Protective effect of rutin in comparison to silymarin against induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of rutin (RTN) in comparison to silymarin (SLM) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats (n=24) of 3 months age were equally divided into four groups. Group 1 served as normal control. Hepatotoxicity was induced in the remaining three groups with administration of 500 mg/kg po APAP from day 1-3. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were subsequently administered orally with distilled water, 25 mg/kg of SLM, and 20 mg/kg of RTN, respectively, for 11 days. The mean body weights and biomarkers of hepatotoxicity were estimated on day 0, 4 (confirmation of toxicity), and 15 (at the end of treatment). Hematological parameters were evaluated on day 4 and 15. Antioxidant profile and adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) were assessed at the end of the experiment. Liver tissues were subjected to histopathology and transmission electron microscopy after the sacrifice on day 15. RESULTS: Antioxidant profile, ATPases, and hematological and sero-biochemical parameters were significantly altered, and histopathological changes were noticed in the liver of toxic control group. These changes were reversed in groups 3 and 4 that were administered with SLM and RTN, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of the present investigation enunciated that SLM has potent hepatoprotective activity though the RTN was found superior in restoring the pathological alterations in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats.

Immunomodulatory effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum 231 on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

AIM: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are two important chronic Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) characterized by prominent intestinal inflammation. Probiotics are the bacteria that promote the host health by its immunomodulatory activity. The present study investigated the correlation between in vitro adhesion and immunomodulatory properties, and to assess the therapeutic potential of Bifidobacterium bifidum 231 (BIF 231), a new strain of probiotic in ulcerative colitis in rats. METHODS: In vitro adhesion assays and immunomodulatory effect of BIF 231 on interleukins (IL-1ß and IL-10) in IEC-6 cell lines were quantified by gram staining, scanning electron microscopy and q-PCR respectively. Colitis was induced by intra-rectal instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Colitis was evaluated by alterations in colon gross morphology, histologically and biochemically. Colonic interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA and protein expression were assessed by q-PCR, ELISA and western blot. RESULTS: BIF 231 showed better adhesion and immunomodulation by up-regulating IL-10 levels in IEC-6 cell lines. In vivo studies with treatment of BIF 231 (1.4×1011 CFU/rat/day) revealed anti-inflammatory effects both macroscopically and histologically. BIF 231 lowered TBARS, nitric oxide and augmented GSH levels. BIF 231 treatment to colitic rats down regulated IL-1ß levels with concurrent increase in IL-10 levels. CONCLUSIONS: BIF 231 exerted beneficial in vitro adhesion and immunomodulatory properties which facilitated the recovery of the damaged tissue in TNBS-induced colitis.

Hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of pioglitazone, insulin and synbiotic in diabetic rats.

AIM: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of combination treatment of insulin, pioglitazone and synbiotic on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes mellitus was induced chemically by intraperitoneal administration of STZ (40 mg/kg b.wt) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were divided randomly into six groups of six rats in each. Group 1 was maintained as a normal control. Group 2 was maintained as diabetic control; Group 3 was treated with insulin; Group 4 with insulin + synbiotic; Group 5 with insulin + pioglitazone; and Group 6 with insulin + synbiotic + pioglitazone. All the animals were treated for 60 days. RESULTS: Body weights, and concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol were significantly (p<0.05) reduced, whereas the concentration of blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, protein carbonyls and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, and the activity of GSH peroxidase were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in Group 2 at the end of 8(th) week as compared to Group 1. The treatment Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 revealed improvement in all the parameters, and the highest improvement was observed in combination Group 6. CONCLUSION: From this study, it is concluded that combination of insulin, pioglitazone and synbiotic is useful in treating diabetes.

Protective effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 21, a probiotic on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Inflammatory mediators play a crucial role in ulcerative colitis (UC). The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 21 (LAB 21) on inflammatory mediators in trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. The inflammatory response was assessed by changes in colon morphology, histopathology, and measurement of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) mRNA and protein levels by ELISA. Besides, protein expressions of IL-1ß and IL-10 were also evaluated by western blot. Treatment with LAB 21 (1×10(10)CFU/rat/day) and sulfasalazine (500mgkg(-1) body weight) for 14days after induction of colitis, significantly decreased TBARS, NO and increased GSH concentration. The protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1ß and TNFα were down-regulated, whereas, protein and mRNA expression of IL-10 was up-regulated in LAB 21-treated rats. Moreover, LAB 21 attenuated the macroscopic colonic damage, histopathological changes induced by TNBS. These results suggest that LAB 21 may be effective in the treatment of UC by immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties.

