Development of Gothic Architecture in Relationship to Medieval Society

The Middle Ages covered a thousand year span. The period began after the schism of the fifth century in which the Roman empire was split into east and west. It continued until the start of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century. The medieval period was notable for the origins and development of Gothic architecture. Because there was so much upheaval during the Middle Ages, the one constant was the Church. At that time the only denomination was Catholic.The Church was usually the largest structure in the medieval environment and was a main gathering place in which a variety of functions (which today would be provided by civic  buildings), occurred. (The Middle Ages, 1). Since the holy Catholic Church had already been a powerful institution at the conclusion of the Roman Empire, it continued to be the unifying force among the many small kingdoms that would develop into Europe. Replete with its own laws and large coffers, it wielded much influence during this time ( Enter the Middle Ages, 1).In addition, it had kept much from the ruins of the ancient world and became one of the centers of learning during during the Middle Ages. Not only did the Church preserve much of classical Latin knowledge, but it also maintained the art of writing.The cathedrals developed learning specialties such as rhetoric or logic in schools named cathedral schools. (Middle Ages, Learners. Org, 1). Whether one’s station was that of lowly peasant or of noble lord, the Church touched everyone’s life. Rank or class did not matter. Within towns , with the exception of a small amount of Jews, everyone in Europe was Christian. However, beyond the core areas of western Europe, there remained many people with little or no contact with either Christianity or classical culture.Outside the deurbanized remnants of cities the power of the central government was greatly  lessened and governmental authority was delegated to local lords who supported themselves directly fro m the territories over which they held power. This was the beginning of the feudal system ( Enter the Middle Ages, 1). For safety and defense people in the Middle Ages formed small communities around a central lord or master, living on a manor , which consisted of the castle, the church, the village, and outlying farmland. In exchange for living on his land, the lord gave protection to his serfs. Manors were isolated with occasional visits from peddlers, pilgrims on their way to the Crusades, or soldiers from other fiefdoms.  (Sobol, 22).Bishops, who were frequently wealthy, and came from noble families, ruled over a group of parishes called a diocese. Parish priests, however, came from humbler backgrounds and often had little education. The village priest tended the poor and sick, and if he was capable, taught Latin and the Bible to the youth of the village. (Enter the Middle Ages, 2). Medieval cathedrals sometimes functioned as marketplaces with the different portals of the mark etplaces containing sellers with their produce: items such as textiles might be at one end, while fuel, vegetables, and meat at another. Sometimes the clergy tried to put a  stop to the marketers. They tried to block access to the cathedral. But it was in vain.The sellers were not taxed on the items they sold inside the church; while the items they sold outside were. (Chartres, 1). The Church was all in all during medieval times. From the moment of its baptism a few days after birth, a child began its life of service to the Lord and to His Church. As the child developed , it would be taught basic prayers- and unless ill- would go to church every week. Every person was required to pay heavy taxes to support the Church.The reward for this was being shown the way to everlasting life and  happiness- a great trade off for lives that were often short and difficult. In addition to collecting taxes, the Church also granted special favors for people who wanted assurance of a place in hea ven. Gifts in the form of land, crops, flocks, and even serfs scrambled into the coffers. All this largess allowed the Church to become very powerful. As a result, it often employed this power to influence kinds and do as they wanted. (Enter the Middle Ages, 2). The power continued with the Pope who was considered to be God’s representative on earth. If someone went against the Church, the Pope could excommunicate them.This meant that the person could not attend any more church services or receive the sacrament, thus ensuring that they would go straight to hell when they died. At a time when everyone believed in heaven and hell, and all belonged to the Church, this excommunication was an unbearable horror. (Ibid, 2). The population increased throughout the Middle Ages. As it expanded in the 12th century, the type of church that had previously been used for worship; the ones built in the Roman or Romanesque style, with round arched roofs, became too small. Some of the grand ca thedrals became maxed to their structural limits.Although they built more mightily, going ever higher and larger, it appeared to be too much and these grander edifices collapsed within a century or less of their construction ( Enter the Middle Ages, 3). Enter a man who was about to change the style of these Middle Age churches and with it, bring forth a whole new field of architecture- gothic. Abbe Suger had been affiliated with the Church of Saint Denis in Paris for a good part of his life. The building needed repairs, so he took on the reconstruction, bringing in the finest of workers from the Low countries and from Italy.For his inspiration, Abbe Suger  looked to Canterbury Cathedral. Pilgrimages had been an important part of religious life in the Middle Ages as people journeyed to visit religious shrines. Suger particularly admired Canterbury Cathedral for its stained glass windows. Desirous of creating a physical representation of the the Heavenly Jerusalem, Suger aimed for a place of light that would speak of the positive aspects of the religious life: Redemption as opposed to the hellfire and damnation that was constantly being sermonized in the dark and dank Romanesque churches.Suger conceived of the idea â€Å"lux continua† – this theory would transform his church into one of  radiance and splendor, magnifying the spirit. He and his team gave themselves to the reconstruction of the church. After a four year renovation, the choir was completed in 1144. In a magnificent ceremony, complete with King Louis VI and Eleanor, and other notables, the church was dedicated to the Lord. With its thin columns, stained glass windows, and a sense of verticality, the choir of Saint Denis originated the elements that would be developed further during the Gothic period. Now architects were able to expand Saint Denis upward to more than twice the height of the earlier cathedral and free the walls to be filled with stained  glass.The great expanse of glass helped Abbe Suger with his goal of â€Å"lux continua†. These brightly colored stained glass windows were decorated with parables and stories of the Bible that would help inform the illiterate in their faith. Trade guilds funded other windows and the decorations contained within demonstrated what life was like during this medieval time. Saint Denis was designed along the lines of sacred geometry: the use of number angles, shapes that mirror the principle of the faithful believer, and flying buttresses that would support those higher ceilings and slender columns; the verticality suggesting aspirations to heaven  Additionally, Saint Denis contained a golden cross and a golden altar where kings and nobles donated their precious jewels (Gothic Art and Abbe Suger, 1)The influence this church had over French architecture was profound because it was also a political symbol. Suger virtually ran the kingdom while Louis VI was away on the Crusade. Yet for Suger, the Church was neither political symbol nor an architectural one, but solely a religious symbol. His main goal in its design was to honor God and Saint Denis. Suger had become fascinated by the religious implications of the light. He had inscribed on the main doors, which  are representative of the passion and resurrection of Christ: The noble work is bright, but being nobly bright; That work should brighten the minds, allowingThem to travel through the light. To the truth where Christianity is the true door (Simson,111). The Gothic style had emerged. It would give rise to the development of many other buildings and cathedrals who copied its characteristics, the most visible of which was its verticality. A skeletal stone structure, pointed arches using the ovoid shape, ribbed vaults, clustered columns, sharply pointed spires, flying  buttresses and sculptural gargoyles became part of the Gothic look. (The History of Art, 255).One of the most superlative examples of Gothic architecture can be f ound in Chartres Cathedral. Chartres, fifty miles from Paris, is considered to be extremely outstanding in its use of the Gothic elements. It was rebuilt in the Gothic style after a fire had decimated the building. Called a miracle of stained glass and stone, it was created in the form of a cruciform and dedicated in 1260. Chartres contains one of the most complete collections of medieval stained glass in the world. The Rose Window contains a sun and a rose.Jesus Christ, the Son, represents the sun, while Mary is the rose without thorns. Also there are depictions of kings and lords in additional stained glass, but their lower elevation connotes submission to the Lord. Along with many stained glass windows containing biblical stories which are typological allegories between the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament, there is much statuary. Rows of arches and niches within the arches contain the statues. (Chartres,Online 1). Within the confines of the Cathedral is a sacred re lic that was given by King Charlemagne. It is called the â€Å"Sancta Camisia,† and is said  to be clothing worn by Mary.Charlemagne received it on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This clothing, also called the cloak of the Virgin, was the source of much pilgrimage during the medieval times. The Cathedral was the life of the town and these pilgrimages brought in much revenue that the town depended upon. These pilgrimages occurred four times a year. Chartres, Wikipedia, 1). Although Raphael despised the Gothic style and named it derisively after the savage Goths who had ransacked Rome, the style survived and is an everlasting style of beauty and majesty. It is a wonderful contribution from the Middle Ages.

