Gender-Based Vegetarian and Nonvegetarian Dietary Impact on Cardiac Autonomic Function of Heart Rate Variability.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease is one among the major mortality threats throughout the world. Autonomic activity of the nervous system can be examined by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Association of sympathetic and parasympathetic activities is directly related to HRV modulation. The aim of the study is to determine variations in HRV parameters among adult/adolescent male and female subjects due to vegetarian and nonvegetarian diet.Method: Ninety undergraduate students in each male and female group (N = 180) volunteered for the study. Based upon food habits, male and female subjects were categorized into four groups. Short-term (5-minute) heart rate recordings were measured from the subjects in a seated position before breakfast with minimum of 12 hours' fasting. Two-way analysis of variance was performed among the time and frequency domain variables.Results: Time domain variables are observed as significant (p < 0.05) between vegetarian males and females and also (p < 0.05) between male vegetarian and female nonvegetarians for standard deviation of NN intervals. Frequency domain HRV indices such as low frequency (LF; p = 0.01), high frequency (HF; p = 0.0001), and LF/HF (p < 0.001) resulted between male and female vegetarians. Significance of LF (p = 0.02), HF (p < 0.0001), and LF/HF (p < 0.01) was measured between male vegetarians and female nonvegetarians. LF (p = 0.02), HF (p = 0.04), and LF/HF (p = 0.002) resulted between nonvegetarian males and females. HF (p = 0.05) was enumerated between male vegetarians and nonvegetarians.Conclusions: Significant predominance of sympathetic cardiac activity was observed among male nonvegetarian consumers more than female vegetarians. Analysis demonstrates that the gender-based influence of vegetarian and nonvegetarian diet has significant correlation under HRV measurements.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate modulates voltage-gated K+ current and influences cell cycle arrest in androgen sensitive and insensitive human prostate cancer cell lines.

The stilbene derivative, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), an anion channel blocker is used in the present study to evaluate its modulatory effect on voltage-gated K+ current (IK) in human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP and PC-3). Voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels in the plasma membrane are critically involved in the proliferation of tumor cells. Therefore, KV channels are considered as a novel potential target for cancer treatment. The results of the present study show that the external perfusion of DIDS activates IK in a concentration-dependent manner, although the known K+ channel blocker TEA failed to block the DIDS activated IK in PC-3 cells. Whereas, in LNCaP cells, the higher concentration of DIDS blocked IK, though this effect was not completely recovered after washout. The difference in function of DIDS might be due to the expression of different Kv channel isoforms in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Further, the anticancer studies show that treatment of DIDS significantly induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and induced moderate and low level of cell death in LNCaP and PC-3 cells respectively. This finding reveals that DIDS modulates IK and exerts cell cycle arrest and cell death in LNCaP and PC-3 cells.

Modulatory Effect of Selected Dietary Phytochemicals on Delayed Rectifier K+ Current in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Phytochemicals are ubiquitous in naturally occurring dietary elements that exhibits diverse pharmacological properties over various pathological disorders, including cancer. Voltage gated K+ (KV) channel in the plasma membrane contributes to wide range of cellular processes including cancer progression. Therefore, modulation of KV channel is being considered as a novel potential target for cancer therapy. The whole cell patch clamp technique was used to record the modulatory effect of chrysin, naringenin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and zingerone on delayed rectifier potassium current (IK) in human prostate cancer cells LNCaP and PC-3. Among the tested compounds, zingerone blocked IK in a concentration-dependent manner in LNCaP cells and estimated the IC50 value of 141 µM and Emax was 81.3%. Further analysis of KV channel activation kinetics showed that zingerone induces a positive shift in the activation curve in LNCaP cells, whereas the inhibitory effect of gallic acid on IK was significantly less potent than the inhibition caused by zingerone. However, chrysin, naringenin, and caffeic acid did not modulate the KV channel conductance in LNCaP or PC-3 cells. Our findings confirmed that not all the tested phytochemicals to be effective modulators of IK and suggested that IK inhibitory effect of zingerone and gallic acid may be responsible for their anticancer effects in prostate cancer cells.

Piperine blocks voltage gated K+ current and inhibits proliferation in androgen sensitive and insensitive human prostate cancer cell lines.

