Toxicological effect of endocrine disrupting insecticide (deltamethrin) on enzymatical, haematological and histopathological changes in the freshwater iridescent shark, Pangasius hypothalamus.

This study investigated the deltamethrin (DMN) induced harmful effects on Pangasius hypophthalmus using enzymatic activity, haematological, and histopathological changes. LC50 value was 0.021 mg/L at 96 h, and sublethal toxicity was tested for 45 days at two `concentrations (i.e., 1/5th and 1/10th of LC50). Haematological parameters and enzymatic activities significantly changed between DMN-exposed and control groups (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, both DMN doses induced liver hyperemia, hepatic cell rupture, necrosis, hypertrepheoid bile duct, shifting nuclei, vascular haemorrhage, and hepatocyte degeneration, while in gill, secondary lamellae destruction, a fusion of adjacent gill lamellae, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, adhesion, and fusion were noticed. Kidney developed melanomacrophages, increased periglomerular and peritubular space, vacuolation, decreased glomerulus, hyaline droplets in tubular cells, loss of tubular epithelium, distal convoluted segment hypertrophy, and granular layer in brain pyramid and Purkinje cell nucleus. But, limiting pesticide impacts on freshwater fish and their habitat requires a holistic, cradle-to-grave approach and toxicological studies.

The down regulation of PTP1B expression and attenuation of disturbed glucose and lipid metabolism using Borassus flabellifer (L) fruit methanol extract in high fat diet and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Borassus flabellifer L. is a tall palm traditionally used for its stimulating, diuretic and anti-inflammatory activities; it is rich in fibers and various pharmacologically important secondary metabolites. This study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of Borassus flabellifer fruit methanol extract (BF-M) on diabetic rats induced with High Fat Diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ). When BF-M (100 or 200 mg/kg) was administered for 21 days orally it led to a sharp decline in triglycerides, total cholesterol, free unsaturated fat, glucose-6-phosphate, fasting blood glucose and fructose 1,6 bisphosphatase in contrast to diabetic control. BF-M also downregulated Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B. In vitro study showed the IC50 value to be 23.98 µg/mL. BF-M significantly increased serum insulin, glycogen content, and body weight. Western blot analysis exhibited significant inhibition of PTP1B in pancreatic tissue which was confirmed by histology and immunohistological studies. GC-MS analysis revelaled that the presence of major compounds such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (47.56%), Guanosine (21.01%) and n-hecxadeconoic acid (25.14%) in BF-M. In short, BF-M exerted antidiabetic property by down regulating PTP1B expression, and eventually enhancing glucose stimulated insulin release; it also exhibited favorable effects in diabetes and its secondary complications.

In vitro anticancer activity of methyl caffeate isolated from Solanum torvum Swartz. fruit.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the anticancer activity of methyl caffeate isolated from Solanum torvum Swartz. fruit and to explore the molecular mechanisms of action in MCF-7 cells. Cytotoxic properties of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were carried out against MCF-7 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Ethyl acetate extract showed good cytototoxic activities compared to hexane and methanol extracts. Methyl caffeate was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract using column chromatography. Cytotoxic properties of methyl caffeate was investigated against MCF-7, A549, COLO320, HepG-2 and Vero cells. The compound showed potent cytotoxic properties against MCF-7 cells compared to A549, COLO320 and HepG-2 cells. Methyl caffeate significantly reduced cell proliferation and increased formation of fragmented DNA and apoptotic body in MCF-7 cells. Bcl-2, Bax, Bid, p53, caspase-3, PARP and cytochrome c release were detected by western blot analysis. The activities of caspases-3 and PARP gradually increased after the addition of isolated compound. Bcl-2 protein was down regulated; Bid and Bax were up regulated after the treatment with methyl caffeate. Molecular docking studies showed that the compound bound stably to the active sites of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1), B cell CLL/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (MDM2) and tubulin. The results strongly suggested that methyl caffeate induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via caspase activation through cytochrome c release from mitochondria.