Effects of radiation and alpha-tocopherol on saliva flow rate, amylase activity, total protein and electrolyte levels in oral cavity cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate early and late effects of radiation and a-tocopherol on the secretion rate of saliva and on selected saliva salivary parameters in oral cavity cancer patients. PATIENTS & METHODS: Eighty-nine histologically confirmed oral cavity cancer patients (OCC) were enrolled in the study. Resting whole saliva was collected before, during and at the end of the radiation therapy (RT) and simultaneous supplementation with alpha - tocopherol to the radiation treated patients (RT + AT). RESULTS: Salivary flow rate, pH, amylase activity, total protein, sodium and potassium were analyzed. Increased pH, potassium and decreased flow rate, amylase activity, protein content and sodium were observed in 6 weeks of radiation treated patients when compared to OCC patients. A significant improvement of those parameters was observed on alpha - tocopherol supplementation in RT + AT patients. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with alpha - tocopherol improves the salivary flow rate thereby, maintains salivary parameters.

Effect of alpha-tocopherol on pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzyme status in radiation-treated oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The relationships between alpha-tocopherol, pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzyme status, and radiation toxicity were studied in stage II, III, and IVA oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. The low levels of malondialdehyde and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes were correlated with decreased oxidative stress by alpha-tocopherol in oral cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of alpha-tocopherol on oxidant-antioxidant enzyme status in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: The study included three groups with histologically confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma patients (untreated), and they were further divided into two groups, viz., one consisting of patients who underwent radiotherapy alone (radiotherapy was given at the dosage of 6000 cGy in five fractions per week for a period of 6 weeks); and the other group treated with radiotherapy plus alpha-tocopherol supplementation (alpha-tocopherol was supplemented at a dosage of 400 IU/day) for the entire period of radiotherapy. Results: A significant decrease ( P P Conclusion: It was seen that alpha-tocopherol played a role in protecting against the damage caused by irradiation in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy, by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme status and reducing the pro-oxidant status.

Gastroprotective effect of Cissus quadrangularis extract in rats with experimentally induced ulcer.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Most of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin cause gastric ulcer. In order to study the gastroprotective effect of Cissus quadrangularis extract (CQE), this study was undertaken on aspirin-induced ulcerogenesis in pyloric ligated (ASP-PL) model in rats. METHODS: To assess the possible antiulcer effect of CQE, lesion index, gastric secretions glycoprotein levels, non-protein sulphydryls (NPSH) and adherent mucus content were determined in ASP-PL induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. RESULTS: Pretreatment with CQE significantly prevented the gastric mucosal lesion development and decreased the gastric toxicity produced by ulcerogen. In addition, ulcerated rats showed depletion of gastric wall mucus, glycoproteins and NPSH levels whereas treatment with CQE reverted this decline in ASP-PL induced rats. Histological studies confirmed the results. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The present finding suggests that CQE promotes ulcer protection by the decrease in ulcer index, gastric secretions and increase in the glycoprotein level, gastric mucin content and NPSH concentration. CQE may protect the gastric mucosa against ulceration by its antisecretory and cytoprotective property.

Cardioprotective effect of mangiferin on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Isoproterenol (ISPH) induced myocardial infarction was confirmed by disturbances in serum and heart tissue marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phospho kinase (CPK), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), increased level of lipid peroxidation and histopathological changes in the heart of ISPH administered rats. Pretreatment with mangiferin (10 mg/100 g body weight) for 28 days was found to ameliorate the effect of ISPH-induced pathological changes, reduced the lipid peroxide formation and retained the myocardial marker enzyme activities at near normal level. The above results indicate the cardioprotective effect of mangiferin against ISPH-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Protective effect of vilva juice on glycoconjugate levels in experimentally induced constipation in rats.

Efficacy of vilva, a polyherbal formulation was evaluated in morphine induced constipated rats. Vilva juice, at a dose of 1.5 ml/100 g body wt was given orally for a period of 7 days. Morphine sulfate was injected to induce constipation on 8th day, 45 min before the experiments. Protein bound glycoconjungates were estimated in intestinal tissue. Altered levels of glycoconjugates were maintained at near normalcy when pretreated with vilva juice in morphine induced rats. Histological changes were observed in the colon tissue. The damage to crypts of Liberkunn in constipated rats were found to be reduced in vilva pretreated rats. Vilva, thus, offered significant protection against morphine induced constipation by way of augmenting mucus secretion.

Effect of Solanum trilobatum against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in albino rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Many hepatoprotective herbal preparations have been recommended in alternative systems of medicine for the treatment of hepatic disorders. No systematic study has been done on protective efficacy of Solanum trilobatum to treat hepatic diseases. Protective action of Solanum trilobatum extract (STE) was evaluated by us in an animal model of hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). METHODS: Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. Group I was normal control group; Group II, the hepatotoxic group was given CCl4; Groups III-V received different doses of plant extract with CCl(4). Liver marker enzymes were assayed in serum and antioxidant status was assessed in liver tissue. RESULTS: Levels of marker enzymes such as alanine transminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased significantly in CCl4 treated rats (group II). STE brought about a significant decrease in the activities of all these enzymes. Lipid peroxidation (LP) was increased significant in liver tissue in the CCl4 treated rats (group II) while the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased. STE treatment led to the recovery of these levels to near normal. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The present observations suggested that the treatment with S. trilobatum extract enhance the recovery from CCl4 induced hepatic damage due to its antioxidant and hepatoprotective property.

