In search to potent natural antioxidant from plant-based metabolites, a comparative study was designed in present investigation. The antioxidant activity of various phytochemicals listed in text was determined by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing power assays (FRAP) and phosphomolybdenum complex method. The level of the antioxidant activity by all three used assays was significantly (P<0.001) higher in vitamin E, ascorbic acid, curcumin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, β-carotene and ursolic acid than other. Hence, these should be regarded as a potential source of natural antioxidants and could be effectively employed as an ingredient in functional food.
The present study was aimed to evaluate the radioprotective efficacy of lycopene, a naturally occurring dietary carotenoid on whole body radiation-induced cellular damage in the liver of Swiss albino mice. The first phase of the study was carried out to fix the effective concentration of lycopene by performing a 30 days survival studies using different graded doses (10, 20, 40 and 80mg/kg body weight) of lycopene administered orally to mice via intragastric intubations for seven consecutive days prior to exposure of whole body radiation (10Gy). Based on the results of survival studies, the effective dose of lycopene was fixed which was then administered to mice orally via intragastric intubations for 7 consecutive days prior to exposure of whole body radiation (4Gy) to evaluate its radioprotective efficacy by performing various biochemical estimations, comet assay, DNA fragmentation assay and histopathological alterations in the liver of Swiss albino mice. The results indicated that radiation-induced decrease in the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and increase in lipid peroxidative index, DNA damage and comet assays were altered by pre-administration with the effective dose of lycopene (20mg/kg body weight) which restored the antioxidant status to near normal and decreased the levels of lipid peroxidative index, DNA damage and comet assays. These results were further confirmed by histopathological examinations, which indicated that pre-administration with the effective dose of lycopene reduced the hepatic damage induced by radiation. Thus the current study shows lycopene to be an effective radioprotector against radiation-induced damage in the liver of mice.
An isoprenylated flavonoid was isolated from the aerial parts of the Spilanthes calva D.C. The structure of the isolated compound was ascertained by UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass analyses. The structure was elucidated as 6-(3-methylbut-1-enyl)-5,7-dimethoxy-4′-hydroxy flavone. The isolated compound was further evaluated by in vitro xanthine oxidase enzyme activity. Molecular docking study was carried out to establish the binding mode of isolated compound in the inhibitor-binding cavity of enzyme. The isoprenylated flavonoid was found to be possess potent xanthine oxidase inhibition activity with an IC50 of 16.56μM. Molecular docking study revealed that the potent action of the compound was due to the hydrogen bonding to ALA 1079 and π–π stacking interaction with PHE 914 in the inhibitor-binding cavity of xanthine oxidase.
Cladodes and fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of abscess and skin inflammation. It was therefore interesting to assess whether an antileishmanial activity could be associated to skin healing. This study reports on the antileishmanial activity of Opuntia ficus-indica extracts from cladodes and fruits. Ethyl acetate extract from cladodes only exhibited an activity against Leishmania major with an IC50 value of 53.9μg/mL, but ethyl acetate fruit extract, ethyl acetate cladode extract and methanol cladode extract were active also against Leishmania donovani with IC50 values at 70.3, 70.5 and 45.2μg/mL, respectively. A poor activity of the fractions was monitored against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Finally, a bioguided fractionation of fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica led to a pre-purified fraction that exhibited an IC50 of 9.3μg/mL against Leishmania donovani intramacrophage amastigotes. The selectivity index defined as CC50/IC50 was higher than 10. In conclusion, the bioguided fractionation allowed to enhance the antileishmanial activity about ten-fold comparatively to those of the ethyl acetate fruit extract. Such an activity is worth of further investigations to identify the compounds responsible for the antileishmanial effect.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease which on prolongation causes colorectal cancer (CRC) making UC as the highest risk factor for CRC development. Despite the use of Aegle marmelos in folk medicine, few studies have reported its colonic healing activity. We exploited the use of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in inducing colitis in Swiss albino mice and examine the inflammatory modulating effect of A. marmelos fruit extract (AME). HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of two biologically active compounds namely umbelliferon (a coumarin-derivative) and lupeol (triterpenoid). Fourteen days feeding of DSS to mice elicited colitis, with drastically reduced body weight with altered clinical severity score, combined with shortening of colon length. Oral administration of AME (50mg/kg) evidenced a significant suppression of disease symptoms. The increased mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL) 2, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α during colitis, were also reduced significantly. Notable reduction in the NF-κB expression in the colonic region was also noted which is substantiates with docking analysis were UMB and LUP found in AME bounds with NF-κB. Furthermore, DSS-altered histopathological features of colon were also recovered on treatment with AME. Thus the observation revealed the restorative significance of AME in healing the DSS-induced colitis in mice by modulating NF-κB and regulating pro-inflammatory mediators involved in the colonic injury.