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In the present work, we isolated, characterized and examined the anticancer effect of bioactive molecules from Acanthophora spicifera (red algae) on A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines and compared with normal HEK cells. Among the different solvent fractions subjected to chromatographic purification, three molecules isolated showed potential cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. The structure of the active components was identified as Cholest-4-ene-3,6-dione, ( 1 ) a steroid and two non-steroid molecules namely 2-bromohexandecanoic acid ( 2 ) and 6-bromo indole ( 3 ) by GC–MS, FTIR and NMR ( 1 H & 13 C) analysis. Compound 1 exhibited better cytotoxicity with an IC 50 of 10.01 ± 0.11 μM (A549) and 12.32 ± 0.08 μM (HeLa) ( 1 ) than that of compound ( 2 ) IC 50 of 72.6 ± 0.10 μM (A549), 26.42 ± 0.11 μM (HeLa) and ( 3 ) 108.2 ± 0.15 μM (A549) and 71.68 ± 0.60 μM (HeLa) at 24 h. Mechanistic investigation on apoptosis by the selected compounds was further confirmed by dual AO/EB and Annexin-V/PI staining assay. Interestingly, compound 1 also displayed remarkable loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP assay), increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS assay) and cell cycle arrest at sub-G1 phase. Further, Western blot analysis confirmed the involvement of caspase signaling cascade in A549 cell death by compound 1 . Our findings demonstrate that the red alga Acanthophora spicifera from Gulf of Mannar is a potent source of these bioactive leads with an efficient anticancer activity mediated by apoptosis and autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T. ornata a macroalgae rich in bioactive molecules possess various biological activities. Herein, the aim of the study is to evaluate the aqueous extract and the sulphated polysaccharide isolated from T. ornata for its anti-arthritic potential in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in rats. Anti-arthritic potential of aqueous T. ornata (ATO) and T. ornata sulphated polysaccharide (TSP) was evidenced by the significant reduction in paw volume and arthritic score. Inflammatory and antioxidant markers were found to be restored in the drug treated groups which was found to be in line with dexamethasone a standard anti-inflammatory drug. The histopathological and radiological examination adds on the support to the above findings confirming the anti-arthritic potential of ATO and TSP. It is interesting to note that the sulphated polysaccharide inhibits inflammation and bone damage at very low dose itself. Hence, TSP could be considered as a better candidate in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammation and oxidative stress are common pathologies in a wide range of chronic diseases. Polysaccharides are known to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential and are suggested to possess immunomodulatory potential.Purpose: Herein, the immunomodulatory activity of a sulfated polysaccharide (PS) separated from a brown marine algae Turbinaria ornata is studied in LPS instigated systemic inflammation in experimental rats.Study Design and Methods: Male SD rats are pretreated with different doses of PS (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg bw) for a week followed by inducing systemic inflammation using LPS (10 mg/kg i.p.). Blood withdrawn after 8 h of LPS injection is subjected to hematological analysis (WBC, HCT, and PLT). After 24 h of LPS induction, cardiac tissue was isolated and subjected to biochemical, molecular, and histopathological analysis. Effect of PS pre-treatment (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg bw) was checked by assessing serum parameters (AST, CK-MB, and γGT), antioxidant markers (LPO, GSH, SOD, Grx) and inflammatory markers (IL1β, IL6, IL10, NFκB), followed by analyzing the iNOS, PI3k and Akt to identify the probable mode of action.Results: Elevated levels of AST, CK-MB, and γGT in serum were significantly reduced on PS pretreatment. LPS significantly raised the LPO and Grx levels in heart tissue whereas, PS pre-treatment significantly reduced LPO and Grx levels. GSH and SOD levels were reduced upon LPS induction and were brought to near normal by HD of PS. PS also reduced the mRNA levels of IL6, Trx, and increased IL10 levels in the heart tissue substantiating its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potency. Further, IL1β, NFκB, iNOS, and pPI3k/pAkt expressions were significantly modulated by PS in the cardiac tissue substantiating the immunomodulatory effect. A trend of improvement in the inflammatory pathology was also observed in the heart tissue compared to LPS control, as confirmed by histopathology analysis.Conclusion: Altogether, this study concludes the immunomodulatory potential of PS from the marine macroalgae Turbinaria ornata significantly and prevents LPS induced systemic inflammation in the cardiac tissue presumably influenced by the glucopyranose and fucopyranose subunits in the polysaccharide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus poses serious threat to the global population due to the alarming diabetic complications it leads to. The current therapeutic options available can be improved for better efficiency and maximum benefits. Combination therapy has been commonly used to improve the efficacy and to minimize the side effects of drugs in current clinical use.Purpose: The present study aims to assess the interaction between a natural molecule mangiferin with the commercially available oral hypoglycemic drugs metformin and gliclazide in diabetic rats.Methods: In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity and glucose uptake studies were performed in HepG2 cells. Based on experimental data, the combination index of the hypoglycemic drugs like metformin and gliclazide in combination with different doses of mangiferin was determined using COMPUSYN software. Further, in vivo studies were performed in HFD + STZ induced diabetic male Sprague Dawley rats. Serum parameters, enzyme markers, hepatic oxidative stress markers, gene and protein expression studies and histopathological analyses were performed in rat liver to identify the mode of action of the combination drug administration.Results: The in vitro studies on HepG2 cells suggest a positive interaction of mangiferin with both metformin and gliclazide at specific concentrations as evidenced by glucose uptake. The hepatic enzymes, oxidative stress markers, carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, gene (AMPK, Akt, ACC β and Glut-2) and protein (PPARα, PPARγ) expression confirmed the results of the in vitro studies. Both the combinations of mangiferin with metformin and mangiferin with gliclazide exhibited potent antidiabetic effect. The combination of mangiferin with metformin was insulin dependent (Akt pathway) whereas the combination of mangiferin and gliclazide was insulin independent (AMPK pathway).Conclusion: The overall results suggest that combination of mangiferin with both metformin and gliclazide alleviates diabetic conditions potentially at specific doses and modulates the adverse effect of high dose of commonly used OHD's. This combination therapy can be translated for its clinical use as a diabetes management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]