Business Plan To Open Retail Store In Bihar Marketing Essay

Business Plan To Open Retail Store In Bihar Marketing Essay We are planning to open Wedding attire and accessories shop named as VIVHA UTSAV in Patna.VIVHA UTSAV is the Wedding attire and accessories shop for brides like no other. While most retail bridal Shops focus on selling Wedding dresses and Accessories for Bride only, we will cater to the mothers of bride, mother of groom, her friends and sisters. Because there is majority of Hindus in Bihar so we will provide dresses and accessories mainly for Hindu brides. OBJECTIVES 1) The primary objective is to provide one-stop-shopping for the wedding. 2) To make wedding shopping easy and enjoyable. 3) To attain a position in Bihar as we have in other states in this sector. MISSION VIVHA UTSAV is a boutique that will provide attire and accessories for not only bride but also for her relatives and friends also. We believe in providing excellent and superior services and making shopping a relaxed and pleasurable experience. We also believe in providing a professional and enjoyable environment to our employees so that they are motivated to be trustworthy and valuable resources to our customer. VISION We want to provide best product and shopping experience to the customer. We want to build strong and long term relationships with our customer. Type of Retailer It will be a specialty store catering only the market for wedding shopping. The attire and accessories will only be for bride and the female member attending marriage. 2) PRODUCTS . We will carry the following different products both the traditional and modern for Wedding occasion which customers can buy according to the way they want:- LEHNGA CHOLIS and SAREES 1) BY TYPE a) Designer lehnga choli: Designner wedding lehnags and sarees , custom made designer lehnga choli and sarees , Crepe designer lehngas and sarees etc. b) Traditional Lehnga Choli:- Traditional Indian cholis, Bandhej lehngas, Bandhni sarees, Tie-dye traditional sarees, c) Embroided Lehngas:- Zari Lehngas and sarees, Kundan Lehngas and sarees ,Trendy sequins lehngas and sarees wear, fancy Neemzari Cholis Kashmiri Work dress. d) Fish cut lehngas cholis, mermaid style, and Circular lehnga choli 2) By Fabric Georgette lehnga choli and sarees,Crepe Lehnga Choli and sarees, Silk Lehnga Choli and sarees, Net lehnga Choli and sarees, Satin lehnga choli and Sarees, Brocade lehnga choli and sarees, Tissue lehnga choli and sarees 3) BY Price and colors: Customer can buy according to different financial rang and colors. JWELLERY and OTHER ACCESSORIES a) Wedding necklace for bride and her relatives and friends. They can have Kundan, Pearl, Studded, Polki, Victorian, Beaded Necklaces and many more. b) Gleaming earrings: Fashion earrings, Hoop Earrings, Long Earrings, top earrings and may more. c) Designer bangles: Adjustable bangles, Fashion bangles, Gold bangles, Stone bangles, Studded bangles and many more. d) American studded jewellary, Antique jewellary, Designer Chains, Gorgeous Bracelets, Scintillating Pendants, Beautiful anklets, Nose rings e) Hair accessories, Footwear and Bags. 3) MARKETING PLAN For the past three years, there are over 25 thousand Weddings annually in Bihar, 35 hundred of which are in Patna. The average cost of a wedding in Patna is near about Rs.10lakh to 15 lakh in high class society and Rs.3 to 5 lakh in mediocre families and it has been increasing consistently by 5% each year. It has highest per capita gross domestic product in Bihar, which is better than the most of the metropolitan area in India. In 2009, World Bank ranked Patna as second best city in India to start a business. There many fashion and designer boutique in Patna and all of them are locally owned, single-unit operation. However there is increasing no of players entering in this sector but primary focus of these shops is to provide dresses and accessories for all occasion, no one provide accessories and dresses specially for wedding only. So the market is currently missing a place to find out a good selection of all the items for wedding together at one place. Target market:- We are going to cater the Hindus because they are the majority. The target market is brides, brides mother, grooms mother, bride and grooms sisters, brides friends. Wedding dress and accessories on average comprise about 6.8% of the total wedding expenditure, while attire and accessories for mother sister and friends comprises 7.1% of the total wedding expenditure. So we are also focusing on this 7.1% along with the 6.8%.People have joint families mostly in Bihar and Patna also. So a wedding generally have 2 mothers, 6-10 sisters and friends. Trends in Target market Because of the enhanced livelihood in Patna people dont mind to spend high amount to make the wedding a memorable one, because it is the one time function. People there are now moving toward modernization. They want to have the marriage both in traditional and modern way. Brides, her sister and friends now wanted to wear each accessory matching with their dresses. It is possible only if they shop from the same place. Positioning Strategy Our store will be positioned in customer mind with its name VIVHA UTSAV Wedding Shop. Any who will hear or see this name, ultimately come know that it is a store for wedding shopping. Sales Strategy Our sales strategy is designed in that way that it will lead to close the deal. When a customer will enter in our shop, she will feel that her place in wedding and needs are very important for us. We will make an environment in which shopping for other items will be as significant as the experience of shopping for wedding attire. At Vivha utsav other wedding parties like mother, sister and friends will also gain equal importance and attention as the bride receives. Market Share Initially our market share will be low or modest.But it is expected to grow at a good rate because of our unique niche the Vivha Utsav is targeting SWOT ANALYSIS Strength 1) It is the only store of its own type. While most of the boutiques focus on selling only wedding dresses, we give importance to other items also. 2) We will provide different attendants to bride, mothers, sisters and friends so that they can buy the most appropriate dress and accessories for themselves. 3) Our wide range of clothing style, designer and accessories. Weakness:- 1) We are planning to cater only the market for brides and her female relatives and friends not the groom wear market. so we may not get the attention of some customer because of this reason. 2) Wedding business is a seasonal business. We will have small no of foot falls in the off season Opportunity 1) Increasing trend of buying designer wedding dresses and accessories. 2) At our shop along with bridal dress and accessory focus is on other items also. Our customer will be offered a wide selection of their desired attire, and their needs will be our primary focus. Threats 1) Competitors who already exist in the market may have prices lower than our products. 2) People who already had a wedding in the past may prefer to go to boutique from where they bought in past. Promotional strategy 1) We will start with standard print and online listings in wedding media.We will advertise through local newspaper, matrimonial sites, local weddinh publications 2) We will carry some wedding shows so that the customer can have a look on what we are going to provide them. 3) We will build relationships with marriage consultants, who can refer us to the customer for wedding shopping. 4) We will register ourselves in yellow pages under the bridal sector, so this will act as a standard source for customer to find us. 5) We will also have a website so that the customer who wants to know more about us before shop at our can have all the information which she wants. They can also know about store location and store time. Those who are unable to physically come to place an order can place the order online. 4) OPERATIONAL PLAN Location: We will locate our store in downtown Patna; because of its daily activities it will draw a large no of foot falls into the area. It is a destination shopping area .It also the hub of public transportation and there is high level of pedestrian traffic and it also has a good no of residents living in the area. We have selected the corner of a main intersection with free parking. Store layout: Our store will be two story building. First floor will be for carry dresses and accessories for brides mother, her sister and friends. Second floor will be carrying the dresses and accessories for bride. On both the floor there will be changing and dressing room. Store layout will be free from. It will provide an Intimate, Relaxing environment that will facilitate shopping and Browsing. We will place fixtures holding the latest styles along the perimeter of the stores layout. Flooring and lighting will clearly differentiate the different product areas. The cash counter will be at the exit of the store. Key Supplier We will make contract with different designer, manufacturer of fabrics; different items need to decorate the dresses and other accessories. Other supplier will be for sewing machines, embroidery machine, needles, threads etc. Credit Policy We will not sell anything on credit. When a dress will being made to order, a fifty percent, non refundable deposit will be required. Once the dress is ready, the customer will have to pay the entire due amount before taking the dress from the store. This policy is applied on all other items also. Store management: Vivha Utsav will conduct business on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 10am to 8 pm. We will have work force including store manager, receptionist, cashier and part time sales associates, who all will be females only, because some customers may feel uncomfortable in the presence of male employee. The store will have three sales associate on weekdays and five sales associate on weekends to avoid problem of traffic in store. Moreover before coming to the store to get the dress and accessories customers will have to take appointment. This will also help avoiding the traffic problem. Sales associate will be paid on hourly bases and the store manager and receptionist will be paid monthly. The working hours will be increased at the season time to accommodate the planned increase in sales, so as their salaries will also increase. Some sales goals will be set for all the employees and when the employees will achieve those goals they will be rewarded monrtarily .To achieve those goals employees will need to do the following things:- a) Pay attention to the customer: customers need to be acknowledges right from the time they enter in the store because everyone, who will step in our store, will be preparing for the big event. They need to be taken seriously immediately because they will not be in our store for fun or casual purpose. b) Keep customer focused: The process of choosing bridal attire and accessories can be a longer one, because it is a very important purchase and there are so many variables like colors, type, fabric etc. so if the sale representative will navigate the customer efficiently through the process it can lead to the desired outcome. c) We will not only sell goods but will also sell shopping experience. Because wedding purchase especially bridal attires are as very emotionally attached and memorable process for bride, her mother and friends. So the employees should try to satisfy them in all possible manners so that the experience becomes a positive one so that they recommend us to their friends and relative for wedding purchase. Merchandising Management The dresses and other accessories will be sold on made-to order basis. So a sample of each product of each style will be kept in store so that customer can try on. If however a customer is satisfied with the floor design she can purchase that product. We will contact the designer who set minimums that is we require purchasing a certain number of sample products. We will keep track of our entire sales in computers in terms of no of times particular is purchased, which type of product is most demanding etc. If some items are selling poorly, they will be discounted, sold off rack or will be replaced by new items. 5) Financial Plan Requirements We will need Rs.50 lakh to get our business off the ground. We are currently seeking funding from outside investors and business loans. In the starting we will raise Rs.15 lakh in equity capital. We are seeking investors for additional Rs. 25 lakh and Rs 10 lakh in loans. Use of Funds Funds will be used to pay for renovations, construction of fitting rooms, sales counter, painting, carpeting, lighting, and dà ©cor and display fixtures. We will also purchase inventory computers, a cash register and inventory management system. The remaining of the Startup funds will be utilized to cover operating expenses, such as rent, utilities, marketing, costs and wages. Profitloss projection Based on our marketing plans, location, store size and product offerings we expect to collect annual sales of Rs.5040000 in 1st year. Our average cost of goods sold will be 40%, which leaves us with a gross margin of 60%.Our monthly fixed cost is estimated to be Rs 113125, so we will need to generate sales of Rs 4, 20,000 monthly to reach the breakeven point. We will become profitable monthly basis after our first year. Break even analysis Particulars Amount(Rs) Sales 5040000 Variable cost 3252000 Contribution(sales-VC) 1788000 Fixed cost 1357500 Net profit 430500 Profit volume Ratio = (Contribution/sales)*100 = (1788000/5040000)*100= 35% BEP point (Rs) =Fixed cost/PV ratio = 1357500/35%= Rs.3826510 BEP Point (months) =BEP point (Rs)/monthly sales = 3826510/420000= 9.11 So we will take 9 months and 4 day to reach the break even sales Cash Flow Projections We will collect immediate payment from customer because we will not give credit to customer, so our cash flow statement will be substantially similar to our income statement. Our cash flow statement will clearly demonstrate our ability to cover all bills.