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a key role in epithelial malignancies by enhancing cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis. The aberrant expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by tumors typically confers a more aggressive phenotype and is often predictive of poor prognosis. Quercetin is an anti-oxidative flavonoid widely distributed in fruits and vegetables and have attracted much attention as potential anti-carcinogens. Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer related deaths in men. In the present study, we examined the effects of quercetin on EGF induced signaling molecules involved in proliferation, survival and apoptosis in PC-3 cells. EGF-stimulated EGFR, Akt, PI3K, PDK1 and ERK1/2 protein levels were inhibited by quercetin. The inhibitory effects of quercetin on EGF induced signaling were compared with PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and MAPK inhibitor (PD98059). Quercetin down-regulated EGF induced Bcl-2 expression and upregulated Bax protein levels. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased by quercetin treatment. Acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining showed that quercetin was able to induce apoptosis even in the presence of EGF. To conclude, the present study showed that quercetin inhibits EGF induced cell survival, proliferation and induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells.
The aims of this study were to test the effectiveness of copaiba essential oils controlling trypanosomosis and to describe the toxic effect of copaiba essential oil used in treatment of mice infected with Trypanosoma evansi. The experiment was designed, testing the effect of three different oils of copaiba species (Copaifera reticulata, Copaifera paupera and Copaifera duckei) in the mice in dose 1.0mLkg−1 during 3days. However, they did not reach the curative efficacy, showing that only C. paupera oil was able to prolong the survival of mice. The three tested oils were toxic at the used doses to the mice due to the verification of increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lipid peroxidation and observation of histopathological lesions in liver. The curative effect was not observed; being only able to prolong the lifespan of the animals treated with oil of copaiba, as well as the dose of oils was toxic to animals.
The use of food and food products as medicine has been in practice over centuries in many civilizations. The extracts from the family Cucurbitaceae have been used in the preparation of medicines for a variety of diseases in Ayurveda and ancient Chinese medicine. The article focuses on medicinal properties of extracts derived from different vegetative parts of three Cucurbitaceae species viz. ash gourd (Benincasa hispida), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). The competency of extracts derived from these plants using different extraction solutions and techniques were tested against various diseases. These plants were found to possess antioxidant activity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, central nervous system activity, antihyperglycemic and antidiabetics, anti-hyperlipidemic activity, antimicrobial activity and anthelmintic activity, cytotoxic and anticancer activity, immunomodulatory effect, cardioprotective effects, hepatoprotective activity, bronchospasm protective activity, antidiarrheal activity, and diuretic activity.
The present study was considered to assess the antihypertensive and antioxidant effect of valproic acid, against Nω- nitro-L arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) induced hypertension in male Wistar rats. Hypertension was prompted in adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain, weighing 180–220g, by oral administration of the L-NAME (40mg/kg body weight/day) in drinking water for 4 weeks. The L- NAME hypertensive rats revealed significant (P<0.05) rise in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, water intake and heart weight L-NAME hypertensive rats also revealed significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides in plasma and tissues (heart and aorta), and significant (P<0.05) drop in the body weight, nitrite and nitrate levels in plasma and aorta. Activities of enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocyte and tissues and the levels of non-enzymic antioxidant such as reduced glutathione in plasma and tissues, ET-1 mRNA expression in aorta was significantly (P<0.05) increased in L-NAME rats. Valproic acid (VPA) supplementation (100mg/kg) daily for four weeks brought back all the above parameters to near normal level. The above outcomes were confirmed by the histopathological examination. No significant (P<0.05) effect was observed in control rats treated with valproic acid (100mg/kg). These results suggest that valproic acid performed as an antihypertensive and antioxidant agent against L-NAME induced hypertension.
