Green Leafy Veggies

न्यूयॉर्क: ब्रॉकली और बंदगोभी, केल तथा ब्रसेल्स स्प्राउट जैसी पत्तेदार सब्जियां कोरोना वायरस और फ्लू के संक्रमण की गति कम करने में कारगर साबित हुई हैं। जॉन हॉप्किन्स चिल्ड्रेन सेंटर के शोधकर्ताओं के मुताबिक पौधों में पाया जाने वाला रसायन 'सल्फोराफेन' कैंसररोधी प्रभाव के लिये जाना जाता है। यह रसायन कोरोना वायरस को बढ़ने से भी रोकता है। यही रसायन ब्रॉकली और बंदगोभी, केल तथा ब्रसेल्स स्प्राउट जैसी पत्तेदार सब्जियों में पाया जाता है। नेचर जर्नल कम्युनिकेशंस बायोलॉजी में प्रकाशित शोध रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, शोधकर्ताओं ने परीक्षण के लिये वाणिज्यिक रसायन आपूर्तिकर्ताओं से प्यूरिफाइड सिथेंटिक 'सल्फोराफेन' खरीदा। वे 'सल्फोराफेन' को पहले कोशिका के संपर्क में लाये और उसके एक-दो घंटे के बाद उस कोशिका को सार्स कोविड-2 और फ्लू के वायरस से संक्रमित किया गया। शोधकर्ताओं ने पाया कि 'सल्फोराफेन' ने सार्स कोविड-2 के डेल्टा और ओमीक्रॉन वैरिएंट समेत छह स्ट्रेन के बढ़ने की गति को 50 प्रतिशत कम कर दिया। फ्लू वायरस के मामले में भी 'सल्फोराफेन' ने वायरस के दोगुनी होने की गति धीमी कर दी । 'सल्फोराफेन' को जब रेमडिसिविर के साथ दिया गया तो भी दोनों तरह के वायरस के बढ़ने की गति 50 फीसदी तक कम हो गयी। शोध टीम में शामिल यूनिवर्सिटी के असिस्टेंट प्रोफेसर अल्वारो ऑरडोनेज ने कहा कि 'सल्फोराफेन' दोनों वायरस के खिलाफ एक एंटीवायरस के रूप में काम करने के साथ ही प्रतिरोधक क्षमता को भी नियंत्रित करने में मदद करता है। शोधकर्ताओं ने बाद में यह परीक्षण चूहे पर किया। उन्होंने पाया कि चूहे के वजन के प्रति किलोग्राम के बराबर 30 मिलीग्राम 'सल्फोराफेन' दिया जाये और उसे फिर कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित किया जाये तो उसके वजन में कमी आने की गति काफी कम हो जाती है। कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित होने पर वजन में आमतौर पर साढ़े सात प्रतिशत की कमी आ जाती है। शोध में यह भी पाया गया कि जिन चूहों को 'सल्फोराफेन' नहीं दिया गया उनकी तुलना में जिन चूहों का पहले ही उपचार किया गया, उनके फेफड़े में वायरल लोड में 17 प्रतिशत और ऊपरी श्वसन नली में वायरल लोड में नौ प्रतिशत की उल्लेखनीय गिरावट आती है। इसके अलावा फेफड़े की क्षति में 29 प्रतिशत की कमी आती है। 'सल्फोराफेन' फेफड़े की सूजन को कम करने और अधिक सक्रिय प्रतिरोधी क्षमता से कोशिका को बचाने में भी कारगर है। इन कारणों से ही कई कोरोना संक्रमितों ने दम तोड़ा है। शोधकर्ताओं ने लेकिन साथ ही सचेत किया है कि आम लोगों को ऑनलाइन या स्टोर में जाकर 'सल्फोराफेन' का सप्लीमेंट खरीदने की होड़ नहीं लगानी चाहिये। उन्होंने कहा कि मानव शरीर पर 'सल्फोराफेन' के प्रभाव का अध्ययन जरूरी है और तब ही इसे प्रभावी करार दिया जा सकता है। इसके अलावा इन सप्लीमेंट के निर्माण में जरूरी नियमों की भी कमी है। (एजेंसी) यह भी पढ़े► शोधकर्ताओं ने टीबी और कैंसर के बीच के संबंध का पता लगाया

