Madhu Kumar

Modulatory role of Emblica officinalis fruit extract against arsenic induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice

Arsenic, an important human toxin, is naturally occurring in groundwater and its accumulation in plants and animals have assumed a menacing proportion in a large part of the world, particularly Asia. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong association between chronic arsenic exposure and various adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases, neurological defects and cancer of lung, skin, bladder, liver and kidney. The protective role of the fruits of Emblica officinalis (500 mg/kg b.wt.) was studied in adult Swiss albino mice against arsenic induced hepatopathy. Arsenic treated group (NaAsO(2), 4 mg/kg b.wt.) had a significant increase in serum transaminases and lipid peroxidation (LPO) content in liver, whereas significant decrease was recorded in hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Combined treatment of Emblica and arsenic (pre and post) declined the serum transaminases and LPO content in liver whereas significant increase was noticed in SOD, CAT, GST and serum alkaline phosphatase activities. Liver histopathology showed that Emblica fruit extract had reduced karyolysis, karyorrhexis, necrosis and cytoplasmic vacuolization induced by NaAsO(2) intoxication. Thus it can be concluded that pre- and post-supplementation of E. officinalis fruit extract significantly reduced arsenic induced oxidative stress in liver.

Role of Panax ginseng as an antioxidant after cadmium-induced hepatic injuries

Liver, being primary site for biotransformation of foreign compounds is vulnerable to various chemical assaults. Ginseng has a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutical action. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) induced toxicity in liver and its possible protection by Panax ginseng. Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups: (i) Control group--only vehicle (double distilled water) (ii) Ginseng treated group - 10mg/kg b.wt. orally (iii) CdCl(2) treated group - 1.0mg/kg b.wt. CdCl(2) i.p. (iv) Combination group--Ginseng root extract (10mg/kg b.wt.) and CdCl(2) (1.0mg/kg b.wt.). Activities of alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT were measured in serum and lipid peroxidation (LPO) and GSH content were measured in liver. The results indicated a significant increase in LPO, GOT, GPT activities and decrease in GSH and serum alkaline phosphatase activities after CdCl(2) treatment. Ginseng alone did not show any significant alterations except a significant decrease in LPO level. Combined treatment of Ginseng and CdCl(2) showed significant decrease in LPO, GOT, GPT and elevation in GSH and serum alkaline phosphatase as compared to CdCl(2) treated group. Thus, Ginseng is found to be protective against cadmium-induced hepatic injuries.

Evaluation of radiomodifying effects of root extract of Panax ginseng

Radiomodifying effects of the root extract of Panax ginseng were observed on the testes of Swiss albino mice at 10 and 20 mg/kg dose. The root extract was found to be non‐toxic when injected up to 1200 mg/kg. A significant enhancement was observed in the survival time of the irradiated group compared with the control when pretreated with ginseng extract. Besides survival time, radiation induced damage to the germ cells and loss of body weight were also reduced markedly by this treatment. The probable reason for this radioprotection can be correlated with the increased level of liver glutathione (GSH).

Modulation of lead toxicity by Spirulina fusiformis.

The modulatory effects of lead toxicity by Spirulina fusiformis (Oscillatoreaceae) were observed on the testes of Swiss albino mice at a dose of 800 mg /kg body weight. The Spirulina fusiformis was non‐toxic at the dose given. A significant enhancement in the survival time was observed in the pre‐ and post‐ treated Spirulina group compared with the control (lead treated) group. Lead induced toxicity was also reduced in terms of testes weight, animal weight, tubular diameter in the pre Spirulina treated group. The modulatory effects of Spirulina may be attributed to the presence of the antioxidants, β‐carotene and SOD enzyme. Copyright

Induction of Reversible Antifertility with a Crude Ethanol Extract of Carica papaya Seeds in Albino Male Rats

AbstractA crude ethanol extract of Carica papaya L. seeds was administered to male albino rats at dose regimens of 10 and 50 mg/animal/day orally for 30, 60 and 90 days and 0.1 and 1.0 mg/animal/day intramuscularly for 15 and 30 days for the evaluation of contraceptive efficacy, reversibility and related side effects. Significant decreases in cauda epididymal sperm motility, sperm count, fertility and litter size were observed after oral dosing of the extract, while intramuscular administration caused significant decreases in cauda epididymal sperm motility and litter size. Testis weight decreased significantly after oral, but not intramuscular, administration. Body weight response, hematological parameters and blood/serum biochemical parameters were comparable to control values throughout the experimental period. Complete recovery of all the altered parameters except sperm motility in the high dose intramuscular group was evident following 60 and 45 days of treatment withdrawal in animals dosed orally an...

