Amelioration of Radiation-Induced Damages in Mice by Curcuminoids: The Role of Bioavailability.

Purpose: The present study investigated the role of free curcuminoids bioavailability on the relative radioprotective efficacy of natural unformulated curcuminoids.

Materials And Methods: A food-grade bioavailable formulation of curcuminoids as curcumagalactomannosides (CGM) and unformulated curcuminoids (UC) were employed for the study. Swiss albino mice were randomized into Normal control, Radiation control, Radiation + UC, and Radiation + CGM groups and irradiated with γ-radiation of 6, 8, 10 and 12 Gy.

Comparative neuroprotective effects of native curcumin and its galactomannoside formulation in carbofuran-induced neurotoxicity model.

Toxicity of the pesticide carbofuran (CF) can be alleviated by curcumin, if not for its poor bioavailability. Hence, we investigated the effect of a bioavailable curcumin-galactomannan complex (CGM) on CF-induced neurotoxicity in rats in comparison to that of unformulated standard curcumin (CS). The CF (5 mg/kg b.

Beyond the flavor: A green formulation of oleo-gum-resin with fenugreek dietary fibre and its gut health potential.

Albeit the fact that asafotida is a popular kitchen spice and Indian folklore medicine for gut disorders, its consumption at physiologically relevant dosage is greatly challenged by the unpleasant flavor characteristics. Herein we report a green approach to derive stable powder formulations of asafoetida gum with minimized taste and odor suitable for dietary applications and gut health-related disorders. Employing a water based ultrasound mediated gel-phase dispersion of asafoetida gum on fenugreek derived soluble galactomannan fibre matrix.

Protective Effect of Curcumin Against Carbofuran-Induced Toxicity in Wistar Rats.

Pesticide carbofuran (Furadan) is known to be an inhibitor of nerve impulses by its inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Oral administration of carbofuran also produced tissue damage as evidenced by the increased the activities of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) in tissues and serum. Against carbofuran, curcumin restored the activities of acetylcholinesterase, LDH, CK and γ- GT in animals.

Amelioration of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac and Renal Toxicity by Oxycarotenoid Lutein and Its Mechanism of Action.

We set out to determine the effect of oxycarotenoid lutein on reducing cardiac and renal toxicity induced by doxorubicin (DXR). We started with oral administration in rats of lutein for 15 d before administering DXR (30 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally, in a single dose). Animals in all groups were sacrificed 24 h after DXR administration.

Safety assessment of a standardized polyphenolic extract of clove buds: Subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity studies.

Despite the various reports on the toxicity of clove oil and its major component eugenol, systematic evaluations on the safety of polyphenolic extracts of clove buds have not been reported. Considering the health beneficial pharmacological effects and recent use of clove polyphenols as dietary supplements, the present study investigated the safety of a standardized polyphenolic extract of clove buds (Clovinol), as assessed by oral acute (5 g/kg b.wt.

Safety, Tolerance, and Enhanced Efficacy of a Bioavailable Formulation of Curcumin With Fenugreek Dietary Fiber on Occupational Stress: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Drug delivery systems capable of delivering free (unconjugated) curcuminoids is of great therapeutic significance, since the absorption of bioactive and permeable form plays a key factor in mediating the efficacy of a substance which undergoes rapid biotransformation. Considering the recent understanding on the relatively high bioactivities and blood-brain-barrier permeability of free curcuminoids over their conjugated metabolites, the present human study investigated the safety, antioxidant efficacy, and bioavailability of CurQfen (curcumagalactomannoside [CGM]), a food-grade formulation of natural curcumin with fenugreek dietary fiber that has shown to possess improved blood-brain-barrier permeability and tissue distribution in rats. In this randomized double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial, 60 subjects experiencing occupational stress-related anxiety and fatigue were randomized to receive CGM, standard curcumin, and placebo for 30 days (500 mg twice daily).

Protection against Whole Body γ-Irradiation Induced Oxidative Stress and Clastogenic Damage in Mice by Ginger Essential Oil.

Radioprotective effects of ginger essential oil (GEO) on mortality, body weight alteration, hematological parameters, antioxidant status and chromosomal damage were studied in irradiated mice. Regression analysis of survival data in mice exposed to radiation yielded LD50/30 as 7.12 and 10.

Amino acids in sandal (Santalum album L) with special reference to cis-4-hydroxy-l-proline and sym. homospermidine.

Sandal (Santalum album L) contains several interesting amino acids and amines which are not seen in other plants. This includes cis-4-hydroxy-l-proline in free form in leaves, flowers and seeds while trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline in bound form. Traces of 3, 4 dehydroproline is also detected in sandal leaves.

Anti-inflammatory potential of carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin and its mode of action.

Context: meso-Zeaxanthin (MZ) is a xanthophyll carotenoid with profound antioxidant activity.

Objective: Oxidative stress plays a decisive role in numerous degenerative diseases including cancer. The present study evaluates anti-inflammatory effect of MZ.

Safety and anti-ulcerogenic activity of a novel polyphenol-rich extract of clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum L).

Despite the various reports on the pharmacology of Clove bud [Syzygium aromaticum]-derived essential oil and its major component eugenol, systematic information on the bioactivity of clove polyphenols is very limited. Clove buds being one of the richest sources of dietary polyphenols with many traditional medicinal uses, the present contribution attempted to derive their standardized polyphenol-rich extracts as a water soluble free flowing powder (Clovinol) suitable for functional food applications, without the issues of its characteristic pungency and aroma. The extract was characterized by electrospray ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and investigated for in vivo antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic activities.

Enhanced bioavailability and safety of curcumagalactomannosides as a dietary ingredient.

