Protective and antioxidative effect of rubropunctatin against oxidative protein damage induced by metal catalyzed reaction.

Monascus purpureus is known to produce several coloured secondary metabolites. In this study, M. purpureus CFR 410-11 mutant fermented with rice was dried and extracted in hexane for purification of pigment. The purity of the isolated pigment was confirmed by different chromatography techniques. The spectroscopic analysis revealed its structural identity as rubropunctatin. The antioxidant potencies of isolated rubropunctatin were evaluated. Rubropunctatin scavenged 16% 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and inhibited 20% superoxide generation at 8 µg/ml concentration. The multiple antioxidant abilities of rubropunctatin were evidenced by its ferric reducing capacity also. The oxidative damage of BSA protein was induced by the metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) by Fe2+/H2O2. The protective effects of rubropunctatin and M. purpureus (MTCC-410 and CFR 410-11) extracts were compared with glutathione and ascorbic acid. The M. purpureus extracts and rubropunctatin inhibited the formation of carbonyl content and protein oxidation assayed by SDS-PAGE. Rubropunctatin (42-169 µM) efficiently inhibited the protein oxidation compared to glutathione (48-195 µM) and ascorbic acid (85-340 µM) by scavenging the superoxide and hydroxyl radical generated in the system.

Glucose released by hydrolytic activity of amylase influences the pigment synthesis in Penicillium sp NIOM-02.

Carbon catabolite repression is generally considered as a regulatory mechanism to ensure sequential synthesis of secondary metabolites. In this study we made an attempt to understand the influence of amylase activity on pigment synthesis in Penicillium sp NIOM-02. The amylase activity is inversely proportional to pigment production. The high performance liquid chromatography analysis of amylase reaction revealed glucose as the major product of starch hydrolysis. The fungus grown in acarbose (inhibitor of amylase) incorporated media produced higher quantities of pigments. Apparently, glucose released due to amylase activity influenced the pigment synthesis by cAMP signaling pathway.

Statins: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors demonstrate anti-atherosclerotic character due to their antioxidant capacity.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multiple etiologies. It is associated with the accumulation of oxidized lipids in arterial lesions leading to coronary heart disease. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (commonly known as statins) are widely used in cardiovascular disease prevention to lower the cholesterol. The antioxidant activity of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors was studied by lipid peroxidation inhibition assay, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging-activity methods. The lovastatin (93%) and simvastatin (96%) showed significant action of lipid peroxidation inhibition compared to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. The DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of simvastatin was 38% and 33%, respectively. The oxidative modification of serum lipid due to reactive oxygen species causes atherosclerosis. This study revealed the importance of lovastatin and simvastatin to prevent oxidative stress-related cardiovascular diseases.