Skeletal muscle atrophy after sciatic nerve damage: Mechanistic insights

Sciatic nerve injury leads to molecular events that cause muscular dysfunction advancement in atrophic conditions. Nerve damage renders muscles permanently relaxed which elevates intracellular resting Ca2+ levels. Increased Ca2+ levels are associated with several cellular signaling pathways including AMPK, cGMP, PLC-β, CERB, and calcineurin. Also, multiple enzymes involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation are activated by Ca2+ influx into mitochondria during muscle contraction, to meet increased ATP demand. Nerve damage induces mitophagy and skeletal muscle atrophy through increased sensitivity to Ca2+-induced opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) in mitochondria attributed to Ca2+, ROS, and AMPK overload in muscle. Activated AMPK interacts negatively with Akt/mTOR is a highly prevalent and well-described central pathway for anabolic processes. Over the decade several reports indicate abnormal behavior of signaling machinery involved in denervation-induced muscle loss but end up with some controversial outcomes. Therefore, understanding how the synthesis and inhibitory stimuli interact with cellular signaling to control muscle mass and morphology may lead to new pharmacological insights toward understanding the underlying mechanism of muscle loss after sciatic nerve damage. Hence, the present review summarizes the existing literature on denervation-induced muscle atrophy to evaluate the regulation and expression of differential regulators during sciatic damage.

Natural products: Potential therapeutic agents to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy

The skeletal muscle (SkM) is the largest organ, which plays a vital role in controlling musculature, locomotion, body heat regulation, physical strength, and metabolism of the body. A sedentary lifestyle, aging, cachexia, denervation, immobilization, etc. Can lead to an imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation, which is further responsible for SkM atrophy (SmA). To date, the understanding of the mechanism of SkM mass loss is limited which also restricted the number of drugs to treat SmA. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches to regulate muscle homeostasis. Presently, some natural products attained immense attraction to regulate SkM homeostasis. The natural products, i.e., polyphenols (resveratrol, curcumin), terpenoids (ursolic acid, tanshinone IIA, celastrol), flavonoids, alkaloids (tomatidine, magnoflorine), vitamin D, etc. exhibit strong potential against SmA. Some of these natural products have been reported to have equivalent potential to standard treatments to prevent body lean mass loss. Indeed, owing to the large complexity, diversity, and slow absorption rate of bioactive compounds made their usage quite challenging. Moreover, the use of natural products is controversial due to their partially known or elusive mechanism of action. Therefore, the present review summarizes various experimental and clinical evidence of some important bioactive compounds that shall help in the development of novel strategies to counteract SmA elicited by various causes.

Rapid Identification of 44 Steroids in Human Urine Samples using HPLCESI- QTOF-MS

Objective:

Detailed analysis of un-processed and un-derivatized free and conjugated urinary steroids is useful to avoid miscalculations and to diagnose sports doping and adrenal problems, including abnormal steroidogenesis, congenital deficiency of related enzymes, cancer, and other disease conditions. Hence, the present study was conducted to develop a soft ionization method to identify the maximum number of urinary steroids using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (HPLC–Q-TOF-MS).

Material and Methods:

HPLC–Q-TOF-MS was carried out for the qualitative detection of steroids and their conjugates in urine samples. The method provides high sensitivity and fast analysis of steroids and their glucuronides without hydrolysis or sample preparation or extraction of steroids.

Results:

Using the method, 44 steroids belonging to C-18, C-19, and C-21 classes and their conjugates were resolved and identified using positive and negative modes of ionizations by their characteristic ionization and collision energy induced dissociation behaviors.

Conclusion:

The method is time-saving and good to compare samples from different peoples with control or healthy ones as it does not require any kind of pre-treatment or sample processing. It provides a complete picture of steroids metabolism and catabolism. It can be good for doping control or to explore the effects of other drugs. However, in qualitative analysis, one may miss the significant information unless direct methods of steroids analysis to be employed.