A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review Essay

Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) is a native flowering or weed that is endemic in the Philippines and other tropical countries. It is a popular herb especially for its healing properties including antidiarrhetic, antigastralgic, expectorant, stomachic, and antispasmodic, among others. Aside from these, sambong is also popular for being emmenagogues, or for stimulating menstruation or the blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. As cure for menstrual cramps, the sambong leaves are boiled to create a sambong tea, which is then consumed by the patient. Aside from easing the painful cramps by facilitating menstruation, sambong also helps in cleaning the kidneys. The plant is actually especially known as a natural cleansing herb. Since the plant is emmenagogues, drinking the sambong tea is not advisable to pregnant women as well as women who wanted to be pregnant. Moreover, drinking sambong should also be regulated because it also has hallucinogenic effects when excessively consumed Blumea b alsamifera (L.) DC. (Asteraceae), also known as sambong, has been used as medicine for thousands of years in Southeast Asia countries, such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines. Sambong is the most important member of the genus Blumea and is an indigenous herb oftropical and subtropical Asia, especially in China. This plant grows on forest edges, under forests, riverbeds, valleys and grasses [4,5]. In China, it is generally a common used herb in the areas south of theYangtze River, such as Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangdong provinces and Taiwan [6–8].B. balsamifera is commonly called â€Å"Ainaxiang† and â€Å"Dafeng’ai† in Chinese and used as incensebecause it has a high level of essential oils [9]. It was originally recorded in â€Å"Bei Ji Qian Jin YaoFang† in 652 by Sun Simiao. The whole plant or its leaves were used as a crude Chinese traditional medicinal material to treat eczema, dermatitis, beriberi, lumbago, menorrhagia, rheumatism, skininjury, and as an insecticide [10]. Bing Pian and Aipian are two important traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) extracted from plants and have been used as one in prescriptions for centuries in China. Both of them mainly contain borneol and are similar in efficacy [11]. They are synonymous in the Chinese  pharm aceutical industry nowadays. Before 2010, sambong was one of the most important plant sources for Bing Pian, but since 2010, the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China records B. balsamifera as the only plant source for Aipian [11], with a consistent efficacy with B.  balsamifera medicinal materials, which could induce resuscitation, clear heat, and relieve pain. Recently, extracts of its leaves have been verified do display various new physiological activities, such as antitumor , antifungal [13,15], radical-scavenging [16], and anti-obesity properties . The main active compound is L-borneol, which was characterized by a high volatility. Besides, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenoids with several different biological activities were also reported . These studies could explain why this plant has multiple pharmacological effects. In this review, botanical descriptions, herbal authentications, and phytochemical constituents of B. balsamifera are covered. In addition, the previous in vitro and in vivo studies conducted on its biological activities are reviewed, concentrating on antitumor, hepatoprotective, superoxide radical scavenging, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, antiplasmodial, antityrosinase, platelet aggregation, wound healing, anti-obesity, disease and insect resistant activities as well as enhancing percutaneous pen etration. Sambong is a half woody, strongly aromatic shrub, densely and softly hairy, 1 to 4 meters high. Stems grow up to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptic- to oblong-lanceolate, 7 to 20 centimeters long, toothed at the margins, pointed or blunt at the tip, narrowing to a short petiole which are often auricled or appendaged. Flowering heads are stalked, yellow and numerous, 6 to 7 millimeters long, and borne on branches of a terminal, spreading or pyramidal leafy panicle. Discoid flowers are of two types: peripheral ones tiny, more numerous, with tubular corolla; central flowers few, large with campanulate corolla. Involucral bracts are green, narrow and hairy. Anther cells tailed at base. Fruits are achenes, dry, 1-seeded, 10-ribbed, hairy at top. – Considered anthelmintic, antidiarrheal, antigastralgic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, emmenagogue, expectorant, stomachic, and vulnerary.Leaves used a flavoring ingredient. Folkloric – Leaves as poultice for abscesses. – Decoction of roots and leaves for fevers, kidney stones, and cystitis. – Decoction of leaves used to induced diuresis for purpose of treating kidney stones. – Sitz-bath of boiled leaves, 500 gms to a gallon of water, for rheumatic pains of waist and back. – Used in upper and lower respiratory tract affections like sinusitis, asthmatic bronchitis, influenza. – Applied while hot over the sinuses. Used for wounds and cuts. Fresh juice of leaves to wounds and cuts. – Poultice of leaves applied to the forehead for relief of headaches. – Tea is used for colds and as an expectorant; likewise, has antispasmodic and antidiarrheal benefits. Postpartum baths. – In Vietnam, decoction of fresh leaves used for cough and influenza or as inhalation of vapour from boiling of leaves. Poultices of pounded leaves applied to hemorrhoids; an alcoholic maceration used as liniment for rheumatism. – 3% ethanol solution used to soothe itching. – In Thailand, dried leaves are chopped, made into cigarettes and smoked for treating sinusitis. – For fever, leaves boiled and when lukewarm used as sponge bath. – Decoction of roots used for fever. – Decoction of leaves, 50 gms to a pint of boiling water, 4 glasses daily, for stomach pains. – In SE Asia widely used for various women problems. Postpartum, leaves are used in hot fomentation over the uterus to induce rapid involution. Also used for menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, functional uterine bleeding and leucorrhea. – Roots used for menorrhagia. – Decoction of roots and leaves used for rheumatism and arthritis; also used for treatment of post-partum joint pains. – Poultice of fresh leaves applied to affected joint. – In Chinese and Thai medicine, leaves used for treatment of septic wounds and other infections. – A sitz-bath of boiled leaves used in the treatment of lumbago and sciatica. – In Chinese medicine, used as carminative, stimulant, vermifuge, expectorant, and sudorific. Preparations †¢ Fever: decoction of roots; boil 2 – 4 handfuls of the leaves. Use the lukewarm decoction as a sponge bath. †¢ Headaches: apply pounded leaves on the forehead and temples. Hold in place with a clean piece of cloth. †¢ Gas distention: boil 2 tsp of the chopped leaves in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Drink the decoction while warm. Also used for upset stomach. †¢ Postpartum, for mothers’ bath after childbirth. †¢ Boils: Apply pounded leaves as poultice daily. †¢ Diuretic: Boil 2 tbsp chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Take 1/2 of the decoction after every meal, 3 times a day. Reference: Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(2):411-24. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering . 2005. 3, 3: 195-202 3. Biological Activities 3.1. Antitumor Activity Hasegawa et al. extracted a dihydroflavonol from B. balsamifera as a result of screening among more than 150 plant materials [12]. The dihydroflavonol components showed the most significant synergism with tumor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). It enhanced the level of TRAIL-R2 promoter activity and promoted the expression of surface protein in a p53-independent manner. The ethanol extract of B. balsamifera leaves was tested on male mice to investigate its hepatoxicity. The results exhibited that the hepatic cells, sitplasm, nucleus, and sinusoid of the mice liver were damaged through some changes in the liver color and texture . The methanol extract of B. balsamifera inhibited the growth in rat and showed no cytotoxicity on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The methanol extract decreased the expression of cyclin-E and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein resulting in cell cycle arrest. Likewise, it decreased the level of the proliferation related ligand (APRIL) [60,61]. Moreover, the methanol extract of B. balsamifera was used to determine its cytotoxicity on a panel of human cancer cell lines by MTT assay. There was no regular or acute cytotoxicity on the cells of HepG2, HCT-116, T-47D, NCl-H23 and CCD-18Co [62]. Saewan et al. found six compounds out of nine isolated flavonoids to have cytotoxicity against KB, MCF-7, and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines [14]. These six compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against KB,  MCF-7, and NCI-H187 cancer cell lines. Three compounds were active against the KB cells with the IC50 values of 17.09, 47.72, and 17.83 ÃŽ ¼g/mL, respectively. Another three compounds exhibited a moderate activity against the NCI-H187 cells with the IC50 values of 16.29, 29.97, and 20.59 ÃŽ ¼g/mL. Luteolin-7-methyl ether showed a strong cytotoxicity against human lung cancer (NCI-H187) cell lines with an IC50 of 1.29 ÃŽ ¼g/mL and a moderate toxicity against oral cavity cancer (KB) cell lines with an IC50 of 17.83 ÃŽ ¼g/mL. Li et al. studied the antitumor activity determined by means of 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay [13]. The three endophytic streptomycetes strains of B. balsamifera, including: YIM 56092, YIM 56093, and YIM 56099 exhibited anticancer activity. Yet, different strains displayed different antitumor activities. The YIM 56092 strain displayed a cytotoxic activity on polyketide synthases I (PKS-I) nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and P388D1. The YIM 56093 strain displayed a cytotoxic