ABSTRACT
Radioprotective drugs of plant origin with bioactives are a boon against ionizing radiation injuries. Tragia involucrata L. (Indian stinging nettle), has medicinal properties and is traditionally used to treat various ailments. Here, we evaluated the radioprotective efficacy of the methanolic whole plant extract of T. involucrata against the damaging effects of gamma radiation. Cultured lymphocytes were treated with methanolic extract for one hour and irradiated with (1-4 Gy) gamma radiation. This pretreatment of lymphocytes with methanolic extract significantly increased the cell viability at 10 μg/mL and reduced the damage to the treated cells compared to the radiation control. In addition, a significant decrease in comet parameters (Comet length and percent DNA in tail and olive moment) and formation of micronuclei (P <0.001) were observed. It also decreased the levels of malondialdehyde, while regulating the status of the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and glutathione transferase (P <0.05) when compared to the radiation control. Similarly, a decrease in caspase 3 cellular activity compared to the radiation control was observed. The results indicated the methanolic extract to be an effective radioprotector up to 4 Gy, by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme levels, scavenging the production of reactive oxygen species, reducing the damaging effects of radiation by increasing the DNA repair mechanism, and by inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Therefore, methanolic extract of the Indian stinging nettle, Tragia involucrata L. has been proposed as a candidate with a radioprotective property, and further study on animal models would strengthen this claim
ABSTRACT
Aims and Objectives: We evaluated the incidence and implications of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients above 40 years presenting for valve surgery. Materials and Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2010, coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in all such patients ( n = 140). Results: Coronaries were normal in 119 (Group I), and diseased in 21 (Group II). In Group II, 11 patients were < 50 years, 3 were between 51 and 60 years and 7 were > 61 years. In 8 of these, only valve replacement was performed. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and aortic valve replacement was performed in 10, CABG and mitral valve replacement in 2 and CABG with mitral and aortic valve replacement in one. The number of vessels grafted in these 13 patients was 1.54 ± 0.66. Hypertension and diabetes were significant ( P < 0.05) in this group. The mortality was significant in Group II (11 vs. 6, P < 0.05). Six patients died in Group II, 5 had severe aortic stenosis and severe left ventricular hypertrophy; the sixth patient had severe mitral stenosis and was in CHF. The predominant cause of death was congestive heart failure (CHF). Conclusions: Fifteen percentage of these patients had CAD. CAG should be performed routinely in these patients while presenting for valve surgery. Combined CABG and valve replacement carries high mortality (28.5%), especially in patients with aortic stenosis. The study suggests that the cardio-protective measures should be applied more rigorously in this subset of patients.