Cytoprotective Activity of Adhatoda Vasica Extract and Vasicine Against Tobacco Smoke Induced Cytoxicity

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protection against cytotoxicity due to tobacco smoke by Adhatoda vasica and Vasicine. The antioxidant potential of AVE was analyzed through in vitro assays. The protective effect of Adhatoda vasica extract (AVE) and vasicine were analyzed in TSE treated group through MTT assay and microscopic analysis.A dose dependent increase in reducing power of AVE was observed. Treatment of A549 & THP-1 cell lines with 1-2 µg/ml (AVE) & 0.01-0.02 µg/ml (Vasicine) respectively for 3 hrs maintained the cell viability. Approximately 50% cell death was observed at 2% & 5% TSE on 24 hrs exposure. Pre-treatment of cell lines with AVE & Vasicine (2µg/ml & 0.02 µg/ml) respectively could overcome the toxic effect of TSE. This study showed that AVE has a great potential in reducing the toxic effects of A549 &THP-1 cell lines

R & D sector outsourcing, human capital formation and growth in the context of developed versus developing economies

An advanced economy relies on innovation activity for its further technology improvement. On the other hand a backward economy depends on both imitation from the world technology frontier and innovation activities - innovation being more skilled-intensive than imitation. In this paper I theoretically examine the impact of R & D outsourcing from an economy which is in the innovation-only regime to an imitation-innovation regime. I show that dependence on imitation activities rises and as a consequence of which share of skilled human capital falls and both skilled and unskilled human capital shifts from innovation to imitation activities in the backward economy. As a result proportion of outsourcing from advanced economy to backward economy falls. Thus, growth rate of the backward economy declines as time progresses. In the long run backward economy will get into a trap and gap from the world technology frontier rises, even if it falls in the initial period

R & D sector outsourcing, human capital formation and growth in the context of developed versus developing economies

An advanced economy relies on innovation activity for its further technology improvement. On the other hand a backward economy depends on both imitation from the world technology frontier and innovation activities - innovation being more skilled-intensive than imitation. In this paper I theoretically examine the impact of R & D outsourcing from an economy which is in the innovation-only regime to an imitation-innovation regime. I show that dependence on imitation activities rises and as a consequence of which share of skilled human capital falls and both skilled and unskilled human capital shifts from innovation to imitation activities in the backward economy. As a result proportion of outsourcing from advanced economy to backward economy falls. Thus, growth rate of the backward economy declines as time progresses. In the long run backward economy will get into a trap and gap from the world technology frontier rises, even if it falls in the initial period

ANTIOXIDANT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC FRACTION OF ADHATODA VASICA IN A549 CELL LINE

Objective: To characterize and standardize the ethanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica (AV) and evaluate its antioxidant potential in vitro, and to studyits free radical scavenging effect in A549 cell line.Methods: Antioxidant activity of AVE through DPPH, ABTS, superoxide radical scavenging activity, H2O2, NO and Lipid peroxidation assays werecarried out.Results: In A549 cell line, the NO scavenging ability of AVE was analysed through NO production measurement. IC values of ethanolic extract throughDPPH, ABTS, superoxide radical scavenging activity, H2O250, NO and lipid peroxidation assays were found to be 64, 200, 54, 62, 40 and 340 µg/ml,respectively. The reducing power was found to increase in a concentration dependent manner. AVE (1 - 2µg/ml) scavenged NO radicals (11% and28% in comparison to control).Conclusion: The present study showed the ethanolic extract of AV to be a good oxygen radical scavenger and a natural source of antioxidants. AVEshowed significant nitric oxide radical scavenging activity in A549 cell line.Keywords: Adhatoda vasica, Phytochemicals, Flavonoids, Tannins, Antioxidant potential

Endogenous human capital formation, distance to frontier and growth

We examine human capital's contribution to economy-wide technological progress through two channels -- imitation and innovation -- innovation being more skilled-intensive than innovation. We develop a growth model considering an endogenous ability-driven skill acquisition decision of an individual. We show that skilled labor is growth enhancing in the ``imitation-innovation" regime and the ``innovation-only" regime whereas unskilled labor is growth enhancing in the ``imitation-only" regime. Steady state exists and, in the long run, an economy may or may not converge to the world technology frontier, depending on its initial position and the growth rate of the frontier economy. In the diversified regime, technological progress raises the return to ability and generates an increase in wage inequality between and within groups -- consistent with the pattern observed across countries

Execution of macrophage apoptosis by Mycobacterium avium through apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and Caspase 8 activation

Macrophage apoptosis is an important component of the innate immune defense machinery (against pathogenic mycobacteria) responsible for limiting bacillary viability. However, little is known about the mechanism of how apoptosis is executed in mycobacteria-infected macrophages. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) was activated in Mycobacterium avium-treated macrophages and in turn activated p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. M. avium-induced macrophage cell death could be blocked in cells transfected with a catalytically inactive mutant of ASK1 or with dominant negative p38 MAP kinase arguing in favor of a central role of ASK1/p38 MAP kinase signaling in apoptosis of macrophages challenged with M. avium. ASK1/p38 MAP kinase signaling was linked to the activation of caspase 8. At the same time, M. avium triggered caspase 8 activation, and cell death occurred in a Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-dependent manner. The death signal induced upon caspase 8 activation linked to mitochondrial death signaling through the formation of truncated Bid (t-Bid), its translocation to the mitochondria and release of cytochrome c. Caspase 8 inhibitor (z-IETD-FMK) could block the release of cytochrome c as well as the activation of caspases 9 and 3. The final steps of apoptosis probably involved caspases 9 and 3, since inhibitors of both caspases could block cell death. Of foremost interest in the present study was the finding that ASK1/p38 signaling was essential for caspase 8 activation linked to M. avium-induced death signaling. This work provides the first elucidation of a signaling pathway in which ASK1 plays a central role in innate immunity

Inorganic phosphate nanorods are a novel fluorescent label in cell biology

We report the first use of inorganic fluorescent lanthanide (europium and terbium) ortho phosphate [LnPO(4)·H(2)O, Ln = Eu and Tb] nanorods as a novel fluorescent label in cell biology. These nanorods, synthesized by the microwave technique, retain their fluorescent properties after internalization into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), 786-O cells, or renal carcinoma cells (RCC). The cellular internalization of these nanorods and their fluorescence properties were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At concentrations up to 50 μg/ml, the use of [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation assays, apoptosis assays (TUNEL), and trypan blue exclusion illustrated the non-toxic nature of these nanorods, a major advantage over traditional organic dye