Gaurav Kaithwas

Therapeutic effect of Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil on acute and chronic arthritic models in albino rats.

The present study was undertaken to assess the activity/anti-inflammatory potential of Linum usitatissimum fixed oil against castor oil-induced diarrhoea, turpentine oil-induced joint oedema, formaldehyde and Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in Wistar albino rats. The oil intraperitoneally, significantly inhibited the castor oil-induced diarrhoea and turpentine oil-induced exudative joint oedema in a dose-dependent manner. Significant inhibitory effect of L. usitatissimum fixed oil was observed in formaldehyde-induced proliferative global oedematous arthritis when given intraperitoneally, with significant checking of the serum glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase and serum glutamic pyruvic acid transaminase. Further, L. usitatissimum fixed oil showed a significant dose-dependent protective effect against CFA-induced arthritis as well. Secondary lesions produced by CFA due to a delayed hypersensitivity reaction were also reduced in a significant manner. Anti-inflammatory activity of L. usitatissimum fixed oil can be attributed to the presence of alpha linolenic acid (57.38%, an omega-3 fatty acid, 18:3, n-3) having dual inhibitory effect on arachidonate metabolism resulting in suppressed production of proinflammatory n-6 eicosanoids (PGE2, LTB4) and diminished vascular permeability. These observations suggest possible therapeutic potential of L. usitatissimum fixed oil in inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

Evaluation of antiulcer and antisecretory potential of Linum usitatissimum fixed oil and possible mechanism of action

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antiulcer activity of Linum usitatissimum fixed oil against aspirin-, indomethacin-, ethanol-, reserpine-, serotonin- and stress-induced gastric ulceration in rats and histamine-induced gastric ulceration in guinea pigs. Attempts were also made to evaluate the in vitro anticholinergic and antihistaminic activity and in vivo antisecretary and antiulcer activity of oil following pylorus ligation in rats. L. usitatissimum fixed oil exhibited significant antiulcer activity against different ulcerogens in experimental animal models. The fixed oil significantly inhibited acetylcholine- and histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat ileums, respectively, suggesting its anticholinergic and antihistaminic activity. The oil also exhibited significant inhibitory effect on gastric secretion/total acidity and aspirin-induced gastric ulceration in pylorus-ligated rats. The lipoxygenase inhibitory, histamine antagonistic and antisecretory (anticholinergic) effects of the oil could probably have contributed towards antiulcer activity. L. usitatissimum fixed oil may be considered to be a drug of natural origin which possesses significant antiulcer activity. The present observation is the first experimental data showing antiulcer activity of L. usitatissimum fixed oil.

Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of polysaccharides from Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel

Abstract In the present study, the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides from aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel was evaluated, in vitro by five established methods, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH–) radical scavenging, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, superoxide radical (O-2) scavenging and reducing power assay, and in vivo against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial oxidative stress (OS) in albino wistar rats. The polysaccharides exhibited significant inhibitory activity against DPPH–, superoxide, NO and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay with significant reducing activity at all concentrations used. DOX-induced (7.5 mg/kg, intravenously) cardiotoxicity manifested biochemically by a significant decrease in blood and tissue glutathione (GSH) along with elevated levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase. In addition, cardiotoxicity was further confirmed by the significant increase in lipid peroxidation expressed as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Administration of aloe vera polysaccharides for 14 days produced a marked protection against cardiotoxicity induced by DOX evidenced by significant reductions in serum lactate dehydrogenase, serum creatine phosphokinase, cardiac TBARS, CAT and SOD along with increased levels of blood and tissue GSH in a dose-dependent manner. The present investigation is the first to establish the antioxidant potency of the polysaccharides from aloe vera against DOX-induced myocardial OS.

Distillery Wastewater: A Major Source of Environmental Pollution and Its Biological Treatment for Environmental Safety

Distillery industries are one of the major sources of environmental pollution because these industries discharge a huge volume of dark-colored wastewater into the environment. The wastewater discharged contains high biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), sulfate, phosphate, phenolics, and toxic heavy metals. On terrestrial region, distillery wastewater at higher concentration inhibits seed germination, growth and depletion of vegetation by reducing the soil alkalinity and Mn availability, whereas in aquatic region, it reduces sunlight penetration and decreases both photosynthetic activity and dissolved oxygen content damaging the aquatic ecosystem. The large volume of dark-colored wastewater acts as a major source of soil and water pollution and thus requires adequate treatment for its safe discharge into the environment. Therefore, the removal of pollutants and color from distillery wastewater is becoming increasingly important for the environment and sustainable development. Thus, this chapter provides the detailed information on the generation, characteristic, toxicity as well as various biological methods employing bacteria, fungi, microalgae, etc. for the treatment of distillery wastewater. In biological treatment approaches microalgae have a number of applications over the conventional approaches as it is useful in wastewater treatment, CO2 sequestration, cost-effective, sanitation and also in the production of renewable energy sources such as methane gas, biodiesel, biofuel, glycerol, hydrogen gas, biofertilizers, etc. Furthermore, the merits and demerits of existing processes have been also summarized in this chapter.

Effect of L. usitatissimum (Flaxseed/Linseed) Fixed Oil against Distinct Phases of Inflammation

The present investigation summarizes the effect of Linum usitatissimum fixed oil against different phases of acute inflammatory reaction, namely, protein exudation, peritoneal capillary permeability, and leukocyte migration. The fixed oil exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of protein exudation vascular permeability, comparable to standard aspirin. The oil also inhibited the leukocyte migration in pleural exudates in a dose-dependent manner. Production of less vasodilatory (PGE3) and chemotactic (LTB5) eicosanoids through EPA (derived from linolenic acid) metabolism could account for the above observations.

