Apoptotic potential of C-phycoerythrin from Phormidium sp. A27DM and Halomicronema sp. A32DM on human lung carcinoma cells.

Phycobilisomes present in cyanobacteria are photosynthetic macromolecular protein complexes that are categorized into three types - phycoerythrins (high energy), phycocyanin (intermediate energy) and allophycocyanin (low energy). Structurally, they consist of α and ß protein subunits and open chain tetrapyrrole prosthetic group (bilin chromophore), known for its antioxidant properties and therapeutic potential against a variety of physiological ailments. Phycoerythrins (C-PE) were purified from cyanobacterial strains Phormidium sp. A27DM and Halomicronema sp. A32DM and their respective apoptotic potentials were assessed on A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Both strains of cyanobacteria were cultured and the C-PE from each strain was extracted, quantified and characterized. C-PE accounted for a dose dependent decrement in cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and an increment in lactate dehydrogenase release. Higher doses of C-PE (of both strains) accounted for loss of cell viability and nuclear pycnosis. These findings were further substantiated with flow cytometry that revealed a cell arrest at G0/G1 phase and a high percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis following C-PE treatment. These results confirm the efficacy of C-PE from Phormidium sp. or Halomicronema sp. in triggering apoptotic cell death. This study is the first to report on apoptotic property of C-PE against A549 human lung carcinoma cells and warrants further studies to establish its anti-cancer potential.

Flavonoid rich extract of Murraya Koenigii alleviates in-vitro LDL oxidation and oxidized LDL induced apoptosis in raw 264.7 Murine macrophage cells.

Several lines of evidences have established a lineage between Oxidised LDL (Ox-LDL) to apoptosis of macrophages in which the high level of intracellular cholesterol play a crucial role. This study assesses the potency of Murraya koenigii (MK) leaf extract in alleviating LDL oxidation and Ox-LDL induced lipotoxicity in murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cells. Results indicated that presence of MK extract prevented oxidation of LDL as evidenced by its oxidation kinetics and formation of LDL oxidation products. Also, MK extract accounted for improvement in cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential of Ox-LDL treated cells. The Ox-LDL induced increment in intracellular oxidative stress, nuclear condensation and apoptosis was effectively prevented by MK extract possibly due to their established anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging potentials which may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids present in the extract. Prevention of oxidative modification of LDL, free radical induced damage and Ox-LDL induced death of RAW 264.7 cells provide preliminary evidences of its anti-atherosclerotic potential and warrants further elucidation and validation for its use in-vivo and may be useful as a functional food supplement and an alternative medicine to prevent LDL oxidation and oxidized LDL induced toxicity.

Cardio protective effect of Coriandrum sativum L. on isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats.

The preventive effect of Coriandrum sativum L. (CS) on cardiac damage was evaluated by Isoproterenol (IP) induced cardiotoxicity model in male Wistar rats. Rats were pretreated with methanolic extract of CS seeds at a dose of 100, 200 or 300 mg/kg orally for 30 days and they were subsequently administered (s.c.) with IP (85 mg/kg body weight) for the last two days. IP treated rats showed increased LPO, decreased levels of endogenous antioxidants and ATPases in the cardiac tissue together with increased plasma lipids and markers of cardiac damage. TTC staining showed increased infarct areas while HXE staining showed myofibrillar hypertrophy and disruption. CS (200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) pretreatment significantly prevented or resisted all these changes. Our results show that methanolic extract of CS is able to prevent myocardial infarction by inhibiting myofibrillar damage. It is also concluded that, the rich polyphenolic content of CS extract is responsible for preventing oxidative damage by effectively scavenging the IP generated ROS.

Hepatoprotective potential of polyphenol rich extract of Murraya koenigii L.: an in vivo study.