Piperine is an attractive therapeutic alkaloid from black pepper that exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties over various pathological disorders including cancer. Voltage gated K+ (KV) channels play an important role in regulating cancer cell proliferation and are considered as potential target for cancer treatment. However, the implication of piperine in KV associated anticancer activities on human prostate cancer cells LNCaP and PC-3 remains unrevealed. The electrophysiological and pharmacological data identifies that both androgen sensitive (LNCaP) and insensitive (PC-3) prostate cancer cells typically expressed voltage gated K+ current (IK). This current was significantly blocked by piperine in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value 39.91 µM in LNCaP and 49.45 µM in PC-3 cells. Analysis of voltage-dependence of activation kinetics showed that piperine induces a positive shift in the relative activation curve in both the cells. Piperine also depolarized the resting membrane potential by an average of 10.2 mV and 8.3 mV in LNCaP and PC-3 cells, respectively. The anticancer studies showed that, treatment with piperine concentration dependently induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. These results unravel that the IK inhibition might be responsible for the anticancer effect of piperine on androgen sensitive and insensitive human prostate cancer cells.

The in vivo antineoplastic and therapeutic efficacy of troxerutin on rat preneoplastic liver: biochemical, histological and cellular aspects.

PURPOSE: Troxerutin (TXER), a trihydroxyethylated derivative of the natural bioflavonoid rutin, abundantly found in tea, various fruits and vegetables, is known to exhibit ample pharmacological properties. In the present investigation, we examined the antineoplastic, therapeutic efficacy and furthermore the possible mechanisms of action of TXER against NAFLD/NASH progression to hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: The effect of TXER (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg b.w/day) was evaluated on the nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) model of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats, after 16 weeks of oral treatment, with special focus on liver specific enzymes, xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation profile, DNA damage, fibrosis, cell proliferation and inflammatory status. RESULTS: Administration of TXER to hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing rats restored the enzyme activities and the hepatic architecture. Furthermore, TXER significantly curtailed NDEA-induced DNA damage, cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis and hepatic hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: This study provides the evidence that troxerutin exerts a significant therapeutic effect against liver cancer by modulating liver function enzymes, xenobiotic enzymes, oxidative damage, inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing inflammatory response and induction of apoptosis.

Asiatic acid attenuates pre-neoplastic lesions, oxidative stress, biotransforming enzymes and histopathological alterations in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced experimental rat colon carcinogenesis.

Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, derived from the tropical medicinal plant Centella asiatica is known to exhibit numerous pharmacological properties. We hypothesized that AA will have chemopreventive potential against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced experimental colon carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. Rats were arbitrarily divided into six groups. Group I rats were processed as control. Group II rats received AA (8 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) and groups III-VI rats received subcutaneous injections of DMH (20 mg/kg b.w.) once a week, for the first four weeks. In addition, groups IV-VI rats received AA at the doses of 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg b.w., respectively, for 16 weeks. Our results discovered that supplementation with AA to the DMH-exposed rats significantly decreased the incidence of polyps and Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as compared to the DMH-alone-exposed rats. Moreover, in the AA-supplemented DMH-exposed rats, we ascertained increased activities of the antioxidants and decreased levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the liver and circulation and enhanced levels of both LPO and antioxidants in the colon, which were altered in the DMH-alone-exposed rats. Furthermore, we also observed altered activities of vitamins C and E and biotransforming enzymes in DMH-alone-exposed rats, which were reversed on AA supplementation. All the observations were supported by our histological findings. Thus, we can conclude that, AA could be used as an effective chemopreventive agent against DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis.

Molecular aspects and chemoprevention of dimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis: A review.

The lipophilic azo dye dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) is a potent hepatocarcinogen accounted as a group-2B carcinogen causing risk to humans. DAB is commonly used as a coloring agent in food, pharmaceuticals, beverages, soap and polishes. The exploration of DAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in animal models helped to an extent to perceive the histological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms of DAB carcinogenesis and also the severity of DAB exposure to humans. In experimental animal models, it is well-proved that the procarcinogen DAB is predominantly metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes giving rise to the formation of toxic electrophiles and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which further forms DNA adducts leading to the development of hepatic tumors. Recently, research evidence suggests that dietary phytochemicals and plant polyphenols are promising agents to control the incidence of DAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by preventing the generation of toxic electrophiles and ROS thereby inhibiting the formation of DNA adducts. This review highlights the role of specific dietary factors, biotransformation of DAB, phenotypic and genotypic alterations, and significance of certain chemopreventive agents against DAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Combined therapeutic efficacy of carvacrol and X-radiation against 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine-induced experimental rat colon carcinogenesis.

Colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the combined therapeutic efficacy of carvacrol (CVC) and X-radiation against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer. Male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 served as control; group 2 received 40 mg/kg b.wt of CVC orally everyday throughout the experimental period (32 weeks); groups 3-6 received subcutaneous injections of DMH (20 mg/kg b.wt), once a week for the first 15 weeks; group 4 received a single dose of X-radiation at the 31st week; group 5 received CVC (40 mg/kg b.wt) two days after the last injection of DMH and continued everyday till the end of the experimental period; group 6 received CVC as in group 5 and radiation as in group 4. DMH-treated rats showed increased incidence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (DACF), mast cell number, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions; elevated activities of phase I enzymes, decreased activities of phase II enzymes, decreased mucin content and altered colonic and liver histology as compared to control rats. Though the individual treatments with CVC and X-radiation to DMH-treated rats reversed the above changes, the combined treatment with both CVC and X-radiation showed a marked effect. Our findings emphasize the potential role of combined therapeutic effect of CVC and X-radiation against DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis.

Anticancer mechanism of troxerutin via targeting Nrf2 and NF-κB signalling pathways in hepatocarcinoma cell line.

Troxerutin (TX), a bioflavonoid widely present in various fruits and vegetables, has shown to exhibit numerous pharmacological properties including anti-neoplastic and anti-cancer activities. Nrf2 and NF-κB are the key transcription factors that regulate oxidative stress and inflammation, therefore we assessed whether TX modulate these pathways and its downstream proteins in HuH-7 hepatocarcinoma cells. TX induced apoptotic cellular and nuclear changes were examined by fluorescence staining techniques, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Oxidative stress was determined through biochemical analysis of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation profile. The protein expressions of NF-κB and Nrf2 pathway regulators, cell proliferation markers and apoptotic pathway mediators were evaluated by performing immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry and molecular docking. Our results revealed that TX inhibits the growth of HuH-7 cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner. TX treated HuH-7 cells exhibited increased heme oxygenase (HO)-1 protein expression, augmented nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and reduced oxidative stress. Furthermore, TX suppressed the expression of IKKß which subsequently inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB (p65 subunit), and thus downregulated NF-κB mediated inflammatory responses, proliferation and cell survival. Collectively, our results indicate that TX exerts anti-cancer effect in HuH-7 hepatocarcinoma cells possibly through simultaneous regulation of the molecular signalling pathways, Nrf2 and NF-κB.

Troxerutin subdues hepatic tumorigenesis via disrupting the MDM2-p53 interaction.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide that lacks proper medical prognosis and treatment. In the present study, the anti-tumoral potential of troxerutin (TX), an ethnomedicine, was examined in relation to its effects on the promoter 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) in N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) initiated HCC, as compared to its effects on HCC induced by NDEA alone. Liver samples from each experimental group were collected and evaluated for histological, biochemical and cellular characterization. The protein expressions of apoptotic and cell proliferation markers were determined via immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Molecular docking was also performed to delineate the inhibitory mechanism of TX on HCC. The results show that only higher doses of TX showed a significant reduction in the incidence of hepatic nodule formation, and they also counteracted NDEA plus 2-AAF induced alterations in the enzymic status. The frequencies of glutathione-S-transferase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, markers of S phase progression, were markedly reduced during TX treatment. TX also modulated the imbalance in the MDM2-p53 interaction. The molecular docking results confirmed the interaction of TX with the upstream kinases that regulate apoptosis. This study provides evidence that a copious dose of TX is required to counteract the differential mitoinhibitory effect of 2-AAF in NDEA initiated hepatomas, and TX exhibits an anti-tumoral effect via suppressing oxidative stress, regulating liver function enzymes, inhibiting inflammatory responses and modulating MDM2-p53 interactions, thus inducing apoptosis, and thereby suggesting that TX may provide promising therapeutic effects for the chemoprevention of HCC.

Radioprotective Effect of Carvacrol Against X-Radiation-Induced Cellular Damage in Cultured Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes.

In the present study, we evaluated the radioprotective effect of carvacrol (CVC) against X-radiation-induced cellular damage in cultured human blood lymphocytes. By MTT assay, the LD50 doses of CVC and X-radiation to lymphocytes were determined to be 100 µg/ml and 4 Gy, respectively. To explore the radioprotective effect of CVC, the cultured lymphocytes were treated with 100 µg/mL of CVC 30 min prior to 4 Gy irradiation. Subsequently, the radiation-induced damage was screened by micronuclei (MN) and dicentric chromosome (DC) frequencies and comet assay. The percentage of cell death was evaluated by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. The radiation-induced oxidative stress was estimated by assessing the changes in the levels of enzymatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation markers. Compared with the sham control, we observed increases in MN and DC frequencies, comet attributes, % cell death, and lipid peroxidation with a concomitant decrease in the antioxidant status of the lymphocytes treated with radiation alone. Pre-treatment of lymphocytes with CVC (100 µg/mL) altered those changes mediated by radiation. These results clearly indicate that CVC may be an effective radioprotector against X-radiation. It has the ability to scavenge the free radicals produced and to protect cells from radiation-induced cell damage.