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Stimulatory and Toxic Effects of Neurotransmitters on the lux Operon-Dependent Bioluminescence of Escherichia coli K12 TGI
Get PDFBackground: The normal functioning of the brain requires neuromediators, i.e., substances that transmit messages between nervous cells. Neurochemicals also function as signals that are involved in communication among the microorganisms that inhabit the human organism. While the impact of “classical” neurotransmitters including catecholamines, serotonin, and histamine on microorganisms has been investigated in a number of recent publications, this work provides evidence for the stimulatory and inhibitory (toxic) effects of some other important neurochemicals that have not received sufficient attention in the literature.Methods: The biosensor was based on a GM Escherichia coli K12 strain (TGI) that contained the lux operon of the luminescent soil bacterium Photorhabdus luminescencens ZMI. The biosensor was exposed to the action of the tested neurotransmitters for 15 mins to 144 hrs. The intensity of bacterial luminescence (counts / second) was monitored in the control and the experimental samples with an 1251 BioOrbit luminometer (Finland).Results: Neurochemicals such as putrescine, acetylcholine, taurin, and indole were found to stimulate, at low concentrations (0.1-10 µM), the luminescence of the strain E. coli K12 TGI containing the lux operon from Photorhabdus luminescencens ZMI. At higher concentrations, putrescine, taurin, and indole exerted a weak toxic influence, i.e. they marginally attenuated the luminescence of E. coli K12 TGI.Conclusions: Based on the data obtained, a regulatory, presumably receptor-dependent, effect is exerted by the tested neurochemicals on the bacterium E. coli K12 TGI, in an analogy to their impact on nervous, immune, and other specialized types of eukaryotic cells. However, high neurochemical concentrations are likely to produce nonspecific effects on the bacterial luciferase system and/or on membrane phosphorylation
Medicinal Plants Used by the Inhabitants of Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Get PDFPlant species used as herbal medicines play an important in the provision of primary healthcare in several rural communities. The current study was aimed at documenting medicinal plants used by the inhabitants of Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Information on medicinal plants used for primary healthcare was collected through open-ended interviews with a sample of 124 participants selected via snowball-sampling technique between April 2017 and May 2018. A total of 34 plant species and one fungus species representing 20 families were used in the treatment of 13 different human diseases. The major diseases treated by the documented species included respiratory system, pain, sores and wounds, infections and infestations, digestive system, blood and cardiovascular system, fever and malaria, general ailments, reproductive system and sexual health and mental disorders. Popular herbal medicines with relative frequency citation (RFC) values exceeding 0.50 included Bulbine frutescens, Clivia miniata var. miniata, Elephantorrhiza elephantina, Centella asiatica, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis, Leonotis leonurus, Agapanthus africanus and Datura stramonium. Such repository of medicinal plants and fungi reinforces the need for an evaluation of their biological activities as a basis for developing future medicines and pharmaceutical products
Antiobesity and Lipid Lowering Activitiy of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. Seed in High Fat Diet Induced Obese Mice
Get PDFSeed of Vigna unguiculata is commonly used as culinary in Bangladesh and many parts of the world. Besides this, seed of V. unguiculata possesses some medicinal values like being an antioxidant etc. In this study, seeds of V. unguiculata were used to determine the link between its total phenolic content and lipid lowering activity. Phytochemicals presents in the seeds were evaluated. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by using folin-ciocalteu method. High fat diet induced obese mice were used for anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic test. Body weight gain, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were analyzed. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed that amino acid, phenol, alkaloid and terpenes were very strongly present in cowpea seed, while carbohydrate, cardiac glycoside, was moderately present. The V. unguiculata seeds showed significant total phenolic content with a value of 119.716mg of GAE/gm equivalent. Cowpea seeds, with a dose of 400mg/kg body-weight, showed significant reduction in body weight gain when treated with fat diet compared with normal diet. Cowpea seeds are also capable of lowering the serum cholesterol (p < 0.01) and serum triglyceride level (p < 0.01) more significantly in high fat diet induced obesity. V. unguiculata seeds have a significantly high total phenolic content while the other phytochemicals are moderately present in them. It has anti-obesity activity that can interfere with serum cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. So, it seems like a healthy diet for the management of obesity and other heart related disease
Polyphenols and Rosmarinic acid Contents, Antioxidant and Anti- Inflammatory Activities of Different Solvent Fractions from Nga- Mon (Perilla frutescens) Leaf
