NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJEB Vol.48(08) [August 2010]

Effect of combined treatment of thioperamide with some antiepileptic drugs on methionine-sulfoximine induced convulsions in mice

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effect of combined treatment of thioperamide with some antiepileptic drugs on methionine-sulfoximine induced convulsions in mice

Authors: Vohora, Divya; Khanam, Razia; Pal, Shanthi N; Pillai, K K

Abstract: Methionine-sulfoximine (MSO), a convulsant is known to increase the activity of histamine N-methyl transferase. The effect of a selective H3 receptor agonist R- ( ) methylhistamine (RAMH) and antagonist (thioperamide, THP) and some antiepileptic drugs (gabapentin and sodium valproate) have been evaluated on MSO-induced convulsions in mice. The effect of THP was also evaluated in combination with these antiepileptic drugs. Sodium valproate (300 mg/kg, po) and gabapentin (400 mg/kg, po) offered protection against MSO-induced convulsions as evidenced by a significant prolongation of latency to abnormal dorsoflexion and complete protection against mortality within 6 h of administration. THP (15 mg/kg, ip) alone and in combination with sub-effective doses of gabapentin (75 mg/kg, po) and sodium valproate (75 mg/kg, po) revealed no significant differences from the control group or either drug alone. Hence, the convulsant action of MSO does not appear to be mediated via histaminergic mechanisms.

Page(s): 858-860

Genetic characterization of dengue virus serotypes causing concurrent infection in an outbreak in Ernakulam, Kerala, South India

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Genetic characterization of dengue virus serotypes causing concurrent infection in an outbreak in Ernakulam, Kerala, South India

Authors: Anoop, M; Issac, Aneesh; Mathew, Thomas; Philip, Sairu; Kareem, Nabeel Abdul; Unnikrishnan, R; Sreekumar, E

Abstract: Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection, causes significant morbidity and has become endemic in the Indian subcontinent. Virus strains currently circulating in many parts of the country are not well studied at the molecular level. In the present study, genetic characterization of virus strains from a dengue outbreak that occurred in and around a tertiary care hospital in Ernakulam, Kerala in the year 2008 has been reported. By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 37 out of 75 (49.3%) clinically suspected cases were positive for dengue viral RNA. Among these, 21 (56.8%) samples showed concurrent infection with multiple serotypes of the virus. Majority of the combined infections were caused by dengue serotype 2 and 3. Co-infections with type 1 and 2 in two patients, and type 1, 2 and 3 in one patient were also observed. The core-pre-Membrane (CprM) junction nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the type 1 strains were related to the viral strains reported from Delhi-2001 and Gwalior-2002 dengue outbreaks, while the type 2 strains were related to the strains from Gwalior-2001 epidemic. Sequences of type 3 strains did not show clear relation to any of the previous Indian isolates, and in the phylogenetic analysis, they formed a distinct lineage within the Indian type 3 strains. This study indicates hyperendemicity of dengue in the region with the presence of multiple serotypes and high rates of co-infection, and local genomic evolution of the viral strains involved in this outbreak.

Page(s): 849-857

Antioxidant activity of carotenoid lutein in vitro and in vivo

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Antioxidant activity of carotenoid lutein in vitro and in vivo

Authors: Sindhu, Edakkadath R; Preethi, Korengath C; Kuttan, Ramadasan

Abstract: Carotenoid lutein was evaluated for its antioxidant potential both in vitro and in vivo. Lutein was found to scavenge superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals and inhibited in vitro lipid peroxidation. Concentrations needed for 50 % inhibition (IC₅₀) were 21, 1.75 and 2.2 g/mL respectively. It scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (IC₅₀ 35 g/mL) and nitric oxide radicals (IC₅₀3.8 g/mL) while 2,2-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiozoline-6-sulfonic acid radicals were inhibited at higher concentration. Ferric reducing power (50%) of lutein was found to be equal 0.3μmols/mL of FeSO₄.7H₂O. Its oral administration inhibited superoxide generation in macrophages in vivo by 34.18, 64.32 and 70.22 % at doses of 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight. The oral administration of lutein in mice for 1 month significantly increased the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and glutathione in blood and liver while the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase were found to be increased in the liver tissue. Implication of these results in terms of its role in reducing degenerative diseases is discussed.

Page(s): 843-848

Effect of Aloe vera gel extract on antioxidant enzymes and azoxymethane-induced oxidative stress in rats

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Effect of Aloe vera gel extract on antioxidant enzymes and azoxymethane-induced oxidative stress in rats

Authors: Anilakumar, K R; Sudarshanakrishna, K R; Chandramohan, G; Ilaiyaraja, N; Khanum, Farhath; Bawa, A S

Abstract: The present work was undertaken with a view to study the effect of oral feeding of 2% Aloe vera gel extract (AGE) for 30 days on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced oxidative stress in rats. It was observed that AOM administration resulted in a significant increase in malondialdehyde and conjugated dienes, with reduction in hepatic glutathione (GSH), vitamin A and uric acid contents. AOM-induced reduction in hepatic GSH and uric acid was brought back to normal by AGE. There was a significant raise in hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activities as a result of feeding of the extract. Ingestion of the extract effected reduction in AOM-induced colonic GSH-peroxidase, G-6- PD and glutathione S-transferase and femur bone marrow micronuclei formation. Hence, it is suggested that Aloe vera gel extract possess the ability to reduce AOM- induced oxidative stress and toxicity in liver.

Page(s): 837-842