Rabia Hamid

In the present study, in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of different extracts of Podophyllum hexandrum seed were investigated. Different polarities crude extracts were prepared through Soxhlet extractor and were used for the determination of antioxidant potential by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH), reducing power, microsomal lipid peroxidation, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Cytotoxic activity was carried out by the Sulphorhodamine B (SRB) method. The highest phenolic content of 465 ± 5.55 mgGallic Acid Equivalent(GAE) /g was observed in methanol extract followed by ethanol (359 ± 8.52) and aqueous extract (291 ±4.5 mgGAE/g). At a concentration of 700 μg/ml, DPPH radical scavenging activity was found to be highest in methanol extract (86 ±1.5%) followed by ethanol extract (78 ± 1.2), aqueous extract (71 ± 1.5), and ethyl acetate extract (64 ± 1.5%). At a concentration of 300 μg/ml, 76%, 65%, 65%, and 60% inhibition on microsomal lipid peroxidation was observed with methanol, ethanol, aqueous, and ethyl acetate extracts, respectively. Cytotoxicity of the extracts (100 μg/ml) was tested on three human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HCT-116, and HeLa) using the SRB assay. These results clearly indicate that Podophyllum hexandrum seed extracts possess free radical savaging and cytotoxic activity and can be used against various oxidative stressrelated pathological conditions.RésuméDans la présente étude, les activités cytotoxique et antioxydante in vitro de différents extraits de Podophyllum hexandrum graines ont été étudiées. Différentes polarités des extraits bruts ont été préparées grâce à l’extracteur Soxhlet et ont été utilisées pour la détermination du potentiel antioxydant par 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH), réduisant ainsi la puissance, la peroxydation des lipides microsomiques et activité piégeur de radicaux hydroxyles. L’activité cytotoxique a été réalisée par méthode de SRB. La plus haute teneur en composés phénoliques (PTC) de 465 ± 5,55 mgÉquivalent Acide Gallique (EAG)/g a été observée dans le méthanol extrait suivi par l’éthanol (359 ± 8,52) et extrait aqueux (291 ± 4,5 mgEAG/g). À la concentration de 700 μg/ml, DPPH antiradicalaires plus élevés de l’activité extrait au méthanol (86 ± 1,5 %), suivi par extraction à l’éthanol (78 ± 1,2), de l’extrait aqueux (71 ± 1,5) et extrait de l’acétate d’éthyle (64 ± 1,5 %). À la concentration de 300 μg/ml, 76, 65, 65 et 60 % d’inhibition de la peroxydation des lipides microsomiques ont été observées avec le méthanol, l’éthanol et l’acétate d’éthyle aqueux extraits respectivement. La cytotoxicité des extraits (100 μg/ml) a été testée sur trois lignées cellulaires cancéreuses humaines (MCF-7, HCT-116 et HeLa) à l’aide du sulphorhodamine B assay. Ces résultats indiquent clairement que les espèces Podophyllum hexandrum extraits de semence possèdent des radicaux libres éreintants et une activité cytotoxique et peuvent être employées contre diverses conditions pathologiques liées au stress oxydatif.

Copyright © 2014 Manisha Goyal et al.This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Alzheimer’s (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among elderly people. Considering the complex heterogeneous etiology of AD, there is an urgent need to develop multitargeted drugs for its suppression.

The main strategy against Alzhemier’s Disease (AD) is to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and it is still considered one of the important therapeutic strategy. There are various phytochemicals that have been reported to exhibit aacetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Moreover, many acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are used for the symptomatic treatment of AD. In the present study we screen methanolic extract of Artemisia amgdalina for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. This assay is based on Ellman’s method. The extract showed 0% ±0, 14% ±1.46, 29% ±3.13, 51% ±2.65, 70% ±4.54 percent AChE inhibition at 0, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL concentrations respectively. Qualitative phytochemical Analysis demonstrated the presence of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, phenolics. Considering the complex multifactorial etiology of AD, the plant extracts will be safer and better candidates for the future disease modifying therapies against this devastating disease.

Plants are a source of large number of secondary metabolites comprising to different groups such as alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroid, tannins, etc. They can act as antibacterial, antioxidant, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticancer agents. It is now believed that nature has given the cure of every disease in one way or another. Therefore, the present study was taken conduct the preliminary phytochemical screening, total flavonoid and phenolic contents assays of various leaf extracts (Hexane, methanolic and aqueous) of Juniperus squamata. Total flavonoid content was measured by the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay and total phenolic content was estimated spectrophotometrically by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Preliminary phytochemical screening reveals the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phylobatanins and cardiac glycosides in methanolic and aqueous extracts.While hexane extract was found to contain steroids mainly. Moreover, in all ...

