Neuroprotective Effects of Purple Sweet Potato Balinese Cultivar in Wistar Rats With Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND: Purple sweet potato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) is one of the sources for anthocyanin, which promotes the health through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotection, and anti-apoptosis activities. Oxidative stress has been shown to be the cause of apoptosis in ischemic stroke. AIM: The objective of this research was to delineate the pleiotropic effects of anthocyanin for neuroprotection during an acute stroke event. METHODS: Anthocyanin was extracted from Balinese cultivar of purple sweet potato and subsequently administered to rat models of induced ischemic stroke (labelled as treatment group), as well as a placebo (labelled as a control group). Several parameters were in turn evaluated, i.e. the activities of anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) as well as pro-apoptotic (cytochrome c, caspase-3) molecules, and apoptosis rate. Bcl-2 levels were determined using the histochemical method, cytochrome c and caspase-3 via ELISA method, while apoptosis rate was measured by TdT-medicated Dutp-Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: Bcl-2 expression demonstrated significantly higher Bcl-2 expression in the treatment compared with control group (median 31.2 vs. 1.1; p = 0.001). Accordingly, pro-apoptotic cytochrome c and caspase-3 levels were also found significantly lower in the treatment as opposed to control group (mean 4.17 vs. 8.06; p = 0.001; mean 3.81 vs. 8.02; p = 0.001). Ultimately, apoptosis rate was found markedly lower among treatment than control groups (mean 3.81 vs. control 21.97; p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated a significant neuroprotective effect of anthocyanin derived from Balinese cultivar of PSP. Anthocyanin was able to increase and reduce anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic protein levels, respectively, resulting in lesser cellular apoptotic rate when compared with placebo. The potential mechanism was thought mainly due to its anti-oxidant properties

Cholesterol dependent cytolysins and the brain: Revealing a potential therapeutic avenue for bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a catastrophic nervous system disorder with high mortality and wide range of morbidities. Some of the meningitis-causing bacteria occupy cholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) to increase their pathogenicity and arrange immune-evasion strategy. Studies have observed that the relationship between CDCs and pathogenicity in these meningitides is complex and involves interactions between CDC, blood-brain barrier (BBB), glial cells and neurons. In BBB, these CDCs acts on capillary endothelium, tight junction (TJ) proteins and neurovascular unit (NVU). CDCs also observed to elicit intriguing effects on brain inflammation which involves microglia and astrocyte activations, along with neuronal damage as the end-point of pathological pathways in bacterial meningitis. As some studies mentioned potential advantage of CDC-targeted therapeutic mechanisms to combat CNS infections, it might be a fruitful avenue to deepen our understanding of CDC as a candidate for adjuvant therapy to combat bacterial meningitis

Taenia solium cysticercosis in Bali, Indonesia: serology and mtDNA analysis

authorAn active Taenia solium cysticercosis case in Bali, Indonesia, was followed-up by serology and computed tomography. Serology using semi-purified glycoprotein and recombinant antigens showed a drastic drop in titers after calcification of the cysts. Three paraffin-embedded cysts, prepared for histopathological examination, from three other patients were used for mtDNA analysis. The sequences of cox1 gene from T. solium cysticerci from Bali differed from those in Papua and other Asian countries

Taeniasis/cysticercosis in Bali, Indonesia

Taenia solium and Taenia saginata are found in humans in Bali, Indonesia. During a field survey of 660 people in Bali from 2002-2009 of taeniasis/cysticercosis cases using mitochondrial DNA confirmation of the species, we detected 80 cases of T. saginat

Nutraceutical Potential of Apiaceae

Apiaceae family is large, with over 3.000 species worldwide cultivated for many purposes. Some plants in this family such as carrots, parsley, parsnip and celery are common vegetable crops, while other members like anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, fennel, lovage, angelica and dill are famous for their medicinal and aromatic properties. Usage of these plants is very popular in everyday diet because of their documented health benefits. Apiaceae are a very important source of phytochemicals – chemicals with biological activity. However, phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals, also called nutraceuticals. They are widely used for prevention, treatment or cure of conditions or diseases. Bioactive compounds with nutraceutical potential are polyphenolic compounds, polyacetylenes and terpenoids. The aim of this review is to represent selected plants of Apiaceae family currently used as nutraceuticals and describe their nutritional benefits