Zaluzanin-D enriched extract mediated copper oxide nanoparticles synthesis and their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and DNA methylation altering properties.

Metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized with the aid of medicinal plant extracts are showing potential as treatment options for inflammatory diseases. Two key benefits of this synthesis method is: the synthesis process is environmentally benign and the utilization of medicinal plant-derived extracts adds to the medicinal value of the synthesized nanoparticle. Earlier, sesquiterpene lactone zaluzanin-D (ZD) has been isolated from leaves of .

RAPTA-coordinated polydiacetylene self-assembly: A chameleon-like prodrug with a dual-lock strategy for real-time release monitoring of metallodrug.

Herein, we report the first-ever design strategy of modifying RAPTA-C into a self-reporting prodrug candidate based on Ru-coordinated polydiacetylene self-assembly. This nanosystem exhibits a dual lock strategy that responds to visible light and pH-stimuli sequentially one by one with a concomitant color change for controlled RAPTA-C release and real-time release monitoring in human gastric cancer cells.

Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (uPAR) in Inflammation and Disease: A Unique Inflammatory Pathway Activator.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a unique protease binding receptor, now recognized as a key regulator of inflammation. Initially, uPA/uPAR was considered thrombolytic (clot-dissolving); however, recent studies have demonstrated its predominant immunomodulatory functions in inflammation and cancer. The uPA/uPAR complex has a multifaceted central role in both normal physiological and also pathological responses.

Synthesis of novel rapanone derivatives organocatalytic reductive C-alkylation: biological evaluation of antioxidant properties, zebrafish embryo toxicity, and docking studies.

A biologically crucial natural product rapanone 1 was isolated from at the gram scale with excellent purity. Semi-synthetic analogs of 1 semi-synthesized through reductive C-alkylation could increase the therapeutic value of the compounds. Herein, a new synthetic methodology was developed as a single-step reductive C-alkylation protocol using a metal-free, room-temperature-based reaction condition that can be scaled up to gram-scale synthesis with an excellent yield of up to 93%.

Polydiacetylene/lipid-coated red-emissive silica nanorods for the sustained release and ameliorated anticancer efficacy of a Ru(arene) complex bearing piperlongumine natural product.

A suitable drug delivery strategy for metallodrugs is as significant as the strategies adopted for an efficient metallodrug design. In this study, piperlongumine, which is isolated from long pepper, is coordinated with a Ru(II)--cymene moiety to obtain an organoruthenated complex containing the natural product (). The isolated complex shows higher cytotoxicity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells than in THP-1 leukemia and HepG2 liver cancer cells.

Pharmacologically active herbal remedies against atherosclerosis, characterization and DoE based marker quantification by densitometry, and cell based assays on THP-1 cell lines.

Atherosclerosis is a complex condition that develops at varying rates in multiple configurations and blood vessels. The primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in the industrialized nations, continues to be atherosclerosis. Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems of medicine, among other traditional medical systems, utilize polyherbal compositions.

Pyridine and isoxazole substituted 3-formylindole-based chitosan Schiff base polymer: Antimicrobial, antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxicity studies on THP-1 cells.

This paper presents the synthesis of two new chitosan Schiff base (CSB) polymers, namely, 2PCT and 4MCT based on pyridin-2-ylmethyl-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde and 1-(4-methyl-3,5-dimethylisoxazole)-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde with chitosan (CT). The structural features of CSB polymers were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) spectroscopy and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The antioxidant studies found that both 2PCT and 4MCT presented significant free radical scavenging activity with IC at 169.

Serine O-acetyltransferase derived NV14 peptide reduces cytotoxicity in HO induced MDCK cells and inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation through caspase gene expression.

Background: Most of the bioactive peptides exhibit antioxidant effect and do elicit inhibitory effect on proliferation of cancer cells. This study investigates the in-vitro antioxidant and anti-cancer properties of NV14 peptide, derived from serine O-acetyltransferase (SAT) of spirulina, Arthrospira platensis.