Modification of mercury-induced biochemical alterations in blood of Swiss albino mice by Spirulina fusiformis

The present investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the role of Spirulina fusiformis in modifying the mercury-induced biochemical alterations in Swiss albino mice. Animals were divided into four groups: (i) control group - only vehicle (0.9% NaCl/olive oil) was given; (ii) HgCl(2) treated group - 5.0mg/kg b.w. HgCl(2) administered as i.p.; (iii) Spirulina treated group - 800mg/kg b.w. Spirulina extract was administered orally; (iv) combination group -S. fusiformis was administered 10 days before mercuric chloride administration and continued up to 30 days after mercuric chloride administration (5.0mg/kg b.w.). The animals were sacrificed on 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days and the activity of serum alkaline and acid phosphatase, serum iron level, serum calcium level, blood lipid peroxidation content and blood glutathione (GSH) level were measured. In the present investigation, mercury intoxication causes significant increase (P<0.001) in calcium level, acid phosphatase and lipid peroxidation content and significant decrease in iron level, alkaline phosphatase and glutathione level. Spirulina pre- and post-treatment with mercury prevented or reduces mercury-induced alterations in terms of calcium level, iron level, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum, and lipid peroxidation and GSH level in blood. Thus from the present investigation, it can be concluded that Spirulina pre- and post-treatment with HgCl(2) significantly modulate or modify mercury-induced biochemical alteration in blood of Swiss albino mice.

Reversible antispermatogenic effect of gossypol in langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus entellus)

The present investigation reports the antispermatogenic effect of the orally active highly purified gossypol acetic acid at 7.5 mg and 10 mg/day for 180 days in langur monkeys. The results revealed a dose-dependent response in semen analysis as well as testicular morphology. Uniform severe oligospermia was observed in the lower dose (7.5 mg) group, while azoospermia was observed in 2 out of 5 animals in the higher dose (10 mg) group and the remaining animals showed severe oligospermia. Scanning electron microscopy of spermatozoa revealed deleterious abnormalities in the head and midpiece. Testicular morphology revealed a decrease in the seminiferous tubule diameter and arrest of spermatogenesis. The lower dose group had a germ cell population up to primary spermatocytes while the higher dose group had only Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. Withdrawal of treatment for 180 days led to the recovery of all the parameters studied, to normalcy.

Antioxidant and modulatory role of Chlorophytum borivilianum against arsenic induced testicular impairment.

Arsenic has a suppressive influence on spermatogenesis and induces impairment in male reproductive system due to oxidative stress. The present study was aimed to test the arsenic induced toxicity and protection by Chlorophytum borivilianum. The effect of sodium arsenite (4 mg/(kg body weight (bw) x day)) via double distilled water without or with C. borivilianum (800 mg/(kg bw x day)) was evaluated in Swiss albino mice for 30 days. The radical scavenging activity of the aqueous C. borivilianum root extract was measured using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrayzyl) radical. Qualitative assessment of various cell types in the testis, sperm count and motility, testicular activity of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), acid and alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol and serum testosterone were monitored. Arsenic treatment showed a significant increase in LPO, acid and alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol and decrease in sperm count, sperm motility, GSH and serum testosterone. Combined treatment showed significant decrease in LPO, acid and alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol and elevation in sperm count, sperm motility, GSH and serum testosterone. Testicular histopathology showed that C. borivilianum had reduced degeneration of germ cell in the seminiferous tubules and loss of sperms induced by arsenic intoxication. The results thus led us to conclude that administration of C. borivilianum root extract is found to be protective against arsenic induced toxicity.

RETRACTED: Radioprotective influence of Mentha piperita (Linn) against gamma irradiation in mice: Antioxidant and radical scavenging activity

RETRACTED

Correlation of plasma trough levels of imatinib with molecular response in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Abstract The present study looked at the correlation between mean trough Imatinib plasma levels and molecular response in 131 CML patients on imatinib. Patients receiving Glivec versus generic Imatinib were also compared. A ROC curve was constructed to estimate a threshold level that correlates with a favourable response. Patients were grouped into Responders (bcr/abl ration by RQ-PCR less than 1) and Non Responders (ration ≥ 1). The mean trough imatinib plasma level in the responders was significantly higher than in the non responders (p = 0.001). The area under ROC curve was 0.733, with best sensitivity (51.85%) and specificity (89.42%) at a plasma threshold of 0.988 g/ml [1.675 M]. Levels in the patients on Glivec versus generic drug (p > 0.05) were comparable. Trough Imatinib plasma levels may be a marker for suboptimal response and may identify patients in whom increase of drug dose or change in therapy may be indicated.