Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2009

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2009 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevention of cadmium-induced alteration in rat testes and prostate lipid patterns by  -tocopherol

M. A. Adaikpoh* and F. O. Obi

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.

Accepted 9 August, 2009

Abstract

Cadmium induced testicular damage has been investigated in -tocopherol (Vitamin E) pretreated and non-pretreated male rats exposed to a single sub-lethal dose of cadmium in form of CdCl_2. Graded doses of vitamin E (75, 150, and 750 mg kg ^-1 body wt.) were administered daily to rats in separate groups by gavage for 4 weeks while 3 mg Cd kg- ¹ body wt was administered subcutaneously, 24 hr to the termination of the study. Relative to the Cd - free control rats, cadmium significantly (P < 0.05) increased total cholesterol (CHL) levels in the testes and prostate but did not change its level in plasma. It also decreased TPL/CHL and phosphatidylcholine (PC) / phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratios in testes and increased sphingomyeline (SPM) / phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratios in the testes. However, cadmium administration increased the PC/PE and SPM/PE ratio but reduced the TPL/CHL ratio in the prostate. It appears that increased cholesterol levels within the testes and prostate and attendant membrane rigidity may be one mechanism by which cadmium causes damage to the testes and prostate. It also appears that low - medium doses of -tocopherol can effectively protect the testes and prostate against Cd - induced damage.

Key words: Cadmium,     -tocopherol, cholesterol, phospholipids, rat.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2009

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2009 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Purification of a mannose/glucose-specific lectin with antifungal activity from pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum)

Adenike Kuku*, Oludele Odekanyin, Kemi Adeniran, Mary Adewusi and Toyin Olonade

Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 June, 2009

Abstract

A lectin was isolated and purified from the pepper seeds Capsicum annuum. The purification procedure involved anionic exchange chromatography on DEAE – Cellulose and QAE – Sephadex columns followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G–100. The heamagglutinating activity of the lectin towards human erythrocytes was sensitive to inhibition by D-mannose and D-glucose; and enhancement by CaCl₂ and MgCl₂. The lectin activity was enhanced at very high acidic pH, inhibited at high basic pH but stable at physiological pH range of 6- 8. The lectin was heat stable up to 30°C. SDS-PAGE of the purified lectin revealed the presence of single band of 25 kDa. The lectin was capable of inhibiting the germination of spores and hyphal growth in the fungi Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fuscarium solani and Fuscarium graminearum.

Key words: Lectin, pepper, seeds, antifungal, glucose, mannose.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gangliosides as potential inhibitors of Naja naja venom PLA₂ (NV-PLA₂) induced human erythrocyte membrane damage

Mukunda Chethankumar and Leela Srinivas*

Adichunchanagiri Biotechnology and Cancer Research Institute, Balagangadharanatha Nagara – 571 448, Karnataka, India.

Accepted 29 October, 2007

Abstract

We determined the ability of mixed gangliosides (16% GD1b, 19% GT1b, 21% GM1, and 40% GD1a) and individual gangliosides GM1 and GD1b to modulate the NV-PLA₂ induced human erythrocyte ghost membrane damage. CM-Sephadex purification of crude Naja naja venom yielded eight peaks of which peak VII, a major phospholipase A₂ (NV-PLA₂) accounted for 22% of the total protein recovered and 8% of the total PLA₂ activity recovered. The membrane damage induced by NV-PLA₂ was assessed by measuring the decrease in the relative intensity of fluorescence using cis–parinaric acid (PnA) as a monitor molecule. The RBC membranes isolated from healthy human blood showed 72% damage on treatment with NV-PLA₂ (2 mg) when compared to untreated membranes. Mixed gangliosides (18 nM) and GM1 (15 nM) offered 81 and 86% protection respectively, whereas GD1b (20 nM) did not show significant protection. Analysis of membrane bound Na⁺K⁺ and Ca²⁺Mg²⁺ ATPase indicated a 3 fold and 2 folds decrease in their activities on NV-PLA₂ treatment when compared to untreated membranes. Mixed gangliosides restored the Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity by 78%, whereas GM1 and GD1b offered 74 and 52% restoration respectively. The Ca²⁺Mg ²⁺ ATPase activity was restored by 80 and 81% with mixed gangliosides and GM1 respectively. GD1b showed only 50% restoration. Mixed gangliosides and GM1 exhibited a significant dose dependent inhibition of NV-PLA₂ activity when compared to GD1b. The data show that mixed gangliosides and GM1 were effective in modulating NV-PLA₂ induced erythrocyte membrane damage than GD1b.

