity caused by DMBA and to elucidate the ameliorating role of M. oleifera., Results: Single oral administration of 15 mg/kg of DMBA resulted in significant increases in Cyt P450 and Cyt b5 (P<0.01). The toxic effect of DMBA was justified by the significant decreases in the activities of GSH and GST in renal tissues (P<0.05). The levels of renal AST, ALT and ALP and protein content which are indicative of renocellular damage were also found decreased along with significant increase in total cholesterol content in DMBA-treated mice (P<0.01). The DMBA-induced alterations in the tissues were significantly reversed after pretreatment with 200 and 400 mg/kg of MOHE orally for 14 d (P<0.01)., Conclusion: The effects of MOHE in enhancing the levels of antioxidants and enhancing the levels of biochemical assays in DMBA-induced carcinogenesis are by reducing the formation of free radicals. This study rationalizes the ethnomedicinal use of M. oleifera for the protection against nephrotoxicity induced by chemical carcinogens.

The present study was conducted to investigate the chemopreventive effects of hydro-ethanolic extract of Euphorbia neriifolia (EN) on N-nitrosodiethylamine (DENA) induced renal cancer in male Swiss albino mice. Animals were pretreated with EN extract (150 and 400 mg/kg body weight; p.o) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a standard (0.5% and 1% BHA p.o) both for two week prior to the administration of single dose of DENA (50 mg/kg body weight; p.o). Various in vivo antioxidant biochemical parameters like lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated to determine the reno-protective and antioxidant activity of EN. DENA increased oxidative stress through increase in LPO and decrease in antioxidant enzymes (SOD, and CAT). The EN extract significantly restored the antioxidant enzyme level in the kidney and exhibited significant dose dependant protective effect against DENA induced nephrotoxicity, which can be mainly attributed to the antioxidant property of the extract. This study rationalized the ethno-medicinal use of EN for protection against renal cancer.