Synergistic antimutagenic effect of isothiocyanates against varied mutagens.

Although plant foods provide an array of nutrients in the human diet, our knowledge of how these nutrients are interacting among each other at molecular level is limited. Among these, glucosinolates are the most important secondary metabolites, which are readily hydrolyzed to a variety of products including isothiocyanates. The current study emphasizes on the antimutagenic potential of three isothiocyanates (ITCs) viz.

Evaluation of cytotoxic and radical-scavenging activities of root extracts of Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken.

In the present study root extracts of Schleichera oleosa were prepared and analysed for hydroxyl radical scavenging potential in different in vitro models, such as deoxyribose degradation (site-specific and non-site specific) and plasmid nicking assays. The extracts were found to have profound effects in both assays by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. The extracts were also assessed for in vitro cytotoxicity in a sulphorhodamine B dye assay against a panel of cell lines representing different types of human cancers and tissues, wherein the methanol, ethyl acetate and water extracts were found to effectively inhibit the growth of selective cell lines.

Antimutagenic potential of glucosinolate-rich seed extracts of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var italica Plenck).

In the current study, isolation of glucosinolate degradation products was done in 4 different incubation solutions with different pHs based on the fact that distinct hydrolytic products are formed at different pHs. All the extracts were tested against direct-acting mutagens (4 nitro-o-phenylenediamine [NPD]), sodium azide, and indirect-acting mutagen (2-aminofluorene [2AF]). It was observed that extracts inhibited mutagenesis induced by the S9-dependent mutagen (2AF) more significantly than direct-acting mutagens.

Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by extracts/subfractions of Chickrassy (Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss.).

Polyphenols and polyphenol-rich fractions of plants have been reported to have protective effects against lipid peroxidation, most probably by serving as scavengers of free radicals and/or by chelating metal ions. In the present study, the effect of different extracts/subfractions of Chickrassy (Chukrasia tabularis) on peroxyl radical mediated damage to the polyunsaturated fatty acids was investigated. Liver homogenate was used as experimental material.

Studies on cytotoxic, hydroxyl radical scavenging and topoisomerase inhibitory activities of extracts of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. ex Roem. and Schult.

In the present investigation, the cytotoxic, hydroxyl radical scavenging and topoisomerase inhibition activities of Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae) were evaluated. The extracts from leaves of the plant were prepared with different solvents viz. chloroform, methanol, ethyl acetate and hexane.