Protective effect of aqueous suspension of dried latex of Calotropis procera against oxidative stress and renal damage in diabetic rats

Calotropis species have been used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment of diseases of the liver and abdomen. In view of the antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties of an aqueous suspension obtained from the dried latex of Calotropis procera, the present study was carried out to evaluate its efficacy in affording protection against alloxan induced changes in rat kidney. A single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg) in rats produced hyperglycemia within 3 days and altered kidney functions over a period of 90 days. Daily oral administration of the aqueous suspension (100 and 400 mg/kg) in diabetic rats produced anti-hyperglycemic effect that was comparable to that of glibenclamide (10 mg/kg). Unlike glibenclamide, the aqueous suspension did not increase the serum insulin levels in diabetic rats. However, it produced a marked reduction in the levels of urinary glucose and protein and normalized the renal tissue levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) in diabetic rats and the effect was comparable to that of glibenclamide. The protection afforded by the aqueous suspension was also evident from the histological analysis of the renal tissue. Our study shows that by exhibiting antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic property the aqueous suspension of dried latex of C. procera affords protection against the complications associated with diabetes.

Evaluation of cytotoxic potential of latex of Calotropis procera and Podophyllotoxin in Allum cepa root model

In the present study we have utilized the Allium cepa root tip meristem model to evaluate the cytotoxic and anti-mitotic activities of latex of Calotropis procera (DL) and podophyllotoxin. Standard cyto-toxic drug cyclophosphamide and non-cytotoxic drugs cyproheptadine and aspirin served as controls. Like cyclophosphamide, both DL and podophyllotoxin significantly inhibited the growth of roots and mitotic activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, podophyllotoxin was more potent in this regard and produced root decay. Cyproheptadine and aspirin, on the other hand, showed a marginal effect on the root growth and mitotic activity at much higher concentrations

Gene therapy.

Gene therapy replaces or supplements the activity of a resident defective or missing gene by a cloned functional one. A functional gene may be delivered to the target tissues ex vivo or in vivo using various physical methods and several chemical and biological vehicles. In this article we present an overview of different experimental models and the progress made in clinical studies on gene therapy and discuss the prospects of the antisense approach and the ethical concerns related to the technique.

Inhibitory effects of formaldehyde on the reproductive system of male rats.

Formaldehyde, when administered to rats at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight/day for a period of 30 days, resulted in a significant fall in sperm motility, viability and count. In addition, the DNA content was significantly lower in testis and prostate while the tissue protein content of prostate and epididymis had decreased in the treated rats. In vitro exposure to formaldehyde also inhibited the sperm motility and viability.

Anaesthetic steroids--a review.

Steroids produce anaesthesia besides producing the well known metabolic and hormonal effects. A number of anaesthetic steroids have been synthesized and tried clinically. Hydroxydione, althesin, minaxolone and pregnanolone are among those studied in detail. They act through GABAergic mechanism and are known to be advantageous over barbiturates.