Regulation of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 Expression in Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites Cells by Abrin.

The role of abrin, a toxic lectin isolated from seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn in inducing apoptosis in murine Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells was evaluated. Abrin when incubated at the concentration of 10 ng per million DLA cells could bring about cell death as typical morphological changes with apoptosis. However, necrotic cell death dominated when a higher dose of abrin was used. DNA samples, isolated from DLA cells treated with abrin showed fragmentation. Abrin brought about induction of apoptosis by stimulating the expression of pro-apoptotic Caspase-3, at the same time blocking the expression of Bcl-2, which is an anti apoptotic gene. However, the expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 has not been observed in control and abrin-treated DLA cells. Results suggested that abrin effectively induced apoptotic changes in the tumor cells that led to cellular death.

Brahma Rasayana enhances in vivo antioxidant status in cold-stressed chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant status of chicken during cold stress and to investigate if there are any beneficial effects of Brahma Rasayana supplementation in cold stressed chicken. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activities of enzymatic and levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants in blood / serum and liver tissue were evaluated in chicken exposed to cold (4 +/- 10C and relative humidity of 40 +/- 5%, for six consecutive hours daily, for 5 or 10 days). The antioxidant properties of Brahma Rasayana (BR) supplementation (2 g/kg daily, orally) during cold stress was also studied. RESULTS: There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in antioxidant enzyme in the blood, such as, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), and serum reduced glutathione (GSH) in cold stressed chicken. Serum and liver lipid peroxidation levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cold stressed untreated chickens when compared to the treated and unstressed groups. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the antioxidant enzymes in the blood, such as, catalase (CAT) and SOD, in the liver CAT and SOD, and in GPX and GR in BR-treated cold stressed chicken, when compared to the untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study conclude that in chicken, BR supplementation during cold stress brings about enhanced actions of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, which nullify the undesired side effects of free radicals generated during cold stress.

Amelioration of heat stress induced disturbances of antioxidant defense system in chicken by brahma rasayana.

Since the range of comfort zone or thermo neutral zone of domestic chickens is narrow, they become easily susceptible to heat and cold environmental stress. We evaluated Brahma Rasayana (BR) supplementation on concentrations of certain oxidative stress markers associated with heat stress. A total of 48 egg type male chickens of local strain were divided into six groups (n = 8) for the study. Three groups were fed with BR orally at the rate of 2 g/kg bw daily for 10 days prior to and during the period of experiment. Two of the four groups that were exposed to heat stress (HST i.e. to a temperature of 40 +/- 1 degrees C and relative humidity of 80 +/- 5% in an environmental chamber) for 4 h daily for 5 or 10 days, received BR orally. The other two groups remained as BR treated and untreated non-heat stressed (NHST) controls. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in blood such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as liver CAT, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in NHST-BR treated and HST-BR treated (both 5 and 10 days) chickens when compared with untreated controls. A great deal of significant (P < 0.05) variations were seen in serum and liver reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in NHST-BR treated and HST-BR treated (both 5 and 10 days) chickens. Serum and liver lipid peroxidation levels were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HST-untreated (both 5 and 10 days) chickens when compared with other groups. Thus BR supplementation during HST brings about enhanced action of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, which nullified the undesired side effects of free radicals that are generated during HST.

Antioxidant activity of brahma rasayana.

Free oxygen radical scavenging activity of brahma rasayana (BR) was studied by in vitro and in vivo models. Addition of aqueous extract of BR was found to scavenge the lipid peroxides already present in rat liver homogenate (IC50 700 micrograms/ml) and inhibit the lipid peroxide generated by Fe(2+)-ascorbate (IC50 2600 micrograms/ml) and Fe(3+)-ADP-ascorbate system (IC50 1200 micrograms/ml). BR was found to scavenge the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton reaction (IC50 7400 micrograms/ml) and superoxide generated by photoreduction of riboflavin (IC50 180 micrograms/ml). BR was also found to inhibit the nitric oxide radical generated in vitro from sodium nitroprusside (IC50 5.5 micrograms/ml). Oral administration of BR (50 mg/dose/animal) was found to inhibit the PMA induced superoxide generation in mice peritoneal macrophages. Oral administration of BR; 10 and 50 mg/dose/animal was also found to inhibit the nitrite production in peritoneal macrophages and percentage inhibition was 25.2% and 37.8% respectively. These results indicate significant antioxidant activity of BR in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of Brahma Rasayana on antioxidant systems and cytokine levels in mice during cyclophosphamide administration.

Intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (CTX) 25 mg/kg.b.wt. dose/mouse for 10 days was found to suppress the tissue and serum level of reduced glutathione (GSH), blood glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Tissue levels of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were unaltered by CTX treatment while serum and tissue lipid peroxide levels were significantly increased. Oral administration of Brahma Rasayana BR-50 mg/dose/mouse for 10 days and 30 days significantly enhanced the tissue levels of SOD, CAT, GST, GPX, serum and tissue GSH and significantly reduced the serum and tissue lipid peroxidation. BR treatment was also found to enhance the serum cytokine level of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in normal and CTX treated mice. The results are indicative of the use of BR to reduce the oxidant stress induced by CTX treatment and its effect in cellular function.

Effect of brahma rasayana on antioxidant system after radiation.

Oral administration of brahma rasayana (BR; 50 mg/animal for 10 and 30 days) significantly increased the liver antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase(CAT) and tissue and serum levels of reduced glutathione (GSH). Whole body irradiation suppressed the levels of SOD, CAT and GSH. Reduced activity of SOD, CAT and GSH was significantly elevated by treatment with BR after radiation treatment. Similarly radiation exposure induced increase in serum and liver lipid peroxides was significantly reduced by further treatment with BR. The results indicate that BR could ameliorate the oxidative damage produced in the body by radiation and may be useful as an adjuvant during radiation therapy.

Effect of herbal preparation, brahma rasayana, in amelioration of radiation induced damage.

Oral administration of brahma rasayana (BR; 10 and 50 mg/dose/animal) for 15 days increased significantly total leukocyte count and percentage of polymorphonuclear cells in irradiated mice. Bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive cells also increased significantly in radiation-treated animals after BR administration. Number of nodular colonies on the surface of spleen on day seven increased significantly in lethally irradiated recipients receiving bone marrow cells from animals treated with BR. Oral administration of BR also enhanced in serum level of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) in normal and irradiated mice. These results indicated that proliferation of stem cells induced by BR in irradiated mice may be related to its stimulation of cytokine production.