Aloe Vera

More than 6,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians used this plant for a variety of different things. Today, we have expanded on that idea. Although the place of origin is unclear, many believe that it was first discovered in Sudan. Later, it was introduced to the Mediterranean region, Africa, Asia, India, and Europe. There are many branches of the Aloe Plant. The one most active is Aloe Barbadensis. Within this plant, there are more than 15 active components found inside. It also provides 20 out of the 22 (90%) amino acids humans require, in order to survive. Most importantly, it provides 8 out of the 8 (100%) essential amino acids.Aloe Vera contains over 10 vitamins and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is exceptionally great for the skin, because it aids in the shedding of the skin skin cells. It also decreases inflammation and swelling. Throughout many cultures and places in the world, aloe vera has different uses. In traditional Indian medical practices, it has been used for constipation, skin diseases, worm infestations and as an natural remedy for colic. Colic is described as an severe, fluctuating pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or obstruction in the intestines. In contrast to this, in Chinese medicine, it is used to treat fungal infections. Like the cultures listed, the Western Hemisphere also uses this plant, known as the † Plant of Immortality.† In the western world, it is used throughout many cosmetic agencies, for medicinal purposes and in the restaurant industries. The manufacturing of Aloe Vera is also one of the most outstanding industries in the world. Within the aloe plant, it is composed of two (2) different substances: gel and latex. The gel is located in the center of the leaf, and the latex is in the cells beneath the leaf. Several kinds of people use the two (2) substances together or either separate. One reason as to why it has the power to heals cuts, skin damage from X- rays, and protect the skin from dryness, is because it contains, â€Å"Antrakinon† chemicals.

