Therapeutic effect of green tea extract on alcohol induced hepatic mitochondrial DNA damage in albino wistar rats.

The present study principally sought to investigate the effect of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation on hepatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in alcohol receiving rats. MtDNA was isolated from hepatic tissues of albino wistar rats after alcohol treatment with and without GTE supplementation. Entire displacement loop (D-loop) of mtDNA was screened by PCR-Sanger's sequencing method.

Association between alcohol-induced erythrocyte membrane alterations and hemolysis in chronic alcoholics.

The present study aimed to understand the association between erythrocyte membrane alterations and hemolysis in chronic alcoholics. Study was conducted on human male volunteers aged between 35-45 years with a drinking history of 8-10 years. Results showed that plasma marker enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and γGT were increased in alcoholic subjects.

Nephro-protective action of P. santalinus against alcohol-induced biochemical alterations and oxidative damage in rats.

The present study investigated the antioxidant potential of P. santalinus heartwood methanolic extract (PSE) against alcohol-induced nephro-toxicity. The results indicated an increase in the concentration of kidney damage plasma markers, urea and creatinine with a concomitant decrease in the concentration of uric acid in alcohol-administered rats.

Association of mitochondrial displacement loop polymorphisms with risk of colorectal cancer in south Indian population.

Mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) is the hot spot for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations which influence the generation of cellular reactive oxygen species. In the present study, we sequenced the entire mitochondrial D-loop region (1124 bp) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (n = 174) and controls (n = 170) of south Indian origin to identify significant mutations/polymorphisms. Our results showed 152 polymorphisms in the D-loop region of patients and/or controls.

Therapeutic Potential of Pterocarpus santalinus L.: An Update.

Recently there has been increasing interest in plants and plant-derived compounds as raw food and medicinal agents. In Ayurveda, an Indian system of traditional medicine, a wide spectrum of medicinal properties of Pterocarpus santalinus is described. Many important bioactive phytocompounds have been extracted and identified from the heartwood of P.

Manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) overexpression is a common event in colorectal cancers with mitochondrial microsatellite instability.

Mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) is a hot spot for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations that effects cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) is a major antioxidant enzyme that protects cells from ROS-mediated damage. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between sequence alterations of mitochondrial D-loop and Mn-SOD expression in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Contribution of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and E-cadherin (CDH1) alterations to colorectal cancer susceptibility: a case-control study.

Cyclin D1 (CCND1) and E-cadherin (CDH1) are two important genes of the β-catenin/LEF pathway that is involved in tumorigenesis of various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, studies of the association between genetic variants of these two genes and CRC have shown conflicting results. We conducted a genetic association study in South Indian population (cases, 103; controls, 107) to assess the association of CCND1 870G/A and CDH1 -160C/A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with CRC risk.

Mitochondrial control region alterations and breast cancer risk: a study in South Indian population.

Background: Mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) is the hot spot for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations which influence the generation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Association of D-loop alterations with breast cancer has been reported in few ethnic groups; however none of the reports were documented from Indian subcontinent.

Methodology: We screened the entire mitochondrial D-loop region (1124 bp) of breast cancer patients (n = 213) and controls (n = 207) of south Indian origin by PCR-sequencing analysis.

Modification of erythrocyte membrane proteins, enzymes and transport mechanisms in chronic alcoholics: an in vivo and in vitro study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the alcohol perturbation leading to deleterious effects on erythrocyte membrane transport in chronic alcoholics.

Methods: Membrane bound enzyme activities such as Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+),Mg(2+)-ATPase and acetylcholine esterase and membrane transport analysis by in vitro and erythrocyte membrane profile analysis in controls and chronic alcoholic red cells were analyzed.

Results: It was observed that decreased Na(+), K(+)-ATPase enzyme activity and increased activities of Ca(2+),Mg(2+)-ATPase and acetylcholine esterase in chronic alcoholics compared to controls.

Alcohol-induced oxidative/nitrosative stress alters brain mitochondrial membrane properties.

Chronic alcohol consumption causes numerous biochemical and biophysical changes in the central nervous system, in which mitochondria is the primary organelle affected. In the present study, we hypothesized that alcohol alters the mitochondrial membrane properties and leads to mitochondrial dysfunction via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Alcohol-induced hypoxia further enhances these effects.

