LARVICIDAL POTENTIAL OF INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA (FABACEAE) ON DENGUE VECTOR (AEDES AEGYPTI) AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES

 antimicrobial efficacy against clinical isolates.Methods: The extract was tested at various concentrations 64, 128, 256, and 512 mg/ml for antimicrobial activity and 0.1 and 5 mg/L were preparedfor larvicidal activity. The numbers of dead larvae were counted after 24 hrs of exposure.Result: The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extract were 128 mg/ml against Klebsiella spp. - 1 alone and rest of theclinical test pathogens execute MIC activity at 512 mg/ml. The extract also showed antifungal activity with MIC of 64 mg/ml against the Candidaalbicans. Larvicidal activity of I. tinctoria extract were tested against fourth instar larvae A. aegypti and larval mortality were found after 24 hrs withlethal concentration (LC50)=3.1870 and LC90=5.3991 were observed.Conclusions: These results indicated that the extract displayed larvicidal potential on A. aegypti and antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates.Keywords: Infectious disease, Indigofera tinctoria, Antimicrobial activity, Larvicidal activity

Oxidant stress evoked damage in rat hepatocyte leading to triggered nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels on long term consumption of aspartame

This study investigates how long-term (40 mg/kg b.wt) consumption of aspartame can alter the antioxidant status, stress pathway genes, and apoptotic changes in the liver of Wistar albino rats. Numerous controversial reports are available on the use of aspartame as it releases methanol as one of its metabolites during metabolism. To mimic the human methanol metabolism the methotrexate treated rats were included to study the aspartame effects. The aspartame treated methotrexate (MTX animals showed a marked significant increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the liver from control and MTX control animals, and showed a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and protein thiol in aspartame treated animals. The aspartame treated MTX animals showed a marked significant decrease in the body weight, brain, and liver weight. The aspartame treated MTX animals showed a marked increase in the inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), neuronal nitric oxide (nNOS), c-fos, Heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 Tumour necrosis Factor (TNF)α, caspase 8, c-jun N terminal kinases (JNK) 3 and Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) gene expression in the liver from control and MTX control animals. The aspartame treated MTX animals showed a marked increase in the c-fos, Hsp 70, iNOS Caspase 8, and JNK 3 protein expression in the liver from control and MTX control animals indicating the enhancement of stress and apoptosis. The aspartame treated MTX animals showed a streak of marked DNA fragmentation in the liver. On immunohistochemical analysis aspartame treated animals showed brown colored positive hepatocytes indicating the stress specific and apoptotic protein expression. Since aspartame consumption is on the rise among people, it is essential to create awareness regarding the usage of this artificial sweetener

Biochemical responses and mitochondrial mediated activation of apoptosis on long-term effect of aspartame in rat brain

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, is very widely used in many foods and beverages. But there are controversies about its metabolite which is marked for its toxicity. Hence it is believed to be unsafe for human use. Previous studies have reported on methanol exposure with involvements of free radicals on excitotoxicity of neuronal apoptosis. Hence, this present study is proposed to investigate whether or not chronic aspartame (FDA approved Daily Acceptable Intake (ADI),40 mg/kg bwt) administration could release methanol, and whether or not it can induce changes in brain oxidative stress status and gene and protein expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3 in the rat brain region. To mimic the human methanol metabolism, Methotrexate (MTX)-treated Wistar strain male albino rats were used and after the oral administration of aspartame, the effects were studied along with controls and MTX-treated controls. Aspartame exposure resulted with a significant increase in the enzymatic activity in protein carbonyl, lipid peroxidation levels, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity in (aspartame MTX)-treated animals and with a significant decrease in reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase and protein thiol, pointing out the generation of free radicals. The gene and protein expression of pro apoptotic marker Bax showed a marked increase whereas the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 decreased markedly indicating the aspartame is harmful at cellular level. It is clear that long term aspartame exposure could alter the brain antioxidant status, and can induce apoptotic changes in brain

FASTIGIAL ÇEKİRDEK ÜNİLATERAL ELEKTROLİKTİK LEZYONUNUN WİSTAR ALBİNO SIÇANLARININ HAFIZA, ÖĞRENME VE DAVRANIŞLARI ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİ

