Purification and partial characterization of a fructose-binding lectin from the leaves of Euphorbia helioscopia

A lectin was purified from leaves of Euphorbia helioscopia, by a combination of ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. On ion exchange using a DEAE- cellulose column in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, the bound protein was eluted with a linear sodium chloride gradient of 0.1 M to 0.5 M. Further purification of the lectin was achieved by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Euphorbia helioscopia lectin [EHL] agglutinates only chick erythrocytes, showing no agglutination of all human blood group erythrocytes. The EHL induced hemagglutination is inhibited by fructose. The purified protein showed one band, both in non-denaturing PAGE and SDS-PAGE establishing the charge and size homogeneities of the lectin preparation. The molecular mass of the lectin as indicated by SDS-PAGE was approximately 31 kDa and that estimated from G-100 gel filtration chromatography was about 65 kDa establishing that the lectin is a homodimer. The lectin was stable within a temperature range of 0°C-40°C and exhibited a narrow range of pH stability, being optimally active at around pH 7. EHL also possesses antimicrobial activity and is an inhibitor of bacterial growth particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli

Radical scavenging and antibacterial activity of Arnebia benthamii methanol extract

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Arnebia benthamii (A. benthamii) whole plant.@*METHODS@#Plasmid damage was analyzed by agarose gell electrophoresis. Calf thymus DNA was monitored by TBARS formation. DPPH, reducing power and lipid peroxidation was evaluated by using standard procedures. Antibacterial assay was monitored by disc diffusion method.@*RESULTS@#DPPH radical scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging potential of the plant revealed that the extract to be active radical scavenger. Reducing (Fe(3+)-Fe(2+)) power and lipid peroxidation inhibition efficiency (TBARS assay) of the extract was also evaluated and the extract showed promising activity in preventing lipid peroxidation and might prevent oxidative damages to biomolecules. The extract offered a significant protection against plasmid and calf thymus DNA damage induced by hydroxyl radicals. The extract was also evaluated on different bacterial strains and the maximum antibacterial activity was exhibited against Escherichia coli (E. coli) when compared with standard drug.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These findings demonstrate that the methanol extract of A. benthamii has excellent anti-oxidant activities and could be considered as a potential source of lead molecules for pharmaceutical industries.

Comparison of hematological parameters in untreated and treated subclinical hypothyroidism and primary hypothyroidism patients

Thyroid hormones play an important physiological role in human metabolism. Erythrocyte abnormalities are frequently associated with thyroid disorder. However, they are rarely investigated and related to the subclinical and primary hypothyroidism in Kashmiri Patients. In this study an attempt was made to study hematological parameters in untreated and treated subclinical hypothyroidism and primary hypothyroidism patients. This retrospective study included 600 subjects, among which were untreated subclinical hypothyroid [n=110], treated subclinical hypothyroid [n=110], untreated primary hypothyroid [n=100], treated primary hypothyroid [n=100] and euthyroid [n=180]. This study was carried out at Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College Srinagar. The hematological parameters and thyroid profile of the subjects were assessed by the Sysmex [Italy] and ECLIA [Germany] 2010 automatic analyzer. Mean, standard deviation [SD], analysis of variance [Two-way ANOVA], and multiple comparisons were used to report our results, with p<0.05 or p<0.01 considered as statistically significant. In this study group we compared the hematological parameters in these groups, untreated subclinical hypothyroid, treated subclinical hypothyroid, untreated primary hypothyroid, treated primary hypothyroid and euthyroid. We found that hematological parameters like Hb, RBC, MCV, HCT, RDW,RBC% were significantly increased in untreated subclinical hypothyroidism and untreated primary hypothyroidsm, with the p value being less than 0.05 whereas, in treated SCH and Pr. Hypothyroid, results were insignificant. The results reported in these groups as mean +/- SD, were statistically tested by ANOVA and multiple comparison tests. In untreated subclinical hypothyroid the values were: Hb [10.83 +/- 1.33 g/dl], RBC [4.21 +/- 0.66 10[6]/micro l], MCV 2.2%], [84.56 +/- 6.84 fL], HCT [38.5 +/- 2.2%], RDW [17.91 +/- 2.37 fL], RBC% [84.36 +/- 13.2%] and in untreated primary hypothyroid, Hb [10.73 +/- 0.86 g/dl], RBC [4.63 +/- 0.51 10[6]/micro l], MCV [83.34 +/- 6.92 fL], HCT [38.6 +/- 2.6%], RDW [14.93 +/- 5.47 fL], RBC% [92.63 +/- 10.30%] suggesting that these patients were at risk of anemia and other erythrocyte abnormalities. MCV is an inexpensive approach to study the types of anemia and explore related information like production, destruction, loss and morphological changes of RBC'S. The thyroid dysfunction is frequently associated with anemia in subclinical hypothyroidism and primary hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism [SCH] is associated with serious complications. Substantial numbers of patients with the risk of SCH could be getting converted into primary hypothyroidism. Such conditions should be identified and corrected. On the other hand, their presence could move to a thyroid dysfunction, allowing its early management