Cytotoxic, embryotoxic, insecticidal and anti-microbial activities of standardized Areca catechu nut

The study was aimed at evaluating various biological actions of widely consumed Areca catechu nut. The nut's ethanolic extract exhibited cytotoxicity [lung cancer cell line], embryotoxicity [chick embryo], phytotoxicity [Lemna minor], insecticidal [Rhyzopertha dominica], anti-bacterial [Pseudomonas aeruginosa], anti-fungal [Microsporum canis] and mitogenic [human blood lymphocytes] actions. The standardization results revealed presence of 1.7 microg arecoline per mg of extract. In conclusion, the Areca nut is endowed with both harmful and beneficial biological actions. Keeping in view its wide consumption and ease of availability, the aforesaid information should be channelized for health and agricultural benefits

Cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations induced by methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa and its pure compounds on meristematic cells of Allium species

Cuscuta reflexa [Convolvulaceae], is commonly known as amarbel or akashbel. In Bangladesh and Nepal some of the tribes use C. reflexa against edema, body ache, cancer, skin infections and liver disorders. Despite its traditional uses there is no information regarding genotoxic effects of either the plant extract or its pure compounds. Methanolic extract of C. reflexa [MECR] and pure compounds derived from it namely, odoroside H, neritaloside, and strospeside, were evaluated in Allium cepa L. and A. sativum L. for their effects on root growth, root apical meristem mitotic index [MI], and chromosomal aberrations [CAs]. In this study, we adopted a new method of calculating percent change in root length. MECR caused a concentration- and time- dependent inhibition in root length at 100 - 10000micro g/ml in A. cepa root. It was accompanied by a subsequent decline in MI which is an indicative of its cytotoxic effect. On the contrary, at low concentrations a significant rise in root length was noticeable. In A. sativum, MECR also reduced the root length having IC 50 values [tilde]8 x and 4.3 x lower than A. cepa. A variety of CAs were evident in both Allium systems after treatment with MECR, odoroside H and neritaloside. Thus in MECR, cardenolides glycosides, i.e. odoroside H and neritaloside could be accountable for its genotoxicity

Cuscuta reflexa roxb. and its pure compounds-induced micronuclei in plant cells and downregulation of EGFR expression in NCI-H460 Cell Line

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. [Convolvulaceae] has medicinal applications used in treating wide range of diseases including cancer. The methanolic extract of C. reflexa Roxb. [MECR] grown on host Nerium oleander L.] and its pure compounds namely, odoroside H [1], neritaloside [2] and strospeside [3] were assessed for genotoxicity using mitotic meristematic root tip cells of Allium species [A. cepa and A. sativum] and meiotic pollen mother cells from Tradescantia pallida var purpurea. The effect of pure compounds were also evaluated in human non-small cell lung cancer cell line [NCI-H460] on tumor suppressor gene [p53] and epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] expression using agarose gel electrophoresis. The MECR between 0.1 and 1 mg/ml was ineffective in mitotically dividing cells, whereas in meiotic pollen mother cells, higher concentrations [5-20 mg/ml] caused significant induction of micronuclei [MN]. In both mitotic and meiotic cells, odoroside H and neritaloside induced significant rise in MN frequency, however, strospeside had no effect. The genotoxic potential in both cells was in the order of: [1] = [2] > MECR > [3]. MECR and odoroside H [1] caused dose dependent growth inhibition in NCI-H460 cells with GI50 of 0.92 +/- 0.04 microg/ml and of 0.08+/-0.01 microg/ml, respectively. The antiproliferative action of MECR [1 microg/ml], odoroside H [1] [0.14 microM], neritaloside [2] [.16 microM] and strospeside [3] [0.5 microM] in comparison to control, significantly downregulated expression of epithelial growth factor receptor [EGFR] by two fold with no affect on p53 gene expression. This study clearly demonstrates that MECR is genotoxic at higher doses and should be taken into account if used for medicinal purposes. The mitotic cells of Allium species were more sensitive [2x] in MN formation than meiotic cells of T. pallida pu. Furthermore, MECR and pure compounds possesses antiproliferative activity against NCI-H460 cells that might be mediated through EGFR-dependent but p53-independent pathways?

