Current Indian Science - Volume 2, Issue 1, 2024

Chronic stress serves as a fundamental factor contributing to various health conditions, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and cardiac dysfunction. Previous findings from our laboratory have revealed a clear link between chronic stress and increased occurrence of heart dysfunction, atherosclerosis, immune imbalance and psoriasis. However, the haematological and metabolic pathways involved remain unexplored. Therefore, our investigation focused on examining the haematological and metabolic profiles of rats subjected to chronic stress.

Animals were divided into two groups: Group-I (Control) was left undisturbed for 56 days. Group-II (CUS) was exposed to a random stressor for 56 days, following which stress induction was verified by a significant increase in serum corticosterone level (p<0.0001) and depressive-like behaviours using novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT) (p<0.0001).

Blood profile analysis of CUS animals demonstrated anaemia with decreased RBC (p=0.0001) and elevated WBC count (p<0.0001).. Serum electrolyte analysis of CUS rats revealed hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, and hypokalaemia. Serum lipid profile analysis showed increased triglyceride (p=0.007) and VLDL (p=0.007) levels. Serum proinflammatory cytokine levels were also increased in CUS rats. Moreover, metabolomics analysis of CUS animals revealed decreased concentrations of myo-inositol, threonine, glycine, glutamine, methionine, and formate, along with an increased fumarate to alanine and fumarate to glycine ratio. These metabolic alterations suggest reduced glycolysis and abnormal amino acid metabolism and are associated with inflammation, cell damage, endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, metabolic disorders, and diabetes, among other conditions.

These findings reveal haematological and metabolic alterations in response to stress and may provide critical insights to lay the foundation for developing targeted therapeutic interventions to prevent stress-related diseases.

Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynecological cancer, with the highest death rate because of its late diagnosis and recurrence. Owing to the inherent drawbacks of conventionally available approaches for ovarian cancer treatment, alternative strategies need to be developed. Recently, nanotechnology-based drug delivery vehicles (polymer, liposome, dendrimers, etc.) have been extensively used in cancer therapy, especially for ovarian cancer. Among various nanoformulations, metal nanoparticle-based approaches are widely studied for ovarian cancer treatment as they offer several advantages, such as high therapeutic output, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, non-inflammatory effects, biodegradability, etc.

This review aimed to emphasize the advancement of metal-based nanoformulations for ovarían cancer therapy along with toxicological aspects.

The information was gathered from many search engines, such as SciFinder, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, to get coverage of suitable research and compile relevant data about metal nanoparticles for ovarian cancer treatment.

Investigating metal nanoparticle-based therapies for the treatment of ovarian cancer provides a new direction for future studies.

This review highlights the anti-cancer activity of metal nanoformulations for ovarian cancer therapy, recent progress, challenges, and future perspectives in detail, along with the toxicological aspects.

Ethanol is a psychoactive substance and its use throughout adolescence may have a role in the development of alcoholism in adulthood which causes behavioral changes and structural alterations in particular brain regions that may be the source of these cognitive and motor impairments. As an endogenous amine, agmatine has drawn a lot of interest in relation to drug addiction and its aftereffects. It is an endogenous neuromodulator that has been shown to be a potential agent to manage diverse central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The current investigation aims to elucidate the role of agmatine in mediating behavioral alterations resulting from prolonged exposure to ethanol in rats during their early adolescent years.

Rats received saline (1 ml/kg, p.o.) or ethanol (5 g/kg/day, 35% v/v) once a day from PND 28 to PND 49. Chronic ethanol intoxication during the CNS developing may induce sustainable neurobehavioral alterations in rats. After PND 70, the rats were subjected to behavioural and biochemical tests.

Chronic ethanol exposure significantly reduced locomotor activity, increased anxiety-like and depressive behaviors, and impaired cognitive function in adolescent rats. These behavioral alterations were accompanied by elevated oxidative stress, decreased hippocampal BDNF levels, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and disrupted neurotransmitter balance. Agmatine administration at both 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg doses notably improved locomotor activity, reduced anxiety and depressive behaviors, and enhanced cognitive performance. Additionally, agmatine treatment reduced oxidative stress, restored BDNF levels, normalized TNF-α and IL6 levels, and corrected the neurotransmitter imbalance in ethanol-exposed rats.

Prolonged exposure to ethanol during adolescence elicits persistent behavioural changes, characterized by diminished spontaneous locomotion and impaired balance. Administration of Agmatine effectively restores locomotor activity, alleviates anxiety and depression, and enhances both spatial learning and recognition memory in rats exposed to ethanol. Additionally, agmatine treatment attenuates oxidative stress indicators, including nitrite and lipid peroxidation levels, specifically in the cerebral cortex. These findings suggest that Agmatine holds potential as a viable therapeutic intervention for mitigating both the behavioural and biochemical repercussions induced by ethanol exposure in the rat model.

Tinospora cordifolia (TC), commonly referred to as Guduchi, holds a prominent position in the Indian traditional system of medicine and has been cited in Ayurvedic literature for its efficacy in the treatment of a range of ailments, including jaundice, urinary issues, diabetes, prolonged diarrhea, skin conditions, stomachaches, and dysentery.

The present study analyzed the content of phytochemical markers present in the stems of TC collected from five distinct geographical locations (TC-01 to TC-05) and assessed the corresponding variations in their in-vitro antioxidant potential.

