Prevalence of genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk and drug response in the Southern Indian population of Kerala.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study reports the prevalence of five clinically significant variants associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, and variable responses of individuals to commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs in a South Indian population from the state of Kerala. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA isolated from 100 out‑patient samples from Kerala were sequenced to examine the frequency of clinically relevant polymorphisms in the genes MYBPC3 (cardiomyopathy), SLCO1B1 (statin‑induced myopathy), CYP2C9, VKORC1 (response to warfarin) and CYP2C19 (response to clopidogrel). RESULTS: Our analyses revealed the frequency of a 25 bp deletion variant of MYBPC3 associated with risk of cardiomyopathy was 7%, and the SLCO1B1 “C” allele associated with risk for statin‑induced myopathy was 15% in this sample group. Among the other variants associated with dose‑induced toxicity of warfarin, VKORC1 (c.1639G>A), was detected at 22%, while CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*2 alleles were present at a frequency of 15% and 3% respectively. Significantly, the tested sample population showed high prevalence (66%) of CYP2C19*2 variant, which determines response to clopidogrel therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified that certain variants associated with cardiovascular disease and related drug response in the five genes, especially those in VKORC1, CYP2C19 and MYBPC3, are highly prevalent in the Kerala population, with almost 2 times higher prevalence of CYP2C19*2 variant compared with other regions in the country. Since the variants chosen in this study have relevance in disease phenotype and/or drug response, and are detected at a higher frequency, this study is likely to encourage clinicians to perform genetic testing before prescribing therapy.

Radical scavenging and in-vitro hemolytic activity of aqueous extracts of selected acacia species.

The aqueous extracts of three Acacia species were screened for their free radical scavenging and in vitro hemolytic activity. The total phenolic content was also determined in all the three species. The total phenolics were estimated spectrophotometrically based on the reduction of phosphomolybdate ion of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and was expressed as milligram equivalent of Gallic acid. The radical scavenging activity was evaluated by DPPH assay. Acacia nilotica showed maximum radical scavenging activity with EC50 12.5. Hemolytic activity of the aqueous extracts was screened against normal human erythrocytes. Aqueous extract of A. leucophloea possessed minimum hemolytic activity where as A.nilotica showed highest hemolytic activity.

Antidiabetic activity of mollugo nudicaulis against alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the in alloxan (120 mg/kg b.wt) induced diabetic rats. The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Mollugo nudicaulis (200mg/kg) administered orally to the diabetic rats for 21 days, produced significant decrease in the level of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), lipid peroxidation, liver glycogen, serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and liver marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP. It also produced significant increase in High density lipoprotein (HDL), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Reduced glutathione (GSH), Vitamin C, which clearly show the antioxidant property of extract. The effect of the ethanolic the extract of Mollugo nudicaulis was compared with the standard drug Glibenclamide (1.25mg/kg b.wt).