Protective effect of luteolin on the transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease

In the present study we have studied the effect of 25, 50, 75 and 100 µM of luteolin on the transgenic Drosophila expressing human alpha synuclein. The doses of luteolin were established in diet and the PD flies were allowed to feed on it for 24 days. After 24 days of exposure the flies were assayed for climbing assay, oxidative stress markers, caspase-3 & 9 activity and dopamine content. The immunohistochemistry was also performed on the brain sections for the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase. The exposure of luteolin showed a dose dependent delay in the loss of climbing ability and activity, reduction in oxidative stress markers, caspase-3&9 activities and results in an increase in the dopamine content. The results obtained for the immunohistochemistry also supports the protective role of luteolin against the damage of the dopaminergic neurons

Evaluation of micronucleus frequency by acridine orange fluorescent staining in bucccal epithelial cells of oral submucosus fibrosis (OSMF) patients

Oral submucosus fibrosis (OSMF) is a collagen-related disorder seen in habitual betel quids and smokers. This is a high risk precancerous condition in which the connective tissue fibers of the lamina propria and deeper parts of the mucosa becomes stiff with restricted mouth opening. Patients with severe cases have symptoms like difficulties in chewing, swallowing and speaking. In the present study 25 individuals were gutkha chewers and 25 were OSMF patients (chewing gutkha along with smoking) and 25 individuals were taken as controls. A significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei was observed in OSMF patients (34.4 ±1.79) as compared to gutkha chewers (14.4± 0.73) and controls (4.36± 0.27). The number of micronucleated cells in OSMF, gutkha chewers and control groups were 19.84± 0.69, 12.6 ± 0.51 and 4.20 ±0.27, respectively and are significantly different at p< 0.05. Acridine orange is used due its fluorescence nature and easier visibility of the micronucleus present in the buccal epithelial cells. It is concluded that chewing gutkha along with smoking is more dangerous for human health as it hastens the incidence of OSMF.Keywords: Oral submucosus fibrosis; Gutkha; Smoking; MicronucleusThe Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics (2013) 14, 189–19

Effect of capsaicin on the oxidative stress and dopamine content in the transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson’s disease

In the present study the effect of capsaicin was studied on PD model flies expressing human alpha synuclein. First the potential of scavenging superoxide anion and free radicals by capsaicin at doses of 20, 40, 80 and 100 μM was estimated. The PD flies were allowed to feed separately on the diet containg 20, 40, 80 and 100 μM of capsaicin, respectively, for 24 days. After 24 days of exposure, fly head homogenate was prepared from each group and was used to estimate glutathione (GSH), protein carbonyl (PC), dopamine content, lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity. A dose dependent significant increase in the potential of scavenging superoxide anions and free radicals by capsaicin was observed for the doses of 20, 40, 80 and 100 μM. The exposure of capsaicin not only significantly increased the GSH (max. by 1.37-fold), and dopamine (max. by 1.56-fold) content but also reduced LPO (max. by 1.8-fold), GST (max. by 1.26-fold), MAO activities (max. by 1.60-fold) and PC content (max. by 1.95-fold), compared to unexposed PD flies (p < 0.05). The results suggest the protective role of capsaicin against the PD symptoms

Assessment of DNA damage by panmasala, gutkha chewing and smoking in buccal epithelial cells using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)

In the present study the comet assay was performed in buccal epithelial cells to evaluate DNA damage among pan masala or gutkha chewers and smokers. The assay is a rapid, suitable and sensitive method for detecting various forms of DNA damage at individual cell level. The study comprises 300 individuals of which 50 individuals were gutkha chewers along with smoking, 50 individuals were pan masala chewers along with smoking, 50 individuals were gutkha chewers, 50 individuals were pan masala chewers, 50 individuals were smokers and 50 individuals were non-users (control) or not having any addiction. Comet tail length was observed to measure the extent of DNA damage. In all groups a significant increase in the tail length was observed as compared to the non-users (control). The highest tail length was observed among gutkha chewers along with smoking (36.9 ± 3.60). The results of the present study suggest that the panmasala and gutkha are genotoxic agents and induce DNA damage.Keywords: Comet assay; DNA damage; Gutkha; Pan masala; Buccal epithelial cell

Effect of myricetin on cognitive impairments in the transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Despite the availability of many drugs to ease the life of PD patients, there is no permanent cure until now. Now-a-days, there has been a considerable attention towards the use of herbal products to treat PD patients worldwide due to less side effects. In this context, here we investigated myricetin, a common plant derived flavonoid, on the cognitive impairments exhibited by the transgenic Drosophila expressing human -synuclein in the neurons. The PD flies were allowed to feed on the diet having 10, 20 and 40 μM of myricetin for 24 days and then assayed for cognitive impairments. The exposure of myricetin showed a dose dependent significant delay in the cognitive impairments. Molecular docking studies showed the positive interaction between myricetin and -synuclein. The results suggest a protective effect of myricetin against the cognitive impairments

