ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The protein/isozyme fingerprint is useful in differentiating the species and acts as a biochemical marker for identification and systematic studies of medicinal plant species. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, protein and isozyme profiles for peroxidase, esterase, acid phosphatase, polyphenol oxidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase of five species of Memecylon (Melastomataceae), Memecylon umbellatum, Memecylon edule, Memecylon talbotianum, Memecylon malabaricum, and Memecylon wightii were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh leaves were used to prepare crude enzyme extract for analyzing the five enzymes isozyme variations. Separation of isozymes was carried out using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the banding patterns of protein were scored. Pair-wise comparisons of genotypes, based on the presence or absence of unique and shared polymorphic products, were used to regenerate similarity coefficients. The similarity coefficients were then used to construct dendrograms, using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages. RESULTS: A total of 50 bands with various Rf values and molecular weight were obtained through PAGE analysis. Among the five Memecylon species, more number of bands was produced in M. wightii and less number of bands was observed in M. edule. The results of similarity indices grouped M. malabaricum and M. wightii in one cluster with 98% similarity and M. umbellatum, M. edule, and M. talbotianum are grouped in another cluster with 79% similarity showing close genetic similarities which is in accordance with the morphological identification of Memecylon species. CONCLUSION: The protein/isozyme fingerprint is useful in differentiating the species and acts as a biochemical marker for identification of Memecylon species. SUMMARY: Biochemical characterization of Memecylon species was evaluated by SDS-PAGE of extracted protein and isozyme profiling on native PAGE.After electrophoresis, each gel was stained with specific stains. Genetic distance relationships were evaluated based on the banding patterns of protein on isozymes.Unique banding pattern of esterase, peroxidase, acid phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase and polyphenol oxidase are observed in all the five species of Memecylon, which represent the fingerprint of Memecylon species.SDS-PAGE and isozyme profiling of five Memecylon species revealed that M. malabaricum and M. wightii grouped in one cluster and M. umbellatum, M. edule and M. talbotianum grouped in another cluster showing close genetic similarities which is in accordance with the morphological identification of Memecylon species.This is the first report on the comparison of protein and isozyme profile of five different Memecylon species. Abbreviations Used: SDS-PAGE: Sodium docecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; NTSYS PC2: Numerical taxonomy system, version 2.2 for Windows XP, Vista, Win7, Win 8 and Win10 including 64 bit.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is one of the most critical factors implicated in disease conditions. Buchanania lanzan Spr. (Anacardiaceae) bark powder preparation has been reported for treating an inflammatory condition in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we investigate the effect of the bark methanol extract (BLM) on reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), the expression of protein and mRNA of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) to provide scientific validation of the above said medicinal property. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The capacity to quench ROS and RNS was evaluated by 5-(and-6) chloromethyl-20,70-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate acetyl ester fluorescence and nitrite estimations in LPS/SNP-stimulated macrophages respectively. The protein and transcript expression of iNOS was evaluated through Western Blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis respectively. RESULTS: Macrophages pretreated with BLM (>100 µg/mL) for 24 h, stimulated with LPS for the last 18 h of experimental duration recorded a significantly (P < 0.05) reduced levels of ROS (3.45-fold) against LPS-stimulated conditions (5.7-fold). SNP-stimulation resulted in increased NO accumulation (17-fold) which was neutralized by BLM at >100 µg/ml (1.6-fold) credited to a reduced protein and mRNA expression of iNOS as recorded by Western blots and RT-PCR results respectively. The reversed-phase liquid chromatography-diode array detection analysis identified the presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin and p-coumaric acid (Rt values 5.444, 5.569 and 9.580 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The potential of BLM inhibiting ROS/RNS production validates the medical use of bark, could find beneficial application under conditions of immune stimulation and/or bacterial infection.
