Microplastic contamination in edible sea salt from the largest salt-producing states of India.

The presence of microplastics in all ecological and environmental conditions has been identified as a global problem. This article aimed to study edible salt-associated microplastics from the major salt-producing states of India. The crystal and powder salt from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat (five samples of powder salt and three samples of crystal salt from each state) were collected and analyzed for their microplastic content. The total microplastic content in the salts ranged from 46 to 115 particles per 200 g in Gujarat salt and 23 to 101 particles per 200 g in Tamil Nadu salt. The microplastics are dominated by red and blue color fibrous-shaped materials. The most common microplastics identified in the edible salts were polyethylene, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride derived from marine and salt-processing units.

Exploring the molecular structure, vibrational spectroscopic, quantum chemical calculation and molecular docking studies of curcumin: A potential PI3K/AKT uptake inhibitor.

The IUPAC name of curcumin is (1E, 6E)-1,7-Bis(4-hydroxy-3methoxyphenyl) hepta-1,6-e-3,5-dione (7B3M5D) and is characterized by spectroscopic profiling with FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra obtained both experimentally and theoretically. PED analysis was done for the confirmation of minimum energy obtained in the title compound. Optimized geometrical parameters are compared with experimental values obtained for 7B3M5D by utilizing B3LYP functional employing 6-311++G (d,p) level of theory. The HOMO-LUMO, MEP, and Fukui function analysis has been used to elucidate the information regarding charge transfer within the molecule. The stabilization energy and charge delocalization of the 7B3M5D were performed by NBO analysis. This article assesses that the title compound act as a potential inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT inhibitor through in silico studies, like molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD), ADMET prediction and also this molecule obeys Lipinski's rule of five. 7B3M5D was docked effectively in the active site of PI3K/AKT inhibitor.

Anticancer effects and lysosomal acidification in A549 cells by Astaxanthin from Haematococcus lacustris.

Astaxanthin (AXN) is known to have health benefits by epidemiological studies. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the effect of AXN (derived from indigenous unicellular green alga Haematococcus lacustris) to modulate cell cycle arrest, lysosomal acidification and eventually apoptosis using in vitro in A549 lung cancer cells. Natural extracts of astaxanthin were obtained by standardized methods as reported earlier and characterized by standard HPLC and MS. Treatment of A549 cells with AXN (purified fraction) showed significant reduction in cell viability (about 50%) as compared to crude extract at 50µM concentration. Thus, we show the anticancer effects and lysosomal acidification in A549 cells by Astaxanthin from Haematococcus lacustris for further consideration. Together, our results demonstrated the anticancer potential of AXN from Haematococcus lacustris, which is found to be mediated via its ability to induce cell cycle arrest, lysosomal acidification and apoptotic induction.

Capsaicin provokes apoptosis and restricts benzo(a)pyrene induced lung tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice.

Capsaicin (CAP), a constituent of red chilli and red pepper is exposed to exert compelling anticarcinogenic effects. In the present study, we examined the anti-tumorigenic potential of CAP on benzo(a)pyrene-induced mice lung tumorigenesis by analyzing the markers of apoptosis. Intraperitoneal administration of CAP (10mg/kg body weight) to Swiss albino mice suppressed the development of lung carcinoma by amending the protein expressions of apoptotic regulators p53, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3. The apoptotic-inducing nature of CAP was further confirmed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, transmission electron microscopic study and ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining. The results obtained from the present study show that CAP inhibits the development of mice lung carcinogenesis through its ability to induce apoptosis. Our present findings provide the basis for further clinical exploration of CAP as an anti-carcinogenic compound against lung carcinogenesis.

Capsaicin inhibits benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in an in vivo mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is a serious health problem in most developed countries and its incidence rate is profusely increasing. Capsaicin, a component of red chilli and red pepper has been studied widely for its chemopreventive properties. The aim of the present study is to explore the anti-tumor activity of capsaicin against benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Benzo(a)pyrene was administered orally (50 mg/kg body weight) to induce lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. Hematological study (hemoglobin content, RBC, WBC count and differential count), histochemical analysis of mast cells and Western blot analysis of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were carried out. RESULTS: Hematological parameters and the histochemical analysis of mast cells showed abnormal changes, and the immunoblotting analysis revealed increased protein expression of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2 and NF-κB in lung cancer-challenged mice administered with benzo(a)pyrene. Capsaicin (10 mg/kg body weight) supplementation to lung cancer bearing mice considerably prevented all the above abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate the protective effect of capsaicin against benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in mice.

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) regulates initiation of transcription of MYCN in neuroblastoma cells.