Dynamics of autophagy and ubiquitin proteasome system coordination and interplay in skeletal muscle atrophy

Skeletal muscles are considered the largest reservoirs of the protein pool in the body and are critical for the maintenances of body homeostasis. Skeletal muscle atrophy is supported by various physiopathological conditions that lead to loss of muscle mass and contractile capacity of the skeletal muscle. Lysosomal mediated autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasomal system (UPS) concede the major intracellular systems of muscle protein degradation that result in the loss of mass and strength. Both systems recognize ubiquitination as a signal of degradation through different mechanisms, a sign of dynamic interplay between systems. Hence, growing shreds of evidence suggest the interdependency of autophagy and UPS in the progression of skeletal muscle atrophy under various pathological conditions. Therefore, understanding the molecular dynamics as well associated factors responsible for their interdependency is a necessity for the new therapeutic insights to counteract the muscle loss. Based on current literature, the present review summarizes the factors interplay in between the autophagy and UPS in favor of enhanced proteolysis of skeletal muscle and how they affect the anabolic signaling pathways under various conditions of skeletal muscle atrophy.

The dependency of autophagy and ubiquitin proteasome system during skeletal muscle atrophy

Among the four proteolytic systems in the cell, autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are the main proteolytic events that allow for the removal of cell debris and proteins to maintain cellular homeostasis. Previous studies have revealed that these systems perform their functions independently of each other. However, recent studies indicate the existence of regulatory interactions between these proteolytic systems via ubiquitinated tags and a reciprocal regulation mechanism with several crosstalk points. UPS plays an important role in the elimination of short-lived/soluble misfolded proteins, whereas autophagy eliminates defective organelles and persistent insoluble protein aggregates. Both of these systems seem to act independently; however, disruption of one pathway affects the activity of the other pathway and contributes to different pathological conditions. This review summarizes the recent findings on direct and indirect dependencies of autophagy and UPS and their execution at the molecular level along with the important drug targets in skeletal muscle atrophy.

Magnoflorine prevent the skeletal muscle atrophy via Akt/mTOR/FoxO signal pathway and increase slow-MyHC production in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is being used as a blood purifier in Ayurveda since ancient time. It is a very popular immunomodulator and holds anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative potential, hence anti-aging properties. Therefore, it is also known as 'Amrita' in Ayurveda and is widely used to treat diabetes mellitus type II (T2DM) and its secondary complications; however, its underlying mechanism was not expedited to date. AIM-: To explore the in vivo therapeutic efficiency and mechanism of action of TC and its secondary constitute magnoflorine on the skeletal muscle atrophy in the rat model of T2DM.

METHOD

Animal model of T2DM was developed using streptozotocin (STZ) injection followed by intervention with TC, metformin, and magnoflorine for three weeks. Confirmation of T2DM and abrogation of atrophic markers and possible mechanisms on supplementation of TC and magnoflorine were explored using histology, bio-assays, Western blotting, and q-PCR.

RESULT

TC and Magnoflorine supplementations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in T2DM rats. Both treatments prevented the lean body, individual skeletal muscle mass, and myotubes diameter loss (p ≤ 0.05). Magnoflorine significantly reduced the degradation of the protein indicated by biochemical markers of atrophy i.e. decreased serum creatine kinase (CK) levels and increased myosin heavy chain-β (MyHC-β) levels in muscles. Q-PCR and western blotting supported the findings that magnoflorine significantly increased the mRNA and protein abundances (~3 fold) of MyHC-β.TC and magnoflorine efficiently decreased the expression of ubiquitin-proteasomal E3-ligases (Fn-14/TWEAK, MuRF1, and Atrogin 1), autophagy (Bcl-2/LC3B), and caspase related genes along with calpains activities in T2DM rats. Both TC and magnoflorine also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, GSH-Px, decreased the activities of β-glucuronidase, LPO, and prevented any alteration in the catalase activity. In contrast, magnoflorine increased expression of TNF-α and IL-6 whereas TC and metformin efficiently decreased the levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines (p ≤ 0.05). However, magnoflorine was found to increase phosphorylation of Akt more efficiently than TC and metformin.

CONCLUSION

TC, and magnoflorine are found to be effective to control fasting blood glucose levels significantly in T2DM rats. It also promoted the Akt phosphorylation, suppressed autophagy and proteolysis that might be related to blood glucose-lowering efficacy of magnoflorine and TC. However, increased muscle weight, specifically of the soleus muscle, expression of IL-6, and slow MyHC indicated the increased myogenesis in response to magnoflorine and independent from its hypoglycemic activity.

Intervention of Ayurvedic drug Tinospora cordifolia attenuates the metabolic alterations in hypertriglyceridemia: a pilot clinical trial

Purpose

Hypertriglyceridemia (HG) is an independent risk factor with more prevalence than hypercholesterolemia and its attributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and pancreatitis. Hence, it becomes imperative to search for new triglyceride (TG) lowering agents. Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is a well-known Ayurvedic drug and a rich source of protoberberine alkaloids hence can contribute to TG lowering without side effects. Hence, to explore the therapeutic efficacy of T. cordifolia and its effects on biochemistry and metabolome in the patients of hyper-triglyceridemia, clinical trials were conducted.