SNTA1 signaling axis plays an essential role in cytoskeletal organization and is also implicated in breast cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of actin cytoskeleton in the propagation of SNTA1/p66shc mediated pro-metastatic cascade in breast cancer cells.The effect of actin filament depolymerization on SNTA1-p66Shc interaction and the trimeric complex formation was analyzed using co-immunoprecipitation assays. Immunofluorescence and RhoA activation assays were used to show the involvement of SNTA1-p66Shc interaction in RhoA activation and F-actin organization. Cellular proliferation and ROS levels were assessed using MTT assay and Amplex red catalase assay. The migratory potential was evaluated using transwell migration assay and wound healing assay.We found that cytochalasin D mediated actin depolymerization significantly declines endogenous interaction between SNTA1 and p66Shc protein in MDA-MB-231 cells. Results indicate that SNTA1 and p66Shc interact ...

Background: Cancer is one of the major problems at present, to which vast research is being dedicated to find effective remedy. Medicinal plants are endowed with numerous molecules that could be effective in multiple diseases including cancer. Thymus linearis, being rich in phenols, terpenoid, and flavonoids have potential to provide anti-cancer entities. Methods: The extracts of Thymus linearis were investigated for in vitro anticancer activity using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on a panel of cancer cell lines. The cellular and nuclear morphology was studied using microscopic techniques. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used for DNA fragmentation analysis. Protein expression was determined by western-blotting. LC-MS was used for phytochemical identification. Results: Among all the extracts, Thymus linearis methanolic (TLM) extract was found to exhibit antiproliferative activity on cell lines to varied degrees. TLM was found to be most pote...

Medicinal plants are being used in traditional treatments to cure variety of diseases from thousands of years. Screening of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities performed on Elsholtzia densa crude extracts which is traditionally used as herb shows that they are endowed with potentially utilizable antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activity. Accordingly, this implies the inhibition of microbial pathogenesis and cellular oxidation that is linked to pathological incidents such as heart disease, aging and cancer. It was seen that the ethylacetate extract showed the maximum inhibitory effects against both bacterial and fungal growth. This may be due to the presence of such ingredients in the said extracts like flavonoids, terpenes, tannins, polyphenolic compounds, alkaloids, etc. The crude extracts of the plant possess radical scavenging activity as estimated by in vitro antioxidant assays like DNA damage assay, lipid peroxidation assay, DPPH assay, FTC assay, etc. Hence, Elsh...

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the comparative antiproliferative activity of Thymus linearis essential oil on a panel of cancer cell line. The oil was extracted from Thymus linearis collected from five ecozones using hydrodistillation and screened individually for their cytotoxicity on the cell lines using MTT assay. The TDR essential oil sample exhibited the growth inhibition of the cell lines under study to varying degrees. Compared to other cell lines the two breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T47D were more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of TDR essential oil, displaying cytotoxicity maximally against MCF-7 cells; with an IC50 of 79.55μg/mL. Further, a dose dependent colony forming restraint was observed both in terms of size and the number of colonies in comparison to untreated group. TDR essential oil at lower concentration of 80μg/mL showed significant (*p≤0.05) inhibitory effect on colony formation of the order of 29% relative to untreated. The comparat...

