Don't forget: LTs: Projects: -Bio (simulation of plant transport or any system) -SocSci (Manor House) Bring: -materials

for lab act. in bio (pig's heart, dissecting set, gloves, masks, lab gowns) -materials for chem lab act. Reminder: -bayad ki Vincent at ki Medelle INTRODUCTION Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) has become a major problem for landowners, land managers, foresters, and governmental agencies since its introduction into Alabama. Known to many as jap grass, cogon grass was accidentally introduced into Alabama near Grand Bay about 1911 as seed in packing materials from Japan (4). Purposeful introductions soon followed in other areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, with the primary intent for forage production (1,4). Horticultural varieties of cogon grass continue to be sold under the name Japanese blood grass or Red Baron grass, although illegal in the state of Alabama. Infestations of this perennial grass from Asia forms exclusive colonies, displacing native vegetation with the exception of mature trees (5). In addition, cogon grass is a fire adapted species, meaning that it thrives where fire is a regular occurrence (1,4). As a result, cogongrass burns hot and readily, creating safety and property loss concerns. Wildfire in cogongrass can kill mature and seedling trees and native plants, furthering its domination. Rights-of-way managers loathe cogon grass for its unsightly growth habit, difficulty in mowing, and displacement of more manageable species. Cogongrass spreads by both wind-blown seeds and underground creeping rhizomes. The rhizomes can form a dense mat in the upper 6-8 inches of soil and may comprise as much as 80% of the total plant mass (1,2). It is the rhizome system that makes this plant particularly hard to control. Elimination of aboveground portions of the plant can be easily accomplished, but if the rhizomes are not killed or removed, rapid re-sprouting and regrowth will occur. Conservative estimates put the infested acreage between 500,000 and one million in Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida panhandle. In Alabama, cogongrass has been found in 32 counties and as far north as Winston County (see map).Regionally, cogongrass can be found throughout Mississippi and Florida, and in scattered infestations in Georgia, Louisiana, S. Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Once cogongrass gains a foothold in an area, its just a matter of time before it spreads from the infested site. Therefore, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND ELIMINATE COGONGRASS BEFORE IT SPREADS FROM AN INFESTED SITE, AND UNDERSTAND WAYS TO PREVENT ITS MOVEMENT AND INTRODUCTION. IDENTIFICATION Cogongrass has some distinctive vegetative features that aid identification. Cogongrass rarely is found as a single plant but quickly forms patches or infestations, often circular in outline. Plants vary in height, even in the same patch from 1 to 4 ft. tall (1,5). Taller leaves will lean over in late summer. Leaves measure -1 inch in width and are commonly 12-30 inches long. They rarely have a lush green color; instead, they appear mostly yellowish

green. A reddening of the leaves sometimes has been observed in the fall, and is correlated to extreme changes in temperature. The whitish upper midrib of a mature leaf is often not centered on the blade as with most grasses thus making identification somewhat easier. Also leaf margins are rough to the touch due to tiny saw-like serrations, which is a common trait of other grasses as well. It is this rough margin, which may cut the tongue of a grazing animal, along with a high silica content that make cogongrass a useless forage crop. The leaves appear to arise directly from the soil, giving the impression that the plant is stemless, but short stems are present. A few short hairs may arise at the node, or the place where the leaf arises from the stem, but otherwise the plant is hairless. Another key identifying feature is the production of fluffy, white, plume-like seedheads in early spring. This spring flowering is contrary to most summer grasses, which flower later in the season. Cogongrass also has been documented to initiate flowering at other times of the year in response to disturbance such as herbicide application, fire, mowing, or the first hard frost (4). Seedheads range from 2 to 8 inches in length and may contain as many as 3000 seed. Each seed has silky, white hairs that aid in wind dispersal. Seed viability is variable and seed must land on bare ground for germination (3). Rhizomes of cogongrass are white, segmented and branched and have been found extending 48 inches below the soil surface, but more commonly completely occupy the upper 6-8 inches (2,5). Rhizomes are sharp-pointed and often pierce the roots of other plants and unprotected human feet and hands. Each rhizome segment can give rise to a new plant, which can occur with cultivation or partial herbicide control (4). HABITAT Cogongrass is an opportunistic plant and invades a wide range of non-cultivated habitats including rights-of-way, forests, pastures, orchards, and waste areas. Cogongrass thrives in full sunlight, but may extend well into a mature forest stand, especially if there is no intermediate tree or shrub layer. Cogongrass will not grow in saturated soils, but tolerates periodic flooding reasonably well. Although cogongrass will not tolerate continued soil disturbance, it is a rapid invader of recently disturbed soil such as that found in road construction areas, industrial lands, mechanically site prepared forest land, and even the container-grown ornamental industry. Cogongrass has never been a pest of row-crop agriculture in the U.S., but the rapid adoption of reduced tillage practices could present a potential threat. Other industries potentially impacted by cogongrass include sod production and wildlife. Increasingly, homeowners in forested areas are placed at risk by cogongrassfueled wildfires. CONTROL MEASURES Cogongrass control can be variable due to the age and rhizome mat density and depth. Young infestations are usually easier to control than older entrenched fields. For newer patches, tillage can eliminate cogongrass from an area if continued during the course of a growing season. The initial tillage should begin in the spring (March-May) with an implement that inverts the soil to a depth of at least six inches. Additional tillage should be performed every six to eight weeks with a disk harrow or other appropriate implement. Dry periods during the summer will aid in the control of cogongrass. The area can be planted to a fall cover crop and then followed the next season with perennial or annual grass or broadleaf crops.Mowing may help reduce cogongrass stands, but areas must be mowed frequently and at a low height to reduce the stand.