Neuroblastoma is a neural crest-derived embryonal tumour of the postganglionic sympathetic nervous system and a disease with several different chromosomal gains and losses, which include MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma on chromosome 2, deletions of parts of the chromosomes 1p and 11q, gain of parts of 17q and triploidy. Recently, activating mutations of the ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) RTK (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase) gene have been described in neuroblastoma. A meta-analysis of neuroblastoma cases revealed that ALK mutations (49 of 709 cases) in relation to genomic subtype were most frequently observed in MYCN amplified tumours (8.9%), correlating with a poor clinical outcome. MYCN proteins target proliferation and apoptotic pathways, and have an important role in the progression of neuroblastoma. Here, we show that both wild-type and gain-of-function mutants in ALK are able to stimulate transcription at the MYCN promoter and initiate mRNA transcription of the MYCN gene in both neuronal and neuroblastoma cell lines. Further, this stimulation of MYCN gene transcription and de novo MYCN protein expression is abrogated by specific ALK inhibitors, such as crizotinib (PF-2341066), NVP-TAE684, and by small interfering RNA to ALK resulting in a decrease in proliferation rate. Finally, co-transfection of ALK gain-of-function mutations together with MYCN leads to an increase in transformation potential. Taken together, our results indicate that ALK signalling regulates initiation of transcription of the MYCN gene providing a possible explanation for the poor clinical outcome observed when MYCN is amplified together with activated ALK.

Capsaicin alleviates the imbalance in xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and tumor markers during experimental lung tumorigenesis.

Lung cancer is currently a leading cause of death all over the world. Environmental risk factors, particularly genotoxic chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), are likely to account for a much higher mortality. Xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are potentially chief determinants in both the susceptibility to the mutagenic effects of chemical carcinogens and in the response of tumors to chemotherapy. The well-known carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) of PAH family was given orally (50 mg/kg body weight) to induce lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. B(a)P induction altered the levels of cytochromes (P450, b5), activities of phase I biotransformation enzymes (NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and epoxide hydrolase), phase II enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, UDP-glucuronyl transferase and DT-diaphorase), and the levels of serum tumor markers. Treatment with capsaicin (CAP) (10 mg/kg body weight) to the lung carcinoma mice restored back the activities of phase I and II biotransformation enzymes and the levels of tumor markers to near normalcy. The above findings were substantiated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) in the lung tissues. Our present study unravels that CAP can effectively detoxify the carcinogens which discloses its anti-carcinogenic effect during experimental lung cancer.

Effect of capsaicin on glucose metabolism studied in experimental lung carcinogenesis.

In the present study, we have assessed the chemopreventive effect of capsaicin (CAP) on glucose metabolism with reference to blood glucose and liver glycogen levels, key glycolytic, and gluconeogenic enzymes along with electron transport chain (ETC) complexes during benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. B(a)P (50 mg kg(-1) body weight)-induced lung cancer animals showed marked decline in blood glucose levels, glycogen levels, elevations in the activities of key glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, phosphoglucoisomerase and aldolase), and gluconeogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-6-phosphatase) together with a decrease in the activities of ETC complexes. Supplementation of CAP (10 mg kg(-1) body weight) inhibited all the above alterations during lung cancer and restored near normalcy. Histochemical analysis by periodic acid Schiff's staining further confirmed the biochemical findings that highlighted the chemopreventive action of CAP during B(a)P-induced experimental lung tumourigenesis.

Ameliorating effect of capsaicin on alterations in lipid metabolism during mice lung carcinoma.

Spices and vegetables possess antioxidant activity that can be applied for preservation of lipids and lower lipid peroxidation in biological systems. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of capsaicin on lipid metabolism during benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. Benzo(a)pyrene (50 mg/kg wt) induced lung cancer animals showed abnormal changes in the tissue and serum lipids, lipoproteins and lipid metabolizing enzymes. Treatment with capsaicin (10 mg/kg body wt) remarkably attenuated all the above alterations and restored normalcy. These findings reveal the chemomodulatory potential of capsaicin in attenuating the alterations in lipid metabolism during experimental lung carcinogenesis.

Silymarin inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in hepatic cancer cells.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate mechanisms involved in the growth inhibitory effect of silymarin, in humanhepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 was utilized and the MTT assay was performed to study the antiproliferative effect of silymarin. Dual staining was undertaken for ethidium bromide/acridine orange, propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation studies were executed to confirm the presence of apoptosis. Cell-cycle analysis was revealed by flow cytometry and mitochondrial transmembrane potential was measured by uptake of the mitochondrial-specific lipophilic cationic dye rhodamine 123. Western blotting analysis for cytochrome c, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, APAF-1, caspase-3, survivin, beta-catenin, cyclin D1, c-Myc and PCNA was carried out. RESULTS: Silymarin inhibited population growth of the hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the percentage of apoptotic cells was increased after treatment with 50 and 75 microg/ml silymarin for 24 h. Silymarin treatment increased the proportion of cells with reduced DNA content (sub-G(0)/G(1) or A(0) peak), indicative of apoptosis with loss of cells in the G(1) phase. Silymarin also decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential of the cells, thereby increasing levels of cytosolic cytochrome c while up-regulating expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (such as p53, Bax, APAF-1 and caspase-3) with concomitant decrease in anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and survivin) and proliferation-associated proteins (beta-catenin, cyclin D1, c-Myc and PCNA). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that silymarin treatment inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.