Floral extract of Tecoma stans: a potent inhibitor of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To highlight the nephroprotective activity of ethyl acetate extract of dried flowers of Tecoma stans for its protective effects on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. METHODS: For studying acute toxicity study, single oral dose of 5,000 mg ethyl acetate floral extract/kg body weight was administered to albino rats (five females, five males). Nephrotoxicity was induced in albino rats by intraperitoneal administration of gentamicin 80 mg/kg/day for eight days. Effect of concurrent administration of ethyl acetate floral extract of Tecoma stans at a dose of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/day given by oral route was determined using serum creatinine, serum uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and serum urea as indicators of kidney damage. The study groups contained six rats in each group. As nephrotoxicity of gentamicin is known to involve induction of oxidative stress, in vitro antioxidant activity and free radical-scavenging activity of this extract was also evaluated. RESULTS: For acute toxicity testing both female and male rats administered with the extract at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg. The results showed no toxicity in terms of general behavior change, mortality, or change in gross appearance of internal organs (LD(50) > 5 000 mg/kg). It was observed that the ethyl acetate floral extract of Tecoma stans significantly protected rat kidneys from gentamicin-induced histopathological changes. Gentamicin-induced glomerular congestion, peritubular and blood vessel congestion, epithelial desquamation, accumulation of inflammatory cells and necrosis of the kidney cells were found to be reduced in the groups receiving the ethyl acetate floral extract of Tecoma stans along with gentamicin in a dose dependent manner. The floral extract also reduced the gentamicin-induced increase in serum creatinine, serum uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and serum urea levels (P >0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates a very important role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the relation to renal dysfunction and point to the therapeutic potential of Tecoma stans in gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity.

Prognostic significance of genotyping Helicobacter pylori infection in patients in younger age groups with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumours of the stomach are common, but the incidence of stomach cancer varies from country to country, probably a result of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Stomach cancer often occurs in older people whose stomachs produce only small quantities of acid. Although infection with Helicobacter pylori has been proven beyond doubt in the aetiopathogenesis of various gastric disorders, not much is known about the genotypes of H pylori infection in early-onset gastric cancer. AIM: To ascertain the genotypes of H pylori in gastric cancer. METHODS: Ninety-two patients were separated into three groups on the basis of their endoscopic findings: group 1, gastric cancer; group 2, gastric ulcer; group 3, non-ulcer dyspepsia. Gastric biopsy specimens were obtained for culture and DNA isolation; additional specimens were taken from subjects with gastric cancer for histopathological analysis. Amplification was performed using specific oligonucleotide primers to obtain genotypic data. Four samples from each group were randomly selected for sequence analysis. RESULTS: Genotypic analysis showed cagT+ve/hrgA+ve/cagA+ve/cagE+ve/vacAs1+ve to be highly prevalent in 79% of cases of H pylori infection. This genotype was found in 88% of subjects in group 1 and 78% in group 2. Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma was found in 35 subjects (83%), 32 (9%) of which harboured this genotype. Sequence analysis showed no significant strain-specific variations. CONCLUSIONS: Certain genotypes of H pylori have higher predictive value for the development of intestinal-type carcinoma at an early age. Genotyping of H pylori may well be a useful tool for screening people at increased risk of developing malignancy.