Methods

Patients (n = 24) with hypertriglyceridemia were randomized into two groups to receive T. cordifolia extract (TCE) (3.0 g/per day) and metformin (850 mg/day) for 14 days having >300 mg/dl triglyceride level and cholesterol in the range of 130-230 mg/dl. Lipid profiles of blood samples were analyzed. Urine samples were subjected to HPLC-QTOF-MS to quantify oxidative damage and abnormal metabolic regulation.

Results

Intervention with TCE reduced the triglyceride, LDL, and VLDL levels to 380.45 ± 17.44, 133.25 ± 3.18, and 31.85 ± 5.88 mg/dL and increased the HDL to 47.50 ± 9.05 mg/dL significantly (p < 0.05) in the HG patients after 14 days treatment. TCE dosage potently suppressed the inflammatory and oxidative stress marker's i.e. levels of isoprostanes significantly (p < 0.01). Qualitative metabolomics approach i.e. PCA and PLS-DA showed significant alterations (p < 0.05) in the levels of 40 metabolites in the urine samples from different groups.

Conclusion

TCE administration depleted the levels of markers of HG i.e. VLDL, TG, and LDL significantly. Metabolomics studies established that the anti-HG activity of TCE was due to its antioxidative potential and modulation of the biopterin, butanoate, amino acid, and vitamin metabolism.

Clinical trials registry

India (CTRI) registration no. CTRI- 2016-08-007187.

Dynamics of Toll-like receptors signaling in skeletal muscle atrophy

Skeletal muscle atrophy has been characterizedas a state of uncontrolled inflammation and oxidative stress that escalates the protein catabolism. Recent advancement supportsthat impinging signaling molecules in the muscle fibers controlled throughtoll-like receptors (TLR). Activated TLR signalingpathways have been identified as inhibitors of muscle mass and provoke the settings for muscle atrophy. Among them, mainly TLR2 and TLR4 manifest their presence to exacerbate the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine to deform the synchronized muscle programming. The present review enlightens the TLR signaling mediated muscle loss and their interplay betweeninflammationand skeletal muscle growth.

S-allyl cysteine: A potential compound against skeletal muscle atrophy

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is crucial player in skeletal muscle atrophy pathogenesis. S-allyl cysteine (SAC), an organosulfur compound of Allium sativum, possesses broad-spectrum properties including immuno- and redox-modulatory impact. Considering the role of SAC in regulating redox balance, we hypothesize that SAC may have a protective role in oxidative-stress induced atrophy.

METHODS

C2C12 myotubes were treated with H₂O₂ (100 μM) in the presence or absence of SAC (200 μM) to study morphology, redox status, inflammatory cytokines and proteolytic systems using fluorescence microscopy, biochemical analysis, real-time PCR and immunoblotting approaches. The anti-atrophic potential of SAC was confirmed in denervation-induced atrophy model.

RESULTS

SAC pre-incubation (4 h) could protect the myotube morphology (i.e. length/diameter/fusion index) from atrophic effects of H₂O₂. Lower levels of ROS, lipid peroxidation, oxidized glutathione and altered antioxidant enzymes were observed in H₂O₂-exposed cells upon pre-treatment with SAC. SAC supplementation also suppressed the rise in cytokines levels (TWEAK/IL6/myostatin) caused by H₂O₂. SAC treatment also moderated the degradation of muscle-specific proteins (MHCf) in the H₂O₂-treated myotubes supported by lower induction of diverse proteolytic systems (i.e. cathepsin, calpain, ubiquitin-proteasome E3-ligases, caspase-3, autophagy). Denervation-induced atrophy in mice illustrates that SAC administration alleviates the negative effects (i.e. mass loss, decreased cross-sectional area, up-regulation of proteolytic systems, and degradation of total/specific protein) of denervation on muscles.

CONCLUSIONS

SAC exerts significant anti-atrophic effects to protect myotubes from H₂O₂-induced protein loss and myofibers from denervation-induced muscle loss, due to the prevention of elevated proteolytic systems and inflammatory/oxidative molecules.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The results signify the potential of SAC against muscle atrophy.

