Design, optimization, and evaluation of methotrexate loaded and albumin coated polymeric nanoparticles.

Methotrexate is a potent anticancer drug whose strong efflux is facilitated by the brain's efflux transporter. As an efflux transporter blocker, albumin increased the drug's concentration in the brain. Methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles were produced by evaporating the emulsification fluid. Improvements and analyses were made to the following aspects of the generated nanoparticles: size, polydispersity, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, percentage yield, scanning electron microscopy, in vitro drug release studies, and sterilization. The particle size was determined to be in the nano range, and homogeneity of particle size was suggested by a low polydispersity index result. Particle diameters of 168 nm were observed in the F5 preparation, and zeta potential values of -1.5 mV suggested that the preparation produced adequate repulsive interactions between the nanoparticles. Albumin and dopamine HCl were employed to coat the methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles to guarantee that the brain received an adequate amount of them. The homogeneity of albumin coated nanoparticles was demonstrated by the low% PDI values of 0.129 and 0.122 for albumin coated nanoparticles (MNPs-Alb) and polymerized dopamine HCl and albumin coated nanoparticles (MNPs-PMD-Alb), respectively. After 48 h of incubation, the cell viability measured at the same drug concentration (5 mg) decreased for the F5, albumin coated nanoparticles, polymerized dopamine HCl coated nanoparticles, and polymerized dopamine HCl and albumin coated nanoparticles, respectively. Our primary findings demonstrate that the albumin nanoparticles containing methotrexate are designed to deliver the drug gradually. With minimal cytotoxicity, the intended preparation might give the brain an appropriate dosage of methotrexate.

Evaluation of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of the alkaloid punarnavine from Boerhaavia diffusa.

Boerhaavia diffusa is a traditional herbal medicine extensively used in the Ayurveda and Unani forms of medicine in India and many parts of the world. Different parts of the plant are used as an appetizer, alexiteric, eye tonic, for flushing out the renal system, and to treat blood pressure. This study was conducted to evaluate the in vivo genotoxic and/or antigenotoxic potential of punarnavine, a separated alkaloid from the root of B. diffusa using toxicity studies (OECD guideline 474, 1997). The genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of punarnavine was assayed using the comet assay on lymphocytes, liver, spleen, brain, and bone marrow as well as using the micronucleus test in bone marrow cells including the in vitro chromosomal aberration test. The results demonstrated that none of the tested doses of punarnavine showed genotoxic effects by the comet assay, or clastogenic effects in the micronucleus test. On the other hand, for all cells evaluated, the three tested doses of punarnavine promoted inhibition of DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide. Based on these results, we concluded that punarnavine, an alkaloid from the Boerhaavia diffusa root, has no genotoxic or clastogenic effects in our experimental conditions. However, it caused a significant decrease in DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide. It is suggested that the antigenotoxic properties of this alkaloid may be of great pharmacological importance and beneficial for cancer prevention.

Protective role of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine against mitochondrial injury in ischemia and reperfusion injury of rat liver.

Ca2+ accumulation and Ca2+ overloading in mitochondria are responsible for the cell abnormality associated with ischemia and reperfusion injury. The present study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the Ca2+ channel blocker amlodipine on the mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation, mitochondrial antioxidant status and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes in ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) induced liver injury. I/R injury induced mitochondrial damage in rats was assessed in terms of the decrease in activities (p < 0.05) of respiratory marker enzymes (malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and NADH dehydrogenase), mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase), and significant increase (p < 0.05) in the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and Ca2+ content.Mitochondrial damage was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination. Pretreatment with amlodipine effectively counteracted the alteration in mitochondrial enzymes induced by ischemia-reperfusion liver damage. TEM study confirms the restoration of cellular normalcy and the cytoprotective role of amlodipine against I/R induced hepatic injury. On the basis of our findings it may be concluded that amlodipine not only possesses Ca2+ channel antagonist properties but it may also reduce the extent of mitochondrial damage by its antioxidant activity.

Biotechnological Approach to Evaluate the Immunomodulatory Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Tinospora cordifolia Stem (Mango Plant Climber).

The present study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of the ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Family: Menispermaceae) stem (climbing shrub, mango plant) at cellular level. For antioxidant study, the liver mitochondria were separated and the concentration of enzymes like lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide Dismutase (SOD) were estimated; melatonin secretion characterization was carried out through SDS-PAGE. The spleen lymphocyte proliferation assay was performed through measuring its optical density at 570 nm using Elisa Reader. The cytokines viz. IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-α expression in spleen cells were determined through Real Time PCR. Tinospora cordifolia (Tc) ethanolic extract (100 mg/Kg/p.o.) increased the level of liver mitochondrial enzymes like GSH, CAT and SOD but decreased the level of LPO in liver as compared to the vehicle, SRBC and cyclophosphamide-treated groups. The secretion of melatonin via pineal gland was enhanced with Tc treatment. The extract also increased the spleen lymphocyte proliferation. In RT-PCR analysis, the expression of cytokines viz. IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-α was more in Tc-treated animals than vehicle and cyclophosphamide treatment. Hence, the study confirms the immunomodulatory activity of Tc stem through altering the concentration of antioxidant enzymes, increasing T and B cells and antibody which play an important role in immunity, enhancing the concentration of melatonin in pineal gland and increasing the level of cytokines like IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-α which plays an important role in immunity.