Issue 02

A review on traditional veterinary medical practices in Sri Lanka with special reference to cattle diseases

2010-07-21T00:00:00Z

A review on traditional veterinary medical practices in Sri Lanka with special reference to cattle diseases Ediriweera, E.R.H.S.S.; Nanayakkara, N.G.A.A.S.; Kalawana, O.T.M.R.K.S.B.; Sugathadasa, Y.K.S.S.L. Sri Lanka has well developed systems of traditional veterinary medicine. Unfortunately most of our people today, are unaware of these practices and they generally seek western modern veterinary medicinal assistance due to this unawareness and also for convenience in their busy lives. Hence, this study was undertaken to collect and preserve the old knowledge and practices. Data were gathered from traditional veterinary physicians in Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, Olla leaves and text books. These physicians have a knowledge in identifying and treating diseases, preparation of medicines, mode of drug administration, burning of vital points (moxibustion), branding, and blood letting. Specific applications of metaphysical nature such as mystical diagrams and charms, ‘Yanthra’ or ‘Kem’ are also used. The striking feature of this treatment regimen is the incorporation of both physical (visible) and metaphysical (invisible) methods to treat diseases as preventive and therapeutic measures. The medicinal preparations consist of herbs, metals, minerals and animal products including milk products, eggs, bones, meat, spider web, anthill mud and human urine. It is also observed that the traditional veterinary medicinal practices; especially in treatment of cattle, are very

Physico-chemical properties and sensory characteristics of dehydrated guava concentrate: effect of drying method and maltodextrin concentration

2010-05-20T00:00:00Z

Physico-chemical properties and sensory characteristics of dehydrated guava concentrate: effect of drying method and maltodextrin concentration Mahendran, T. Dehydration of guava juice into powdered particles gives a considerable reduction in volume and is an effective method of prolonging the shelf life. Therefore, a research study was conducted to determine the effect of different drying methods and the addition of drying aids on the physico-chemical properties and sensory characteristics of dehydrated guava concentrate. Instant guava-drink-powder samples were obtained by dehydrating the concentrated guava juice using freeze drying, spray drying and tunnel drying techniques. Guava juice at 10.5°Brix was used to prepare the fruit powders. A significant reduction (p<0.05) in titratable acidity of 0.22% as citric acid and an increase in pH of 0.44 after drying of guava juice indicated that some acids were lost during the drying process. The oxidative loss of ascorbic acid was considerably lower in freeze drying (18.8%) compared to tunnel drying (32.2%). Spray dried powders were obtained from the guava juice with different maltodextrin concentrations as drying aids. When 30% maltodextrin was added to guava juice, the solubility of powder was 95% whereas, adding 60% maltodextrin decreased the solubility to 86%. The chromametric parameters L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) were found to be significantly (p<0.05) affected by drying methods. Twenty trained sensory panellists ranked the juice prepared from the freeze dried powder as the highest and there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the juice prepared from spray drying of guava juice upto 50% added maltodextrin. The freeze dried product had superior nutritional and sensory qualities, however spray dried product was stable and more economical to produce free-flowing guava powder with good stability.

Salacia reticulata wight: a review of botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology

2010-04-05T00:00:00Z

Salacia reticulata wight: a review of botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology Arunakumara, K.K.I.U.; Subasinghe, S. Salacia reticulata is a large woody climbing shrub naturally found in Sri Lanka and Southern region of India. It is widely used in treating diabetes, a chronic disorder in metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fat due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin secretion with/without varying degree of insulin resistance. The decoction of S. reticulata roots is also used in the treatment of gonorrhea, rheumatism, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, itching and swelling, asthma, thirst, amenorrhea and dysmenorrheal. Presence of mangiferin (a xanthone from the roots), kotalanol and salacinol (from the roots and stems) have been identified as the antidiabetic principles of S. reticulata. Chemical constituents such as 1,3- diketones, dulcitol and leucopelargonidin, iguesterin, epicatechin, phlobatannin and glycosidal tannins, triterpenes, and 30-hydroxy-20(30) dihydroisoiguesterin, hydroxyferruginol, lambertic acid, kotalagen in 16-acetate, 26-hydroxy-1,3-friedelanedione, maytenfolic acid have also been detected in the roots of S. reticulata. The antidiabetic property of Salacia is basically attributed to the inhibitory activity of in testinal enzymes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase). Inhibition of intestinal enzymes delays glucose absorp tion into the blood and suppresses postprandial hyperglycemia, resulting in improved glycemic control. Furthermore, mangiferin has been reported to inhibit aldose reductase activity delaying the onset or progression of diabetic complications. Though diabetes has now become an epidemic affecting millions of people worldwide, neither insulin nor other modern pharmaceuticals has been shown to modify the course of diabetic complications mainly due to the multifactorial basis that involves both genetic and environmental risk factors. Therefore, effort is being devoted to find new therapeutics aimed at multi ple targets, which has become a new paradigm in drug discovery. In this context, the discoveries on S. reticulata have lead to increase the consumption of the species across the world and it has now become a subject of broad studies for diabetes management.

Effect of selected earthworms on soil fertility, plant growth and vermicomposting

2010-05-10T00:00:00Z

Effect of selected earthworms on soil fertility, plant growth and vermicomposting Samaranayake, J.W.K.; Wijekoon, S. The study investigates the effect of the endogenic earthworm Pontoscolex corathrurus on soil fertility and plant growth and three epigenic earthworms Periyonix excavatus, Eudrilus eugenia and Eisenia foetida on vermocomposting. At the organic farm site, year round abundance of P. corathrurus ranged from 4.95-19.6 for adults, 2-13.25 for juveniles and 2.2-7.3 for cocoons and in integrated farm site from 2.2-15.6 for adults, 1.5-11 for juveniles and 0.8-4.6 for cocoons. Effect of P. corathurus activity on soil fertility relieved that worm casts are significantly high in N (9.7-6.5%) and C (5.7-3.5%) content than surrounding soil. The pH of casts was neutral compared to the fluctuating pH of surrounding soils, in both sites Presence of P. corathurus in pot experiments, significantly increased the growth of Zea maiz when inoculated with 7 earthworms per pot. Culturing of the 3 selected epigenic earthworms in 7 composting media, containing cow dung, vegetable refuse and rice straw in different ratios, showed that presence of cow dung significantly increased the multiplication rate. Vermicomposting yielded com post having higher N, P, Fe, and Mn levels, better particle size in comparison to the controls. Findings of the study confirm that earthworms commonly found in Sri Lanka can be easily used for soil fertility improvement and vermicomposting without having to import species from elsewhere.