Humoral immune and adjuvant responses of mucosally-administered Tinospora cordifolia immunomodulatory protein in BALB/c mice

Background: Argyreia boseana Santapau and Patel commonly known as Kumbharao belongs to the familyof Convolvulaceae. The plant is rare in distribution and found chiefly in the dediapada region of Gujarat.Traditionally it is used by the tribals of south Gujarat forest region in the treatment of various diseases ofthe nervous system. In order to study the scientific basis of the plants effect we set out to investigate theeffect of the plant on ageing organisms and used Caenorhabditis elegans as a model.Objective: To evaluate the effect of crude extract of leaves, prepared from A. boseana on oxidative stress,thermal stress, longevity and in vivo gene expression of C. elegans.Material and Methods: Plant extracts was prepared by sonication based method using solvent ethanol:water. Longevity experiments were carried out in liquid S media. Oxidative stress was induced byparaquat.Result: Results indicate no increase in the normal life span of C. elegans. However, A. boseana significantlyinduces stress tolerance and increased the mean lifespan of worms during thermal and oxidative stress.Additionally A. boseana was also able to up regulate the stress associated gene gst-4.Conclusion: Thus the present study, for the first time, unravels the anti-stress and ROS modulating effectof A. boseana.

Concentration of cations in different parts of male reproductive system and their influence on in vitro sperm motility in lizard, Mabuya carinata Schneider.

Concentrations of mono- and divalent cations in the testis, three different regions of the epididymis and the vas deferens of lizard, M. carinata were determined. The concentrations of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ increased gradually from testis to vas deferens. However, no significant variation in the levels of Mg2+ was observed between testis and anterior epididymis, and between posterior epididymis and vas deferens. Further, in an in vitro sperm motility study, wherein different concentrations of the cations were tested, the maximum forward progressive motility of posterior epididymal spermatozoa was observed following treatment with 140 mMNaCl, 25 mM KCl, and 50 mM CaCl2 whereas, treatment with magnesium brought about a decrease in sperm motility. The results indicate that Na+, K+, and Ca2+ have stimulatory effect at an optimum dose, whereas Mg2+ has an inhibitory effect even at very low concentration, on sperm motility in the lizard M carinata.