Teratogenic Potential of Garbha Chintamani Rasa in Wistar Albino Rats with focus on physical and behaviour changes

Teratogens are the substances that may produce physical or functional defects in the human embryo or after the pregnant woman exposed to the substance. Exposure to the teratogenic drugs affects the foetus or embryo in a variety of ways, such as the duration of exposure, the amount of teratogenic substance, and the stage of development the embryo or foetus is in during the exposure. Teratogens may affect the embryo or foetus causing physical malformations, problems in the behavioural or emotional development of the child, and decreased intellectual quotient (IQ) in the child. The present study was carried out to assess the teratogenic potential of Garbhachintamani Rasa in Wistar albino rats based on physical and behaviroal abnormalities. The experiment was designed in such a way that the conformed pregnant rats were selected and administered with Garbhachintamani Rasa for 21 consecutive days. The delivered pups were assessed for teratogenicity based on the physical and behavioural parameter in a set of behaviroal tests such as open field test, rota rod and swimming test at different developing periods. The results showed that, there was significant physical and behavioural alteration in the test drug administered at higher dose level as compared to normal control. Thus it can be concluded that the test drug GCR at therapeutic dose showed well tolerated and nearly normal behavioral pattern, whereas at higher dose it can cause behavioral abnormalities in pups

Hepatoprotective activity of fruit extract of Garcinia pedunculata

The objective of this study was to explore the hepatoprotective activity of fruits of Garcinia pedunculata in paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in rats. Paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated by an increase in serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activity. Histopathological observation showed extensive disturbance in the liver cytoarchitecture in comparison to normal control liver sections. Pre-treatment with aqueous extract of fruits of G. pedunculata prevented the paracetamol-induced increase in serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and histopathological changes. Based on the above observation it can be concluded that G. pedunculata pretreatment exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity

Evaluation of cytotoxic profile of hydroalcoholic extract of fruit rinds of Garcinia pedunculata on human embryonic kidney and breast carcinoma cells

Background: The fruit rinds of Garcinia pedunculata has potential medicinal properties and used in many chronic ailments. It has been demonstrated that cytoprotective effects in various experimental research works. But its cytotoxic effect has not been evaluated. The present study was aimed to screen its relative cytotoxic effect on normal and cancer cell lines.Methods: In the present study, the cytotoxic effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Garcinia pedunculata was evaluated on normal human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and M.D. Anderson metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB 231) using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Results: Higher dose level of hydro alcoholic extract of Garcinia pedunculata (HAGP) (500 μg/ml) has shown considerable increase (112.503) in the percentage viability of HEK-29 whereas; there is a remarkable decrease in the viable cell population (77.490) in MDA-MB 231.Conclusions: Based on the observed results we could conclude that HAGP has potential cytotoxic effect on the cancer cell line without altering the normal cell growth and proliferation. Thus it has potential to develop as a safer chemotherapeutic agent. Further detailed exploration is required to confirm its therapeutic efficacy in different cancer cell lines

Evaluation of Japakusumadi Yoga for safety profile - Acute Toxicity Profile

Japakusumadi Yoga is an Ayurvedic formulation, indicated for contraception in Ayurveda. This study determines acute toxicity of ‘Japakusumadi Yoga’ an oral formulation in wister albino rats. Single dose acute toxicity was assessed by employing OECD guidelines 425 using AOT software. Test formulations was administered to overnight fasted animals and 14 days observation of dosed (up down as per requirement) rats was done for general appearance, cage side behaviour including increased or decreasing motor activity, convulsions, straub’s reaction, catatonia, muscle spasm, spasticity, ophisthotonus, hyperesthesia, muscle relaxation, anaesthesia, arching and rolling, lacrimation, salivation, diarrhoea, writhing movement, mode of respiration and changes in skin colour etc., with mortality and autopsy finding in case of dead animal. Based on the observation made and recorded it can be concluded that the test drug is without any toxic potential even at the dose of 2000 mg/kg in animals equivalent to 22.4g for human being

