Ascorbic acid 6-palmitate: a potent inhibitor of human and soybean lipoxygenase-dependent lipid peroxidation.

OBJECTIVES: Lipoxygenases (LOX) are the key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and reactive oxygen species, which are implicated in pathophysiology of inflammatory disorders. This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effect of water-soluble antioxidant ascorbic acid and its lipophilic derivative, ascorbic acid 6-palmitate (Vcpal) on polymorphonuclear lymphocyte 5-LOX and soybean 15-LOX (sLOX) in vitro. METHODS: LOX activity was determined by measuring the end products, 5-hydroperoxy eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and lipid hydroperoxides, by spectrophotometric and high performance liquid chromatography methods. The substrate-dependent enzyme kinetics and docking studies were carried out to understand the nature of inhibition. KEY FINDINGS: Vcpal potently inhibited 5-LOX when compared with its inhibitory effect on sLOX (IC50; 2.5 and 10.3 µm respectively, P = 0.003). Further, Vcpal inhibited 5-LOX more strongly than the known synthetic drugs: phenidone and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (P = 0.0007). Enzyme kinetic studies demonstrated Vcpal as a non-competitive reversible inhibitor of 5-LOX. In-silico molecular docking revealed high MolDock and Rerank score for Vcpal than ascorbic acid, complementing in-vitro results. CONCLUSION: Both in-vitro and docking studies demonstrated Vcpal but not ascorbic acid as a non-competitive inhibitor of 5-LOX- and sLOX-induced lipid peroxidation, suggesting a key role for lipophilic nature in bringing about inhibition.

Epigenetic landscape of Parkinson's disease: emerging role in disease mechanisms and therapeutic modalities.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex multifactorial disorder marked by extensive system-wide pathology, including a substantial loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. The etiology of PD remains elusive, but there is considerable evidence that, in addition to well-defined genetic mechanisms environmental factors play a crucial role in disease pathogenesis. How the environment might influence the genetic factors and contribute to disease development and progression remains unclear. In recent years, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling and alterations in gene expression via non-coding RNAs have begun to be revealed as potential factors in PD pathogenesis. Epigenetic modulation exists throughout life, beginning in prenatal stages, is dependent on the lifestyle, environmental exposure and genetic makeup of an individual and may serve as a missing link between PD risk factors and development of the disease. This chapter sheds light on the emerging role of epigenetics in disease pathogenesis and on prospective interventional strategies for the therapeutic modulation of PD.

Inhibition of testicular and Vipera russelli snake venom hyaluronidase activity by Butea monosperma (Lam) Kuntze stem bark.

This study was carried out to investigate the anti-fertility and anti-venom activities of the extract of the stem bark of Butea monosperma by inhibiting hyaluronidase, which is a spreading factor and plays a role in fertilisation. Among ethanol, methanol and water extracts, the ethanol extract dose-dependently inhibited the ovine, mouse testicular and Vipera russelli snake venom hyaluronidase enzyme activities, with IC50 values 12.00 ± 0.45, 49.40 ± 1.58 µg and 125.42 ± 2.82 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. In a zymogram assay, the extract showed differential inhibition towards hyaluronidase isoform preferentially with low-molecular weight isoforms. The V. russelli snake venom-induced hemorrhage was significantly reduced at 1:05 ratio of venom-to-extract in mouse. The high antioxidant activity and total phenolic content in the ethanolic extract strongly correlated with the hyaluronidase inhibition. The above results justify the traditional use of the stem bark of B. monosperma as a contraceptive and a strong antidote to snake venom.

Chemical modification of ascorbic acid and evaluation of its lipophilic derivatives as inhibitors of secretory phospholipase A(2) with anti-inflammatory activity.

The halo 6-fatty acid esters of L-ascorbic acid 3a, 3b and 6-fatty acid esters of L-ascorbic acid 5a-g were achieved from L-ascorbic acid 1. Compounds 3a, 3b and 5a-g were evaluated for anti-oxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation, and secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) inhibition in vitro, and sPLA(2) induced mouse paw edema. All the derivatives retained their anti-oxidant property compared to ascorbic acid at 6 × 10(-4)M and are good inhibitors of lipid peroxidation at 1 mg ml(-1) as evaluated by 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and thio-barbituric acid methods, respectively. Compounds 5e and 5f significantly inhibited purified group I sPLA(2) from Naja naja and group II sPLA(2) from Vipera russelli, human synovial fluid and human pleural fluid with IC(50) value ranging from 64 ± 1.95 to 82 ± 1.3 and 48 ± 2.27 to 61 ± 2.23 µM, respectively. The compounds 5e and 5f also showed varying degree of potency in neutralizing indirect hemolytic activity of sPLA(2) at 50 µM concentration, and sPLA(2) induced mouse paw edema at the dose 3 mg/kg. Further docking studies also confirmed that compounds 5e and 5f have maximum interaction with increasing negative energy value. Single molecule possessing both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities is of great therapeutic significance in inflammatory disorders.

Cysteine proteases from the Asclepiadaceae plants latex exhibited thrombin and plasmin like activities.

In the present study we evaluated the presence of cysteine protease from the latex of four plants Asclepias curassavica L., Calotropis gigantea R.Br., Pergularia extensa R.Br. and Cynanchum puciflorum R.Br. belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. Cysteine proteases from these plants latex exhibited both thrombin and plasmin like activities. Latex enzyme fraction in a concentration dependent manner induced the formation of clot in citrated blood plasma. Direct incubation of fibrinogen with latex enzyme fraction resulted in the formation of fibrin clot similar to thrombin enzyme. However prolonged incubation resulted in degradation of the formed fibrin clot suggesting plasmin like activity. Latex enzyme fraction preferentially hydrolyzed Aalpha and Bbeta chains of fibrinogen to form fibrin clot. Latex enzyme fraction also hydrolyzed the subunits of fully cross linked fibrin efficiently, the order of hydrolysis was alpha-polymer > alpha-chains > beta-chain and gamma-gamma dimer. Cysteine proteases from all the four Asclepiadaceae plants latex exhibited similar action on fibrinogen and fibrin. This study scientifically validate the use of plant latex in stop bleeding and wound healing by traditional healers all over the world.