The present study investigates hepatoprotective effects of polyphenol rich Murraya koenigii L. (MK) hydro-ethanolic leaf extract in CCl(4) treated hepatotoxic rats. Plasma markers of hepatic damage, lipid peroxidation levels, enzymatic, and non-enzymatic antioxidants in liver and histopathological changes were investigated in control and treated rats. MK pretreated rats with different doses (200, 400 and 600mg/kg body weight) showed significant decrement in activity levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, and bilirubin. Also, MK treated rats recorded a dose dependent increment in hepatic super oxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid and, a decrement in lipid peroxidation. Microscopic evaluations of liver revealed CCl(4)-induced lesions and related toxic manifestations that were minimal in liver of rats pretreated with MK extract. These results demonstrate that hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of MK possesses hepatoprotective potentials.

Coriandrum sativum L. aqueous extract mitigates high fat diet induced insulin resistance by controlling visceral adiposity in C57BL/6J Mice / Coriandrum sativum L. extracto acuoso mitiga dieta rica en grasas de alta resistencia a la insulina inducida por el control de la adiposidad visceral en ratones C57BL/6J

This study investigates the effect of dietary supplementation with Coriandrum sativum L. seed aqueous extract (CS) to a high fat diet (HFD), for induced insulin resistance (IR) C57BL/6J mice. Changes in body weight, food intake, feed efficiency ratio, fasting blood glucose (FBG), plasma insulin, fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI), plasma and hepatic triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and, plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels were evaluated in control and treated groups. Also, the diameter, surface area and number of adipocytes and, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin response test (IPRTT) were performed. CS supplementation (1 percent and 3 percent w/w) to HFD fed mice (for 12 weeks) significantly prevented HFD induced increment in body weight gain, food intake, feed efficiency, FBG, plasma insulin, FIRI, plasma and hepatic TG and TC and, plasma FFA, adipocyte diameter and surface area along with decrement in adipocyte number. Also, improved responses were recorded in the IPGTT and IPRTT in CS supplemented HFD fed mice. These set of changes were comparable to the rosiglitazone (0.05 percent) supplemented HFD fed mice. Our findings suggest that CS improves insulin sensitivity primarily by mitigating plasma and tissue lipids and, adipocyte hypertrophy.

En este estudio se investigó el efecto de un extracto acuoso de semillas de Coriandrum sativum L. (CS), adicionado a una dieta con alto contenido graso en ratones C57BL/6J, con resistencia a la insulina inducida. Los cambios en el aumento de peso corporal, consumo de alimento, eficiencia alimenticia, glicemia, insulina plasmática, índice de resistencia a la insulina, triglicéridos hepáticos y plasmáticos, colesterol total y concentración plasmática de ácidos grasos libres, fueron evaluados en grupos control y tratados. Adicionalmente se controló, el diámetro, superficie y número de adipocitos, prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa intraperitoneal y la prueba de respuesta de la insulina por vía intraperitoneal. La adición de CS (1 por ciento y 3 por ciento w / w) a la dieta con alto contenido graso a ratones (12 semanas) previno de manera significativa el incremento de peso, la ingesta de alimentos, la eficiencia alimenticia, FBG, la insulina plasmática, FIRI, los triglicéridos hepáticos y plasmáticos, el colesterol total, ácidos grasos libres plasmáticos, el diámetro de los adipocitos y la superficie junto con el decremento en el número de los adipocitos. Además, mejoras de la respuesta se registraron en el IPGTT y IPRTT. Este conjunto de cambios fue comparable al obtenido con rosiglitazona (0,05 por ciento), adicionada a la dieta con alto contenido graso. Estos hallazgos sugieren que el CS mejora la sensibilidad a la insulina principalmente por la mitigación de los lípidos del plasma, del tejido y la hipertrofia del adipocito.

Cardioprotective effect of Sida rhomboidea. Roxb extract against isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats.