CHAPTER 1 The problem and its background Introduction One of the single most invaluable tests for the diagnosis of medical problemsinvolves the testing of blood. Unfortunately of which is its tendency to clot outside thebody, the time between extraction and use must be short because prolonged storage willresult in clotted blood, useless for any diagnostic procedures. The development ofanticoagulant has been the basis of diagnostic procedure.Considering the adverse effects with existing anticoagulant, alternative herbalmedicine from natural origin can help to get the new molecular lead as a hope towardsthe better efficacious and safe anticoagulant. Many plants have been investigated as totheir medicinal properties. One such extensively studied plant is Imperata cylindrica more commonly known as Cogon grass.In this study the researchers will endeavour to know the haematological effect of Imperata cylindrica (cogon grass) as an anticoagulant.Cogon grass ( Imperata cylindrica ) has pharmacological effects such asantidiuretic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antibacterial. Its rhizome is use fortreatment of haematuria and fever with a daily 10-40gm of decoction orally. It has anadverse reaction of allergic dermatitis and sensitivity to grass pollen (Type 1 allergy). (AGuide to Medicinal Plants An Illustrated, Scientific and Medicinal Approach by KohHweeLing, Chua Tung Kian, Tan chayHoon 2001) The present investigation was planned to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anticoagulant activity of Imperata cylindrica. Methanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica hasdemonstrated presence of tannins and polyphenols. It can be concluded from the presentinvestigation that Imperata cylindrica has exhibited significant anticoagulant activity in vivoand in vitro. Oral administration of Imperata cylindrica after 1, 2 and 3rd hr have exhibited4, 6 and 9 fold increase in prothrombin time when compared to base value and 6, 7 and 9fold increase in prothrombin time at 10th, 30 and 60th min after intravenousadministration when compared to base value. Imperata cylindrica may be acting on theextrinsic cascade of clotting probably by binding with the antithrombin. Imperata cylindrica could be a hope towards development of a novel anticoagulant with optimizedefficacy and reduced side effects.( http://phcogj.com/content/vitro-and-vivo-anticoagulant- activity-imperata-cylindrica-novelanticoagulant-lead-natural-o ) The inadvertent use of the saline solution in place of the anticoagulant solutiondoes not create a high level of risk for the donor but will result in coagulation of the bloodin the set and discarding of the blood sample. However, the inadvertent use of theanticoagulant solution in place of the saline solution may result in a very serious outcomedue to the administration of a clinically significant amount of anticoagulant to thedonor

.(http://www.imb.ie/EN/Safety--Quality/Advisory-Warning--Recall-Notices/MedicalDevices/Apheresis-Systems.aspx) The presence of an anticoagulant can be confirmed by performing a 1:1 mix ofpatient and normal plasma and repeating the APTT immediately and after one hour'sincubation of the mixture. Ten to 20% normal plasma is usually sufficient to replace adeficient factor and normalize the APTT. If the patient's abnormal APTT is corrected bynormal plasma, this indicates that a deficient clotting factor has been supplied and acoagulation factor deficiency exists. If the 1:1 mix has a prolonged APTT immediately this means that an immediate-acting circulating anticoagulant (such as heparin) ispresent. If the initial clotting time of the 1:1 mix corrects partially or fully, but is definitelyprolonged after incubation, this suggests a time dependent anticoagulant, whichprogressively inactivates a clotting factor (such as a Factor VIIIinhibitor ).(http://www.clinlabnavigator.com/Test-Interpretations/anticoagulantscirculating.html?letter=A) Ethyl alcohol (ethanol, ETOH) or just alcohol has been described as the "perfect"drug. It is soluble in water, the major constituent of all bodily fluids and tissues, notcharged, a small molecule and not subject to changes in molecular structure as a resultof changes in the acidity (pH) of the body fluids. Because ETOH is uncharged, it is alsosoluble in fatty substances (i.e., lipids) and passes easily through the lipid membranebarriers in the body (e.g., from the stomach into the blood or from the intestines into theblood). Statement of the Problem This study will determine the Imperata Cylindrica (Cogon grass) as anticoagulant agent:Comparison of its effectiveness using different extracting medium.This study will answer the following specific problem:1. What is the prothrombin time of Cogon grass (Imperata Cylindrica) in humanblood?2. Is there significant difference in the prothrombin time of Cogon grass (Imperata Cylindrica) compared with the control groups?3. What are the hematological effects of Imperata cylindrica as anticoagulant in the Red blood Cell morphology and RBC indices of blood type O subjects?