Law - Criminal Profiling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law - Criminal Profiling - Research Paper Example Indeed, it has been increasingly common in light of the perceived threats to the population by Islamic terrorists. Thus, in airplanes, Islamic-looking individuals are subjected to inspections and interviews of an intensity that white people are not normally subjected to. The increasing numbers of crime, and the associations by people that these crimes emanate from race-based communities such as Hispanic communities, are also responsible for the growing trend towards racial profiling. While racial profiling is never really legislated as a policy in its explicit sense, the ever-widening range of methods that a law enforcement officer are allowed to employ allow the use of racial profiling as a legitimate strategy. We now proceed to discussing the costs against the benefits of racial profiling. Those who support racial profiling believe that a utilitarian approach must be taken. The argument is that because it is true that there are crimes which certain racial groups are more predispose d to committing than other racial groups, â€Å"special efforts at crime reduction directed at members of such groups are justified, if not required.† (Risse and Zeckhauser, 2004). ... In contrast, those who are opposed to racial profiling dispute the position that some races have a greater tendency to commit some crimes than others. Indeed, in a study conducted, the officers’ behaviour of racial profiling is not supported by any showing that the criminal acts in the predominantly white community were committed by African Americans (Meehan and Ponder, 2002). Of course, the deeper objection to racial profiling is that it does â€Å"curtail the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by millions of people who belong to racial and ethnic minorities.† (American Civil Liberties Union and Rights Working Group, 2009). The jurisprudence has also tended to support racial profiling. It has been held, for example, that when testing the constitutionality of a vehicle stop, the motivations of a police officer making the stop (e.g., if the motivations were driven by racial bias) are immaterial, the only question is whether or not the officer had cause to effect the s top. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996). The impact on this on racial profiling is very much evident – it basically gives police officers unfettered rights to make stops, even if it targets specific racial or ethnic minorities. In the end, instead of educating the police forces to be race-blind, it condones discrimination on the basis of racial and ethnic differences. The role of geography in profiling predatory criminals Geography plays a major role in the profiling of criminals. Some parts of the world have been stereotyped as providing concentrated numbers of individuals engaged in similar crimes. For example, Latin America is known as a drug cartel haven. Many Americans assume that illicit drugs in the United

Information Technology Management Course Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information Technology Management Course - Essay Example P.D.As were in practice since 1995 in order to overcome the need of faxing and paper work, however with time those P.D.As have been replaced by other advanced digital devices such as P.O.S. Yet the short coming comes to forth in the form that these digital devices were not synchronous with the head office. The company lacks in the information technology front since it does not have a dedicated information office wing, or specialized I.T resources allocation. The company lacks properly investigated and worked out policy to determine the feasibility of I.T and I.S infrastructure at the same time little thought is being given to it. The decision of upgrade is a risky one, yet an unavoidable one, what can be best done is to introduce the change and advancements in the Information technology domain in an incremental way without altering the major elements fortnight. The change would invoke change in other domains as well, but the timing is ripe and they should make a move before their stakeholders embrace any technology which is not in function in the home (Mcafee et.al). Identify and briefly explain the most important organization and culture related challenges facing Harley’s senior management in the deployment and utilization of Information Technology (IT) in support of business strategies. Harley Davidson has an integrated I.T enabled system. The decision making and policy making power is vested in the C.I.O. Over period of time, need has been felt to expand the realm of power and authority amongst number of members so as to make the process more transparent, vibrant and effective in terms of I.T system sharing and support. With ever expanding customers’ bench and rapid technological advances, it is required to stay a breast with the Information system standards implementation within the organization. Need is being stressed for revitalizing the domain of Information Technology

The ways in which work can have an influence on an individual's Essay

The ways in which work can have an influence on an individual's motivation - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that employees are the most important part of an organizational structure since they shape the performance levels of an organization. In order to perform to their level best employees need to be properly motivated towards achieving the goals and vision of an organization. Employees are motivated by different factors at the workplace that may drive them to work more and push for their different motivation aspects at the workplace that is understandable through understanding the psychological factors that influence an employee. Motivation is psychological as it is an aspect of an employee that is not tangible and therefore cannot be quantified and as a result, it is important to come up with proper motivation structures at the workplace that may help the employees. The first psychological aspect of motivation at the workplace is intensity which is the amount of effort that an employee puts to push for their goals. Desire is also an aspect tha t is psychologically motivated since it is the amount of conviction and dedication that an employee has towards a specific goal. In addition, there is arousal that is usually the initial instinct or the trigger that is critical to individual performance and motivation at the workplace. Workplace motivators are important for the employee since they are able to focus on achieving their specific goals and as a result, they do not deviate from the set structures and behaviors that help them to achieve their goals.

