Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction

IT may occasion some surprise to those men of science who are ill-acquainted with India, and who so frequently express the view that Governments are unappreciative of the importance of science to learn that as far back as 1886 the Government of India arranged for Dr. George (later Sir George) Watt, professor of botany in the Presidency College, Calcutta, to prepare a "Dictionary of the Economic Products of India". The six volumes of this standard work were published during the years 1889-99. In 1908 Sir George Watt published a condensed version, "The Commercial Products of India". Whatever the defects of these 'dictionaries', they have been of inestimable value to all interested in Indian natural products. The Wealth of India A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products. Raw Materials, Vol. 1. Pp. xxvii+254+39 plates. 15 rupees ; 24s. Industrial Products, Part 1. Pp. xii+182+8 plates. 8 rupees ; 12s. (New Delhi : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948.)

The Wealth of India

The toxicology of mercury: Current research and emerging trends

Acacia nilotica (L.): A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

In vitro polyphenol effects on apoptosis: An update of literature data.

Recently, enormous research has been focused on natural bioactive compounds possessing potential antioxidant and anticancer properties using cell lines and animal models. Acacia nilotica (L.) is widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia and Kenya. The plant is traditionally used to treat mouth, ear and bone cancer. However, reports on Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. Ex. Delile subsp. indica (Benth.) Brenan regarding its toxicity profile is limited. Hence in this study, we investigated the antioxidant capacity and acute toxicity of ethyl gallate, a phenolic antioxidant present in the A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract. The antioxidant activity of ethyl gallate against Fenton’s system (Fe3+/H2O2/ascorbic acid) generated oxidative damage to pBR322 DNA and BSA was investigated. We also studied the interaction of ethyl gallate to CT-DNA by wave scan and FTIR analysis. The amount of ethyl gallate present in the A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract was calculated using HPLC and represented in gram equivalence of ethyl gallate. The acute toxicity profile of ethyl gallate in the A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract was analyzed in albino Wistar rats. Measurement of liver and kidney function markers, total proteins and glucose were determined in the serum. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) tool version 16.0. Ethyl gallate was found to be effective at 100 μg/mL concentration by inhibiting the free radical mediated damage to BSA and pBR322 DNA. We also found that the interaction of ethyl gallate and A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract to CT-DNA occurs through intercalation. One gram of A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract was found to be equivalent to 20 mg of ethyl gallate through HPLC analysis. Based on the acute toxicity results, A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract and ethyl gallate as well was found to be non-toxic and safe. Results revealed no mortality or abnormal biochemical changes in vivo and the protective effect of A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract and ethyl gallate on DNA and protein against oxidative stress in vitro. Hence, A. nilotica (L.) leaf extract or ethyl gallate could be used as potential antioxidants with safe therapeutic application in cancer chemotherapy.

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In vitro protection of biological macromolecules against oxidative stress and in vivo toxicity evaluation of Acacia nilotica (L.) and ethyl gallate in rats

Neuroprotective effect of Brahmi, an ayurvedic drug against oxidative stress induced by methyl mercury toxicity in rat brain mitochondrial-enriched fractions

Methyl mercury (MeHg), an important environmental toxicant is implicated in neurological disorders such as Hunter-Russell syndrome and Autism. Therefore, the present work is in search of new drugs that can alleviate MeHg toxicity. In this connection, Tagara, an ayurvedic drug is used for assessing its neuro protective effect against MeHg toxicity. In the present study, we assessed the phytochemical contents of Tagara by colorimetric and HPLC analyses. The neuroprotective effect of Tagara on MeHg induced neurotoxicity was measured in terms of viability by MTT assay and oxidative stress in terms of catalase activity, glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels. Further, the chelating effect of Tagara towards MeHg was performed to identify the molecular mechanism. Statistical analysis was done by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. The results demonstrated that Tagara contains significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids. Also, HPLC analysis of Tagara revealed the presence of essential oils such as hydroxyvalerenic and valerenic acids. Our results demonstrated that exposure of rat brain mitochondrial fractions to MeHg resulted in a dose dependent death in MTT assay and IC50 value was found to be 10 μM. However, a 250 μg dose of Tagara effectively prevented MeHg induced mitochondrial damage. The oxidative stress caused by MeHg results in elevated levels of reactive oxygen species as evidenced by elevated TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) levels and diminished catalase enzyme activity and glutathione content. However, Tagara at 250 μg concentration offsets these alterations caused by MeHg. Further, Tagara also diminished GSH oxidation caused by MeHg, confirming its chelating effect, one of the molecular mechanisms that triggers protection against oxidative damage. Our results revealed that MeHg induced toxicity is predominantly mediated through oxidative stress mechanism and the propensity of Tagara to abolish such reactions. Hence, we propose that Tagara with a source of potential neuroprotectants may be a useful approach to alleviate MeHg associated neurotoxicity.

