Animals In Dose-dependent Manner Research Articles

Bioactive role of plant stress hormone methyl jasmonate against lipopolysaccharide induced arthritis

The current investigation was carried out to screen antiarthritic potential of Methyl Jasmonate (MJ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced arthritis. Cartilage damage was induced in experimental animals by intraplantar administration of LPS (1 mg/kg) and antiarthritic effect of MJ was screened in two doses of MJ-1 (20 mg/kg), MJ-2 (40 mg/kg) by intraperitoneally administration. Indomethacin (30 mg/kg p.o.) was used as standard drug. The severity of arthritis was evaluated by assessing arthritis score, secondary lesions, motility test, stair climbing ability, and dorsal flexion pain score method. The estimation of blood cytokine tumor necrosis factor- aplha (TNF-α),interleukine (IL-2 and IL-6) and thymus/spleen index was carried out to access the severity of inflammation. Estimation of hepaticenzymatic antioxidant activity superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)and radiological examination was carried out on 28th day. Results indicated that MJ showed significant reduction in severity of arthritis by decreasing arthritis score, secondary lesions where as significant increase in motility, climbing ability and flexion pain score was observed. Significant decreased in blood cytokine viz. TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6 andthymus/spleen index was observed in MJ treated animals in dose dependent manner. MJ treated animals showed significant increased and restoration of hepatic antioxidant enzymatic activityof SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx where asradiological examination indicates protective effect on joint structure as compared to LPS treated rats. These current studies conclude that MJ has protective role in arthritis.

Modulatory effect of carotenoid supplement constituting lutein and zeaxanthin (10:1) on anti-oxidant enzymes and macular pigments level in rats

Background:Human eye is constantly exposed to different wavelengths and intensities of light. Oxidative stress results in distinct changes to retinal organs and tissues. Macular pigments (lutein and zeaxanthin), present in the central macular region, provide protection from photodamages by absorption of high energy blue light and also by virtue of their anti-oxidant activity. Ocular phototoxicity is thus prevented by our efficient anti-oxidant system, in both young and old. One of the best commercial sources of pure lutein and zeaxanthin is Marigold flowers.Objective:In the present study, oil-soluble dietary carotenoid supplement constituting lutein and zeaxanthin in the ratio of 10:1 was evaluated for its modulatory effect on anti-oxidant enzymes and macular pigments in the serum and macula of the Swiss albino rats.Materials and Methods:Male Swiss albino rats were treated with carotenoid supplement constituting lutein and trans-Zeaxanthin (10:1) at two different doses daily, under standard experimental conditions for 42 days. End of the treatment, serum and macula were collected and used for measurement of lutein and zeaxanthin levels along with anti-oxidant parameters.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical differences were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnet's test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation.Results:The supplement exhibited significant elevation of anti-oxidant enzyme levels in treated animals in dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, the total anti-oxidant capacity has also been found to show similar increment at the end of the study period. This study revealed significant expression of the two macular pigments investigated.Conclusions:Our study, therefore, provides a strong claim for the anti-oxidant effect of the oil-soluble dietary carotenoid supplement, and thus substantiates its use in the prevention of phototoxic damage to the eye on long-term supplementation.SUMMARY Apart from its ornamental value, Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) flowers are well known as an herbal remedy due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities. Epidemiological studies have implicated prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiations & blue light and in turn oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the majority of the eye diseases, since childhood. Studies have shown that with age a number of changes occur predisposing the retinal various organs and tissues to oxidative stress. These changes manifest in decreased levels in plasma of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, glutathione, Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE), Catalase (CAT), Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS), and total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC). Age- and diet-related loss of Lutein and Zeaxanthin enhance phototoxic damage to the eye, and thus supplementation of these carotenoids becomes vital for maintaining optimal eye healthIn the present study, XanMax® 2002 oil, a supplement constituting lutein and trans-Zeaxanthin, extracted from the flowers of T. erecta, was evaluated for its modulatory effect on anti-oxidant enzymes and macular pigments in the serum and macula of the Swiss albino rats. XanMax® 2002 oil exhibited significant elevation of anti-oxidant enzyme levels in treated animals in dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, the TAC has also been found to show similar increment at the end of the study period. This study revealed significant expression of the two macular pigments investigated. Abbreviations used: AMD: Age related Macular Diseases; RPE: Retinal Pigment Epithelium; CAT: Catalase; SOD: Super Oxide Dismutase; TAC: Total Antioxidant Capacity; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; p.o.: Per Orally; CMC Carboxymethyl cellulose.