Why was Fluxus called Fluxus Look at least three Fluxus pieces Essay

Why was Fluxus called Fluxus Look at least three Fluxus pieces - Essay Example Perloff (2002) quotes Higgins, Fluxus...was not a movement; it has not stated consistent programme or manifesto which the work must match, and it did not propose to move art or our awareness of art from point A to point B. The very name, Fluxus, suggests change, being in a state of flux. The idea was that it would always reflect the most exciting avant-garde tendencies of a given time or moment—the Fluxattitude. It is perhaps easier to describe the movement as what it was not rather than what it was. Perloff (2002) writes, â€Å"Fluxus was not, as is usually thought, an inconoclastic avant-garde movement but a way of life, a ‘fertile field for multiple intelligence interactions’ (H. Higgins 193) that has strong pedagogical potential†. Repice (no date) in his paper on the subject views the definition from another angle â€Å"...as a series of organized activities and ‘as a way of doing thing’ that nonetheless coalesced around key people, places, and events. When I speak of Fluxus, I defer the question of whether it was a â€Å"movement† or not and attempt to think of it as a tradition or sensibility embodied by certain people at certain times†. The origins of Fluxus lie in the many concepts explored by avant-garde composer John Cage as reflected in his dissonant experimental music of the 1950s. As described rather esoterically in The Fluxus blog (2010), Cage popularized a form incorporating â€Å"... acrostic poem in which the ‘hidden’ or included word, phrase, or name is seen vertically in a central spine instead of at the beginning or end...† While the concept may be familiar to those who study music, Cage’s importance to the Fluxus movement may be more easily understood when explained through his now famous original experimental piano composition piece, 4’ 33† (1952), in which the pianist sits at the piano but does not play for exactly four minutes and

Customer Relations Management in the British Petroleum Company Essay

Customer Relations Management in the British Petroleum Company - Essay Example This type of treatment makes me feel that the company is not apprehensive about their customers because the employees do not put in an extra effort in associating with them. The behavior of staff members towards their customers also makes me feel that the company neglects and demoralizes its customers from consuming and frequenting their stores. This negative image results from their staff members’ lack of concern for customers and unfriendliness. According to the treatment that the company staff gives their customers, I would suggest that the company does keep a centralized repository for their data. This is because their respective branches do not share information concerning their customers. This is evident from the fact that despite visiting a specific branch for a certain amount of time and purchasing large amounts of the product, I still receive no recognition from the other branches. Their customer management strategies do not also seem to emphasize on the importance of strengthening their customer relationships. This is clearly depicted from the indifferent behavior that their members of staff have on their customers including me every time they come to their business premises. The Bank of England, which was officially incorporated in the year 1694 as a joint stock company is another company that I frequently visit. The banking institution is responsible for offering cash along with credit facilities to a wide range of customers across the nation. The bank has opened branches in several areas of the country and their staff members regard their customers with high esteem. This is evidenced by the reception I receive any time I visit any of their branches across the country. Their reception is warm, friendly and caring with most of their staff seeming to know me despite them being strange to me. This tends to make me feel valued by the company and it has increased my confidence when dealing with them. The company seems to keep a distributed reposit ory for their data as evidenced by their staffs’ ability to know their customers and having their personal details. The bank’s values emphasize on putting their customers first along with making their main objectives customer oriented. The Bank of England involves itself in several activities to fully identify their customers in the broadest possible form. These include the activities of brainstorming, conducting market research, marketing, creating their customer profiles, and the provision of questionnaires. It also includes the activities of evaluating customer needs through carrying out of surveys, conducting interviews directly with them and offering promotions. Finally, the bank involves itself in the activities of strategizing and copying recruitment activities of their competitors in the industry. These activities greatly assist the bank in the identification of their different customers across the country. The bank involves itself in the activities of knowing their customers by interrogating various groups of experts and technicians concerning their most likely markets. They gather information concerning their customers’ financial abilities along with their sources of income. This greatly helps the bank to determine how they will manage and retain their customers whilst remaining profitable. Performing market research involves the evaluation of their customer’

Cryptography Application Methods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cryptography Application Methods - Research Paper Example This led to the emergence of debit and credit cards whose applications have since become widespread. This age of information has witnessed the emergence of cryptography a major protection method of applications. This paper will investigate some of the application methods of cryptography together with the systems application in a college university. In a university setup, cryptography has applications in ensuring secrecy in storage, integrity in transmission, authentication of identity and integrity in storage. The maintenance of the secrecy in storage requires a one key system whereby the user is responsible for the provision of the computer key at the start of the session. After this, the computer takes care of the decryption and encryption during the entire course of its normal use. Indeed, there are numerous hardware devices for automatic encryption of personal computers of all the information that the disk stores. Upon turning on a computer, a user must provide the encryption hardware with a key. Otherwise, the information will be meaningless even in the event that the hard disk is stolen. However, secrecy in storage is not without problems. In an event that the user forgets the key, then the encryption information become unusable. Apparently, encryption only occurs while the information is in storage and not when it is in use. The electronic money transfer has the danger of invasion by criminals who can tap a system and make false transfers. However, to realize integrity in the transfer of funds, there is need to perform an information checksum before submitting it in the form of encryption. Upon the receipt of this encrypted information, another checksum takes place for comparison after decryption. An agreement of the checksum is an indication that an alteration had occurred to the message. Forging this kind of information is easy. Since a lot of publications and intellectual works occur in universities, integrity in the

