ABSTRACT
A comprehensive in vitro study involving antiglycation, antioxidant and anti-diabetic assays was carried out in mature fruits of strawberry. The effect of aqueous extract of mature strawberry fruits on glycation of guanosine with glucose and fructose with or without oxidizing entities like reactive oxygen species was analyzed. Spectral studies showed that glycation and/or fructation of guanosine was significantly inhibited by aqueous extract of strawberry. The UV absorbance of the glycation reactions was found to be maximum at 24 hrs. and decreased consecutively for 48, 72 and 96 hours. Inhibition of oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species was also observed in presence of the plant extract. To our knowledge, antiglycation activity of strawberry fruit with reference to guanosine is being demonstrated for the first time. To determine the antioxidant activity of the plant extract, in vitro antioxidant enzymes assays (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and ascorbic acid oxidase) and antioxidant assays (DPPH, superoxide anion scavenging activity and xanthine oxidase) were performed. Maximum inhibition activity of 79.36%, 65.62% and 62.78% was observed for DPPH, superoxide anion scavenging and xanthine oxidase, respectively. In antidiabetic assays, IC50 value for alpha – amylase and alpha – glucosidase activity of fruit extract of strawberry was found to be 86.47 ± 1.12μg/ml and 76.83 ± 0.93 μg/ml, respectively. Thus, the aqueous extract of strawberry showed antiglycation, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties indicating that strawberry fruits, as a dietary supplement, may be utilized towards management of diabetes.
ABSTRACT
Back ground: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, causes changes in peripheral blood markers with slight abnormal lipid profile including the production of different enzymes that are released by stromal, epithelial or inflammatory cells. These changes reflect metabolic changes in the gingival and periodontium in inflammation. Design of study: This important cohort study includes 54 subjects as chronic periodontitis patients along with 26 healthy age matched controls of both sexes, In this study, different peripheral blood markers (Neutrophils,WBC,RBC,Thrombocytes and Hb%), major inflammation markers (plasma Homocysteine, CRP),Total lipid profile (Cholesterol, TGL,HDL, LDL) and salivary enzymes (CK, LDH,AST, ALT, ALP, ACP and GGT) are studied to evaluate diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic effects in this disease. Results: Due to stasis of blood stream in periodontitis causes margination of central blood stream cells and finally there will be significant correlation in Neutrophils (r=0.342), WBC(r=0.431),thrombocytes(r=0.216),RBC(r=-0.183)Hblevel(r=-0.162).Inflammation markers and total lipid profile also show significant positive correlation: plasma homocystein (r=0.763),C-reactive protein(r=0.842),Total cholesterol,TGL,LDL (r=0.134,0.529,0.293) except HDL(r= -0.734). Salivary enzymes (CK-0.923, LDH-0.314, AST-0.841, ALT-0.832,ALP-0.782, ACP-0.826 and GGT-0.794) with gingival index and pocket depth. Conclusion: By studying this simple, economical clinical parameters we can assess the damage of periodontal tissue and useful in prediction of future risk of atherosclerosis in chronic periodontal patients.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Nestin is an intermediate filament protein expressed in undifferentiated cells during the development of brain and is considered as a marker for neuroepithelial stem cells. Expression of this protein in various CNS tumour cells suggests the possibility of existence of tumour stem cell modulating the evolution. We carried out an immunohistochemical study to demonstrate the expression of nestin and its co-expression with neuronal and glial intermediate filament and correlate with the grade of malignancy. METHODS: Formalin fixed, paraffin processed sections from two human foetuses, 16 brain tumours of both neuronal and glial lineage and two metastatic tumours were immunostained with polyclonal antibody to nestin. Serial sections from primary brain tumours were also stained with monoclonal antibody to neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Fluorescent double labeling was carried out on four cases using laser confocal microscopy, to document co-localization of nestin with other intermediate filaments in the tumour cells. RESULTS: Nestin expression was observed along the paraventricular zone of human foetuses and in brain tumours of both glial and neuronal lineage, of both high and low grades of malignancy. In addition, mature dysplastic spinal motor neurons adjacent to tumour and cerebellar Purkinje cells also expressed nestin along with neurofilament. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Nestin expression was noted in both low and high grade brain tumours and dysplastic neurons and did not parallel the malignant grade of the tumour. The expression of nestin in tumour cells and dysplastic neurons suggests aberrant expression of antigenically primitive proteins in cells to facilitate remodelling of the cell and migration. More studies are needed to elucidate the concept.