Natural Drugs in DNA Repair

Natural products have been used in medicine right from the ancient civilisation. Natural products are used in many types of diseases, together with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Many products are used against cancer. Many diseases are genetically derived. The drugs which have the capacity to act at genome level gains significant importance in any disease scenario. The genetic information essential for the identity and function of eukaryotic cells exist in DNA and during the lifetime of the cell DNA can be repeatedly damaged due to different factors. The stability and the fidelity of the replication process are meant to be the most remarkable features of the genetic material. The stability can be affected at any time. Compound which can enhance the DNA repair are applicable in many disease condition. Our study was focussed on the DNA repair enhancing property of a glucan from the macro fungi Ganoderma lucidum. Comet assay and chromosomal aberrations in mouse bone marrow were used as end points of study. Glucan was found to have DNA repair enhancing property in human lymphocytes

Some novel approaches for radioprotection and the beneficial effect of natural products

93-114Due to the increased use of ionizing radiation in various aspects of human life especially in areas pertaining to radiotherapy of cancer, food preservation, agriculture, industry and power generation, there is a need to develop an effective and non-toxic radioprotector. The currently available ones have many drawbacks including high cost, side effects and toxicity. Several novel approaches are on to locate a potent radioprotector. These include mimics of antioxidant enzymes, nitroxides, melatonin, growth factors, gene therapy, hyperthermia apart from natural products. The latter has several advantages since they are non-toxic with proven therapeutic benefits. These can be classified as natural compounds and plant extracts; polyherbal formulations; besides natural and semi-natural compounds of plant origin. A review of the above agents, their efficacy in radioprotection and possible mechanisms responsible has been carried out. As India and many Eastern countries have an enormous heritage of vast natural dietary and time tested medicinal resources it is worth exploring the possibility of developing efficient, economically viable and clinically acceptable radioprotectors for human application from these resources

Water dispersible Fe<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB> nanoparticles carrying Doxorubicin for cancer therapy

Water dispersible Fe3O4 nanoparticles (coated with Poly Vinyl Pyrolidone (PVP) and Poly oxy ethylene 25- propylene glycol stearate (POES)) and complexed with Doxorubicin has been prepared and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The antitumor activity of these particles has been studied by targeting the complex to the tumor site, using an externally applied magnetic field, after oral administration of the magnetic nanoparticle-drug complexes. Our results reveal that the chemotherapy effect of Doxorubicin could be considerably enhanced by combination of the application of the drug-conjugated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which are biocompatible and stable, and targeted drug delivery with a magnet. The present report provides the first evidence for the promising application of this novel approach with PVP coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for cancer therapy using an in vivo murine model

Water soluble vitamin E (TMG) as a radioprotector

1365-1371<span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; 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"="">Tocopherol monoglucoside (TMG), a water soluble derivative of vitamin E offers protection against deleterious effects of  ionizing radiation, both under <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">in vivo <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">and <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">in vitro <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">conditions, to biological systems. TMG was found to be a potent antioxidant and an effective free radical scavenger. It forms <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.5pt;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"="">a <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">phenoxy<span style="font-size:14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" new="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">I <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">radical similar to trolox upon reaction with various one-electron oxidants. TMG protected DNA from radiation-induced strand breaks. It also protected thymine glycol formation induced by gamma-radiation. Gamma-radiation-induced loss of viability of EL-tumor cells and peroxidation of lipids in microsomal and mitochondrial membranes were prevented by TMG. TMG was nontoxic to mice when administered orally up to <span style="font-size: 14.5pt;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"="">7.0 <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">g/kg body weight. The LD50 dose of TMG for ip administration in mice was 1<span style="font-size:14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" new="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">.15 <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">g/kg body wt. In rats, following oral and ip administration of TMG, the absorption (distribution) half lives were <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">5.8 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">and <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">3.0 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">min respectively and elimination half  lives were <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">6.7 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">and <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">3.1 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">min respectively. Embryonic mortality resulting from exposure of pregnant mice to ionizing radiation <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">(2 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">Gy) was reduced by <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">75% <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">by ip administration of TMG <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">(0.6 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;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"="">g/kg, body wt) prior to irradiation. TMG offered protection to mice against whole body gamma-radiation-induced lethality and weight loss. The LD5<span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" new="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">0(30)<span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" new="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"=""> <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">of mice increased from <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">6 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">to <span style="font-size:14.5pt;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"="">6.72 <span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">Gy upon post irradiation administration of a single dose of TMG <span style="font-size:14.5pt; 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"="">(0.6 <span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;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"="">g/kg, body wt) by ip.</span