α-asarone reduce proteinuria by restoring antioxidant enzymes activities and regulating necrosis factor κB signaling pathway in doxorubicin-induced nephrotic syndrome.

α-asarone is natural bioactive compound that has been reported to have many benefits and medicinal properties. The present study aimed to assess the protective effect of α-asarone against doxorubicin (DOX) induced nephrotic syndrome in rats. An experimental nephrotic syndrome was induced by single intravenous injection of DOX (7 mg/kg) in rats. Animals were orally administered α-asarone (10 and 20 mg kg-1 d-1) for 4 weeks. Blood, urine and kidney tissues were collected for analyses at the end of the study. Treatment with α-asarone significantly improved kidney function by significantly inhibiting proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, dyslipidemia, and restored antioxidant enzyme activities in kidney tissue. Furthermore, α-asarone ameliorated mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6, and podocin in the kidney. Histopathological evidence also confirmed the protective effects of α-asarone against DOX-induced nephrotic syndrome. In conclusion, α-asarone has an anti-nephritic effect that might be attributed to its antioxidant, hypolipidaemic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Betulinic acid, isolated from the leaves of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, ameliorates the proteinuria in experimental membranous nephropathy through regulating Nrf2/NF-κB pathways.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in the kidney. Betulinic acid (BA) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound isolated from the leaves of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BA on experimental MN in rats and explored the mechanisms by which it enhances antioxidant activities and resolves inflammatory condition in experimental MN. Passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a single tail vein injection of anti- Fx1A antiserum. The rats were orally administered BA (25 and 50 mg kg -1 d -1) or dexamethasone (DEX; 0.07 mg kg-1, reference compound) for 4 weeks after the induction of PHN. Blood, urine, and kidney tissue were collected for analysis at the end of the study. Treatment of PHN rats with BA or DEX significantly attenuated renal dysfunction, histopathological alterations and reduced immune complex deposition in the kidneys. Furthermore, BA ameliorated mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB, iNOS, TNF-α, Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 in the kidney. BA also restored malondialdehyde level and antioxidant enzyme activities in the kidney. In a nutshell, the protective effect of BA can be explained by its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, which in turn is due to downregulation of NF-κB pathway and activation of Nrf2. The results indicated that BA can effectively suppress experimental PHN in rats by regulating Nrf2/NF-κB pathways.

Betanin, isolated from fruits of Opuntia elatior Mill attenuates renal fibrosis in diabetic rats through regulating oxidative stress and TGF-ß pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The fruits of Opuntia elatior Mill are being used traditionally in different disease condition like diabetes, obesity, asthma, inflammatory disorders, and anemia. Betanin, a compound isolated from fruits of Opuntia elatior Mill has potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Recent study from our lab indicated the protective effect of betanin against high glucose induced rat renal epithelial cell fibrosis and matrix accumulation, major features of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However the molecular mechanism of betanin in DN has not yet been fully elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to further investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanisms of betanin against streptozotocin (STZ) induced DN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Betanin was isolated from fruits of Opuntia elatior Mill (Cactaceae) and structure was elucidated using spectroscopy (UV, IR, 1H-NMR and mass). STZ was injected intraperitoneally with single dose of 50mg/kg for diabetes induction. In order to develop DN the animals were left in diabetes condition without any treatment during the following 4 weeks. Betanin (25, 50 and 100mg/kg/day) and lisinopril (5mg/kg/day, reference compound) were orally administered for 8 weeks after the induction of DN. Renal function, blood glucose, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and antioxidant enzyme activities in the kidney tissue were measured. Kidney tissue samples were used for glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and morphometric studies. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), type IV collagen, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin in kidney tissue were evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Betanin was successfully isolated from fruits of Opuntia elatior Mill (Cactaceae) and purified by column chromatography. The results showed that betanin attenuated diabetic kidney injury by significantly inhibiting proteinuria, blood glucose, serum creatinine and BUN levels and restored antioxidant enzyme activities in kidney tissue. Histological studies exhibited that betanin treatment reduced the glomerular surface area, glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Furthermore, betanin modulated mRNA and protein expression of TGF-ß, type IV collagen, α-SMA and E-cadherin in kidney. CONCLUSIONS: The results conclude that betanin can effectively suppress renal fibrosis in DN, and may slow down the progression to end-stage renal disease by regulating TGF-ß signal pathway.

TGF-ß: the connecting link between nephropathy and fibrosis.

Renal fibrosis is the usual outcome of an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) that frequently occurs in membranous and diabetic nephropathy. The result of renal fibrosis would be end-stage renal failure, which requires costly dialysis or kidney transplantation. Renal fibrosis typically results from chronic inflammation via production of several molecules, such as growth factors, angiogenic factors, fibrogenic cytokines, and proteinase. All of these factors can stimulate excessive accumulation of ECM components through epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which results in renal fibrosis. Among these, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) is proposed to be the major regulator in inducing EMT. Besides ECM protein synthesis, TGF-ß is involved in hypertrophy, proliferation, and apoptosis in renal cells. In particular, TGF-ß is likely to be most potent and ubiquitous profibrotic factor acting through several intracellular signaling pathways including protein kinases and transcription factors. Factors that regulate TGF-ß expression in renal cell include hyperglycemia, angiotensin II, advance glycation end products, complement activation (C5b-9), and oxidative stress. Over the past several years, the common understanding of the pathogenic factors that lead to renal fibrosis in nephropathy has improved considerably. This review will discuss the recent findings on the mechanisms and role of TGF-ß in membranous and diabetic nephropathy.

