Ramasamy Thirumurugan

Activation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in cancer cells by Cymbopogon citratus polysaccharide fractions.

Essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus were already reported to have wide ranging medical and industrial applications. However, information on polysaccharides from the plant and their anticancer activities are limited. In the present study, polysaccharides from C. citratus were extracted and fractionated by anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Two different polysaccharide fractions such as F1 and F2 were obtained, and these fractions were found to have distinct acidic polysaccharides as characterized by their molecular weight and sugar content. NMR spectral analysis revealed the presence of (1→4) linked b-d-Xylofuranose moiety in these polysaccharides. Using these polysaccharide fractions F1 and F2, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities were evaluated against cancer cells in vitro and the mechanism of action of the polysaccharides in inducing apoptosis in cancer cells via intrinsic pathway was also proposed. Two different reproductive cancer cells such as Siha and LNCap were employed for in vitro studies on cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis and apoptotic DNA fragmentation, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, and profiles of gene and protein expression in response to treatment of cells by the polysaccharide fractions. These polysaccharide fractions exhibited potential cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on carcinoma cells, and they induced apoptosis in these cells through the events of up-regulation of caspase 3, down-regulation of bcl-2 family genes followed by cytochrome c release.

Corrigendum: Combinatorial nanocarrier based drug delivery approach for amalgamation of anti-tumor agents in breast cancer cells: an improved nanomedicine strategy

Combination therapy of multiple drugs through a single system is exhibiting high therapeutic effects. We investigate nanocarrier mediated inhibitory effects of topotecan (TPT) and quercetin (QT) on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (MDA-MB-231) and multi drug resistant (MDR) type breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with respect to cellular uptake efficiency and therapeutic mechanisms as in vitro and in vivo. The synthesized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) pores used for loading TPT; the outer of the nanoparticles was decorated with poly (acrylic acid) (PAA)-Chitosan (CS) as anionic inner-cationic outer layer respectively and conjugated with QT. Subsequently, grafting of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) peptide on the surface of nanocarrier (CPMSN) thwarted the uptake by normal cells, but facilitated their uptake in cancer cells through integrin receptor mediated endocytosis and the dissociation of nanocarriers due to the ability to degrade of CS and PAA in acidic pH, which enhance the intracellular release of drugs. Subsequently, the released drugs induce remarkable molecular activation as well as structural changes in tumor cell endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus and mitochondria that can trigger cell death. The valuable CPMSNs may open up new avenues in developing targeted therapeutic strategies to treat cancer through serving as an effective drug delivery podium.

Immune response and disease resistance of carotenoids supplementation diet in Cyprinus carpio against Aeromonas hydrophila.

The effect of carotenoid-supplementation diet on immune response and disease resistance in common carp, Cyprinus carpio against Aeromonas hydrophila at weeks 1, 2, and 4 is reported. The cumulative mortality was 10% when fish were fed with 50 or 100 mg kg(-1) supplementation diets while the un-supplementation diet treated group suffered 90% mortality against the pathogen. The phagocytic activity and complement activity significantly increased with 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) diet groups from weeks 2 and 4 but not in other groups. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was significantly enhanced with 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) diets from weeks 1 to 4 while the production of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) enhanced on weeks 2 and 4. The lysozyme activity significantly increased when fed with 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) diets on weeks 2 and all supplementation diets on week 4. These results suggest that diet enriched with carotenoid pigment positively enhance the immune status and protects C. carpio from A. hydrophila infection.

Protective effect of chitin and chitosan enriched diets on immunity and disease resistance in Cirrhina mrigala against Aphanomyces invadans

The effect of diet enriched with 1% chitin or chitosan on innate immune response and disease resistance in Cirrhina mrigala against Aphanomyces invadans was investigated at weeks 1, 2, and 4. In the un-infected and infected groups the white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), haematocrit (Ht), lympocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils significantly increased when fed with 1% chitin (CH) or chitosan (CT) enriched diet from weeks 1 to 4 when compared to control; however, the haemoglobin (Hb) and thrombocytes significantly increased only on weeks 2 and 4. The total protein and albumin levels also significantly increased with any enriched diet on weeks 2 and 4; but the globulin and albumin:globulin ratio increased on week 4 as compared to control; similarly the phagocytic activity significantly increased on weeks 2 and 4 while the lysozyme activity increased from weeks 1 to 4. The complement activity was significantly enhanced in CT and CTI fed groups on weeks 2 and 4. In un-infected fish fed with 1% CH and CT diets, the cumulative mortality was 10% and 5% whereas the infected fish suffered 20% and 25% mortality. The present results suggest that infected fish fed with 1% chitin or chitosan enriched diet modulates the immune system conferring disease resistance in C. mrigala against A. invadans.