activity on PKS-â… ¡, NRPS, and P388D1. The YIM 56099 was on the PKS-I, PKS-II, and NRPS. Fuijimoto et al., extracted blumealactone A, B, and C from sambong’s dried leaves and found them could inhibit the growth of Yoshida sarcoma at the concentration of 5–10 ÃŽ ¼g/ml [54]. Lee disclosed a medication combination including sambong (Ainaxiang) and found it could enhance the efficiency of curing hepatoma and pancreatic cancer treatments [63]. Molecules 201 4, 19 9462 3.5. Anti-Microbial and Anti-Inflammation Activity Ongsakul et al. claimed that the crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts of B. balsamifera displayed no significant antibacterial activity against the strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [73]. However, the stain of B. balsamifera, including YIM 56092 and YIM 56093, displayed a significant activity against S. epidermidis, such that YIM 56099 was active against E. coli. There seems to be no antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Candida albicans [13]. Chenisolated twelve new compounds [9], four of which displayed inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 with the IC50 values of 40.06, 46.35, 57.80, and 59.44 ÃŽ ¼g/mL, respectively. Sakee et al. reported the essential oil of B. balsamifera to have a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 150 ÃŽ ¼g/mL and 1.2 mg/mL against Bacillus cereus, S. aureus and Candida  albicans, respectively [74]. Furthermore, the hexane extract inhibited Enterobacter cloacae and S. aureus. These results suggested that the extracts of B. balsamifera possessed an activity against certain kinds of infectious and toxin-producing microorganisms. It could potentially be utilized to prevent and treat microbial diseases. 3.6. Antiplasmodial Activities According to the traditional efficacy of relieving fever, the methanol extract of B. balsamifera from Forest Research Institute Malaysia was investigated for any potential antiplasmodial activity. The extracts of roots and stems exhibited some activity against Plasmodium falciparum D10 strain (sensitive strain) with an IC50 value of (26.25  ± 2.47) ÃŽ ¼g/mL and (7.75  ± 0.35) ÃŽ ¼g/mL, respectively [75]. 3.8. Platelet Aggregation Activities The concentration of 1.26 ÃŽ ¼mol/L blumeatin displayed a significant promoting activity on the rat and human platelet aggregation caused by arachidonic acid, 5-hydotypamice, and epinephrine. However, concentrations of 0.315 and 2.52 ÃŽ ¼mol/L inhibited platelet aggregation. It suggested that the effects of blumeatin on the platelet aggregation were dependent upon the concentration used. The injection of B. balsamifera extracts decreased the blood pressure, expanded the blood vessels, and inhibited the sympathetic nervous system in order to address the high pressure and insomnia. The infusion of the plant also had the function of diuresis [67] Mayana (Coeus blumei Benth.) Coleus leaves are commonly known as ati-ati leaves in Malaysia. Previous study has shown that the Coleus leaves have high antioxidant activity and nutritional value. The present work is to investigate whether antioxidant, minerals and phenolic content can be extracted by boiling the leaves in water. The antioxidant was determined by mixing the extract solution with DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl) solution using different ratios. Acid ascorbic acid was used as standard in measurement by Uv-Vis Spectrophotometer. Phenolic content was measured by Uv-Vis Spectrophotometer using Gallic acid as standard. There is about 40.77 wt % of antioxidant  activity, 6.256998 wt% of total phenolic content, and some minerals (magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc) existing in solution after the Coleus blumei leaves were removed. The wt% of the phenolic content is directly proportional to the wt% of antioxidant activity. The mineral concentration, antioxidant activity and phenolic content seemed to be highly correlated. As a conclusion, it is proven that the Coleus blumei leaves have high potential value for the nutritional purpose. 2.1 Definition of Coleus Coleus is a name which derives from an earlier classification under the genus name Coleus, species of which are currently included in either Solenostemon or another genus, Plectranthus. The word Coleus come from the Greek â€Å"koleus’, meaning sheath. It is believed that there are 150 species of Coleus .It is a genus of perennial plants, native to tropical Africa, Asia, Australia, the East Indies, the Malay Archipelago, and the Philippines. Many cultivars of the Southeast Asian species Coleus have been selected for their colorful variegated leaves, usually with sharp contrast between the colors where the leaves are green, pink, yellow, maroon, and red. Typically, in Malaysia this plant known as ati-ati. The plants need a well condition of in moist-drained soil to grow, and typically grow 0.5-1 m tall, though some may grow as tall as 2 meters. They are heat-tolerant, though they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade. The leaves of the green type are often eaten raw with bread and butter. The chopped leaves are also used as a substitute for sage (Salvia officinalis Linn.) in stuffing. C. aromaticus is used for seasoning meat dishes and in food products (Uphof, 1959) while a decoction of its leaves is administered in cases of chronic cough and asthma (CSIR, 1992). It is considered to be an antispasmodic, stimulant and stomachic and is used for the treatment of headache, fever, epilepsy and dyspepsia (Khory &Katrak, 1999; Morton, 1992) . 2.2 Antioxidant An antioxidant in food is really important as it can protect human body from free radicals activity. It is also has capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. When electrons are transferred form a substance to an oxidizing agent, it called as oxidation reaction. Free radicals can be produced during the Oxidation reactions, where the start  chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols or polyphenols. Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases. Low levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzym es, causes oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells. As oxidative stress might be an important part of many human diseases, the use of antioxidants in pharmacology is intensively studied, particularly as treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is unknown whether oxidative stress is the cause or the consequence of disease. Antioxidants are also widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements in the hope of maintaining health and preventing diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. Although some studies have suggested antioxidant supplements have health benefits, other large clinical trials did not detect any benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may be harmful In addition to these uses in medicine, antioxidants have many industrial uses, such as preservatives in food and cosmetics and preventing the degradation of rubber and gasoline. Current research into free radicals has confirmed that foods rich in antioxidants play an essential role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. As far as our literature survey could ascertain, antioxidant activities of this plant have not previously been published. Hence, the previous work investigated the possible antioxidat ive effects of freeze-dried powder obtained from aqueous extract of fresh leaves of C. aromaticus. In this study, they had examined the antioxidant activity of CAE (C.aromaticus hydroalcoholic extract) employing various in vitro assay systems, such as the ÃŽ ²- carotene-linoleate model system, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl)/superoxide/ nitric oxide radical scavenging, reducing power and iron ion chelation, in order to understand the usefulness of this plant as a foodstuff as well as in medicine. 2.2.1 Antioxidant Assay using a ÃŽ ²-carotene-linoleate Model System On the previous experiment, the antioxidant activity of the extract was measured by the bleaching of  ÃŽ ²-carotene. By adding CAE and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) at various concentrations, it can prevent the bleaching of ÃŽ ²-carotene to different degrees. ÃŽ ²-Carotene in this model system undergoes rapid discoloration in the absence of an antioxidant. This is because of the coupled oxidation of ÃŽ ²-carotene and linoleic acid, which generates free radicals. The linoleic acid free radical, formed upon the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from one of its diallylic methylene groups, which attacks the highly unsaturated ÃŽ ²-carotene molecules. As a result, ÃŽ ²-carotene will be oxidized and broken down in part; subsequently, the system looses its chromophore and characteristic orange colour, which can be monitored spectrophotometrically. The presence of different antioxidants can hinder the extent of ÃŽ ²-carotene bleaching by neutralizing the linoleate free radical and other free radicals formed in the system (Jayaprakasha, Singh, & Sakariah, 2001). It also showed that the CAE was found to hinder the extent of ÃŽ ²-carotene bleaching by neutralizing the linoleate-free radical and other free radicals formed in the system. In comparison, the CAE showed an appreciable antioxidant activity of 83.0% at 250 ÃŽ ¼g/ml, while BHT, a synthetic antioxidant had 89.6% antioxidant activity at 100 ÃŽ ¼g/ml. Table 2.1: Antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of C. aromaticus in ÃŽ ²-carotenelinoleate System Sample Concentration (ÃŽ ¼g/ml) Antioxidant activity (%) Aqueous extract 125 53.2  ± 1.04 250 83.0  ± 1.33 500 91.3  ± 1.41 BHT 50 64.2  ± 1.81 100 89.6  ± 1.52 200 95.3  ± 1.33 2.2.2 DPPH Radical-scavenging Activity The CAE showed a concentration-dependent antiradical activity by inhibiting DPPH radical with an EC50 value of 210 ÃŽ ¼g/ml (Table 2). DPPH is usually used as a substrate to evaluate antioxidative activity of antioxidants (Oyaizu, 1986). The method is based on the reduction of methanolic DPPH solution in the presence of a hydrogen donating antioxidant, due to the formation of the non-radical form DPPH-H by the reaction. The extract was able to reduce the