Structural investigation of Ayurveda Lauha (Iron) Bhasma.

In Ayurveda, 'Lauha' (Iron) Bhasma is primarily used to cure diseases related to iron deficiency in humans. It is produced from purified raw metallic iron using a combination of multi-step traditional preparation processes described in the Ayurveda literature. Here, we present the results of structural investigation performed on the medicinal grade 'Lauha' Bhasma using various X-ray based techniques. Our results indicate that after several rounds of heating and cooling in specific conditions following the Ayurvedic preparation procedure, metallic iron eventually converts to a natural iron-oxide mineral belonging to the magnetite group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray standing wave assisted fluorescence measurements carried out on powdered Bhasma specimen reveal that the magnetite micro-particles in the Bhasma specimen are usually present in the form of agglomerates of nano-particles. We anticipate that the Ayurvedic Lauha Bhasma has great potential for noninvasive localized target killing of cancer cells, particularly in sensitive parts of the human body such as the brain, spinal cord, and lungs, via necrosis by application of an alternating external magnetic field or photo electron generation through X-rays.

Enhanced plant growth promoting role of phycomolecules coated zinc oxide nanoparticles with P supplementation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

This report focuses on application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) carrying phycomolecule ligands as a novel plant growth promoter aimed at increasing the crop productivity. The present investigation examined the effect of ZnONPs on plant growth characteristics, and associated biochemical changes in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) following growth in a range of concentrations (25-200 mg L-l ZnONPs) in combination with 100 mM P in a hydroponic system. Treated plants registered an increase in growth and total biomass by 130.6% and 131%, respectively, over control. Results demonstrated a significant increase in the level of chlorophyll a (141.6%), b (134.7%), carotenoids (138.6%), and total soluble protein contents (179.4%); at the same time, a significant reduction (68%) in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaves with respect to control. Interestingly, a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD, 264.2%), and peroxidase (POX, 182.8%) enzyme activities followed by a decrease in the catalase (CAT) activity, in response to above treatments. These results suggest that bioengineered ZnONPs interact with meristematic cells triggering biochemical pathways conducive to an accumulation of biomass. Further investigations will map out the mode of action involved in growth promotion.

Pretreatment of donor pigs with a diet rich in soybean oil increases the yield of isolated islets.

INTRODUCTION: The pig is considered the donor species of choice for islet xenotransplantation. However, isolation of porcine islets is difficult, particularly from young pigs. Early life exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) reportedly encourages islet ß-cell expansion in neonatal rodents and improves islet viability in culture from pretreated weanling pigs. In this study, we examined the influence of young donor pretreatment with a soybean oil-enriched HFD on porcine islet mass and yield after islet isolation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postweaning and between days 70 and 250, pigs were fed either a standard diet (control group; n = 5) or an HFD (experimental group; n = 6). Biochemical blood parameters and acute C-peptide response to intravenous glucose were monitored before pancreas procurement. The study was blinded to objectively evaluate the influence of treated diet. After procurement, pancreas biopsy samples were taken from control and pretreated donor pigs to assess islet number by using a dithizone scoring method and histologic islet area fraction determination. Control and HFD donor pig islets were isolated by using our standard isolation protocol to determine islet yield. Islet isolation characteristics and islet quality were assessed in both groups, and the results were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the donor characteristics (age, body weight, glucose disposal rate, acute C-peptide response to intravenous glucose, cholesterol, and aspartate aminotransferase) except fasting blood glucose level between the control and treatment groups (84 ± 6 vs 99 ± 12 mg/dL; P = .0317). The stimulated insulin and C-peptide levels between groups were similar. However, the dithizone score was slightly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (95.4 ± 38.5 vs 62.6 ± 23.9; P = .1208). Digestion time, digested pancreas weight, pellet volume, and the fragility index were similar in both groups. However, the average islet count (islet equivalent number/g pancreas) at the digest level was significantly higher in the HFD group than in the control group (1578 ± 994 vs 738 ± 202; P = .0344). The functional viability of 2- and 7 day-cultured islets, as assessed by using oxygen consumption rate corrected for DNA, was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment of pigs with HFD enriched with soybean oil could potentially be used to improve the islet mass in donor pigs. Further studies are needed to confirm and optimize the use of HFD for the purpose of increasing islet yield from young donor pigs.