Combination therapy of gamma-aminobutyric acid derivative promotes proton pump inhibitor based healing of reflux esophagitis in animal model

BACKGROUND The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of omeprazole and baclofen on experimental esophagitis in albino rats. METHODS Groups of rats, fasted overnight received normal saline (3 ml/kg, ip; sham control) or toxic control (3 ml/kg, ip) or omeprazole (30 mg/kg, ip) or baclofen (20 mg/kg, ip) or their combinations, were subjected to the pylorus and forestomach ligation. Animals were sacrificed after 6 h and evaluated for the gastric pH, volume of gastric juices, total acidity, esophagitis index and free acidity. Esophageal tissues were further subjected to estimations of TBARS, GSH, catalase and SOD. RESULTS Treatment with omeprazole and baclofen significantly inhibited the gastric secretion, total acidity and esophagitis index. The treatment also helped to restore the altered levels oxidative stress parameters to normal. CONCLUSION The beneficial effect of omeprazole and baclofen against GERD could be conglomerately attributed to the antisectretory action of omeprazole and reduction in the tracheal lower esophageal sphincter release rate by baclofen.

Alpha-linolenic acid stabilizes HIF-1 α and downregulates FASN to promote mitochondrial apoptosis for mammary gland chemoprevention

Alpha linolenic acid is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid and is reported to have the anti-cancer potential with no defined hypothesis or mechanism/s. Henceforth present study was in-quested to validate the effect of alpha linolenic acid on mitochondrial apoptosis, hypoxic microenvironment and de novo fatty acid synthesis using in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The IC50 value of alpha linolenic acid was recorded to be 17.55μM against ER+MCF-7 cells. Treatment with alpha linolenic acid was evident for the presence of early and late apoptotic signals along with mitochondrial depolarization, when studied through acridine orange/ethidium bromide and JC-1 staining. Alpha linolenic acid arrested the cell cycle in G2/M phase. Subsequently, the in-vivo efficacy was examined against 7, 12-dimethylbenz anthracene induced carcinogenesis. Treatment with alpha linolenic acid demarcated significant effect upon the cellular proliferation as evidenced through decreased in alveolar bud count, restoration of the histopathological architecture and loss of tumor micro vessels. Alpha linolenic acid restored the metabolic changes to normal when scrutinized through 1H NMR studies. The immunoblotting and qRT-PCR studies revealed participation of mitochondrial mediated death apoptosis pathway and curtailment of hypoxic microenvironment after treatment with alpha linolenic acid. With all above, it was concluded that alpha linolenic acid mediates mitochondrial apoptosis, curtails hypoxic microenvironment along with inhibition of de novo fatty acid synthesis to impart anticancer effects.

Dual inhibition of arachidonic acid pathway by mulberry leaf extract

The present work investigates the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity of methanolic extract of mulberry leaves of variety S-1, S-13 and S-146. The S-146 extract was further evaluated for its efficacy against adjuvant arthritis in albino rats followed by inhibitory potential for COX 1, COX 2 and 5 LOX. The HPLC analysis enumerated the presence of morin, reversterol, scopoletin and 7-hydroxy coumarin as the major constituents. The anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activity observed in the present experiment could be accredited to the dual inhibition in the AA pathway. The inhibition of COX and LOX enzymes could be imparted to the presence of resveraterol, morin, scopoletin and 7-hydroxy coumarin.

Effect of enteral administration of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid against methotrexate induced intestinal toxicity in albino rats

The present study was conducted to show the effect of α-linolenic acid (ALA) (18 : 3, ω-3) and linoleic acid (LA) (18 : 2, ω-6) on experimental intestinal toxicity induced by methotrexate (MTX). The groups of albino rats received: Group I: normal saline (2 ml kg−1, i.p. sham control); Group-II: MTX (2.5 mg kg−1, i.p. toxic control); Group-III: ALA (2 ml kg−1, i.p.); Group-IV: LA (18 : 2, ω-6) (2 ml kg−1, i.p.), Group-V: ALA (2 ml kg−1, i.p.) and Group-VI: LA (2 ml kg−1, i.p.) with MTX (2.5 mg kg−1, i.p.). Animals were sacrificed after 7 days treatment schedule and appraised for intestinal pH, total acidity, free acidity and colonic mucosal disease index (CMDI). Intestinal tissues were further evaluated for oxidative stress parameters (TBARS, SOD, protein carbonyl and catalase), and morphological modulation using scanning electron microscopy. The intestinal tissues were further graded for the enzymatic activities of COX-1, COX-2 and 15-LOX. Both ALA and LA demonstrated momentous protection against MTX induced intestinal toxicity, which could be attributed to their prooxidant nature.

Microbial indicators, pathogens and methods for their monitoring in water environment

Water is critical for life, but many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water and die because of waterborne diseases. The analysis of drinking water for the presence of indicator microorganisms is key to determining microbiological quality and public health safety. However, drinking water-related illness outbreaks are still occurring worldwide. Moreover, different indicator microorganisms are being used in different countries as a tool for the microbiological examination of drinking water. Therefore, it becomes very important to understand the potentials and limitations of indicator microorganisms before implementing the guidelines and regulations designed by various regulatory agencies. This review provides updated information on traditional and alternative indicator microorganisms with merits and demerits in view of their role in managing the waterborne health risks as well as conventional and molecular methods proposed for monitoring of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms in the water environment. Further, the World Health Organization (WHO) water safety plan is emphasized in order to develop the better approaches designed to meet the requirements of safe drinking water supply for all mankind, which is one of the major challenges of the 21st century.