stable radical DPPH to the yellow-coloured diphenylpicrylhydrazine. It has  been found that cysteine, glutathione, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, polyhydroxy aromatic compounds (e.g., hydroquinone, pyrogallol, gallic acid), and aromatic amines (e.g., p-phenylene diamine, p aminophenol), reduce and decolorise 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl by their hydrogen donating ability (Blois,  Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)  oregano (É™rÄ•gˈənÃ… ) [key], name for several herbs used for flavoring food. A plant of the family Labiatae (mint family),Origanum vulgare, also called Spanish thyme and wild marjoram, is the usual source for the spice sold as oregano in the Mediterranean countries and in the United States. Its flavor is similar to that of marjoram but slightly less sweet. In Spain and Italy many other Origanum species are also grown as oregano. A related herb ( Coleus amboinicius ) of the same family, called suganda in its native Indomalaysia, is known as oregano in the Philippines and Mexico, where it is a popular flavoring. Several other herbs also provide spices called oregano, e.g., species ofLippia and Lantana of the verbena family. In all cases the flavoring is made from the dried herbage. Oregano is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Lamiales, family Labiatae . All rights reserved. genus Origanum is a member of the Lamiaceae family and has a complex taxonomy [1]. O. vulgare plays a primary role among culinary herbs in world trade [2]. It is distributed all over Europe, West and Central Asia up to Taiwan [3]. The use of O. vulgare as medicinal plant is believed to be due to biological properties of p-cymene and carvacrol. Bernà ¡th [4] has noted that there are intras- pecific taxa of oregano having no â€Å"oregano† character that is based on the presence of carvacrol. Oregano is the common name for a general aroma and flavour primarily derived from more than 60 plant species used all over the world as a spice [5]. Four main groups of plants com- monly used for culinary purposes can be distinguished, i.e., Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Ietswaart); Spanish origano (Coridohymus capitatus (L.) [2]; Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.); and Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens HBK [6]. Origano is the commercial name of those Origanum species that are rich in the phenolic  monoterpenoids, mainly carvacrol and occasionally thymol [7]. A number of chemically related compounds i.e. p-cymene; ÃŽ ³-terpinene, carvacrol methyl ethers, thymol methyl ethers, carvacrol acetates and thymol acetates; as well as p-cymenene, p-cy- men-8-ol, p-cymen-7-ol, thymoquinone, and thymohy- droquinone are present in the oil of Origanum vulgare which is extremely rich in essential oils (up to 7%) with carvacrol as a major constituent present in very high quantity (75% – 95%), followed by p-cymene (4% – 14%) and ÃŽ ³-terpinene (1% – 10%). It seems possible that the uses of the plant in traditional medicine can be attributed to the known biological properties of p-cymene and car- vacrol [8]. Many of the studies confirmed the medicinal effects of oregano for human health. The Origanum spe- cies, which are rich in essential oils, have been used for thousands of years as spices and as local medicines in traditional medicine [9]. About 20 European public in- stitutions hold genetic resources of different species of oregano [10]. Marjoram (Origanum vulgare L.) is one of medicinal aromatic plants found wholesale almost in all areas of Albania, which is a perennial plant usually grows in dry area in smaller groups. Oregano plants are collect- ed from natural habitats and used as raw materials in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry [11]. But many countries start to cultivate it in different areas. In botanical aspects, the oregano populations differ from one to another, that is they vary depending on the content and composition of essential oils [12]. From the quantity and quality of essential oils the values of this plant were determined [11,12]. The different results showed that the effects of oregano antioxidante are associated with high content of essential oils, thymol and carvacrols, and these are the main ingredients in oregano oil. The con- tents of Thymol and Carvacrol in oregano give it differ- ent properties [13]. According to the studies, carvacrol is a powerful bactericidal agent, and provides protection against mold and other common bacteria. The main ob- jective in our study was to investigate the different re- gions and to find the variation for oil content in oregano plant populations. The research expedition was organized in 2012 in the whole territory of Albania. During this expedition are identified and collected 62 accessions. At each location were taken of the 50 samples which derived a main rep- resentativ sample. From the total samples collected, were selected 16 samples mostly widespread of natural popu- lations of  origano (Origanum vulgare L. sp. vulgare and sp. hirtum). Those samples you perform analyzes for content of oils and their components. The confirmation of 53 essential oil was made to analyses: ÃŽ ²-Pinene, p- Cymene, ÃŽ ³-Terpinene, Linalool, Terpinene-4-ol, Thymol, Carvacrol dhe Caryophyllene oxide. The overground parts of the flowering plants (20 – 25 cm from the top) were collected during the summer of 2012. The plant material was air dried, packed in paper bags and kept in a dark and cool place until analysis. Plant identity was verified and voucher specimens were deposited at the Institute of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Skopje. 2.2. Essential Oil Isolation Essential oil isolation from oregano was performed by hydro distillation in all-glass Clevenger apparatus fol- lowing this procedure: 20 g of the plant material was stored in 500 mL flask where 250 mL of water R was used as distillation liquid and 0.5 mL of xylene R was added in the graduate tube. The Distillation was per- formed for 2.5 h with a rate of 2 – 3 mL/min. GC and GC-MS analyses: Agilent 7890Ð  Gas Chro- matography system equipped with flame ionization de- tector (FID) and Agilent 5975C Mass Quadrupole detec- tor as well as capillary flow technology which enable simultaneous analysis of the sample on both detectors. HP-5 ms (30 m Ãâ€" 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 ï  ­m) cap- illary column was used. Operating conditions were as follows: GC Method for essential oils: oven temperature 60 °C (0 min), 3 °C/min to 240 °C (held for 1 min) and 10 °C/min to 280 °C (held for 1 min); helium as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min; injector T = 220 °C and FID T = 270 °C. 1 ï  ­L of injection volume was injected at split ratio 1:1. The mass spectrometry conditions were: ionization voltage 70 eV, ion source temperature 230 °C, transfer line temperature 280 °C and mass range from 50 – 500 Da. The MS was operated in scan mode. GC Method for Head Space: oven temperature 60 °C, 20 °C/min to 280 °C; helium as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min; injector T = 260 °C and FID T = 270 °C. 1000 ï  ­L of injec- tion volume was injected at split ratio 1:1. The mass spectrometry conditions were: ionization voltage 70 eV, ion source temperature 230 °C, transfer line temperature 280 °C and mass range from 50 – 500 Da. The MS was operated in scan mode. Head Space method: Incubation Temperature 80 °C, Incubation Time 5.00 m:ss, Syringe Temperature 85 °C, Agitator Speed 500 rpm, Fill Speed 500 ÃŽ ¼l/s, Pullup Delay 500 ms, Inject to GC, Injection speed 500 ÃŽ ¼l/s, Pre  Inject Delay 500 ms, Post Inject De- lay 500 ms, Flush Time (m:ss) 0:10, GC Run time (m:ss) 10:00. Identification of the components: Identification of the components was made by comparing mass spectra of components in essential oils with those from Nist, Wiley and Adams mass spectra libraries, by AMDIS (Auto- mated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System) and by comparing literature and estimated Ko-vat’s (retention) indices that were determined using mix-ture of homologous series of normal alkanes from C9 to C25 in hexane, under the same above mentioned condi- tions. The percentage ratio of the components was com- puted by the normalization method of the GC/FID peak areas and average values were taken into further consid- eration (n = 3). 2.3. Statistical Analyses All statistical analyses were performed with the SPSS software (version 15.0, SPSS) [14]. Means values and variation coefficients were used in the statistical analyses. Effects of the studied traits were evaluated by ANOVA. In order to assess the differentiation of plants of oregano based on all variables that were measured, the Canonical Discriminate Analyses (CDA) was applied Psidium guajava (Guava): Chronic degenerative diseases have reached epidemic proportions in industrialized and developing countries. Many studies have shown that plant can be helpful to prevent or treat diseases. Psidium guajava is a small medicinal tree that is native to South America and Brazil is among the world’s top producers and most of the country’s production is destined for the food industry. It is popularly known as guava and has been used traditionally as a medicinal plant throughout the world for a number of ailments. The aim of this review is to present some chemical compounds in P. guajava and their pharmacological effects. The main constituents of guava leaves are phenolic compounds, isoflavonoids, gallic acid, catechin, epicathechin, rutin, naringenin, kaempferol. The pulp is rich in ascorbic acid, carotenoids (lycopene, ÃŽ ²-carotene and ÃŽ ²-cryptoxanthin). The seeds,  skin and barks possess glycosids, carotenoids and phenolic compounds. All parts of the plant have been used for different purposes: hepatoprotection, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-hyperglycemic, analgesic, endothelial progenitor cells, anti-stomachache and anti-diarrhea. P. guajava has many effects on health and that it should be researched more extensively in clinical trials. Furthermore leaves, seeds and peel are treated as wastes by the food processing industry and are discarded, so