Tinospora cordifolia extract modulates COX-2, iNOS, ICAM-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines and redox status in murine model of asthma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers is an important constituent of several ayurvedic medicinal preparations. In Ayurveda it is mentioned as "rasayan" and traditionally used for the treatment of asthma, chronic cough besides other ailments. This study was carried out to study the mechanisms involved in protection accorded by extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Tc) stem to asthmatic mice by regulation of oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory mediator release and redox signaling involving NFκB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/c mice were sensitized with intraperitoneal (i.p.) Ovalbumin (Ova) on days 0 and 14, followed by intranasal Ovalbumin (Ova) challenge on days 24 and 27 to generate an in vivo asthma model. Tc extract (hydroalcoholic, 100 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) were given orally from day 15 to 23 to the Tc+Ova treated group and Dex+Ova treated group respectively. Oxidative stress parameters e.g. activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase, lipid peroxidation, GSH/GSSG ratio, protein carbonyl content, eosinophil peroxidase, myeloperoxidase activity, and NO release were measured in tissue, blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Estimation of cytokines was done in BALF. Western blot analysis was done for IκB α, iNOS, COX-2, iCAM-1 and pJNK MAPKs along with histopathology. RESULTS: Tc extract treated mice showed decreased airway hyper-responsiveness, eosinophil count and IgE content in blood as compared to Ova treated asthmatic mice. Increase in activities of SOD, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase as well as GSH/GSSG ratio was observed while a decrease in MDA formation, protein carbonyl content, eosinophil peroxidase, myeloperoxidase activity and NO release in BALF was seen in Tc treated mice. In BALF, levels of cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α were reduced and IFN-γ levels increased in extract treated mice. At the same time Tc treatment of Ova-challenged mice significantly increased the level of IκB α, cytosolic inhibitor of redox sensitive transcription factor NFκB. Immunoblot analysis revealed considerable decrease in the levels of COX-2, ICAM-1, iNOS, and pJNK. Histopathology and PAS staining also indicate a protective effect of Tc extract in inflammation and mucus hyper-secretion due to goblet cell hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a protective effect of Tc extract against oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory mediator release and redox signaling in the murine model of asthma. The Tc extract shows therapeutic potential for management of asthmatic inflammation and other lung inflammatory conditions.

Suppression of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory mediators by Cymbopogon citratus D. Stapf extract in lipopolysaccharide stimulated murine alveolar macrophages.

Exploration of antioxidants of plant origin and their scientific validation for their immense pharmacological potential is emerging as an issue of intense research now-a-days.The effect of Cymbopogon citratus extract was seen on cell viability, oxidative stress markers i.e. ROS production, SOD activity, lipid peroxidation and GSH content of murine alveolar macrophages stressed with lipopolysaccharide. Modulation in release of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α along with alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential under stress were compared with known plant derived antioxidant quercetin. The extract was not found to be cytotoxic at any of the selected doses. At 5 and 10 µg the extract showed significant increase in SOD activity, GSH content (p<0.001), decrease in ROS production as seen by fluorescent dye DCFH-DA and also MDA formation (lipid peroxidation marker) significantly. The extract also showed reduction in the release of pro-inflammatory mediators TNF-α and NO significantly indicating an anti-inflammatory effect. The extract was able to restore mitochondrial membrane potential as estimated by spectrofluorimetry using the fluorescent dye Rhodamine 123. The results suggest potential use of the cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property of C. citratus in the form of dietary component and also in formulations against lung inflammatory diseases where oxidative stress plays an important role.

Plant derived antioxidants - Geraniol and camphene protect rat alveolar macrophages against t-BHP induced oxidative stress.

Exploration of antioxidants of plant origin and scientific validation of their efficacies has unraveled bioactives from natural sources. In this study, two terpenoids camphene and geraniol were assessed for their cytoprotective and antioxidant potential using t-BHP stressed rat alveolar macrophages. Effect of these test substances along with a known plant derived antioxidant quercetin was seen on cell viability, some oxidative stress markers as well as on mitochondrial membrane potential. Both the test substances geraniol and camphene increased the cell viability significantly as indicated by MTT assay and LDH release assay, during pre-treatment of test compound. Camphene and geraniol showed 29% (P<0.05) and 45% (P<0.05) increase in SOD activity, 28% and 120% (P<0.001) increase in GSH content and restored the mitochondrial membrane potential during pre-treatment as compared to stressed cells. Camphene and geraniol were found to significantly decrease lipid peroxidation, inhibit NO release (83.84% and 64.61%) and ROS generation in the pre-treated cells as compared to stressed cells. The test compounds also showed significant protection against ROS during post-treatment of the test compounds. Results indicate the pharmacological potential of these phytochemicals in lung inflammatory diseases where oxidative stress is a critical control point.

