Medicinal plants are in use of humankind since ancient and still they are playing an important role in effective and safer natural drug delivery systems. Acacia nilotica (native of Egypt) commonly ...known as babul belongs to family Fabaceae, widely spread in India, Sri Lanka and Sudan. Being a common and important plant, using in many ways from fodder (shoots and leaves to animals) to dyeing (leather coloration) to medicine (root, bark, leaves, flower, gum, pods). The present study is focused on investigating the natural chemistry and important biological activities of the plant. Employing bioassay guided fractionation coupled with TLC and column chromatography, a pure fraction named AN-10 was isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of crude methanol extract which identified as "Betulin (Lupan-3ß,28-diol)" by Liebermann-Burchard test and structure elucidation by UV-Vis, NMR and MS techniques. A battery of in vitro biological assays for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer were performed and betulin showed excellent potential in all assays. It was found that the inhibitory potential in all assays were dose dependent manner and after a range of concentration, the activities get leveled off with no further increase in activity.
Cancer, the main cause of human deaths in the modern world is a group of diseases. Anticancer drug discovery is a challenge for scientists because of involvement of multiple survival pathways of ...cancer cells. An extensive study on the regulation of each step of these pathways may help find a potential cancer target. Up-regulated HIF-1 expression and altered metabolic pathways are two classical characteristics of cancer. Oxygen-dependent (through pVHL, PHDs, calcium-mediated) and independent (through growth factor signaling pathway, mdm2 pathway, HSP90) regulation of HIF-1α leads to angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell survival. The two subunits of HIF-1 regulates in the same fashion through different mechanisms. HIF-1α translation upregulates via mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, whereas HIF-1β through calmodulin kinase. Further, the stabilized interactions of these two subunits are important for proper functioning. Also, metabolic pathways crucial for the formation of building blocks (pentose phosphate pathway) and energy generation (glycolysis, TCA cycle and catabolism of glutamine) are altered in cancer cells to protect them from oxidative stress and to meet the reduced oxygen and nutrient supply. Up-regulated anaerobic metabolism occurs through enhanced expression of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, triosephosphate isomerase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and down-regulation of aerobic metabolism via pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and lactate dehydrogenase which compensate energy requirements along with high glucose intake. Controlled expression of these two pathways through their common intermediate may serve as potent cancer target in future.
An intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) based fluorescent probe 2 has been designed and synthesized for the ratiometric detection of hydrazine in PC3 cell lines. Further, probe 2 demonstrates the ...selective naked-eye detection of hydrazine in the presence of representative metal ions in an aqueous environment. Further, to promote the selective, economic and easy detection of hydrazine, the fluorescent test strips of probe 2 have been prepared which can detect hydrazine up to femtogram level.
An intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) based fluorescent probe 2 has been designed and synthesized for the ratiometric detection of hydrazine in PC3 cell lines. Further, probe 2 demonstrates the selective naked-eye detection of hydrazine in the presence of representative metal ions in an aqueous environment. Further, to promote the selective, economic and easy detection of hydrazine, the fluorescent test strips of probe 2 have been prepared which can detect hydrazine up to femtogram level.
Medicinal plants possess range of phytochemicals accountable for their diverse biological activities. Presently, such compounds have been isolated from medicinal plants, characterized and evaluated ...for their pharmacological potential. In the present study, the efforts have been made to isolate the compound(s) from Grewia tiliaefolia Vahl., plant known for its ameliorative effect on brain related diseases such as anxiety, depression, cognitive disorders and Parkinson's disease. Plant extract was subjected to isolation of compound(s) using column chromatography and isolated compound was characterized by NMR FTIR and LCMS. The isolated compound was novel with the IUPAC name of the compound is propyl 3-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-3H-cyclopentaaphenanthrene-17-carboxylate, designated as A-1 and has not been reported before. A-1 was further evaluated for its antioxidant potential using in vitro antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate, DPPH assay and reducing power assay, RPA). Also, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potential of A-1 and extract was analysed. Results showed that A-1 exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity in both DPPH and RPA assay as compared to plant extract. In case of AChE inhibitory activity again, A-1 has shown significantly higher activity as compared to plant extract. In silico study was conducted to predict its action on proteins playing crucial role in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders such as gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor and glutamate α amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (Glu AMPA) receptor in epilepsy and AChE enzyme in Alzheimer's diseases. The compound has shown interaction in following order: AChE > GABA receptor > Glu AMPA receptor. Further, molecular dynamic simulations and ADME studies of A-1 and AChE enzyme revealed that A-1 yielded good results in all parameters and hence can relieve Alzheimer's like symptoms.