The present study investigates cardioprotective effect of Sida rhomboidea. Roxb (SR) extract on heart weight, plasma lipid profile, plasma marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation, endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and membrane bound ATPases against isoproterenol (IP) induced myocardial necrosis (MN) in rats. Rats treated with IP (85 mg/kg, s.c.) recorded significant (p<0.05) increment in heart weight, plasma lipid profile, plasma marker enzymes of cardiac damage, cardiac lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activity levels of Ca(+2) ATPase whereas there was significant (p<0.05) decrease in plasma HDL, cardiac endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, Na(+)-K(+) ATPase and Mg(+2) ATPase. Pre-treatment with SR extract (400 mg/kg per day, p.o.) for 30 consecutive days followed by IP injections on days 29th and 30th, showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in heart weight, plasma lipid profile, plasma marker enzymes of cardiac damage, cardiac lipid peroxidation, Ca(+2) ATPase and significant increase in plasma HDL, cardiac endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, Na(+)-K(+) ATPase and Mg(+2) ATPase compared to IP treated group. Hence, this study is the first scientific report on cardioprotective effect of SR against IP induced MN in rats.

Toxicological evaluation and hepatoprotective potential of Clerodendron glandulosum.Coleb leaf extract.

This inventory evaluates toxicological effects and hepatoprotective potential of Clerodendron glandulosum.Coleb (CG) aqueous extract. Acute and subchronic toxicity tests were performed using Swiss albino mice as per the guideline of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Also, hepatoprotective potential of CG extract was examined in experimental model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl( 4))-induced hepatotoxicity. Acute and subchronic toxicity tests revealed that CG extract is non-toxic and its median lethal dose (LD(50)) value is >5000 mg/kg bodyweight. Also, rats pretreated with CG extract followed by administration of CCl(4) recorded significant decrement in plasma marker enzymes of hepatic damage, total bilirubin content and hepatic lipid peroxidation. While, hepatic reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid content, activity levels of superoxide and catalase and plasma total protein content were significantly increased. Microscopic examination of liver showed that pretreatment with CG extract prevented CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage in CG + CCl( 4) group. CG extract has hepatoprotective potential by modulating activity levels of enzymes and metabolites governing liver function and by helping in maintaining cellular integrity of hepatocytes that is comparable with that of standard drug silymarin. CG extract exhibits potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage but does not exhibit any toxic manifestations.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice supplementation attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac necrosis in rats.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of pre-supplementation with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice (PJ) on heart weight, infarct size, plasma marker enzymes of cardiac damage, lipid peroxidation, endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, cardiac ATPases and histopathology of isoproterenol (IP)-induced cardiac necrosis (CN) in rats. Rats treated with IP (85 mg/kg, s.c.) for 2 days at an interval of 24 h caused significant (P < 0.05) infarct in myocardium and increase in heart weight, lipid peroxidation (LPO), activity levels of Ca(+2) ATPase and plasma marker enzymes, while there was significant (P < 0.05) decrease in endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and Na(+)-K(+) and Mg(+2)ATPases. Pre-supplementation with PJ for 30 consecutive days and treated with IP on days 29th and 30th showed significantly (P < 0.05) lesser increase in heart weight, infarct size, plasma marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation, Ca(+2) ATPase and a significant protective effect in endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, Na(+)-K(+) and Mg(+2) ATPases compared to IP alone treated group. Present study provides first scientific report on protective effect of supplementation of Pomegranate juice against IP-induced CN in rats.

Pharmacokinetic optimisation of sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation.

Sustained-release bupropion (bupropion SR) is a unique, non-nicotine smoking cessation aid that is hypothesised to act upon neurological pathways involved in nicotine dependence. Pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies reveal that bupropion SR is metabolised by multiple pathways with no single pathway predominating. When one pathway is inhibited, others are available to compensate. Therefore, only a few clinically relevant drug-drug interactions involving bupropion SR have been observed, although the potential for interactions exists, as with any extensively metabolised drug. Population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analyses of data from patients receiving daily oral doses of 100mg, 150mg, or 300mg reveal that the anti-smoking efficacy of bupropion SR is directly related to dose. The incidences of dry mouth and insomnia were directly related to bupropion plasma concentrations while the incidence of anxiety was inversely proportional to bupropion plasma concentrations. To maximise efficacy (with an acceptable safety profile), the optimal daily dose for the majority of patients is 300mg.