Taranjeet Kaur

Self-Assembly and Biophysical Properties of Gemini 3-Alkyloxypyridinium Amphiphiles with a Hydroxyl-Substituted Spacer

New gemini pyridinium amphiphiles having alkyl chain lengths of C10, C12, C14 , and C16 and appended with hydroxyl-substituted spacers have been synthesized, characterized, and investigated for their self-assembly as well as adsorption behavior by state-of-the-art techniques such as conductometry, tensiometry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and spectrofluorometry. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have provided excellent acumen with respect to the micellar size distribution of investigated dicationics in aqueous media. Furthermore, the interaction of these dicationics with plasmid DNA, at different charge ratios (N/P), has been studied by DLS, agarose gel electrophoresis, and ethidium bromide exclusion measurements. The cytotoxicity of these geminis has been evaluated by using an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on BV2 (microglial) and C6 glioma cell lines. It was found that the varying alkyl chain length, fashioned by ether linkage close to the headgroup, and the presence of a polar linker significantly altered the physicochemical properties of these new dicationics as compared to the properties of nonfunctionalized gemini surfactants.

Aggregation behavior of non-cytotoxic ester functionalized morpholinium based ionic liquids in aqueous media

Ester functionalized surface active ionic liquids (SAILs), [CnEMorph][Br], where n=8, 12 and 16, comprising of long hydrophobic chain appended with ester functionality connected to N-methylmorpholine group have been synthesized and investigated for their aggregation behavior and cytotoxicity. A variety of state of art techniques viz. tensiometry, conductometry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), spectrofluorometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been employed to get insight into the various aspects of aggregation behavior. The investigated SAILs have been found to possess lower critical aggregation concentration (cac) and greater adsorption efficacy at air-solution interface as compared to earlier reported non-functionalized SAILs or conventional ionic surfactants. Further, the thermal stability of these morpholinium cationics has been evaluated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). These SAILs have been found to be non-cytotoxic in the concentration range generally required for different biological applications as judged by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on the C6 glioma cell line. The dependence of characteristic properties of aggregation on alkyl chain length has been established.

Nicotine-based surface active ionic liquids: Synthesis, self-assembly and cytotoxicity studies

New ester-functionalized surface active ionic liquids (SAILs) based on nicotine, [CnENic][Br] (n=8, 10 and 12), with bromide counterions have been synthesized, characterized and investigated for their self-assembly behavior in aqueous medium. Conductivity measurements in aqueous solutions of the investigated SAILs have provided information about their critical micelle concentration (cmc), and degree of counterion binding (β), where cmc was found to be 2-3-fold lower than homologous SAILs or conventional cationic surfactants. The inherent fluorescence of SAILs in the absence of any external fluorescent probe have shed light on cmc as well as interactions prevailing between the monomers in micelle at molecular level. The thermodynamic parameters related to micellization have been deduced from isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and conductivity measurements. 1H NMR, spin-lattice (T1) relaxation time and 2D 1H-IH ROESY measurements have been exploited to get detailed account of internal structure of micelle. The size and shape of the micelles have been explored using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The synthesized SAILs have been found to be non-cytotoxic towards C6-Glioma cell line, which adds to the possible utility of these SAILs for diverse biological applications.

Tinospora cordifolia ameliorates anxiety-like behavior and improves cognitive functions in acute sleep deprived rats.

Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to the spectrum of mood disorders like anxiety, cognitive dysfunctions and motor coordination impairment in many individuals. However, there is no effective pharmacological remedy to negate the effects of SD. The current study examined whether 50% ethanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCE) can attenuate these negative effects of SD. Three groups of adult Wistar female rats - (1) vehicle treated-sleep undisturbed (VUD), (2) vehicle treated-sleep deprived (VSD) and (3) TCE treated-sleep deprived (TSD) animals were tested behaviorally for cognitive functions, anxiety and motor coordination. TSD animals showed improved behavioral response in EPM and NOR tests for anxiety and cognitive functions, respectively as compared to VSD animals. TCE pretreatment modulated the stress induced-expression of plasticity markers PSA-NCAM, NCAM and GAP-43 along with proteins involved in the maintenance of LTP i.e., CamKII-α and calcineurin (CaN) in hippocampus and PC regions of the brain. Interestingly, contrary to VSD animals, TSD animals showed downregulated expression of inflammatory markers such as CD11b/c, MHC-1 and cytokines along with inhibition of apoptotic markers. This data suggests that TCE alone or in combination with other memory enhancing agents may help in managing sleep deprivation associated stress and improving cognitive functions.