Effect of myricetin on cognitive impairments in the transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson’s Disease

27-33Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Despite the availability of many drugs to ease the life of PD patients, there is no permanent cure until now. Now-a-days, there has been a considerable attention towards the use of herbal products to treat PD patients worldwide due to less side effects. In this context, here we investigated myricetin, a common plant derived flavonoid, on the cognitive impairments exhibited by the transgenic Drosophila expressing human -synuclein in the neurons. The PD flies were allowed to feed on the diet having 10, 20 and 40 μM of myricetin for 24 days and then assayed for cognitive impairments. The exposure of myricetin showed a dose dependent significant delay in the cognitive impairments. Molecular docking studies showed the positive interaction between myricetin and -synuclein. The results suggest a protective effect of myricetin against the cognitive impairments

Comparative study of rivastigmine and galantamine on the transgenic Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized as a progressive neurodegenerative disease most commonly associated with memory deficits and cognitive decline. The formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are important pathological markers of AD. The accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles leads to the loss of neurons including the cholinergic neurons thus decreasing the levels of acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter). To reduce the AD symptoms cholinesterase inhibitors are widely used to decrease the hydrolysis of acetylcholine released from presynaptic neurons. In the present study we have studied the effect of rivastigmine and galantamine (commonly used cholinesterase inhibitors) on the transgenic Drosophila model of AD expressing human Aβ-42 in the neurons. The effect of similar doses of rivastigmine and galantamine (i.e. 0.1,1 and 10 ​mM) was studied on the climbing ability, lifespan, oxidative stress markers, caspase 9 and 3, acetylcholinesterase activity and on the formation of Aβ-42 aggregates. The results suggest that the rivastigmine is more potent in reducing the oxidative stress and improving climbing ability of AD flies. Both the drugs were found to be effective in increasing the lifespan of AD flies. Galantamine was found to be a more potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase compared to rivastigmine. Galantamine prevents the formation of Aβ-42 aggregates more effectively compared to rivastigmine

Effect of Majun Baladur on life span, climbing ability, oxidative stress and dopaminergic neurons in the transgenic Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease

The effect of a poly herbal drug Majun Baladur (MB) was studied on the transgenic Drosophila melanogaster expressing human alpha synuclein in the neurons (PD flies). The equivalents of recommended dose for human were established for 20 g of fly food i.e. 0.0014, 0.0028, 0.0042 and 0.0056 g per 20 g of diet. The PD flies were allowed to feed on it for 24 days before performing the assays. The exposure to MB increased the life span and improves the activity of PD flies. The PD flies exposed to 0.0014, 0.0028, 0.042 and 0.0056 g of MB showed a dose dependent significant delay of 1.47, 1.88, 2.52 and 3.05 folds in the climbing ability compared to unexposed PD flies. A dose dependent significant decrease of 1.38, 1.45, 1.48 and 1.65 folds in TBARS; 1.08, 1.11, 1.17 and 1.20 folds in the GST activity; 1.20, 1.28, 1.39 and 1.52 folds in the PC content; 1.43, 1.53, 1.65 and 1.79 folds in the Caspase-9 activity; 1.21, 1.31, 1.53 and 1.64 folds in the activity of Caspase-3 and 1.24, 1.42, 1.50 and 1.79 folds in the activity of catalase; 1.50, 1.63, 1.88 and 2.06 folds in the activity of SOD in PD flies exposed to 0.0014, 0.0028, 0.042 and 0.0056 g of MB, respectively. A significant dose dependent increase of 1.20, 1.29, 1.33 and 1.44 folds in as NPSH content was observed in PD flies exposed to 0.0014, 0.0028, 0.042 and 0.0056 g of MB, respectively. The exposure to MB protects the loss of dopaminergic neurons as is evident by immunohistochemistry. It is concluded that MB is potent in reducing the PD symptoms being mimicked in the transgenic flies

Protective effect of Genistein against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino rats

In the present study, we studied the effect of Genistein against the hepatotoxicity induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). NDEA is present in almost all kinds of food stuff and has been reported to be a hepatocarcinogen. The male rats were exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/mL) dissolved in drinking water separately and along with 25, 50, 100 mg/mL of Genistein for 21 days. The activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured in blood serum. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, micronucleus frequency and DNA damage (Comet assay) were performed on rat hepatocytes. The results of the study reveal that the treatment of NDEA along with Genistein showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the levels of blood serum enzymes i.e., SGOT, SGPT, ALP and LDH (P<0.05). The HE staining of histological sections of the liver also revealed a protective effect of Genistein. A significant dose-dependent reduction in the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content was observed in rats exposed to NDEA (0.1 mg/mL) along with Genistein (P<0.05). The results obtained for the comet assay in rat hepatocytes showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the mean tail length (P<0.05). Thus the present study supports the hepatoprotective role of Genistein. Keywords: Genistein, N-nitrosodiethylamine, Serum enzymes, Antigenotoxic, Hepatoprotectiv