Bacopa monniera Linn. extract modulates antioxidant and marker enzyme status in fibrosarcoma bearing rats.

Antioxidative property and tumor inhibitive property of B. monniera (20mg/kg body wt, sc) was examined in 3-methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma rats. Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and the rate of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the liver and kidney tissues were assessed. A significant increase was noted for the rate of LPO with a corresponding decrease in the antioxidant enzyme status in fibrosarcoma bearing rats. In fibrosarcoma bearing rats, the tumor markers like lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and sialic acid (SA) were increased in the serum. Treatment with B. monniera extract significantly increased the antioxidant enzyme status, inhibited lipid peroxidation and reduced the tumor markers. It can be concluded that B.monniera extract promotes the antioxidant status, reduces the rate of lipid peroxidation and the markers of tumor progression in the fibrosarcoma bearing rats.

Effect of ambrex (an amber based formulation) on gastric mucosal damage: role of antioxidant enzymes and lipid profile.

The present work has been undertaken to study the effect of ambrex, a polyherbal formulation on experimental gastric ulceration and their possible antioxidative mechanism to cure ulcer. Gastric mucosal damage was produced in rats by administering 200 mg/kg orally. Aspirin was found to cause severe haemorrhagic lesions mainly through oxidative damage of the mucosa as indicated by increased lipid peroxidation, conjugated diene, protein carbonyl content, decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes and alteration in the lipid levels. This damage was treated with the aqueous extract of ambrex (40 mg/kg) for 15 days orally. Pre-administration of ambrex at a dose of 40 mg/kg, decreased the ulcer index, lipid peroxidation, conjugated diene and protein carbonyl content and increased the antioxidant enzyme levels. The lipid levels were maintained at near normalcy when treated with ambrex in aspirin administered rats. The major mechanism involved appears due to free radical scavenging action and changes in lipid profile.

Oxidative and non-oxidative activation of murine peritoneal macrophages by histone H1.

The present study aimed at assessing the role of histone H1 in activating macrophages. Histone H1, injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight as multiple regimens weekly, significantly increased the number of peritoneal macrophages post 21 days of injection. The oxidative and non-oxidative activation of peritoneal macrophages by histone H1 was assessed. For the assessment of oxidative activation the levels of superoxide radical and nitric oxide radical were assessed. The oxidative activation was evident from release of significantly high levels of superoxide and nitric oxide radicals liberated by macrophages of animals treated with histone H1 (P < 0.001) than in untreated animals. In addition, the higher activities of superoxide dismutase indicated protective effect of histone H1, to keep away the macrophages from noxious effects of superoxide. The catalase activity was decreased significantly in macrophages of histone H1 treated animals. The levels of reduced glutathione were significantly (P < 0.001) lowered in treated animals, whereas the levels of lipid peroxides generated were non-significant. The non-oxidative activation was assessed from the activities of lysosomal enzymes released and also from cytolysis of NO-insensitive L929 cells. The activities of lysosomal enzymes-acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase released were significantly high in treated animals than in untreated animals (P < 0.001). Histone H1 stimulated the cytolysis of macrophages in L929 cells than in untreated animals. These results suggest that histone H1 stimulates macrophages by oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms, which favor its future therapeutic prospects.

Role of Arogh, a polyherbal formulation to mitigate oxidative stress in experimental myocardial infarction.

Antioxidant role of Arogh in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats has been studied. The activity of heart tissue antioxidants like glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase were significantly decreased in isoproterenol administered group. The activity of ceruloplasmin and levels of glutathione, vitamins E and C were also found to be substantially decreased in serum with a concomitant rise in lipid peroxide levels after isoproterenol exposure to rats. The synergistic effect of Arogh pretreatment, significantly suppressed the alterations induced by isoproterenol alone in rats.

Protective effect of Terminalia chebula against experimental myocardial injury induced by isoproterenol.

Cardioprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula fruits (500 mg/kg body wt) was examined in isoproterenol (200 mg/kg body wt) induced myocardial damage in rats. In isoproterenol administered rats, the level of lipid peroxides increased significantly in the serum and heart. A significant decrease was observed in the activity of the myocardial marker enzymes with a concomitant increase in their activity in serum. Histopathological examination was carried out to confirm the myocardial necrosis. T. chebula extract pretreatment was found to ameliorate the effect of isoproterenol on lipid peroxide formation and retained the activities of the diagnostic marker enzymes.

Effect of a polyherbal formulation, Ambrex, on butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) induced toxicity in rats.