Get PDFPerilla is a rich source of polyphenols, which exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, and a variety of biological effects. The effect of differential solvents on the polyphenols, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid (RA), antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities of perilla leaf require investigation. In this study, perilla leaf was extracted with 70% ethanol and sequentially fractionated according to the solvent’s polarity with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water. Samples were subjected to the bioactive compound measurements. The antioxidant and antiinflammation nature of perilla was analyzed based on the scavenging effects on DPPH•, ABTS•+, O2•- and nitric oxide (NO), as well as FRAP assay, and determination of the inhibition effects on NO, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) production in the cell-based study. The results indicate that among all different solvents used for sequential fractionation, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) was most effective in the separation of anti-oxidative and antiinflammatory compounds in the perilla leaf extract. These properties can partly be due to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and also RA. It can be demonstrated here that, the perilla leaf EtOAc fraction could be used as a natural active pharmaceutical ingredient for dietary supplements and nutraceuticals
Manipulation of Environmental Stress Towards Lutein Production in Chlorella fusca Cell Culture
Get PDFAll carotenoids originate from a single, common precursor, phytoene. The colour of carotenoids is determinedby desaturation, isomerization, cyclization, hydroxylation and epoxidation of the 40-carbon phytoene. The conjugated double-bond structure and nature of end ring groups confer on the carotenoids properties such as colour and antioxidant activity. Algae may become major sources of carotenoids but the extent of environmental stress and genetic influences on algae carotenoid biosynthesis are poorly understood. Carotenoid biosynthesis can be influenced by many aspects and is liable to geometric isomerization with the existence of oxygen, light and heat which affect the colour degradation and oxidation. Therefore, in this study carotenoid biogenesis is investigated in cell culture of Chlorella fusca as a potential model system for rapid initiation, and extraction of carotenoids by providing stringent control of genetic, developmental and environmental factors. The value of this experimental system for investigating key factors controlling the carotenoid accumulation is then tested by assessing the effects of environmental variables, such as drought stress, light intensity, nutrient strength and media formulation on carotenoid accumulation. Our findings revealed that the conversion of violaxanthin to lutein is due to irradiance stress condition, nutrient strength as well as drought stress. As a result, manipulation of environmental variables will up-regulate lutein concentration. This reaction will restrict the supply of precursors for ABA biosynthesis and the algae cell culture responds by increasing carotenogenic metabolic flux to compensate for this restriction. In conclusion, selecting the appropriate algae species for the appropriate environmental conditions is not only important for yield production, but also for nutritional value quality of carotenoid
Medicinal Uses, Biological and Chemical Properties of Wild Plum (Harpephyllum caffrum): An Indigenous Fruit Plant of Southern Africa
Get PDFHarpephyllum caffrum is a fruit plant widely used as herbal medicine throughout its distributional range in southern Africa. This study was aimed at providing a critical review of the biological activities, phytochemistry and medicinal uses of H. caffrum. Documented information on the botany, biological activities, medicinal uses and phytochemistry of H. caffrum was collected from several online sources which included BMC, Scopus, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Pubmed and Web of Science. Additional information on H. caffrum was gathered from pre-electronic sources such as book chapters, books, journal articles and scientific publications sourced from the University library. This study showed that the bark, fruits and roots of H. caffrum are used as blood purifier and emetic, and as herbal medicine against asthma, wounds, bone fractures, sprains and skin problems. Phytochemical compounds identified from the fruits, leaves and stem bark of H. caffrum include cardanols, fatty acid esters, flavonoids, phenolics and triterpenoids. Ethnopharmacological research revealed that H. caffrum extracts and compounds have in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities such as acetylcholinesterase, analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antimycobacterial, antifungal, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antipyretic, melanogenesis and antityrosinase, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive, hepatoprotective and cytotoxicity activities. Harpephyllum caffrum should be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological evaluations aimed at correlating its medicinal uses with its phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of the species
Nutritional Analysis of Mature Unripen and Ripen Edible Fruits of Aegle tamilnadensis Abdul Kader (Rutaceae)
