Mohammed Ali

Nanoparticles-mediated drug delivery approaches for cancer targeting: a review

Cancer has become the leading cause of death among different populations of the world. The treatment is limited to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Selective targeting to the tumor cells is possible by nanoparticles-based drug delivery system. It maximizes the drug concentration at the desired target and protects the surrounding healthy tissues at the same time. To improve the targeting potential of the anticancer drugs, nanoparticles were optimized for the size and surface characteristics to enhance their circulation time and targeting efficiency. Passive targeting involves surface modification with polyethylene glycol to avoid its elimination by natural body defense mechanism. Active targeting involves chemical interaction with certain antigen, receptors, and genes which are over expressed during progression of disease. In addition, the article highlights recent developments in “smart”-stimulus-responsive-drug carriers designed to enhance the localization and efficacy of therapeutic payloads as compared with free drug. Enhanced targeting potential, imaging, and controlled release of drugs or therapeutic molecules could be possible through multi-functional nanocarrier. Such multi-faceted, versatile nanocarriers and drug delivery systems promise a substantial increase in the efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in pharmaceutical sciences.

Secretory carcinoma of the breast in adults. Light and electron microscopic study of three cases with review of the literature

Three adult cases of secretory carcinoma of the breast were studied by both light and electron microscopy. Histologically the tumors revealed three patterns, namely, solid, microcystic and ductal. Ultrastructurally the tumor cells contained large numbers of membrane‐bound intracytoplasmic secretory vacuoles. In addition, numerous intracytoplasmic as well as intercellular lumina containing abundant secretory material were noted. Secretory carcinoma in adults is rare with only twenty cases reported previously in the literature. It is known to have a better prognosis than the usual ductal carcinoma. The most appropriate treatment appears to be an extended simple mastectomy.

Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplant recipients ultrastructural and immunoperoxidase study of four cases

Tissues from four cases of Kaposis sarcoma developing in renal transplant recipients were studied by light and electron microscopic examination and by immunoperoxidase staining for Factor‐VIII‐related antigen. Ultrastructurally, the tumors in all four cases contained a variable mixture of cells, including endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts. These findings support the origin of Kaposis sarcoma from primitive vasoformative mesenchyme. Immunoperoxidase staining for Factor‐VIII‐related antigen was limited to endothelial cells. In one case intracytoplasmic virus‐like tubular complexes were seen. The significance of this finding is briefly discussed.

Enhanced glycemic control, pancreas protective, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects by umbelliferon-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(2I → 1II)-α-D-glucopyranoside in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of umbelliferon-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(2I → 1II)-α-D-glucopyranoside (UFD) from Aegle marmelos Corr. on serum glucose, lipid profile and free radical scavenging activity in normal and STZ (streptozotocin) induced diabetic rats.Materials and methodsDiabetes was induced by single interperitoneal injecting of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.) in the rats. All the rats were divided into following groups; I - nondiabeteic, II - nondiabetic + UFD (40 mg/kg, p.o.), III - diabetic control, IV - UFD (10 mg/kg, p.o.), V - UFD (20 mg/kg, p.o.), VI - UFD (40 mg/kg) and VII - glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, p.o.). Serum glucose level and body weight were determined periodically. Biochemical parameter, antioxidant enzyme and histopathology study were performed on the day 28. Oral glucose tolerance test study was performed to identify the glucose utilization capacity.ResultsAll the doses of UFD and glibenclamide decrease the level of serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1-6-biphosphate and increased the level of plasma insulin, hexokinase. The UFD doses also showed effects on antioxidant enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase which were significantly increased and the level of malonaldehyde was markedly decreased. Histologically study, focal necrosis, deposition of fats, increased the size of the intercalated disc were observed in the diabetic rat liver, kidney, heart and pancreas but was less obvious in treated groups. The mechanism of action of the UFD emerges to be due to increase the activity of antioxidant enzyme and secretion of pancreatic insulin.ConclusionReduction in the FBG (fasting blood glucose), glycated hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1-6-biphosphate, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxides, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL levels and improvement in the level of the plasma insulin, hexokinase, HDL was observed by the UFD treated rats. The result indicates that UFD has anti-diabetic activity along with anti hyperlipidemic and antioxidant efficacy and provides a scientific rationale to be used as an Anti-diabetic agent.

Composition of the essential oil from the root of Artemisia annua

Upon hydrodistillation, dried roots of Artemisia annua L. cultivar Jwarharti gave a pleasantly fragrant essential oil with a yield of 0.25%. GC and GC–MS analyses of the oil enabled the identification of 52 components representing 83.2% of the oil. The oil was rich in sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes and had cis-arteannuic alcohol (25.9%), (E)-β-farnesene (6.7%), β-maaliene (6.3%), β-caryophyllene (5.5%), caryophyllene oxide (4.4%) and 2-phenylbenzaldehyde (3.5%) as its major components. The oil was found to possess considerable fumigant activity and ability to repel adult Tribolium castaneum beetles.

Essential Oils of Pistacia integerrima Galls and Their Effect on the Central Nervous System

AbstractSteam distilled oil derived from the galls of Pistacia integerrima was analysed by chromatographic and spectral techniques. The oil was found rich in α-pinene (21.8%), β-pinene (16.2%), α-phellandrene (15.5%) and δ3-carene (11.1%). The other main constituents characterized were β-phellandrene, γ-terpenene, α- and β-terpineol as well as α- and β-ocemene. A biological study reveal that the oil possesses CNS-depressant activity.

Aloe vera gel alleviates cardiotoxicity in streptozocin-induced diabetes in rats

Objectives Persistent hyperglycaemia results in oxidative stress along with the generation of oxygen free radicals and appears to be an important factor in the production of secondary complications in diabetes. The aim of this work was to evaluate markers of oxidative stress in heart tissue along with the protective, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of 30% Aloe vera gel in diabetic rats.

Essential oils of petal, leaf and stem of the antimalarial plant Artemisia annua

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from petals, leaves and stems of the flowering stage of plants of Artemisiaannua cultivar Jwarharti was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS); 86, 77, and 63 compounds were identified in the leaf, petal, and stem oils, respectively. Large compositional differences were detected between the three oils. The petal and leaf oils were rich in monoterpenes. The stem oil was rich in sesquiterpenes. Camphor, present in the leaf oil, was absent from petal oil.

Two New Compounds from the Galls of Quercus infectoria. with Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Inhibiting Ability

Abstract Two compounds isolated from the ethanol extract of the galls of Quercus infectoria. Olivier exhibited nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide inhibiting activity. Their structures were established as ellagic acid-4-O.-[β.-D-glucopyranosyl]-10-O.-[β.-D-glucopyranosyl]-(4 → 1)-β.-D-rhamnopyranoside (1) and 2-methyl-3-hydroxymethylene-4,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxynaphthalene (2) on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence.

A novel antimicrobial agent from the leaves of Peltophorum vogelianum (Benth.)

The methanolic extract of the leaves of Peltophorum vogelianum (Caesalpiniaceae) afforded a new phytoconstituent, 2-methoxy-4,5-dihydroxy-1(7,8-dihydroxyethylene)-8-β-D-glucuropyranoside named as peltophorumyl-β-D-glucuropyranoside (5), along with four known phytoconstituents, 1-pentatriacontanol (1), friedelin (2), β-sitosterol (3) and β-sitosterol-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), which have not been isolated previously from this plant. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and physical evidence (IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT, HSQC, HMBC and MS). Moreover, compound 5 showed significant antimicrobial activity.