Deciphering Carotenoid and Flowering Pathway Gene Variations in Eastern and Western Carrots ( L.).

Background/objectives: Carrot is a major root vegetable in the owing to its abundant carotenoids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The modern dark orange western carrot was derived from sequential domestication events from the white-rooted wild form to the pale orange-, purple-, or yellow-rooted eastern carrot. Genetic and molecular studies between eastern and western carrots are meager despite their evolutionary relatedness.

Development and validation of a highly sensitive LC-MS/MS-ESI method for quantification of IIIM-019-A novel nitroimidazole derivative with promising action against Tuberculosis: Application to drug development.

The study aims to illustrate an analytical validation of a rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) and electrospray ionization (ESI) method for quantification of IIIM-019 (a novel nitroimidazole derivative with potential activity against Tuberculosis) in mice plasma. The extraction of the analyte and the internal standard (Tolbutamide) from the plasma samples involves protein precipitation using acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was accomplished using a gradient mode and the mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile and 0.

Reduced toxicological manifestations of cisplatin following encapsulation in folate grafted albumin nanoparticles.

Aims: Cisplatin is one of the most potent chemotherapeutic agents acting against a variety of tumors, however, its use is mainly limited due to the dose limiting toxicities and acquired resistance to cisplatin. Folate functionalized albumin nanoparticles were developed for targeted delivery of drug to limit the adverse effects of cisplatin.

Main Methods: Cisplatin loaded nanoparticles functionalized with folate (CP-FA-BSA-NPs) were developed and characterized for various parameters.

Secalonic Acid-D Represses HIF1α/VEGF-Mediated Angiogenesis by Regulating the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K Signaling Cascade.

Tumor angiogenesis is a validated target for therapeutic intervention, but agents that are more disease selective are needed. Here, we report the isolation of secalonic acid-D (SAD), a mycotoxin from a novel source that exhibits potent antiangiogenic antitumor activity. SAD inhibited multiple HIF1α/VEGF-arbitrated angiogenesis dynamics as scored in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and human MCF-7 breast tumor xenografts.

The anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic effects of the boswellic acid analog BA145 are potentiated by autophagy inhibitors.

Background: While angiogenesis inhibitors represent a viable cancer therapy, there is preclinical and clinical data to suggest that many tumors develop resistance to such treatments. Moreover, previous studies have revealed a complex association between autophagy and angiogenesis, and their collective influence on tumorigenesis. Autophagy has been implicated in cytoprotection and tumor promotion, and as such may represent an alternative way of targeting apoptosis-resistant cancer cells.

Hepatoprotective activity of LC-ESI-MS standardized Iris spuria rhizome extract on its main bioactive constituents.

The study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Iris spuria against paracetamol induced toxicity at two different doses 100 and 200 mg/kg. The extract showed significant protective activity (p>0.01) at both the doses in dose dependent manner.

Biodegradable polymeric system for cisplatin delivery: development, in vitro characterization and investigation of toxicity profile.

Cisplatin is one of the most potent anticancer agent used in the treatment of various solid tumors, however, its clinical use is limited due to severe adverse effects including nephrotoxicity. In this investigation cisplatin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles were developed and characterized for various in vitro characteristics including size distribution, zeta potential, drug loading and release profile. PLGA nanoparticles were successfully developed as investigated using scanning electron microscopy and exhibited average particles size and zeta potential as 284.

Evaluation of Water Quality of River Narmada and Its Correlation with Occurrence of Enteropathogens.

Water quality of river Narmada was investigated employing the chemometric techniques and statistical analysis with a view to extract information about the variables responsible for spatial and temporal variation in physicochemical parameters. Analysis of Pearson's correlation revealed significant correlation among the physicochemical parameters while weak correlation with occurrence of enteropathogens. The multivariate statistics and principal component analysis applied to datasets indicated three to four components influencing the water to the extent of 78.

1,5-Anhydro-D-fructose: A natural antibiotic that inhibits the growth of gram-positive bacteria and microbial biofilm formation to prevent nosocomial infection.

Nosocomial infections caused by microbial opportunistic infections or microbial biofilms may occur during hospitalization and increase patient morbidity, mortality and health care costs. Artificial antibiotic agents were initially used to prevent infection; however, the high prevalence of nosocomial infections has resulted in their excessive use, which has led to microbial resistance to these agents. The increase in microbial resistance to antibiotics and the development of antibiotic agents may be the cause of the production of other microbial resistance.

Chemoprevention with aqueous extract of Butea monosperma flowers results in normalization of nuclear morphometry and inhibition of a proliferation marker in liver tumors.

Butea monosperma (Lam.) (family: Fabaceae) popularly known as 'Palas' or 'fire of forest' has been used traditionally as a hepatoprotective agent. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective and antitumorigenic properties of the aqueous extract and butanol fractions of B.

Protective effect of Labisia pumila on stress-induced behavioral, biochemical, and immunological alterations.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antistress potential of LABISIA PUMILA aqueous extract (LPPM/A003) using a battery of tests widely employed in different stressful situations. Pretreatment of experimental animals with LPPM/A003 caused an increase in the swimming endurance and hypoxia time and also showed the recovery of physical stress-induced depletion of neuromuscular coordination and scopolamine induced memory deficit. LPPM/A003 at graded doses reversed the chronic restraint stress (RST), induced depletion of CD4 (+) and CD8 (+) T lymphocytes, NK cell population, and corresponding cytokines expression besides downregulating the stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone, a major stress hormone.