In the present study, amino acid compositions of two jellyfish gonad samples were determined and the nutritional value was evaluated by the amino acid score method recommend by WHO/FAO and fuzzy recognition method. The two samples were abundant in amino acids. The major amino acids were both glutamic acid, lysine, glycine, aspartic acid and leucine and the contents of these amino acids were 51.47% and 52.52% of the total amino acids, respectively. The essential amino acids were 42.89% and 40.70%, the flavor amino acids were 47.39% and 50.12% and the medicinal amino acids were 66.55% and 66.92% of the total amino acids, respectively. μ (a, μi) values of the two samples were respectively 0.91 and 0.94 and SRC values were respectively 70.89 and 69.96, indicating that the essential amino acids of jellyfish gonad were well-balanced and the nutritional value of jellyfish gonad was high.
The anti-nociceptive effect of Rhizophora mucronata was evaluated on chemically and thermally induced nociception in mice. Albino mice received a dose of 10, 15, 20, or 25mg/kg of alkaline chloroform fraction (Alk-CF) of R. mucronata by oral administration. Compared with controls, Alk-CF decreased the writhing numbers (P<0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Further, we determined that Alk-CF contained, a potent compared to control, also potent anti-nociceptive agent that acted via opioid receptors and using HPLC, identified this compound as luteolin. Docking simulation demonstrated that luteolin interacted strongly with cyclooxygenase, forming a number of specific hydrogen bonds. This study identified peripheral and central anti-nociceptive activities of R. mucronata that involve opioid receptor, and in which the active compound is luteolin as a source of new anti-nociceptive agent.
Chemotherapy drugs act on normal cells as well as cancer cells. Therefore, in the present study, the extent of cell death induced by etoposide-induced oxidative stress and the role of Zea mays leaf extracts were followed in primary cultured chick embryo fibroblasts (normal cells). Various apoptosis related parameters like cell viability, morphological changes, nuclear changes and apoptotic index were characterized. SRB and MTT assays were used to quantify the extent of cell death in the group exposed to etoposide, plant extracts and their combination. The treatment with etoposide exhibited cytotoxity in the primary chick embryo fibroblasts cells. The number of apoptotic cells increased in the oxidant treated groups. When administered along with etoposide, the leaf extracts resulted in a significantly decreased number of apoptotic cells. The maximum inhibition of etoposide-induced apoptosis was exhibited by the methanolic extract followed by the aqueous and chloroform extracts. Zea mays leaf extracts reduced the toxicity of etoposide in the normal cells and the leaf extracts, by themselves, did not cause any damage to normal cells when treated alone. These results indicate that the Zea mays leaves can render protection to chick embryo fibroblasts against etoposide-induced cell death.
