P. Kumarasamy

Screening of bioactive compounds from natural remedies for photoaging, to target Ap-1; an in silico approach

Although skin aging due to UV exposure (photoaging) and chronological skin aging have been thought to be distinct, photoaging has a considerable effect on chronological aging. UV irradiation of skin leads to oxidative stress and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and also reduces antioxidant enzyme. As a consequence, several cell surface cytokines and growth factor receptors are activated which results in recruitment of several adaptor proteins to regulate downstream signaling. AP-1 is a transcription factor which up-regulates matrix-metalloproteinases and down-regulates type 1 procollagen. Thus AP-1 can be an effective target for photoaging. In this study, the effect of 56 active ingredients from several natural and easily available traditional remedies for skin aging has been studied by means of in silico approach and the potential active ingredients have been identified.

A computational approach to use the active principles in Custard apple (Annona squamosa), as an ectoparasiticide by using potential target Acetylcholinesterase of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown dog tick)

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is a brown dog tick that transmits rickettsial infection between dogs and man. It can be prevented by using ectoparasiticides generally acting through acetylcholinesterase inhibiting mechanism which is responsible for the catalysis of acetylcholine neurotransmitter. To overcome the toxic effects produced by synthetic ectoparasticides, new in silico approaches were carried out using the active principles from the custard apple. Custard apple is a small tree cultivated throughout India with various medicinal properties. A novel docking study was performed using the active ingredients present in the leaves of the custard apple. The dock scores were analysed and the best active ingredient-target interactions were identified. The active principle Norcorydine gives good docking scores with Acetylcholinesterase. Hence the present study projects the positive role of custard apple in the synthesis of bio-insecticides for the control of ectoparasites.

Identification of therapeutic inhibitors for the treatment of oral cancer using herbal bio-active principles by means of computational approach

Oral cancer is a type of cancer which targets mouth and surrounding tissues. It includes, lips, cheeks, tongue, sinuses, throat. Oral cancer could be life threatening, if not diagnosed in early stages. American Cancer Society says that men are at more risk than women. Oral cancer can be treated like any other cancers. But still the efficacy of the drugs is questionable. Hence, an attempt was tried to find the suitable inhibitors for the treatment of oral cancer using bioactive principles of Cissus quadrangularis, targeting SIRT3, P21 and P53. The Resveratol in Cissus quadrangularis has showed very good interaction with two target proteins involved in oral cancer viz., SIRT3 and P21. Resveratol also has very good pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. This study concludes that Resveratol in Cissus quadrangularis has the potential to serve as an anticancerous drug. However, the results might be validated through in-vivo and in-vitro studies to prove the efficacy of the active compounds and to protect the mankind from oral cancer.

Molecular characterization of Pulikulam cattle using microsatellite markers

The present study estimates genetic variability in Pulikulam cattle (n=50), a draught breed of India, by use of 18 microsatellite markers recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Microsatellite genotypes were derived and allelic and genotypic frequencies, heterozygosities and gene diversity were estimated. A total of 142 alleles were distinguished by the 18 microsatellite markers used. All the microsatellites were highly polymorphic, with mean (± s.e.) allelic number of 7.89 ± 0.72, ranging 3-12 per locus. The observed heterozygosity in the population ranged between 0.1316 and 0.8958, with mean (± s.e.) of 0.5758 ± 0.0535, indicating considerable genetic variation in this population. Genetic bottleneck hypotheses were also explored. Our data suggest that the Pulikulam breed has not experienced a genetic bottleneck in the recent past.

Estimates of genetic parameters of growth traits in Madras Red sheep

Sheep rearing is an important livelihood for a large number of small and marginal farmers in India as sheep make significant contribution to income generation, supply of animal source of food and serve as financial security to the resource-poor rural households. Growth is an economic trait of interest in domestic animals. The present study was aimed at evaluating growth performance and estimating the genetic parameters for growth traits of Madras Red sheep, a native breed of Tamilnadu state in India, under organized farm conditions. Monthly body weight measurements of 1424 sheep from birth to 2 years of age born during the years 1996 to 2010 were utilized for the analysis. Using least squares analysis, the effects of non-genetic factors namely, sex of lamb, season of birth (Main season(Oct.-Mar.) and off season(Apr.-Sep.)), dam weight at lambing (<25, 25-29.99, 30-34.99, ≥ 35 kg) and year of birth (1996-2000, 2001-2005, 2006-2010) on the observed birth weight and body weight at 3 rd , 6 th , 9 th and 12 th months and also on the average daily weight gain during 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months were studied. The body weight at birth, 3 rd , 6 th , 9 th and 12 th month showed significant difference between sex of lamb, dam weight at lambing and year of birth (P < 0.01). The body weight, except at birth and 9 th month showed significant difference between the seasons (P < 0.01). Average daily weight gains showed significant difference between sex of lamb, season of birth and year of birth while it showed significant difference between dam weights at lambing only for the period 3-6 months. Heritability and genetic correlation estimated using paternal half-sib analysis for body weights at various ages and average daily weight gains for different growth periods indicated scope for improvement through selection.

Characterization of Madras Red sheep in their breeding tract

La oveja roja de Madras, una raza autoctona de Tamil Nadu en la India, es conocida por la alta calidad de su carne y su piel. El presente estudio se llevo a cabo en 652 rebanos compuestos por 16.173 ovejas en 46 pueblos seleccionados al azar de las zonas de cria para caracterizar y evaluar la oveja roja de Madras en condiciones naturales durante el periodo comprendido entre 2006 y 2009. Los datos relativos a las practicas de manejo, tamano del rebano, estabulacion, mejora, enfermedades, etc., fueron recogidos en base a observaciones personales y a la informacion proporcionada por el propio ganadero. Fue tomado el peso corporal, asi como diferentes medidas corporales, concretamente, la longitud de los cuernos, la longitud de la oreja, la longitud de la cola, la alzada a la cruz, el perimetro toracico, el perimetro corporal, perimetro de la ijada, longitud de pata desde el codo y entre la cabeza y la cola. Los animales a pesar de ser un tamano mediano tienen un cuerpo bien proporcionado poseen un pecho ancho y profundo. La mayoria de los animales presenta capa de color rojo que varia desde el canela al castano oscuro. El tamano de rebano oscila de 20 a 50 animales. La principal estacion de cria va desde julio a septiembre. En el 62 percent de los carneros, los cuernos son de tamano mediano y de una longitud que oscila entre los 15 y 25 cm. Alrededor del 4 percent de las ovejas presentan cuernos de pequeno tamano, de menos de 15 centimetros de longitud. Las orejas son colgantes y la cola es de longitud media. El peso corporal medio de los grupos de edades comprendidas entre los 0 y 3, 3 y 6, 6 y 12 y mas de 12 meses, en los machos, fue, respectivamente, de 9,20, 12,68, 14,31 y 24,33 kg., y de 8,93, 13,08, 17,59 y 24,23 kg., respectivamente, para las hembras. Los animales presentan una excelente eficiencia en conversion de alimento bajo condiciones extremas, con un elevado porcentaje de lana. La ganaderia ovina es la principal fuente de ingresos de los ganaderos de la zona de estudio y la escasez de forraje de buena calidad es el principal obstaculo en el sistema de cria. Los resultados del presente estudio han revelado que existe margen para el aumento de la productividad de esta raza.