Aligarh Muslim University

About: Aligarh Muslim University is a education organization based out in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 8218 authors who have published 16416 publications receiving 289068 citations. The organization is also known as: AMU.

Punicalagin and ellagic acid demonstrate antimutagenic activity and inhibition of benzo[a]pyrene induced DNA adducts.

Abstract: Punicalagin (PC) is an ellagitannin found in the fruit peel of Punica granatum. We have demonstrated antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties of Punica granatum and showed that PC and ellagic acid (EA) are its major constituents. In this study, we demonstrate the antimutagenic potential, inhibition of BP-induced DNA damage, and antiproliferative activity of PC and EA. Incubation of BP with rat liver microsomes, appropriate cofactors, and DNA in the presence of vehicle or PC and EA showed significant inhibition of the resultant DNA adducts, with essentially complete inhibition (97%) at 40 μM by PC and 77% inhibition by EA. Antimutagenicity was tested by Ames test. PC and EA dose-dependently and markedly antagonized the effect of tested mutagens, sodium azide, methyl methanesulfonate, benzo[a]pyrene, and 2-aminoflourine, with maximum inhibition of mutagenicity up to 90 percent. Almost all the doses tested (50–500 μM) exhibited significant antimutagenicity. A profound antiproliferative effect on human lung cancer cells was also shown with PC and EA. Together, our data show that PC and EA are pomegranate bioactives responsible for inhibition of BP-induced DNA adducts and strong antimutagenic, antiproliferative activities. However, these compounds are to be evaluated in suitable animal model to assess their therapeutic efficacy against cancer.

Regulation of photosynthesis by brassinosteroids in plants

Abstract: Brassinosteroids (BRs) regarded as plant hormone are a class of naturally occurring polyhydroxylated sterol derivatives present in all plant species. Overall growth of the plant relies on the very basic and important process of photosynthesis. BRs are found capable of preventing the loss of photosynthetic pigments either by activating or inducing the synthesis of enzymes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis. BRs play important role in maintaining PS II efficiency by stabilizing D1 protein. It overcomes the stomatal limitations and elevates the efficiency of photosynthetic carbon fixation. BRs also act at various levels of light and dark reactions leading to enhanced carbohydrate synthesis. Therefore, it becomes important to focus and collect information related to various effects of BRs on photosynthesis and its related attributes. The present review deals with the effect of BRs on photosynthesis under normal as well as stressful conditions.