Antidiabetic potential and high synergistic antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesised with Musa Paradisiaca tepal extract.

This work investigates the Musa Paradisiaca plant and its tepal extracts. The research findings show that the tepal extracts of M. Paradisiaca contain high phytochemical activity. Hence we can conclude that these plants have a number of beneficial properties. Phytochemical analysis concludes that the plant is rich in flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, terpenoids, and phytosterol. In the current work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have revealed the antioxidant properties of M. Paradisiaca. The results show that the methanolic extracts of these tepals exhibit antioxidant potential and are also sources of natural antioxidant compounds, though comparatively, AgNPs have shown the best antioxidant activity. This work investigates the link between the ethnopharmacological statements and the bioactive constituents found in M. Paradisiaca toward all probable markers for cervical cancer via in vivo studies and molecular docking, to form a pharmacophore setting for the active target. However, most of the mechanisms of action of herbal medicines are not in total agreement, and the information collected from their traditional remedies over the years must not be neglected. Hence, it is sensible to investigate the options available in herbal medicine for cancer progression. Biosynthesised AgNPs are principally spherical and nanosized. It was also found that tepalmediated AgNPs exhibit excellent antimicrobial efficacy against tested human pathogens. This green method can be used as a better alternative source than the chemical fabrication of nanomaterials and the biosynthesised nanoparticles can be used in antibacterial medicines. The methanolictepal extract of M. Paradisiaca with AgNPs displayed proficient antidiabetic properties in the diabetes rat model and so could have a possible development for medical use in the future.

Antibacterial and anticancer potential of Brassica oleracea var acephala using biosynthesised copper nanoparticles.

INTRODUCTION: Brassica oleracea var acephala was studied for preliminary phytochemical screening. The results showed that the ethanolic crude extract of the leaf contain high phytochemical activity hence B.oleracea var acephala is rich in flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates and phytosterols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic extract was used to synthesise copper nanoparticles. The copper nanoparticles were successfully synthesised from copper sulphate solution which was identified by the colour change from dark green colour of the extract. Thus the B.oleracea var acephala is a good source to synthesis copper nanoparticles. The synthesised copper nanoparticles were characterised using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. The SEM image displayed the high-density nanoparticles synthesised by leaf extracts and that the nanoparticles were crystals in shape. RESULTS: The copper nanoparticles (CNP) bind to the leaf extract. B.oleracea var acephala also has shown the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. A comparative study was done between ethanolic its crude extract and nanoparticles. Both extracts exhibited zone of inhibition and better antioxidant potential but the CuNPs shows major zone of inhibition and showed more antioxidant activity. Anticancer activity of B.oleracea var acephala against Cervical HeLa cell line was confirmed using ethanolic crude extract and CNP. The results showed that HeLa cells proliferation was inhibited with increasing concentration of ethanolic crude extract and copper nanoparticles. From the results, it was seen that percentage viability of the cancer cells decreased with increased concentration of the samples whereas cytotoxicity against HeLa cell lines increased with the increased concentration of the samples. CONCLUSION: Thus B.oleracea var acephala possesses anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines.

Antihypercholesterolemic, antioxidant and renal protective effects of Mengkudu (Rubiaceae) fruit in nephropathy-induced albino rats.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the modulatory impact of alcoholic extract of fruit of Mengkudu (AEFM, Morinda citrifolia L., Rubiaceae) on renal oxido-lipidemic stress in hypercholesterolemic albino rats. METHODS: Twenty-four male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups with six rats in each group: group I as control, group II fed with hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) for 45 days (4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid), Group III rats fed with HCD for 45 days + AEFM (300 mg/kg body weight/day orally) for last 30 days and group IV normal rats fed AEFM alone. The blood was collected using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as an anticoagulant for various biochemical analysis, and excision of kidney was done for histological analysis. RESULTS: The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), phospholipids (PLs), renal functional parameters and lipid peroxidation products were markedly mitigated in AEFM treated hypercholesterolemic rats (group III) compared to group I (P<0.01). Activities of both enzymic and non-enzymic free radical scavenging factors were significantly increased in group III compared to group I (P<0.01). In group III the mRNA levels of interstitial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes were obviously up-regulated (P<0.01) and down-regulated in (P<0.05) compared with group I. Histomorphological observations also exhibited similar as in group III AEFM commendably protects the renal tissues compared with group I (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: AEFM can act as nephroprotective agent by attenuating the renal oxidative stress, lipid levels as well as regulating NOS level and by this means protects the kidney in hypercholesterolemic induced nephropathy experimental rats.

Protective effect of CardiPro against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice.