/pdf/neuroprotective-effect-of-tagara-an-ayurvedic-drug-against-4y4yze9z8i.pdf

Neuroprotective effect of Tagara, an Ayurvedic drug against methyl mercury induced oxidative stress using rat brain mitochondrial fractions

Chrome tanning activity has contributed intensively towards environmental pollution in the form of effluents. To study the specific contribution of microalgae towards phycoremediation, four heavy-metal tolerant microalgal species were isolated from the estuaries receiving tannery effluents, and their biomass was examined by their interaction. The sequences of the four microalgal species, namely Anabaena (VITMA1), Oscillatoria acuminate (VITMA2), Phormidium irriguum (VITMA3) and Spirogyra maxima (VITMA4), were clustered after isolating their ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that VITMA1 showed a distant relationship with Anabaena , having only 63% sequence similarities, and other species such as VITMA2, VITMA3 and VITMA4 showed 82%, 95% and 92% sequence similarities, respectively. Microalgal species were grown in BG11 media along with chromium-contaminated tannery effluents for analysing their growth, biomass and protein contents. The binding site characterisation was assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction spectral studies. The results obtained from these studies advocate that the interactions are due to the presence of alkynes and aromatic functional groups. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of intact cells with chromium accumulation. The biosorption activity was found to be 90% for O. acuminate (VITMA2), followed by 80% for P. irriguum (VITMA3), 65% for Anabaena (VITMA1) and 55% for S. maxima (VITMA4), respectively, and proves their impressive potential for phycoremediation activity.

Biomass characterisation and phylogenetic analysis of microalgae isolated from estuaries: Role in phycoremediation of tannery effluent

Cancer arising in the oral cavity is one of the major causes of mortality worldwide and demands immediate attention. Regardless of the use of advanced treatment for oral cancer, successful treatment resulting in cancer survival is low. Currently available drugs are ineffective and are toxic. Therefore, successful treatment without toxic effects remains essential. This is quite challenging, leading to the identification of natural bioactive compounds for oral cancer treatment. Thus, a plant extract rich in phenolics is preferred for studying the cellular, biochemical and molecular changes associated with oral carcinogenesis.The present study aims to deal with the above need using Acacia nilotica (L.) leaf extract (AN) and ethyl gallate (EG), a phenolic compound present in AN against oral carcinogenesis. Extension of a tumor cell line to a mouse model was investigated with 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) as carcinogen, a surrogate for tobacco. The progression of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was achieved through hyperplasia and dysplasia after 4-NQO induction in Swiss albino mice. Administration of AN and EG to animals undergoing dysplasia led to the inhibition of SCC, thereby reducing the tumor burden. The antioxidant capacity of AN and EG was also brought out via biochemical analysis. Further investigation of biomarkers in tongue tissues revealed the involvement of apoptosis in vivo Moreover, no adverse or toxic effect was observed earlier in rats upon oral administration of AN and EG. Thus, AN and EG shows strong hope as drugs against oral cancer progression.

Kalaivani Thiagarajan

Papers

In vitro protection of biological macromolecules against oxidative stress and in vivo toxicity evaluation of Acacia nilotica (L.) and ethyl gallate in rats

Neuroprotective effect of Brahmi, an ayurvedic drug against oxidative stress induced by methyl mercury toxicity in rat brain mitochondrial-enriched fractions

Neuroprotective effect of Tagara, an Ayurvedic drug against methyl mercury induced oxidative stress using rat brain mitochondrial fractions

Biomass characterisation and phylogenetic analysis of microalgae isolated from estuaries: Role in phycoremediation of tannery effluent

Evaluation of ethyl gallate for its antioxidant and anticancer properties against chemical-induced tongue carcinogenesis in mice.