Anti-Ophidian Properties of Herbal Medicinal Plants: Could it be a Remedy for Snake Bite Envenomation?

Snake bite envenoming causes high rates of morbidity and mortality and is one of the serious health-related concerns all over the globe. Around 3200 species of snakes have been discovered till date. Amid these species, about 1300 species of snakes are venomous.

Structural Analysis of CD59 of Chinese Tree Shrew: A New Reference Molecule for Human Immune System Specific CD59 Drug Discovery.

Background: Chinese tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) bear several characteristics that are considered to be very crucial for utilizing in animal experimental models in biomedical research. Subsequent to the identification of key aspects and signaling pathways in nervous and immune systems, it is revealed that tree shrews acquire common as well as unique characteristics, and hence offer a genetic basis for employing them as a prospective model for biomedical research. CD59 glycoprotein, commonly referred to as MAC-inhibitory protein (MAC-IP), membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (MIRL), or protectin, is encoded by the CD59 gene in human beings.

Discovery of an Unexplored Protein Structural Scaffold of Serine Protease from Big Blue Octopus (Octopus cyanea): A New Prospective Lead Molecule.

Background: Serine proteases are a group of enzymes that hydrolyses the peptide bonds in proteins. In mammals, these enzymes help in the regulation of several major physiological functions such as digestion, blood clotting, responses of immune system, reproductive functions and the complement system.

Objective: Serine proteases obtained from the venom of Octopodidae family is a relatively unexplored area of research.

Molecular Modeling and Structural Analysis of Some Snake Venom Specific Toxin Proteins and Cognate Non-Toxin Proteins of Other Chordates.

Background: Protein three-dimensional structures are very much important in terms of functional and evolutionary context. In the present work we evaluated the snake venom constituent cytotoxin, short neurotoxin and related non-toxin proteins of other chordates with reference to structure prediction, validation of the models, distribution of secondary structural elements, hydrophobicity molecular surface analysis, functional annotation and functionally critical binding site identification with the assistance of different bioinformatical tools.

Methods: Homology models have been generated with the help of Swiss-model and ITASSER suite during the present study.

Molecular Modeling and Structural Analysis of Arylesterase of .

Parasitic worm infection of humans is one of the most commonly prevalent helminth infection that has imposed great impact on society and public health in the developing world. The two species of hookworm, namely and may be primarily responsible for causing parasitic infections in human beings. The highly prevalent areas for infections are mainly India, Middle East, Australia, northern Africa and other parts of the world.

Sequence analysis and phylogenetic study of some toxin proteins of snakes and related non-toxin proteins of chordates.

Snakes are equipped with their venomic armory to tackle different prey and predators in adverse natural world. The venomic composition of snakes is a mix of biologically active proteins and polypeptides. Among different components snake venom cytotoxins and short neurotoxin are non-enzymatic polypeptide candidates with in the venom.

Physicochemical characterization and functional analysis of some snake venom toxin proteins and related non-toxin proteins of other chordates.

Snake venom contains a diverse array of proteins and polypeptides. Cytotoxins and short neurotoxins are non-enzymatic polypeptide components of snake venom. The three-dimensional structure of cytotoxin and short neurotoxin resembles a three finger appearance of three-finger protein super family.

Nanoparticulated quercetin in combating age related cerebral oxidative injury.

Reactive oxygen species e.g. O(2)(*-), H(2)O(2) and *OH generated by the induction of oxidative stress exert a potential threat on the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and substantially influence the aging process and age-dependant neuropathology.

Nanoencapsulation of quercetin enhances its dietary efficacy in combating arsenic-induced oxidative damage in liver and brain of rats.

Aims: This study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of nanocapsulated flavonoidal quercetin (QC) in combating arsenic-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative damage in hepatocytes and brain cells in a rat model.

Main Methods: Hepatic and neuronal cell damage in rats was made by a single injection (sc) of sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2), 13 mg/kg b. wt.