Alpha-1-syntrophin (SNTA1) is emerging as a novel modulator of the actin cytoskeleton. SNTA1 binds to F-actin and regulates intracellular localization and activity of various actin organizing signaling molecules. Aberration in syntrophin signaling has been closely linked with deregulated growth connected to tumor development/metastasis and its abnormal over expression has been observed in breast cancer. In the present work the effect of jasplakinolide, an actin-binding cyclodepsipeptide, on the SNTA1 protein activity and SNTA1 mediated downstream cellular events was studied in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. SNTA1 protein levels and phosphorylation status were determined in MDA-MB-231 cells post jasplakinolide exposure using western blotting and immunoprecipitation techniques respectively. MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with WT SNTA1 and DM SNTA1 (Y215/229 phospho mutant) and simultaneously treated with jasplakinolide. The effect of jasplakinolide and SNTA1 protein on cell migration was determined using the boyden chamber assay. Jasplakinolide treatment decreases proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in both dose and time dependent manner. Results suggest that subtoxic doses of jasplakinolide induce morphological changes in MDA-MB-231 cells from flat spindle shape adherent cells to round weakly adherent forms. Mechanistically, jasplakinolide treatment was found to decrease SNTA1 protein levels and its tyrosine phosphorylation status. Moreover, migratory potential of jasplakinolide treated cells was significantly inhibited in comparison to control cells. Our results demonstrate that jasplakinolide inhibits cell migration by impairing SNTA1 functioning in breast cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Dipsacus inermis Wall. is an edible Himalayan herb which is extensively used in traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine against various inflammation related disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Dipsacus inermis Wall. methanol extract (DIME) by using in vitro and in vivo models and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS The in vitro anti-inflammatory potential of DIME was determined in LPS stimulated J774A.1 cells. The inhibitory effect of DIME on COX-2, PGE2 and inflammatory cytokines was determined by ELISA and RT-PCR. The suppression of ROS in response to DIME was determined by flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 and IκB degradation was determined by western blotting. RESULTS Significant inhibition of NO, COX-2, PGE2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 was found in response to DIME in LPS stimulated J774A.1 cells. The extract was found to down regulate the LPS induced expression of TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2 along with inhibition of intracellular ROS. The in vivo studies carried on Wistar rats showed significant preventive effect of DIME against acetic acid induced increase in vascular permeability and carrageenan induced paw edema along with stabilization of histopathological alterations. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated that DIME has significant in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect which is mediated by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB pathway. Our data opened a promising new pharmacological approach of designing anti-inflammatory drugs by studying individual fractions of the plant extract.

Alzheimer disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder. It is the common form of dementia in elderly people. The etiology of this disease is multifactorial, pathologically it is accompanied with accumulation of amyloid beta and neurofibrillary tangles. Accumulation of amyloid beta and mitochondrial dysfunction leads to oxidative stress. In this study, neuroprotective effect of Artemisiaamygdalina against H2O2-induced death was studied in differentiated N2a and SH-SY5Ycells. Cells were treated with H2O2 to induce toxicity which was attenuated by Artemisia amygdalina. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an emerging regulator of cellular resistance to oxidants. It controls the basal and induced expression of antioxidant response element-dependent genes. Further, we demonstrated that Artemisia amygdalina protects neurons through upregulation of Nrf2 pathway. Moreover, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential loss formed by H2O2 was attenuated by Artemisia amygdalina. Thus, Artemisia amygdalina may have the possibility to be a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer disease.

AbstractInflammatory diseases being one of the back bending global burden are alarming the world. Established anti-inflammatory drugs exert side-effects, demanding for the development of alternative drugs, likely from natural source because of their diverse chemical nature. The anti-inflammatory activity of aerial part methanol extract of Elsholtzia densa collected from the natural forest of Naranag area of Kashmir valley was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo model systems using Macrophages RAW 264.7 cells and acute (carrageenan and histamine-induced rat paw edema) and chronic model (formaldehyde induced arthritis) respectively. The EDM extract exhibited a significant decline in the paw volume being at par with the standard drug Diclofenac (10 mg/kg) as compared with the control group. The reduction was observed in dose dependent manner with 300 mg/kg resulting in 27.27% and 100 mg/kg in 16.88% inhibition at 3rd h. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) decline in the secretion of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6 was found with 80.93%, 75.33% and 67.09%, and 83.25%, 62.11% and 66.69% in EDM-300 as compared with the carrageenan and histamine group respectively. The pro-inflammatory cytokines levels showed clampdown in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 by the extract treatments. The LC–MS data revealed the presence of Quercetin 3-glycosides, Apigenin 7-(2″-acetyl-6″-methylglucuronide) and betulinic acid as major compounds present in EDM extract. Results obtained from in vivo experiments demonstrate that oral administration of EDM extract significantly attenuated inflammation in carrageenan and histamine-induced paw edema, and improved chronic models (formaldehyde induced arthritis).

Drug discovery is an exhaustive and time-consuming process involving numerous stages like target identification, validation, lead optimization, preclinical trials, clinical trials and finally postmarketing vigilance for drug safety. The application of computer-aided drug designing (CADD) is an indispensable approach for developing safe and effective drugs. Previous methods based on combinatorial chemistry (CC) and high throughput screening (HTS) consumed a lot of time as well as expenditure. CADD based approaches including pharmacophore modeling (PM), molecular docking (MD), inverse docking, chemical similarity (CS), quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), virtual screening (VS) and molecular dynamics simulations have been quite productive in predicting the therapeutic outcome of candidate drugs/compounds besides saving precious time. CADD tools exploit structural and other information available regarding the target (enzyme/receptor) and the ligands to identify the comp...