Protective effect of lutein supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammatory progression in cerebral cortex of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Oxidative stress and inflammation are deemed to play a vital role in diabetic cerebral and neurological dysfunction. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of the naturally occurring antioxidant, lutein, against oxidative injury and inflammation in cerebral cortex (CCT) of diabetic animals. Using single IP injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg) diabetes was induced in rats. Lutein dietary supplement was provided to diabetic animals for 5 consecutive weeks in three different doses. The extent of lipid peroxidation and cellular damage were estimated in CCT. Endogenous antioxidants molecules such as non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH) and enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also estimated in CCT. Levels of neurotrophic factors such as brain derived nerve factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and insulin growth factor (IGF) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as markers for neural inflammation, were assessed in CCT. Lutein dietary supplement, significantly inhibited the diabetes induced increased in CCT levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), caspase-3, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6. Diabetes caused inhibition in the levels of NP-SH, DNA and RNA was significantly increased following lutein dietary supplementation to diabetic group compared to normal diet fed animals in dose dependent manner. Diabetes induced down regulation of BDNF, NGF and IGF was also attenuated by lutein dietary supplementation to diabetic model for 5 weeks. These findings suggest that lutein has the potential to ameliorate diabetes-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage and neural degeneration in the CCT.

Evaluation of effects of Bauhinia variegata stem bark extracts against milk-induced eosinophilia in mice

Bauhinia variegata Linn (family: Caesalpiniaceae), popularly known as Rakta Kanchnar, is a medium-sized tree found throughout India. The stem bark of B. variegata (BV) is used traditionally in the treatment of asthma, jaundice, tuberculosis, leprosy, and skin diseases. In the present study, we have investigated the role of aqueous (BVA) and ethanol (BVE) extracts of the plant against milk-induced leukocytosis and eosinophilia in albino mice. The results of the study revealed that pretreatment with both the extracts caused significant reduction in the total leukocyte and eosinophil counts in animals in dose-dependent manner. From these results, it can be concluded that the plant BV is having antieosinophilic activity.

Stimulation of oxidative energy metabolism in liver mitochondria from old and young rats by treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). A comparative study

Effects of treatment with DHEA (0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg body weight for 7 days) on oxidative energy metabolism of rat liver mitochondria from old (18-24 month old) and young (8-10 weeks old) male albino rats belonging to Charles-Foster strain were examined. Treatment with 1.0 mg DHEA resulted in increased body weights of the young rats without change in the liver weight. In the old animals the liver weight increased progressively with increasing dose of DHEA without affecting body weight. The state 3 respiration rates in liver mitochondria from old animals were, in general, lower than those in the young rats. The state 3 and state 4 respiration rates increased following DHEA treatment in dose-dependent manner bringing them close to values for young animals or beyond that with the effect being more pronounced at 1.0 mg dose. Treatment with DHEA also stimulated state 3 and state 4 respiration rates in young rats in dose-dependent manner. Contents of cytochrome aa(3), b and c + c(1) increased significantly in old animals in dose-dependent manner. In the young rats the lower dose (0.2 mg) of DHEA was more effective in bringing about a maximum increase in the contents of the cytochromes; the effect declined at the higher dose (1.0 mg). DHEA treatment also stimulated the mitochondrial ATPase activity in the old as well as in the young rats. The dehydrogenases activities were considerably low in the old rats compared to the values for the young animals. Treatment with DHEA stimulated dehydrogenases activities in old rats in dose-dependent manner bringing them close to values for the young animals or beyond. Treatment with lower dose (0.2 mg) of DHEA maximally stimulated dehydrogenases activities in young animals.

Effect of methotrexate on asthmatic reaction in sensitized guinea pigs.

To understand the mechanism of antiasthmatic property of the antimetabolite agent, methotrexate (MTX), we examined its effect on time-related changes in specific airway resistance, bronchial responsiveness, and accumulation of lymphocytes and eosinophils in lung tissue and the bronchial lumen, before and after antigen challenge in ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized guinea pigs. Intraperitoneal administration of MTX significantly inhibited the antigen-induced late asthmatic responses (LAR) in actively sensitized animals in dose-dependent manner. Examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) revealed that 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight of MTX significantly inhibited the recruitment of eosinophils, lymphocytes (6 and 24 h after antigen challenge) and neutrophils (0.5, 6 and 24 h after antigen challenge) in the airways in a dose-dependent manner. Histological examination of lung tissue revealed that MTX significantly inhibited eosinophil infiltration into the airway (6 and 24 h after antigen challenge). Furthermore, MTX significantly inhibited the infiltrations of PKH-2-labeled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mostly lymphocytes) into the airways (24 h after antigen challenge). MTX also inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine following OA challenge in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that the antiasthmatic effect of methotrexate is mainly due to inhibition lymphocytes and eosinophil infiltration into the airway.