IN SILICO ANALYSIS OF ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF SILYMARIN AS ΑLPHA-GLUCOSIDASE ENZYME INHIBITORS IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an acute metabolic disorder, in which the vogue is increasing persistently globally. The maltase-glucoamylase/alpha-glucosidase inhibitor is an oral antidiabetic drug collectively, which is utilizing for regulating carbohydrates that ordinarily transformed into simple sugars and absorbed by the intestine. Researchers need to constantly explore alternative therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of DM due to the increased adverse event caused by conservative antidiabetic agents. The present study proposes a substitute drug to examine the seven bioactive phytocomponents of Silybum marianum (milk thistle) that can regulate the hyperglycemia by downregulating alpha-glucosidase and its activity. Methods: Different integrated web-based in silico tools and techniques were used to model the enzyme (receptor) as well as to determine the druggability of different active constituents of silymarin and their pharmacokinetics were predicted. Further, the active site of the enzyme was predicted followed by molecular docking method. Results: The results show silychristin A and silydianin having less carcinogenicity and strong interaction to the target protein (alpha-glucosidase) compare to the reference drugs (acarbose and miglitol) and these two molecules can be used for the best drug molecules in T2DM. Conclusion: In the proposed study, the in silico analysis helps researchers to utilize these compounds for clinical applications. The conclusion also suggests that synthetically and semi-synthetically, nucleus and peripheral modifications, either in the form of skeletal rearrangements or partial degradations as well as functional group addition and replacement of the active molecules present in silymarin giving access to new structural motifs, which can be used in future as a lead compounds for antagonising the alpha-glucosidase in the treatment of diabetes mellitus

The Effect of Aligned and Random Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds on Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation

Objective: The development of combining mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with surface modified three-dimensional (3D) biomaterial scaffold provides a desirable alternative for replacement of damaged and diseased tissue. Nanofibrous scaffolds serve as suitable environment for cell attachment and proliferation due to their similarity to the physical dimension of the natural extracellular matrix. In this study the properties of plasma treated poly-C-caprolactone nanofiber scaffolds (p-PCL) and unaltered PCL scaffolds were compared,and then p-PCL scaffolds were evaluated for MSC culture.Materials and Methods: Aligned and random PCL nanofibrus scaffolds were fabricatedby electrospining and their surface modified with O2 plasma treatment to enhanceMSC proliferation, adhesion and interaction. Chemical and mechanical characterizationswere carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle and tensile testing. Cell adhesion and morphology were evaluated using SEM 1 day after culture. Statistical analysis was carried out using one way analysis of variance(ANOVA).Results: The proliferation of MSCs were evaluated using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-DiphenyltetrazoliumBromide(MTT) assay on day 1, 3, and 5 after cell culture. Results showed that the numbers of cells that had grown on PCL nanofibrous scaffolds were significantly higher than those of control surfaces without nanofibers. Furthermore, the proliferation of MSCs on random nanofiber was significantly higher compared to that on aligned nanofiber.Conclusion: This study showed that while both aligned and random plasma treated PCL nanofibrous scaffold are more suitable substrates for MSC growth than tissue culture plates, random nanofiber best supported the proliferation of MSCs

Gene Expression Status and Methylation Pattern in Promoter of P15INK4b and P16INK4a in Cord Blood CD34+ Stem Cells

Objective(s): Stem cell differentiation into different cell lineages depends upon several factors, cell cycle control elements and intracellular signaling elements, including P15INK4b and P16INK4a genes. Epigenetics may be regarded as a control mechanism which is affected by these factors with respect to their promoter structure.   Materials and Methods: The CD34 + cord blood stem cells were purified, isolated and then expanded. The undifferentiated day genome was isolated from part of the cultured cells, and the seventh day differentiated genome was isolated from the other part after differentiation to erythroid lineage. The procedure was followed by a separate Real-Time PCR for the two genes using the obtained cDNA. The processed DNA of the former stages was used for MSP (Methylation Specific PCR) reaction. Finally, pre- and post differentiation results were compared. Results: After performing MSP for each gene, it became clear that P15INK4b gene has undergone methylation and expression in predifferentiation stage. In addition, its status has not been changed after differentiation. P15INK4b gene expression was reduced after the differentiation. The other gene, P16INK4a, showed no predifferentiation methylation. Itwas completely expressed methylated and underwent reduced expression after differentiation. Conclusion : Specific predifferentiation expression of P15INK4b and P16INK4a genes along with reduction in their expression after erythroid differentiation indicated animportant role for these two genes in biology of CD34+ cells in primary stages and before differentiation. In addition, both genes are capable of epigenetic modifications due to the structure of their promoters