A lectin was purified from leaves of Euphorbia helioscopia, by a combination of ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. On ion exchange using a DEAE- cellulose column in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, the bound protein was eluted with a linear sodium chloride gradient of 0.1 M to 0.5 M. Further purification of the lectin was achieved by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Euphorbia helioscopia lectin (EHL) agglutinates only chick erythrocytes, showing no agglutination of all human blood group erythrocytes. The EHL induced hemagglutination is inhibited by fructose. The purified protein showed one band, both in non-denaturing PAGE and SDS-PAGE establishing the charge and size homogeneities of the lectin preparation. The molecular mass of the lectin as indicated by SDS-PAGE was approximately 31 kDa and that estimated from G-100 gel filtration chromatography was about 65 kDa establishing that the lectin is a homodimer. The lectin was stable within a temperature range of 0°C-40°C ...

Nanomedicine and nano delivery systems, although relatively recent but fast-developing technology is one where nanoscale materials are used to function as diagnostic tools or to deliver therapeutic agents to specifically targeted sites in a controlled manner. It also provides many advantages in the management of human diseases. Recently, there has been a range of excellent uses of nanomedicine as chemotherapeutic agents, biological agents, immunotherapeutic agents, etc., for treatment of different diseases. In this chapter we discuss the recent developments and insights obtained in the field of nanomedicine. It provides a review of the numerous nano-based drug delivery systems that enhance the efficacy of new and old drugs. The new opportunities and challenges arising in the area of nanomedicine from therapeutic viewpoint are also addressed.

Background:: The new public health emergency of covid-19 caused by a novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in December 2019, evolved into pandemic in no time and is still in progression. The novel virus mainly targets the lower respiratory system leading to viral pneumonia, with other associated complications of multi organ failure. Discussion:: The bats, in particular Rhinolophus affinis is a natural host of SARS-CoV-2 and the virus is considered to have spread to humans through yet controversial intermediate host pangolins. The incubation period ranges from 2-14 days and mode of person-to-person transmission is primarily via the direct contact with the infected person or through the droplets generated by the infected person during coughing or sneezing. The initiation of the infection process by SARS-CoV-2 virus is the invasion of lung type II alveolar cells via a receptor protein called angiotensin-conv...

Objectives: Taxus wallichiana, the member of family Taxaceae is used for the cure of various ailments by a large ethnic population native to the forests in Kashmir valley. The aim of this study is to evaluate antioxidant potential and hepatoprotective action of T. wallichiana as claimed by the ethnic population segment. Methods: Antioxidant potential of different T. wallichiana extracts was evaluated by estimating the total phenolics, 1,1-diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power, microsomal lipid peroxidation (LPO), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity through standard protocols. Hepatoprotective activity of T. wallichiana was determined by evaluation of liver marker enzyme (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase) levels using standard protocols and by histological analysis of rat liver tissues of different animal groups against CCl4 induced liver damage. Results: Phenolic content expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE/g) was found max...

Electrospinning a versatile and the most preferred technique for the fabrication of nanofibers has revolutionized by opening unlimited avenues in biomedical fields. Presently, the simultaneous functionalization and/or post-modification of as-spun nanofibers with biomolecules has been explored, to serve the distinct goals in the aforementioned field. Starch is one of the most abundant biopolymers on the earth. Besides, being biocompatible and biodegradable in nature, it has unprecedented properties of gelatinization and retrogradation. Therefore, starch has been used in numerous ways for wide range of applications. Keeping these properties in consideration, the present article summarizes the recent expansion in the fabrication of the pristine/modified starch-based composite scaffolds by electrospinning along with their possible applications. Apart from electrospinning technique, this review will also provide the comprehensive information on various other techniques employed in the fa...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Elsholtzia densa against experimentally induced acute (CCl) and chronic (paracetamol) liver injury in albino wistar rats. Activity was measured by monitoring the serum levels of ALT, ALP AST and LDH, total protein levels, bilirubin and albumin. The results of the CCl and paracetamol-induced liver toxicity experiments showed that the rats treated with the methanolic extract of Elsholtzia densa exhibited a significant decrease in biochemical parameters as well as the proteins, which were all elevated in the CCl and paracetamol group. The extract at a concentration of 300 mg/kg body wt. showed a significant decline (P≤0.05) in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and LDH to 69.50±2.23IU/L, 60.01±2.25IU/L,46.20±2.24 IU/L and 150.21±5.68IU/L in CCl injected animals and 51.12±2.20 IU/L,49.15±3.25 IU/L, 44.12±2.56 IU/L and 125.15±4.45 IU/L in paracetamol-treated animals when compared to the control g...