Portulaca oleracea L. extract ameliorates the cisplatin-induced toxicity in chick embryonic liver.

Cisplatin, a cytotoxic agent used in treating cancer, at high doses induces hepatotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the protective role of aqueous extract of aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea L. (Po) against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in chick embryonic liver. A group of 12 day old chick embryos, acclimatized to laboratory conditions were treated with a single dose of cisplatin (100 µg), while another group received Po extract at different doses (1 and 3 mg) 6 h prior to cisplatin treatment. The biochemical parameters were estimated after 24 and 72 h of incubation. A dose-dependent increase in biochemical parameters, such as alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes levels like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-s-transferase and reduced glutathione were observed in cisplatin-treated animals, indicating a definite damage to the liver tissue. Pre-treatment with Po extract was found to provide significant protection against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, as evident by the recovered levels of the altered changes in the measured biochemical parameters.

Embryo protective effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit extract in adriamycin-induced oxidative stress.

The possible protective role of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit extract which has shown antioxidant capacity higher than that of red wine and green tea was evaluated against adriamycin-induced oxidative stress in chick embryos. Adriamycin (ADR), an anthracycline broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic drug is used for the treatment of variety of cancers; however, its prolonged use is limited by an irreversible, dose-dependant and progressive cardiomyopathy, hepatotoxicity and general toxicity to other organs in human beings, due to oxidative stress. The morphological changes (malformation of different organs), changes in body weight, volume of amniotic fluid (AF) and biochemical parameters of AF were studied after 24 and 48 h of incubation by comparing ADR alone and pomegranate fruit extract pretreated groups with their respective controls of 12 days old chick embryos. ADR alone at a dose of 70 microg/egg showed a significant dose versus time- dependent reduction in body weight, volume of AF. A dose-related increase in embryo gross morphological deformities and significant changes in the levels of biochemical parameters in AF were observed in ADR-treated group. These changes were significantly ameliorated to normal by pre-administration of pomegranate fruit extract at a dose of 200 microg/egg. Thus, the present study demonstrated the embryo protective nature of pomegranate fruit extract against ADR-induced oxidative stress.

Prevalence of pediatric HIV in New Delhi.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in North India, as there are scanty reports from this part of India. METHODS: The prevalence of HIV infection was determined by serological tests for HIV antibodies in children born to a seropositive mother or suffering from chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive or disseminated tuberculosis. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve children were tested of which ten were seropositive (8.9%). This included six children born to seropositive mother (22%), two with chronic diarrhea (4%), one with failure to thrive (5%) and one child with disseminated tuberculosis (6.6%). CONCLUSION: HIV infection is an emerging reality in New Delhi. A clinically directed screening can help detect more cases.

Detection of superoxide dismutase isozymes in normal and X-irradiated chick amniotic fluid by using isoelectric focussing.

Isoelectric focussing of amniotic fluid of chick system over pH gradient of 4-6 revealed presence of 8 superoxide dismutases. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes were identified as one major isozyme and other seven were minor ones. Higher expression of SOD (major isozyme) with exposure of 1000 R was studied. The isoelectric point (pI) of major SOD isozyme in control (5) differs from radiation exposed samples (5.12). Hence in radiation exposed amniotic fluid showed more pronounced SOD major isozyme, than control amniotic fluid. It is clearly evident that the SOD isozyme with X-irradiation having different isoelectric points, may lead to modification of the amino acid composition and charges of amino acids in the protein structure of SOD. So, the higher SOD isozyme expression has a role in defence action against free radical damage by X-irradiation during embryonic development.