Anti-inflammatory activity of the phenol rich fraction of Garcinia pedunculata Roxb (ex. Buch Ham): an in vitro and in vivo study.

Garcinia pedunculata, a tropical plant found abundantly in the north-east region of India, has been used by many traditional healers for various gastrointestinal ailments. Studies are being carried out for the proper pharmacological identification of the compounds as well as the mode of action for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, phytochemistry of the fruit was evaluated, followed by a quantitative analysis of the total phenolic and flavonoid content of the methanolic crude extract as well as different fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). The fraction with the most potent flavonoid and phenolic content was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The chloroform fraction of G. pedunculata fruit extract was found to have a substantial amount of phenols and flavonoids. This fraction inhibited the denaturation of BSA and significantly stabilized human RBC membrane compared to the standard drug Diclofenac sodium. The fraction also significantly reduced the formaldehyde-induced paw edema in mice and normalized the blood parameters. This study provides evidence that G. pedunculata fruit extract plays a critical role in anti-inflammatory activity, indicating that it can be a potential candidate for further investigation in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

Cordyceps militaris: A Comprehensive Study on Laboratory Cultivation and Anticancer Potential in Dalton's Ascites Lymphoma Tumor Model.

BACKGROUND: Cancer, a predominant cause of mortality, poses a formidable challenge in our pursuit of elevating life expectancy. Throughout history, individuals have sought natural remedies with minimal side effects as an appealing substitute for chemotherapeutic drugs. One such remedy is Cordyceps militaris, a renowned medicinal mushroom deeply entrenched in Asian ethnomedicine. Revered for its rejuvenating and curative attributes, it relied upon for ages. OBJECTIVE: The mushroom's soaring demand outpaced natural availability, necessitating controlled laboratory cultivation as the core focus and exploring the potential of methanolic extracts from harvested Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies against Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells in vitro, with a specific emphasis on its anticancer traits. METHODS: For cultivation, we employed a diverse range of rice substrates, among which bora rice showed promising growth of C. militaris fruiting bodies. To assess DLA cell cytotoxicity, several assays, including trypan blue exclusion assay, MTT assay, and LDH assay, were employed at different time points (24-96 h), which provided valuable insights on DLA cell viability and proliferation, shedding light on its therapeutic potential against cancer. RESULTS: Our studies unveiled that methanolic extract prompts apoptosis in DLA cells via AO/EB dual staining, manifesting consistent apoptosis indicators such as membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, nuclei fragmentation, and cellular shrinkage at 48-96 h of treatment. Furthermore, these striking repercussions of apoptosis were comprehended by an in silico approach having molecular docking simulation against antiapoptotic proteins like BCL-2, BCL-XL, MCL-1, BFL-1 & HSP100. CONCLUSION: Methanolic C. militaris extracts exhibited cytotoxicity and apoptotic alterations in DLA cells.

Photoperiodic physiology of summer breeding birds and a search for the role of eye.

Photoperiod regulation of gonadal cycles is well studied and documented in both birds and mammals. Change in photoperiod is considered as the most effective and important cue to time the initiation of the annual physiological cycles in birds. Approaching of long days (as observed in summer months), signal long-day breeding birds to initiation reproduction and other related functions. Birds and other non-mammalian vertebrates use the extraocular photoreceptors which may be present in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) or associated regions to measure the photoperiodic time and so are different from mammals where only the eyes are lone photoreceptive organs. The downstream signaling involves thyroid responsive genes playing a crucial role in mediating photoperiodic signals in both birds and mammals. Role of eyes in the avian seasonal cycle has been a questionable issue with evidences both favoring and negating any role. We propose that morphological as well as physiological data argue that retinal photoreceptors can participate in gonadal cycle, at least in the quail and duck. The present review details the studies of photoneuroendocrine control of gonadal axis in birds and review evidences to decipher the role eyes in photoperiodic mediated physiologies in birds.

Circadian rhythm in photoperiodic expressions of GnRH-I and GnIH regulating seasonal reproduction in the Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus.

The present study investigates the involvement of circadian rhythm in photoperiodic expressions of GnRH-I and GnIH in the hypothalamus controlling seasonal reproduction in the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus). Groups of photosensitive birds were exposed for four weeks to resonance light dark cycles comprising of a light phase of 6 h (L) combined with dark phase of different durations (D) such that the period of LD cycles varied by 12 h increments viz. 12- (6 L/6D), 24- (6 L/18D), 36- (6 L/30D), 48- (6 L/42D), 60- (6 L/54D) and 72- (6 L/66D)h. In addition, a control group (C) was maintained under long day length (14 L/10D). Observations, recorded at the beginning and end of experiment, revealed significant testicular growth with corresponding increase in the hypothalamic expression of GnRH-I peptide but low levels of GnIH mRNA and peptide in the birds exposed to resonance cycles of 12, 36 and 60 h which were read as long days. On the other hand, birds experiencing resonance cycles of 24, 48 and 72 h read them as short days wherein they maintained their quiescent gonads and low levels of GnRH-I peptide but exhibited significant increase in GnIH mRNA and peptide expressions. Thus, sparrows responded to resonance light dark cycles differently despite the fact that each of them contained only 6 h of light. These findings suggest that an endogenous circadian rhythm is involved in photoperiodic expressions of above molecules and indicate a shift in their expressions depending upon whether the light falls in the photoinducible or non-photoinducible phase of an endogenous circadian rhythm.

Participation of endogenous circadian rhythm in photoperiodic time measurement during ovarian responses of the subtropical tree sparrow, Passer montanus.

Resonance experiment was employed to investigate the mechanism of photoperiodic time measurement during initiation of ovarian growth and functions in the subtropical population of female tree sparrow (Passer montanus) at Shillong (Latitude 25 degrees 34 'N, Longitude 91 degrees 53 'E). Photosensitive birds were subjected to various resonance light dark cycles of different durations such as: 12-(6L:6D), 24-(6L:18D), 36-(6L:30D), 48-(6L:42D), 60-(6L:54D) and 72-(6L:66D) h along with a control group under long days (14L:10D) for 35 days. Birds, exposed to long days, exhibited ovarian growth confirming their photosensitivity at the beginning of the experiment. The birds experiencing resonance light/dark cycles of 12, 36 and 60 h responded well while those exposed to 24, 48 and 72 h cycles did not. Serum levels of estradiol-17beta ran almost parallel to changes in the follicular size. Further, histomorphometric analyses of ovaries of the birds subjected to various resonance light dark cycles revealed distinct correlation with the ovarian growth and the serum levels of estradiol-17beta. No significant change in body weight was observed in the birds under any of the light regimes. The results are in agreement with the avian external coincidence model of photoperiodic time measurement and indicate that an endogenous circadian rhythm is involved during the initiation of the gonadal growth and functions in the female tree sparrow.