ß-caryophyllene modulates B-cell lymphoma gene-2 family genes and inhibits the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats; A molecular mechanism.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the top causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Prevention/treatment of MI is of utmost importance. This study planned to appraise the molecular mechanisms of ß-caryophyllene on the intrinsic pathway of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. Rats were induced MI by isoproterenol (100 mg/kg body weight). The serum cardiac diagnostic markers, heart lipid hydroperoxides, heart lysosomal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and serum/heart lysosomal enzymes were considerably (P < 0.05) augmented, while heart antioxidants, heart lysosomal ß-glucuronidase and cathepsin-D were considerably (P < 0.05) lessened in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction study revealed altered expressions of B-cell lymphoma gene-2, B-cell lymphoma - extra-large, B-cell lymphoma-2 associated-x, and B-cell lymphoma-2 associated death promoter genes. Further, transmission electron microscopic study depicted damaged heart lysosomal structure. Histological study revealed mononuclear cell infiltration and congested dilated blood capillaries in between affected cardiac muscle fibres. Further, 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining showed a larger myocardial infarct size. The ß-caryophyllene (20 mg/kg body weight) pre-and co-treatment orally, daily, for 21 days considerably (P < 0.05) ameliorated all these altered biochemical, transmission electron microscopic, molecular and histological parameters evaluated in myocardial infarcted rats. Thus, ß-caryophyllene inhibited oxidative stress and lysosomal leakage, preserved the heart, and heart lysosomal structure, and prevented the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Moreover, it reduced infarct size. The antioxidant effects of ß-caryophyllene are the possible mechanism for the observed anti-oxidative stress, anti-lysosomal damage, anti-apoptotic, and myocardial infarct size limiting effects.

Antibacterial potential of antagonistic Streptomyces sp. isolated from marine sponge Dendrilla nigra.

The role of Streptomyces sp. (BTL7) in synthesis of antibacterial agents reported from the marine sponge Dendrilla nigra was evaluated. Selective isolation of actinomycetes was performed on the newly developed selective media, Sponge Agar (SA) 1 and SA 2. The growth rate and antibiotic production were increased on the media supplemented with sponge extract. The chosen isolate BTL7 showed inhibitory interaction with Micrococcus luteus and the extracellular products contained potent antibacterial agents. The minimum inhibitory concentration of BTL7 against M. luteus was 44 microg protein/ml and the minimum bactericidal concentration was 88 microg protein/ml. Peak antibacterial activity was observed at 72 h in batch culture. Based on the findings, it could be inferred that bacterial endosymbionts sponges could form a reliable source for bioprospecting of next generation pharmaceutical agents.