Granulysin expression increases with increasing clinical severity of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an erythematosquamous dermatosis, which has strong expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), imparting a high resistance to lesional skin infection. Granulysin is a proinflammatory AMP that has been found in some infection-resistant dermatoses. AIM: To assess granulysin expression in psoriasis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical expression of granulysin was assessed in lesional skin biopsies taken from 30 patients with psoriasis and 10 normal skin specimens from healthy controls (HCs) matched for age, gender and skin site. Granulysin expression was found to be high in 11 patients (36.7%), moderate in 10 (33.3%) and low in 9 (30%). A highly significant (P = 0.001) difference in granulysin expression between patients with psoriasis and HCs was found. There were also significant differences in granulysin expression between patients with low Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (≤ 10) and those with high PASI (> 10) (P = 0.001), and between patients with early-onset (< 40 years of age) and those with late-onset (> 40 years of age) disease (P < 0.04). There was a significant (P = 0.001) positive correlation between granulysin expression and PASI (r = 0.84) and a significant (P = 0.02) negative correlation with age of onset (r = -0.38). Patients with psoriasis hadhigh granulysin expression, which increased with increased clinical severity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a role for granulysin in psoriasis pathogenesis, and may explain the triggering effect of skin infection in psoriasis. If the pathogenic role of granulysin is substantiated by further studies, granulysin may be a potential target for immunomodulatory therapy for psoriasis.

Radical scavenging glycoprotein inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 and thromboxane A2 synthase from aloe vera gel.

An active glycoprotein fraction containing 58 % protein was isolated from Aloe vera gel by precipitation with 55 % ammonium sulfate followed by gel permeation using DEAE-Sephacel A-25, Sepharose 6B and Sephadex G-50 columns in a yield of 3 x 10 -3 %. The glycoprotein fraction showed a single band corresponding to a subunit of verectin at the same position when stained with both Coomassie brilliant blue and periodic acid-Schiff reagents on 18 % SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight (14 kDa) was confirmed by Sephadex G-50 column chromatography. The glycoprotein fraction showed a radical scavenging activity against superoxide anion generated by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system as well as inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and reduction of thromboxane A 2 synthase level in vitro.

Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of aloesin derivatives in Aloe vera.

Antioxidant components in Aloe vera were examined for lipid peroxidation using rat liver microsomal and mitochondrial enzymes. Among the aloesin derivatives examined, isorabaichromone showed a potent antioxidative activity. The DPPH radical and superoxide anion scavenging activities were determined. As one of the most potent components, isorabaichromone together with feruloylaloesin and p-coumaroylaloesin showed potent DPPH radical and superoxide anion scavenging activities. Electron spin resonance (ESR) using the spin trapping method suggested that the potent superoxide anion scavenging activity of isorabaichromone may have been due to its caffeoyl group. As A. vera has long been used to promote wound healing, the inhibitory effects of aloesin derivatives for cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 and thromboxane (Tx) A 2 synthase were examined and the participation of p-coumaroyl and feruloyl ester groups in the aloesin skeleton was demonstrated. These findings may explain, at least in part, the wound healing effects of A.vera. Abbreviations. ADP:adenosine diphosphate ASA:ascorbic acid BHT:butylated hydroxytoluene BSA:bovine serum albumin DMPO:5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide DPPH:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl EDTA:edetic acid HEPES: N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-piperazine- N-2'-ethane-sulfonic acid NADH:reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NADPH:reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NBT:nitroblue tetrazolium Pg:prostaglandin SOD:superoxide dismutase TBA:thiobarbituric acid TCA:trichloroacetic acid XOD:xanthine oxidase

Effect of cutting period on the yield and chemical constituents of dill.

This study was carried out in two seasons to determine the proper time for cutting dill plants. Plants height, fresh and dry weights/plant, number of inflorescences as well as fruit yield/plant and green besides fruit yields/m2 were recorded. The concentration of proteins, carbohydrates and essential oils as well as its components in herb and fruits were estimated in all collected samples. It appeared that cutting dill plants at 75 days front sowing (for the 1st cut) and 45 days after the tint cut (for the 2nd cut) gave the highest herb and fruit yields with but quality.

Response of coriander to the mode of phosphorus application.

Three modes of phosphorus application, partly or fully through the soil or foliage, were conducted to evaluate the effect of P application mode on green and fruit yields of coriander and their chemical constituents. The highest values in plant height, green and dry matter production as well as fruit yield, were recorded when P was given partly through soil and foliage. Generally, the three methods of P application increased carbohydrate and protein concentrations in shoots and fruits as compared to the control, in the two seasons in both cuts. The addition of P partly through soil increased the volatile oils concentration of shoots and fruits in the two cuts in both seasons, over the all treatments. The identification of volatile oils in shoots and fruits varied according to the mode of P application.

Studies on growth and chemical constituents of parsley plants in relation to ontogenesis.

Eleven parsley plant samples were collected periodically every two weeks after 30 days from sowing time. The collected samples were chemically analysed in order to determine their dietic and medicinal values. The 120 days old sample contains the highest percentage of essential oils. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the essential oils were performed by GLC. Five cuts were taken to determine the growth changes and yield. The highest yield was detected in the 3rd cut (120 days old plants).