Formulation of iron oxide nanoparticles using exopolysaccharide: evaluation of their antibacterial and anticancer activities

In the present study, we report the formulation, characterization, and in vitro antibacterial and cytotoxicity effects of exopolysaccharide (EPS) stabilized iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) against the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line (A431). EPS is extracted from a spore-forming strain of Bacillus subtilis, VT03, isolated from the gut microbiome of the freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia). FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic studies show the presence of sugar moieties, confirming that EPS might be a glucan. Later, EPS is used as an eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent for the formulation of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs). Initially, the generation of nanoscale FeO was confirmed through the formation of a black-coloured precipitate with an absorbance maxima at 250–300 nm in a UV-visible spectrometer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) planes clearly confirm that the synthesized FeONPs are in the cubic spinel phase. The morphometric features of the synthesized FeONPs are exclusively studied using electron microscopy (FESEM and HRTEM) which shows spherical FeONPs in sizes ranging between 75–120 nm; the mean size was found to be 106 ± 12 nm. Additionally, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), selected area emission diffraction (SAED) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirms the purity and homogeneity of the synthesized FeONPs. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) technique reveals the presence of both ferro- and antiferromagnetic phases in the EPS-stabilized FeONPs. Further, the inhibitory activity of EPS-stabilized FeONPs against human and fish pathogenic strains such as Aeromonas hydrophila (ATCC 49140), Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC 1739), Aeromonas sobria (MTCC 3613) and Aeromonas hydrophila (obtained from OIE Reference Laboratory, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam) was assessed. The in vitro cytotoxicity effects of free EPS and EPS-stabilized FeONPs were probed in the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431. The IC50 values of EPS and EPS-stabilized FeONPs were found to be 350.18 and 62.946 μg ml−1 respectively. Further, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) staining of A431 cells at different time intervals clearly distinguishes the live cells and the cells that have undergone apoptotic cell death. In conclusion, our research paves the way for a facile and greener route to synthesize FeONPs at room temperature. On the other hand, this study also proves that the formulated multifunctional hybrid FeONPs have remarkable qualities such as enhanced bioavailability and magnetic properties. This can be developed into a successful theragnostic platform for cancer treatment.

Impact of tobacco on glutathione S transferase gene loci of Indian ethnics.

BACKGROUND Tobacco contains agents which generate various potent DNA adducts that can cause gene mutations. Production of DNA adducts may be neutralized by glutathione S transferase (GST) along with other phase I and phase II enzyme systems. The existence of null type of GST among the population increases the susceptibility to various disorders and diseases. The present study focuses on the impact of high tobacco usage and possible null type mutation in GST loci. METHODS Genotypes of GST were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction in unrelated 504 volunteers of high tobacco using natives of Gujarat. Allelic frequencies were calculated using Statistical Package for Social Studies-16 software. Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was calculated using Chi square test. Two sided Fishers significance test was used to compare allelic frequencies of different populations. RESULTS The frequency of homozygous null genotype of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were 20% (95% CI 16.7-23.9) and 35.5% (95% CI 31.4-39.9) respectively. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 null allele frequency distribution in the Gujarat population was significantly deviating from HWE. GSTT1 null frequency of Gujaratians was significantly higher and different to all reported low tobacco using Indian ethnics, while GSTM1 was not differing significantly. CONCLUSION Tobacco usage significantly influences the rate of mutation and frequency of GSTT1 and M1 null types among the habituates. The rate of mutation in GSTT1 loci was an undeviating response to the dose of tobacco usage among the population. This mutational impact of tobacco on GSTT1 postulates the possible gene - environment interaction and selection of null genotype among the subjects to prone them under susceptible status for various cancers and even worst to cure the population with GSTT1 dependent drugs.

Probiotics: Live Boon to Aquaculture

A brief review of live bacterial cells with diversified beneficial features as warriors in aquaculture is focused and explored in multiple ways in and around the world. There are many reports on Probiotics’ potential widely employed in humans and in farmed animals. Probiotic feed are the wider practice in aquaculture industry. In this review, themes discussed are the aquatic probiotics, types, forms, selection criteria, application of probiotics and benefits of the same.