Protective role of exogenous α-lipoic acid (ALA) on hippocampal antioxidant status and memory function in rat pups exposed to sodium arsenite during the early post-natal period

The present work focussed on the effect of exogenous α-lipoic acid (ALA) administration on retention memory and oxidative stress markers in the hippocampus subsequent to early post-natal exposure of rat pups to sodium arsenite (NaAsO(2)). Wistar rat pups were divided into the control groups receiving either no treatment (Ia) or distilled water by intraperitoneal route (i.p.) (Ib) and the experimental groups receiving either NaAsO(2) alone (1.5 and 2.0?mg/kg body wt.) (IIa, IIb) or NaAsO(2) (1.5 and 2.0?mg/kg body wt.) followed by ALA (70?mg/kg body wt.) (IIIa, IIIb) (i.p.) from post-natal day (PND) 4-15. The initial and retention transfer latency (ITL and RTL) was determined on PND 14 and 15 using elevated plus maze. The animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation (PND 16) and the brains were obtained. The dissected out hippocampus was processed for estimation of oxidative stress markers, glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). NaAsO(2) exposure resulted in longer RTL in animal groups IIa and IIb, thereby suggestive of arsenic-induced impairment in retention memory. RTL was significantly shorter in animal groups (IIIa, IIIb) receiving ALA following NaAsO(2), thereby suggestive of improvement in retention memory. GSH and SOD levels were significantly decreased in animals receiving NaAsO(2) alone as against group Ib and administration of ALA following NaAsO(2) increased the levels of hippocampal GSH and SOD. These observations are suggestive of the role of exogenous ALA in ameliorating the adverse effects induced by NaAsO(2) exposure of rat pups on retention memory and oxidative stress markers.     

Evidence for the involvement of the monoaminergic system, but not the opioid system in the antidepressant-like activity of ellagic acid in mice

Dietary flavonoids possess a multiplicity of neuroprotective actions in various central nervous pathophysiological conditions including depression. Ellagic acid is a polyphenolic compound that occurs in plants such as raspberries, nuts and eucalyptus species. The present study was designed to investigate the antidepressant-like effect of ellagic acid in mice using forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The involvement of the monoaminergic and opioid systems in the antidepressant-like activity of ellagic acid was also studied. Our results showed that ellagic acid when administered acutely or chronically to mice (25, 50 and 100mg/kg, p.o.), produced a significant reduction in the duration of immobility, with a profile comparable to that of fluoxetine (20mg/kg, p.o.). However, ellagic acid treatment had no effect on the locomotor activity of mice when tested in actophotometer. The reduction in immobility time observed with ellagic acid treatment (50mg/kg, p.o.) was prevented by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (100mg/kg, i.p., a serotonin synthesis inhibitor), pindolol (10mg/kg, i.p., a β-adrenoceptors blocker/5HT(1A/1B) receptor antagonist), ketanserin (5mg/kg, i.p., a 5HT(2A/2B) receptor antagonist), ondansetron (1mg/kg, i.p., a 5HT(3) receptor antagonist), prazosin (1mg/kg, i.p., an α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist) and yohimbine (1mg/kg, i.p., an α(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist), but not with naloxone (1mg/kg, i.p., an opioid receptor antagonist). Our results suggest that ellagic acid produced an antidepressant-like effect which was unrelated to its locomotor activity. Furthermore, this anti-immobility effect seems most likely to be mediated through an interaction with the monoaminergic system (serotonergic and noradrenergic systems) and not through the opioid system.     

Calorimetry and complementary techniques to characterize frozen and freeze-dried systems

Lyophilization is a commonly used drying technique for thermolabile pharmaceuticals. Crystallization of formulation components may occur during various stages of the freeze-drying process. In frozen solutions, while crystallization of bulking agents is desirable, both from processing and product-elegance perspectives, buffer salt crystallization can cause a significant pH shift. Lyoprotectants (compounds that protect macromolecules, both during freeze-drying and subsequent storage) are effective only when retained amorphous. This review presents numerous applications of differential scanning calorimetry to characterize pharmaceutical systems in frozen state. These studies are aimed at defining the processing parameters and optimizing the freeze-drying cycle. Low temperature pH measurement and sub-ambient X-ray diffractometry served as excellent complementary tools in the characterization of frozen systems. The phase behavior of the systems during annealing (of frozen solutions), primary and secondary drying were monitored by X-ray diffractometry. Finally, the interplay of formulation composition and processing parameters on the development and optimization of freeze-drying cycles are reviewed.     