In spite of the various bioavailable formulations of curcumin for pharma and dietary supplement applications, food grade formulations suitable as a dietary ingredient, and capable of providing significant levels of plasma curcumin, are limited. The present contribution describes the safety and oral bioavailability of a novel water soluble formulation of curcumin, curcumagalactomannosides (CGM), when used as a dietary ingredient in selected food items. CGM was prepared using a food grade hydrocolloid (galactomannans) derived from the kitchen spice fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graccum), without using any synthetic excipients.

Chemopreventive activity of turmeric essential oil and possible mechanisms of action.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activity of turmeric essential oil as well as to establish biochemical mechanisms of action. Antimutagenicity testing was accomplished using strains and known mutagens with and without microsomal activation. Anticarcinogenic activity was assessed by topical application of 7, 12 - dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as initiator and 1% croton oil as promoter for the induction of skin papillomas in mice.

Gastroprotective activity of essential oils from turmeric and ginger.

Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officianale) are widely used in Asian countries as traditional medicine and food ingredients. In the present study, we have evaluated the gastroprotective activity of turmeric essential oil (TEO) and ginger essential oil (GEO) in rats.

Methods: Turmeric and ginger were evaluated for their antiulcer activity against ethanol-induced ulcers in male Wistar rats at different doses: 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight.

Antimutagenic potential and modulation of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes by ginger essential oil.

Essential oil extracted from ginger (GEO) was evaluated for its mutagenicity to Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 102, and TA 1535 strains with and without microsomal activation. GEO was found to be non-mutagenic up to a concentration of 3 mg/plate. It was also assessed for antimutagenic potential against direct acting mutagens such as sodium azide, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, tobacco extract, and 2-acetamidoflourene, which needs microsomal activation.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of essential oil from ginger.

Chemical compositions of ginger oil as well as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential were evaluated in the present study. The main constituents as detected by GC/MS analysis was alpha-zingiberene which constituted 31% of the total area, ar-curcumene (15.4%) and a -sesquiphellandrene (14.

Anticarcinogenic activity of meso-zeaxanthin in rodents and its possible mechanism of action.

Anticarcinogenic activity of meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), a xanthophyll carotenoid with profound antioxidant activity, was evaluated against 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-induced sarcoma in mice. Oral administration of MZ at different doses significantly increased tumor latency period. In 3-MC control group, animals started developing sarcoma on 6th week.

Carotenoid lutein protects the kidney against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure.

Cisplatin is one of the most potent anticancer drugs available for the treatment of a variety of tumors. One of the side effects of this drug is nephrotoxicity. Current research evidence indicates that the renal toxicity is mainly due to the reactive oxygen molecules generated by cisplatin.

Chemo protective activity of carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin against doxorubicin-induced cardio toxicity.

Carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) was evaluated for its protective effect against doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardio toxicity in Wistar rats. Oral administration of MZ was started 15 days prior to doxorubicin (30mg/kg b.wt, i.

Acute and subchronic toxicity as well as mutagenic evaluation of essential oil from turmeric (Curcuma longa L).

The present study investigated the acute, subchronic and genotoxicity of turmeric essential oil (TEO) from Curcuma longa L. Acute administration of TEO was done as single dose up to 5 g of TEO per kg body weight and subchronic toxicity study for thirteen weeks was done by daily oral administration of TEO at doses 0.1, 0.

Effect of carotenoid lutein on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma and its mechanism of action.

Oxycarotenoid lutein (3,3'-dihydroxy-β,ε-carotene) was checked for anticarcinogenic activity against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Lutein could significantly reduce the altered morphological and pathological changes in the liver induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine. Biochemical analysis of serum and tissues indicated that alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly elevated in the control group and significantly reduced in the lutein-treated groups.

Amelioration of radiation-induced damages in mice by carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin.

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the radioprotective effect of meso-zeaxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid with profound antioxidant activity.

Materials And Methods: Swiss albino mice were treated with different doses of meso-zeaxanthin (50 and 250 mg/kg body weight, orally) five days before irradiation and sacrificed at different time points. The protective effects of meso-zeaxanthin on mortality, haematological parameters, bone marrow cellularity and gastrointestinal system of irradiated mice were studied.

Antimutagenic activity of Lutein--an oxycarotenoid present in the macula and its inhibition of cytochrome P 450 enzymes in vitro.

Carotenoid lutein was investigated for its antimutagenic activity in vitro by Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98, TA 100, TA 102 and TA 1535. Mutagens used were direct acting mutagens such as sodiumazide (NaN3) (5μg/ plate), nitro-o- phenylendiamine (NPDA) (20μg/ plate), N-methyl- N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) (1μg/ plate), tobacco extract (50mg/ plate) and acetamidofluorene (AAF) (20μg/ plate) which needed microsomal activation. Lutein significantly inhibited the mutagenicity produced by direct acting mutagens as well as mutagens needing activation by cytochrome P450 enzymes at very low concentration (IC50 < 50 μg/plate).

Carotenoid lutein protects rats from gastric ulcer induced by ethanol.

Background: Carotenoid lutein was evaluated for antiulcerogenic activity in rats.

Methods: Gastric ulcer was induced in fasted rats by oral administration of ethanol (95%) (5 mL/kg body weight). Lutein (100 and 250 mg/kg body weight) was administered everyday for 5 days prior to alcohol administration.

Amelioration of cisplatin-induced toxicity in mice by carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin.

Carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin ((3R, 3'S)-β, β-carotene-3,3'-diol [MZ]) was evaluated for its protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. Oral administration of MZ was started 5 days prior to cisplatin (16 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally as a single dose) injection. Animals in all groups were killed 72 h after cisplatin treatment.