their use may reduce the disposal of these parts of guava as pollutants. Psidium guajava; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Cancer; Diabetes; Dyslipidemia Industrialization has led to many modifications in the lifestyle of the world’s populations, giving rise to increase the indices of several diseases, including chronic degenerative diseases such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases, reducing the quality of life and increasing costs on hospitalizations, medications and other public health interventions. Studies have demonstrated that the consumption of fruits, vegetables and seeds can be helpful to prevent the risk factors of many diseases due to the bioactive compounds. Many plants have been used for the purpose of reducing risk factors associated with the occurrence of chronic disorders and for many other purposes Psidium guajava L. is a small medicinal tree that is native to South America. It is popularly known as guava (family Myrtaceae) and has been used traditionally as a medicinal plant throughout the world for a number of ailments. There are two most common varieties of guava: the red (P. guajava var. pomifera) and the white (P. guajava var. pyrifera) All parts of this tree, including fruits, leaves, bark, and roots, have been  used for treating stomachache and diarrhea in many countries. Leaves, pulp and seeds are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, and as an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, as a cough sedative, anti-diarrheic, in the management of hypertension, obesity and in the control of diabetes mellitus. It also possesses anticancer properties . The seeds are used as antimicrobial, gastrointestinal, anti-allergic and anticarcinogenic activity. Brazil is among the world’s top producers of guava and most of the country’s production is destined for the food industry to produce candies, juices, jams and frozen pulp. As result of the fruit process there is a discard of the leaves, seeds, part of the peel and pulp fraction not separated in the physical depulping process. The high cost of pharmaceutical medications conduces to the search for alternative medicines to treat many ailments. In view of this, studies are necessary to confirm the effects of medicinal plants. The aim of this review is to show that several studies have demonstrated the presence of many different chemical compounds in P. guajava and their pharmacological effects. Medical Properties and Composition of Guava Pulp The main constituents of guava are vitamins, tanins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, essential oils, sesquiterpene alcohols and triterpenoid acids. These and other compounds are related to many health effects of guava . Some authors have found high concentrations of carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene, and beta-cryptoxanthin), vitamin C and polyphenols in guava pulp. Lycopene has been correlated with the prevention of cardiovascular damage because of its positive effects on dyslipidemia . Ascorbic acid is recognized for its important antioxidant effects . Shu et al. isolated nine triterpenoids from guava fruit: ursolic acid; 1beta, 3beta-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid; 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyurs-  12-en-28-oic acid; 3beta,19alpha-dihydroxyurs-12en-28-oic acid; 19a-hydroxylurs-12-en-28-oic acid-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyrano- side; 3beta, 23-dihydroxy urs-12-en-28-oic acid; 3beta, 19alpha, 23beta- tri-hydroxylurs-12-en-28-oic acid; 2alpha, 3beta,19alpha, 23beta-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and 3alpha,19alpha,23,24-tetrahydroxyurs -12-en-28-oic acid. Ursolic acid and other triterpenoids are associated with anti-cancer properties. Shu et al. found three benzophenone glycosides in ripe edible fruits of P. guajava L: 2, 6-dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-benzophenone; 2, 6-dihydroxy-3-methyl-4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzophenone and 2, 6-dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethyl-4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzophenone. Benzophenone glycosides have inhibitory effect on triglycerides accumulation. Thuaytong and Anprung found antioxidant activity in guava and the major constituents identified in white and red guavas were ascorbic acid, gallic acid, catechin equivalents, cinnamyl alcohol, ethyl benzoate, ß-caryophyllene, (E)-3-hexenyl acetate and ÃŽ ±-bisabolene. The antioxidant properties of the guava pulp can be related to anti-cancer effects. Studies with humans have found that the consumption of guava for a period of 12 weeks reduced blood pressure by 8%, total cholesterol levels by 9%, triacylglycerides by almost 8%, and induced an 8% increase in the levels of HDL-c. Farinazzi et al.showed that animals treated with guava pulp juice had significantly lower body weight, glycemia, cholesterol and triglycerides levels and significantly augmented the levels of HDL-c when compared to the animals from the control group. Lyophilized pulp of P. guajava in diabetic rats induces to significant hypoglycemic effects probably due to its antioxidant activity of compounds present in the pulp. Medical Properties and Composition of Guava Leaves Guava leaf extract has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. These effects are probably due to the presence of phenolic compounds.   Jimà ©nez-Escrig et al., Wang et al. and Haida et. reported the presence of higher amounts of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity in the leaves of white (Psidium guajava var. pyrifera L.) and red guava (Psidium guajava var. pomifera L.) when compared with other vegetable species. Wu et al, Melo et al. and Chen et al found gallic acid, catechins, epicatechins, rutin, naringenin and kaempferol in the leaves. Studies have shown that gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin inhibit pancreatic cholesterol esterase, which decreases cholesterol levels. Catechins are important as a preventive treatment for diabetes type 2 and obesity. Quercetin has been associated to decreased mortality from heart disease and decreased incidence of stroke. Quercetin presents hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant activity. Rutin is effective in the inhibition of triglyceride accumulation in adipocytes. Naringenin and kaempferol can promote moderate cytostatic activity against all cell lines and kaempferol can be useful as anticancer . Fu et al.elucidated the structure of three novel sesquiterpenoid- based meroterpenoids of psidials A-C found in guava leaves. Matsuzak et al.isolated two new benzophenone galloyl glycosides, guavinosides A and B, and a quercetin galloyl glycoside, guavinoside C as well as five known quercetin glycosides from guava leaves. The structures of the novel glycosides were elucidated to be 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone 4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl)-beta-D: -glucopyranoside (1, guavinoside A); 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzophenone 4-O-(6’’-O-galloyl)-beta-D: -glucopyranoside (2, guavinoside B), and quercetin 3-O-(5’’-O-galloyl)-alpha-L: -arabinofuranoside (3, guavinoside C). Kim et al.related that the guava leaves contain ascorbic acid, citric acid,  acetic acid, epicatechin, xanthine, protocatechuic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, malonic acid, trans-aconitic acid, maleic acid and cis-aconitic acid. Ghosh et al.isolated two terpenoids from the leaf extract of P. guajava (betulinic acid and lupeol) and reported their potential antimicrobial and phytotoxic activities. Betulinic acid and lupeol can be used in the treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular desease, obesity and atherosclerosis. Shao et al. isolated two terpenoids from guava leaves: Psiguadials A and B, two novel sesquiterpenoid-diphenylmethane meroterpenoids with unusual skeletons, along with a pair of known epimers, psidial A and guajadial. Shu et al.identified one diphenylmethane, one benzophenone, and eight flavonoids from guava fresh leaves(2,6-dihydroxy-3-formaldehyde-5-methyl-4-O-(6†³-O-galloyl-ÃŽ ²-D-glucopyranosyl)-diphenylmethane; 2,6-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethyl-4-O-(6†³-O-galloyl-ÃŽ ²-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzophenone; kaempferol; quercetin; quercitrin; isoquercitrin; guaijaverin; avicularin; hyperoside and reynoutrin. Guaijaverin has high potential antiplaque agent by inhibiting the growth of the Streptococcus mutans. Avicularin and guaijaverin work as urease inhibitors (against Helicobacter pylori urease). Shao et al. isolated four new triterpenoids, psiguanins A-D (1-4), and with 13 known compounds from the leaves of guava.   Guava aqueous leaf extract showed anti-trypanosomal properties in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.   