Lupeol content in various samples of TC varied from 217.9 to 510.9 µg/mg, while palmatine ranged from 0.002% to 0.025%. Total phenolic content (TPC) ranged from 0.77 to 6.35 mg GAE/g wt., and total flavonoid content (TFC) from 12.15 to 20.03 mg QCE/g wt., with IC50 values between 21.02 and 81.81 mg/mL. Elemental analysis of TC-01 to TC-05 showed significant essential elements and permissible levels of heavy metals. A shelf-life study of TC samples indicated stability beyond three years.

The considerable diversity in phytochemical content and antioxidant values underscores the substantial influence of geographical variation on the therapeutic potential of TC.

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in a zebrafish model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic organ dysfunction and failure. Natural compounds, particularly polyphenols such as EGCG present in green tea, have garnered attention for their potential in managing various complications associated with diabetes owing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This study seeks to evaluate the influence of EGCG on oxidative stress markers, antioxidant levels, and histopathological alterations in the liver, kidney, and gills of zebrafish rendered diabetic through streptozotocin administration.

Zebrafish subjects were allocated into four groups: control, diabetic, diabetic + EGCG, and control + EGCG. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were quantified, and histopathological assessments were conducted on day 21 of the experimental period.

Diabetic zebrafish exhibited pronounced reductions in SOD and CAT activities relative to control counterparts, coupled with notable histological changes indicative of organ impairment. Conversely, EGCG treatment attenuated oxidative stress bolstered antioxidant defenses and mitigated histopathological abnormalities in the liver, kidney, and gills of diabetic zebrafish.

EGCG exhibits promising therapeutic potential in safeguarding multiple organs against diabetes-induced injury, underscoring its significance in ameliorating diabetic complications.

These findings emphasize the importance of investigating natural compounds such as EGCG as potential therapeutic agents for managing diabetes-related complications. Further elucidation of the mechanistic underpinnings and clinical applicability of EGCG in diabetes management warrants future research endeavors.

Carissa carandus L., commonly known as Karonda, is renowned for its distinctive tangy flavor, making it a valuable ingredient in culinary applications. Additionally, its extensive array of phytoconstituents renders it a significant component of traditional Indian herbal medicine, where it has been used to address various health conditions. Despite its availability, palatability, and diverse phytochemical profile, Karonda remains under utilized, and lacks substantial scientific validation. Further research is needed to substantiate its therapeutic potential and elevate its status in modern scientific and medical contexts.

An ethanolic extract was prepared from the ripe fruits using a hot continuous extraction method. Phytochemical screening of the extract identified the presence of tannins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, and carbohydrates. Subsequent analysis using spectrometric and spectro chromatographic techniques, including NMR, FTIR, and LC-MS, were conducted, supplemented by chromatographic studies, to further elucidate the extract's chemical profile and validate the presence of these bioactive compounds.

The analysis of the ripe fruit extract identified several functional groups, including O-H, N-H, C=O, C-N, C-H, and –COOH, based on IR absorption bands observed in the high wave region at 3850 cm⁻¹ and 1728 cm⁻¹. Active compounds were further characterized by comparing these findings with standard reference charts. Proton environments and their electronic states were examined using ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The ¹H-NMR spectrum revealed signals at specific δ ppm values corresponding to R-CH3, R-CH2-R, RO-C-H, and F-C-H groups, as detailed in the accompanying table.

These results provide a comprehensive chemical fingerprint of CA fruits offering scientific validation of its chemical nature and supporting its potential therapeutic applications.

This work investigates the synthesis of self-assembled novel carbo benzyl oxy - L - alanyl - L - valine benzyl ester (CBAVBE).

Thorough studies of the morphology, optical, and structural investigations by UV-Visible, UV-DRS, FT-IR, FT-Raman, HR-TEM, and FE-SEM are used to characterize the self-assembled CBAVBE and computational studies also investigated. The anti-oxidant capability of carbo benzyl oxy - L - alanyl - L - valine benzyl ester is evaluated after self-assembly.

FT-IR and Raman analysis have proven that specific chemical bonds exist in the self-assembled CBAVBE. FE-SEM analysis clearly confirms that the CBAVBE is fibrous in nature, and the collected images clearly show the CBA assembly VBE to be well aggregated. The docking analysis suggests that the CBAVBE molecule has inhibitory action against brain and lung cancer protein but biological study is needed to validate the results. An antioxidant study reveals the potential of the selected CBAVE as a notable biomarker.

A new class of self-assembled peptide nano self-assemblies have been marked as a discovery that could be used to treat a variety of diseases.

Nephrotoxicity caused by GM is a complicated occurrence that results in a variety of structural and functional changes, including lesions in the glomerular region and proximal tubule damage, which leads to sudden kidney failure. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has also been linked to GM. Acute hepatic impairments caused by medication might lead to rapid deterioration of liver function.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suspension of nuts of Prunus dulcis at a lower dose (800 mg/kg, b.w.) and a higher dose (1600 mg/kg, b.w.) for nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activities.

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity and drug-induced hepatotoxicity models were used to evaluate the nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activity using albino mice. A histopathological study was also performed.

Suspension of nuts Prunus dulcis exhibited significant nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activity. Suspension of nuts from Prunus dulcis at a higher dose (1600 mg/kg b.w.) showed higher nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activity compared to the lower dose (800 mg/kg). The nephroprotective activity was evident by decreased serum creatinine, uric acid, serum urea, and BUN, which were confirmed by histological study. The hepatoprotective effect was confirmed by significantly decreased serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, and total bilirubin levels in treated groups, which were further confirmed by histopathological study.

The result suggests that Prunus dulcis possesses nephroprotective and hepatoprotective activities.