Primaquine decreased plasma concentration of ritonavir: single- and repeated-dose study in Sprague Dawley rats.

Background: The present study was aimed to explore the effects of ritonavir and primaquine combination given as a singledose or repeated-dose compared to ritonavir alone on ritonavir plasma concentration in the rats. Methods: In single-dose study, 30 male Spraque Dawley rats were randomly allocated to receive ritonavir 20 mg/kg BW or ritonavir 20 mg/kg BW + primaquine 1.2 mg/kg BW or ritonavir 20 mg/kg BW + ketokonazole 10 mg/kg BW. Ketokonazole was used as positive control of ritonavir metabolism inhibitor. In the repeated-dose study, thirty Spraque Dawley male rats were randomly allocated to receive ritonavir 20 mg/kg BW/day or ritonavir 20 mg/kg BW/day + primaquine 1.2 mg/kg BW/day or ritonavir 20 mg/kg BW/day + rifampicin 100 mg/kg BW/day. Rifampicin was used as a positive control of ritonavir metabolism inducer. Results: In the single-dose study, ketokonazole increased the area under the plasma concentration (AUC) of ritonavir (↑114.8%, p< 0.05), while primaquine tended to decrease the AUC of ritonavir (↓ 32.6%, p> 0.05). Repeated-dose study showed that rifampicin decreases the AUC of ritonavir (↓ 42.8%, p< 0.001), and primaquine decreased the AUC of ritonavir plasma concentration (↓ 46.6%, p< 0.001). Conclusion: Concomitant administration of primaquine and ritonavir decreases the AUC of ritonavir. This effect may result in the insufficient concentration of ritonavir as anti-HIV, which may lead to treatment failure with ritonavir.

Immunogenicity characterization of mononucleated cells originated from umbillical cord blood.

Aim Umbilical cord blood mononucleated (UCBMC) cells has been shown to be the stem cells originated from umbilical cord blood. To date, UCBMC has been introduced as an alternative source for stem cells used in autologous and allogeneic transplantations. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that UCBMCs required less stringent selection for HLA matches between donor and recipient with less cases of graft versus host reaction. In this study, UCBMCs are known to contain many stem cells, were characterized and compared to peripheral blood for their immunogenic profile. Method To elucidate the potential of UCBMC alloreactivity, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay was performed. The donor and effectors cells were HLA-typed using PCR method to determine their alloreactivity. Further, to distinguish the level of HLA class I and II expression flowcytometry was done using monoclonal antibodies against those molecules. All the analyse were carried out on UCBMCs and peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs). Results The result of MLR assay showed that there was less IFN-γ secretion detected in the co-cultured medium in the presence of UCBMCs compared to PBMCs counterpart, indicating less possible rejection of UCBMC. Further, we found that there were only 1-3 alleles of HLA match (out of 8 alleles) among the PBMCs and UCBMCs. By using flowcytometry assay, we could further demonstrate lower HLA Class I expression level with less amount of HLA Class II expressing cells in UCBMC compared to those in PBMCs. Conclusion These findings clearly demonstrate the low immunogenicity of UCBMCs, based on the low level of secreted IFN-γ in the MLR assay, low expression level of HLA Class I, and small population of HLA Class II expressing cells. The outcomes from this study would raise a better understanding in the usage of umbilical cord blood as an alternative source of stem cells for allogeneic transplantation.

The effect of lycopene on the total cytochrome P450, CYP1A2 and CYP2E1.

Aim Some carotenoids such as canthaxantin, astaxanthin and beta apo-8’-carotenal were reported to have modulatory effect on the cytochrome P450. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of lycopene, a nonprovitamin A carotenoid, on microsomal cytochrome P450, CYP1A2 and CYP2E1. Methods Total cytochrome P450 levels, CYP1A2 and CYP2E1-catalyzed reactions (acetanilide 4-hydroxylation and p-nitrophenol hydroxylation) were studied in the liver microsomes of male Sprague Dawley rats. Microsomes were prepared using differential centrifugation combined with calcium aggregation method. Lycopene was orally administered in the dosages of 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kgBW/day for 14 days in a repeated fashion. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test. Results Total cytochrome P450 level and acetanilide 4-hydroxylase activity were unaffected by any of the treatments. The CYP2E1 probe enzyme (p-nitrophenol hydroxylase) was signifi cantly reduced by repeated administration of 100 mg/kgBW/day lycopene (7.88 + 2.04 vs 12.26 + 2.77 n mol/min/mg prot). Conclusion The present results suggest that lycopene does not affect the total cytochrome P450 or CYP1A2 activity but it inhibits the activity of CYP2E1 (p-nitrophenol hydroxylase) in the rat.