Enhanced granulation in UASB reactor treating low-strength wastewater by natural polymers.

Reetha (Sapindus trifoliata) seed extract and Chitosan were used as additives in the sludge bed of a UASB reactor treating low strength wastewater to enhance granulation. Five parallel laboratory scale UASB reactors were operated for 250 days with synthetic wastewater feed containing COD in the range of 600-800 mg/L. The reactors were seeded with spent sludge from a full-scale 5MLD UASB treatment plant at Jajmau, Kanpur, India. The seed sludge contained little or no granules. Different additives in the five reactors were as follows: control with no additive, cationic part of Reetha extract as additive, anionic part of Reetha extract as additive, bulk Reetha extract as additive and Chitosan as additive. The granulation rapidly increased in all the reactors beyond the 90th day of operation. The mean granule sizes as well as the fraction of granular sludge (particle size > or = 100 microm) were more in the presence of some of the additives compared to the control reactor. Chitosan significantly enhanced granulation followed by the cationic and anionic fractions of the Reetha extract. The bulk Reetha extract did not show enhancement of granulation. The ESEM/EDAX results showed that the bigger granules (3-4 mm) had porous structure and appeared as conglomerates of smaller granules.

The treatment of skin carcinoma, induced by UV B radiation, using 1-oxo-5beta, 6beta-epoxy-witha-2-enolide, isolated from the roots of Withania somnifera, in a rat model.

Histopathological studies of the cutaneous tissues of Wistar rats exposed to UV B radiation (294 nm) for 20 days and rats exposed to UV B radiation for 20 days, followed by topical treatment with benzoyl peroxide, a tumor promoter (20 mg/animal/0.2 ml acetone) twice a week for 1 month, and kept under observation for 12 weeks, demonstrate the development of malignancy. Pretreatment of the animals with 1-oxo-5beta, 6beta-epoxy-witha-2-enolide (20 mg/kg bwt.), isolated from the roots of Withania somnifera, prior to exposing the animals to UV B radiation, prevents the incidence of skin carcinoma. The administration of 1-oxo-5beta, 6beta-epoxy-witha-2-enolide, to the animals after exposing them to UV B radiation/UV B radiation and benzoyl peroxide also prevents the occurrence of malignancy in the cutaneous tissue. Immunohistochemical staining of the cutaneous tissues of rats exposed to UV B radiation show the presence of p53 + foci (clusters of cells containing the mutated p53 protein), whereas an absence of p53 + foci is observed in animals pretreated with 1-oxo-5beta, 6beta-epoxy-witha-2-enolide. These results prove that 1-oxo-5beta, 6beta-epoxy-witha-2-enolide has the potential for acting as an effective agent to prevent the incidence of skin carcinoma induced by UV B radiation.

A biologically active constituent of withania somnifera (ashwagandha) with antistress activity.

In Ayurvedic medicine,Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is well known for its anti-stress activity. A passive rat experimental model, where the animals are subjected to multiple stress of cold, hypoxia, restraint (C-H-R) has been developed to evaluate adaptogenic properties of various fractions of W. somnifera root extracts. We have carried out extraction of roots of W. somnifera with water and further isolated one of the active constituents called compound X and also tested its anti-stress activity in C-H-R model. The effect of administration of W. somnifera water suspension (360 mg/Kg bw) and compound X (20mg/Kg bw) on the fall and recovery of colonic temperature was noted. There was an increase of ≈38% and ≈54% in the time taken to attain T(rec) 23°C by rats given a single dose of fresh aqueous suspension and biologically active constituent (Compound X) respectively, where as decrease in the recovery time to attain T(rec) 37°C is ≈13% and ≈33% respectively, as compared to control group. It is clear that rats treated with the fresh aqueous suspension and compound X ofWithania somnifera, could withstand the multiple stress of C-H-R better than control group.