Chitin and chitosan preparation from shrimp shells Penaeus monodon and its human ovarian cancer cell line, PA-1.

In the present study, chitin and chitosan preparation from shrimp shells Penaeus mondon and its ovarian cancer cell line (PA-1). FTIR spectrum sharp absorption peak at 1655cm-1 is assigned to ketone C=O (α) unsaturated with chitosan. X-ray diffraction showed the presence of chitin and chitosan were strongest peak at 18.91° (ß) and 29.75° (α) characters. SEM observations of chitin and chitosan surface morphologies of P. monodon showed that microfibril and porous structures. Anticancer activity of chitin and chitosan against human ovarian cancer cell line showed that chitosan an exhibited notable higher activity than chitin. Anticancer activity of aquacultural waste of shrimp shells mediated chitosan, which was proved to be good novel pharmaceutical industries.

Synthesis and characterization of cotton fiber-based nanocellulose.

Nanocellulose prepared from the natural material has a promising wide range of opportunities to obtain the superior material properties towards various end-products. In this research, commercially available natural cotton was treated with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to eliminate the hemicellulose and lignin, then cellulose was collected. The collected cellulose was subjected to acid hydrolysis using sulfuric acid to obtain nanocellulose. The prepared nanocellulose was further characterized with the aid of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy to elucidate the chemical structure, crystallinity and the morphology.

In vivo immunoprotective role of Indigofera tinctoria and Scoparia dulcis aqueous extracts against chronic noise stress induced immune abnormalities in Wistar albino rats.

Indigofera tinctoria and Scoparia dulcis are being widely used in Indian folk medicine for the treatment of various disorders. Environmental noise pollution is thought to be an important factor for many health problems and it causes immune abnormalities. In the present study immune-regulating potential of I. tinctoria and S. dulcis aqueous extracts on innate and adaptive immune system of wistar albino rats was evaluated during normal and chronic noise induced stress conditions. The results demonstrated that both I. tinctoria and S. dulcis aqueous extracts (200 mg/kg b.w) showed immunostimulant effect on both innate and adaptive immune response of wistar albino rat compared to control group under normal condition. The noise stress (100 dB for 1 h, 20 days) induced animals showed suppressive effects on immune response by decreasing macrophage phagocytosis, antibody secretion by spleen cells, humoral immune response, proliferation of lymphocytes, cytotoxicity, TNF α expression, granzyme B and perforin expression in splenic NK cells. Similarly, noise stress also caused DNA damage in tissues. However, the suppressed effects induced by noise stress on rat immune system were significantly prevented by oral administration of both I. tinctoria and S. dulcis aqueous extracts. Considering all these results it is suggested that the selected medicinal plant's aqueous extracts have the potential to prevent the effects of noise stress induced rat immune system and explore a strong immunostimulant potential applicable to clinical practices.

Effect of fucoidan from Turbinaria conoides on human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial (A549) cells.

Fucoidan was purified from seaweed, Turbinaria conoides. Isolated fragments were characterized with NMR ((13)C, (1)H), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectronomy (GC-MS) and HPLC analysis. The autohydrolysate of fucoidans consisted of sulfated fuco-oligosaccharides having the backbone of α-(1, 3)-linked fuco-pyranose derivatives and minor components of galactose, glucose, mannose and xylose sugars. Fucoidan induced a dose-dependent reduction in cell survival of lung cancer A549 cells by MTT assay (GI50, 75µg/mL). However, it was not cytotoxic to a non-tumorigenic human keratinocyte cell line of skin tissue (HaCaT) (GI50>1.0mg/mL). The apoptotic cells in fucoidan-treated A549 cells were visualized by laser confocal microscopy and cell cycle analysis showed induction of G0/G1 phase arrest of the cell progression cycle. Further, CFSE labeling and flow cytometry highlighted that fucoidan significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the proliferation rate of A549 cells by up to 2-fold compared with the control cells. It is concluded that fucoidan has the potential to act as an anti-proliferative agent on lung carcinoma (A549) cells.

Effect of indirubin-3-monoxime against lung cancer as evaluated by histological and transmission electron microscopic studies.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antitumor effect of indirubin-3-monoxime and its mode of action in benzo(α)pyrene [B(α)P] induced lung cancer in A/J mice. Light microscopic examination of lung sections of [B(α)P] induced lung cancer mice revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma characterized by extensive proliferation of alveolar epithelium and loss of alveolar spaces. The control lung tissue showed a normal architecture with clear alveolar spaces. Interestingly the indirubin-3-monoxime treated groups showed the reduced adenocarcinoma with appearance of alveolar spaces. Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) studies of lung sections of [B(α)P] induced lung cancer mice showed the presence of phaemorphic cells with dense granules and increased mitochondria. The lung sections of mice treated with indirubin-3-monoxime showed the presence of shrunken, fragmented, and condensed nuclei implying apoptosis. The effects were dose dependent and prominent in 10 mg/kg/5 d/week groups suggesting the therapeutic role of indirubin analogue against this deadly human malignancy. Here, our results indicate that indirubin-3-monoxime brings antitumor effect against [B(α)P] induced lung cancer by its apoptotic action in A/J mice.