The effect of curcumin on lipid level in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Aim: to evaluate the effects of curcumin on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride in acute coronary syndrome patients. Methods: this study were conducted at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSUPN-CM), Persahabatan Hospital, MMC Hospital and Medistra Hospital, Jakarta. The study started from 1 May 2005 to 5 May 2006. Study Design was an interventional study which was a randomized double blind controlled trial to evaluate the effects of curcumin administration at escalating doses (low dose 3 times 15 mg/day, moderate dose 3 times 30 mg/day, and high dose 3 times 60 mg/day) on total cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol level, and triglyceride level in ACS patients. Results: a 75 ACS patients undergoing randomization participated in randomized controlled trial (RCT). Of the 75 ACS patients participating in that RCT, 67 received care at RSCM, 6 at Persahabatan Hospital, and 2 at MMC Hospital. As many as 63 patients were able to participate in the RCT up to its conclusion. There was no significant difference in age, sex, risk factor of dyslipidemia, DM, smoking, hypertension, CHD history in family, height, body weight and body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure in the four groups of patients. This showed that the randomization performed was reasonably good. There was no significant difference in laboratory parameters, such as total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, blood glucose 2 hours PP, glyco Hb, triglyceride, Hb, Ht, leukocyte, thrombocyte, ureum, creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, in the four groups. There was no significant difference in types of ACS and locations of ACS in the four groups as well. There was no significant difference in statin medicatios (simvastatin), aspirin ACE inhibitor, and DM medications in the four groups. No patient used tiazolidindion. No significant difference was found in the percentage of compliance in the four groups of patients. The effects of curcumin on total cholesterol level and LDL cholesterol level, there was a trend that the lower the dose of curcumin, the higher the effect of reduction. For HDL cholesterol level, there was also a trend that the lower the dose of curcumin, the higher the effect of increase in HDL cholesterol level. However, for triglyceride the pattern was not the same, and the group of moderate-dose curcumin shoed the minimal effect of increase, followed by the low-dose curcumin and finally the high-dose curcumin that showed the highest effect of increase. Conclusion: the administration of low-dose curcumin showed a trend of reduction in total cholesterol level and LDL cholesterol level in ACS patients.

Subchronic oral toxicity study of Vegeta in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The objective of this study was to determine the safety and toxic effect of Vegeta giving orally for a period of 90 days in rats. Eighty rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were randomly devided into 4 groups. Each group consists of 20 rats, 10 male and 10 female rats. Each group received 0.25 g/ kgBW; 0.50 g / kgBW; 1.00 g / kgBW Vegeta (in aquadest solution) respectively, and the control group received 5 mL /kgBW aquadest , given orally by gastric tube for 90 days. The rat’s body weight and behavior were daily evaluated. On the 90th day, the rats were decapitated and the blood samples were withdrawn for evaluation of Hemoglobin, leucocyte, SGPT, SGOT, creatinine, and ureum concentration. Visceral organs were also removed, being weighted and were examined microscopically. The results showed that Vegeta with dose of 0.25 g / kgBW; 0.50 g / kgBW, and 1.00 g / kgBW did not affect body weight, liver and renal function compared to control group. There was no significant difference for hemoglobin value compared to control group, but the number of leucocyte increased in 1.00 g / kgBW Vegeta dose group, which was possibly caused by infection. In Vegeta group, there was different spleen and brain weight in male rats, and different lung and heart weight in female rats compared to the control group. However, since it was not dose-related and there was no specific abnormality in microscopic examination compared to the control group, it was not indicated as Vegeta toxic effect. The No observed effect level (NOEL) value of Vegeta for 90 day oral administration in male and female rats of Sprague-Dawley strain was 1.00 g / kgBW.

The prevention of curcumin against rat liver mitochondrial swelling induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide.

Liver diseases have been a medical problem which is difficult to manage. Some of the problems in the treatment of these diseases lie in the lack of reliable drug available. Curcumin, an active ingredient of the rhizomes of plant Curcuma has been investigated in the treatment of various disorders incuding liver diseases. The therapeutic effects of curcumin on liver diseases have been thought to be associated to its antioxidative properties. In the present study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on mitochondrial swelling in vitro induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). Liver mitochondria were homogeneously isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats (the relative specific activity of succinate dehydrogenase was 35.73 ± 2.78). Addition of 90 µM of t-BuOOH caused a typical 2-phase swelling of the mitochondria. The pattern of swelling was influenced by various factors such as buffer composition, concentrations of t-BuOOH, amount of isolation buffer and mitochondrial proteins and incubation temperature.The swelling could be reduced by as much as 85 ± 3% by 2.50 µM of curcumin. At lower (1.25 µM) or higher (5.00 µM) concentrations, the protection against swelling by curcumin were less effective (respectively were 41 ± 3% and 77 ± 6%). Swelling might occur due to the opening of mitochondrial transition pore and could be an initial indication in the cascade process leading to cell death. The inhibition of t-BuOOH-induced mitochondrial swelling by curcumin might be because of the antioxidant effects of the compound.