Effects of Aqueous Extract of Unpolished Dark Purple Glutinous Rice, Var Luem Pua, on ROS in SK-N-SH Cells and Scopolamine-induced Memory Deficit in Mice

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidative and memory-enhancing effects of aqueous extract of unpolished Thai rice strain of Luem Pua (LP) in SK-N-SH cells and scopolamine-induced memory deficit in mice.Methods: In SK-N-SH cells, viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay while intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were quantified after pretreatment with LP (0, 200, 600 and 1000 μg/mL) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In mice, memory was impaired by injecting 2 mg/kg/day scopolamine, for 18 consecutive days. On each day, mice were also force-fed with LP 0, 90 or 180 mg/kg. On the last 5 days of treatment, memory was tested using passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests.Results: At concentration up to 1,000 μg/mL LP had no effect on SK-N-SH cell viability and significantly reduce intracellular ROS levels of SK-N-SH cells with or without H2O2. Mice that received 90 or 180 mg/kg LP showed a significant decrease in latency time in PA test and an increase in escape latency time in MWM test. These  data suggest that LP antagonizes the effect of scopolamine on memory.Conclusion: LP extract has anti-oxidative and memory-enhancing effects in cell culture and mice. The rice may be a nutraceutical helpful for promoting brain health. Keywords: Dark purple rice, Leum Pua rice, Reactive oxygen species, Memory, Scopolamine, Cell cultur

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The peer-review crisis is posing a risk to the scholarly peer-reviewed journal system. Journals have to ask many potential peer reviewers to obtain a minimum acceptable number of peers accepting reviewing a manuscript. Several solutions have been suggested to overcome this shortage. From reimbursing for the job, to eliminating pre- publication reviews, one cannot predict which is more dangerous for the future of scholarly publishing. And, why not acknowledging their contribution to the final version of the article published? PubMed created two categories of contributors: authors [AU] and collaborators [IR]. Why not a third category for the peer-reviewer

Scholarly publishing depends on peer reviewers

The peer-review crisis is posing a risk to the scholarly peer-reviewed journal system. Journals have to ask many potential peer reviewers to obtain a minimum acceptable number of peers accepting reviewing a manuscript. Several solutions have been suggested to overcome this shortage. From reimbursing for the job, to eliminating pre-publication reviews, one cannot predict which is more dangerous for the future of scholarly publishing. And, why not acknowledging their contribution to the final version of the article published? PubMed created two categories of contributors: authors [AU] and collaborators [IR]. Why not a third category for the peer-reviewer?Scopu

A study of mechanisms involved in abortion induced by progesterone withdrawal in the rat

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