Bhopal- A team of scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have in a review identified the biomolecular relationships between Covid-19, ageing, and diabetes. The review, published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, presented that existing drugs used to treat diabetes, obesity and ageing can potentially be used to treat Covid-19. Similar naturally existing biomolecules were also explored in combination for the Covid treatment. "There are classes of compounds such as polyphenols found in plant-based food, curcumin (found in turmeric), and resveratrol (found in grapes), have been shown to not only slow down the ageing process, but also possess anti-viral properties," said Dr. Amjad Husain, Principal Scientist, and CEO of Innovation and Incubation Center for Entrepreneurship (IICE), IISER Bhopal, in a statement. Some other polyphenols that the researchers have identified as being useful for both Covid-19 treatment and comorbidity conditions such as diabetes and ageing may include catechins (present in green tea, cocoa and berries), procyanidins (found in apples, cinnamon and grape skin), and theaflavin (found in black tea). The researchers also present evidence of some existing potential anti-ageing drugs such as Rapamycin that can be explored for the Covid-19 treatment because of the common biochemical pathways associated with these diseases. Another such example is a drug Metformin , which is usually used to control blood sugar. The review showed that at the molecular level, there are intersecting pathways that are common to diabetes, ageing, and Covid-19. All three conditions are associated with oxidative stress and lowering of the immune response and complications arising from them lead to the onset of numerous other diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, eye diseases, neuropathy (nerve diseases), and nephropathy (kidney problems). The researchers believe that an ideal therapeutic candidate for Covid-19 should be able to target the pathways that are common to diabetes, ageing and the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further, computational studies showed that lipids present in cell membranes play an important role in coronavirus infectivity. Natural compounds such as polyphenols may affect the binding of the virus to host receptors and the molecular interactions required for virus replication and release, thereby stopping the infection in its early stages, the team explained. Read More► Risk of Stroke Increases With Insulin Resistance: Study

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 1 (IANS) There is no qualified research to prove it but people claim that they have benefitted and now swear by it.The leaves of the African bitter leaf tree/plant are said to have helped people reduce their blood sugar levels.Gopal Tiwari, 72, is now popularising the benefits of the leaves by regularly distributing them to people at a temple in Katra locality in Prayagraj.Every morning, Tiwari waits at the temple with these leaves and gives them to devotees who suffer from diabetes."Two years ago, someone told me about the benefits of the leaves of this unique plant and how it can control blood sugar level. I gave it to my wife who had high blood sugar levels and then saw that she benefitted because her blood sugar levels began going down. I have several plants in my home and I give it to those who ask for it," said Tiwari.He said that the leaves reduce one's dependence on pharmaceuticals.Prof Anupam Dikshit, former head of the Department of Botany at Allahabad University, said, "The plant does have medicinal properties and the Botanical name of this plant is Vernonia amygdalina. It belongs to the marigold family. Plants of this family are herbaceous (with exception of Vernonia amygdalina which is the only tree) and only a few research works have proven its anti-Diabetes properties."Ayurvedic expert Dr D.K. Srivastava said, "Diabetes can be controlled by consuming the leaves of this tree as the borderline sugar patient can consume two leaves in the morning before breakfast while moderate diabetes can be controlled by consuming two leaves before every meal. One can experience the anti-diabetic properties of the plant after getting the sugar levels tested after 30 days of consumption.""Since the leaves are quite bitter, the patients can keep the leaves in the mouth like beetle leaves without chewing. As the saliva reacts with the leaves and its juice, in diluted form, it can be gulped with a tolerable level of bitterness," suggested Dr Srivastava.The leaves of the plant are available round the year and new plants can be raised through stem cutting. In the summer season, the plant grows even faster.Meanwhile, some of those who have been taking leaves from Tiwari at the temple, claim to have benefitted from the same."There are no side effects and it is like eating 'karela' (bitter gourd). I have been taking these leaves for four months and there has been a marginal improvement in my diabetic condition. I plan to take it regularly because Ayurveda and alternative medicine takes time," said Rakesh Pathak, a retired government employee.--IANSamita/dpb

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) The Delhi Traffic Police on Friday created a 23 km green corridor in the city from Jasola to Rajendra Place, to help transport a cadaveric liver.The liver was transported from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Jasola to BLK-Max Hospital in Rajendra Place, through the 23 km stretch in just 22 minutes. The liver donated by a 70-year-old male patient who suffered intracranial haemorrhage resulting in brain death, was transplanted to a 42-year-old BSF constable from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh at BLK. "We are happy to report that in a surgery that lasted almost seven hours, we managed to give a new lease of life to a 42-year-old male BSF constable, who had been waiting for the transplant for long," Dr Abhideep Chaudhary, Senior Director & HOD, HPB Surgery & Liver Transplantation, BLK, said in a statement. The constable was suffering from end stage liver disease with jaundice, ascites (abnormal build-up of fluid in the abdomen), hepatic encephalopathy (decline in brain function due to severe liver disease) and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. "He was admitted in our hospital since May 21 this year in a state of 'liver coma'. The patient was in a critical state, however, none of his family members were a match for donation," Chaudhary said. The patient is recovering well, the doctor said."We remain indebted to the family of the donor who decided to serve critical patients even in their time of loss. Organ donation can save so many precious lives and I really hope that everyone embraces this cause. We would also like to thank all authorities concerned like NOTTO, and the Delhi Police for taking swift action and making this possible," he added. --IANSrvt/bg