Effect of oral curcumin administration on serum peroxides and cholesterol levels in human volunteers.

The effect of curcumin administration in reducing the serum levels of cholesterol and lipid peroxides was studied in ten healthy human volunteers, receiving 500 mg of curcumin per day for 7 days. A significant decrease in the level of serum lipid peroxides (33%), increase in HDL Cholesterol (29%), and a decrease in total serum cholesterol (11.63%) were noted. As curcumin reduced serum lipid peroxides and serum cholesterol, the study of curcumin as a chemopreventive substance against arterial diseases is suggested.     

Presence of a receptor for the active component of Iscador in ascites fluid of tumour bearing mice

Tumour bearing mice exhibit a specific "receptor" in the ascites fluid which binds with the active component isolated from Iscador. This "receptor" was found to be a protein which inhibited the cytotoxicity of Iscador and its isolated active component at low concentration. The receptor protein was also found in the sonicates of tumour cells which are susceptible to the action of Iscador but not in lymphocytes which were not susceptible to Iscador or its isolated active component. The receptor was separated on a Sephadex G-50 column. Activity was lost upon heat denaturation and dialysis.     

Turmeric and curcumin as topical agents in cancer therapy

An ethanol extract of turmeric ("Curcuma longa") as well as an ointment of curcumin (its active ingredient) were found to produce remarkable symptomatic relief in patients with external cancerous lesions. Reduction in smell were noted in 90% of the cases and reduction in itching in almost all cases. Dry lesions were observed in 70% of the cases, and a small number of patients (10%) had a reduction in lesion size and pain. In many patients the effect continued for several months. An adverse reaction was noticed in only one of the 62 patients evaluated.     

Immunomodulatory effect of some naturally occuring sulphur-containing compounds

The immunomodulatory effects of naturally occurring sulphur compounds such as diallyl sulphide (DAS), diallyl disulphide (DADS) and allyl methyl sulphide (AMS) were studied in BALB/c mice. After treatment with five doses (20 mg/dose) of sulphur-containing compounds, the total white blood cell (WBC) count was enhanced significantly in mice. Among the sulphur compounds studied, DADS showed the maximum number of WBC (17,900 cells/mm(3)) on the 6th day, and highest antibody titre of 516 on the 12th day. Administration of DAS and DADS enhanced the weight of vital organs such as the spleen and thymus. DADS, AMS, and DAS administration could enhance the number of plaque forming cells (PFC) in the spleen of the animals. Maximum numbers of PFC (1,409 PFC/10(6) spleen cells) were observed in DADS-treated animals. Bone-marrow cellularity was also increased significantly (P<0.001) in DADS (19.3 x 10(6) cells/femur) and AMS (24.7 x 10(6) cells/femur) treated animals. The number of alpha-esterase positive cells was enhanced in DAS (1,315/4,000 cells), DADS (1,748/4,000 cells), and AMS (1,648/4,000 cells) treated animals, compared to normal animals (1,065/4,000 cells). These results are suggestive of an immunostimulating effect of sulphur compounds.     

Effect of Withania somnifera on cyclophosphamide-induced urotoxicity

We have previously shown that levels of KAI1 mRNA are dramatically reduced in invasive human bladder cancers. To further investigate the role of KAI1 in bladder cancer, we have examined the relationship between KAI1 mRNA levels and cell behaviour in 18 bladder cancer cell lines and a virus-transformed uro-epithelial cell line. We found that low KAI1 mRNA levels correlated with increased in vitro invasive ability, reduced Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent cell-cell adhesion and reduced adhesion to fibronectin. These data support the idea that loss of KAI1 expression is an important factor in tumour cell invasive behaviour.     

Effect of Smoke Shield-a herbal formulation on the mutagenicity and oxidative stress produced by cigarette smoke in rats

Herbal formulation Smoke Shield was studied for its activity against cigarette smoke induced oxidative stress in rats. Smoke Shield administration was found to decrease the increased lipid peroxidation and conjugated dienes in the lung tissue and serum of cigarette smoke exposed rats. Moreover, administration of Smoke Shield was found to increase the activity of catalase in erythrocytes and lung tissue of rats, which was decreased upon smoke exposure. Glutathione peroxidase, which was increased by smoke exposure, was decreased by Smoke Shield and concomitantly there were increased levels of glutathione in the cells. In vitro studies indicated that addition of Smoke Shield could reduce the mutagenicity produced by tobacco smoke condensate, mosquito coil smoke condensate as well as by aqueous tobacco extract. In vitro antioxidant potential of smoke shield was found to be comparable or better than known antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E. These results indicated that Smoke Shield administration could effectively reduce the oxidative stress produced in rats by cigarette smoke and it could inhibit mutagenicity produced by smoke condensates and tobacco extract in Salmonella typhimurium.     