Cerebellum called as the “little brain” .The cerebellum regulates various functions like motor coordination, equilibrium and muscle tone because of its connections with other parts of the brain as well as other parts of the body. Whether the fastigial nucleus of the rat cerebellum plays any role in behavior, reference and working memory forms the focus of the present study. The fastigial nucleus as part of spino-cerebellum of Wistar albino rat was unilaterally (left side) destroyed by electrolytic lesion using stereotaxic procedures and the behavior, learning and memory were analyzed by using open field, elevated plus maze and eight arm radial mazes on 10th and also 15th day after the lesion along with controls as well as with sham operated animals. The alterations in behavior were only observed on the 10th day but not in 15th day. There was no alteration was observed in radial maze among the groups indicated that cerebellum has no role in memory process. The changes perceived in behavior on 10th day may be due the inflammation or reduced metabolism in the damaged areas followed which may recovered on 15th day as inflammation subsides and the metabolism is normalized. These results indicate that fastigial nucleus is not playing any role in either behavior or memory

Effect of Scoparia dulcis on noise stress induced adaptive immunity and cytokine response in immunized Wistar rats

Background: Noise acts as a stressor and is reported to have impact on individual health depending on nature, type, intensity and perception. Modern medicine has no effective drugs or cure to prevent its consequences. Being an environmental stressor noise cannot be avoided; instead minimizing its exposure or consuming anti-stressor and adaptogens from plants can be considered. Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-stressor, adaptogen and immunostimulatory activity of Scoparia dulcis against noise-induced stress in Wistar rat models. Material and methods: Noise stress in rats was created by broadband white noise generator, 100 dB A/4 h daily/15 days and S. dulcis (200 mg/kg b.w.) was administered orally. 8 groups of rats were used consisting of 6 animals each; 4 groups for unimmunized and 4 groups for immunized. For immunization, sheep red blood cells (5 × 109 cells/ml) were injected intraperitoneally. Results: Sub-acute noise exposed rats showed a significant increase in corticosterone and IL-4 levels in both immunized and unimmunized rats whereas lymphocytes, antibody titration, soluble immune complex, IL-4 showed a marked increase with a significant decrease in IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ cytokines only in unimmunized rats. Immunized noise exposed rats presented increased leukocyte migration index and decreased foot pad thickness, IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ with no changes in the lymphocytes. Conclusion: S. dulcis (SD) has normalized and prevented the noise induced changes in cell-mediated and humoral immunity and it could be the presence of anti-stressor and immuno stimulant activity of the plant

Effect of Scoparia dulcis on noise stress induced adaptive immunity and cytokine response in immunized Wistar rats

Background: Noise acts as a stressor and is reported to have impact on individual health depending on nature, type, intensity and perception. Modern medicine has no effective drugs or cure to prevent its consequences. Being an environmental stressor noise cannot be avoided; instead minimizing its exposure or consuming anti-stressor and adaptogens from plants can be considered. Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-stressor, adaptogen and immunostimulatory activity of Scoparia dulcis against noise-induced stress in Wistar rat models. Material and methods: Noise stress in rats was created by broadband white noise generator, 100 dB A/4 h daily/15 days and S. dulcis (200 mg/kg b.w.) was administered orally. 8 groups of rats were used consisting of 6 animals each; 4 groups for unimmunized and 4 groups for immunized. For immunization, sheep red blood cells (5 × 109 cells/ml) were injected intraperitoneally. Results: Sub-acute noise exposed rats showed a significant increase in corticosterone and IL-4 levels in both immunized and unimmunized rats whereas lymphocytes, antibody titration, soluble immune complex, IL-4 showed a marked increase with a significant decrease in IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ cytokines only in unimmunized rats. Immunized noise exposed rats presented increased leukocyte migration index and decreased foot pad thickness, IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ with no changes in the lymphocytes. Conclusion: S. dulcis (SD) has normalized and prevented the noise induced changes in cell-mediated and humoral immunity and it could be the presence of anti-stressor and immuno stimulant activity of the plant

Free radical scavenging potential and HPTLC analysis of Indigofera tinctoria linn (Fabaceae)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the free radical scavenging potential and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting of Indigofera tinctoria (I. tinctoria). Phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard methods, and free radical scavenging activity of the plant was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O2−) radical scavenging capacities. HPTLC plate was kept in CAMAG TLC Scanner 3 and the Rf values at fingerprint data were recorded by WINCATS software. Aqueous extract of I. tinctoria reliably showed the total phenolics (267.2±2.42 mg/g), flavonoids (75.43±3.36 mg/g) and antioxidants (349.11±8.04 mg/g). The extract was found to have DPPH (52.08%), NO (23.12%) and O2− (26.79%) scavenging activities at the concentration of 250 μg/mL and the results were statistically significant compared with ascorbic acid standard (p<0.05). HPTLC results confirmed that the extract contained several potential active components such as phenols, flavonoids, saponins and terpenoids as the slides revealed multi-colored bands of varying intensities. This study confirmed that the plant had multipotential antioxidant and free radicals scavenging activities