Network Infrastructure Basics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Network Infrastructure Basics - Assignment Example This device allows one to place phone calls over the internet to any phone all over the globe. One fascinating thing about the VoIP is that the phone one is calling does not need to have VoIP for communication to take place. What is required is that the people being called should also be able to receive calls over the internet. In addition, interconnected VoIP services also allow one to make and receive calls to and from traditional landline numbers at no fee. Desantis (2008) notes that some VoIP services require the use of dedicated VoIP phones or computers, while others allow an individual to use landline phones to place VoIP calls through a special adapter. The other pros of the VoIP are that its usage is generally cost effective. Nevertheless, just like the threats facing internet users, new threats, scams and attacks that are unique to telephony are currently emerging and should be mitigated for effectiveness. IP or Internet protocol addresses are necessary if hosts have to communicate on networks that are IP based (Sinclair & Fong, 2002). The IP address is a set of four octets with each octet separated by a period. An example of an ID address is 172. 162. 54.12. When configuring an IP address, certain conditions should be met. The address includes both the host and network addresses. The subnet mask identifies the network portion of the address. When assigning IP addresses, each host must be assigned a unique IP address. When there are several hosts on the same network, each of them should have an IP address with the network portion being the same. The range of IP addresses that can be assigned to hosts in a network are subject to the network mask. 5. If you want to manually configure DNS server addresses, click Use the following DNS server addresses, and then type the preferred DNS server and alternate DNS server IP addresses in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server boxes. 1. To resolve an unqualified name by appending the

Homeostatic Imbalances a person on Dialysis Might Face Essay Example for Free

Homeostatic Imbalances a person on Dialysis Might Face Essay The human body relies on homeostasis to function properly, so the body makes adjustments constantly to keep balanced within physiological limits. The kidneys in the urinary system are a major workhorse in keeping the body in balance. They regulate the ionic composition of blood, pH of blood, blood volume, blood pressure, blood glucose, production of hormones, and excretion of foreign materials and waste products (Jenkins Tortora, 2013). If this process fails or there is impairment (renal failure), then a person relies on dialysis to artificially clean the blood, remove excess fluid and electrolytes. The patient will have to go to a facility to have this done on a routine schedule. The dialysis machine uses dialysate solution to maintain diffusion gradients that help with removing waste and add other substances; meanwhile the patient will also be heparinized to prevent clotting during the procedure. Patients with renal disease or renal failure have a lot of electrolyte imbalances and most commonly will present hyperkalemia (too much calcium). The excess calcium can cause arrhythmias. After dialysis the patient usually will have severe cramping due to the shift in pH and removal of excess fluids (concentration). Patients are at risk for thrombosis, urine retention or incontinence, insomnia, imbalanced glucose, dehydration and hypertension. Homeostasis is key for all systems of the body to function, including temperature regulation. The enzymes have a specific range in which they can work. The patient can help their situation by strictly following a prescribed diet; including proper hydration and getting enough exercise and sleep (Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease. Connection Between Salt and Water in Maintaining Blood Volume and Blood Pressure Changes Water and salt play an important part in blood volume and blood pressure. The first step in regulation of blood volume is in the kidneys; where water and salt are excreted into the urine, based on the needs of the body. One factor controlling water and salt is based on hormone response. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) hormones effect the release on water and salt into the urine. Sodium is controlled by angiotensin II along the  proximal tubule, loop of Henle and the distal tubules. Aldosterone in the collecting tubules also stimulates sodium to move from the tubules into the interstitium, bringing water along as well and increasing blood volume, thus increasing blood pressure. The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is on the end of the distal tubules and allows for more water resorption. Water will reenter the interstitium if the existing is hypertonic by way of osmosis to reduce water loss and urine volume. High blood volume increases blood pressure, which increases the blood flowing through the kidneys (Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts, n.d.). This increases the glomerular filtration rate which will put more water and salt into the urine and then lower the blood volume and reduce the blood pressure because of a higher/faster rate of processing. Homeostasis is always trying to be achieved. References Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts. (n.d.). CVPhysiology. Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://www.cvphysiology.com/Blood%20Pressure/BP025.htm Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease. (n.d.). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease. Retrieved May 6, 2014, from https://www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/guidelines_bone/guide6.htm Jenkins, G. W., Tortora, G. J. (2013). Anatomy and physiology: from science to life (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Effect of Curcumin on Periodontis

