Screening of antiangiogenic potential of twenty two marine invertebrate extracts of phylum Mollusca from South East Coast of India

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the antiangiogenic potential of twenty two marine invertebrate species of Phylum Mollusca from south east coast of India.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Live specimens of molluscan species were collected and their methanolic extracts were evaluated for preliminary antiangiogenic activity using the in ovo chick chorio-allantoic membrane assay. The extracts were further evaluated for in vivo antiangiogenic activity using chemical cautery induced corneal neovascularization assay in rats and oxygen induced retinopathy assay in rat pups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the chick chorio-allantoic membrane assay, four methanolic extracts of marine molluscan species viz. Meretrix meretrix, Meretrix casta, Telescopium telescopium and Bursa crumena methanolic extracts exhibited noticeable antiangiogenic activity at the tested concentration of 200 µg whereby they significantly inhibited the VEGF induced proliferation of new blood vessels. Among these four extracts, the methanolic extract of Meretrix casta exhibited relatively higher degree of antiangiogenic activity with an inhibitiory percentage (64.63%) of the VEGF induced neovascularization followed by the methanolic extracts of Telescopium telescopium (62.02%), Bursa crumena (60.48%) and Meretrix meretrix (47.01%). These four methanolic extracts were further evaluated for in vivo antiangiogenic activity whereby the methanolic extract of Telescopium telescopium exhibited most noticeable inhibition (42.58%) of the corneal neovascularization in rats in comparison to the sham treated group, and also exhibited most noticeable inhibition (31.31%) of the oxygen induced retinal neovascularization in rat pups in comparison to the hyperoxia group that was observed for considerable retinal neovascularization.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The significant antiangiogenic activity evinced by the extract of Telescopium telescopium merits further investigation for ocular neovascular diseases.</p>

Inhibitory effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum on galactose induced cataracts in a rat model; in vitro and in vivo studies

To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-cataract potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum [TF] on galactose induced cataracts in an animal model. In the in vitro group, enucleated rat lenses were maintained in organ culture containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium alone [normal group], or with the addition of 30 mM galactose [control group]. The medium in the test group was supplemented with both galactose and TF. All lenses were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and then processed for determination of levels of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde. In the in vivo group, cataracts were induced in rats by a 30% galactose diet alone [control] or with the addition of TF [treated group]. Reduction [26%] in glutathione level and elevation [31%] in malondialdehyde content were observed in controls as compared to normal lenses. TF significantly [P<0.01] restored glutathione and reduced malondialdehyde levels as compared to controls. A significant delay in the onset and progression of cataract was observed with 2.5% TF diet; after 30 days none of the treated eyes developed mature cataracts as compared to 100% of control eyes. TF can delay the onset and progression of cataracts in an experimental rat model of galactose induced cataracts both in vitro and in vivo