Identification and analysis of proline-rich proteins and hybrid proline-rich proteins super family genes from and their expression patterns to abiotic stress and zinc stimuli.

Systematic genome-wide analysis of revealed the identification of a total of 48 homologous genes comprising 21 proline-rich proteins () and 27 hybrid proline-rich proteins (). Comprehensive scrutiny of these gene homologs was conducted for gene structure, phylogenetic investigations, chromosome mapping, and subcellular localization of proteins. Promoter analysis uncovered the regions rich with phosphorous- (BIHD), ammonium-, sulfur-responsive (SURE), and iron starvation-responsive (IRO2) along with biotic, abiotic, and development-specific -elements.

Therapeutic Potentials of Triterpenes in Diabetes and its Associated Complications.

Diabetes is a major chronic metabolic disorder globally and around of 285 million people are affected by the disease and the number is expected to double in the next two decades. The major focus of anti-diabetic therapies is to enhance insulin production, sensitivity and/or reduce the blood glucose level. Although several synthetic drugs have been developed as antidiabetic agents but their utility has been hampered due to their side effects and poor efficacy.

Targeting arachidonic acid pathway by natural products for cancer prevention and therapy.

Arachidonic acid (AA) pathway, a metabolic process, plays a key role in carcinogenesis. Hence, AA pathway metabolic enzymes phospholipase As (PLAs), cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs) and their metabolic products, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, have been considered novel preventive and therapeutic targets in cancer. Bioactive natural products are a good source for development of novel cancer preventive and therapeutic drugs, which have been widely used in clinical practice due to their safety profiles.

Phospholipase A2 Isoforms as Novel Targets for Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory and Oncologic Diseases.

Phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) are group of enzymes, which cleave phospholipids specifically at sn-2 position to liberate free fatty acid, mostly arachidonic acid (AA) and lysophospholipids (LPLs). Inhibition of PLA2 prevents the liberation of AA and LPLs. Hence, researchers have been considering PLA2s could be a better therapeutic target than the downstream enzymes cyclooxygense and lipoxygenase.

Atorvastatin inhibited Rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediated adhesion and differentiation of CD133+CD44+ prostate cancer stem cells.

Prostate cancer has become a global health concern and is one of the leading causes of cancer death of men after lung and gastric cancers. It has been suggested that the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutarylcoenzyme-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor atorvastatin shows anticancer activity in prostate cancer cell lines. To this end, we analyzed the influence of atorvastatin on the cell adhesion and differentiation of CD133(+)CD44(+) cells derived from prostate cancer biopsies and peripheral blood.

Docking studies of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Damnacanthal and Scopoletin with human lens gamma D-crystalline.

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, scopoletin and damnacanthal are the major constituents of Noni (Morinda citrifolia). These compounds are known to have good medicinal properties and they are known to act as antioxidants. Loss of vision in elderly is due to opaqueness of the lens proteins such as gamma-D-crystallin during oxidative stress conditions.