Genotoxic evaluation of linkus polyherbal cough preparation in bone marrow of Wistar rats

A polyherbal Linkus cough syrup is popularly used against various respiratory ailments, however there is no information regarding its genotoxicity. Thus, Linkus extract [1 and 5 g/kg] was administered orally to Wistar rats [n=9-12] for 3, 7 and 14 consecutive days with 24h intervals. Negative and positive control animals received water or cyclophosphamide [20 mg/kg], respectively. At the end of experiment, rat femora were removed and marrow was collected in Hanks balanced salt solution, smeared onto glass slides and fixed in methanol [100%]. After drying, stained with Giemsa [5%] followed by the addition of DPX [A mixture of distyrene [a polystyrene], a plasticizer [tricresyl phosphate] and xylene] and observed under microscope at 100x magnification. In all the slides, normochromatic erythrocytes [PCE] with and without micronuclei were identified; their frequency was noted and photographed. In cyclophosphamide treated animals, number of both PCE and NCE with micronuclei increased significantly as compared to control indicating its genotoxic action. On the contrary, in the Linkus treated [1 and 5 g/kg] animals the frequency of micronuclei was similar to that of control group. Since, there was no difference in the duration of treatment with Linkus at 1 and 5 g/kg, the data was pooled. Additionally, mice [n=10/sex] treated orally with either 1 or 5 g/kg of Linkus showed neither behavioral changes nor mortality for a period of 1 week. It is concluded that Linkus [5 g/kg] in acute toxicity test is non-toxic and in rat bone marrow test it did not induce micronuclei formation and hence is non-genotoxic, thereby supporting its safe usage in humans

Congenital constriction ring of limbs in subjects with history of maternal substance use

Congenital Constriction Ring [CCR] is a rare malformation which manifests itself in the form of ring-like constrictive bands. Due to its heterogeneous nature, its etiology remains unclear. Here, we present a series of seven independent individuals afflicted with CCR, which primarily involved the digits. The phenotypic manifestations included terminal phalangeal reduction, anonychia, digit hypoplasia, and acrosyndactyly. Mesoaxial digits in hands and preaxial digits in feet were most frequently affected. Camptodactyly and clubfoot were witnessed in four and one subject, respectively. Curiously, mothers of six of these subjects revealed that they consumed copious amounts of Multani mitti[Fuller's clay] and/or Naswar[nonsmoke-tobacco], during their respective pregnancies. Maternal substance use during pregnancy is not an unusual practice, however, its relationship with CCR as pregnancy outcome remains unexplored. Case-control studies are warranted to elucidate the relationship between the exposure to these substances and the etiology of CCR and/or other limb defects in the offspring

Fresh and aged human lymphocyte metaphase slides are equally usable for GTG banding

The identification of chromosomes for routine cytogenetic analysis is based on quality of metaphases and good banding pattern

Fresh slides of human lymphocytes have been shown to produce good bands for the identification of chromosomes morphology. G-bands by Trypsin using Giemsa [GTG] banding of aged slides is generally considered hard to get desired band pattern of chromosomes persistently. The current study is focused on GTG banding of aged slides. A total of 340 subjects including 290 primary infertile and 50 fertile were selected. The blood samples were drawn aseptically for cytogenetic analysis

Lymphocytes were cultured and GTG banding was done on 1440 glass slides

Giemsa trypsin banding of aged slides were done by adjusting average trypsin time for each month according to the slide age and metaphase concentration

Correlation analyses showed a significant and positive correlation between slide ageing and trypsin pre-treatment time. The results of this study suggest that, the fresh and aged human lymphocyte metaphases are equally usable for GTG banding