Hepatoprotective activity of polyherbal formulation (Normeta) in oxidative stress induced by alcohol, polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron in rats.

In recent years, oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a large number of diseases or disorders which are initiated and/or exacerbated by pro-oxidants such as various drugs including alcohol and food additives. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of oral treatment with polyherbal formulation Normeta (2 ml and 4 ml/kg) on hepatic damage induced by alcohol 10-30% (blood alcohol was maintained at levels between 150 and 350 mg/dl), thermally oxidized oil (polyunsaturated fatty acids) (15% of diet) and carbonyl iron (1.5-2% of diet) for 30 days in rats. In vitro studies with 1, 1-Diphenyl, 2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide and Ferric chloride (Fe(+3) ions) showed that Normeta possesses antioxidant and metal chelating activity. Alcohol, polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron feeding produced an increase in serum levels of iron, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and decrease in serum proteins. It was also associated with elevated lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and disruption of antioxidant defence mechanism in liver, decreased body weight and increased liver to body weight ratio. Oral administration of Normeta along with alcohol, polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron decreased the serum iron, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels and increased serum protein levels. The levels of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were decreased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased. Improvement in body weight and liver to body weight ratio was also observed. The effects of Normeta on physico-metabolic parameters were comparable with silymarin. This indicates that Normeta has favourable effect in bringing down the severity of hepatotoxicity.

Molecular encapsulation of thalidomide with sulfobutyl ether-7 beta-cyclodextrin for immediate release property: enhanced in vivo antitumor and antiangiogenesis efficacy in mice.

Thalidomide's reported ability to inhibit tumor angiogenesis has led to clinical trials determining its effectiveness in combating various types of cancer. Since thalidomide exhibits low oral bioavailability due to limitations in solubility, inclusion complexation using sulfobutyl ether-7 beta-cyclodextrin was used to improve the delivery of thalidomide. Our main goals were to increase the solubility, bioavailability as well as chemical stability of thalidomide through complexation with anionic beta-cyclodextrin, to characterize the complex in solid state using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffractometry, and to explore thalidomide's antitumorigenic and antiangiogenesis potential when administered orally as free and in combination with cyclodextrin to experimental animals. The aqueous solubility and aqueous alkaline stability of thalidomide was markedly increased by the SBE7betaCD complexation. Thalidomide administered orally in combination with SBE7betaCD, led to a significant delay in tumor formation as a result of improved cellular drug absorption, distribution through solubilization in experimental animals. The improved pharmacological efficacy of the thalidomide-cyclodextrin complex compared to free thalidomide in mouse melanoma model suggest that such a delivery system may be useful for the improved therapeutics of thalidomide, in vivo.

A simple sample preparation with HPLC-UV method for estimation of tiropramide from plasma: application to bioequivalence study.

A simple, rapid and selective method was developed for estimation of tiropramide from human plasma. The method involves extracting the tiropramide with n-hexane using diphenhydramine hydrochloride as internal standard. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a reversed phase C(18) column using mixture of water and acetonitrile as mobile phase with UV detection set at 230 nm. The retention time of internal standard and tiropramide were 5.6+/-0.2 and 8.3+/-0.3 min, respectively. The method was validated and found to be linear in the range of 10-200 ng/ml. The co-efficient of variation for intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision was less than 12.8%. The mean recovery was found to be 89%. An open, randomized, two-treatment, two period, single dose crossover, bioequivalence study in 12 fasting, healthy, male, volunteers was conducted. After dosing, serial blood samples were collected for the period of 12 h. Various pharmacokinetic parameters including AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), C(max), T(max), T(1/2), and elimination rate constant (K(el)) were determined from plasma concentration of both formulations. Log transformed values were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by classical 90% confidence interval for C(max), AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-infinity) and was found to be within the range. These results indicated that the analytical method was linear, precise and accurate. Test and reference formulation were found to be bioequivalent.

Decreased B16F10 melanoma growth and impaired tumour vascularization in BDF1 mice with quercetin-cyclodextrin binary system.

The aim of this work was to study the inclusion behaviour of a poorly water-soluble bioflavonoid, quercetin, towards sulfobutyl ether-7beta-cyclodextrin. It also involves angiogenesis inhibition in-vivo in addition to in-vitro human cancer cell growth inhibition study of quercetin and its cyclodextrin complex. Drug-cyclodextrin solid inclusion complexes were prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state. An in-vitro anti-proliferation study using plain drug and its solubilized form was carried out on human cancer cell lines of different origin. Further, an in-vivo tumour growth inhibition study was carried out using a mouse melanoma model. Histological sections of tumours were examined for the evaluation of tumour microvessel density. Significant enhancement of the solubility and dissolution rate of the quercetin, which occurred after complexation, might be attributed to the decrease in crystallinity of drug. SBE7betaCD complex of quercetin was more potent for inhibiting cell proliferation in human erythroleukaemia and cervix cancer cells. Decreased tumour microvessel density in mouse melanoma after oral quercetin administration led to diminished tumour cell proliferation. Quercetin-SBE7betaCD complex showed significantly improved anti-cancer activity at much lower concentration than the plain drug, providing evidence for dose reduction without affecting therapeutic efficacy when using cyclodextrin carriers.