GC-MS ANALYSIS AND IN-VITRO CYTOTOXIC STUDIES OF BIXA ORELLANA SEED EXTRACT AGAINST CANCER CELL LINE

Objective: The present study was carried out to analyze the bioactive component of petroleum ether (PE) extract of Bixa orellana seed and its anticancer potential against B16F-10 melanoma cell line.Methods: The presence of a bioactive component of PE extract was analyzed by GC-MS method. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Apoptotic inductive effect of the extract was evaluated by AO/EB staining; DAPI is staining and Annexin V/PI staining. DNA fragmentation analysis of the control and treated cell was carried out by agarose gel electrophoresis and comet assay. In vitro prevention of cell proliferation and migration was further estimated by colony forming assay and wound healing assay respectively.Results: The cytotoxicity of the PE extract against B16F10 melanoma cell was dose and time dependent. The IC50 values for the B16F-10 melanoma cell were 145.98±7.49 µg/ml and 121.60±6.20µg/ml for 24h and 48h respectively. DAPI staining showed DNA fragmentation which was further confirmed by ladder-like appearance of DNA by gel electrophoresis and comet assay. PE extract has prevented the cell proliferation and migration of the treated cancer cell. GC-MS analysis shows the presence of three anticancer compound geranylgeraniol, squalene and beta-sitosterol.Conclusion: The present study established that PE extract of Bixa orellana seed possesses potent anticancer and apoptotic inductive potential which can further be explored in-vivo model for possible cytotoxic activity

Effects of Short Term Exposure of Atrazine on the Liver and Kidney of Normal and Diabetic Rats

The present study evaluates the effects of short term (15 days) exposure of low dose (300 μg kg−1) of atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) on antioxidant status and markers of liver and kidney damage in normal (nondiabetic) and diabetic male Wistar rats. Rats were divided into four groups: Group I as normal control, Group II as atrazine treated, Group III as diabetic control, and Group IV as atrazine treated diabetic rats. Atrazine administration resulted in increased MDA concentration as well as increased activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in both liver and kidney of atrazine treated and atrazine treated diabetic rats. However, GSH level was decreased in both liver and kidney of atrazine treated and atrazine treated diabetic rats. Atrazine administration led to significant increase in liver damage biomarkers such as AST, ALT, and ALP as well as kidney damage biomarkers such as creatinine and urea in both normal and diabetic rats, but this increase was more pronounced in diabetic rats when compared to normal rats. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that short term exposure of atrazine at a dose of 300 μg kg−1 could potentially induce oxidative damage in liver and kidney of both normal and diabetic rats

EFFECT OF PIPERINE ON GOAT EPIDIDYMAL SPERMATOZOA: AN IN VITRO STUDY

  Objective: Fertility control is a global issue in the perspective of health and economy worldwide. Many of the investigations were carried out to prove the anti-fertility effect of the traditional natural products in males. Until today, there is no such reversible contraceptive is available for males. Piperine is a versatile bioactive compound being used from the centuries to treat domestic animal illness as well as in humans. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of piperine on goat epididymal spermatozoa in vitro.Methods: Goat sperms were incubated with piperine at the doses of 40 μmol/L, 60 μmol/L, 80 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L for 3 hrs. After 3 hrs parameters such as motility, viability, superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) activities, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) level was monitored. Hypo-smotic swelling test and acridine orange test were performed.Results: Significant decrease in motility, viability, SOD, CAT activities of goat epididymal sperm was observed after 3 hrs of incubation with piperine. Significant increase in LPO levels was found after 3 hrs of incubation with piperine at above mentioned doses. Piperine produced significant disruption in the functional integrity and also damaged the DNA of goat epididymal sperm.Conclusion: From the above results, we can conclude that increase in the oxidative damage and functional disruption of sperm by piperine might be one of the reasons for its anti-fertility activity.Keywords: Piperine, Anti-fertility agent, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Lipid peroxidation

Transition Metal Ion (Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺)‑Doped Carbon Dots Synthesized via Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis: A Potential Nanoprobe for Magneto-fluorescent Dual-Modality Bioimaging

Heteroatom-doped carbon dots (C-dots) have captured widespread research interest owing to high fluorescence and biocompatibility for multimodal bioimaging applications. Here, we exemplify a rapid, facile synthesis of ethylenediamine (EDA)-functionalized transition metal ion (Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺)-doped C-dots via one-pot microwave (MW)-assisted pyrolysis at 800 W within 6 min using <i>Citrus limon</i> (lemon) extract as a carbon source. During MW pyrolysis, the precursor extract undergoes simultaneous carbonization and doping of metal ions onto C-dot surfaces in the presence of EDA. The EDA-functionalized transition metal ion-doped C-dots (i.e., Mn/C, Fe/C, Co/C, and Ni/C-dots) are collectively termed as TMCDs. The water-soluble TMCDs exhibited a size of 3.2 ± 0.485 nm and were enriched with amino and oxo functionalities and corresponding metal-oxide traces on the surfaces, as revealed from Fourier transfer infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Interestingly, TMCDs demonstrated excitation-wavelength-dependent emission with brighter photoluminescence (PL) at 460 nm. Compared to pristine C-dots with a PL quantum yield (QY) of 48.31% and a fluorescence lifetime of 3.6 ns, the synthesized Mn/C, Fe/C, Co/C, and Ni/C-dots exhibited PL QY values of 35.71, 41.72, 75.07, and 50.84% as well as enhanced fluorescence lifetimes (τ_av) of 9.4, 8.6, 9.2, and 8.9 ns, respectively. The TMCDs significantly exhibited enhanced biocompatibility in human colon cancer cells (SW480) for fluorescence bioimaging and showed ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic behavior with vibrant <i>T</i>₁-contrast ability. Interestingly, the maximum longitudinal (<i>r</i>₁) relaxivity of 0.341 mM^–1 s^–1 was observed for Mn/C-dots in comparison to that of 3.1–3.5 mM^–1 s^–1 of clinically used Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance (MR)-contrast agent in vitro (1.5 T). Similarly, the maximum longitudinal relaxivity (<i>r</i>₁) of 0.356 mM^–1 s^–1 was observed for Ni/C-dots (1.5 T) with respect to 4.16 ± 0.02 mM^–1 s^–1 attained for Gd-DTPA in vivo (8.45 T). Thus, the rapid, energy-efficient MW-assisted pyrolysis presents lemon extract derived, EDA-functionalized TMCDs with enhanced PL and efficient <i>T</i>₁ contrast as potential magneto-fluorescent nanoprobes for dual-modality bioimaging applications