Intermittent fasting combined with supplementation with Ayurvedic herbs reduces anxiety in middle aged female rats by anti-inflammatory pathways

Intermittent fasting-dietary restriction (IF-DR) is an increasingly popular intervention to promote healthy aging and delay age associated decline in brain functions. Also, the use of herbal interventions is gaining attention due to their non-pharmacological approach to treat several abnormalities and promote general health with least side effects. The present study was aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of IF-DR regimen with herbal supplementation on anxiety-like behavior and neuroinflammation in middle aged female rats. We used dried leaf powder of Withania somnifera and dried stem powder of Tinospora cordifolia for our study. The rats were divided into three groups: (1) Control group fed ad libitum (AL); (2) rats deprived of food for full day and fed ad libitum on every alternate day (IF-DR); and (3) IF-DR and herbal extract (DRH) group in which rats were fed ad libitum with herbal extract supplemented diet, every alternate day. Post regimen, the rats were tested for anxiety-like behavior and further used for study of key inflammatory molecules (NFκB, Iba1, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) and glial marker (GFAP) in hippocampus and piriform cortex regions of brain. The study was further extended to explore the effect of DRH regimen on stress response protein (HSP70) and calcium dependent regulators of synaptic plasticity (CaMKIIα, Calcineurin). Our data demonstrated that DRH regimen reduced anxiety-like behavior in middle age female rats and associated neuroinflammation by ameliorating key inflammatory cytokines and modulated stress response. The present data may provide scientific validation for anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory potential of herbal intervention combined with short term IF-DR regimen.

Efficacy of Anti-Epileptic Drugs in the Treatment of Tumor and Its Associated Epilepsy: An in vitro Perspective.

The change in the therapeutic targets from neuron to glia has proved beneficial in the treatment of many psychiatric disorders. The anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have been widely prescribed for the treatment of partial and complete seizures, bipolar disorder among others. The current study was carried out to explore the efficacy of some conventional and novel AEDs for the treatment of tumor-associated epilepsy which develops in 29-49% of the patients diagnosed with brain tumors. We used C6 glioma cell line as model system to study the effect of selected AEDs, viz., gabapentin (GBP), valproic acid (VPA) and topiramate (TPM). Morphometry, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis, expression of different protein markers, viz., GFAP, HSP70 and nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) were studied in AED-treated cultures. The study was further extended to rat hypothalamic primary explant cultures, and cell migration and expression of plasticity markers - neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and polysialylation of NCAM (PSA-NCAM) - were studied in the explants. TPM was observed to show more pronounced increase in apoptosis of glioblastoma cells accompanied by significant downregulation in the expression of HSP70 and NFκB. TPM-treated explants also showed highest process ramification and cellular migration accompanied by intense expression of the plasticity markers as compared to those treated with GBP and VPA. Among the 3 AEDs tested, TPM was observed to show more promising effects on cytoprotection and plasticity of C6 glioma cells.

Obesity and Neuroinflammation

Obesity is the core and baseline component of metabolic syndrome and is a major risk factor for many diseases like Type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and genetic predisposition are responsible for the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide. Chronic overnutrition causes low-grade inflammation in several peripheral tissues as well as central nervous system, particularly hypothalamus. Activation of various proinflammatory pathways such as IKKβ/NF-κB, JNK and PKR are thought to be the major players in the induction of systemic and central inflammation. Further, neuroinflammation causes intracellular disturbances and exacerbates various stresses such as oxidative stress, ER stress and autophagic defects leading to impaired neurohormonal signalling as well as autonomic regulation of nutrient metabolism and energy balance. As obesity poses major health threat, effective therapies to minimize obesity-related comorbidities are surely needed. By targeting the inflammatory component, the progression of obesity can be slowed down. In vivo studies from our lab suggest that Withania somnifera helps to reduce hypothalamic inflammation triggered by high-fat-diet-induced obesity. Various lifestyle interventions along with herbal supplementation may effectively help to prevent obesity and its associated pathologies.

Neuromodulatory Role of Withania somnifera

Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is one of the important herbs being used in Ayurveda since times immemorial. It has been classified as a ‘rasayana’ herb owing to its adaptogenic and rejuvenating properties. Both root and leaf extracts of the plant have been used for the treatment of various disorders such as cancer, anxiety, inflammation and various neurological disorders due to its wide array of properties. This chapter focuses on the effects of W. somnifera in various CNS disorders. Various pre-clinical studies investigating the use of W. somnifera in modulation of neuroplasticity, anxiety, neuroinflammation and neuroprotection have been discussed in detail. A plethora of studies confirm the use of W. somnifera and its active phytochemicals (Withaferin-A, Withanone, Withanoside IV, Withanolide A, sitoindosides VII-X) alone or in combination as potential therapeutic agents. W. somnifera can be incorporated as an important dietary supplement for management of anxiety and associated cognitive and functional impairments.