Comparative hepatoprotective effect of Nigella sativa pre- and post-treatment to rabbits

Synthetic drugs are associated with adverse side-effects and rapid increase in resistance to most of them inspires to evaluate plants for their therapeutic values. We have been aimed to suggest the medicinal use of Nigella sativa seed aqueous extract to minimize the severity of liver damage via its antioxidant properties and its role in maintenance of cell ion-homeostasis. Annoyances in serum levels of some antioxidants and trace metals in human hepatitis C infected patients were compared with that from acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxic rabbits. Serum analysis of human patients and that of hepatotoxic rabbits have exhibited the same trend of incidence of liver marker enzymes, antioxidant levels, and trace metal concentrations, except for the serum levels of cobalt. Significance of pre-/ or posttreatment of Nigella sativa to acetaminophen induced-hepatotoxic rabbit has also evaluated. NS post-treatment to rabbits has been found effective in normalizing the levels [P<0.001] of serum liver markers; especially the ALP levels, and the antioxidants; with significant effect on the serum catalase levels. However, NS pre-treatment has shown its role [P<0.001] in maintaining the serum nickel and cobalt concentrations. Therefore, we suggest the use of Nigella sativa seeds as pre-/ or post-treatment therapy, and also as supplement to the normal medications of liver infection to normalize the status of cell antioxidants and trace metal concentrations

Enhanced production of Lovastatin by filamentous fungi through solid state fermentation

Lovastatin is a natural competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme-A [HMG-CoA] reductase and inhibits specifically rate limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Further, lovastatin in comparison with synthetic drugs has no well-reported side effects. Four pure isolated filamentous fungal strains including Aspergillus niger IBL, Aspergillus terreus FFCBP-1053, Aspergillus flavus PML and Aspergillus nidulans FFCBP-014 have been cultured by solid state fermentation [SSF] using rice straw as substrate for the synthesis of lovastatin. After selecting Aspergillus terreus FFCBP-1053 as the best producer of lovastatin, various selected physical parameters including pH, temperature, inoculums size and moisture content were optimized through response surface methodology [RSM] under center composite design [CCD] for lovastatin hyper production. Maximum lovastatin production of 2070+/-91.5 was predicted by the quadratic model in the medium having moisture content 70% and pH 4.5 at 35 degree C which was verified experimentally to be 2140+/-93.25Mug/g DW of FM [microgram/gram dry weight of fermentation medium], significantly [P<0.05] high as compared to un-optimized conditions while it was noted that lovastatin production is independent on inoculum size [P>0.05] measured by spectrophotometer at 245 nm against standard. It was determined that optimized conditions for the hyper-production of lovastatin from fungal sources have a significant effect