Annamalai University

About: Annamalai University is a education organization based out in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Lipid peroxidation & Antioxidant. The organization has 8098 authors who have published 10758 publications receiving 203872 citations.

Chemopreventive effect of trans-resveratrol--a phytoalexin against colonic aberrant crypt foci and cell proliferation in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine induced colon carcinogenesis.

Abstract: Prevention of cancer remains a primary need and new chemopreventive agents must be developed for this purpose. Towards this goal, a chemoprevention study was conducted to evaluate the activity of resveratrol (Res), a phytoalexin, as an inhibitor of colon carcinogenesis. Wistar male rats were divided into six groups, group 1 were control rats, group 2 were control rats that received Res (8 mg/kg body wt p.o. everyday), rats in groups 3-6 were treated weekly with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH, 20 mg/kg body wt, s.c. x 15 times). In addition, groups 4, 5 and 6 received Res as in group 2. Modifying effects were assessed using aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the extent of histopathological lesions as end point markers. At the end of 30 weeks, Res markedly reduced tumor incidence, the degree of histological lesions and also the size of tumors significantly (P < 0.05) as compared with the rats treated with unsupplemented DMH. The number of ACF consisting of more than six aberrant crypts per rat was observed in group 6 (6.2 +/- 1.4), group 5 (7.7 +/- 1.0) and group 4 (8.2 +/- 1.4) which were significantly lower than that of group 3 (22.3 +/- 2.4) (P < 0.05). The most pronounced inhibition of ACF development was noted in rats fed Res for the entire period and also during the post-initiation period. Also, Res administration lowered the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region-associated proteins (AgNORs) per nucleus in non-lesional colonic crypts, which reflects the cell proliferation activity. Oxidative imbalance in DMH-treatment was significantly (P < 0.01) modulated on Res supplementation as indicated by optimal concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH). The results of our study suggest Res to be an effective chemopreventive agent, which suppresses DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis at various stages.

Lycopene: a review of its potential as an anticancer agent.

Abstract: Dietary chemoprevention has emerged as a cost effective approach to control most prevalent chronic diseases including cancer. In particular, tomato and tomato products are recognised to confer a wide range of health benefits. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that high consumption of tomatoes effectively lowers the risk of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer by improving the antioxidant capacity. Tomatoes are rich sources of lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid reported to be a more stable and potent singlet oxygen quenching agent compared to other carotenoids. In addition to its antioxidant properties, lycopene shows an array of biological effects including cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. The anticancer activity of lycopene has been demonstrated both in in vitro and in vivo tumour models. The mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of lycopene on carcinogenesis could involve ROS scavenging, upregulation of detoxification systems, interference with cell proliferation, induction of gap-junctional communication, inhibition of cell cycle progression and modulation of signal transduction pathways. This review outlines the sources, structure, absorption, metabolism, bioavailability and pharmacological properties of lycopene with special reference to its antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects.

Neuroprotective role of curcumin from curcuma longa on ethanol-induced brain damage.

Abstract: In the present study, curcumin from Curcuma longa was screened for neuroprotective activity using ethanol as a model of brain injury. Oral administration of curcumin to rats caused a significant reversal in lipid peroxidation, brain lipids and produced enhancement of glutathione, a non-enzymic antioxidant in ethanol intoxicated rats, revealing that the antioxidative and hypolipidaemic action of curcumin is­responsible for its protective role against ethanol induced brain injury. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A study on groundwater geochemistry and water quality in layered aquifers system of Pondicherry region, southeast India

Abstract: Geochemical signatures of groundwater in the Pondicherry region, south India, were determined. The coastal aquifers are fragile and this situation becomes more intense in layered aquifer systems like that of the Pondicherry region. In this region, groundwater occurs in alluvium, Lower Cuddalore, Upper Cuddalore, Tertiary, Cretaceous and mixed aquifers. The geochemical signature of groundwater in these formations was studied by collecting 93 groundwater samples. The collected samples from specific formations were analysed for physical parameters, such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH and major ion concentrations, such as Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, HCO3, PO4 and SO4. The results of the analysis were interpreted with geology; the ionic concentrations in the groundwater vary spatially and temporally. The abundance of these ions are in the following order: Na > Ca > Mg > K = Cl > HCO3 > SO4. Interpretation of analytical data shows that Ca–Na and Cl–SO4–HCO3 is the dominant facies in all the formations. Groundwater in the area is generally hard and fresh-brackish in most of the formations and brackish in nature in alluvium formation. The sodium absorption ratio shows that most of the samples are grouped under excellent category to good category in all the formations. The residual sodium carbonate also are in good category in all the formations. Chloro-alkaline indices reveal that the majority of samples show negative values in all the litho units indicating the exchange of Na and K in groundwater with Mg or Ca in rock. Scholler classification of water indicates that longer residence time of water with more prominent base exchange. High EC and TDS values in certain locations of alluvial, Upper Cuddalore and Cretaceous formations prove to be unsuitable for drinking and irrigation purposes.