The Chemistry Behind Plant DNA Isolation Protocols

Various plant species are biochemically heterogeneous in nature, a single deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) isolation protocol may not be suitable. There have been continuous modification and standardization in DNA isolation protocols. Most of the plant DNA isolation protocols used today are modified versions of hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) extraction procedure. Modification is usually performed in the concentration of chemicals used during the extraction procedure according to the plant species and plant part used. Thus, understanding the role of each chemical (viz. CTAB, NaCl, PVP, ethanol, and isopropanol) used during the DNA extraction procedure will benefit to set or modify protocols for more precisions. A review of the chemicals used in the CTAB method of DNA extraction and their probable functions on the highly evolved yet complex to students and researchers has been summarized

Development and Standardisation of a Method for Inflicting Frostbite Injury in Rats and Formulation of Essential Oil in Treatment of Frostbite

Frostbite is a cold induced injury which occurs due to exposure of a particular site of body to sub-zero temperature. One of the primary reasons for lack of proper studies about the underlying mechanism of frostbite injury is due to non-availability of any reliable animal model and method for inflicting frostbite. In our current research, a device was designed and standardised to inflict frostbite wound in wistar rat. A formulation comprising different combination of essential oils was also developed and its activity was assessed and found effective in the treatment of frostbite wound

In Silico Analysis and Experimental Evaluation of Ester Prodrugs of Ketoprofen for Oral Delivery: With a View to Reduce Toxicity

The present research aimed to synthesize ketoprofen prodrugs and to demonstrate their potentiality for oral treatment to treat chronic inflammation by reducing its hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal irritation. Methyl 2-(3-benzoyl phenyl) propanoate, ethyl 2-(3-benzoyl phenyl) propanoate and propyl 2-(3-benzoyl phenyl) propanoate was synthesized by esterification and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) and infrared (IR) spectrometric analysis. In silico SwissADME and ProTox-II analysis stated methyl derivative as ideal candidate for oral absorption, having a >30-fold LD50 value compared to ketoprofen with no hepatotoxicity. Moreover, in vivo hepatotoxicity study demonstrates that these ester prodrugs have significantly lower effects on liver toxicity compared to pure ketoprofen. Furthermore, ex vivo intestinal permeation enhancement ratio was statistically significant (* p < 0.05) compared to ketoprofen. Likewise, the prodrugs were found to exhibit not only remarkable in vitro anti-proteolytic and lysosomal membrane stabilization potentials, but also significant efficiency to alleviate pain induced by inflammation, as well as central and peripheral stimulus in mice model in vivo. These outcomes recommend that ketoprofen ester prodrugs, especially methyl derivative, can be a cost-effective candidate for prolonged treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases

A Review of Cytotoxic Plants of the Indian Subcontinent and a Broad-Spectrum Analysis of Their Bioactive Compounds

Cancer or uncontrolled cell proliferation is a major health issue worldwide and is the second leading cause of deaths globally. The high mortality rate and toxicity associated with cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy have encouraged the investigation of complementary and alternative treatment methods, such as plant-based drugs. Moreover, over 60% of the anti-cancer drugs are molecules derived from plants or their synthetic derivatives. Therefore, in the present review, an attempt has been made to summarize the cytotoxic plants available in the Indian subcontinent along with a description of their bio-active components. The review covers 99 plants of 57 families as well as over 110 isolated bioactive cytotoxic compounds, amongst which at least 20 are new compounds. Among the reported phytoconstituents, artemisinin, lupeol, curcumin, and quercetin are under clinical trials, while brazilin, catechin, ursolic acid, β-sitosterol, and myricetin are under pharmacokinetic development. However, for the remaining compounds, there is little or no information available. Therefore, further investigations are warranted on these subcontinent medicinal plants as an important source of novel cytotoxic agents

Bioactive Variability and In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Activity of Unprocessed and Processed Flour of Nine Cultivars of Australian lupin Species: A Comprehensive Substantiation

The aim of this present investigation was to analyze bioactive compounds, as well as demonstrate the antioxidant activities of nine cultivars of Australian lupin species accompanied by observing the effect of domestic heat processing on their antioxidant activities adopting in vivo and in vitro approaches. Gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis was performed for profiling bioactive compounds present in lupin cultivars. Multiple assay techniques involving quantification of polyphenolics, flavonoids and flavonol, electron transfer (ET) based assay, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)-based assay and in vivo assays were performed. The major compounds found were hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, methyl stearate, lupanine,13-docosenamide and 11-octadecenoic acid (Z)- methyl ester. Mandelup was found to show excellent antioxidant activity. Moreover, Jurien, Gunyidi and Barlock had strong antioxidant activity. Both positive and negative impacts of heat processing were observed on antioxidant activity. Heating and usage of excess water during processing were the key determinants of loss of antioxidants. Negligible loss of antioxidant activity was observed in most of the assays whereas inhibition of both lipid peroxidation (33.53%) and hemolysis of erythrocytes (37.75%) were increased after processing. In addition, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant assays are found to show statistically significant (* p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01) results, which are supported by the presence of a number of antioxidant compounds in GC-MS analysis

Hypoglycemic activity of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat: Underlying mechanism of action

The hypoglycemic effect of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves hot water extract on chemically induced diabetes in rat was investigated. Experimental result showed that, streptozotocin significantly (p<0.001) elevated the normal blood sugar level whereas treatment with hot water extract depressed the streptozotocin-induced high blood sugar level about 43.20% as compare to diabetic controls. Treatment with hot water extract increased the activity of shunt enzyme glucose–6-phosphate dehydrogenase (33.81%) and glutathione level (31.25%) and depression of the activity of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes glucose-6-phasphatase (31.63%) and fructose–1,6-bisphosphatase (27.40%). These studies thus strongly suggest that the hot water extract of L. speciosa leave attributed its prominent hypoglycemic activity on experimental diabetic rats through suppression of gluconeogenesis and stimulation of glucose oxidation using the pentose phosphate pathway

Cardio- and hepato-protective potential of methanolic extract of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels seeds: A diabetic rat model study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (S. cumini) seeds on the major organs in an animal model of diabetes through biochemical and histopathological studies. Methods: The methanolic extracts of S. cumini seeds (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) were administered to alloxan-induced diabetic rats daily, with fasting blood glucose levels being measured by glucometry at one-day interval for a duration of two weeks. Biochemical assays to evaluate changes in the functions of the heart, liver, pancreas and kidney were carried out. Histopathological changes in the diabetic rat organs (pancreas, liver, heart, kidney and spleen) were also observed after the 14 days of treatment with the extracts. Results: Oral administration of methanolic extracts of S. cumini seeds (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight), with gliclazide as a positive control (25 mg/kg), showed beneficial effects including lowering blood glucose levels (P < 0.001), improved heart and liver functions, and hyperlipidemia due to diabetes. At 200 mg/kg, the extracts reversed cardiac and liver damage caused by alloxan. Conclusions: In addition to the anti-hyperglycemic activity of methanolic extracts of S. cumini seeds, the extracts demonstrates potential to minimize cardiac and hepatic complications