jpans

v2n2-jpans 1351844258

Evaluation of Antitumor and Antioxidant Potential of a Polyherbal Extract on Ehrlich’s Ascites Carcinoma Xenografted Mice
Pages 12-19
Mukesh Kumar Das, K.Mukkanti, G. Srinivasa Rao, Prafulla Kumar Sahu and L. Silpavathi
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.01.4
Published: 31 January 2014


Abstract: Objective: Indigenous herbs alone or in combination are widely used in Indian system of medicine to treat innumerable ailments since time immemorial. Many strategies has been adopted to enhance anticarcinogenic responses and to establish therapeutic benefits. Poly herbal extracts (PHE), one of the emerging trends of modern medicine, where the assorted active principles work vibrantly to produce a maximum therapeutic activity with minimal toxicity by virtue of its additive, potentative, synergistic, agonistic or antagonistic effects. Though, Withania somnifera, Oroxylum indicum and Calotropis gigentia are independently established as potent antineoplastic agents, their antitumor and antioxidant perspective in combination is yet to be studied. The proposed study ascertains the assorted antineoplastic and antioxidant potential of the said potent herbs in PHE.

Method: The antitumor potency of the PHE at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight was screened on Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) xenografted swiss albino mice. The in-vivo anti-oxidant activity was investigated on the basis of hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes’ levels.

Result: The PHE at the aforementioned dose showed a restoring effect on altered hematological parameters (***P< 0.05 considered to be significant), down turn in ascitic tumor volume and increase in mean survival time. A significant improvement in biochemical parameters (Enzymic antioxidants) was too observed.

Conclusion:The study epitomizes the PHE (400 mg/kg body weight) as a potent anti tumor and anti-oxidant preparation with synergistic effects on EAC bearing mice.

Keywords: Anti-oxidant activities, polyherbal extract (PHE), antitumor activity, EAC.
Download Full Article

v2n2-jpans 1351844258

Evaluation of Supplementation of Bittergourd Fermented Beverage to Diabetic Subjects
Pages 27-36
C.S. Devaki and K.S. Premavalli
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.01.5
Published: 31 January 2014


Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine diseased condition reflected by higher level of blood glucose which is due to less insulin production, insulin action or both. Bittergourd juice consumption is being traditionally practiced for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in developing country such as India, but not supported through clinical data and highly bitter juice is difficult to drink. Therefore bittergourd fermented beverage with improved nutritional strength and taste was developed and supplemented to diabetic subjects and the evaluation was carried out. The evaluation of the bittergourd fermented beverage, in the first stage was carried out by supplementing the beverage to 30 diabetic subjects as an early morning drink in fasting conditionand the control group was asked to drink water. The fasting and post prandial blood sugar levels were studied and diabetic symptoms were noted. The impact of supplementation of bittergourd fermented beverage on diabetic subjects showed that subjects had significant improvement in reducing the symptoms of diabetes, as well reduced the fasting and post prandial glucose levels by 31% and 25% respectively when compared with the control group. Further 16 diabetic subjects who expressed their consent were given the bittergourd fermented beverage for a period of 5 months and the results of the long duration supplementaion indicated that there was a reduction of fasting blood glucose by 43% and post prandial blood glucose by 41% reflecting advantage of continued consumption of the beverage. In order to understand the direct action of the beverage on blood lipid profile–serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol as measured before and after supplementation showed the changes by 4-7% which is not considerable. However the glycoslated haemoglobin indicated encouraging results after the supplementation showing good control from fair control. Therefore, the study clearly reflected the positive effect of bittergourd fermented beverage in reducing and controlling blood sugar levels.

Keywords: Bittergourd fermented beverage, diabetes, supplementation, biochemical parameters.
Download Full Article

v2n2-jpans 1351844258

Synthesis of Amphiphilic Blockcopolymer Using Mechanically Produced Macromonomers Possessing Anhydrate as a Terminal Group and Its Application to Polymeric Micelles
Pages 37-42
Shin-ichi Kondo, Machi Omoto, Yuka Sawama, Yasushi Sasai, Kenjiro Tatematsu, Yukinori Yamauchi and Masayuki Kuzuya

DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.01.6
Published: 31 January 2014


Abstract: We have synthesized macromonomers by mechanochemical reaction of poly(benzyl methacrylate) (PBzMA) and maleic anhydride (MA). The ESR spectrum of the fractured sample of PBzMA and MA showed a broad singlet, which was apparently different from the spectrum of PBzMA mechanoradical. The amphiphilic blockcopolymer was synthesized with macromonomer of PBzMA and amino-terminated polyethyleneglycol (a-methyl-w-aminopropoxy polyoxyethylene, MEPA). The number average molecular weight of the produced amphiphilic blockcopolymer was 33,000. Polymeric micelles were readily prepared from the present amphiphilic blockcopolymer by a dialysis method. The mean diameter of the micelles measured by dynamic light scattering was about 146 nm. It was shown that the present macromonomer mechanically produced can be used for the synthesis of amphiphilic bockcopolymer to form polymeric micelles.

Keywords: Polymeric micelle, macromonomer, maleic anhydride, mechanoradical.
Download Full Article

v2n2-jpans 1351844258

Anticancer Effects of Combined γ-Tocotrienol and PPARγ Antagonist Treatment are Associated with a Suppression in Adipogenic Factor Expression
Pages 43-56
Abhita Malaviya, Parash Parajuli and Paul W. Sylvester
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5951.2014.04.01.7
Published: 31 January 2014


Abstract: Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet the demands of accelerated growth. Glucose is the primary source of energy for cancer cells, but under conditions of high-energy demand lipids and free fatty acids become increasingly important. PPARγ is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and acts to regulate adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. However, in many types of cancer, PPARγ activity is elevated in order to increase production of adipogenic factors [1, 2]. γ-Tocotrienol is an isoform of vitamin E that displays potent anticancer activity [3]. Previous studies have shown that the antiproliferative effects of combined treatment of ã-tocotrienol with PPARγ antagonists was associated with a reduction in PPARγ activity, expression of PPARγ and RXR, and suppression in Akt activation in MCF-7 and MBA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells [4]. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of combination treatment with these agents on adipogenic factor levels in rapidly proliferating human breast cancer cells. Western blot and qRT-PCR studies showed that combined treatment of γ-tocotrienol with PPARγ antagonists not only suppressed the adipogenic proteins, C/EBPβ and SREBP-1c, but also decreased their target lipogenic enzymes, ap2, FAS, and HMGCoR. However, treatment effects were also observed in PPARγ silenced breast cancer cells, indicating that these effects are mediated through PPARγ-independent mechanism. These findings suggest the combined treatment of γ-tocotrienol with PPARγ antagonist may have potential as a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of breast cancer. .

Keywords: γ-Tocotrienol, PPARγ, Breast Cancer, C/EBPβ, SREBP-1c, FASN.
Download Full Article