Publications by authors named "Manickam Ramanathan"

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality especially in the western world. The incidence of CRC in Asia is now increasing at an alarming rate from the previously negligible levels. The pathogenesis of CRC is a multistep process wherein pre cancer lesions accumulate in the mucosal cells finally resulting in cancer.

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Colorectal cancer, a common cause of cancer related deaths in both sexes in western population is often due to persistent oxidative stress leading to DNA damage. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and inhibit neoplastic process. Kaempferol, a flavonol widely distributed in tea, broccoli, grape fruit, brussels sprouts and apple, is claimed to have chemopreventive action in colon cancer.

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Significant levels of constitutive cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are present in the male reproductive organs of rodents, especially in the vas deferens and epididymis. In the epididymis, the sperm storehouse, COX-2 is thought to play a vital role in altering the membrane lipids of sperm. The present study aims at localizing COX-2 in the epididymis and analyzing the effects of the preferential COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide.

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Present generation non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are potent inhibitors of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Even though they exhibit reduced incidence of gastrotoxicity, severe nephrotoxicity and other side effects have been widely reported with respect to usage of these drugs. Since COX-2 levels are not only upregulated by inflammation but also by other stimuli such as cytokines, growth factors, mitogens and steroid hormones, we investigated the localization of COX-2 and activity of both COX-1 and COX-2 in mice testis.

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We studied the influence of Withania somnifera (Ws) root extract (100 mg/kg body weight) on parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; i.p, 20 mg/kg body weight for 4 days), via the analysis of behavioral features and the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in the midbrain of mice. A significant alteration in behavior, increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were noticed in this region of brain in MPTP-treated mice.

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Accumulating evidence on constitutive expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), one of the isoforms of enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) the other isoform being cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), questions the safety profile of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This COX-2 isoform which is induced not only during inflammation but also by factors such as cytokines, steroid hormones and mitogenic stimuli is constitutively expressed in brain, kidney and reproductive organs. Present NSAIDs, particularly COX-2 inhibitors is no longer considered safe since suppression of COX-2 in tissues which it is constitutively expressed may lead to adverse effects.

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