Acute and sub acute toxicity and efficacy studies of Hippophae rhamnoides based herbal antioxidant supplement

Objectives:

Present study was carried out to evaluate acute and subacute toxicity and efficacy of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) based herbal antioxidant supplement (HAOS).

Materials and Methods:

In vivo toxicity studies were performed in male balb ‘C’ mice by oral administration. Acute toxicity study was done at doses ranging from 2000 to 10 000 mg/ kg while in subacute studies, HAOS was given at doses of 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg/kg body weight. Animals were observed for any toxic sign and symptoms periodically. At completion of study animals were sacrificed; their hematological, biochemical parameters were analyzed and histopathology of vital organs was done. In vivo efficacy studies in human volunteers were done and the levels of vitamin A and Vitamin C in blood samples were analyzed in comparison to a similar commercially available formulation.

Results:

No mortality and any clinical signs of toxicity were found in HAOS administered group of animals. There were no significant alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters. Histopathological analysis of vital organs showed normal architecture in all the HAOS administered groups. Human studies showed an increase of 32% and 172% in Vitamin A and Vitamin C levels respectively in term of bioavailability.

Conclusion:

The data obtained indicate no toxicity of this antioxidant supplement up to the highest dose studied. Efficacy in terms of increased bioavailability of vitamin A and C in human volunteers indicates the clinical usefulness of the supplement.KEY WORDS: Acute and subacute toxicity, herbal antioxidant supplement, seabuckthorn, histopathology and bioavailability     

Antimicrobial, analgesic, DPPH scavenging activities and molecular docking study of some 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazolines

A series of 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazolines 2a–g were synthesized by the reaction of 4,4′-disubstituted chalcone with phenyl hydrazine. All these compounds were characterized by NMR, IR and mass spectral and single crystal XRD data. All the synthesized products were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial, analgesic and antioxidant properties. The docking studies were carried out for these compounds against the active site of methionyl-tRNA synthetase (metRS). Some of the tested compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial, analgesic, DPPH scavenging activities and molecular binding.     

Studies on radioprotective and antiviral activities of some bischalcone derivatives

This work reports the cyclic voltammetric, modulatory effect on oxidative stress markers against radiation induced oxidative stress in E. coli bacteria and antiviral activities of two bischalcone derivatives (2E,5E)-2,5-bis(3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-benzylidene)-cyclopentanone (B1) and (2E,5E)-2,5-bis(4-fluorobenzylidene)-cyclopentanone (B2). The reducing ability of B1 and B2 was determined by cyclic voltammetry. The anodic peak current i _pa and anodic peak potential Epa of B1 and B2 were ?154.7, ?99?μA, and ?0.15?V, 0.0125?V, respectively. The low anodic current and low anodic peak potential imply the good reducing ability of the molecules. The radioprotective effect of bischalcones was studied by gamma radiation induced oxidative stress in E. coli K12 at 0.2 and 0.4?Gy. The bacteria samples treated with B1 and irradiated showed diminished level of TBARS, an oxidative stress marker. The levels of SOD and CAT antioxidant enzymes were brought to near basal level for B1 treated and irradiated bacteria with respect to the control. The protective effect of the bischalcone derivatives against radiation was further supported by determining colony forming units (CFU) of bacteria in pre- and post-irradiated samples. Further, B2 showed 73.69% of inhibition of buffalopox virus and camelpox virus.     

Synthesis,SAR and antibacterial activity of hybrid chloro,dichloro-phenylthiazolyl-s-triazines

A series of hybrid novel chloro (1a–9a) and dichloro (10b–18b) phenylthiazolyl-s-triazine were synthesized and subsequently subjected to their antibacterial activity against three gram positive viz. Lactobacillus casei (NCIM-2651); Bacillus cereus (NCIM-2458); Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM-2120) and three gram negative viz Salmonella typhimurium (NCIM-2501); Escherichia coli (NCIM-2065); Klebsiella aerogenes (NCIM-2098). The SAR studies around the lead compound revealed that introduction of electron withdrawing groups and amino (–NH–) and mercapto (–S–) linker bridge seemed more promising towards antibacterial activity. Moreover, the virtual Molinspiration screenings are in compliance with Ghose’s rule.