Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2014 in |
Objective: To evaluate the curative effect of Elephantopus scaber Linn. on N’Nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in experimental rats. Methods: Phytochemical analysis of the different solvent extracts of E. scaber revealed various constituents such as flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, etc. in the methanolic extract, which was selected for further study. The curative ability of two different doses of E. scaber methanolic extracts (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg) was evaluated against NDEA (0.02% in water) induced liver cancer in male Wistar rats. Quantification of serum AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH was conducted to assess the extent of hepatotoxicity. Estimation of Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) determined the anti-oxidant activity of the plant. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical studies for cancer markers namely Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Cyclin D1 were conducted on liver tissues to confirm the anti-cancer properties of the plant extract. Results: Elephantopus scaber methanolic extract significantly (p≤0.05) reversed the elevation of serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, and tissue...
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Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2014 in |
Genetic relationship between ten wild cultivars of C. roseus L. from four different regions of Rajasthan (Jaipur, Bikaner, Kota, and Jhalawar) with the marked difference in climatic condition was investigated using RAPD markers. Catharanthus roseus L. is a storehouse of several secondary metabolites such as vindoline, catharanthine, vinblastine, and vincristine, etc., thus making it an important source of drugs. A number of varieties of C. roseus L. occurs in wild and are cultivated in India. However, an evolutionary study has been limited. Using 24 decamer primers, we obtained a total of 221 amplicons with an average of 9.20 bands per primer. Out of 221 bands, 187 were found to be polymorphic, and the level of polymorphism was 84.61 percent. The average number of polymorphic bands per primer was 7.79. The average genetic similarity coefficient observed was 0.51 ± 0.186. Phylogenetic tree constructed using the neighbor-joining method of cluster analysis separated all the 10 samples of the C. roseus into two clusters. RAPD analysis thus was effective in differentiating the...
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Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2014 in |
In this study, the phytochemicals and their antimicrobial potential of flowers of Bauhinia blakeana of Fabaceae Family were evaluated. The selected microbes for the antimicrobial study were E. coli, Enterobacter sp., Proteus sp., and Klebsiella sp. Ethanolic extract was prepared by continuous hot percolation method using Soxhlet extractor, and Antimicrobial activity was tested by Agar well diffusion method using Streptomycin as reference. The phytochemicals present in Bauhinia blakeana flowers were screened by standard method. The phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Terpenoids, Anthocyanins, Phytosterols, Tannins, Carbohydrates, Saponins, and Phenols. Among the phytochemicals, the Alkaloids and Flavonoids were showed strong results in the phytochemical screening. The Antimicrobial investigation revealed the extract of the flower showing significant Antimicrobial potential against the selected microbes. It showed maximum mean zone of inhibition of 12mm against Klebsiella sp. and a minimum of 7mm against Enterobacter sp. Further research on this plant flowers is to be...
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Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2014 in |
Candida albicans has been the most widely premeditated pathogen in antifungal resistance because of their morbidity and mortality allied with infections in immunocompromised patients. A variety of mechanisms of resistance exist, with the most significant being those due to efflux pumps. The emergence of resistance during therapy in other settings appears uncommon but has been described in settings other than HIV-infected patients. We studied azole-resistant mechanism in 20 isolates of Candida albicans from HIV infected patients; these mechanisms include the presence of point mutations in the ERG11 gene and several genes encoding efflux pumps. Using Northern blot analyses, the expression patterns of these genes have been determined during logarithmic and stationary phases of cell growth. Point Mutations and overexpression of ERG11, and several genes encoding efflux pumps, as measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 20 clinical isolates of itraconazole resistant C. albicans strains. CDR1, CDR2, and MDR1 are expressed early on during logarithmic growth, CDR4 is expressed late during logarithmic growth, and CDR1 is preferentially...
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Posted by admin on Sep 1, 2014 in |
The investigation was aimed at evaluation of the mechanism of anticancer activity of the glycosides from Calotropis gigantea on breast cancer MCF-7 cells through analysis of modulation of gene expression. Cardiac glycosides were isolated from the leaves of C. gigantea, and the compounds were identified through LC-MS. Influence of the glycoside sample on the expression of p53 and Bcl-2 genes in MCF-7 cells was assessed by comparative RT-PCR of MCF-7 cells treated with the test sample, standard drug, and control followed by validation through colony formation assay. Presence of calactin, calotropin, asceplin, and cymarin along with 4 other unidentified compounds has been detected in the glycoside fraction isolated from the leaf sample of C. gigantea. Influence of the glycosides on the modulation of the expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 indicated a weak down-regulation of its expression, whereas on the modulation of Bcl-2 was found to be drastic with almost absolute inhibition of its expression. Results of the study suggest that cardiac glycosides cast a dual influence on MCF-7...
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