Methanol Extract of Euchelus asper

Marine molluscs are widely distributed throughout the world and many bioactive compounds exhibiting antiviral, antitumor, antileukemic, and antibacterial activity have been reported worldwide. The present study was designed to investigate the beneficial effect of methanol extract of Euchelus asper (EAME) on estrogen deficiency induced osteoporosis in ovariectomised mice model. Forty-two female Swiss albino mice were randomly assigned into Sham operated (Sham) group and six ovariectomised (OVX) subgroups such as OVX with vehicle (OVX); OVX with estradiol (2 mg/kg/day); OVX with EAME of graded doses (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day). Bone turnover markers like serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum acid phosphatase (ACP), serum calcium, and histological investigations of tibia and uterus were analysed. Metaphyseal DNA content of the femur bone was also studied. Antiosteoclastogenic activity of EAME was examined. Administration of EAME was able to reduce the increased bone turnover markers in the ovariectomised mice. Histomorphometric analysis revealed an increase in bone trabeculation and restoration of trabecular separation by EAME treatment. Metaphyseal DNA content of the femur of the OVX mice was increased by EAME administration. EAME also showed a potent antiosteoclastogenic behaviour. Thus, the present study reveals that EAME was able to successfully reduce the estrogen deficiency induced bone loss

<span style="font-size: 20.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Fatty acids derived from a marine crustacean <i><span style="font-size:21.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Diogenes avarus </span></i><span style="font-size:20.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:13.5pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">(Heller) and their antiangiogenic activity </span></span>

632-635<span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">An organic extract from a marine crustacean <span style="font-size:15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">D. avarus <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">was examined for antiangiogenic activity by using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The methanol extract (HCM) inhibited angiogenesis in a dose dependent manner. The extract was further fractionated by bioactivity-guided separation to purify the active fractions successively. This resulted in three fractions HCM1, HCM2 and HCM3. The 50% inhibition shown by HCM was 600ng/disc, HCM 1 was <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">100ng/disc and of HCM3 was 2.7ng/disc. HCM3 which was separated by column chromatography and showed single spot on TLC was analysed by GLC and showed the presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids such as lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic. The antiangiogenic activity of the fatty acids obtained from a marine crustacean is reported <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">for the first time.</span

Cytotoxicity and bioactivity of some marine animals

433-437Organic extracts of locally occurring animals such as sponge Tethya sp., hermit crab Eupagurus sp., cuttle fish Sepia aculeata, squid Loligo duvaucelli, starfish Asterina lorioli and flat fish Cynoglossus sp. were tested for toxicity, haemolytic activity and larvicidal activity. All extracts were toxic to fish resulting in death of fish accompanied by changes in gills and liver. Chloroform extract of sponge, methanol extract of hermit crab, ether fraction of acetone extract of L. duvaucelli, S. aculeata and Cynoglossus sp. showed strong haemolytic activity. Chromatographic separation of extract of Loligo yielded a highly haemolytic white shining compound, (m.p. 145-146°C). Chloroform extract of starfish was strongly haemolytic than petroleum ether extract. Petroleum ether extract of starfish and sponge showed strong haemolytic activity

<i><span style="font-size:21.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In vivo </span></i><span style="font-size:22.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.5pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">and <i><span style="font-size: 21.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">in vitro </span></i><span style="font-size:22.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.5pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">evaluation for immunomodulatory activity of three marine animal extracts with reference to phagocytosis </span></span>

1399-1402<span style="font-size: 16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The whole body ether extracts of a marine prawn <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">Nematopaleamon tenuipes <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and two gastropods viz. Euchelus asper <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">Hemifusus pugilinus, <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">obtained by Soxhlet extraction and cold percolation were tested for their effects on phagocytosis by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">in<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> vitro <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(slide method) and by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">in<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> vivo <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(carbon clearance) methods. Extract of E. asper <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">exhibits immunostimulatory activity <span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">in vivo<span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""=""> <span style="font-size:16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and immunosuppressant activity in viv<span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">o. <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">in<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""=""> vitro <span style="font-size:16.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">test for <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">N. tenuipes and <span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family: " arial","sans-serif""="">H. <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">pugilinus shows biphasic activity, but the former shows immunostimulatory while the later shows immunosuppressant activity <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">in vivo test. </span

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">Influence of antiangiogenic fraction from <i>Diogenes</i> <i>avarus</i> (Heller) on fertility and implantation in mice</span>

581-588<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-IN">The methanol extract isolated from hermit crab, D. avarus degenerated ovarion and uterine ti ssues in cyclic and pregnant mice, treated before and after the implantation. Immunohi stochemical staining using CD31 and Factor VIII specific to endothelial cells showed reduction in microvessel density. The hormonal assay showed decrease in the progesterone secretion in all experimental mice. </span