Rahim et al.evaluated the effects of aqueous mixture and water soluble methanol extract from guava leaves and bark against multi-drug-resistant Vibrio cholera and found strong antibacterial activity. They concluded that this plant offers potential for controlling epidemics of cholera. Birdi et al. and Birdi et al. related that P. guajava leaves have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial action (as antigiardial and antirotaviral activity) that could be effective in controlling diarrhea due to a wide range of pathogens. The antimicrobial activity can be linked to the presence of flavonoids  extracted from guava leaves. Deguchi and Miyazaki reported that guava leaves infusion not only reduced postprandial glycemia and improved hyperinsulinemia in murine models but also contributed to reduce hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypoadiponectinemia in the animals of their study. Rutin and kaempferol found in guava leaves are compounds related to the decrease of HMG-CoA reductase activity in hepatic tissue and improve lipid profiles. Akinmoladun et al. studied methanol extracts of some fruits, including P. guajava, and demonstrated that there is a good correlation between total phenolic contents and reductive potential and a fair correlation between total phenolic contents and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. Several studies have shown that aqueous extract of Psidium guajava contains components with LDL-c antiglycation activity, suggesting its contribution to the prevention of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases Other studies have found cardioprotective effects of aqueous extract of P. guajava in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts, primarily through their radical-scavenging actions. Ojewole identified the presence of phenolic compounds in the leaves demonstrating their hypoglycemic and hypotensive effects on diabetic rats treated with aqueous leaf extract. Soman et al. reported a decline in the levels of glycated hemoglobin and fructosamines, as well as a significant reduction in the glycemic levels of diabetic rats treated with guava leaf extract. Singh and Marar studied the effects of Psidium guajava leaves on the inhibition of the activity intestinal glycosidases related with postprandial hyperglycemia, suggesting its use for the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes.Other studies have demonstrated that guava leaf and peel extracts also had hypoglycemic effects on experimental models drug-induced to severe conditions of diabetes. Wu et al.found that the phenolic compounds, gallic acid, catechins and  quercetins in guava leaves inhibited the glycation of proteins suggesting its use for the prevention of diabetes complications.The Psiguadials A, B and guajadial isolated by Shao et al. exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the growth of human hepatoma cells. Kim et al. related that the guava leaves contain compounds that promote free radical scavenging activity showing promising antioxidant properties. Dutta and Das identified significant anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract of guava leaves in experimental models, while Kawakami et al. observed the antiproliferative activity of the leaves through inhibition of the catalytic activity of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases involved in the inflammatory process. Guava budding leaves aqueous extract possesses an extremely high content of poly phenolic and isoflavonoids and suppresses the cell migration and the angiogenesis. In view of this, clinically it has the potential to be used as an adjuvant anti-cancer chemo preventive . Matsuzak et al. isolated phenolic glycosides from guava leaves and showed significant inhibitory activity against histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, and nitric oxide production from a murine macrophage-like cell line. Roy and Das studied the hepatoprotective activity of different extracts of P. guajava (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous) in acute experimental liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol. The effects were compared with a known hepatoprotective agent and observed that the best effects came from guava methanolic leaf extract that significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin. P. guajava leaves exhibit high capacity to reduced polymerization and aggregation of sickle cell hemoglobin molecule. This molecule is a product of a defective genetic code of hemoglobin molecule and is prone to deoxygenation-induced polymerization and has low insolubility. The development of chemical modification agents that reduce the tendency of sickle cell hemoglobin molecule to aggregate represents an important  chemotherapeutic goal. Guava extract leaves can be responsible for membrane stabilizing effect on sickle erythrocytes that are susceptible to endogenous free radical-mediated oxidative damage. This effect can be attributed to the flavonoids, triterpenoids and host of other secondary plant metabolites . Chen et al. found that aqueous extract of guava budding leaves possess anti-prostate cancer activity in a cell line model and concluded they are promising anti-androgen-sensitive prostate cancer agent. Han et al. studied the effects of P. guajava ethyl acetate extract on atopic dermatitis and found that it inhibits chemokine expression in keratinocytes what suggests this extract can have possible therapeutic application in atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases. Methanol extracts of the leaves can also be useful in the treatment of gastric ulcer disorders possibly due to the presence of volatile oil, flavonoids and saponins Methanolic extract of guava leaves can exhibit wound healing effects and this property can be explained by the presence of tannins and flavonoids. Guava leaves extract also can show anti cough effects as shown by Jaiarj et al. Medical Properties and Composition of Guava Discarded Products As told before, the fruit process results in the discard of the leaves, seeds, part of the peel and pulp. Some studies showed the presence of total phenolic compounds in the agroindustrial wastes (seeds, skin and pulp) of guava, confirming its antioxidant activity . Leaves, seeds and peels of fruits have significant proportions of bioactive compounds with beneficial physiological and metabolic properties. Its antioxidants can control body weight and biochemical variables like glycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and other risks of cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidant properties of the guava seeds extracts can be associated to anti-cancer effects on both hematological and solid neoplasms  and the antioxidant properties of the guava peel can be related to anti-cancer effects. Castro-Vargas et al.and Ojewole extracted and identified significant levels of carotenoids and total phenolic compounds from guava seeds. Seeds exhibit antimicrobial, gastrointestinal and anticarcinogenic activities probably due to the presence of phenolic glycosides in the composition. Farinazzi et al. showed that Wistar rats treated with guava seed had significantly lower glycemia, cholesterol and triglycerides levels and body weight. These animals significantly increased HDL-c levels. Rai et al. reported hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects in diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of lyophilized guava peel.   Psidium guajava stem-bark extract can be used to treat malaria because it presents antiplasmodial activities possibly due to the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, seccoirridoids and terpenoids. Related study Many researchers have been demonstrating the presence of a wide variety of bioactive compounds in the leaf, seed and bark of Psidium guajava that are capable of showing beneficial effects on human health. If we consider that chronic degenerative diseases have reached epidemic proportions in many countries and increase the socio-economic burden for the public health system, it is necessary to find non-allopathic alternatives that minimize risk factors of these diseases and help in the treatment. Furthermore, population consumes medicinal plants also to treat other kind or diseases because of high costs of allopathic medications. The studies using P. guajava bring information that may provide validation for its medicinal uses but it should be researched more extensively in clinical trials so it could be used for prevention and as an adjuvant in the treatment of numerous disorders. Nevertheless we should emphasize the importance of experimental and clinical  studies involving more specific factors related to the bioavailability of the compounds, as well as the effective and safe doses to be used by individuals for the prevention and treatment of various disorders. Katakataka( bryopphyllum pinnatum) Constituents †¢ Phytochemical screenings have yielded alkaloids, triterpenes, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, butadienolides, lipids, and organic acids. †¢ Yields arachidic acid, astragalin, behenic acid, beta amyrin, benzenoids, bersaldegenin, beta-sitosterol, bryophollenone, bryophollone, bryophyllin,caffeic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, steroids, and taraxerol. †¢ Phytochemical evaluation of leaf extract yielded bryophyllum A, B and C, a potent cytotoxic bufadienolide orthoacetate. †¢ Bufadienolide has been reported to be poisonous with digitalis-toxicity type cardiac effects (slowing of heart rate, heart blocks and potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. †¢ Bryophillin A, a bufadienolide compound, has shown anti-tumor promoting activity. †¢ Leaves yield malic acid. Fractionation of an EtOAc extract yielded seven kaempferol rhamnosides: kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-L-(2-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-L-(3-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-L-(4-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-ÃŽ ±-D- glucopyranoside-7-O-ÃŽ ±-L-rhamnopyranoside, afzelin, and ÃŽ ±-rhamnoisorobin. (19) Properties †¢ Leaves considered astringent, antiseptic, hemostatic, refrigerant, emollient, counterirritant, mucilaginous, vulnerary, depurative, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, and tonic. †¢ Pharmacologic studies have showed pharmacologic properties: immunomodulatory, CNS depressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antianaphylactic, antileishmanial, antitumorous, antiulcer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, febrifuge, gastroprotective, immunosuppressive, insecticidal, sedative, muscle relaxant. Folkloric – Leaves used as astringent, antiseptic, and counterirritant against  poisonous insect bites. – Pounded fresh material is applied as a poultice for a variety of conditions: Sprains, eczema, infections, burns, carbuncle and erysipelas. – Leaves, made pliable by hold over fire, are applied to wounds, bruises, boils; also, used as poultice or power in bad ulcers. – Juice is mixed with lard and used for diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, and phthisis. – Pounded leaves are applied as poultices to the soles of the feet to stop hemorrhages. – Leaves are used as topicals in dislocation, ecchymoses, callosities. – Leaves, pounded and mixed with salt, used as plaster and applied to stomach to relieve enuresis – For boils, the whole leaf is pressed by hand, to and