Preliminary studies on cytotoxic effect of fungal taxol on cancer cell lines

Taxol is an important anticancer drug used widely in the clinical field. Some endophytic fungi were isolated from selected medicinal plants and screened for the production of taxol. The effect of cytotoxicity of fungal taxol isolated from fungal endophytes was investigated by apoptosis method. Thepresence of taxol in the culture filtrate of endophytic fungi was determined by thin layer chromatography. The fungal taxol isolated from the organic extract of six fungal cultures, had strong cytotoxic activity towards BT 220, H116, Int 407, HL 251 and HLK 210 human cancer cells in vitro

Pharmacokinetics of First-Line Antituberculosis Drugs in HIV-Infected Children with Tuberculosis Treated with Intermittent Regimens in India

The objective of this report was to study the pharmacokinetics of rifampin (RMP), isoniazid (INH), and pyrazinamide (PZA) in HIV-infected children with tuberculosis (TB) treated with a thrice-weekly anti-TB regimen in the government program in India. Seventy-seven HIV-infected children with TB aged 1 to 15 years from six hospitals in India were recruited. During the intensive phase of TB treatment with directly observed administration of the drugs, a complete pharmacokinetic study was performed. Drug concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. A multivariable regression analysis was done to explore the factors impacting drug levels and treatment outcomes. The proportions of children with subnormal peak concentrations (C(max)) of RMP, INH, and PZA were 97%, 28%, and 33%, respectively. Children less than 5 years old had a lower median C(max) and lower exposure (area under the time-concentration curve from 0 to 8 h [AUC(0–8)]) of INH (C(max), 2.5 versus 5.1 μg/ml, respectively [P = 0.016]; AUC(0–8), 11.1 versus 22.0 μg/ml · h, respectively [P = 0.047[) and PZA (C(max), 34.1 versus 42.3 μg/ml, respectively [P = 0.055]; AUC(0–8), 177.9 versus 221.7 μg/ml · h, respectively [P = 0.05]) than those more than 5 years old. In children with unfavorable versus favorable outcomes, the median C(max) of RMP (1.0 versus 2.8 μg/ml, respectively; P = 0.002) and PZA (31.9 versus 44.4 μg/ml, respectively; P = 0.045) were significantly lower. Among all factors studied, the PZA C(max) influenced TB treatment outcome (P = 0.011; adjusted odds ratio, 1.094; 95% confidence interval, 1.021 to 1.173). A high proportion of children with HIV and TB had a subnormal RMP C(max). The PZA C(max) significantly influenced treatment outcome. These findings have important clinical implications and emphasize that drug doses in HIV-infected children with TB have to be optimized

Phytochemical Characterization of Mundulea sericea Leaf Extracts and Analysis of Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities

Many developing countries are focusing on the plant-based drug for various human diseases for less or no side effects, low cost and are easily available. Hence, we need to find the new phytochemicals and their biological activities. For this reason, the present study was designed to screen the phytochemical constituents of various solvent-based leaf extracts of Mundulea sericea for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Through preliminary phytochemical qualitative screening, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) spectrum analysis with standard procedures, phytochemical analysis of M. sericea leaf hexane (MSLH), M. sericea leaf petroleum ether (MSLPE), M. sericea leaf chloroform (MSLC), M. sericea leaf ethyl acetate (MSLEA), M. sericea leaf ethanol (MSLE), M. sericea leaf methanol (MSLM) extracts was studied. Further, MSLE extract was examined for free radical scavenging of DPPH, ABTS, nitric oxide, and hydrogen peroxide antioxidant methods and also evaluated antidiabetic activity by α-amylase and α-glucosidase assays. As a result of the phytochemical analysis, several phytochemical compounds were identified. Among the extracts, MSLE and MSLM extracts contain more secondary metabolites than other extracts. Furthermore, those secondary metabolites chemical compound constituents were identified through FTIR and GC–MS spectrum analysis. At a higher concentration, MSLE extract showed good antioxidant activity which is similar to the one found in standard antioxidant tests. The maximum antioxidant activity was reported in nitric oxide (79.37%) at 250 μg/ml concentration. Furthermore, MSLE extracts were showed good antidiabetic activity in α-glucosidase (70.70%) at 500 μg/ml concentration. As per the study, MSLE extract has effective phytochemical constituents and also acts as a novel antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. Further, investigation is needed to confirm ethanol extract as a novel therapeutic drug

Effects of Various Phytochemical Fractions of Mundulea sericea on Free Radical Scavenging and Inhibition of Inflammatory Agents

Antioxident and antiinflammatory activities of Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A. Chev. is a medicinally important species belong to the family Fabaceae. This species contains various phytocompounds of entire parts which act as antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anticancer activity, antidiabetic activity, etc. Hence, the present study was aimed to analysis of phytochemical constitutes through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis by six various solvent extracts of hexane (MSBH), petroleum ether (MSBPE), chloroform (MSBC), ethyl acetate (MSBEA), ethanol (MSBE), and methanol (MSBM). The result of phytochemical analysis reported that the MSBE and MSBM extracts are contain more phytochemical constitutes than other extracts. In FTIR and GCMS study, MSBE and MSBM extracts are reported various phytochemical constitutes and out that many bioactive compounds are present of these extracts. Further, MSBE extract was subjected antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In antioxidant activity, four different type assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate radical scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide (NO) were used. Among this antioxidant study, NO was reported 74.63 inhibition percentage of free radical than other assays. In anti-inflammatory activity, albumin denaturation and human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay were performed by MSBE extract which result reported that the MSBE extract has good anti-inflammatory activity with more than 60% inhibition capacity on both assays. From this study, M. sericea bark extracts contain highly therapeutic phytocompounds which compounds possess good antioxidant and inflammatory activities