In vitro investigation of phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective activity of Selaginella bryopteris

The present study investigated the total phenolic content, free radical scavenging activity and hepatoprotective effect of Selaginella bryopteris (SB) against acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity on HepG2 cell lines. The preliminary phytochemicals screening of SB aqueous and ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of phytochemical constituents and total phenolic contents. Both extracts exhibited radical scavenging activities in dose dependent manner (100-500 μg/mL). The maximum concentration (500 μg/mL) showed highest DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 free radical scavenging activity in ethanolic extract of SB followed by aqueous extract. Hepatoprotective activity was assessed by MTT assay which confirmed that SB extracts at three doses (25μg/mL, 50μg/mL and 100μg/mL) appeared to have considerable cellular protection (72- 88%) against CCl4 and APAP induced toxicity in HepG2 cell line in dose-dependent manner. At 100μg/mL, the cell viability rate was found to be higher in SB ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract. No adverse effect was observed in the SB treated HepG2 cell line. LDH leakage assay also confirmed that SB extract significantly reduced the level of cellular LDH leakage into the cell culture medium. The results indicate that Selaginella bryopteris extract has significant hepatoprotective activity against APAP and CCL4-inducedtoxicity which might be due to its free radical scavenging activity

Edge Based Fiber Bragg Grating Interrogator

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) interrogation system based on spectral edge characteristics of Chirped Fiber Bragg Grating (CFBG) is reported to measure temperature of hot water bath. We use in-house fabricated FBG and CFBG as an edge filter in developing FBG interrogator. The CFBG transmission profile at rising and falling edge varies linearly with wavelength. The Bragg wavelength of FBG as a function of temperature forms the basis of temperature measurement. The ratio of optical intensity of Bragg wavelength due to edge slope of CFBG and intensity of the Bragg wavelength vs. temperature of water bath observed is linear. Using the slope of linear curve, the temperature measurement resolution of 0.30C with temperature range of 300C was achieved

Protective effect of hesperetin against acrylamide induced acute toxicity in rats

164-170Hesperetin (5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4-methoxyl flavanone) is found in citrus fruits and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive and antiatherogenic effects. Acrylamide (AA) has shown neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects in humans with occupational exposures and quantified in staple foods such as coffee, bread, cookies, french fries and in tobacco smoke. In this study, we haveevaluated therapeutic efficacy of hesperetin against AA toxicity. AA was given at 1/3rd of LD50 dose for 10 days to albino rats followed by therapy with different doses of hesperetin for 3 consecutive days. Various toxicity symptoms were observed which include significant reduction of body weight, hair loss, hindlimb splaying, dragging of back legs and irritation on skin. Toxicity symptoms also included significant reduction in level of heamoglobin, GSH, SOD, CAT and significant enhance in AST, ALT, albumin,urea, creatinine, triglyceride, cholesterol with LPO as compared to control group. Activity of acetylcholinesterase was also declined significantly after AA administration, which confirms neurotoxicity. Histopathological observations also supported biochemical studies. Administration of hesperetin at different doses brought the studied parameters towards control in a dose dependent manner concluding its therapeutic effects against acrylamide toxicity in rats

In vitro antioxidant and nephroprotective properties of Polyalthia longifolia: A traditional medicinal plant

Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites is a traditional medicinal plant with diverse medicinal properties including kidney protection. The present investigation was aimed to assess the phytochemical content, antioxidant activity and evaluate nephroprotective activity of Polyalthia longifolia (PL) 70% ethanolic leaf extract against cisplatin and gentamicin-induced toxicity on HEK293 cell line. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of flavonoids, reducing sugars, tannins, coumarin, saponins, alkaloids, and glycosides, as well as the abundant total phenolic and total flavonoid content in the PL leaf extract. The extract exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity (p<0.001) in ABTS (IC50 224 μg/mL), DPPH (IC50 150.1 μg/mL) and H2O2 (IC50 271.1 μg/mL) assays. In vitro MTT assay validated remarkable cytoprotective activity (p<0.001) of PL leaf extract at three concentrations (125 μg/mL, 250 μg/mL, 500 μg/mL) against cisplatin and gentamicin treated HEK293 cell line in dose dependent manner with 70% cell viability (IC50 312.6 µg/mL) and 72% cell viability (IC50 307.3 µg/mL), respectively, at PL dose 500 μg/mL. The cytotoxicity assay also confirmed no adverse effect of PL leaf extract on cell viability in the HEK293 and considered as nontoxic when compared with normal control group. The present study revealed that Polyalthia longifolia leaf extract has remarkable antioxidant activity and nephroprotective properties against cisplatin and gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in in vitro model which might be due the presence of free radical scavenging phytochemicals.

Application of cell-based assays for toxicity characterization of complex wastewater matrices: Possible applications in wastewater recycle and reuse

Exposure to pre-concentrated inlet or outlet STP wastewater extracts at different concentrations (0.001% to 1%) induced dose-dependent toxicity in MCF-7 cells, whereas drinking water extracts did not induce cytotoxicity in cells treated. GC-MS analysis revealed the occurrence of xenobiotic compounds (Benzene, Phthalate, etc.) in inlet/outlet wastewater extracts. Cells exposed to inlet/outlet extract showed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS: inlet: 186.58%, p<0.05, outlet, 147.8%, p<0.01) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm: inlet, 74.91%, p<0.01; outlet, 86.70%, p<0.05) compared to the control. These concentrations induced DNA damage (Tail length: inlet: 34.4%, p<0.05, outlet, 26.7%, p<0.05) in treated cells compared to the control (Tail length: 7.5%). Cell cycle analysis displayed drastic reduction in the G1 phase in treated cells (inlet, G1:45.0%; outlet, G1:58.3%) compared to the control (G1:67.3%). Treated cells showed 45.18% and 28.0% apoptosis compared to the control (1.2%). Drinking water extracts did not show any significant alterations with respect to ROS, Δψm, DNA damage, cell cycle and apoptosis compared to the control. Genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis were found to be differentially expressed in cells exposed to inlet/outlet extracts. Herein, we propose cell-based toxicity assays to evaluate the efficacies of wastewater treatment and recycling processes

Probing the electronic nature of Co centers forming the planar ring in octa-nuclear Co complexes using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The formation of octanuclear cobalt core has been studied in the Co complexes Na[Co8{O2CCH3}8(OCH3)16]NO3(1), Na[Co8{O2CC(CH3)3}8(OCH3)16]NO3(2), Na[Co8{O2CC(CH3)3}8 (OC2H5)16]NO3(3) by analysing the X-ray absorption spectra at the Co K-edge. Analysis of EXAFS confirmed octahedral coordination around the Co atoms. The presence of neighbouring Co atoms has been associated to the octanuclear nature of the complexes. The XANES features have been correlated with the oxidation state of the absorbing Co atoms and their coordination in the complexes. XANES spectra have been simulated by ab-initio XANES calculations performed for the Co centres forming the planar ring in order to investigate and compare the electronic nature of these metal centres. Co density of states (DOS), i.e., s-, p- and d-DOS have also been calculated to explain the different features of XANES spectra. The simulated XANES spectra are further compared with the experimental spectra to probe the effect of different ligands present in the complexes