NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJBB Vol.47(3) [June 2010]

Portulaca oleracea L. extract ameliorates the cisplatin-induced toxicity in chick embryonic liver

Sat, 29 May 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Portulaca oleracea L. extract ameliorates the cisplatin-induced toxicity in chick embryonic liver

Authors: Sudhakar, D; Kishore, R Krishna; Parthasarathy, P R

Abstract: Cisplatin, a cytotoxic agent used in treating cancer, at high doses induces hepatotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the protective role of aqueous extract of aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea L. (Po) against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in chick embryonic liver. A group of 12 day old chick embryos, acclimatized to laboratory conditions were treated with a single dose of cisplatin (100 µg), while another group received Po extract at different doses (1 and 3 mg) 6 h prior to cisplatin treatment. The biochemical parameters were estimated after 24 and 72 h of incubation. A dose-dependent increase in biochemical parameters, such as alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes levels like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-s-transferase and reduced glutathione were observed in cisplatin-treated animals, indicating a definite damage to the liver tissue. Pre-treatment with Po extract was found to provide significant protection against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, as evident by the recovered levels of the altered changes in the measured biochemical parameters.

Page(s): 185-189

Characterization of seeds of selected wild species of rice (Oryza) stored under high temperature and humidity conditions

Sat, 29 May 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Characterization of seeds of selected wild species of rice (Oryza) stored under high temperature and humidity conditions

Authors: Das, Smruti; Nayak, Monalisa; Patra, B C; Ramakrishnan, B; Krishnan, P

Abstract: Wild progenitors of rice (Oryza) are an invaluable resource for restoring genetic diversity and incorporating useful traits back into cultivars. Studies were conducted to characterize the biochemical changes, including SDS-PAGE banding pattern of storage proteins in seeds of six wild species (Oryza alta, O. grandiglumis, O. meridionalis, O. nivara, O. officinalis and O. rhizomatis) of rice stored under high temperature (45^oC) and humidity (~100%) for 15 days, which facilitated accelerated deterioration. Under the treated conditions, seeds of different wild rice species showed decrease in per cent germination and concentrations of protein and starch, but increase in conductivity of leachate and content of sugar. The SDS-PAGE analysis of seed proteins showed that not only the total number of bands, but also their intensity in terms of thickness differed for each species under storage. The total number of bands ranged from 11 to 22, but none of the species showed all the bands. Similarity index for protein bands between the control and treated seeds was observed to be least in O. rhizomatis and O. alta, while the indices were 0.7 and 0.625 for O. officinalis and O. nivara, respectively. This study clearly showed that seed deterioration led to distinctive biochemical changes, including the presence or absence as well as altered levels of intensity of proteins. Hence, SDS-PAGE protein banding pattern can be used effectively to characterize deterioration of seeds of different wild species of rice.

Page(s): 178-184

Regulation of growth and antioxidant enzyme activities by 28-homobrassinolide in seedlings of Raphanus sativus L. under cadmium stress

Sat, 29 May 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Regulation of growth and antioxidant enzyme activities by 28-homobrassinolide in seedlings of Raphanus sativus L. under cadmium stress

Authors: Sharma, Indu; Pati, Pratap Kumar; Bhardwaj, Renu

Abstract: 28-Homobrassinolide (28-HBL), a brassinosteroid is reported to play significant role in diverse physiological processes. It induces a range of cellular and adaptive responses to a range of environmental stresses. Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential metal which alters various physiological processes and generates ROS, which can oxidize biological macromolecules and causes oxidative stress. This stress is generally overcome by the internal antioxidative defense system and stress shielding phytohormones. In this study, effect of 28-HBL was studied on growth and activities of antioxidant enzymes in known hyperaccumulator Raphanus sativus L. (radish) seedlings grown under cadmium (Cd) metal stress. To determine the influence of 28-HBL (0, 10^-11, 10^-9, 10^-7M) in radish seedlings subjected to Cd (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mM) stress, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (APOX, CAT, GR, POD and SOD) were analyzed. In addition, length and biomass of radish seedlings was also recorded. Cd toxicity resulted in reduced length, biomass, protein content and activities of antioxidant enzymes. 28-HBL treatments lowered the Cd toxicity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, biomass and seedling length. The present study thus suggests a possible role of 28-HBL in amelioration of metal stress by regulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes in radish.

Page(s): 172-177

Evaluation of suitable solvents for testing the anti-proliferative activity of triclosan - a hydrophobic drug in cell culture

Sat, 29 May 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Evaluation of suitable solvents for testing the anti-proliferative activity of triclosan - a hydrophobic drug in cell culture

Authors: Vandhana, S; Deepa, P R; Aparna, G; Jayanthi, U; Krishnakumar, S

Abstract: Triclosan, a broad spectrum antibiotic is currently being evaluated for its anti-cancer property. Though several solvents are available to dissolve lipophilic (hydrophobic) drugs, solubility and toxicity aspects pose a challenge, when combined with the cell culture medium. In this paper, we present a simple approach based on physico-chemical and biologic criteria to choose a suitable solubilizing agent to study the anti-proliferative property of triclosan in breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Triclosan was dissolved in five different solvents viz. DMSO, absolute ethanol, 1 N NaOH, 55% polyethylene glycol + 45% ethanol mixture (PEM) and acetone and diluted with the culture medium (1 mg/ml). Although triclosan dissolved completely in all five solvents, on dilution with culture medium, turbidity was observed in DMSO, 1 N NaOH and ethanol. Cell viability was 95.23% in 10 ml of acetone, when compared with 49.45% at the same volume of PEM. This non-toxic nature of acetone was supported by DNA fragmentation analysis and phase contrast microscopy. A significant decrease in cancer cell proliferation at 100 mg/ml of acetone-solubilized triclosan, compared with 100 mg/ml of PEM-solubilized triclosan (p<0.05) indicated stronger anti-proliferative effect and greater drug-sensitivity of triclosan when solubilized in acetone. Results showed that acetone-solubilized triclosan was suitable for anti-cancer investigations in cultured MCF-7 cells.

Page(s): 166-171