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Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the notorious diabetes associated complications. Despite many therapeutic strategies available, metabolic control of DN continues to poses a challenge. In this study, the interactions of mangiferin with selected oral hypoglycemic drugs, metformin and gliclazide to effectively alleviate the symptoms of renal injury in DN are evaluated. Male Sprague Dawley rats were used as experimental model and type II diabetes was induced by administration of high fat diet and low dose streptozotocin. Oral intervention of mangiferin with metformin and gliclazide for a period of 28 days was given to diabetic rats. At the end of the treatment period, biochemical parameters, kidney function markers, anti-oxidant enzymes levels, oxidative stress mediated gene expression and histology were analysed. Significant reduction in the serum biochemical markers (glucose, urea and creatinine) were observed in the groups treated with combination drugs. Marked improvement in the combination treated groups in terms of inflammation and oxidative damage in the gene (TNFα, NFκB, TGFβ, VEGF, PKC) and protein expression (NFκB, VEGF) were noted in the kidney tissue alleviating the symptoms of DN. These results were further corroborated with histopathological results. Scientific data in the present study reveals that the combinations of mangiferin with the oral hypoglycemic drugs have been favorable in alleviating renal injury. Hence, a combination therapy to alleviate the vascular complication, diabetic nephropathy may be considered as a possible therapeutic strategy by including natural phytocompounds as an add on therapy to conventional oral hypoglycemic drugs.

Background Dyslipidemia a common pathology in metabolic syndrome results due to various factors. Although statins are proven for its beneficial role in the management of hyperlipidemia, plant-based foods and their ingredients are still a cornerstone of health care and medical prescriptions. Legumes are important constituents of a balanced diet. They are rich in fiber and provide health benefits and are used to treat disease related pathologies. Purpose The present study intended to identify the influence of two legumes, horsegram and groundnut individually and with atorvastatin in high fat diet induced hyperlipidemic rats and trace if there is any adverse effect due to food drug interactions. Methods Hyperlipidemia in Sprague Dawley rats were induced by feeding high fat diet for 12 weeks. Subsequently, supplementation of horsegram and groundnut with and without atorvastatin was given for 4 weeks. The physiological indicators (body weight, feed intake, fat index), biochemical parameters (cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, urea and creatinine) including markers of oxidative stress (catalase, GST, SOD, TBARS and GSH), mRNA expression markers of lipid metabolism and inflammation markers (SREBP-1, ACC, FABP, HMG-CoAR, NF-kB and IL-6) and the protein expression of HO-1 and NF-kB followed by histopathological analysis of the heart, liver and kidney tissues were checked to study the influence of the legumes with and without atrovastatin. Results Results showed that administration of the legumes individually and their combination with atorvastatin significantly reduced the body weight, feed intake, fat index, biochemical metabolites and enzymatic markers in comparison to the HFD group. In addition, it also decreased the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels. Likewise, the legumes individually as well as in combination with atorvastatin significantly decreased the protein expression of HO-1 and NF-kB. Further, histopathological analysis confirmed the influence of the legumes and its combination to overcome hyperlipidemia as evidenced by the pathological changes in the treated rats. Conclusion The results of the present work confirm that the legumes individually as well as its combination with atorvastatin are helpful to manage hyperlipidemia. On comparison, horsegram with atorvastatin possess a better therapeutic efficacy when compared to groundnut with atorvastatin and there is no evidence of food drug interactions.

Background Marine macroalgae known for its polysaccharides exhibit potent biomedical properties and its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent has increased in the recent past as inflammation is a major pathology noted in many chronic diseases. Purpose The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory potential of a sulfated polysaccharide (PS) isolated from the marine algae Turbinaria ornata collected from the Indian waters on LPS induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Study design and methods PS isolated from the macroalgae was characterized using ESI(MS) and was screened for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in RAW 264.7 cells by assessing markers of oxidative stress, and inflammation. Results LPS significantly increased the levels of LPO and LDH in RAW 264.7 cells which were significantly reduced in PS pre-treatment groups. Pretreatment significantly increased the antioxidants GSH and SOD and significantly reduced mRNA levels of IL6 and TNFα in vitro confirming its anti-inflammatory potential. NFκB and iNOS were significantly modulated by PS confirming the probable mode of action. Conclusion Altogether, it can be concluded that PS isolated from Turbinaria ornata collected from the Southeast Coast of India exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential probably mediated by the sulfated polysaccharide containing glucopyranose and fucopyranose moieties.

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 (1H &13C) analysis. Compound 1 exhibited better cytotoxicity with an IC50 of 10.01 ± 0.11 μM (A549) and 12.32 ± 0.08 μM (HeLa) (1) than that of compound (2) IC50 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.

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.

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.

Tert-butyl 2,2-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)ethanoate was prepared from the ethanolic solution of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, tert-butyl 3-oxobutanoate and triethylamine. Acetyl group in tert-butyl 3-oxobutanoate has cleaved off during the formation of the title molecule. UV–VIS, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Proton–Proton COSY data and single crystal XRD results support the proposed structure. Flammability test, impact sensitivity test and TG/DTA studies at different heating rates on the synthesized molecule imply that it is an insensitive high energy density material. Article covers synthetic method, spectral characterization, crystal structure and thermal behavior of tert-butyl 2,2-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)ethanoate .

Environmental contamination by toxic heavy metals is a significant universal problem. The main objective of the study is to use a biodegradable materials like Cyperus pangorei and Chitosan as a composite biosorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from water. The newly prepared biosorbent is characterized and the capacity of Cr(VI) removal of the biosorbent is carried out systematically by batch mode operations. The adsorption capacity of the biosorbent is examined by changing the parameters like biosorbent dose, varying the initial contact time, varying initial concentration of metal ion and pH of the metal ion solution to know the actual mechanism taking place during the initial sorption process. The experimental data obtained were fitted with the Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models and the pseudo first order and the pseudo second order kinetic models. Equilibrium data were fitted very well to the Langmuir Isotherm model and pseudo second order kinetic model. Desorption of the metal ion is also carried out using different concentration of NaOH.

A new barbiturate has been synthesized from the ethanolic solution of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, barbituric acid, and triethylamine. The structure of the isolated molecule has been confirmed by ultraviolet (UV)-visible (VIS), infrared (IR), proton magnetic resonance (PMR), 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and mass spectrometry (MS) spectral studies. Elemental analysis and other qualitative tests have also been carried out to elucidate the proposed structure. The anticonvulsant activity of the synthesized molecule was tested by the maximal electro shock method. Albino rats of either sex weighing 150–200 g were used for the study. The drug was given 1h before the induction of maximal electro shock test. The different stages of convulsions such as tonic flexor, tonic extensor, clonus convulsion, stupor, and recovery/death were examined. Reduction in the extensor phase of convulsion was noted for the synthesized barbiturate.

In the title compound, C15H10N4O10, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 89.05 (16)°. One O atom of one of the nitro groups is disordered over two sites in a 0.70:0.30 ratio. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by weak C—H...O interactions.