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.
NEUROAMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF BERRY EXTRACTS IN ALZHEIMER INDUCED RATS
This study was designed to evaluate the neuro-ameliorative effect of red (Morus rubra) and white berry (Morus alba) extracts against Alzheimers disease (AD) in male rats. AlCl3 was administered orally to male albino rats (100 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) while, berry extracts (300 mg/kg/day for six weeks) was administered orally post AlCl3 administration. The data showed markedly elevation in lipid peroxide, apoptotic marker enzyme (caspase-8) and calmodulin (CaM) levels while, reduced glutathione (GSH) level and antioxidant enzyme; paraoxanase-1 (PON1) were reduced in AD rats when compared with normal control one. The treatment of rats with AlCl3 induced AD was associated with increase in the 8- OHdG/2-dG ratio and decreased the expression of DHCR24 and FKBP1B genes. However, the treatment of AD-induced rats with red and white berry extracts exhibited low 8-OHdG/ 2-dG ratio and increase the expression of the DHCR24 and FKBP1B genes. The results suggested the attenuated role of berry extracts which could be attributed to the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increase in the antioxidant enzymes activity as well as inhibition in the occurrence of apoptotic related enzymes such as caspases-8.
On the fractionation of β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin
Abstract Existing methods for the preparation of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin are examined critically. It is proposed that the most satisfactory method for the preparation of the whey protein fraction from bovine milk is (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fractionation. A number of new gentle procedures for the fractionation of the whey proteins are compared with some existing methods. The distribution of total protein at various stages is determined by total Kjeldahl nitrogen and the kind of protein by starch-gel electrophoresis. The effect of variables, such as pH, salt concentration and temperature on the separation of α-lactalbumin and serum albumin from β-lactoglobulin is studied. Differences in the behavior ( e.g. solubility) of genetic variants of β-lactoglobulin are noted. The solubility of each of the major whey proteins, under similar conditions to those used in the fractionation, is compared with its solubility in the whey protein mixture. The understanding gained of factors important in the fractionation is used in recommending new procedures for α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin isolation.