Procedures to view aberrations-A travel from protein to gene: Literature review.

The diagnosis of any pathology is fundamentally based on the microscopic structure of cells and tissues and this remains as the standard by which all other diagnostic tests are measured. In this era, the pathologists are relying on the examination of tissue section stained by histochemical means and it is supported by the advanced immunological, biochemical and molecular techniques. This review will provide the information about one of the way that can be followed to unravel the molecular mechanism in spotting the disease process. Technologies used to study the cellular process are same for the normal and the abnormal cell. Experimental strategy briefed here is also applicable for both. The cellular process can be studied either from protein to gene or from gene to protein. Earlier days biochemical analysis (isolation of protein, protein sequencing) was separate and genetic analysis (genomic mapping) was separate. But now with advent of recombinant DNA technology it is possible to have a link between the biochemical and genetic analysis. Intermediary step of development of oligonucleotide synthesis, complementary DNA probe and cloning has revolutionized the research process. Identified gene can be compared with the normal gene by comparative genomics or expressed proteins by expression proteomics.

Antifilarial effect of two triterpenoid saponins isolated from Acacia auriculiformis.

The active principle, isolated from the funicles of A. auriculiformis, consisted of two triterpenoid saponins, acaciaside A and acaciaside B which killed in vitro 97% microfilaria of Setaria cervi in 100 min at 4mg/ml concentration and 100% of adults in 35 min. The drug, when administered orally at 100 mg/kg on rats, in which S. cervi adults were implanted intra-peritoneally, increased the blood mf count by 1.5-fold after the first phase of treatment for 10 days. Following the third phase of treatment and thereafter, the mf density was reduced by more than 80%. No toxic effect of the saponins was observed in rats. The rise in mf count indicated that the drug induced a very high physiological stress on the adult worms which increased the rate of discharge of the mf before impending death. The treated rats on autopsy did not show any adult worms.