Methods: The anti-cancer effect of the peptide was evaluated using human adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (MCF-7), while the anti-oxidant potential, as in reduction in ROS concentration, has been established using the HO-exposed, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells.

3-Formylindole-based chitosan Schiff base polymer: Antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxicity studies on THP-1 cells.

Two imine derivatives of chitosan (i-CTs), namely 2FCT and 5MCT, were synthesized by reacting chitosan (CT) with 2-(3-formyl-1H-indol-1yl)acetonitrile (2F), and 5-methoxyindole-3-carbaldehyde (5M), respectively. The antimicrobial evaluation of i-CTs exhibited stronger inhibition effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity of 2FCT and 5MCT showed strong scavenging ability with IC 2.

Lysozyme microspheres incorporated with anisotropic gold nanorods for ultrasound activated drug delivery.

We report on the fabrication of lysozyme microspheres (LyMs) incorporated with gold nanorods (NRs) as a distinctive approach for the encapsulation and release of an anticancer drug, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). LyMs with an average size of 4.0 ± 1.

Valorization of food waste and poultry manure through co-composting amending saw dust, biochar and mineral salts for value-added compost production.

The present study proposes a system for co-composting food waste and poultry manure amended with rice husk biochar at different doses (0, 3, 5, 10%, w/w), saw dust, and salts. The effect of rice husk biochar on the characteristics of final compost was evaluated through stabilization indices such as electrical conductivity, bulk density, total porosity, gaseous emissions and nitrogen conservation. Results indicated that when compared to control, the biochar amendment extended the thermophilic stage of the composting, accelerated the biodegradation and mineralization of substrate mixture and helped in the maturation of the end product.

Co-composting of food waste and swine manure augmenting biochar and salts: Nutrient dynamics, gaseous emissions and microbial activity.

The prominent characteristics of the biochar, high porosity, sorption capacity with low density improve the aeration, making it a desirable amendment material for composting process. The composting efficiency was analysed by the impact of rice husk biochar amendment (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10%) in the presence of salts for the co-composting of food waste and swine manure, in composting reactors for 50 days. Results revealed that biochar amendment had improved the degradation rates by microbial activities in comparison with control.

Greener production of compost from agricultural biomass residues amended with mule dung for agronomic application.

In this study agro-waste (Agwt) was aerobically composted using cow dung (CD) and mule dung (MD). Totally six different sets of compost treatments were prepared, as T1 (Agwt + CD, 1:1), T2 (Agwt + MD, 1:1), T3 (Agwt + CD, 1:3), T4 (Agwt + MD, 1:3), T5 (Agwt + CD, 3:1) and T6 (Agwt + MD, 3:1) in individual containers. All the compost treatments were degraded for 90 days.

Lectin isolated from Abelmoschus esculentus induces caspase mediated apoptosis in human U87 glioblastoma cell lines and modulates the expression of circadian clock genes.

Lectins are a cluster of proteins which are capable of recognizing and binding to glycoconjugates and are extensively found in plants, animals, fungi and bacteria. Plant-derived lectins have been gaining importance over the years due to their innumerable biological activities and also have the added possibility of being compatible to the human system while simultaneously exhibiting properties like antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Abelmoschus esculentus (AE) commonly known as okra is a vegetable with medicinal properties.

Evaluation of biopolymer-derived carbon dots as cancer diagnostic biomarkers for human monocyte cell lines (.

Fluorescent carbon dots were fabricated from () gum extract using direct microwave pyrolysis method. The are fine-tuned concerning three parameters, viz., NaOH addition (presence and absence), microwave power, and irradiation time.

Tamoxifen induces stem-like phenotypes and multidrug resistance by altering epigenetic regulators in ERα+ breast cancer cells.