Effect of Curcumin on Periodontis INTRODUCTION Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by destruction of the soft and hard tissues supporting the tooth. This tissue destruction appears to result from complex interaction between the bacteria and the host’s immune and inflammatory system. The host immune response identifies these invading pathogens and tries to neutralize or kill these microorganisms. During this process the host response elaborates a variety of mediators such as pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokines and proteolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It is now believed that the major component of the soft and hard tissue destruction seen in periodontitis occurs as a result of activation of these mediators.1 Thus this host response which is essentially protective by intent paradoxically can also result in tissue damage. Hence recent therapeutic efforts are now focusing on altering or modulating this host response. This lead to emergence of a new comprehensive treatment str ategy for periodontitis which involves Host modulatory therapy (HMT) which can be combined with traditional periodontal therapies.2 To date, there is one FDA approved, systemic therapy that is prescribed as a host response modifier in the treatment of periodontal disease and that is adjunctive subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD), which down-regulates the activity of MMPs.3 These MMPs are considered to be primary proteinases involved in periodontal tissue destruction synthesized by a variety of infiltrating inflammatory cells (i.e. neutrophils and macrophages), resident cells and some bacteria. Numerous studies have substantiated the relationship between MMPs and periodontal diseases, with findings of significantly higher MMP-9 (neutrophil derived MMPs) levels in patients with periodontitis compared to healthy controls.4, 5 Doxycycline is the most potent tetracycline for inhibition of these MMPs.6 However long term tetracycline therapy has certain disadvantages, the most important being the development of microbial resistance to this drug.7 At present a health care system exists in India where different types of diseases are being treated by Ayurvedic method. Since ancient times Ayurvedic drugs are being used for the treatment of various diseases, including periodontal and other oral diseases.8 They are widely acclaimed for their minimal side-effects and cost-effectiveness. Use of herbal extracts in treating periodontal diseases does not produce side effects of tetracycline compounds as well as other synthetic drugs. Curcuma longa (Turmeric) is a widely used herb which is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world and widely cultivated in India, China and Indonesia.9 It has also long been used in both Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent.9 The active constituent in turmeric is Curcumin.9, 10 Curcumin is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Studies show that Curcumin limits the activity of two enzymes, lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 that are involved in promoting and maintaining inflammation.11, 12 Studies have also shown that Curcumin down-regulates the MMP-9 activity.13, 14 Thus it may have a potential role in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal disease. Its anti-inflammatory activity in periodontal diseases has not been extensively investigated. With this background, the study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Curcumin by its inhibitory effect on MMP-9 activity and compare the same with Doxycycline, which is known to have an anticollagenase activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subjects: A total of 30 sites from 30 subjects (males and females), above 35 yrs of age, diagnosed clinically as having Chronic Periodontitis with pocket depths ranging from 5-8mm were selected for the study. The patients had no history of pervious dental treatment, antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drug therapy for the past 6 months. Patients with any history of systemic diseases / conditions, pregnant patients and smokers were excluded from the study. An informed consent was obtained from the patients prior to their enrollment into the study, and the study has been independently reviewed and approved by the institutional ethical board. Post collection of samples, the patients who participated in this study received the standard treatment protocol for Chronic Periodontitis. Method of Collection of Samples: Gingival tissue samples were obtained under aseptic conditions after administration of local anesthesia from patients who were diagnosed with Chronic Periodontitis. Gingival tissue samples were obtained from sites with pocket depths ranging from 5-8mm. Immediately following excision, these tissue specimens were briefly washed under cold distilled water and blotted dry. Then the specimens were transferred into sterile plastic vials which contained Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS), pH 7.2, that acted as the transport medium. Specimens were then immediately carried to the laboratory where they were stored at -80à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C until use. IN-VITRO STUDY Chemicals Used: Pure extract of Curcumin in powder form (Samy Labs, Bangalore, India) and Doxycycline i.e. pure doxycycline hyclate in powder form (Aristo Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bangalore, India) was used for the purpose of the study. The Curcumin solution was prepared by dissolving 15mg of Curcumin in 10ml of distilled water (1500 ÃŽ ¼g/ml). Preparation of Doxycycline solution was by dissolving 3mg of Doxycycline in 10ml of distilled water (300 ÃŽ ¼g/ml). Extraction of MMP-9: The frozen gingival tissue samples were allowed to thaw to room temperature. Then each tissue sample was homogenized with 2.5% Triton X-100. This was followed by centrifugation of the homogenized samples for 30 mins at 6000 rpm, at 4à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C. The resulting supernatant was separated and used for analysis. Detecting the Optimal Curcumin and Doxycycline Concentration: To determine the optimal inhibition of MMP-9 by Curcumin, different concentrations of Curcumin i.e. 300, 500, 1000, 1500 ÃŽ ¼g/ml were added to 50ÃŽ ¼l of