NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJEB Vol.48(11) [November 2010]

Immunomodulatory effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. extract on cyclophosphamide induced toxicity in mice

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Immunomodulatory effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. extract on cyclophosphamide induced toxicity in mice

Authors: Gupta, Anamika; Gautam, Manish K; Singh, Rahul K; Kumar, M Vijay; Rao, Ch V; Goel, R K; Anupurba, Shampa

Abstract: Immunomodulatory effect of ethanolic extract (50%) of M. oleifera leaves (MOE) has been studied in normal and immunosuppressed mice models. Different doses of MOE i.e. 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of mice were administered orally for 15 days. Cyclophosphamide at a dose of 30 mg / kg body weight was administered orally for the next 3 days. On day 16 and 19, hematological parameters like white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin level (Hb), percent neutrophils and organ weight were recorded. Effect of MOE on phagocytic activity of mice macrophages was determined by carbon clearance test. MOE showed significant dose dependent increase in WBC, percent neutrophils, weight of thymus and spleen along with phagocytic index in normal and immunosuppressed mice. The results indicate that MOE significantly reduced cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression by stimulating both cellular and humoral immunity.

Page(s): 1157-1160

Novel microbial route to synthesize silver nanoparticles using spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Novel microbial route to synthesize silver nanoparticles using spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis

Authors: Jain, Devendra; Kachhwaha, Sumita; Jain, Rohit; Srivastava, Garima; Kothari, S L

Abstract: Metallic nanoparticles are traditionally synthesized by wet chemical techniques, where the chemicals used are often toxic and flammable. In the present study, the spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, XRD and TEM. X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis showed the average particle size of 15 nm and mixed (cubic and hexagonal) structure. This is for the first time that any bacterial spore crystal mixture was used for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Further, these biologically synthesized nanoparticles were found to be highly toxic against different multi drug resistant human pathogenic bacteria.

Page(s): 1152-1156

Differential gene expression during early embryonic development in diapause and non-diapause eggs of multivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Differential gene expression during early embryonic development in diapause and non-diapause eggs of multivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori

Authors: Ponnuvel, Kangayam M; Murthy, Geetha N; Awasthi, Arvind K; Rao, Guruprasad; Vijayaprakash, Nanjappa B

Abstract: Quantification of the differential expression of metabolic enzyme and heat-shock protein genes (Hsp) during early embryogenesis in diapause and non-diapause eggs of the silkworm B. mori was carried out by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Data analysis revealed that, the phosphofructokinase (PFK) expression started at a higher level in the early stage (6 h after oviposition) in non-diapause eggs, while in diapause induced eggs, it started at a lower level. However, the PFK gene expression in diapause eggs was comparatively higher than in non-diapause eggs. PFK facilitates use of carbohydrate reserves. The lower level of PFK gene expression in the early stage of diapause induced eggs but comparatively higher level of expression than in non-diapause eggs is due to enzyme inactivation via protein phosphorylation during early embryogenesis followed by de-phosphorylation in later stage. The sorbitol dehydrogenase-2 (SDH-2) gene was down regulated in diapause induced eggs up to 24 h and its expression levels in diapause induced eggs coincided with that of PFK gene at 48h in non-diapause eggs. During carbohydrate metabolism, there is an initial temporary accumulation of sorbitol which acts as protectant. The down regulation of SDH-2 gene during the first 24 hours in diapause induced eggs was due to the requirement of sorbitol as protectant. However, since the diapause process culminates by 48 h, the SDH-2 gene expression increased and coincided with that of PFK gene expression. The trehalase (Tre) gene expression was at a lower level in diapause induced eggs compared to non-diapausing eggs. The induction of Tre activity is to regulate uptake and use of sugar by the tissues. The non-diapause eggs revealed maximum expression of GPase gene with major fluctuations as well as an overall higher expression compared to diapause induced eggs. The diapause process requires less energy source which reflects lower activity of the gene. Heat shock protein (Hsp)genes (Hsp20.4, 40, 70, and 90) revealed differential levels of expression in both the eggs at all stages of embryonic development. The present study thus provides an overview of the differential expression levels of metabolic enzyme and Hsp genes in non-diapause and diapause induced eggs of multivoltine silkworm B. mori within 48 h after oviposition, confirming the major role of in early embryogenesis.

Page(s): 1143-1151

Effects of histidine and N-acetylcysteine on diclofenac-induced anti-inflammatory response in acute inflammation in rats

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effects of histidine and N-acetylcysteine on diclofenac-induced anti-inflammatory response in acute inflammation in rats

Authors: Farshid, Amir Abbas; Tamaddonfard, Esmaeal; Yahyaee, Fatere

Abstract: The intra-plantar injection of carrageenan elicited an inflammatory response characterized by increase of the paw thickness and infiltration of neutrophils in paw tissues. Histidine, n-acetylcysteine and diclofenac decreased paw thickness, and neutrophil infiltration in the paw tissues. The anti-inflammatory effect induced by co-administration of histidine and n-acetylcysteine with diclofenac, was more than that obtained from histidine and n-acetylcysteine administered alone. The results suggested that histidine, n-acetylcysteine and diclofenac produced anti-inflammatory activities by reducing paw edema and neutrophil infiltrationin induced by carrageenan. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase products such as prostaglandins may be involved in the anti-inflammatory effects induced by histidine and n-acetylcysteine.

Page(s): 1136-1142