Emodin reverses CCl induced hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymatic and ultrastructural changes: The in vivo evidence.

Aim: The curative effect of emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl anthraquinone), an active compound of the plant species Ventilago maderaspatana Gaertn, was evaluated against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymatic and ultrastructural alterations in rats.

Methods: Female rats were administered CCl(4) (1.5 mL/kg, ip) followed by varying doses of emodin (20, 30 and 40 mg/kg, oral po) after 24 h of CCl(4) administration.

Hepatoprotective activity of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz flowers against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dried flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. Family Lythraceae are used in variety of diseases in traditional Indian system of medicine including hepatic ailments.

Aims Of Study: The aim of present study was to validate hepatoprotective activity of flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz.

Hepatoprotective potential of Aloe barbadensis Mill. against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity.

Aloe barbadensis Mill. Syn. Aloe vera Tourn.

Isolation, structure elucidation and in vivo hepatoprotective potential of trans-tetracos-15-enoic acid from Indigofera tinctoria Linn.

The bioassay guided fractionation of the dried aerial part of Indigofera tinctoria Linn. led to the identification of an active fraction labelled as indigotin. On further chemical analysis, a compound isolated from indigotin was identified and characterized as trans-tetracos-15-enoic acid (TCA).

Chemistry and hepatoprotective activity of an active fraction from Barleria prionitis Linn. in experimental animals.

Iridoid enriched fraction IF from the ethanol-water extract of aerial parts (leaves and stems) of Barleria prionitis Linn. was evaluated for hepatoprotective activity in various acute and chronic animal test models of hepatotoxicity. It afforded significant hepatoprotection against carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity.

Adaptogenic activity of glyco-peptido-lipid fraction from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaerten (part II).

Anti-stress activity was carried out on glyco-peptido-lipid (AF) fraction from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaerten and demonstrated against a battery of tests in rats and mice. AF exhibited significant anti-stress activity in dose-related manners in all the parameters studied against different models used to induce non-specific stress viz physical and chemically. The major parameters studied were immobilization induced gastric ulceration, adjuvant-induced trauma (Stress); humoral antibody synthesis in normal and immuno-suppressed mice and delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, chemically stress-induced alteration in hepatic function and anti-oxidant activity.

Adaptogenic activity of a novel withanolide-free aqueous fraction from the roots of Withania somnifera Dun. (Part II).

In the Indian traditional system of medicine Withania somnifera Dun. is widely regarded as the Indian Ginseng. A new withanolide-free hydrosoluble fraction was isolated from the roots of Withania somnifera Dun.

Anti-inflammatory activity of 'TAF' an active fraction from the plant Barleria prionitis Linn.

'TAF' fraction from the methanol-water extract of Barleria prionitis Linn. was evaluated for anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities against different acute and chronic animal test models. It exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity against different inflammagens like carrageenan, histamine and dextran.

In vivo hepatoprotective activity of active fraction from ethanolic extract of Eclipta alba leaves.

The alcoholic extract of fresh leaves of the plant Eclipta alba (Ea), previously reported for is hepatoprotective activity was fractionated into three parts to chemically identify the most potent bioactive fraction. The hepatoprotective potential of the fraction prepared from extract was studied in vivo in rats and mice against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective activity was determined on the basis of their effects on parameters like hexobarbitone sleep time, zoxazolamine paralysis time, bromosulphaline clearance, serum transaminases and serum bilirubin.

Adaptogenic activity of a glyco-peptido-lipid fraction from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaertn.

A glyco-peptido lipid fraction ("AF") from the alcoholic extract of Trichopus zeylanicus Gaertn. was evaluated for putative antistress activity in a battery of tests. "AF" exhibited significant antistress activity in dose dependent manner in all the parameters studied, against the different stresses use to induce non-specific stress.

Hepatoprotective activity of indigtone--a bioactive fraction from Indigofera tinctoria Linn.

A bioactive fraction, indigtone (FA), obtained by fractionation of a petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of Indigofera tinctoria, showed significant dose related hepatoprotective activity against CCl(4) induced liver injury in rats and mice. Hexobarbitone induced 'sleeptime', zoxazolamine induced 'paralysis time', levels of transaminases, bilirubin and total protein in serum were employed as indices of liver injury. Pre and post treatment with FA significantly reversed the majority of the parameters altered by the hepatotoxin.

3,4,5-Trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid), the hepatoprotective principle in the fruits of Terminalia belerica-bioassay guided activity.

Compound I isolated from fraction TB5 of Terminalia belerica and finally identified as 3,4,5-trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid) was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced physiological and biochemical alterations in the liver. The main parameters studied were hexobarbitone-induced sleep, zoxazolamine induced paralysis, serum levels of transaminases and bilirubin. The hepatic markers assessed were lipid peroxidation, drug metabolising enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase and triglycerides.