Stress effect on humoral and cell mediated immune response: Indispensable part of corticosterone and cytokine in neutrophil function

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the immunization and stress dormant role in humoral and cell mediated response after sub-acute exposure of noise stress and immunomodulatory activity of Indigofera tinctoria (I. tinctoria). Method: Noise stress was done by broadband white noise generator (0–26 kHz), 100 dB, 4 h daily for 15 days and I. tinctoria (300 mg/kg b.w.) administered orally. The animals were divided into eight groups with six animals in each group. All the rats were housed under condition of controlled temperature (26 ± 2 °C) with 12 h light and 12 h dark exposure. Results: In the present study, noise stress significantly increased the corticosterone level in both immunized (76.55 ± 5.17) and un-immunized (66.25 ± 4.87). In sub-acute stress TLC level decreased in un-immunized and increased in immunized. A significant decrease in neutrophil (14.5 ± 3.01) and increase in lymphocyte (86.166 ± 4.83) level was noticed on un-immunized after noise exposure. NAT level was decreased in the un-immunized (40.745 ± 1.95) and increased in immunized (72.625 ± 2.88). The noise stress increased the NBT levels in un-immunized (19.5 ± 1.87) and decreased in immunized (24 ± 2.10). Noise stress shows decreases phagocytic index, avidity index, organ weight and cell count of the spleen, thymus, lymph node in irrespective of whether un-immunized and immunized. Subacute exposure of noise significantly affects humoral (SIC, antibody titter) and cell mediated (LMI, FPT) immunity. Stress further decrease the IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ and increase IL-4 cytokine level in serum. Conclusion: This result further concludes that prior immunization of SRBC in animal’s act as a vaccination, which helps to prevent noise stress induced impairment in immune system. Orally administered I. tinctoria prevented noise altered immune system. These results also concluded that I. tinctoria supplementation could act as an immunomodulators and suggesting its therapeutic efficacy as an antistressor

HPTLC analysis of <i>Scoparia dulcis</i> Linn (Scrophulariaceae) and its larvicidal potential against dengue vector <i>Aedes aegypti</i>

<div><p>This study evaluates the larvicidal activity of <i>Scoparia dulcis</i> aqueous extract against dengue vector and determines its major chemical components. The extract was tested at various concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2 mg/mL against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> larvae. The extracts displayed significant larvicidal efficacy against <i>Ae. aegypt</i> species after 24 h exposure revealing LC₅₀ of 3.3835 (mg/mL) and LC₉₀ of 5.7578 (mg/mL). Finger printing profile carried out by CAMAG automatic TLC sample applicator programmed through WIN CATS software revealed peaks with different <i>R</i>_f values for three different volumes injected: 16, 15 and 18 peaks were spotted for 3, 6 and 9 μL, respectively. Ascending order of <i>R</i>_f values was also ascertained for each peak recorded. This study clearly signifies that <i>S. dulcis</i> extract contains numerous compounds that are known to have larvicidal properties which clearly substantiates its efficacy on <i>Ae. aegypti</i> larvae.</p></div

Disruption of redox homeostasis in liver function and activation of apoptosis on consumption of aspartame in folate deficient rat model

This study assesses the effect of long-term intake of aspartame on liver function and apoptosis signaling pathway in the Wistar albino rats. Several reports have suggested that methanol is one of the major metabolites of Aspartame. Non-primate animals are usually resistant to methanol-induced metabolic acidosis due to high levels of hepatic folate content; hence a folate deficiency model was induced by treating animals with methotrexate (MTX) prior to aspartame exposure. The aspartame treated MTX animals exhibited a marked significant increase in hepatic alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) activity compared to controls. Aspartame treated MTX animals additionally exhibited down-regulation of genes namely B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) and Caspase 3, 9 genes and apoptotic protein expression, indicating the augmentation of hepatic apoptosis. Nuclear condensation, micro vacuole formation in the cytoplasm and necrosis were observed in the liver of the aspartame treated animals on histopathology evaluation. Additionally, Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant increase in positive cells expressing Fas, FADD, Bax and Caspase 9 protein, indicating an increase in apoptotic protein expression in the liver. Thus, Aspartame may act as a chemical stressor which alters the functional status of liver, leading to hepatotoxicity