Heavy metals are known for their toxicity which poses risk to human health even at very low levels. In the present work, groundwater from 24 different sites of Malwa region were analyzed for heavy ...metal contents (Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Mercury, Manganese, Lead, and Zinc) and possible health risks along with ecotoxicological impact of contaminated groundwater using stress biomarkers in
Brassica juncea
seedlings. Mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn (µg/l) in groundwater samples was found to be 1.00, 6.16, 70.40, 0.27, 709.23, 59.38, and 368.15, respectively, during summer and 0.69, 4.03, 53.75, 1.21, 98.21, 69.58, and 254.92, respectively, during winter season. The concentrations of detected metals were above the acceptable groundwater standard limits for Mn, Hg and Pb. The average daily dose (ADD) and hazard quotient (HQ) values for Cu and Pb were above the threshold values at Bathinda during both the seasons. The results of phytotoxicity indicated that the groundwater affected the antioxidant enzymes and the biochemical parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), protein and chlorophyll content in
Brassica juncea
. Our findings suggested that the groundwater is significantly contaminated with heavy metals and its long-term use for drinking purpose without any pre-treatment may cause severe health risks in humans and irrigation of agricultural fields also results in their bioaccumulations in food crops.
The knowledge of plant responses to various abiotic stresses is crucial to understand their underlying mechanisms as well as the methods to develop new varieties of crops, which are better suited to ...the environment they are grown in. Environmental Stress Physiology of Plants and Crop Productivity provides readers a timely update on the knowledge about plant responses to a variety of stresses such as salinity, temperature, drought, oxidative stress and mineral deficiencies. Chapters focus on biochemical mechanisms identified in plants crucial to adapting to specific abiotic stressors along with the methods of improving plant tolerance. The book also sheds light on plant secondary metabolites such as phenylpropanoids and plant growth regulators in ameliorating the stressful conditions in plants. Additional chapters present an overview of applications of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics (including CRISPR/CAS techniques) to develop abiotic stress tolerant crops. The editors have also provided detailed references for extended reading to support the information in the book.Environmental Stress Physiology of Plants and Crop Productivity is an informative reference for scholars and researchers working in the field of botany, agriculture, crop science and physiology, soil science, and environmental sciences.
A multi-herbal combination (MHC) of five herbs, namely
Punica granatum
L.,
Putranjiva roxburghii
Wall.,
Swertia chirata
Buch.-Ham.,
Tinospora cordifolia
(Willd.) Miers and
Trigonella corniculata
L. ...was assessed against the paracetamol-induced acute hepatotoxicity in female Wistar rats. The animals were randomly assorted into seven groups with six animals in each group. The rats were pre-treated with MHC (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw) and silymarin (50 mg/kg bw) once daily for seven consecutive days via oral route followed by administration of paracetamol (3 g/kg bw) on day 7, an hour after the last administration of MHC and silymarin. It was observed that MHC administration significantly (
p ≤
0.05) overturned the paracetamol-induced increase in serum liver function biomarkers (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin), phase I reaction enzymes (NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase), and oxidant biomarkers (lactate dehydrogenase, lipid peroxidation, lipid hydroperoxides, and protein content). MHC administration also reinstated the paracetamol-induced significant decrease (
p ≤
0.05) in haematological indices (haematocrit, haemoglobin, red and white blood cells, and platelets), phase II reaction enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase and DT-diaphorase), membrane-bound enzymes (Na
+
/K
+
-ATPase, Ca
2+
-ATPase, and Mg
2+
-ATPase), and antioxidant biomarkers (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). Overall, MHC at 200 mg/kg bw dose significantly (
p
≤ 0.05) sheltered the red blood cells from the assault of free radicals, stabilized the structural and functional integrity of hepatocytes, hindered acetaminophen (APAP) biotransformation to its toxic metabolites, and endorsed conjugating abilities to detoxify toxic entities. Furthermore, MHC significantly (
p
≤ 0.05) activated enzymatic machinery to scavenge/inhibit the formation of reactive oxygen species, regulated nucleic acid metabolism, surface potential, and membrane fluidity, attenuated tissue breakdown, quenched peroxyl radicals, and provided protection against tissue injury. The necroinflammatory scores revealed strong evidence of MHC (200 mg/kg bw) effectiveness against the paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats at
p
≤ 0.05. The synergistic effect of major inherent phytoconstituents (kaempferol, ellagic acid, and gallic acid), detected by HPLC-PDA, in MHC might have overturned the paracetamol-induced biochemical toxic alterations in rat liver.