Evaluation of antiangiogenic activity through tubulin interaction of chloroform fraction of the feather star, <i style="">Lamprometra palmata palmata</i>

28-37 Tubulin binding agents have received considerable interest as potential tumour-selective angiogenesis-targeting drugs. The present study elucidates that chloroform fraction (CC) isolated from methanol extract of the feather star Lamprometra palmata palmata has a tubulin binding property. With the quantification of chick chorioallantoic (CAM) assay, we further demonstrate that CC significantly and dose-dependently inhibits proliferation, migration of endothelial cells and exhibits antiangiogenic effect with ID50 10ng/10ml. It showed moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 192 mg/ml. In addition, CC arrested onion root tip cells at prometaphase phase. We demonstrate that these effects of CC are attributable to its property to inhibit polymerization of tubulin. These findings show that CC is a candidate antiangiogenic agent and needs further purification for the specific compound, which is responsible for all these activities. </smarttagtype

Evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of extracts from marine animals

22-27The whole body ether extracts of a marine prawn Nematopaleamon tenuipes (PEP), two gastropods viz. Euchelus asper (EAE) and Hemifusus pugilinus (HPE), and acetone extract of a fish Rastrelliger kanagurta (MA), were tested for their effects on Delayed type Hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction and Plaque Forming Cell (PFC) assay. The Delayed type Hypersensitive reaction assay for HPE and PEP as well as MA showed stimulation but EAE was found to be less effective. In the PFC assay HPE and MA showed immunostimulation whereas PEP and EAE showed immunosuppression. PEP was further resolved into two fractions, which were tested for in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay as well as antiproliferative assay. It is concluded that the test extracts possess immunomodulatory property

Methanolic extract of Euchelus asper exhibits in-ovo anti-angiogenic and in vitro anti-proliferative activities

Abstract Background The marine environment is a rich source of bioactive natural products. Many of the marine bioactive compounds have been derived successfully from molluscs. Euchelus asper is a marine mollusc which is commonly found in the intertidal rocky regions of the Mumbai coast. The present study was focused on evaluating the anti-angiogenic and anti- proliferative activities of methanolic extract of Euchelus asper (EAME). Methods The anti-angiogenic activity of EAME (50–800 μg/mL) was assessed by chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) model wherein multiple parameters in the CAM blood vessels were analysed through morphometric and histological investigations. In vitro testing of EAME (5–20 μg/mL) included its cytotoxicity against three different cancer cell lines, its effect on cell proliferation by wound healing assay as well as their relevant molecular mechanisms. Statistical analysis was carried out by two-tailed student’s t test for two unpaired groups. Results Analysis of CAM revealed that the extract is effective in reducing the branching points of the 1st order blood vessels or capillaries of CAM. Histological analysis of CAM showed significant decrease in capillary plexus and compartmentalization along with increase in mesodermal blood vessels, thus establishing its anti-angiogenicity. Further, EAME exhibited moderate but significant cytotoxicity against A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line. We also demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of EAME in A549 was associated with its apoptotic activity by subG1 phase arrest. Lastly, EAME significantly reduced A549 proliferation by reducing the expression of Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Conclusion Overall, our study suggested that EAME has potential to inhibit tumour angiogenic and proliferative activity and may be a potential source for development of new anti-cancer pharmaceuticals

Effect of Bombay high crude oil and its water-soluble fraction on growth and metabolism of diatom Thalassiosira sp.

251-255Effect of Bombay high crude oil (BHC) and its water-soluble fraction (WSF) on growth and metabolism of the phytoplankton, Thalassiosira sp. was assessed. The study revealed the signs of acute toxicity at higher concentrations of crude oil (0.5%) and WSF (40%), while stimulatory effect was observed at lower concentrations (0.01 and 0.1% of BHC and 5, 10% of WSF). WSF at higher concentrations (20 and 40%) caused reduction in DNA and RNA of the diatom. At lower concentrations it caused increase in protein and RNA content indicating increased metabolism. High concentrations of oil and its fraction had inhibitory effect on growth, protein content and nucleic acid content. This indicates that biosynthesis of these molecules may be probable targets for toxicity of oil

Mosquito larvicidal potential of some extracts obtained from the marine organisms prawn and sea cucumber

303-306The larvicidal potential of two marine organisms was investigated by testing their non-polar to polar organic extracts against mosquito Culex pipens fatigans. In the present investigation the non-polar petroleum ether extract of prawn Nematopalaemon. tenuipes, Hendersen and polar methanol extract of sea cucumber Holothuria scabra, Jaeger body wall were found to be effective against mosquito larvae. The preliminary chemical analysis showed the presence of steroids in the active extract of prawns, whereas the presence of saponins in the active extract of sea cucumber body wall. In this context, the observed mosquito larvicidal activity could be attributed to the presence of steroids and saponins. In summary, this investigation explores the importance of marine organisms as a valuable resource for the discovery of novel insecticidal molecules