Protective effects of accompanying proteins on light- and water-mediated degradation of Curcumin

Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation properties. Low water solubility and rapid hydrolytic degradation are two challenges limiting use of curcumin as therapeutic agent. In the current study, the role of the Bovine Serum Albumin [BSA], beta-lactoglobulin and casein, as food-grade biopolymers and safe drug delivery systems, on the physical activity of curcumin were surveyed. It appears that BSA and casein as protein vehicles are useful tools to increase stability of curcumin, as a health promoting agent

Does long-term administration of a beta-blocker (timolol) induce fibril-based cataract formation in-vivo?

Timolol is a non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist administered for treating glaucoma, heart attacks and hypertension. In the present study, we set out to determine whether or not timolol can provoke cataract formation, thus the influence of timolol on the amyloid-type aggregation of crystallin was investigated. We then provided experimental evidence of crystallin aggregation and its induction by timolol using different spectroscopic measurements. Turbidimetric measurements as well as ThT fluorescence data indicated that timolol induce extent of crystallin amyloid formation. The kinetic of protein aggregation was also changed in presence of increasing concentrations of the drug suggesting that long-term drug administration may contribute to the development of cataract. Since the consequence of timolol-crystallin interaction has yet to be identified, additional data on it may help us to postpone amyloid cataract formation