Background: To understand the mechanism underlying tamoxifen-induced multidrug resistance (MDR) and stem-like phenotypes in breast cancer cells, we treated the MCF-7 cells with 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (TAM) for 6 months continuously and established MCF-7 tamoxifen resistance (TR) phenotypes.

Methods: In the present study, the following methods were used: cell viability assay, colony formation, cell cycle analysis, ALDEFLUOR assay, mammosphere formation assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, PCR array, western blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR).

Results: The expression of ERα was significantly higher in MCF7-TR cells when compared with parental MCF-7 cells.

Sesquiterpene lactone Zaluzanin D alters MMP-9 promoter methylation in differentiated THP-1 monocytic cells and down regulates inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α.

Zaluzanin D (ZD) is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the leaves of Vernonia arborea. Earlier studies have highlighted the Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) as molecules of medicinal value. The current study investigates the anti-inflammatory potential of ZD and its biotransformed derivatives in PMA differentiated human monocytic THP-1 cells.

Design and characterization of a novel Arthrospira platensis glutathione oxido-reductase-derived antioxidant peptide GM15 and its potent anti-cancer activity via caspase-9 mediated apoptosis in oral cancer cells.

Glutathione oxido-reductase (GR) is a primary antioxidant enzyme of most living forms which protects the cells from oxidative metabolism by reducing glutathione (GSH) from its oxidized form (GSSG). Although the antioxidant role of the enzyme is well characterized, the specific role of conserved N' peptide sequence in antioxidant mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we have identified an RNA sequence encoding GR enzyme from spirulina, Arthrospira platensis (Ap) and the changes in its gene expression profile was analysed during HO stress.

Hydrogen bonded capsules by layer-by-layer assembly of tannic acid and poly(2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline) for encapsulation and release of macromolecules.

We report hydrogen bonded capsules with the built-in ability to release loaded bioactive molecules at a physiological temperature of 37 °C. The use of neutral and non-toxic building blocks such as tannic acid (TA) and poly(2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline)s (PnPropOx) as hydrogen bonding donor and acceptor results in stable hollow capsules. The temperature induced morphological changes of the shell were investigated using a scanning electron microscope and an optical microscope and revealed pore formation in the shell when the temperature (T) increases beyond the cloud point temperature (T) of PnPropOx.

Role of pterostilbene in attenuating immune mediated devastation of pancreatic beta cells via Nrf2 signaling cascade.

Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2) is a transcription factor that regulates oxidative/xenobiotic stress response and also suppress inflammation. Nrf2 signaling is associated with an increased susceptibility to various kinds of stress. Nrf2 has been shown as a promising therapeutic target in various human diseases including diabetes.

Bactericidal activity of fish galectin 4 derived membrane-binding peptide tagged with oligotryptophan.

Galectins belong to the family of galactoside-binding proteins which act as pathogen recognition receptors by recognizing and binding to the carbohydrate present in the bacterial membranes. In this study, a Galectin-4 sequence was identified from the constructed cDNA library of Channa striatus and its structural features were reported. Gene expression analysis revealed that CsGal4 was highly expressed in liver and strongly induced by Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) causing pathogens such as Aphanomyces invadans, Aeromonas hydrophila and a viral analogue, poly I:C.

Bacterial membrane binding and pore formation abilities of carbohydrate recognition domain of fish lectin.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are innate molecules that are found in a wide variety of species ranging from bacteria to humans. In recent years, excessive usage of antibiotics resulted in development of multi-drug resistant pathogens which made researchers to focus on AMPs as potential substitute for antibiotics. Lily type mannose-binding lectin is an extended super-family of structurally and evolutionarily related sugar binding proteins.

Pellino-1 derived cationic antimicrobial prawn peptide: Bactericidal activity, toxicity and mode of action.

The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are multifunctional molecules which represent significant roles in the innate immune system. These molecules have been well known for decades because of their role as natural antibiotics in both invertebrates and vertebrates. The development of multiple drug resistance against conventional antibiotics brought a greater focus on AMPs in recent years.