To investigate antidiabetic, hypolipidemic histopathological analysis of Gymnema sylvestre methanolic extract (GSME) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat by administering oral doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight). Blood glucose levels were measured using blood glucose test strips with elegance glucometer on weekly intervals till the end of study (i.e. four weeks). Blood glucose, urine sugar, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were determined in normal and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats after oral administration of the extract for 28 days. Histopathological changes in diabetic rat organs (pancreas, liver, and kidney) were also observed after extract treatment. Daily oral administration GSME (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) showed beneficial effects on blood glucose level (P < 0.01) and hyperlipidaemia due to diabetes. The extract treatment also showed to enhance serum insulin level and body weight of diabetic rats as compared to diabetic control group. Furthermore, the extract has a favorable effect on the histopathological studies, in streptozotocin induced diabetes. G. sylvestre possesses antidiabetic property as well improve body weight, and total lipid levels. GSME has also favorable effect to inhibit the histopathological changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
Extract rich in glucans from the Caripia montagnei mushroom showed an anti-edematous activity higher than the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), indomethacin and parecoxib. Agonists of PPARα showed a value of 90.8±10.9% and roziglitazone, an agonist of PPARy, exhibited 41.9±7.1%. An experimental animal model, carrageenan-induced pleurisy, found that this polysaccharide also displayed an anti-inflammatory effect. Severe reductions occur in leukocyte migration, in addition to modest nitric oxide production. The polymer antiangiogenic activity showed a high inhibiting concentration of 1000μg/egg. This study also investigated total antioxidant activity (57±0.3%), reducing power (37.6±0.16), and lipid peroxidation (84±0.51%) of these polysaccharides. Inhibition of hydroxyl radical was 38.0±0.01% (1mg/mL), with high inhibition of iron chelation. Results showed that β-glucan content from Caripia montagnei has significant pharmacological activity in inflammation models, angiogenesis, and inhibition of free radicals.
Exposure to pyrethroid pesticides has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, like neurodegenerative disorder, low IQ, pervasive developmental disorder, attention problems. Thus, we investigated the relationship between pyrethroid deltamethrin exposure to acetylcholine esterase, ATPase, oxidative stress biomarkers, and impaired behavior performance, and the possible ameliorating mechanism of dietary flavonoid naringin in male Wistar rats. Adult male wistar rats were divided into four different groups. Group I: control group; group II received DLM dissolved in corn oil 12.8mg/kg BW orally (1/10 LD50) for three weeks; group III received DLM as group II and naringin (100mg/kg BW for 21days) orally. Group IV: naringin alone. DLM exposure leads to reduction in the levels of acetylcholinesterase, Na+/K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ ATPase, enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants activities in cortex and hippocampus region and increase the activities of TBARS. DLM-induced neuronal alterations was evidenced by impairment behavioral performance, like memory, anxiety, locomotor, and emotionality behaviors. This is also supported by histopathological findings of cortex and hippocampus region of rats. However, naringin treatment modulates the abnormalities of DLM-induced alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers, acetylcholine esterase, ATPase, and behavioral performance of rats. These findings highlight the efficacy of naringin as neuroprotectant. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that DLM cause neurobehavioral and biochemical alterations. Oxidative stress, free radical mechanism play major role on DLM-induced neurotoxicity. Naringin could be a suitable agent for preventing the toxicity of DLM by its potent antioxidant, free radical scavenging and neuroprotective activity.
The sclerotia of Pleurotus tuberregium are eaten as food, and used in traditional health care, for the management of hypertension, yet there is scarcity of information in the literature regarding the nature of its effect on blood pressure indices. Thus, in this study, the ability of an aqueous extract of the sclerotia to moderate blood pressure indices and pulse rates were investigated in normal and sub-chronic salt-loaded rats. The normal and treatment control groups received a diet consisting 100% of commercial feed, while the test control, reference and test treatment groups received an 8% salt-loaded diet. The extract (at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight) and moduretics (at 1mg/kg body weight) were orally administered daily. The normal and test control groups orally received appropriate volumes of water. The extract was screened for bioactive components using gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector. The flavonoids were the major components (52.82mg/kg), and consisted of thirty-eight known flavonoids (mainly 29.03% kaempferol and 20.84% quercetin). The most abundant of the seven phytosterols and the twelve glycosides detected were sitosterol (98.16%) and amygdalin (37.56%), respectively. Compared to test control and corresponding values on day 0, the extract dose-dependently lowered the systolic, diastolic, pulse and mean arterial pressures of the salt-loaded rats; while producing a mixed effect on the pulse rates. This result suggests that the sclerotia can moderate all the blood pressure indices, and supports the use of the sclerotia in traditional health care, for the management of hypertension.