The present study was designed to explore the antioxidant potential of chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions of 80% methanol extract of leaves Chukrasia tabularis by ...2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), deoxyribose degradation (non-site specific and site specific), reducing power and DNA nicking assays. The different fractions showed significant activities in all the free radical scavenging tests and these findings have also shown direct relationship between antioxidant activity and phenolic content. Among the fractions, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited highest inhibition of 93.14%, 89.99%, 87.04% in DPPH, non-site specific and site specific deoxyribose degradation assays, respectively and 91.20% reduction of ferricyanide to give Prussian blue coloured complex in reducing power assay at maximum concentration tested. This preliminary study indicates the antioxidant activity of the leaves of Chukrasia tabularis, and moreover the results showed correlation with the amount of phenolic content present in different fractions.
The ubiquitous presence of contaminants like pesticides in the various environmental matrices has become a concern for environmental sustainability and global stability. Pesticides are a distinctive ...class of environmental contaminants that are specifically introduced into the environment to kill or inhibit pests attacking the different crops. Although pesticide application is beneficial to crop production by serving several significant purposes, like protection against vector-borne diseases and crop loss, there are substantial concerns as they have a persistent nature and can possess serious consequences because of harmful effects to non-targeted beings comprising humans also. Pesticide consumption has reached 4.1 million tonnes/year in 2017 almost 81% from 1990. Recent data suggest pesticides account for 14–20% of global suicides from 2006 to 2015 resulting in 111,000–168,000 deaths annually from 2010 to 2014. About 14 million people have died from suicide by consuming pesticides since the beginning of the Green revolution. About 1 million accidental pesticide poisoning occur each year causing 20,000 fatalities approximately. For this reason, the occurrence of pesticides in different mediums like crop, air, water resources, fruits and vegetables, soil, plants, birds, animal products, and human beings was reviewed. This paper presents an overview of pesticides occurrence, distribution, extraction method, analytical techniques for their detection. This review will assist policymakers to enforce guidelines to restrict the redundant use of pesticides.
Mitochondrial impairment, energetic crisis and elevated oxidative stress have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the pathological processes of Huntington's disease (HD). 3-Nitropropionic ...acid (3-NPA) is a natural neurotoxin that mimics the neurological dysfunctions, mitochondrial impairments and oxidative imbalance of HD. The current investigation was undertaken to demonstrate the neuroprotective effect of 4-(methylthio)butyl isothiocyanate (4-MTBITC) against the 3-NPA induced neurotoxicity in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells. The experimental evidence of oxidative DNA damage by 3-NPA was elucidated by pBR322 DNA nicking assay. In contrast, the 4-MTBITC considerably attenuated the DNA damage, suggesting its free radical scavenging action against 3-NPA and Fenton's reagent. The dose and time-dependent increase of 3-NPA revealed its neurotoxic dose as 0.5 mM after 24 h of treatment of SH-SY5Y cells in MTT assay. In order to determine the optimal dose at which 4-MTBITC protects cell death, the 3-NPA (IC
) induced cells were pretreated with different concentrations of 4-MTBITC for 1 h. The neuroprotective dose of 4-MTBITC against 3-NPA was found to be 0.25 μM. Additionally, the elevated GSH levels in cells treated with 4-MTBITC indicate its propensity to eliminate reactive species generated as a result of 3-NPA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Likewise, it was determined through microscopic and flow cytometric experiments that 3-NPA's induced overproduction of reactive species and a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) could be efficiently prevented by pre-treating cells with 4-MTBITC. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism, the RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the pre-treatment of 4-MTBITC effectively protected neuronal cells against 3-NPA-induced cell death by preventing Caspase-3 activation, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) upregulation, activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and Nrf2 induction. Together, our findings lend credence to the idea that pre-treatment with 4-MTBITC reduced 3-NPA-induced neurotoxicity by lowering redox impairment, apoptotic state, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The present work, in conclusion, presented the first proof that the phytoconstituent 4-MTBITC supports the antioxidant system, BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling, and neuronal survival in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells against 3-NPA-induced oxidative deficits.
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