Effect of Solanum surattense seed on the oxidative potential of cauda epididymal spermatozoa

Objective

To evaluate the effect of aqueous seed extract of Solanum surattense (S. surattense) on the oxidative potential of cauda epididymal spermatozoa.

Methods

S. surattense seed extract was orally administered at the dosage of 10 mg/kg b.w. for 15 days, after which aspartate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), citric acid and iso-citrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) were assayed.

Results

The activity levels of the enzymes AST and ALT, which are considered to be the androgenicity in the sperm suspension, were depleted in the extract fed rats. The activity level of the enzyme ICDH, was reduced significantly in the treated group (P<0.001).

Conclusions

It can be concluded that the oral administration of the aqueous seed extract of S. surattense can deplete the oxidative stress of cauda epididymal spermatozoa in albino rats.     

Regulation of Airway and Alveolar Epithelial Cell Apoptosis by p53-Induced Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 during Cigarette Smoke Exposure Injury

Increased expression of tumor suppressor protein p53 and of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is associated with cigarette smoke (CS) exposure-induced lung epithelial injury. p53 induces PAI-1 through mRNA stabilization in lung epithelial cells. However, it is unclear how this process affects lung epithelial damage. Here, we show that CS induces p53 and PAI-1 expression and apoptosis in cultured Beas2B and primary alveolar type (AT)II cells. CS exposure augmented binding of p53 protein with PAI-1 mRNA. Inhibition of p53 from binding to PAI-1 mRNA through expression of p53-binding 70 nt PAI-1 mRNA 3'UTR sequences suppressed CS-induced PAI-1 expression. Treatment of Beas2B cells with caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptide (CSP) suppressed p53 expression and p53-PAI-1 mRNA interaction. These changes were associated with parallel inhibition of CS-induced PAI-1 expression and apoptosis in Beas2B cells. Wild-type mice exposed to passive CS likewise show augmented p53 and PAI-1 with parallel induction of ATII cell apoptosis, whereas mice deficient for p53 or PAI-1 expression resisted apoptosis of ATII cells. CSP suppressed CS-induced ATII cell apoptosis in wild-type mice and abrogated p53-PAI-1 mRNA interaction with parallel inhibition of p53 and PAI-1 expression. The protection against ATII cell apoptosis by CSP involves inhibition of passive CS-induced proapoptotic Bax and Bak expression and restoration of the prosurvival proteins Bcl-X(L). These observations demonstrate that inhibition of p53 binding to PAI-1 mRNA 3'UTR attenuates CS-induced ATII cell apoptosis. This presents a novel link between p53-mediated PAI-1 expression and CS-induced ATII cell apoptosis.     

Evaluation of Catharanthus roseus leaf extract-mediated biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles against Hippobosca maculata and Bovicola ovis

The purpose of the present study was based on assessments of the antiparasitic activities of synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) utilizing leaf aqueous extract of Catharanthus roseus against the adults of hematophagous fly, Hippobosca maculata Leach (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), and sheep-biting louse, Bovicola ovis Schrank (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae). The synthesized TiO₂ NPs were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The formation of the TiO₂ NPs synthesized from the XRD spectrum compared with the standard confirmed spectrum of titanium particles formed in the present experiments were in the form of nanocrystals, as evidenced by the peaks at 2?? values of 27.43°, 36.03°, and 54.32°. The FTIR spectra of TiO₂ NPs exhibited prominent peaks at 714 (Ti?CO?CO bond), 1,076 (C?CN stretch aliphatic amines), 1,172 (C?CO stretching vibrations in alcoholic groups), 1,642 (N?CH bend bond), and 3,426 (O?CH stretching due to alcoholic group). SEM analysis of the synthesized TiO₂ NPs clearly showed the clustered and irregular shapes, mostly aggregated and having the size of 25?C110?nm. By Bragg??s law and Scherrer??s constant, it is proved that the mean size of synthesized TiO₂ NPs was 65?nm. The AFM obviously depicts the formation of the rutile and anatase forms in the TiO₂ NPs and also, the surface morphology of the particles is uneven due to the presence of some of the aggregates and individual particles. Adulticidal parasitic activity was observed in varying concentrations of aqueous leaf extract of C. roseus, TiO₂ solution, and synthesized TiO₂ NPs for 24?h. The maximum parasitic activity was observed in aqueous crude leaf extracts of C. roseus against the adults of H. maculata and B. ovis with LD₅₀ values of 36.17 and 30.35?mg/L, and r ² values of 0.948 and 0.908, respectively. The highest efficacy was reported in 5?mM TiO₂ solution against H. maculata and B. ovis (LD₅₀?=?33.40 and 34.74?mg/L; r ²?=?0.786 and 0.873), respectively, and the maximum activity was observed in the synthesized TiO₂ NPs against H. maculata and B. ovis with LD₅₀ values of LD₅₀?=?7.09 and 6.56?mg/L, and r ² values of 0.880 and 0.913, respectively. This method is considered as an innovative alternative approach to control the hematophagous fly and sheep-biting louse.     

Oncolytic poxvirus armed with Fas ligand leads to induction of cellular Fas receptor and selective viral replication in FasR-negative cancer

Tumor necrosis factor superfamily members, including Fas ligand and TRAIL, have been studied extensively for cancer therapy, including as components of gene therapy. We examined the use of FasL expression to achieve tumor-selective replication of an oncolytic poxvirus (vFasL), and explored its biology and therapeutic efficacy for FasR- and FasR+ cancers. Infection of FasR+ normal and MC38 cancer cells by vFasL led to abortive viral replication owing to acute apoptosis and subsequently showed both reduced pathogenicity in non-tumor-bearing mice and reduced efficacy in FasR+ tumor-bearing mice. Infection of FasR- B16 cancer cells by vFasL led to efficient viral replication, followed by late induction of FasR and subsequent apoptosis. Treatment with vFasL as compared with its parental virus (vJS6) led to increased tumor regression and prolonged survival of mice with FasR- cancer (B16) but not with FasR+ cancer (MC38). The delayed induction of FasR by viral infection in FasR- cells provides for potential increased efficacy beyond the limit of the direct oncolytic effect. FasR induction provides one mechanism for tumor-selective replication of oncolytic poxviruses in FasR- cancers with enhanced safety. The overall result is both a safer and more effective oncolytic virus for FasR- cancer.     

Fungal symbionts of marine sponges from Rameswaram, southern India: species composition and bioactive metabolites

Ten marine sponge species from Rameswaram, southern India were studied for their filamentous fungal symbionts. The results suggest that fungal symbionts of marine sponges are hyperdiverse. Genera such as Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium and Penicillium were frequently isolated; no true marine fungal species were present. Species of Aspergillus were dominant and co-dominant in all the sponges screened. The fungal isolates produced antialgal, antifungal, antioxidant, antibiotic, antiinsect metabolites. A few fungi produced acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.