In vitro evaluation of antioxidants of fruit extract of Momordica charantia L. on fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

The antioxidant activity of the total aqueous extract (TAE) and total phenolic extract (TPE) of Momordica charantia fruits was assayed by radical-scavenging methods and cytoprotective effects on hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))- and hypoxanthin-xanthin oxidase (HX-XO)-induced damage to rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs), NIH 3T3, and keratinocyte (A431). Cell viability was monitored by a 3-[4,5-dimethyltriazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltretrazolium (MTT) assay. For fibroblasts, TPE at 200 and 300 microg/mL showed maximum and consistent cytoprotection against oxidants. The extract at 50 microg/mL also had significant and slightly protective effects on fibroblasts against H(2)O(2)- and HX-XO-induced damage, respectively. RCF was more tolerant toward the damage. For keratinocytes, a dose-dependent relationship of oxidant toxicity was only seen with H(2)O(2) but the protective action of the extract correlated with oxidant dosage. At 200 and 300 microg/mL TPE, cytoprotection was dose-dependent against oxidants. Extracts had no effect on HX-XO toxicity at 50 microg/mL. Pretreatment with both the extracts did not show any cytoprotection.

Biocompatibility of choline salts as crosslinking agents for collagen based biomaterials.

A series of novel choline based salts, some of which can be described as ionic liquids, are prepared and evaluated for their biocompatibility; when combined with collagenous biomaterials they exhibit good cell viability and adhesion properties as required for biomedical implant applications.

Porous keratin scaffold-promising biomaterial for tissue engineering and drug delivery.

A porous keratin scaffold, prepared from the reduced keratin solution, has shown good cell viability which makes it a potential candidate for cell seeding. An aqueous solution of reduced keratin was extracted from horn meal using a mixture of urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, mercaptoethanol, and water at 60 degrees C. The molecular mass of the extracted keratin is found to be ranging between 225 and 150 KDa. The CD spectrum of aqueous solution of keratin shows the presence of infinity-helical structure with beta-turns as negative absorption band at 225 nm and as positive absorption band at 195 nm. The FTIR spectrum of the same confirms infinity-helical structure with beta-turns. Its characteristic absorption bands are assigned mainly to the peptide bonds for amide I, II, and III respectively. DSC and TGA data of the reduced keratin peaks fall in region 200 degrees C-250 degrees C and 200 degrees C-400 degrees C temperatures, respectively. They correspond to the infinity-helix denaturation of the material.

Optimization of influential parameters for extracellular keratinase production by Bacillus subtilis (MTCC9102) in solid state fermentation using Horn meal--a biowaste management.

A Bacillus subtilis (MTCC9102) isolate was shown to produce significant amount of keratinase under optimized conditions in solid-state fermentation using Horn meal as a substrate. Optimized value for moisture, inoculum, and aeration were found to be 100% (v/w), 50% (v/w), and 150% (w/w), respectively, and the optimum nitrogen source was peptone and carbon source was dextrose. Maximum keratinolytic activity was observed at 48 h after incubation, and the optimum age (24 h) of inoculum was significant. The influence of cultivation temperature and initial pH of the medium on keratinase production revealed the optimum values for the temperature and pH as 37 degrees C and 7, respectively. Maximum keratinase activity of the crude extract was 15,972 U/mg/ml. These results indicate that this bacterial strain shows a high biotechnological potential for keratinase production in solid-state fermentation, and use of the horn meal as the substrate can be implemented for keratinous solid wastes management.

Fruit extracts of Momordica charantia potentiate glucose uptake and up-regulate Glut-4, PPAR gamma and PI3K.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Momordica charantia fruit is a widely used traditional medicinal herb as, anti-diabetic, anti-HIV, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-leukemic, anti-microbial, and anti-tumor. AIMS OF STUDY: The present study is undertaken to investigate the possible mode of action of fruit extracts derived from Momordica charantia (MC) and study its pharmacological effects for controlling diabetic mellitus. Effects of aqueous and chloroform extracts of Momordica charantia fruit on glucose uptake and up-regulation of glucose transporter (Glut-4), peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), were investigated to show its efficacy as a hypoglycaemic agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dose dependent glucose uptake assay was performed on L6 myotubes using 2-deoxy-D-[1-(3)H] glucose. Up-regulatory effects of the extracts on the mRNA expression level of Glut-4, PPAR gamma and PI3K have been studied. RESULTS: The association of Momordica charantia with the aqueous and chloroform extracts of Momordica charantia fruit at 6 microg/ml has shown significant up-regulatory effect, respectively, by 3.6-, 2.8- and 3.8-fold on the battery of targets Glut-4, PPAR gamma and PI3K involved in glucose transport. The up-regulation of glucose uptake was comparable with insulin and rosiglitazone which was approximately 2-fold over the control. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of the cyclohexamide on Momordica charantia fruit extract mediated glucose uptake suggested the requirement of new protein synthesis for the enhanced glucose uptake. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the significance of Glut-4, PPAR gamma and PI3K up-regulation by Momordica charantia in augmenting the glucose uptake and homeostasis.