Pharmacokinetic interaction of curcumin and glibenclamide in diabetic rats.

AIM: The aim was to assess the pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction of curcumin and glibenclamide (GL) in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats induced with diabetes were divided into 2 groups of six rats in each. Group I: GL (6 mg/kg po once daily) treatment in diabetic rats and group 2: Curcumin (50 mg/Kg po once daily) + GL (dose as above) in diabetic rats. Blood samples were collected at pre-determined time intervals for kinetic analysis after the first and last oral dosing of GL for single and multiple dose studies, respectively. Plasma samples were assayed for GL concentration by high-performance liquid chromatography and PK parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: The half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) of GL were significantly increased in curcumin pre-treated rats as compared to GL alone in single and multiple dose studies. Similarly, the Vdss was significantly increased in curcumin pre-treated rats in single dose study as compared to GL alone treated group, but no significant difference was observed in multiple dose kinetics. CONCLUSION: The study revealed higher values (t1/2, MRT and Vdss) of GL in curcumin pre-treated group due to the inhibitory effect of curcumin on intestinal CYP3A4.

Fabrication of highly fluorescent perylene bisimide nanofibers through interfacial self-assembly.

Perylene diimides are typical n-type organic semiconductors with interesting optical and electronic properties. Versatile properties of these compounds are deeply related to the morphologies of the self-assembled nanostructures. Self-assembled strong red fluorescent nanofibers of N,N'-bis(1-dodecyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (D-PTCDI) were successfully prepared by a solution based phase-transfer method. Morphology of the nanostructure was characterized by optical, fluorescence, scanning, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. Observed molecular self-assembly was supported by the computational predictions. Thin film of the D-PTCDI was casted on glass substrate by spin-coating. UV-vis absorption maximum of the thin film was shifted to longer wavelength than in solution. Conducting properties of the thin films were evaluated by current-voltage measurements.

Luminescent one-dimensional nanostructures of perylene bisimides.

Perylene bisimides form a unique class of organic semiconductors, in this investigation two symmetrical perylene bisimides caped with 1-butyl (B-PTCDI) and 4,4-diethoxybutyl (DB-PTCDI) have been synthesized and characterized. The compounds self-assembled as a network of nanobelts and nanorods in the solution based self-assembly process. Morphologies of these self-assembled structures were characterized by optical, fluorescence, scanning and transmission electronic microscopic techniques. One-dimensional self-assemblies of B-PTCDI and DB-PTCDI molecules are due to the strong π-π stacking ability of perylene core and assistance given by the side chains and solvent. Observed molecular self-assembly and electronic properties of the molecules. The observed self-assembly was supported by molecular modeling studies using density functional theory.

Evaluation of protective action of α-tocopherol in chromium-induced oxidative stress in female reproductive system of rats.

The present study was aimed to investigate whether α-tocopherol could protect the chromium (Cr) VI-induced oxidative stress in female reproductive system of rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms of the same. A total of 24 Wistar adult female rats were equally divided into four groups. Group 1 served as control, while groups 2 and 3 were administered K2Cr2O7 (10 mg/kg b.wt. s.c. single dose). In addition to Cr, group 3 also received α-tocopherol @ 125 mg/kg daily by oral gavage for 14 days. Group 4 was maintained as α-tocopherol control (dose as above). Body weights were recorded at the beginning and at the end of experiment. Further, the rats were observed for occurrence of estrus cycle. At the end of 14 days, blood samples were drawn for sero-biochemical analysis. Subsequently, all the rats were sacrificed to collect uterus along with ovaries for assay of tissue peroxidation, anti-oxidant and functional markers, and histopathology. Administration of chromium (Cr) VI to rats revealed a significant (P < 0.05) accumulation of cholesterol and a prolonged diestrus phase leading to impaired fertility in rats. Administration of chromium (Cr) VI significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the antioxidant markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH), along with significant (P < 0.05) increase in peroxidation markers such as malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls in ovaries. The functional marker in serum such as total protein was decreased, whereas other functional markers viz alanine transaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were increased. Prominent pathological changes were observed in the uterus and ovaries of Cr-treated group. Co-treatment with α-tocopherol significantly (P < 0.05) reversed the (Cr) VI induced changes.