Inhibitory effect of a polysaccharide from Tinospora cordifolia on experimental metastasis

Administration of the polysaccharide fraction from Tinospora cordifolia was found to be very effective in reducing the metastatic potential of B16F-10 melanoma cells. There was a 72% inhibition in the metastases formation in the lungs of syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, when the drug was administered simultaneously with tumour challenge. Biochemical parameters such as lung collagen hydroxyproline, hexosamines and uronic acids that are markers of neoplastic development were reduced significantly (P<0.001) in the treated animals compared with the untreated control animals. The treatment could also reduce serum γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT) and sialic acid levels as compared to the control animals.     

Protective effect of an extract of Phyllanthus amarus against radiation-induced damage in mice

The radioprotective effect of an extract of the plant Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) was investigated in adult BALB/c mice. P. amarus extract (750 mg/kg b.wt and 250 mg/kg b.wt) was administered orally to mice for five days prior to whole body radiation (6 Gy) and for one month after radiation. The animals were sacrificed on days 3, 9, 12, and 30 after radiation. P. amarus significantly increased the total W.B.C count, bone marrow cellularity, and alpha-esterase activity as compared to untreated radiation-exposed animals. P. amarus treatment also increased the activity of various antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR), both in blood and tissue, which were reduced by radiation treatment. There was also a significant increase in the glutathione (GSH) levels of blood and tissue. Lipid peroxidation levels, which were increased after radiation, were significantly reduced by P. amarus treatment, both in serum and liver. The results collectively indicate that P. amarus extract could increase the antioxidant defense mechanism in mice and there by protect the animals from radiation-induced cellular damage.     

Anti-mutagenic activity of Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn in vitro as well as in vivo

Methanolic extract of Phyllanthus amarus was tested for its anti-mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA100, and TA102 (Ames test). P. amarus extract was able to inhibit the activation and mutagenicity of 2-acetaminofluorene (2-AAF) and aflatoxinB(1) at concentrations of 0.25-2 mg/plate. It was also found to inhibit mutagenicity induced by direct acting mutagens sodium azide (NaN(3)), N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), and 4-nitro-0-phenylenediamine (NPD), at concentrations of 1 mg to 0.25 mg/plate. Urinary mutagenicity produced in rats by benzo[a] pyrene was found to be significantly inhibited by the oral administration of Phyllanthus extract. These results indicate significant anti-mutagenicity of the extract in vitro as well as in vivo.     

Modulation of carcinogenic response and antioxidant enzymes of rats administered with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine by Picroliv

The effect of Picroliv treatment on the carcinogenic response and, hepatic and renal antioxidant enzymes of rats administered with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine hydrochloride (DMH) was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. DMH-induced hepatic carcinogenic response and necrosis were inhibited by oral administration of Picroliv (40 and 200 mg/kg). Liver gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, which was elevated to 0.41 +/- 0.06 nmol/mg protein by DMH administration was found to be reduced to 0.22 +/- 0.04 and 0.18 +/- 0.03 nmol/mg protein by Picroliv treatment 40 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Elevated number of Argyrophilic Nucleolar Organizer Region dots and clusters, an index of proliferation, of DMH treated rat liver was reduced by Picroliv treatment. DMH-induced depletion of hepatic and renal antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase levels were restored to normal by Picroliv treatment. Picroliv treatment reduced the DMH-induced elevation of lipidperoxidation in liver, kidney and serum. Elevated levels of serum total bilirubin by DMH administration was reduced by Picroliv treatment. Depleted renal glutathione S-transferase and hepatic glutathione levels after DMH administered rats were found to be significantly increased by Picroliv treatment. Histological analysis of the DMH administered rat liver showed hepatic cell necrosis, coalescent nodular areas and cystic hyperplasia of the bile ducts with inflammation. Picroliv treated liver resembled normal liver except the presence of a few degenerating cells. Renal anatomy was not altered by DMH administration.