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Abstract : In Vitro Screening for Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Effects of Uvaria littoralis Blume.: A Nootropic Phytotherapeutic Remedy
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Abstract: Background: Oxidative stress is strongly linked in the development of numerous chronic and degenerative disorders. Medicinal plants with antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities exert a key role for the management of oxidative stress related disorders mainly Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess antioxidant potentiality and anticholinesterase inhibitory activity of crude methanolic extract (CME), petroleum ether fraction (PEF), chloroform fraction (CLF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and aqueous fraction (AQF) of Uvaria littoralis (U. littoralis) leaves. Methods: The antioxidant compounds namely total flavonoids contents (TFCs) and total proanthocyanidins contents (TPACCs) were determined for quantities constituent’s characterization. Antioxidant capacity of U. littoralis leaves were estimated by the iron reducing power (IRPA), 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging capacity. Anticholinesterase effects were estimated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinestrase (BChE) activity. Results: The EAF of U. littoralis leaves showed the highest TFCs as compared to CLF, CME, PEF and AQF. TPACCs were also found highest in EAF. The highest absorbance for IRPA was found in EAF (2.220 nm) with respect to CME and other fractions at the highest concentration. The EAF showed best DPPH and NO radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 31.63 and 55.47 μg/mL, respectively with regard to CME and remaining fractions. The PEF represents highest AChE inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 35.19 μg/mL and CLF showed highest BChE inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 32.49 μg/mL. Conclusions: The findings of the current study demonstrate the presence of antioxidant phytochemicals, likewise, turns out antioxidant and anticholinesterase potentiality of U. littoralis leaves which could be a prestigious candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases especially AD. Keywords: Oxidative stress, Antioxidant potentiality, Anticholinesterase activity, Uvaria littoralis, Alzheimer's disease.
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Abstract : Problems with Object Permanence: Rethinking Traditional Beliefs Associated with Poor Theory of Mind in Autism
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Abstract: Poor Theory of Mind (ToM) (or difficulties imputing mental states to self and others) [1], (See also [2-5]) is often blamed for certain responses and behaviour in autism. However, the Theory of Mind Task Battery requires an understanding of language, the use of cognitive skills, as well as the child’s motivation and attention to complete. All of these factors are either weak or under-developed in individuals with autism suggesting that this is not the best means to measure one’s understanding that other people have their own thoughts, plans, beliefs, or point of view. Behaviours like strong defiance, insistence on sameness, fear associated with sudden change and severe anxiety may be related to difficulties seeing beyond the ‘now’ [6]. This paper suggests that some of the stress and anxiety in the autism population may actually be due to delayed object permanence (OP) (knowing something may still exist even if it is out of sight), which can appear as poor ToM. This delay in establishing OP is governed by single focused attention. For more information on this concept see: Lawson, W. (2011) The passionate mind, JKP:London. Although ToM and OP are defined differently, this paper aims to show the relationship between them and how one concept can influence the other using examples in everyday life to illustrate how poor OP is associated with single focused attention, which detracts from the bigger picture. Keywords: Autism, Object Permanence, Theory of Mind, Single Attention, Interest. |
Abstract : Academic Skills in High-Functioning and Low-Functioning Chinese Children with Autism
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Abstract: Early academic skills among Chinese speaking children with ASD were compared to age matched peers who were typically developing and with intellectual disabilities. In general, children with ASD do perform less well on reading comprehension, writing, and math skills. The purpose of the current study was to gather preliminary data on the early academic skills of Chinese children with ASD. The findings indicated that HFA and LFA had less difficulty in acquiring beginning basic-academic skills, but had more difficulty in acquiring advanced academic skills compared to their peers. Yet, the two groups of Chinese students with HFA and LFA performed remarkably alike across the academic skills. Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders, literacy, mathematical skills, Chinese. |
Abstract : Problems with Object Permanence: Rethinking Traditional Beliefs Associated with Poor Theory of Mind in Autism (2)
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Abstract: Poor Theory of Mind (ToM) (or difficulties imputing mental states to self and others) [1], (See also [2-5]) is often blamed for certain responses and behaviour in autism. However, the Theory of Mind Task Battery requires an understanding of language, the use of cognitive skills, as well as the child’s motivation and attention to complete. All of these factors are either weak or under-developed in individuals with autism suggesting that this is not the best means to measure one’s understanding that other people have their own thoughts, plans, beliefs, or point of view. Behaviours like strong defiance, insistence on sameness, fear associated with sudden change and severe anxiety may be related to difficulties seeing beyond the ‘now’ [6]. This paper suggests that some of the stress and anxiety in the autism population may actually be due to delayed object permanence (OP) (knowing something may still exist even if it is out of sight), which can appear as poor ToM. This delay in establishing OP is governed by single focused attention. For more information on this concept see: Lawson, W. (2011) The passionate mind, JKP:London. Although ToM and OP are defined differently, this paper aims to show the relationship between them and how one concept can influence the other using examples in everyday life to illustrate how poor OP is associated with single focused attention, which detracts from the bigger picture. Keywords: Autism, Object Permanence, Theory of Mind, Single Attention, Interest.Download Full Article |
