IN VITRO AND IN VIVO ANTIANGIOGENIC EFFECT OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS SEED EXTRACT

Objective: Angiogenesis the formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature plays a major role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis of cancer diseases. The current research was designed for the inhibition of angiogenesis, which can provide a novel way to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in cancer.Methods: The antiangiogenic properties of serial concentrations of the hydroethanolic extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus were examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using a tube formation assay in vitro and in a Matrigel plug assay as in vivo model.Results: Hydroethanolic extract of A. heterophyllus significantly inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis in the HUVECs in culture dose-dependently. Further, the new blood vessel formation was observed to be inhibited by the extract at 100 mg/kg p.o. in Matrigel plug model in C57BL/6 mice. However, the effect was enhanced in higher concentration (500 mg/kg p.o.) demonstrating the in vivo antiangiogenic activity of the extract.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the hydroethanolic seed extract of A. heterophyllus strongly inhibited the angiogenesis in HUVECs. Moreover, the extract significantly inhibited the VEGF production in HUVECs, confirming their possible antiangiogenic mechanism

A STUDY ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS BOTTLED DRINKING WATER WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO COIMBATORE CITY

Packaged drinking water means water derived from any source of portable water, which is, subjected to treatments namely decantation filtration, combination of filtration, accretions, filtration with membrane filter, depth filter, cartridge filter activated carbon filtration, demineralization, re-mineralization reverse osmosis packed. In marketing, consumers and their behaviour are viewed more carefully because of their importance. The individual consumer can change the entire market with his/her buying activities. Hence this study focuses the consumer behaviour towards bottled drinking water, to explain it the researchers have collected primary data through questionnaire and finally recommendations are provided in this study. The study concludes that quality is the most important factor influencing the consumers to go for a particular brand of bottled water. They believe that compared to the tap water, consuming Bottled Drinking water is a hygienic one. Therefore it is suggested to the manufacturers to give due consideration for the hygienic aspect while manufacturing Bottled Drinking water

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPARATIVE ANTIPARKINSON ACTIVITY OF FOUR SPECIES OF MUCUNA

Objective: The aim was to study the antiparkinson activity in the seed extracts of four species of Mucuna.Methods: The hydroalcoholic extracts of seeds of four species of Mucuna were evaluated for antiparkinson activity of after a preliminary phytochemical study. The activity was measured in rats by indirectly measuring the decrease in malondialdehyde level, decrease in tongue protrusion frequency, and reduction in vacuous chewing movement after administering reserpine at the dose of 1 mg/kg. The dose levels of four species of Mucuna seed extract were kept at 100, 200, and 300 mg/Kg.Results: Extracts exhibited potent antiparkinson activity and achieved statistically significant p values compared with control group. The study corroborates and compares all four species of Mucuna. Conclusion: Among the extracts, the highest percentage of antiparkinson activity was recorded for Mucuna pruriens

Chemotaxonomic studies on Tragia involucrata Linn.

In the present work a common plant in and around trichy, botanically equated as Tragia involucrata Linn belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, has been studied from chemotaxonomic point of view. The study explained the identification and characterization of the compounds isolated from this plant. The chloroform extract of T. involucrata L was subjected to FT-IR and GC-MS to identify the compounds present in it. The compounds identified were Ar- Tumerone; 9, 10 Anthracenedione 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methyl; Friedelane-3-one. The therapeutic potentials of the active principles identified were already assessed. Ar-Tumerone was already reported from Curcuma longa L and the antibacterial and wound healing activity of this compound was well established. Chemistry of T. involucrata L reported in this present work can contribute significantly in providing chemical evidence in support of its inclusion in the family Euphorbiaceae and assigning the position to the genus Tragia.© 2009 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Tragia involucrata, Chemotaxonomic studies, Ar-Tumerone

Analysis of quality of frozen thawed bull sperms treated with bisphenol A

Bisphenol A is a pervasive endocrine disruptor that causes various detrimental health effects on animals and humans. There are several evidences to support that this persistent chemical affects male fertility by interfering with the process of functional maturation of sperms like motility, hyperactivation, capacitation and acrosome reaction in laboratory species. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of BPA on the quality of the frozen thawed sperms in higher animal model namely bull. Frozen thawed bull sperms were exposed to four different concentrations of BPA. Aliquots of sperms from each treatment group were examined at three time periods for assessing acrosome integrity, viability and membrane integrity. Exposure of sperms in vitro to BPA revealed that there is a significant influence of BPA on treatment groups when compared to control. The loss of acrosomal integrity and viability was higher even at as low a concentration of 10 μM BPA. The reduction in sperm quality was proportional to the increase in exposure period. Further in vitro investigation is required to elucidate the mechanism of action of BPA that alters the sperm quality.

