MWCNT uptake in Allium cepa root cells induces cytotoxic and genotoxic responses and results in DNA hyper-methylation.

Advances in nanotechnology have led to the large-scale production of nanoparticles, which, in turn, increases the chances of environmental exposure. While humans (consumers/workers) are primarily at risk of being exposed to the adverse effect of nanoparticles, the effect on plants and other components of the environment cannot be ignored. The present work investigates the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and epigenetic (DNA methylation) effect of MWCNT on the plant system- Allium cepa. MWCNT uptake in root cells significantly altered cellular morphology. Membrane integrity and mitochondrial function were also compromised. The nanotubes induced significant DNA damage, micronucleus formation and chromosome aberration. DNA laddering assay revealed the formation of internucleosomal fragments, which is indicative of apoptotic cell death. This finding was confirmed by an accumulation of cells in the sub-G0 phase of the cell cycle. An increase in CpG methylation was observed using the isoschizomers MspI/HpaII. HPLC analysis of DNA samples revealed a significant increase in the levels of 5-methyl-deoxy-cytidine (5mdC). These results confirm the cyto-genotoxic effect of MWCNT in the plant system and simultaneously highlight the importance of this epigenetic study in nanoparticle toxicity.

Hysterosalpingographic Tubal Abnormalities in Retroviral (HIV) Positive and Negative Infertile Females.

BACKGROUND: HIV and infertility are associated in several ways and the improved treatment options which are available for HIV patients have improved their health, increased their reproductive years and subsequently, their desire to procreate. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare the findings on hysterosalpingography in HIV positive and negative infertile females. STUDY DESIGN: All the 5250 patients who were referred to the radiodiagnosis unit of the centre in 2011, were counselled about the study, but only the two thousand and two hundred females who gave their consents had their retroviral status determined and were included in this study. Their sociodemographic histories were acquired with the aid of a structured questionnaire and their hysterosalpingography studies were reported by a radiologist. RESULTS: Most of the patients (54.5%) were within the age group of 31-40 years, they were mainly nullparous (76.8%) and a past history of induced abortions was statistically significant in the HIV positive patients compared to HIV negative patients. Also, the uterine synechiae were significantly higher in the HIV positive than the HIV negative patients (26.5% and 9.6% respectively). Tubal abnormalities were seen in 52% and 26% of the positive and negative individuals respectively, with hydrosalpinges being the commonest pathology in the HIV positive patients and distal occlusion being the commonest in the HIV negative patients. CONCLUSION: Tubal infertility is the commonest cause of the infertility in the HIV positive individuals and the commonest tubal pathology is hydrosalpinges as compared to distal tubal occlusion in the HIV negative patients .There is a need to not only research further into the treatment and other options for the patients with tubal infertility, but also to make them available and affordable to provide succour to this group of patients, no matter what their retroviral status is.

Development and validation of a reversed phase liquid chromatographic method for analysis of griseofulvin and impurities.

A simple and robust reversed phase liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of griseofulvin (GF) and its impurities in drug substances and drug products (tablets). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Discovery C18 (250mm×4.6mm, 5µm) column kept at 30°C. The mobile phase consisted of a gradient mixture of mobile phase A (water-0.1% formic acid pH 4.5, 80:20, v/v) and B (ACN-water-0.1% formic acid pH 4.5, 65:15:20, v/v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 1.0mL/min. UV detection was performed at 290nm. The method was validated for its robustness, sensitivity, precision, accuracy and linearity based on ICH guidelines. The robustness study was performed by means of an experimental design and multivariate analysis. Satisfactory results were obtained from the validation studies. The use of volatile mobile phases allowed for the identification of three main impurities present above the identification threshold using mass spectrometry (MS). The developed LC method has been applied for the assay and impurity determination of GF drug substances and tablets. The method could be very useful for the quality control of GF and its impurities in bulk and formulated dosage forms.

In vitro susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus torelliana and isolated compounds.

CONTEXT: Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtaceae) and Eucalyptus torelliana F. Muell are used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the treatment of cough associated with tuberculosis (TB) and other respiratory infections. OBJECTIVE: Hexane, chloroform, methanol extracts, and isolated compounds of E. camaldulensis and E. torelliana were screened for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (MtbH37Rv) to authenticate the traditional use of these plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microplate alamar blue assay (MABA) method was used to investigate the anti-M. tuberculosis activities. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the hexane extract of E. torelliana leaf was performed, and isolated compounds were characterized by MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR. RESULTS: The extracts inhibited the growth of MtbH37Rv [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 4-64 µg/mL]. Spectroscopic characterization led to the identification of two compounds, hydroxymyristic acid methylester (1) and a substituted pyrenyl ester, a sterol (2). Compounds 1 and 2 had MIC of 49.45 and 46.99 µg/mL; IC(50) >100 and 38.21 µg/mL; selectivity index (SI) >2.02 and 0.81, respectively, and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 62.50 µg/mL. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The anti-TB activities of these plants on M. tuberculosis H37Rv support their use in traditional medicine for the treatment of coughs associated with TB and reveals the presence of anti-Mtb active compounds in the plants. These findings not only demonstrate a new potential area of therapeutic value of E. camaldulensis and E. torelliana, but also illustrate the role of esters as anti-Mtb active principles in ethnobotanical preparations and as lead compounds in the development of new and effective anti-Mtb drugs.