gingival tissue extract and incubated at room temperature for 60mins.The addition of increasing concentrations of Curcumin to the gingival tissue extract resulted in decreased MMP-9 activity as shown in Figure 1. Assessing the MMP-9 activity by Densitometric Analysis demonstrated that the concentration of Curcumin required to inhibit more than 50% of MMP-9 activity was 1500 ÃŽ ¼g/ml. Since Curcumin showed more than 50% inhibition of MMP-9 activity at a concentration of 1500 ÃŽ ¼g/ml as compared to the control (without drug), this concentration was used to pretreat the gingival tissue extract in the study. The Curcumin solution with a concentration of 1500 ÃŽ ¼g/ml was freshly prepared prior to processing of each sample of gingival tissue extract. Similarly increasing concentrations of Doxycycline ie 50, 100, 200, 300ÃŽ ¼g/ml were added to 50ÃŽ ¼l of gingival tissue extract and incubated at room temperature for 60mins. Assessing the MMP-9 activity by Densitometric Analysis demonstrated that the concentration of Doxycycline required to inhibit more than 50% of MMP-9 activity was 300ÃŽ ¼g/ml and thus this concentration was used to pretreat the gingival tissue extract in the study. The Doxycycline solution with a concentration of 300ÃŽ ¼g/ml was freshly prepared prior to processing of each sample of gingival tissue extract. Pretreatment of Gingival Tissue Extract with Curcumin and Doxycycline: To compare the inhibition of MMP-9 activity, 50ÃŽ ¼l of gingival tissue extract was preincubated with freshly prepared solution of 50ÃŽ ¼l of Curcumin (1500ÃŽ ¼l/ml) and 50ÃŽ ¼l of Doxycycline (300ÃŽ ¼l/ml) solution for 60mins at room temperature in separate vials. In addition, 50ÃŽ ¼l of extract was also incubated with 50ÃŽ ¼l of distilled water which was used as the control. Assay for MMP-9 Activity: The presence of MMP-9 activity in collected samples was studied by gelatin zymography. Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) on 10% polyacrylamide containing 10% SDS copolymerized with 1g/l gelatin was used to pretreated tissue extracts under non reducing conditions without prior boiling. After electrophoresis, in order to regain the enzyme activity, the gels were rinsed with 2.5% Triton X-100 for 1hr to remove SDS thus allowing the protein to denature. The gels were then immersed in a proteolysis buffer containing Tris- HCl 50 m M/l (pH 7.6) and CaCl2 20mM/l and incubated at 37  ºC for 16 hours. The gels were subsequently stained Coomassie Blue (0.25% Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250, 40% methanol, 10% acetic acid). Gels were destained (30% methanol, 10% acetic acid and 60% water) until white bands appeared clearly from the blue background. These bands of gelatin lysis detected against the blue background as seen in Figure 2, represented enzymatic act ivities. RESULTS The presence of MMP-9 was studied. The enzymatic activities were detected as unstained bands on gelatin gel by zymography technique. In order to measure the relative MMP-9 levels, multi-image gel documentation systems were used to scan the clear zones and the percentage of inhibition was analyzed. Significant differences were found in the MMP activity in treated groups compared to the control. Figure 3 illustrates the reduction in the MMP-9 activity of each sample of gingival tissue extract when incubated with Doxycycline and Curcumin, expressed as percentage of reduction from the control. Table 1 shows the range, mean values and the standard deviation (S.D.) values for Curcumin and Doxycycline. The mean values show 59.58 % reduction in the MMP-9 activity with the addition of Doxycycline and 61.01% reduction in the MMP-9 activity with addition of Curcumin to the gingival tissue extract under identical conditions. Table 2 shows comparison of MMP-9 inhibitory effect between Doxycycline and Curcumin. The results obtained were analysed statistically using students paired t- test. DISCUSSION Periodontal diseases are the result of destruction of the soft and hard connective tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. Inflammation is the basic cause of initiation of this breakdown. Research in the field of pathogenesis of periodontal disease has shown that various enzymatic activities which are directed towards the destruction of the pathogen also result in destruction of the periodontal connective tissue. Research has shown that, Matrix metelloproteinases (MMP’s) are one group of enzymes which are responsible for this destruction to a large extent. MMPs are involved in a number of physiological events including, tissue remodeling and pathological diseases such as periodontal disease and are the major players in collagen breakdown during periodontal destruction. MMPs are normally tightly regulated and disruption of this regulation leads to the pathologic breakdown of connective tissues. Higher levels of MMPs in the periodontal tissues provoke an imbalance between the production and degradation of collagen, causing tooth attachment loss. Especially, PMN derived MMPs (MMP-8 MMP-9) are the main proteinases related to tissue destruction and remodeling events in periodontal diseases. Numerous studies have substantiated the relationship between MMPs and periodontal diseases, with findings of significantly higher MMP-9 levels in patients with periodontitis as compared to healthy controls.4, 5, 15 With this understanding of the role of host immune response in periodontal destruction the possibility of host modulation so as to reduce the destructive aspects of the host response and hence reduce the damage to the periodontium was investigated. First group of drugs that showed this host modulation activity were Tetracyclines. Studies have demonstrated that tetracycline could significantly inhibit collagenase activity in GCF and gingival tissue, even at lower dosage than traditional antimicrobial dosages ie sub antimicrobial dosage.3 Tetracyclines inhibit collagenases by binding to the Ca2+ or Zn2+ (cations) required for the activation of MMPs such as collagenases and gelatinases.16 It is also possible that tetracyclines can inhibit synthesis of neutrophil-derived oxygen radicals, suppressing neutrophil migration and degranulation.17 However, microbial resistance to tetracyclines has been reported.7 In addition, long term treatment can result in other side- effects such as