Effect of Amomum subulatum seeds against cypermethrin induced haematological changes in wistar albino rats

Background: Cypermethrin is a well know agricultural pesticide used in the developing countries. It is associated with significant toxic potential on human health. Hence the present study was aimed to evaluate the protective role of Amomum subulatum against cypermethrin induced haematalogical changes in Wistar albino rats.Methods: The albino rats were divided into five different groups of six rats each. Group I considered as normal control, group II cypermethrin control (25mg/kg body weight p.o.), group III only test drug and group IV and V administered with cypermethrin 25mg/kg body weight along test drug 1.08 and 2.16mg/kg body weight for 28 consecutive days. At the end of 28th day blood was withdrawn and total haematalogical parameters were estimated.Results: In the cypermethrin control there was significant reduction in the WBC, Platelet, MCHC and considerable reduction in the haemoglobulin concentration in comparison to normal control. The test drug administered at both dose levels was significantly reversed the cypermethrin induced changes in haematalogical parameters.Conclusions: Authors can conclude that the Amomum subulatum has potency to reverse the cypermethrin induced haematalogical changes

Multiple pharmacological activities of Caesalpinia crista against aluminium-induced neurodegeneration in rats: Relevance for Alzheimer’s disease

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Possible Clues for Brain Energy Translation via Endolysosomal Trafficking of APP-CTFs in Alzheimer’s Disease

Vascular dysfunctions, hypometabolism, and insulin resistance are high and early risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading neurological disease associated with memory decline and cognitive dysfunctions. Early defects in glucose transporters and glycolysis occur during the course of AD progression. Hypometabolism begins well before the onset of early AD symptoms; this timing implicates the vulnerability of hypometabolic brain regions to beta-secretase 1 (BACE-1) upregulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, synaptic failure, and cell death. Despite the fact that ketone bodies, astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and glycogenolysis compensate to provide energy to the starving AD brain, a considerable energy crisis still persists and increases during disease progression. Studies that track brain energy metabolism in humans, animal models of AD, and in vitro studies reveal striking upregulation of beta-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) and carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs). Currently, the precise role of CTFs is unclear, but evidence supports increased endosomal-lysosomal trafficking of β-APP and CTFs through autophagy through a vague mechanism. While intracellular accumulation of Aβ is attributed as both the cause and consequence of a defective endolysosomal-autophagic system, much remains to be explored about the other β-APP cleavage products. Many recent works report altered amino acid catabolism and expression of several urea cycle enzymes in AD brains, but the precise cause for this dysregulation is not fully explained. In this paper, we try to connect the role of CTFs in the energy translation process in AD brain based on recent findings

Possible Clues for Brain Energy Translation via Endolysosomal Trafficking of APP-CTFs in Alzheimer’s Disease

Vascular dysfunctions, hypometabolism, and insulin resistance are high and early risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading neurological disease associated with memory decline and cognitive dysfunctions. Early defects in glucose transporters and glycolysis occur during the course of AD progression. Hypometabolism begins well before the onset of early AD symptoms; this timing implicates the vulnerability of hypometabolic brain regions to beta-secretase 1 (BACE-1) upregulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, synaptic failure, and cell death. Despite the fact that ketone bodies, astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and glycogenolysis compensate to provide energy to the starving AD brain, a considerable energy crisis still persists and increases during disease progression. Studies that track brain energy metabolism in humans, animal models of AD, and in vitro studies reveal striking upregulation of beta-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) and carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs). Currently, the precise role of CTFs is unclear, but evidence supports increased endosomal-lysosomal trafficking of β-APP and CTFs through autophagy through a vague mechanism. While intracellular accumulation of Aβ is attributed as both the cause and consequence of a defective endolysosomal-autophagic system, much remains to be explored about the other β-APP cleavage products. Many recent works report altered amino acid catabolism and expression of several urea cycle enzymes in AD brains, but the precise cause for this dysregulation is not fully explained. In this paper, we try to connect the role of CTFs in the energy translation process in AD brain based on recent findings