Hilal Ahmad Ganaie

GC-MS Analysis and Evaluation of Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activity ofEthyl Acetate Extract of Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex. Benth: An Endemic MedicinalPlant of Kashmir Himalaya, India

Herbal medicines as the major remedy in traditional system of medicine have been used in medical practices since antiquity. The natural products remain an important source of new drugs, new drug leads and new chemical entities. The ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa was evaluated for mutagenic and antimutagenic assay against mice pre-treated with 1/4th LD50 (117.5 mg/kg bw) of ethyl methane sulphonate by micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assay. Mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa (Ab-EAE) (100, 200 300 & 400 mg/kg bw) for 30 days. Without the doses of EMS, no mutagenic effects were observed in blood and bone marrow samples of the mice. But Ab-EAE showed antimutagenic effects on EMS induced mutagenicity in mice. It was observed that high doses of Ab-EAE showed protective effects. The reduction profiles in the EMS induction MN at concentration of ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg bw) were estimated as 2%, 4.9%, 16.4% and 20.7% respectively. It can be concluded from the study that ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa exhibited no mutagenic effects but only possessing antimutagenic effects. This antimutagenic activity is an induction of medicinal relevance.

Amelioration of the cyclophosphamide induced genotoxic damage in mice by the ethanolic extract of Equisetum arvense

Graphical abstract

Antimutagenic activity of compounds isolated from Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex. Benth against EMS induced mutagenicity in mice

Graphical abstract Schematic representation of compounds isolated from Ajuga bracteosa and their antimutagenic activity.

Germination Studies of Critically Endangered Medicinal Angiosperm Plant Species Meconopsis Aculeta Royle Endemic to Kashmir Himalaya, India: A Multipurpose Species

The critically endangered and perennial alpine endemic angiosperm, Meconopsis aculeta Royle inhabit such habitats in the Kashmir Himalaya that are characterized by short growing season and heavy snow cover for about 3-4 months during winter season. The seeds of this species under natural conditions experience a long period of pre-chilling during winter prior to their germination in following spring season. Taking cue from such a requirement, present study investigated the effect of exogenous application of growth hormones (BAP, NAA Zeatin, Kinetin and TDZ) on germination percentage of deep-dormant seeds of Meconopsis aculeta, under alternate light/dark regimes. Treatment of seeds with different doses of hormonal combinations had a pronounced stimulatory effect on the total germination percentage. In fact, highest germination percentage (78%) was recorded on MS basal supplemented with combinations of Zeatin (4 mg/l) and NAA (0.5 mg/l) within 30 days. The seeds cultured on MS basal medium has no significant influence on germination percentage in Meconopsis aculeta. Among various treatments highest in vitro shoot regeneration was achieved on MS medium supplemented with combination of Zeatin (2 mg/l) and IAA (0.1 mg/l) with 3.41 ± 1.00 cm mean length of shoots with a culture response of 40% within 28 days. In vitro raised shoots regenerated roots on MS medium supplemented with combination of Zeatin (2 mg/l) and IAA (0.1 mg/l) with 14.65 ± 1.23 mean number of roots and 2.76 ± 1.21 cm mean length of roots within 42 days.

Evaluation of HFE Gene (C282Y) Mutation and Its Association Relation with Coronary Artery Diseases in Indian Population

Background: The gene associated with the CAD disease was found out to be the HFE (High Iron Fe) gene and the disease is described with the two, missense mutations of the gene– C282Y and H63D. The focus of this study was to assess the C282Y mutation in CAD patients that results from transition of guanine to adenine (G-A) at the nucleotide position 845, which in turn changes cysteine to tyrosine at the 282nd position. Material and methods: C282Y mutation was analyzed by allele specific PCR (AS-PCR) in 100 samples which includes 96 males and 4 females. Data was collected from each patient. The blood from each patient was collected and analyzed for their cholesterol level, diabetes, RBS (Random blood sugar), LDL (low-density lipoprotein), HDL (high-density lipoproteins), TGL (Triglycerides), smoking, etc. Results: Out of 100 patients, 12 were found to be C282 and 88 were found to be C282Y. The frequency of C282Y in CAD patients with respect to age was found to be 84 in males. Out of 88 C282Y patients 49 was found to have ≤ 140 mg RBS level and 39 patients was found to have >140 mg RBS level. The frequency of C282Y with respect to cholesterol level was found to be ≤ 200 mg in 82 patients and >200 mg in 6 patients. The frequency of C282Y with respect to HDL was found to be ≤ 40 mg in 79 patients and >40 mg in 9 patients. The frequency of C282Y with respect to LDL was found to be ≤ 100 mg in 70 patients and >100 mg in 18 patients. The frequency of C282Y with respect to TGL was found to be ≤ 150 mg in 45 patients and >150 mg in 43 patients. Out of C282Y patients 4 patients had CHD, 13 were hypertensive, 21 were diabetic, 55 were smokers and 40 were alcoholic. Conclusion: There association between the C282Y mutation in the haemochromatosis gene and prevalence of CAD was not evident. Besides this mutation is not a threat for advanced disease or depressed ejection fraction in CAD.