The effect of CardiPro, a polyherbal formulation, with an antioxidant property, has been studied on doxorubicin (DXR)-induced cardiotoxicity in mice. CardiPro (150 mg/kg b.w., twice daily was administered orally for 7 weeks along with four equal injections (each containing 4.0 mg/kg b.w., DXR) intraperitoneally, once weekly (cumulative dose 16 mg/kg). After a 3-week post DXR treatment period, cardiotoxicity was assessed by noting mortality, volume of ascites, liver congestion, changes in heart weight, myocardial lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and histology of heart. DXR-treated animals showed higher mortality (50%) and more ascites. Myocardial SOD and glutathione peroxidase activity were decreased and lipid peroxidation was increased. Histology of heart of DXR-treated animals showed loss of myofibrils and focal cytoplasmic vacuolization. CardiPro significantly protected the mice from DXR-induced cardiotoxic effects as evidenced by lower mortality (25%), less ascites, myocardial lipid peroxidation, normalization of antioxidant enzymes and minimal damage to the heart histologically. Our data confirm the earlier reports that DXR cardiotoxicity is associated with the free radical-induced tissue damage. Administration of CardiPro, with an antioxidant property, protected the DXR-induced cardiotoxicity in mice.

Protective effect of Gingko biloba extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice.

Doxorubicin (DXR) causes dose dependent cardiotoxicity in experimental animals and in humans. In chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity model mice, the role of G. biloba extract (Gbe) which has an antioxidant property, was investigated. Doxorubicin treated animals showed higher mortality (68%), increased ascites, marked bradycardia, prolongation of ST and QT intervals and widening of QRS complex. Myocardial SOD and glutathione peroxidase activity were decreased and lipid peroxidation was increased. Ultrastructure of heart of DXR treated animals showed loss of myofibrils, swelling of mitochondria, vacuolization of mitochondria. G. biloba extract significantly protected the mice from cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin as evidenced by lowered mortality, ascites, myocardial lipid peroxidation, normalization of antioxidant enzymes, reversal of ECG changes and minimal ultrastructural damage of the heart. The results indicate that administration of G. biloba extract protected mice from doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Periurethral transurethral microwave thermotherapy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: an interim 1-year safety and efficacy analysis using the thermatrx TMx-2000.

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) represents an accepted minimally invasive approach to the management of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The TherMatrx TMx-2000 represents a further evolution in TUMT technique. This device uses periurethral transurethral microwave thermotherapy (P-TUMT) technology to directly target the BPH tissue adjacent to the prostatic urethra by using a catheter without a urethral-cooling surface. This article provides a technical review of the device and describes the results of a randomized, controlled multicenter study of P-TUMT for the treatment of symptomatic BPH. A discussion of the physiologic effects of P-TUMT is presented and compared to conventional TUMT. A comparison of P-TUMT to contemporary TUMT series in relation to efficacy and complications is also described. This study concludes that P-TUMT using the TherMatrx TMx-2000 device represents a minimally invasive, efficacious, and well-tolerated treatment for symptomatic BPH.

31P NMR study of phosphorus containing metabolites in the uterus of hamster: changes during the estrous cycle and the effect of hormonal manipulation.

Changes in the concentrations of phosphorus containing metabolites were monitored by 31P NMR in the uteri of hamsters during the estrous cycle. Concentrations of phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP were significantly increased in estrus animals compared to diestrus animals. Concentrations of these metabolites were also increased in immature female hamsters and ovariectomized (OVX) adult hamsters treated with estradiol indicating that estradiol was responsible for this effect. However, the steroid hormones progesterone and testosterone did not increase the concentrations of the phosphorus containing metabolites. Further, immature female hamsters also following treatment with estradiol showed an initial decline in phosphomonoester (PME), PCr, ATP and inorganic phosphate but by 24 h of treatment the concentrations returned to control levels. The NMR study also revealed that the intracellular pH of the hamster uterus was around 7.4 all through the estrous cycle.

Sensitivity of phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) activity to lipid packing in sonicated lipid mixtures.

We have recently demonstrated that phospholipase C (PLC) activity on membranes decreases in the presence of membrane-active peptides such as alamethicin, gramicidin S, and melittin [Rao, N. M. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 182, 682-688]. Since these peptides affect lipid packing in the membrane and induce nonbilayer phases depending on the lipid composition, we tested for the sensitivity of PLC activity to lipid packing. We monitored PLC activities on four lipid systems which demonstrate a transition from the bilayer to the nonbilayer phase as a function of one of the components. The four model systems are (1) dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE); (2) DOPE, DOPC, and cholesterol; (3) DOPE and lysophosphatidylcholine; and (4) DOPC and gramicidin D. On all four lipid systems, the PLC activity was high for lipid in the bilayer phase and decreased as the phase changed to the nonbilayer phase. The phase changes were also monitored in PLC assay conditions on the four model systems by 31P NMR to confirm the observations made with PLC. These results suggest that the lipid in bilayer and nonbilayer phases was differentially susceptible to PLC; hence, PLC activity may be used to monitor isothermal phase transitions at physiological conditions.