Hypothesis There is no significant difference in the prothrombin time and the haematologicaleffects of Imperata Cylindrica (Cogon grass) in human blood of type O subjectscompared with the control groups. Significance of the study This research will benefit the following: A. Colleges and the students This research will encourage Colleges and students to make research on thecurrent trends and utilize the cost of expensive anticoagulant agent and develop moreways in understanding and creating possible anticoagulant comparing with differentextracting medium.

B. Researcher This study will encourage other researcher to produce more research about theanticoagulant agent of Imperata cylindrica that could be used as a potential anticoagulantfor treatment in the community. C. People This research will greatly benefit the patient for its lessen the cost ofanticoagulant agent. More over medical professional will also benefit the use ofalternative anticoagulant for the recurrent increasing anticoagulant agents. D. Community This research study will benefit the community since it will gave a moreaffordable price abundant population of Imperata cylindrica medication since it can get http://www.scribd.com/doc/98448874/Imperatacylindrica-COGON-GRASS-AS-ANTICOAGULANT-AGENTHAEMATOLOGICAL-EFFECT-ON-HUMAN-BLOOD-Revised-by-Kaiser http://www.livestrong.com/article/492490-tannin-food-list/ http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20093319550.html;jsessionid=D39331FBB856F72D935CFE7613358 101 http://www.botanical-online.com/english/tannins.htm
Location: This prolific, long, graceful, grassy plant can be found in southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. Rich in potassium, its roots are traditionally used by indigenous populations as a substitute for salt. In the medical field, it is recognized for its diuretic, heart-toning and healing actions. In cosmetics, its exceptional capacity to survive in drought conditions and in extremely salty areas caught researchers? attention. Their studies revealed the presence of a molecule called DMSP (3-dimethylsulfoniopropionate) which, combined with potassium, makes it possible to bring moisture to the heart of cells quickly and maintain their moisture capital for more than 24 hours.

http://www.clarinsusa.com/Cogon-grass/imperata_cylindrica,en_US,pg.html http://www.ijppsjournal.com/Vol4Suppl1/3187.pdf
Tannins are widely distributed in the plant kingdom. They are common both in Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Within Angiosperms, tannins are more common in Dicotyledons than in Monocotyledons. Examples of families of Dicotyledons rich in tannins are:
Leguminosae : Acacia sp. (wattle); Sesbania sp.;Lotus sp. (trefoil); Onobrychis sp. (sainfoin); Anacardiaceae: Scinopsis balansae (quebracho) Combretaceae: myrobalan Rhizophoraceae : mangrove Myrtaceae: Eucalyptus sp., Mirtus sp. (Myrtle) Polinaceae: canaigre.

Other important tannin containing plants are Quercus sp. (oak), Acer sp. (maple), Betula sp. (birch),Salix caprea (willow), Pinus sp. (Pine), Sorghum sp. Tannins are located mainly in the vacuoles or surface wax of the plants. In these sites they do not interfere with plant metabolism. Only after cell breakdown and death can they act and have metabolic effects. Location of the tannins in various plant tissues:
Bud tissues - most common in the outer part of the bud, probably as protection against freezing Leaf tissues - most common in the upper epidermis. However, in evergreen plants, tannins are evenly distributed in all leaf tissues. They serve to reduce palatability and, thus, protect against predators. Root tissues - most common in the hypodermis (just below the suberized epidermis). They probably act as a chemical barrier to penetration and colonization of roots by plant pathogens. Seed tissues - located mainly in a layer between the outer integument and the aleurone layer. They have been associated with the maintainance of plant dormancy, and have allelopathic and bactericidal properties. Stem tissues - often found in the active growth areas of the trees, such as the secondary phloem and xylem and the layer between epidermis and cortex. Tannins may have a role in the growth regulation of these tissues. They are also found in the heartwood of conifers and may be a contribute to the natural durability of wood by inhibiting microbial activity.

chelating agent 1. a compound that combines with metal ions to form stable ring structures. 2. a substance used to reduce the concentration of free metal ion in solution by complexing it. Chelation therapy is the use of chelating agents to detoxify poisonous metal agents such as mercury, arsenic, and lead by converting them to a chemically inert form that can be excreted without further interaction with the body, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1991. In alternative medicine, chelation is used as a treatment for autism, although this practice is controversial due to the absence of scientific plausibility, lack of FDA approval, and its potentially deadly side-effects.
[15]

Although they can be beneficial in cases of heavy metal poisoning, chelating agents can also be dangerous. Use of disodium EDTA instead of calcium EDTA has resulted in fatalities due to hypocalcemia.
[16]

http://www.wikiherb.info/2012/01/cogon-grass-imperata-cylindrica-l-beauv.html