Enhanced Drug Carriage Efficiency of Curcumin-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles in Combating Diabetic Nephropathy via Mitigation of Renal Apoptosis.

Objectives: The Curcuma-derived diferuloylmethane compound CUR, loaded on Poly (lactide-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles was utilized to combat DN-induced renal apoptosis by selectively targeting and modulating Bcl2. Methods: Upon in silico molecular docking and screening study CUR was selected as the core phytocompound for nanoparticle formulation. PLGA-nano-encapsulated-curcumin (NCUR) were synthesized following standard solvent displacement method. The NCUR were characterized for shape, size and other physico-chemical properties by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy studies. For in vivo validation of nephro-protective effects, Mus musculus were pre-treated with CUR at a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. and NCUR at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w. (dose 1), 12.5 mg/kg b.w (dose 2) followed by alloxan administration (100 mg/kg b.w) and serum glucose levels, histopathology and immunofluorescence study were conducted. Results: The in silico study revealed a strong affinity of CUR towards Bcl2 (dock score -10.94 Kcal/mol). The synthesized NCUR were of even shape, devoid of cracks and holes with mean size of ~80 nm having -7.53 mV zeta potential. Dose 1 efficiently improved serum glucose levels, tissue-specific expression of Bcl2 and reduced glomerular space and glomerular sclerosis in comparison to hyperglycaemic group. Conclusion: This study essentially validates the potential of NCUR to inhibit DN by reducing blood glucose level and mitigating glomerular apoptosis by selectively promoting Bcl2 protein expression in kidney tissue.

A natural history note on the Pseudoneoponera ant-mimicking behaviour of Naddia sp. (Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini: Staphylinina), from Kalyani University campus, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India.

A unique ant-mimicking behaviour has been observed in the rove beetle genus Naddia sp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae: Staphylinini: Staphylinina) from the campus of the University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. The individual has been observed to undergo imperfect Batesian mimicry by mimicking ants of the genus Pseudoneoponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae: Ponerini).

Morroniside interaction with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase accentuates metabolic mitigation of alloxan-induced genotoxicity and hyperglycaemia: a molecular docking based in vitro and in vivo experimental therapeutic insight.

The present study tends to evaluate the possible potential of bio-active Morroniside (MOR), against alloxan (ALX)-induced genotoxicity and hyperglycaemia. In silico prediction revealed the interaction of MOR with Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein which corroborated well with experimental in vitro L6 cell line and in vivo mice models. Data revealed the efficacy of MOR in the selective activation of PARP protein and modulating other stress proteins NF-κB, and TNF-α to initiate protective potential against ALX-induced genotoxicity and hyperglycaemia. Further, the strong interaction of MOR with CT-DNA (calf thymus DNA) analyzed through CD spectroscopy, UV-Vis study and ITC data revealed the concerted action of bio-factors involved in inhibiting chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation associated with DNA damage. Finally, MOR does not play any role in microbial growth inhibition which often occurs due to hyperglycemic dysbiosis. Thus, from the overall findings, we may conclude that MOR could be a potential drug candidate for the therapeutic management of induced-hyperglycaemia and genotoxicity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

To explore the putative molecular targets of Diabetic Nephropathy and their inhibition utilizing potential phytocompounds.

BACKGROUND: This review critically addresses the putative molecular targets of Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) and screens effective phytocompounds that can be therapeutically beneficial, and highlights their mechanistic modalities of action. INTRODUCTION: DN has become one of the most prevalent complications of clinical hyperglycemia, with individual-specific variations in the disease spectrum that leads to fatal consequences. Diverse etiologies involving oxidative and nitrosative stress, activation of polyol pathway, inflammasome formation, Extracellular Matrix (ECM) modifications, fibrosis, and change in dynamics of podocyte functional and mesangial cell proliferation adds up to the clinical complexity of DN. Current synthetic therapeutics lacks target-specific approach, and is associated with the development of inevitable residual toxicity and drug resistance. Phytocompounds provides a vast diversity of novel compounds that can become an alternative therapeutic approach to combat the DN. METHOD: Relevant publications were searched and screened from research databases like GOOGLE SCHOLAR, PUBMED and SCISEARCH. Out of 4895 publications, the most relevant publications were selected and included in this article. RESULT: This study critically reviews over 60 most promising phytochemical and provides with their molecular targets, that can be of pharmacological significance in context to current treatment and concomitant research in DN. CONCLUSION: This review highlights those most promising phytocompounds that have the potential of becoming new safer naturally-sourced therapeutic candidates and demands further attention at clinical level.

Current Naturopathy to Combat Alzheimer's Disease.

Neurodegeneration is the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, which may ultimately involve cell death. The most common neurodegenerative disorder in the brain happens with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. It ultimately leads to neuronal death, thereby impairing the normal functionality of the central or peripheral nervous system. The onset and prevalence of AD involve heterogeneous etiology, either in terms of genetic predisposition, neurometabolomic malfunctioning, or lifestyle. The worldwide relevancies are estimated to be over 45 million people. The rapid increase in AD has led to a concomitant increase in the research work directed towards discovering a lucrative cure for AD. The neuropathology of AD comprises the deficiency in the availability of neurotransmitters and important neurotrophic factors in the brain, extracellular betaamyloid plaque depositions, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Current pharmaceutical interventions utilizing synthetic drugs have manifested resistance and toxicity problems. This has led to the quest for new pharmacotherapeutic candidates naturally prevalent in phytochemicals. This review aims to provide an elaborative description of promising Phyto component entities having activities against various potential AD targets. Therefore, naturopathy may combine with synthetic chemotherapeutics to longer the survival of the patients.

Phyto-chlorophyllin Prevents Food Additive Induced Genotoxicity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction via Cytochrome c Mediated Pathway in Mice Model.

OBJECTIVES: The issue of food-additive-toxicity causing several health hazards needs to be therapeutically managed with an immediate effect. Alloxan, a food additive, is used for whitening and shining flour. It is capable of inducing genotoxicity, diabetes, and associated mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, to explore a non-toxic, phyto-based compound that can delay the onset of diabetes and prevent the multitude of damage associated, Chlorophyllin (CHL) was selected for our study, having been reported to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and antiinflammatory responses. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the protective role of CHL in controlling genotoxicity, glucose imbalance, and associated cytochrome c mediated mitochondrial signaling dysfunction against food-additive-induced genotoxicity, diabetic state, and its complexities in mice model in vivo. METHODS: Mice were pre-treated with CHL through oral gavage before they were exposed to alloxan. Diabetic markers, anti-oxidant enzyme profile, chromosomal study, mitochondrial functioning factors, and expression of proteins were checked against food-additive injected mice. RESULTS: The results revealed that CHL pre-treatment could delay the onset of diabetes, restrict alloxan-induced elevation of blood glucose, reduce DNA-damage and chromosomal aberration, optimize enzymatic profile (glucokinase, pyruvate, insulin), and modulates protein expression (insulin, IRS1, IRS2, GLUT2). Further, CHL-pre-treatment could stabilize mitochondrial-membrane-potential, intracellular calcium ion, ATP/ADP ratio, ATPase activity, thereby maintaining optimum functioning of cytochrome-c, bcl2, and caspase3 mitochondrial protein. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the present study reports, for the first time, the screening of phytobased bioactive CHL for preventing/limiting the extent of food-additive-induced genotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction and serves as an advanced therapeutic tool in the management of diabetes.