fro, until it becomes moist with the leaf extract. A small opening is made in the middle of the leaf which is then placed on the boil with hole over the pointing of the abscess. – For asthma, leaves of leaves places in hot water for 15 minutes, then juice squeezed out of the leaves, and drunk. – Juice of leaves used in bilious diarrhea and lithiasis. – In Ayurveda, useful in vitiated conditions of vata and pitta, cuts, wounds, hemorrhoids, menorrhagia, boils, sloughing ulcers, burns and scalds, diarrhea, dysentery, headaches, vomiting, bronchitis. – In Puerto Rico, leaf juice used as diuretic. – Leaves are rubbed or tied on the head for headaches. – Leaf decoction usually taken to lower blood pressure. – Leaf juice used for earache and ophthalmia. – In Sierre Leon, cough medicine is made from the roots. – In Brazil leaves, heated over fire and mixed with oil, are used as emollient and refrigerant for facial swelling associated with neuralgia or tooth trouble. Also, used for asthma and bronchitis. – In Jamaica, leaves used for coughs and colds. Sometimes, it is mixed with salt or honey, for headaches, colds, bronchial affections, and hypertension. Heated leaves used for swellings and abscesses. – In Africa, used for earaches, eye problems, and as diuretic. – In China used for rheumatoid arthritis, bruises, burns and ulcers. – In Nigeria, plant is considered sedative, wound-healing, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and cough suppressant. Leaf juice used to treat boils and skin ulcers. Plant used for intestinal parasites, bronchitis,  pneumonia. Banana (Musa sapientum Linn.) The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant. The main or upright stem is actually a pseudostem, growing from a corm, to a height of 6 to 7.6 meters. Leaves are spirally arranged, as long as 2.7 meters and 60 cm wide, fragile and easily torn by wind, with the familiar frond look. Each pseudostem produces a single bunch of bananas; the pseudostem dies after fruiting, as offshoots usually develop from the base of the plant. Each pseudostem produces a single inflorescence, the banana heart, containing many bracts between rows of flowers. The banana fruits develop from the heart, in a hanging cluster made up of tiers (hands), up to 20 fruit to a tier. Distribution Cultivated throughout the Philippines in many varieties. Constituents †¢ Juice of the flower-stem contains potash, soda, lime, magnesia, alumina, chlorine, sulfuric anhydride, silica and carbon anhydride. †¢ High potassium content – a medium banana contains about 450 mg of potassium. (Because of potassium homeostasis in the body, 40K ingested is balanced by 40K potassium excreted. The net dose of a banana is zero.) †¢ Preliminary phytochemical screening of fresh steam juice yielded vitamin B, oxalic acid, sulphate, vitamin C, starch, tannin, glycosides, phenolic compounds, gum mucilage. †¢ Study yielded 6 triterpenes: 6 triterpenes: cyclomusalenol, cyclomusalenone, 24-methylenecycloartanol, stigmast-7-methylenecycloartanol, stigmast-7-en-3-ol, lanosterol, and a-amyrin and eight flavonoids. – Mineral content and nutritional value of varieties (lakatan, latundan, saba, and bungalan) Properties †¢ Demulcent, nutrient, cooling, astringent, antiscorbutic, antifebrile, restorative, emmenagogue, cardialgic, styptic. †¢ The ripe fruit is laxative, demiulcent, and nutrient. †¢ Unripe fruit is cooling and astringent. †¢ Dried fruit considered antiscorbutic. †¢ Root is antibilious and alterative. †¢ Juice of the plant is styptic. †¢ Because of its high potassium content, bananas are naturally slightly radioactive, more than other fruits. †¢ Good sources of vitamin A, fair sources of vitamin B, and good sources of vitamin C. All are deficient in calcium and phosphorus, and only fair in iron. †¢ Studies have attributed biologic activities: antiulcerogenic, antidiabetic, antiatherogenic, antidiarrheic, antitumoral, antimutagenic, antihypertensive. Parts used Leaves, fruit. Uses Edibility / Nutritional – The â€Å"puso† (male inflorescence) of saba is extensively used as a vegetable. – Unripe fruit is sugared and candied. – Ripe fruits also used in making brandy, rum, and wine. – Rich in vitamins A, B, and C; a fair source of iron. Folkloric †¢ Young leaves used for cool dressing of inflamed and blistered surfaces and as cool application for headaches. †¢ Powdered roots used for anemia and cachexia. †¢ Mucilage prepared from seeds used for catarrhal and mild inflammatory forms of diarrhea. †¢ Juice of tender roots used as mucilage for checking hemorrhages from the genitalia and air passages. †¢ In China, juice of roots used as antifebrile and restorative. †¢ Juice of the trunk applied to scalp to increase hair growth and prevent hair from falling. †¢ In West Africa, used for diarrhea. †¢ In Gambia, sap of inflorescence used for earaches. †¢ In French Guiana, flowers used as emmenagogue. †¢ In the Gold Coast, sap from roots given as enema for diarrhea. †¢ In Cambodia, Java and Malaya, juice from trunk used for dysentery and diarrhea. †¢ Juice from flowers, mixed with curds, for dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. †¢ Flour made of green bananas used for dyspepsia with flatulence and acidity. †¢ Ripe fruit, mixed with half its weight in tamarinds and a little salt, is a valuable food in chronic dysentery and diarrhea, †¢ Cooked flower used for diabetes. Flowers also used as cardialgic. †¢ Sap of the flower used for  earaches. †¢ In Western Ghat in India, leaves are used for bandaging cuts, blisters and ulcers. †¢ Ripe bananas combined with tamarind and common salt used for dysentery. †¢ In traditional medicine in India, used for diabetes. †¢ In South-Western Nigeria, green fruits used for diabetes. Others †¢ Papermaking / Clothing: Plant fibers used in the manufacture of paper and clothes. A related species, Musa textilis (Abaca, Manila hemp) is produced on a commercial scale for its fiber use in the manufacture of paper. †¢ Wrapping / Cooking: Leaves used for wrapping food for cooking. Leaves used for polishing floors, lining pots for cooking rice. Studies †¢ Hypoglycemic / Flowers: Study on the chloroform extract of M sapientum flowers showed hypoglycemic activity with significant reduction of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and improvement in glucose tolerance. †¢ Hypoglycemic/ Fruits: Study on the green fruits of M paradisiaca indicate it possesses hypoglycemic activity and lends credence to its Nigerian folkloric use for diabetes. †¢ Antioxidant: (1) Musa sapientum flower extract showed improved antioxidant activity in diabetics. (2) A study of extracts of M. sapientum var. sylvesteris showed concentration-dependent scavenging effects, with antioxidant activity stronger than that of vitamin C. †¢ Gastroprotective: Study on the unripe plantain extract of M sapientum and unripe pawpaw meal showed alteration of the gastric phospholipid profile and through a prostaglandin pathway may have a profound effect on the gastroduodenal mucosa and implications for gastric and duodenal ulcers in rabbits. †¢ Flowers / Antihyperglycemic / Antioxidant: Study showed banana flower extract to have an antihyperglycemic action and antioxidant properties, comparatively more effective than glibenclamide. †¢ Analgesic: Study of the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Musa sapientum showed central analgesic action. †¢ Wound healing: Study of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Musa sapientum showed wound healing properties through increased wound breaking strength, reduced glutathione, decrease percentage of wound area, scar area and lipid peroxidation. Wound healing was probably through antioxidant effect and various biochemical parameters. †¢ Anti-Ulcer  Activity: Study of dried powder of banana pulp showed anti-ulcerogenic activity, esp in the unripe, mature green plantain banana (var. paradisiaca). †¢ Banana Peels Phytochemicals: Study showed the peel can be a good source of carbohydrates and fiber. The study of anti-nutrients showed generally low values except for saponins. Study suggests, properly processed and exploited, the peel could be a good source of livestock feed, providing a high quality and cheap source of carbohydrates and minerals. †¢ Antimicrobial Activity: (1) Study of ethanolic extracts of unripe bananas, lemon grass and turmeric showed antimicrobial activity at stock concentrations. Unripe bananas showed a high antimicrobial activity against all test organisms. (2) Ethanol extract of Musa sapientum showed antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms – Gram-positive and Gram-negative bateria (B. subtilis, B. cereus, and E coli.) †¢ Anti-Helicobacter pylori / Anti-Internalisation Activity: In a study of 9 Thai plant extracts used for gastric ailments, Musa sapientum and Allium sativum showed marked anti-internalisation and present a potential benefit in H pylori , prevention eradication, therapy and avoidance of antibiotic resistance. †¢ Anticonvulsant: Study in mice showed AMS prevented convulsions possibly through prevention of inhibition of vitamin B6 metabolism with subsequent increase in GABA synthesis in the CNS or due to facilitatory effect on GABAergic neurons – an effect mediated by the antioxidant potential of phytoconstituents present in the AMS. †¢ Indigenous Antiulcer Activity / Leucocyanidin: Study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic activity of an aqueous extract of M. sapientum. Study yielded an active compound–a monomeric flavonoid, leucocyanidin, that showed anti-ulcerogenic activity, in congruous with standard drug esomeprazole. †¢ Antioxidant / Antibacterial /Hemagglutination Inhibition: Study of methanolic extract of leaves of M. sapientum var. Sylvesteris showed antioxidant and antibacterial activity in vitro. It also showed hemagglutination inhibition activities and hydrogen peroxide induced hemolysis inhibition activity of human red blood cells. †¢ Antimicrobial / Cytotoxicity: A methanolic extract of M. sapientum L subsp. sylvestris showed good antimicrobial activity the pulp, moderate activity with the peel, and insignificant activity with the seed. On cytotoxicity evaluation using Brine Shrimp Lethality, pulp>seed>peel.