Effect of polyherbal formulation Ambrex was evaluated in butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) induced toxicity of lungs and liver in rats. Toxicity was produced by administering BHT (500 mg/kg/day) for 3 days. Lung damage was evidenced by elevated levels of broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BAL) parameters such as protein, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). Liver damage was proved by elevated levels of serum protein and markers such as LDH, ALP, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), decreased level of lipid peroxides (LPO) in serum and glutathione (GSH) in liver. Administration of aqueous suspension of Ambrex (50 mg/kg orally) retained these elevated levels of BAL-protein, lactate, LDH, ALP, ACP, G6PDH and serum-protein, LDH, ALP, AST and ALT at near normal values. Decreased level of liver GSH was retained at near normalcy in Ambrex pretreated BHT-administered animals. There was no change in liver LPO in all the four groups.

Biochemical changes of saliva in tobacco chewers tobacco smokers, alcohol consumers, leukoplakia and oral cancer patients.

Normal salivary function is considered to be critical for the maintenance of healthy oral mucosa. Oral fluids provide an easily available non-invasive for the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases and clinical situations. The present study evaluated the variations in the biochemical constituents of saliva of leukoplakia and oral cancer patients when compared with that of the control group. 90 individuals were grouped into 6 categories with 15 individuals in each group. The groups included individuals without tobacco or alcohol habits, tobacco smokers, tobacco chewers, alcohol consumers, leukoplakia and oral cancer patients. There was significant alteration in the salivary biochemical composition of leukoplakia and oral cancer patients which could be attributed to the impairment of salivary gland function caused by tobacco and alcohol usage or by the disease process itself.

Effect of fish oil on mitochondrial respiration in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Following isoproterenol treatment mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, phosphoslipase activity, lactate and calcium increased significantly, while activities of tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, enzymes of respiratory chain and ATP production showed decline. Oxidative phosphorylation was also affected on isoproterenol treatment with significant reduction in all the variables. Fish oil pretreatment in isoproterenol treated rats showed improved mitochondrial energy metabolism. The results suggest cardioprotective effect of fish oil.

Prevention of HCl-ethanol induced gastric mucosal injury in rats by Garcinia cambogia extract and its possible mechanism of action.

Oral pretreatment of rats with G. cambogia fruit extract (1 g/kg body weight/day at interval of 7 and 15 days) protected gastric mucosa against HCl-ethanol induced damage by decreasing the volume and acidity of gastric juice. Increased lipid peroxidation, decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes, altered levels of protein and glycoproteins in the ulcerated mucosa, and gastric juice were maintained at near normal levels in G. cambogia pretreated rats. The results suggest the anti-ulcer activity of G. cambogia by virtue of its ability to decrease acidity and increase mucosal defense.

Effect of Garcinia cambogia extract on lipids and lipoprotein composition in dexamethasone administered rats.

Dexamethasone (10 mg/kg body weight/day, s.c.) administered rats were treated with or without Garcinia cambogia fruit extract (1 g/kg body weight/day, orally) for 8 days. The administration of dexamethasone resulted in marked increase in the levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and free acids in both plasma and liver. The level of phospholipids increased in the plasma but decreased significantly in liver tissue after dexamethasone administration as compared to those in normal rats. The activities of lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase and hepatic lipoprotein lipase were lowered significantly after dexamethasone per se administration. The levels of HDL-triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol remained unchanged, while the LDL and VLDL increased significantly in dexamethasone administered rats. The lipid levels were maintained at near normalcy when co-treated with Garcinia cambogia extract in dexamethasone administered rats. This study reveals the undesirable changes in lipid profile on dexamethasone administration and the hypolipidemic property of Garcinia cambogia extract.

Modulatory effect of quercetin on azathioprine induced membrane changes in the mouse spleen.

Modulatory effect of quercetin on azathioprine induced toxic changes was studied in spleen of experimental animals. Azathioprine treatment caused an increase in serum albumin/globin ratio and a decrease in total protein in spleen tissue. An increase in a membrane bound ATPases was also noted. Supplementation of quercetin with azathioprine increased the protein content and lowered the activities of membrane ATPase in spleen. There was a decrease in serum albumin globulin ratio. It was concluded that quercetin modulated the protein and membrane bound ATPase activities and protected the spleen from azathioprine induced membrane damage.

Effect of abana an ayurvedic formulation, on lipid peroxidation in experimental myocardial infarction in rats.

The present study was conducted to elucidate the antioxidant role of an ayurvedic formulation Abana in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. In myocardial necrosis induced by isoproterenol, a significant increase in serum iron content with a significant decrease in plasma iron binding capacity, ceruloplasmin activity and glutathione level were observed. There was also a significant increase in lipid peroxides levels on isoproterenol administration. Activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione reductase were decreased significantly in heart with isoproterenol-induced myocardial necrosis. Abana, produced a marked reversal of these metabolic changes related to myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol. In conclusion ayurvedic formulation Abana exerts its effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant and detoxifying enzyme systems.