Potential role of Borreria hispida in ameliorating cardiovascular risk factors.

Borreria hispida (BHE), a weed of Rubiaceae family, is being used from time immemorial as an alternative therapy for diabetes. To evaluate the scientific background of using BHE as therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk, a group of rats were given BHE for a period of 30 days, whereas control animals were given the vehicle only. The animals were sacrificed, the hearts were isolated, and perfused with buffer. All the hearts were subjected to 30-minute ischemia followed by 2-hour reperfusion. Compared with vehicle-treated rats, BHE-treated rat hearts showed improved post-ischemic ventricular function and exhibited reduced myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The level of cytochrome c expression and caspase 3 activation was also reduced. BHE elevated antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and heme oxygenase-1 and stimulated the phosphorylation of survival protein Akt simultaneously decreasing the apoptotic proteins Bax and Src. In addition, BHE enhanced the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta, and Glut-4, probably revealing the antiobese and antidiabetic potential of BHE. These results indicate that treatment with BHE improves cardiac function and ameliorates various risk factors associated with cardiac disease, suggesting that BHE can be considered as a potential plant-based nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agent for the management of cardiovascular diseases.

Attenuation of inflammation by marine algae Turbinaria ornata in cotton pellet induced granuloma mediated by fucoidan like sulphated polysaccharide.

Turbinaria ornata, a commonly found marine brown algae along the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory potential and the bioactive compound present in it was characterized. Cotton pellet induced granuloma model in rats was used to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous extract of Turbinaria ornata (ATO) (30, 100 and 300mg/kg, p.o) which was compared with dexamethasone (0.1mg/kg, p.o) a standard anti-inflammatory agent. Granuloma weight, haematological parameters and plasma markers (LDH, GPT, and CRP) were estimated. Further, the levels of oxidative stress markers (SOD, GPx, GSH, LPO, and Nitrite) and inflammatory markers (Cathepsin D and MPO) in the hepatic tissue were measured. ATO decreased the granuloma weight dose dependently. ATO significantly reversed the levels of biochemical and inflammatory markers in comparison to the vehicle treated rats. The active constituent, fucoidan (sulphated polysaccharide) from the aqueous extract was fractionated and characterized using GCMS. The sulphated polysaccharide (TSP) from ATO confirms the presence of sulphates and sugars. The present findings suggest ATO to be a potent inhibitor of both proliferative and exudative phases of inflammation possibly mediated by the sulphated polysaccharides which might inhibit the action of COX-2 enzyme analogous to dexamethasone.