ABSTRACT
Bakuchiol (BAK) has been reported to have a diverse pharmacological property as an antibiotic, anti-cancer, anti-hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-convulsant agent. This study aimed to elucidate the immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory mechanism of bakuchiol using lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and various animal models. The present study has shown that BAK significantly suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in a dose-dependent manner and its oral administration significantly decreased delayed hypersensitivity responses as compared to control group. The assessment of immunomodulatory activity was carried out by the testing Hemagglutinating antibody (HA) titer, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses and phagocytic index by carbon clearance test. On the other hand, it showed significant decrease in circulating antibody titer and carbon clearance assay in a concentration-dependent manner. BAK has significantly potentiated the cellular immunity as well as humoral immunity by facilitating the footpad thickness responses in sheep RBCs in sensitized mice by significantly decreasing circulating antibody titer. Molecular studies revealed that BAK inhibited the activation of upstream mediator nuclear factor-κB by suppressing the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65. The responses were statistically significant as compared with the control (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01).
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Graft Rejection/prevention & control , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/prevention & control , Immunosuppressive Agents/pharmacology , Inflammation/prevention & control , Macrophages/drug effects , Phenols/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cytokines/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Graft Rejection/immunology , Graft Rejection/metabolism , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/immunology , Hypersensitivity, Delayed/metabolism , Immunity, Humoral/drug effects , Inflammation/chemically induced , Inflammation/immunology , Inflammation/metabolism , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Macrophages/immunology , Macrophages/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Phagocytosis/drug effects , Phosphorylation , RAW 264.7 Cells , Sheep , Signal Transduction , Skin TransplantationABSTRACT
Vermicompost was produced from flower waste inoculated with biofertilizers using the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were carried out on the basis of physicochemical parameters of vermicomposted samples. From the results of the PCA and CA, it was possible to classify two different groups of vermicompost samples in the following categories: E2 and E5; and E1, E3, E4, and control. Scanning electron microscopy and biodynamic circular paper chromatography analysis were used to investigate the changes in surface morphology and functional groups in the control and vermicompost products. SEM analysis of E1-E5 shows more fragment and pores than the control. Chromatographic analysis of vermicompost indicated the mature condition of the compost materials.
Subject(s)
Flowers/chemistry , Industrial Waste/analysis , Oligochaeta/physiology , Refuse Disposal , Animals , Chromatography, Paper , Flowers/parasitology , Microscopy, Electron, ScanningABSTRACT
Seventeen commercially important marine fish species were caught in Mumbai Harbor using a trawl net and evaluated using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and ICP-OES. It was found that certain species of fish contained lower levels of all metals tested. J. elongatus and C. dussumieri had the highest levels of all 8 metals tested. The heavy metal concentrations were significantly varied within and between the studied fishes (p<0.05). However, a significant correlation among heavy metals was observed. This investigation indicated that various levels of heavy metals exist in the fish species sampled, but those concentrations are within the maximum residual levels recommended by the European Union and FAO/WHO. Therefore, fish caught in Mumbai Harbor can be considered safe for human consumption.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring/methods , Fishes/metabolism , Metals, Heavy/metabolism , Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry , Animals , European Union , Humans , India , Metals, Heavy/chemistrySubject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents, Local/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Bacteria/drug effects , Cytotoxins/therapeutic use , Mouth/microbiology , Mouthwashes/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Bacterial Physiological Phenomena , Cytotoxins/adverse effects , Humans , Mouth Diseases/chemically induced , Mouth Diseases/microbiology , Protective Agents/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The crystal structure of a hexameric DNA fragment with the sequence d(TGCGCA)(2) has been solved and refined at 293 K at a resolution of 1.64 A. The molecule adopts a left-handed Z-type helical conformation which is common in alternating pyrimidine-purine sequences. The presence of A.T base pairs at the two terminals does not perturb the structure to any great degree. However, several sequence-specific microstructural changes are noticeable. The structure of the identical sequence determined at 120 K involving somewhat different crystallization conditions has been reported previously [Harper et al. (1998), Acta Cryst. D54, 1273-1284]. A comparison of the present structure with that at low temperature and with that of d(CGCGCG)(2) shows that the effect of the change in sequence is greater than the combined effect of changes in temperature and environment.