Key words: Gangliosides, NV-PLA₂, PnA, gangliosides, erythrocyte membrane, Na⁺ K⁺ ATPase, Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺ ATPase.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats: possible chemoprevention by blueberries

*Nermin A.H. Sadik, Shohda A. EL-Maraghy, Manal F. Ismail

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Accepted 14 March, 2008

Abstract

Nitrosamine compounds are known hepatic carcinogens. This study was designed to study the efficacy of dietary supplementation with blueberries (BB) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis in male wistar rats. Rats were divided into three groups. The first group served as normal control group, the second group received DEN at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight five times a week for 15 weeks. The third one received DEN as in DEN-treated group simultaneously with 4% BB-supplemented diet. The results showed that BB caused significant decrease in the elevated serum levels of -fetoprotein (AFP), homocysteine (Hcy) along with levels of glutathione(GSH), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA)and activity of glutathione reductase (GR) in liver. Normalization of elevated 2-macroglobulin ( 2M) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in serum, hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and liver weight was achieved whereas body weight was significantly decreased. Moreover, no significant change was observed in elevated relative liver weight, hepatic glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase (G6PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) along with serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and - glutamyltransferase ( -GT) activities. Significant increase in reduced hepatic activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) was achieved and histopathological damage was minimized in BB-treated group. It is suggested that BB suppress DEN- induced hepatocarcinogenesis and could be developed as a promising chemopreventive natural supplement for liver cancer.

Key words: Blueberries, diethylnitrosamine, hepatocarcinogenesis, 2-macroglobulin, -fetoprotein, homocysteine, glutathione, rats.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Lipid peroxidation and tyrosinase inhibition by lichen symbionts grown in vitro

Neeraj Verma, Bhaskar C. Behera*, Anjali Sonone and Urmila Makhija

Plant Science Division, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune- 411 004, India

Accepted 25 January 2008

Abstract

The symbionts of lichen species Arthothelium awasthii, Heterodermia podocarpa, and Parmotrema tinctorum were isolated and cultured on various nutrient media incubated in a growth chamber. Methanolic extracts of one year old symbiont cultures were taken for evaluating their potential to inhibit lipid peroxidation and tyrosinase enzyme activity. The extracts of all cultured lichen-symbionts have shown a concentration-time dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation and tyrosinase activities. IC₅₀ values for inhibition of lipid peroxidation by culture-extracts were 15.7 µg for A. awasthii, 12.68 µg for H. podocarpa and 11.47 µg for P. tinctorum. Testing the impact of the extracts on tyrosinase activity, we found IC₅₀ of 8.71 µg (A. awasthii), 14.55 µg (H. podocarpa) and 12.44 µg (P. tinctorum). According to their IC₅₀ the tested extracts turned out to be more effective for the tested parameters than the standard antioxidant Trolox (IC₅₀ for lipid peroxidation 16.13 µg) and Kojic acid tyrosinase inhibitor (IC₅₀ for tyrosinase inhibition 17.63 µg). The results suggest possible applications of lichen substances in the extracts of A. awasthii, H. podocarpa, and P. tinctorum symbionts as natural tyrosinase inhibitors.

Keyword: Lichen culture, Tyrosinase inhibition

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Study of the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of evening primrose oil in adjuvant arthritis

*Manal F. Ismail, Shohda A. EL-Maraghy, Nermin A.H. Sadik

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Accepted 18 March, 2008

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-arthritic nature of evening primrose oil (EPO) rich in -linolenic acid (GLA), on adjuvant -induced arthritic rats. Results were compared to those of diclofenac sodium, a reference standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Arthritis was induced by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in the right hind paw of male Wistar rats. EPO (5 g/kg b.w.) was orally administered from day 0 till day 28, while diclofenac sodium (5 mg/kg b.w.) was orally given from day 10 to day 28 after adjuvant injection. In the arthritic group, the results revealed significant decrease in body weight together with increased spleen weight, increase in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF- ) levels whereas serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) level was decreased. Serum N-acetyl- -D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and - glucuronidase enzyme activities were also elevated. Splenic antioxidant status was suppressed as manifested by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, decreased glutathione (GSH) content along with decreased enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Moreover, the splenic activity of the pathophysiological enzymes, - glutamyltransferase ( -GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was enhanced. Oral administration of EPO exerted a significant elevation in serum IgG and IgM levels. In addition, normalization of body weight, serum IL -4 and TNF- levels together with serum NAG, -glucuronidase and splenic LDH enzyme activities were observed. It could be suggested that administration of plant oils rich in GLA may provide a way to modulate the inflammatory response through alteration of certain inflammatory indices.

Key words: Adjuvant-induced arthritis, evening primrose oil, immunoglobulins, IL- 4, TNF- , rat.