Antimicrobial and DPPH Free Radical- Scavenging Activities of the Ethanol Extract of Propolis Collected from India

Propolis is a natural product derived from plant resins collected by honey bees. In the present study, ethanolic extract of Propolis (EEP) collected from South India were tested for their antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidative activities. Propolis from Apis mellifera and Trigona sp were collected and compared with the commercial Propolis. EEP from Apis mellifera and commercial Propolis showed higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Trigona sp EEP showed higher activity against Candida albicans than commercial. In addition, the total flavanoid and total polyphenol content were analyzed. The chemical compositions of Propolis were identified from Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrum (GC-MS). The compound 1,4 Di-O-Acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-Methylribitol (C12H22O7) was found to be first time in the propolis and the rest of the identified compounds were already reported. The results confirms the high DPPH free radical scavenging activity of Indian propolis. Thus Indian propolis, being a rich source of natural antioxidants, may be used in the prevention of various free radicals related diseases

Quantitative evaluation of polymer gel dosimeters by broadband ultrasound attenuation

Ultrasound has been examined previously as an alternative readout method for irradiated polymer gel dosimeters, with authors reporting varying dose response to ultrasound transmission measurements. In this current work we extend previous work to measure the broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) response of irradiated PAGAT gel dosimeters, using a novel ultrasound computed tomography system

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF FRESH WATER CRAB AND SNAIL AND ISOLATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL PEPTIDES FROM HAEMOLYMPH BY SDS – PAGE

Objective: The present study was undertaken to characterize antimicrobial molecules from the fresh water snail and crab.Methods: Collection of haemolymph, preparation of extracts, antimicrobial activity, TLC analysis, SDS PAGE analysis.Results: The result of the present investigation reported that the fresh water snail (Pomacea insularium) and crab (Callinectes sapidus) having remarkable antimicrobial activity in methanol, di-ethyl ether and water extracts. Antimicrobial activity was high in di-ethyl ether extracts of the snail against Streptococcus sp. (37.16±0.76 mm) and methanol extract of crab against E. coli (32.16±0.28 mm). The MIC of extracts ranges between 5 µl to 30 µl methanol extract of both snail and crab inhibited the growth of organisms at very low concentration. Biomolecules from the extract was separated by TLC. The molecular mass of the peptide was determined by SDS PAGE. Peptides from snail and crab haemolymph were ranges in 9 to 110 and 40 to 100 kDa respectively.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that fresh water crab and snail having good antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microbes. Therefore they can be used to treat many pathogenic infections.Â

Key distinguishing characters (KDCs) of official (Boerhaavia diffusa L.) and commonly mistaken (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) sources of Mukkirattai of Siddha

Boerhaavia diffusa L. has been used extensively in Siddha system of medicine and is often confused with Trianthema portulacastrum L. due to morphological similarities. This particular study compares, analyses and identifies the key distinguishing features of the two whole plant drugs based on pharmacognostical and phytochemical aspects. The samples were studied for macroscopy, microscopy, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC following standard procedures. Macroscopic studies showed few notable differences in macro-microscopy of root, stem, leaves and flowers of both the plants. Microscopically root, stem, leaf and petiole of both the plants showed differences in layers of cork, presence of crystals and medullary rays (in root), the thickness of cuticle, cortex and arrangement of vascular bundles (stem), presence of characteristic type of trichomes (leaf) and shape of the petiole. Powder microscopy showed differences in epidermis, crystal types and shape of pollen. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenol, saponins and coumarins in B. diffusa and was not detected in T. portulacastrum. There were significant differences in the values of quantitative microscopy, physicochemical parameters and HPTLC of both the whole plant samples. The finding of this study will be helpful for the correct identification of the plant

Structural characterizations of lead anticancer compounds from the methanolic extract of <i>Jatropha tanjorensis</i>

LC/ESI/MS/MS data analysis on the phytoconstituents of methanolic extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves revealed the presence of abundant flavone glucosides (homoorientin, kaempferol-3-o-rutinoside, luteolin-7-o-glucoside, 6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl apigenin, naringin and vitexin), flavonol (kaempferol and kaempferide) and flavones (baicalein and diosmetin). We, herein, demonstrated that methanolic extract of J. tanjorensis possess DPPH free-radical scavenging activity (IC50 of 49.7 µg/mL), inhibition of  lipid peroxidation activity (IC50 of 189.6 µg/mL) and anticancer activity through MTT assay against EAC cells (IC50 of 14.57 µg/mL) and Caco-2 cells (IC50 of 21.0 µg/mL). In silico analysis indicated that cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extract of J. tanjorensis could be attributed to the presence of vitexin and 6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl apigenin as evidenced by exhaustive molecular docking studies carried out against 8 proteins of Bcl-2 family that play essential role in apoptosis. Moreover, drug-likeness properties of the leads and scopes to develop them as potent anticancer compounds are discussed