Neurosupportive Role of Vanillin, a Natural Phenolic Compound, on Rotenone Induced Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

Vanillin, a phenolic compound, has been reported to offer neuroprotection against experimental Huntington’s disease and global ischemia by virtue of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. The present study aims to elucidate the underlying neuroprotective mechanism of vanillin in rotenone induced neurotoxicity. Cell viability was assessed by exposing SH-SY5Y cells to various concentrations of rotenone (5–200 nM) for 24 h. The therapeutic effectiveness of vanillin against rotenone was measured by pretreatment of vanillin at various concentrations (5–200 nM) and then incubation with rotenone (100 nM). Using effective dose of vanillin (100 nM), mitochondrial membrane potential, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and expression patterns of apoptotic markers were assessed. Toxicity of rotenone was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased ROS generation, release of cyt-c, and enhanced expressions of proapoptotic and downregulation of antiapoptotic indices via the upregulation of p38 and JNK-MAPK pathway proteins. Our results indicated that the pretreatment of vanillin attenuated rotenone induced mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Thus, vanillin may serve as a potent therapeutic agent in the future by virtue of its multiple pharmacological properties in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including PD

Fenugreek Seed Powder Nullified Aluminium Chloride Induced Memory Loss, Biochemical Changes, Aβ Burden and Apoptosis via Regulating Akt/GSK3β Signaling Pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia that mainly affects the cognitive functions of the aged populations. Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.) (fenugreek), a traditionally well utilized medicinal plant ubiquitously used as one of the main food additive worldwide, is known to have numerous beneficial health effects. Fenugreek seed extract could be able to inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a key enzyme involved in the pathogenesis of AD, and further shown to have anti-parkinsonic effect. The present study was aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect of fenugreek seed powder (FSP) against aluminium chloride (AlCl3) induced experimental AD model. Administration of germinated FSP (2.5, 5 and 10% mixed with ground standard rat feed) protected AlCl3 induced memory and learning impairments, Al overload, AChE hyperactivity, amyloid β (Aβ) burden and apoptosis via activating Akt/GSK3β pathway. Our present data could confirm the neuroprotective effect of fenugreek seeds. Further these results could lead a possible therapeutics for the management of neurodegenerative diseases including AD in future

A Comprehensive In Silico Analysis on the Structural and Functional Impact of SNPs in the Congenital Heart Defects Associated with NKX2-5 Gene-A Molecular Dynamic Simulation Approach.

Congenital heart defects (CHD) presented as structural defects in the heart and blood vessels during birth contribute an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many Single nucletotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in different genes have been associated with various types of congenital heart defects. NKX 2-5 gene is one among them, which encodes a homeobox-containing transcription factor that plays a crucial role during the initial phases of heart formation and development. Mutations in this gene could cause different types of congenital heart defects, including Atrial septal defect (ASD), Atrial ventricular block (AVB), Tetralogy of fallot and ventricular septal defect. This highlights the importance of studying the impact of different SNPs found within this gene that might cause structural and functional modification of its encoded protein. In this study, we retrieved SNPs from the database (dbSNP), followed by identification of potentially deleterious Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) and prediction of their effect on proteins by computational screening using SIFT and Polyphen. Furthermore, we have carried out molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) in order to uncover the SNPs that would cause the most structural damage to the protein altering its biological function. The most important SNP that was found using our approach was rs137852685 R161P, which was predicted to cause the most damage to the structural features of the protein. Mapping nsSNPs in genes such as NKX 2-5 would provide valuable information about individuals carrying these polymorphisms, where such variations could be used as diagnostic markers

Melatonin synergizes with low doses of L-DOPA to improve dendritic spine density in the mouse striatum in experimental Parkinsonism

The dopamine precursor, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), is the preferred drug for Parkinson’s disease, but long-term treatment results in the drug-induced dyskinesias and other side effects. This study was undertaken to examine whether melatonin could potentiate low dose L-DOPA effects in 1-methyl-4 phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced experimental parkinsonism. Mice were treated with the parkinsonian neurotoxin, MPTP, and different doses of melatonin and low doses of L-DOPA. Behavior, striatal histology, and dopamine metabolism were evaluated on the 7th day. MPTP-induced striatal dopamine loss was not modified by melatonin administration (10–30 mg/kg; i.p. at 10-hr intervals, 6 times; or at 2-hr intervals, by day). However, low doses of L-DOPA (5 mg/kg, by oral gavage) administered alone or along with melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) twice everyday for 2 days, 10 hr apart, after two doses of MPTP significantly attenuated striatal dopamine loss and provided improvements in both catalepsy and akinesia. Additionally, Golgi-impregnated striatal sections showed preservation of the medium spiny neurons, which have been damaged in MPTP-treated mouse. The results demonstrated that melatonin, but not L-DOPA, restored spine density and spine morphology of medium spiny neurons in the striatum and suggest that melatonin could be an ideal adjuvant to L-DOPA therapy in Parkinson’s disease, and by the use of this neurohormone, it is possible to bring down the therapeutic doses of L-DOPA

PROTECTIVE INFLUENCE OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA, AN EDIBLE MEDICINAL PLANT, ON TISSUE LIPID PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN HYPERAMMONEMIC RATS

Abstract The present study was undertaken to examine the protective influence of the alcoholic leaf extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Linn) Malvaceae (an indigenous edible medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic and traditional Medicine in India, China and Thailand) (HSEt) on oxidative stress during ammonium chloride induced hyperammonemia by measuring the extent of oxidative damage as well as antioxidant status. The levels of tissue (liver and kidney) lipid peroxides and the antioxidants; superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase were studied in hyperammonemic rats. Hyperammonemia was induced by daily intraperitoneal injections of ammonium chloride at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight for 45 days. Decreased levels of tissue lipid peroxidation accompanied with increased antioxidant levels in hyperammonemic rats were observed during oral administration of HSEt (250mg/kg body weight), which clearly shows the antioxidant property of HSEt. The study of induction of the antioxidant status is considered to be a reliable marker for evaluating the antiperoxidative effect of the medicinal plant. Our present findings show the protective role of HSEt against lipid peroxidation and suggest that HSEt possesses antioxidant potential that may be used for therapeutic purposes. The exact mechanism of action of the extract still has to be investigated and the isolation of its active constituents remains to be done. Keywords: Hibiscus sabdariffa; hyperammonemia; oxidative stress; antioxidants; lipid peroxidation

Dietary supplementation of walnut partially reverses 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine induced neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

Numerous studies indicating that natural plant sources and their active phytochemicals offer protection to the pathological processes related to the development of neurogenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, the neuro protective efficacy of dietary supplementation of walnut (6 %) for 28 days was examined in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (i.p., 20 mg/kg body weight/day) for last four consecutive days. MPTP injection diminished the levels of GSH, dopamine and metabolites along with decreased activities of GPx and mitochondrial complex I. Further, the levels of TBARS and enzymatic antioxidants such as SOD and catalase, MAO-B activities were enhanced by MPTP treatment. Behavioral deficits and lowered TH expression are also proved MPTP induced neurotoxicity. Dietary supplementation of walnut attenuated MPTP-induced impairment in PD mice might be by its MAO-B inhibitory, antioxidant and mitochondrial protective actions. To find out the exact mechanism of action walnut on PD mice warrants further extensive studies.11 page(s