Adaptive changes in fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membrane in relation to plasma and red cell metabolic changes in chronic alcoholic men.

Chronic alcohol consumption is a major reason for several human diseases, and alcoholism has been associated with a variety of societal problems. Changes in fatty acid metabolism in alcoholics and its effects leading to membrane damage are largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids in relation with plasma lipid profile and other plasma metabolites in chronic alcoholics in comparison with controls.

Ethanol induced adaptive changes in blood for the pathological and toxicological effects of chronic ethanol consumption in humans.

Alcohol consumption is associated with a number of toxicological changes in blood and the oxidant-antioxidant system. The present study was performed to investigate the alcohol induced toxicological, pathological changes in blood and an adaptive role of erythrocyte antioxidant system in chronic alcoholics. Human male volunteers aged 44±6 years with similar dietary habits were divided into two groups, namely non-alcoholic controls and chronic alcoholics.

Increased erythrocyte antioxidant status protects against smoking induced hemolysis in moderate smokers.

Cigarette smoking is common in societies worldwide and has been identified as injurious to human health. Human red blood cells are important targets for electrophilic and oxidant foreign compounds. In the present study, the possible role of antioxidant status on smoking-induced erythrocyte hemolysis of smokers was studied.

Emblica officinalis ameliorates alcohol-induced brain mitochondrial dysfunction in rats.

The fruit of Emblica officinalis has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for the treatment of different ailments and is also an ingredient of various traditional medicinal herbal formulations in India and other countries. To investigate the protective effect of Emblica officinalis fruit extract (EFE) against alcohol-induced brain mitochondrial dysfunction, male Wistar rats were orally administered 20% alcohol (5 g/kg of body weight/day) and EFE (250 mg/kg of body weight/day) for 60 days. Alcohol-treated rats showed significantly lowered activities of mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and reduced glutathione compared with those of experimental control rats.

Chronic cigarette smoking alters erythrocyte membrane lipid composition and properties in male human volunteers.

Cigarette smoking is a major lifestyle factor influencing the health of human beings. The present study investigates smoking induced alterations on the erythrocyte membrane lipid composition, fluidity and the role of nitric oxide. Thirty experimental and control subjects (age 35+/-8) were selected for the study.

Smoking-induced alterations in platelet membrane fluidity and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in chronic cigarette smokers.

Aim: Cigarette smoking is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Platelet adhesiveness and aggregation increases as a result of smoking. Cigarette smoking modifies haemostatic parameters via thrombosis with a consequently higher rate of cardiovascular events, but smoking-induced alterations of platelet membrane fluidity and other changes have not been studied.

Alterations in erythrocyte membrane fluidity and Na+/K+ -ATPase activity in chronic alcoholics.

Ethanol disorders biological membranes causing perturbations in the bilayer and also by altering the physicochemical properties of membrane lipids. But, chronic alcohol consumption also increases nitric oxide (NO) production. There was no systemic study was done related to alcohol-induced production of NO and consequent formation of peroxynitrite mediated changes in biophysical and biochemical properties, structure, composition, integrity and function of erythrocyte membranes in chronic alcoholics.

Modulatory role of Emblica officinalis against alcohol induced biochemical and biophysical changes in rat erythrocyte membranes.

This study investigated the protective effect of Emblica officinalis against alcohol-induced biochemical and biophysical changes in rat erythrocyte membranes. Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups (n=8 in each group): control (C), alcohol (A), alcohol plus Emblica fruit extract (A+EFE) and Emblica fruit extract (EFE) alone. Administration of twenty percent alcohol (5 g/kg body weight) to rats significantly increased cholesterol/phospholipid (C/P) ratio, lipid peroxidation and the activities of Na(+)/K(+) and Mg(2+) ATPases in erythrocyte membranes as well as augmented nitric oxide (NO) levels.

Bidis--hand-rolled, Indian cigarettes: induced biochemical changes in plasma and red cell membranes of human male volunteers.

Objective: To investigate the effect of bidi smoking on erythrocyte antioxidant status, membrane fluidity.

Design And Methods: Thirty experimental and control subjects (mean age 35+/-5) were selected for the study. Experimental subjects smoke 22+/-4 bidis per day for 8-10 years.