Reactive species produced in the cell during normal cellular metabolism can chemically react with cellular biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, thereby causing their oxidative modifications leading to alterations in their compositions and potential damage to their cellular activities. Fortunately, cells have evolved several antioxidant defense mechanisms (as metabolites, vitamins, and enzymes) to neutralize or mitigate the harmful effect of reactive species and/or their byproducts. Any perturbation in the balance in the level of antioxidants and the reactive species results in a physiological condition called "oxidative stress." A catalase is one of the crucial antioxidant enzymes that mitigates oxidative stress to a considerable extent by destroying cellular hydrogen peroxide to produce water and oxygen. Deficiency or malfunction of catalase is postulated to be related to the pathogenesis of many age-associated degenerative diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anemia, vitiligo, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, cancer, and schizophrenia. Therefore, efforts are being undertaken in many laboratories to explore its use as a potential drug for the treatment of such diseases. This paper describes the direct and indirect involvement of deficiency and/or modification of catalase in the pathogenesis of some important diseases such as diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vitiligo, and acatalasemia. Details on the efforts exploring the potential treatment of these diseases using a catalase as a protein therapeutic agent have also been described.

/pdf/role-of-catalase-in-oxidative-stress-and-age-associated-5dyhdaf0u4.pdf

Role of Catalase in Oxidative Stress- and Age-Associated Degenerative Diseases.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/9/10/551/pdf

Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components.

The plant Aloe vera is used in Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic and Allopathic streams of medicine, and not only tribal community but also most of the people for food and medicine. The plant leaves contains numerous vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, natural sugars and other bioactive compounds with emollient, purgative, anti-microbial, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-helmenthic, antifungal, antiseptic and cosmetic values for health care. This plant has potential to cure sunburns, burns and minor cuts, and even skin cancer. The external use in cosmetic primarily acts as skin healer and prevents injury of epithelial tissues, cures acne and gives a youthful glow to skin, also acts as extremely powerful laxative.

https://file.scirp.org/pdf/PP_2013110815081192.pdf

Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses of Aloe vera: A Review

After 35 years of development, immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) has evolved into a popular protein purification technique. This review starts with a discussion of its mechanism and advantages. It continues with its applications which include the purification of histidine-tagged proteins, natural metal-binding proteins, and antibodies. IMAC used in conjunction with mass spectroscopy for phosphoprotein fractionation and proteomics is also covered. Finally, this review addresses the developments, limitations, and considerations of IMAC in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography: a review on its applications

Cassia fistula stem bark was used for the preparation of aqueous extract and synthesis of gold nanoparticles to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of the plant. The synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy for their absorbance pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify possible functional groups, and scanning electron microscopy to determine the size of the nanoparticles. The present investigation reports the efficacy of the gold nanoparticles as promising in the treatment of hyperglycemia. Body weight, serum glucose concentrations, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and lipid profile were analyzed. A significantly larger decrease in serum biochemistry parameters and an increase in body weight, total protein levels, and high-density lipoprotein were observed in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes treated with gold nanoparticles than in the ones treated with the aqueous extract. The results of this study confirm that C. fistula gold nanoparticles have promising antidiabetic properties.

/pdf/biochemical-analysis-of-cassia-fistula-aqueous-extract-and-4hpay996j6.pdf

Biochemical analysis of Cassia fistula aqueous extract and phytochemically synthesized gold nanoparticles as hypoglycemic treatment for diabetes mellitus

Streptozocin; a GLUT2 binding drug, interacts with human serum albumin at loci h6DOM3-h7DOM3.

With the rapid population growth, the annual plastic waste generation is increasing. There is a dire need for reusing plastic waste. If plastic waste is not recycled it ends up in landfills; ocean garbage patches or is incinerated; which causes different environmental problems, and if pollution from incineration plants is controlled then the plant becomes so expensive that not all countries can afford it. The addition of plastic waste to the flexible pavement has become an attractive option because this improves flexible pavement performance and eliminates the environmental problem. Huge work is done on waste addition in the bituminous mix but this review paper focuses on research done on utilizing plastic wastes as a modifier in a bituminous mix of flexible pavement. 

A mini-review on the use of plastic waste as a modifier of the bituminous mix for flexible pavement

The context and purpose of the study: Plants that have been used for traditional medicines are very good sources of phyotochemicals There are many plants like Casuarina equisetifolia , which are still unexplored for their medicinal properties In the present study, we have elucidated the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of different solvent extracts (both polar and non polar) of C equisetifolia needles Main findings: In vitro antioxidant activity of different solvent extracts of C equisetifolia needles was studied by analyzing the total polyphenols, flavonoids, total antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity The polar solvent extracts showed significantly high amount total polyphenols, flavonoids, antioxidants and free radical scavenging activity compared to the non polar solvent extracts The cytotoxic and apoptosis inducing activity of the different solvent extracts were analyzed on MCF-7 cells by MTT assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, DAPI staining and caspase-3 release The polar solvent extracts did not show any growth inhibition in MCF-7 cancer cells But the non polar solvent extracts are very good in inducing cell death by inducing apoptosis which involves DNA fragmentation and release of caspase 3 Using silica gel fractionation and RP-HPLC analysis the active component present in non-polar solvent extracts was identified as ascorbic acid Brief summary and potential implications: Our results indicated that the needles of C equisetifolia are rich sources of antioxidants and also contain potential anticancer agents Detailed study on the mechanism of action of purified compound on inhibition of cancer cell growth may provide some potential anticancer molecule from natural source

http://www.arjournals.org/index.php/ijpm/article/download/516/448

Antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity of different solvent extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia needles

Plant polyphenols have recently gained attention in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries due to their various therapeutic potentials. However, the polyphenols are prone to oxidation, unstable towards heat, light, pH and their unpleasant taste also limits their application. The usage of encapsulated polyphenols can alleviate these drawbacks and hence, efficient encapsulation methods have been developed. The present study focused on the synthesis of microspheres of Piper betle polyphenols by extrusion method using alginate and assesses the impact of alginate encapsulation on stability, bioavailability and therapeutic properties. Microspheres of Piper betle were studied for their stability, yield, size, characterized by using SEM for surface morphology and FTIR and evaluated for their bioavailability using in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion and therapeutic properties for a period of 24 months. The results showed that encapsulation was successful using extrusion technique and the stability was improved as it protected the polyphenols and antioxidant from degradation for a period of 24 months. In addition, bioavailability was also increased in small intestine and the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties were better retained after encapsulation. Overall, this study showed that encapsulation of polyphenols of Piper betle leaves with alginate improved stability and can be a promising technique for food supplementation/nutraceutical with natural antioxidants. • Polyphenols extracted from Piper betle were encapsulated in Alginate by extrusion method. • Polyphenols' bioavailability was increased in small intestine after encapsulation. • Alginate encapsulation helps in maintaining stability of polyphenols. • Polyphenol content was maintained for 24 months after encapsulation. • Anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic potential were maintained for 24 months. 

Ayesha Noor

Papers

Streptozocin; a GLUT2 binding drug, interacts with human serum albumin at loci h6DOM3-h7DOM3.

A mini-review on the use of plastic waste as a modifier of the bituminous mix for flexible pavement

Antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity of different solvent extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia needles

Alginate based encapsulation of polyphenols ofPiper betelleaves: Development, stability, bio-accessibility and biological activities

Evaluation of In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory Potential of Aloe vera Gel Extract