Radon daughters’ concentration in air and exposure of joggers at the university campus of Bangalore, India

The concentration of radon daughters in outdoor air was measured continuously from January 2006 to December 2006 near the Department of Physics, Bangalore University campus, Bangalore. The concentration was measured by collecting air samples at a height of 1 m above the ground level on a glass micro fibre filter paper with a known air flow rate. The results show that the radon progeny concentration exhibits distinct seasonal and diurnal variations that are predominantly caused by changes in the temperature gradient at the soil–atmosphere interface. The concentration was found to be high from 20.00 to 8.00 hrs, when the turbulence mixing was minimum and low during the rest of the time. In terms of the monthly concentration, January was found to be the highest with September/August being the lowest. The diurnal variations in the concentrations of radon progeny were found to exhibit positive correlation with the relative humidity and anti-correlation with the atmospheric temperature. From the measured concen..

Caralluma umbellata Haw. protects liver against paracetamol toxicity and inhibits CYP2E1

Introduction: Paracetamol is a potent hepatotoxin and may cause severe acute hepatocellular injury. The present study was intended to assess the hepatoprotective potential of Caralluma umbellata Haw. (Asclepiadaceae) (C. umbellata) against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Methods: Preliminary analysis for antioxidant and hepatoprotective property was evaluated for methanolic (MCU), aqueous (ACU) and hydro methanolic (HCU) extracts of C. umbellata using in vitro cell-free antioxidant such as DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation models and cell-based hepatoprotective study using BRL3A cells. In vivo, hepatoprotective activity was studied in paracetamol treated male Wistar albino rats. Furthermore, molecular mechanism behind the protective effect of MCU was explored by RT PCR technique by utilizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) CYP2E1. Results: C. umbellata extracts especially, MCU showed a better antioxidant property. MCU offered significant dose-dependent protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage in both in vitro and in vivo assays by improving all the biochemical findings towards the normal range. In a mechanism-based study, MCU has offered significant down-regulation (p < 0.05) of CYP2E1. These findings were in line with the hepatoprotective activity findings where MCU showed significant protection. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings suggest that MCU possess hepatoprotective activity. One of the possible mechanisms behind the protective effect of MCU is found to be inhibition of CYP2E1

IN VITRO CYTOTOXICITY OF CARALLUMA SPECIES BY MTT AND TRYPAN BLUE DYE EXCLUSION

Caralluma species have been reported for various traditional claims; the scientific data for possible activities have not yet been studied thoroughly. However the toxicity of a plant has to be studied for further exploration of various biological activities. Extracts were studied for their toxicity by MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion models against a panel of cancer, normal origin cell lines and EAC cells. The extracts found to be moderately toxic and showed dose dependent response

Anti-hyperglycemic activity of Caralluma umbellata Haw.

Introduction: Hyperglycemia is a serious health problem prevailing in diabetes patients. Treatment for hyperglycemia by various oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs have associated with side effects, hence there is growing awareness towards the use of herbal products due to their efficacy,minimal side effects and relatively low costs. This study is designed to evaluate anti-hyperglycemic activity of Caralluma umbellata Haw, which is used as a traditional medicinal plant all over India through in vitro studies. Methods: Methanolic, aqueous and hydro methanolic extracts of Caralluma umbellata were prepared and studied for their anti hyperglycemic activity. The extracts were evaluated for glucose uptake in L6 myotubes in vitro. In addition, the inhibitory activity against alpha amylase and pancreatic lipase was also measured. Results: The methanolic extract (MCU) was found to have significant glucose uptake. Further, MCU was also found to have promising role in inhibiting alpha amylase and pancreatic lipase. Conclusion: The results of present study shows Caralluma umbellata has potential antidiabetic property, thus providing a further scope for study in animal model and understanding the mechanism of action

Paraxanthine Supplementation Increases Muscle Mass, Strength, and Endurance in Mice

Paraxanthine is a natural dietary ingredient and the main metabolite of caffeine in humans. Compared to caffeine, paraxanthine exhibits lower toxicity, lesser anxiogenic properties, stronger locomotor activating effects, greater wake promoting properties, and stronger dopaminergic effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of paraxanthine supplementation on muscle mass, strength, and endurance performance in comparison to the control and other ingredients commonly used by athletes: L-theanine, alpha-GPC, and taurine. Male Swiss Albino mice from five groups (n = 8 per group) were orally administered paraxanthine (20.5 mg/kg/day, human equivalence dose (HED) 100 mg), L-theanine (10.28 mg/kg/day, HED 50 mg), alpha-GPC (41.09 mg/kg/day, HED 200 mg), taurine (102.75 mg/kg/day, HED 500 mg), or control (carboxy methyl cellulose) for 4 weeks. Exercise performance was evaluated using forelimb grip strength and treadmill endurance exercise. All animals were subject to treadmill training for 60 min 5 days per week. Blood draws were utilized to analyze lipid profile, liver health, renal function, and nitric oxide levels. Paraxanthine significantly increased forelimb grip strength by 17% (p p p p p p p p < 0.001) compared to control, and compared to L-theanine, alpha-GPC, and taurine. Results from this initial investigation indicate that, when compared to the control, L-theanine, alpha-GPC, and taurine, paraxanthine is an effective ingredient for various aspects of sports performance and may enhance cardiovascular health

Effect of Coleus forskohlii and its major constituents on cytochrome P450 induction

AbstractColeus forskohlii Briq. has been used traditionally for the treatment of several ailments since antiquity in Ayurveda. In the present study, an approach has been made to evaluate the effect of C. forskohlii and its major constituents on cytochrome P450 (CYP3A, CYP2B, and CYP2C) mRNA expression in rat hepatocytes. To gain better understanding of the herb–drug interaction potential of the chemical constituents present in C. forskohlii, the extract was subjected to column chromatography followed by standardization with respect to forskolin, 1-deoxyforskolin, and 1,9-dideoxyforskolin using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Hepatocytes were treated with extracts, fractions, and phytoconstituents, followed by extraction and purification of total mRNA. Study of mRNA expression was carried out through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Results revealed that the test substances did not show any significant mRNA expression compared to the control against CYP3A, CYP2B, and CYP2C. Positive controls such as dexamethasone and rifampin showed significantly high (p < 0.001) induction potential compared to the control. It can be concluded that C. forskohlii and its major constituents may not be involved in CYP450 induction-based drug interaction