GC-MS ANALYSIS AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF HYPERICUM HOOKERIANUM WIGHT & ARN
Objective: The present investigation was an attempt to study the anticancer activity of the methanol extract of the leaves of H. hookerianum. GC-MS analysis revealed that the methanol extract of leaves contained important secondary metabolites viz. oxygenated hydrocarbons and phenolic hydrocarbons. These phytochemicals w e r e p r e s u m e d responsible for various pharmacological actions like antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Cytotoxic changes observed in MCF 7 cell line by the treatment of methanol extract included cell aggregation, cell rounding and cell death. The overall result indicates that the methanol extract of leaves of H. hookerianum showed promising baseline information for its potential use as an anti cancer agent.
BERRY EXTRACTS IMPROVED INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES, ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME AND SUPPRESSED THE GENE EXPRESSION ALTERATIONS IN DIABETIC RATS
Objective: The present work was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effect of red berry ( Morus rubra ) and white berry ( Morus alba ) extracts in diabetic rats. Methods: Inflammatory biomarkers; tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), paraoxanase1 (PON1), gene expression of apoptosis and inflammatory related genes were carried out. Results: Treatment of male rats with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes increased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β, the apoptosis rates and the alterations of the pro-apoptosis (eotaxin, caspase-1, and caspase-2) and inflammation; nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB1) and allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1) related genes. While marked reduction in PON1 level was detected in STZ-induced diabetic rats. However, treatment of STZ-exposed rats with red and white berry extracts exhibited noticeable ameliorations in TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β levels and PON1 activity as well as low apoptosis rates and decreased the alteration of the pro-apoptosis and inflammatory related genes. Conclusion: Red and white berry extracts exhibited attenuation in antioxidant status, suppressed inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis and the alterations in the apoptosis and inflammatory related genes induced by STZ in male rats.
Gut immunity in Lepidopteran insects.
Lepidopteran insects constitute one of the largest fractions of animals on earth, but are considered pests in their relationship with man. Key to the success of this order of insects is its ability to digest food and absorb nutrition, which takes place in the midgut. Because environmental microorganisms can easily enter Lepidopteran guts during feeding, the innate immune response guards against pathogenic bacteria, virus and microsporidia that can be devoured with food. Gut immune responses are complicated by both resident gut microbiota and the surrounding peritrophic membrane and are distinct from immune responses in the body cavity, which depend on the function of the fat body and hemocytes. Due to their relevance to agricultural production, studies of Lepidopteran insect midgut and immunity are receiving more attention, and here we summarize gut structures and functions, and discuss how these confer immunity against different microorganisms. It is expected that increased knowledge of Lepidopteran gut immunity may be utilized for pest biological control in the future.