anorexi a, nausea, epigastric distress and fatty liver. A few recent studies on collagenase inhibition suggested that, like tetracyclines, herbal extracts are also potent inhibitors of pathologically elevated collagenases and hence they may be used as an alternative adjunct in the management of periodontal diseases.18, 19 Ayurvedic drugs like Neem, Triphala, Bakul etc have been used therapeutically since ancient times to treat diseases, including periodontal diseases. With the advent of modern synthetic drugs their convenience of standardized dosage form, dramatic efficacy in acute conditions and most of all simplicity of usage, there was a decline in the use of the plant medicines. But a long term treatment, with these synthetic drugs, has many adverse effects and they are also not cost effective. As Ayurvedic drugs, are widely acclaimed for their minimal side-effects and cost-effectiveness in India, they are now again being used extensively in treatment. Use of herbal extracts in treating periodontal diseases does not produce side effects of tetracycline compounds as well as other synthetic drugs. It has been shown that certain ayurvedic medicines also have the host modulation effect, similar to that of tetracyclines. A few recent studies conducted on collagenase inhibition by herbal extracts suggest that, like tetracyclines, herbal extracts are also potent inhibitors of pathogenically elevated collagenase and hence may be used as an alternative adjunct in the management of periodontal diseases.18, 19, 20 Turmeric which has Curcumin as its active constituent has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti- bacterial, anti- viral activities etc.10 Its anti- inflammatory activity has not been investigated in periodontal diseases. With the above details in mind the present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of Turmeric. In the present study the anti-collagenase activity of Curcumin was compared with that of Doxycycline which has proven anti-collagenase activity. In the present study we chose Doxycycline because it has been proved that it is a more potent collagenase inhibitor as compared to minocycline and tetracycline.6 Studies have shown that Curcumin down-regulates MMP-9 activity13, 14, 21 and thus, in the present study we chose Curcumin to find out its anti-collagenase activity by checking its effect on MMP-9 activity. Research has shown that the predominant MMPs in inflamed gingival and periodontal tissues are PMN- type MMPs (MMP-8 MMP-9). Elevated activity of gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) has also been found in inflamed gingival tissues from chronic periodontitis patients.5, 22 The activity of PMN- type MMPs has been found not only to positively correlate to the severity of inflammation and pocket depth but also the amount of these enzymes recovered in an active rather than latent form appears to increase with greater severity of periodontal disease in the gingival tissue.20 Thus, since the above studies have shown that activity of PMN- type MMPs is increased in inflamed gingival tissues, in the present study we decided to use gingival tissue samples that were obtained from the patients diagnosed clinically with chronic periodontitis. The reduction in the MMP-9 activity of each sample of gingival tissue extract when incubated with the drugs .i.e. Doxycycline and Curcumin, was expressed as percentage of reduction from the control (without drug). The mean values showed 59.58% reduction in the MMP-9 activity with the addition of Doxycycline and 61.01 % reduction in the MMP-9 activity with addition of Curcumin to the gingival tissue extract under identical conditions. These results show that Curcumin has a significant inhibitory effect on PMN-type MMP-9, and this inhibitory effect of Curcumin is comparable to that of Doxycycline when the percentage of inhibition as compared to control was analysed. Curcumin also showed a significant reduction in the MMP-9 activity with an average inhibition of about 61% which is also statistically highly significant (p 23 and 12 g per day.24 But the overall results show that Curcumin has the ability to significantly inhibit the MMP-9 activity. The present study suggested that Curcumin could produce significant inhibition of MMPs at 1500 ÃŽ ¼g/ml concentration, which is well under the safe drug profile confirmed by toxicological studies.23, 24 Thus this study shows that Doxycycline and Curcumin possess anticollagenase activity in vitro. The finding of the present study is significant and confirms the use of Curcumin in treating periodontal diseases. A recent in vivo study showed that Curcumin modulates periodontal disease and had potent anti-inflammatory effects when it was systemically-administered in ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.25 Studies have shown that one of main mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effects of Curcumin may be the inhibition of NF-ÃŽ ºB (nuclear factor kappa B).13, 25 The Curcumin-mediated inhibition of MMP-9 gene expression appears to occur via NF-ÃŽ ºB and AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) because their DNA binding activities were suppressed by Curcumin.14, 21 When compared to tetracycline, Curcumin has better anti-inflammatory effect, is more cost effective and has minimal side effects and thus can be tried as a substitute for Tetracycline as an anticollagenase agent. Curcumin also allows suppression of collagenase activity well within the safe dosage profile confirmed by toxicological studies. The in vivo environment is substantially different, and inherent limitations of an in vitro replication may constrain our understanding of the systemic effects of Curcumin. Further in vivo studies of Curcumin are needed to define its toxicological profile before making it a part of the therapeutic regimen in periodontal treatment. CONCLUSION In the light of observations from the current study it can be concluded that Doxycycline and Curcumin possess anticollagenase activity in vitro. Since Curcumin has better anti-inflammatory effect compared to Tetracycline, Curcumin being more cost effective and with no side effects can be tried as a substitute for Tetracycline as an anticollagenase agent. Thus Curcumin may have therapeutic potential as a host modulation agent in periodontal diseases.