Chloroform (CHCl3) is one of the volatile organic compounds detected most frequently in both ground and surface water. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin (CMN) to attenuate CHCl3 toxicity and cellular dysfunction in cardiac tissue of female albino rats. Fifty rats were divided into 5 groups, 1st group was control; 2nd group rats were intoxicated with 150mg CHCl3/kg BW; 3rd group rats were treated with 50mg CMN/kg BW; 4th group rats were treated with 50mg CMN/kg BW for 30 days then intoxicated with 150mg CHCl3/kg BW for 60 days and 5th group rats were intoxicated with 150mg CHCl3/kg BW plus 50mg CMN/kg BW, respectively. Treatment was continued for 90 days. The levels of lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and xanthine oxidase (XO) were increased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, protein content and endogenous antioxidants were decreased in cardiac tissues in rats treated with CHCl3 in comparison with control group. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C levels were increased while high HDL-C was decreased in rats treated with CHCl3 in comparison with control group. Treatment with CMN helps in improving the adverse effect of CHCl3 toxicity; also our histological results confirm this finding. The present study could be concluded that CMN has protective and ameliorative effects against CHCl3 induced oxidative stress.
Inflammation is the hallmark of osteoarthritis (OA) leading to pain and disability. Objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of Silymarin (SMN, an antioxidant), Celecoxib (CLX, a selective COX inhibitor) and their combination on chemically induced arthritis in rats. The biochemical parameters and radiology impact of the treatment was also determined. Wistar male rats were assigned into five groups including control, OA+, OA+ CLX (100mg/kg), OA+ SMN (50mg/kg) and OA+ CLX+SMN (25mg/kg). Combined treatment returned the elevated levels of inflammatory mediators (ROS, TNF-α, ALP, COX-2) to normal levels in 14days. In the SMN+CLX treated animals significant reduction in KL grade and normal joint space narrowing was observed. X-ray radiological studies supported the biochemical findings. These findings suggest that co-administration of SMN with CLX could be an effective antiarthritic treatment which can equally abolish the arthritis associated secondary complication.
The quest for wholesome nutraceutical sources is all-time high as acute and chronic ailments threaten human health. In this regard, a Malvaceae family member Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle) holds plentiful potential. This plant with worldwide distribution is a powerhouse of phytochemicals viz. polyphenolics, especially anthocyanins. The nutritional abundance imparts it antioxidant, hypocholesterolaemic, antiobesity, hypotensive, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, renoprotective, diuretic and anti-urolithiatic properties. Though this plant has a long history of use across cultures, the recent scientific validations have augmented its status as a nutrition resource. Food industries have started incorporating their calyces into various products. In the near future, the elaboration of more fortified foods is expected. This review is expected to be contributory in its popularization by kindling consumer as well as research interest.
Development of environmentally benign biological process for the synthesis of nanoparticles is one of the important areas of research in nanotechnology. In the present study, gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were synthesized at room temperature using Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum) leaf extract as reducing agent. The gold nanoparticles obtained were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential (ZP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The Au-NPs formation was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy through color conversion due to surface plasma resonance band at 537nm. DLS studies revealed that the average size of Au-NPs was found to be around 50nm. Zeta potential value for Au-NPs obtained was −17.80mV indicating the moderate stability of synthesized nanoparticles. Crystalline nature of the Au-NPs in face centered cubic structure is evident from the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and XRD pattern. FT-IR spectrum identifies the presence of different biomolecules in the S. nigrum leaf extract responsible for the reduction and stabilization of Au-NPs. The biomedical properties of Au-NPs were premeditated as free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial static agents. Biosynthesized Au-NPs showed a strong DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical scavengers compared to the aqueous leaf extract of S. nigrum. Furthermore, the biosynthesized Au-NPs significantly inhibited the growth of medically important pathogenic gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Bacillus subtilis) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The report suggests that the biosynthesized gold nanoparticles could have a high potential for use in the preparation of drugs used against various diseases and also promising candidate for many medical applications.
