Inhibitory role of neem seed kernel extracts and terpenoids on growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 2999)

The effect of neem seed kernel extracts and purified terpenoids on Aspergillus parasiticus in relation to fungal growth, ergosterol synthesis and aflatoxin elaboration was investigated in yeast extract sucrose (YES) liquid medium. Aqueous (0.05, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 %), hexane, methanolic, ethyl acetate and acid-methanolic extracts (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 %) of neem seed kernel were tested at 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 days of incubation. Fungal growth was not affected by aqueous and hexane extracts, while it was inhibited by the methanolic, ethyl acetate and acid-methanolic extracts. The inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis was 73 and 82 % by the aqueous extract at 0.5 and 1.0 % conc, while hexane and ethyl acetate inhibited in a dose dependent manner on day 7. The AFB1/total toxin altered significantly (p<0.01) in the presence of various neem seed kernel extracts, except that of hexane extract. Purified terpenoids, azadirachtin, nimbin and salannin had no inhibitory effect on fungal biomass and aflatoxin elaboration at 0.01, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 % levels. Azadirachtin at 0.25 and 0.5 % level inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis by 30 and 34 %, respectively. Neem seed kernel extracts were inhibitive to the fungal growth, ergosterol biosynthesis and toxin elaboration as compared to purified neem terpenoids, suggesting anti-fungal and anti-aflatoxigenic properties

Correction: Godugu et al. Anti-Cancer Activities of Thyrointegrin αvβ3 Antagonist Mono- and Bis-Triazole Tetraiodothyroacetic Acid Conjugated via Polyethylene Glycols in Glioblastoma. Cancers 2021, 13, 2780

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Inhibitory role of neem seed kernel extracts and terpenoids on growth and aflatoxin production by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Aspergillus parasiticus</i> (NRRL 2999)

20-33The effect of neem seed kernel extracts and purified terpenoids on Aspergillus parasiticus in relation to fungal growth, ergosterol synthesis and aflatoxin elaboration was investigated in yeast extract sucrose (YES) liquid medium. Aqueous (0.05, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 %), hexane, methanolic, ethyl acetate and acid-methanolic extracts (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 %) of neem seed kernel were tested at 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 days of incubation. Fungal growth was not affected by aqueous and hexane extracts, while it was inhibited by the methanolic, ethyl acetate and acid-methanolic extracts. The inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis was 73 and 82 % by the aqueous extract at 0.5 and 1.0 % conc, while hexane and ethyl acetate inhibited in a dose dependent manner on day 7. The AFB1/total toxin altered significantly (p<0.01) in the presence of various neem seed kernel extracts, except that of hexane extract. Purified terpenoids, azadirachtin, nimbin and salannin had no inhibitory effect on fungal biomass and aflatoxin elaboration at 0.01, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 % levels. Azadirachtin at 0.25 and 0.5 % level inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis by 30 and 34 %, respectively. Neem seed kernel extracts were inhibitive to the fungal growth, ergosterol biosynthesis and toxin elaboration as compared to purified neem terpenoids, suggesting anti-fungal and anti-aflatoxigenic properties

Substrate suitability of neem seed kernel for the growth and elaboration of aflatoxins by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Aspergillus parasiticus </i>(NRRL 2999)

395-406Neem seed kernels artificially infested with Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 2999) was evaluated for aflatoxin elaboration and fungal growth, and compared with groundnut, a high risk commodity for aflatoxin contamination. At optimal moisture content (10-12%) the total, individual toxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) and ergosterol content increased and showed maximum levels on day 9. Crude protein and polyphenols increased while, fat and total sugar content decreased during the period of infection. The protein content correlated positively (r = 0.734) with total toxin levels, whereas fat content (r = -0.761) and total sugars (r = -0.891) showed negative correlation and they were all statistically significant (p0.01). The polyphenols showed negative and non-significant correlation with total toxin levels. Azadirachtin one of the major active principles of neem seed kernel showed significant decrease on day 3 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">PP<0.01). Neem seed kernel has shown 54 and 74% less aflatoxin production on day 9 and 12, respectively in comparison to groundnut seeds. Ergosterol content also showed 60% decrease on day 9, conferring it a poor substrate for fungal growth and aflatoxin elaboration

Nanoformulated Ajwa (Phoenix Dactylifera) Bioactive Compounds Improve the Safety of Doxorubicin without Compromising Its Anticancer Efficacy in Breast Cancer

One of the major causes of women’s death in the world is breast cancer. Consequently, numerous regimens for the control of this severe disease have been created. The chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) is frequently used to treat breast cancer, but DOX can also cause cardiotoxic effects that lead to heart failure. Therefore, many research studies have been done to find a natural product that effectively potentiates or does not interfere with DOX’s anticancer effect and protects against its cardiotoxicity. We studied the impact of combined nanoformulated Ajwa (Phoenix dactylifera) selected bioactive compounds (BAC) rutin (R) and quercetin (Q) in nude mice breast cancer xenografts on DOX-mediated anticancer efficacy. We also studied if this Ajwa BAC could safeguard against DOX-mediated cardiomyopathies by evaluating plasma cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) levels and cardiac histopathology. Nanoformulated Ajwa BAC effectively alleviated weight loss induced by DOX in mice and significantly decreased the elevated cTn-I. Furthermore, 5 mg RQ-NPs/kg of nude mice that subcutaneously daily injected for 11 days, attenuated the histopathological alterations induced in cardiac muscles due to DOX without any interference with the anticancer effects of DOX against breast cancer

Correction: Godugu et al. Nanoformulated Ajwa (Phoenix Dactylifera) Bioactive Compounds Improve the Safety of Doxorubicin without Compromising Its Anticancer Efficacy in Breast Cancer. Molecules 2020, 25, 2597

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Gender differences in alcohol-induced oxidative stress and altered membrane properties in erythrocytes of rats

32-39<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Alcohol-induced oxidative stress leads to imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defense system, resulting in oxidative damage to membrane components such as lipids and proteins, ultimately altering membrane properties. In this study, we assessed oxidative stress status and alterations in erythrocyte membrane properties in alcohol-administered rats with respect to gender difference. Alcohol (20% v/v) administered rats of both genders showed significant changes in plasma lipid profile with elevated nitrite/nitrate levels. Furthermore, alcohol-administration significantly decreased erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and enhanced erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxidation, cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) ratio and Na+/K+-ATPase activity in both males and females. Besides, anisotropic studies revealed that alcohol-administration significantly decreased erythrocyte membrane fluidity. In conclusion, alcohol- administration significantly increased oxidative stress by decreasing antioxidant status, and subsequent generation of ROS altered membrane properties by altering fluidity and Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Female rats were more vulnerable to alcohol-induced biochemical and biophysical changes in plasma and erythrocyte including oxidative stress than male rats.</span