The Impact of ICT on Records Management - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2382 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? THE IMPACT OF ICT ON RECORDS MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANISATION CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Over a quarter of a century ago, Ben Russak (1975) noted that traditional models of scholarly communication would be undermined by the photocopy machine and the computer. His prediction has held: the advent of new information technologies that have completely and irrevocably transformed the ways in which materials are created, structured, stored, transmitted, distributed, communicated, and accessed, have similarly transformed the means and modes of scientific communication. During the past decade, global communications have changed dramatically, as a result of the increased use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). ICTs are becoming necessary if countries are to compete on a global scale. Oliver (1999) sees ICT as the science that investigates the properties and behaviour of information, the force governing the flow of information and the means of processing information for optimum accessibility and usability. In the past few years Information Communication Te chnology (ICT) has spread through the whole world in a big way. Computers are finding their way into schools and higher learning institutions, government and the private sector, and other organisations. In many cases, ICT has penetrated work and learning environments unplanned. Many governments and users recognize the potential of ICT and the opportunities it provides, particularly for economic and social development where distances and traditional systems have tended to hamper progress. ICT also presents opportunities for recordkeeping in developing countries. Bamiro and Liverpool (2002 in Akwegwu et al 2011) observe that the computer (ICT) has already invaded and dominated universities in the developed world. It has also been widely acknowledged that ICTs have the potential to play an immediate role in the quest for sustainable and equitable development in Third World countries. In Ghana, over the past few years there have been attempts by governments past and present to improv e Ghanaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s information highways because of the realization of the use of ICT as a tool for sustainable development, which is indeed significant. This has led to some improvements in ICT infrastructure though there is still room for further improvement. The private sector has also been very instrumental in developments in this sector, building some form of infrastructure on their own with great success. Records management as a field of work and as a means of ensuring productivity has not been given the necessary attention that it deserves in Ghana until recently when both public and private institutions have started to pay attention to good records management systems and practices. Although International Standard for the management of business records (ISO 15489) emphasizes the need for good records management as an effective way for countries and organizations to fulfil their obligations and meet expectations of their stakeholders, this requirement has suffered a major backlash in Ghana. Records and record keeping constitute the life wire of organizations (Egwunyenga, 2006). It would be very difficult to plan and administer any organization such as the school effectively if records are not kept and managed properly. School records are documents, books, diskettes and files which contain information on what goes on in the school (academic and non-academic activities), school personnel, students as well as other school resources such as instructional materials (Olagboye, 2004). Record keeping and management ought to be taken as a vital responsibility by school authorities because of the indispensable role records play in the effective day-to-day running of the school. However, most school authorities do not have a good culture of record keeping. The few records that are kept are usually not properly stored, thus creating the problem of retrieval to users when needed. The few school authorities that have adopted the electronic record-ke eping practice in the record management system of their institutions have risen above such problems of storage and retrieval, as ICT affords the opportunity to have a quick and easy view of all the records on school activities. Technological advancement had contributed to the effective storage and management of school records. ICT and record management have a strong degree of commonality and many complementary skills. ICT and record management are both concerned with the creation, storage, accessibility and security of digital information. The ultimate aim of both record management and ICT is to support, protect and enable the business of the organisation in a cost-effective manner now and in the future. Information and Communication Technology is the major change perceived in the world of record management. However, where ICT engineers and maintains systems to manage an organisationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s information assets, the focus of record management is on protecting, classi fying and maintaining the authenticity of records, so they remain accessible and function as evidence of the business conducted for as long as they are required to be kept. With Information and Communication Technology, Record Management should be simple as compared with the complexity of traditional record keeping. The use of ICT for school record keeping and management gives an overview of the number of students that registered, accurate information on studentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ fees payment status, and a comprehensive database of staff, students and instructors with just a click. However in most of the tertiary institutions in Ghana the case is different where almost all their records and record management are done manually and Ho Polytechnic is not an exception. 1.2Problem Statement Problem Statement In the past few years Information Communication Technology (ICT) has spread through the Pacific region in a big way. Computers are finding their way into schools and higher learning institutions, government the private sector, and other organisations. In many cases, ICTà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ has penetrated work and learning environments unplanned (Setareki Tale and Opeta Alefaio, National Archives of Fiji 2005). Example, in the past years, typing was done with typewriters, then there was a transformation to the use of computers, now, not only are computers used to type, but one can programme it to take dictations of notes and type them. However, Ho Polytechnic since its inception is now seeing some level of ICT innovations where a program called topas was introduced to generate studentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ record. This was causing problem of updating studentsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ records by itself and key in data could not be changed. Lecturers and students are not comfortable with this program, so new programs are being introduced but there are still lapses in the record keeping and management systems which need to be addressed. Retrieving or getting infor mation or records on students, staff and people in polytechnic community is difficult. In the General Office, there are still bulky files which are presumed to be records of the polytechnic and the use of computers; does it mean that filing is done both manually and with computers? Also students Transcripts, attestation and results takes a long time before they get them. Why does it take so long a time? Looking at the population of about a thousand and above, students still queue for several number of days to have their registration done per head on paper. Results of students need to be processed as fast as possible that is why there is the need for the use of ICT to speed up the process of retrieving files when needed. This problem needs to be checked before the institution lose its customers (students) because there are other institutions out there which have a well-planned record management systems and students records are retrieved on time. It looks disturbing that a big orga nization like the Ho Polytechnic appears to have problems with record management in this era of ICT. This research seeks to outline the necessity of the authorities of the institution to migrate at all cost to the use of the ICT and the various benefits which comes along with it, which will go a long way to ease the work of the administration and the student body as a whole. Thereby answering the question when will we ever stop spending days in a queue to register at the beginning of every semester. 1.3 Justification Since the penetration of ICT into the third world countries, there have been several studies on the impact of ICT on record management, education systems and the development of Ghana as a whole. (Adebi,Teye Emmanual, 2012; George Amanortsu et al, 2013; Albert Kwansah et al, 2012). Adebi, 2012, in his study on the assessment of ICT in senior high schools, found out that lack of training, knowledge about computers and experience in the use of computers are the fact ors affecting the use of ICT in classrooms. George et al 2013, conducted a study on the access and usage of ICT in the Polytechnics, reveal that experience of introducing more and different ICTs in classrooms and other educational settings suggest the full realization of the potential educational benefits of ICT. Albert et al, 2012 researched into the use of ICT in front office operation of chain hotels in Ghana. It was found that ICT has positive impact on the front office of chain hotels by reducing queues to the barely negligible. However there has been no extensive study on the impact of ICT on record management in institutions in Ghana. Ghanaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s population is increasing and for that matter the increase in student population in tertiary institutions which means more administrative activities making retrieving or getting information or records on students, staff and people in polytechnic community difficult and so the need for better and more stringent way of reco rd keeping and management. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Impact of ICT on Records Management" essay for you Create order 1.4 Research Questions In view of the objectives set for the study, the study is guided by the following questions:- What is the importance of records management in Ho Polytechnic? How and what method will be adopted for ICT to have a positive effect on Record Management? What form of data base management system does Ho Polytechnic utilise? Is Ho Polytechnic system of record keeping automated or manual? What ways would ICT be used to improve records management system. 1.5 Objectives of Study The main objective of the study is to investigate how ICT has contributed to the enhancement of records management in Ho Polytechnic. To determine the importance of Records Management in Ho Polytechnic. To determine the effect of ICT on record Management To find out if Ho Polytechnic has a data base management system. To find out if record system is automated or manual. To determine ways to improve record management systems using ICT 1.6. Significance of the Study This study is expected to provide a basis for comprehensive information on information and communication technology and its impact on record management in institutions in Ghana. The study will established the existing gaps in the adoption of information and communication technology in the record management of Ho polytechnic in the Volta region of Ghana. The result of the study has the potential to contribute immensely to the strategic decision making of the top management of Ho Polytechnic. This will enable them to give much attention to records management using ICT and automate most of their process such as student registrations, fee pay and result among others for effective and efficient management of the institution. The study would also be beneficial to policy decision makers to take concrete decision on how the tertiary system in Ghana should be ran and how to keep records for quick and timely decision making through the use of ICT. Also the result of the study would help individuals especially entrepreneurs, managers, business organizations who are yet to enter into business to consider all the relevance of ICT in records management of an organisation. The study would also serve as a reference material for further investigation by interested researchers who might want to know more about the impact of Information and Communication Technology on records management 1.7 Scope of the Study This study will concentrate on issues bordering on access to and use of ICT in institutions record management. The focus of this study will be on the extent to which access to and use of ICT by management, staffs and department as whole in an institutionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s record management and the impact it has made on the record management. The scope of the study is limited to Ho Polytechnic, as it will be easier for the researchers to reach their subjects. Ideally, it would have been appropriate to include other tertiary institutions in the study in order to be able to compare access and use of ICT in various institutions record management since this is an issue in most tertiary institutions in Ghana. However, the cost involved in such endeavor and the time available for the research has not made this feasible. 1.8Limitation of the Study As it is with any research that will need findings, the research will be limited by variety of factors which include: time, finances and access to information on the topic. Time will be a constraint due to the fact that the period allocated for the research is short to allow adequate collection of information on the study. Finances pay a major role in researches of this kind. This is so because the researches need to buy materials, print documents and travel to the place of data collection. Without finance the study will not portray the true picture it supposes to produce. The initial unwillingness of the school administrators in allowing the researchers to use their institution for the research study and the provision of requested information. The unwillingness of some of the respondents to return the questionnaires is another constraint to this study. It is anticipated that some respondent will not cooperate during research data collection. Others will only tick the responses without thorough reading and understanding of the questions well. Organization of Study The study has been divided into five chapters. Chapter one (1) outlines the introduction of the study, the problem statement, justification objectives, research questions, significance of the study, scope, limitation and organization of the study. Chapter two (2) entails the literature review of the study, sets the theoretical base of the research and to set the current research perspective to show the state of the art and it is the reviewing of secondary data. Chapter three (3) covers the methods of data or information gathering. It includes the definition of the study area, , its population, research design, sample size, the sampling techniques, the mode of data collection and analysis. Chapter four(4) deals with data presentation and analysis. Chapter five (5) addresses summary of the major findings that is the conclusion and recommendation. 1

The Recidivism Rate of Juvenile Sex Offenders between Uses...

The Recidivism Rate of Juvenile Sex Offenders between Uses of Legal Sentencing as Adults or Utilizing Psychological Treatment It is typically thought that sex offenders are the type of individual that needs to be tried in our courts and then sentenced because there is really no hope for an individual that harms the most innocent of our society. But there just may be an exception to this way of thinking. Juveniles who at one point themselves may have been victims, and as they have grown into adolescence not knowing why they are thinking the way they are, turn around and abuse others. Then what happens is that these adolescents once found out, are then tried in our courts as adults because in the mind of the court they are committing an†¦show more content†¦The victims of this type of offender are for the most part male. (Gunby) Another type of offender that researchers are beginning to study, that is the offender with high levels of psychopathic traits. There is what the study referred to as â€Å"modest† information on this type of offender compared to their adult counterpart. But from what they have studied thus far is that juvenile sex offenders with high levels of psychopathic traits had more severe antisocial histories, and had higher rates of general and violent recidivism. They were also more likely to use weapons or threats during the sexual offense, and were more likely to recidivate when released from prison. (Lawing) The reasons that an adolescent may become a sex offender are as varied as the types of offenders. Causes Juvenile sexual offenders more frequently experienced internalizing problems, had poor self esteem, social isolation and more frequently experienced sexual abuse in their early childhoods than non-sexual offenders. In addition, juvenile sexual abusers also exhibited more problems in their peer relationships. There is other research that has shown substantial evidence for a relationship between juvenile sexually abusive behavior and family dysfunction, and violence. Typically speaking abusers grew up in dysfunctional families characterized by inconsistent care, known parental criminal behavior and substance use. They