Get PDFNutritive analysis of mature unripe and ripe fruits of Aegle tamilnadensis which is a close relative of A. marmelos (L) Correa was carried out at Presidency College, Chennai during 2016. Mature unripen fruits were plucked from the tree while ripen fruits were gathered from the ground after their natural fall during the month of December 2016 from the campus of Govt. Siddha Medical College, Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Seeds were removed; fresh fruit pulp was collected and weighed. Such pulp was used for the extraction of nutrients using methanol in Soxtron apparatus (Socs Plus - SCS 06 E). The moisture content was estimated by hot air oven method and expressed on dry weight basis [10]. The methanol fruit pulp extracts were used with standard methods for the estimation of protein, carbohydrate (sugar), energy, fat, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, sodium and iron. The results showed that the mature unripe fruit contain high protein, sodium and calcium contents while cholesterol and fat contents were lower than those present in the ripe fruits. On the contrary in ripe fruit, vitamin C and iron contents were high. Therefore, both mature unripe and ripe fruits of Aegle tamilnadensis Abdul Kader can be used as a potential natural nutraceutical
Comparative Study of Fish Eel Amino Acid Profile (Anguilla marmorata (Q.) Gaimard) on Silver eel Phase from Palu River and Poso Lake
Get PDFAmino acid is an organic component containing amine and carboxyl groups. Amino acids are needed by the human body. One animal that has the amino acid content is eel (Anguilla marmorata (Q.) Gaimard) from Palu River and Poso Lake in Central Sulawesi which are endemic fish. This study aims to determine the comparison of amino acid profile in eel (Anguilla marmorata (Q.) Gaimard) on silver eel phase. Testing amino acid profile using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the eel (Anguilla marmorata (Q.) Gaimard) on phase of silver eel from the Palu River and Poso Lake contained 18 kinds of amino acid consisting of 9 kinds of essential amino acids and 9 types of non-essential amino acids. Data comparison shows a significant difference in glycine P = 0.000 and has no significant differences in the valine at P = 0.132
Study of Mental Illness in Rat Model of Sodium Azide Induced Oxidative Stress
Get PDFAim: Oxidative stress is known as Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation that is caused by reactive ROS and antioxidants imbalance that could be due to decreased antioxidant levels. Oxidative stress is often related to aging, Oxygen metabolism and redox imbalance in cells and tissues. It is a cellular state in which oxidants levels e.g. superoxide (O-2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or nitric oxide (NO) in biological metabolisms exceed the oxidants scavenging capacity of cells. Oxidative stress in brain leads to depression, anxiety, memory impairment and behavioral deficits associated with them.
Method: 24 male albino wistar rats were allocated into test and controls groups administered with sodium azide (5 mg/kg bodyweight) (i.p.) and water (p.o.) respectively for 14 days. Behaviors were monitored weekly after 24 hours of sodium azide administration in light/dark box, elevated plus maze, Open field and Morris water maze.
Results: Test animals that were administered with sodium azide significantly decreased entries and time spent in illuminated area of light dark box and elevated plus maze while increased latency and fewer square crossed were observed with decreased learning acquisition and memory retention.
Conclusion: All the data collected and results analysis determine oxidative stress could cause mood disorders learning disabilities. Sodium azide induced oxidative stress produce behavioral deficits and memory impairment validated it as a neurotoxin
Efficacy of Application of Dietary Supplements in Acute Intoxication
Get PDFThe effectiveness of BAA balsam "Revival plus" as a means of pharmacological correction of neurotoxic and hepatotoxic lesions as consequences of acute ethanol poisoning was evaluated. It has been established that in the conditions of acute severe intoxication ethanol BAA balsam "Revival plus" has pharmacological efficacy in terms of survival keeping temperature and frequency of respiratory movements in poisoned rats with a therapeutic and prophylactic scheme of their use. Value of the work consists in the experimental substantiation of the possibility of using BAA balsam "Revival plus" as a promising means of treatment of acute extremely severe ethanol poisoning.
The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the efficacy of application of dietary supplements in acute intoxication, to depict the effectiveness of balsam during the intoxication, and from scientific purpose to prove the significance of this supplement.
The obtained data testify to the effectiveness of the use of bio additives in ethanol poisoning and possible mechanisms for the implementation of the hepatic protective effect of the BAA balsam "Revival Plus" under various life-threatening conditions.
The purpose of this research is evaluation of the experimental effectiveness of BAA balsam "Revival Plus" for ethanol poisoning.
To achieve this goal the following tasks are set:
To reveal the features of the histological structure of the liver of control and experimental rats of the second group with ethanol poisoning;
To study the morphological changes in the liver of rats of the third group with ethanol poisoning against the background of the use of BAA balsam "Revival plus";
To study the peculiarities of the action of the BAA balsam "Revival plus" on the biochemical parameters of the blood of rats.
Questions about the interaction of dietary supplements and alcoholic beverages are regularly being raised by both researchers and ordinary consumers. In most cases talk about the dangers of dietary supplements for a person who often drinks alcoholic beverages is not necessary