Tinospora cordifolia protects from skeletal muscle atrophy by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation induced by sciatic denervation

ETHANOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is widely being used as immunomodulatory and re-juvenile drug and well described in Indian Ayurveda system of medicine. Rejuvenation also means the fine tuning of the skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscle related disorder, i.e. atrophy is major problem which arise due to cachexia, sarcopenia and immobilization. However, despite of the great efforts, there is scarcity of FDA approved drugs in the market to treat skeletal muscle atrophy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The current study was aimed to explore the in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy and mechanism of TC in myogenic differentiation and skeletal muscle atrophy to establish the possibility of its usage to counteract skeletal muscle atrophy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C2C12 cell lines were used to determine myogenic potential and anti-atrophic effects of T. cordifolia water extract (TCE). Its in-vitro efficacy was re-validated in vivo by supplementation of TCE at a dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o. for 30 days in denervated mice model of skeletal muscle atrophy. Effects of TCE administration on levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and proteolysis were determined.

RESULTS

TCE supplementation displayed increased lymphocyte proliferation and induced myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts by significantly increasing myocytes length and thickness, in comparison to control (p < 0.05). TCE supplementation decreased oxidative stress and inflammatory response by significantly modulating activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and β-glucuronidase (p < 0.05). It increased MF-20c expression and ameliorated degradation of muscle protein by down-regulating MuRF-1 and calpain activity.

CONCLUSION

TCE supplementation promotes myogenic differentiation in C2C12 cell lines and prevents denervation induced skeletal muscle atrophy by antagonizing the proteolytic systems (calpain and UPS) and maintaining the oxidative defense mechanism of the cell. Hence, TCE can be used as a protective agent against muscle atrophy.

Role of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Metabolism: A Systematic Review

Background:

Metabolic pathways perturbations lead to skeletal muscular atrophy in the cachexia and sarcopenia due to increased catabolism. Pro-inflammatory cytokines induce the catabolic pathways that impair the muscle integrity and function. Hence, this review primarily concentrates on the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines in regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism.

Objective:

This review will discuss the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in skeletal muscles during muscle wasting conditions. Moreover, the coordination among the pro-inflammatory cytokines and their regulated molecular signaling pathways which increase the protein degradation will be discussed.

Results:

During normal conditions, pro-inflammatory cytokines are required to balance anabolism and catabolism and to maintain normal myogenesis process. However, during muscle wasting their enhanced expression leads to marked destructive metabolism in the skeletal muscles. Proinflammatory cytokines primarily exert their effects by increasing the expression of calpains and E3 ligases as well as of Nf-κB, required for protein breakdown and local inflammation. Proinflammatory cytokines also locally suppress the IGF-1and insulin functions, hence increase the FoxO activation and decrease the Akt function, the central point of carbohydrates lipid and protein metabolism.

Conclusion:

Current advancements have revealed that the muscle mass loss during skeletal muscular atrophy is multifactorial. Despite great efforts, not even a single FDA approved drug is available in the market. It indicates the well-organized coordination among the pro-inflammatory cytokines that need to be further understood and explored.

Interactions of a medicinal climber Tinospora cordifolia with supportive interspecific plants trigger the modulation in its secondary metabolic profiles

Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is scientifically proven immunomodulatory drug being used for centuries. Ancient literature reported that inter-specific interactions change medicinal properties of TC. Thus, the current study is aimed to understand the influence of interspecific biotic interactions on chemo-profiles of TC. To explore it, TC samples collected from six co-occurring plants, i.e. Azarditchita indica, Acacia nilotica, Albezia lebbeck, Ficus benghalensis, Tamarandus indica and Acacia leucophloea were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Mass data were subjected to multivariate analysis. Support vector machines (SVMs) was found to be best classifier (r² < 0.93). Data analysis showed the specific compounds in all TC due to inter-specific interactions. Data were further analyzed with SNK post-hoc test followed by permutative (n = 50) Bonferroni FDR multiple testing correction. The compound without any missing values reduced the number of variables to 133 (p < 0.01). Statistical analysis revealed that TC having interactions with A.lebbeck and A. nilotica formed the most distant groups. However, TC co-occurred with A. indica showed the highest number of up-regulated metabolites, including jatrorrhizine, chrysin, peonidin, 6-methylcoumarin and some terpenoids. Some metabolites, including jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine were quantified to confirm the accuracy of qualitative analysis. Results demonstrated the influence of inter-specific biotic interactions on TC chemo-profiles, hence its medicinal properties.

Facile Syntheses and Molecular-Docking of Novel Substituted 3,4-Dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide/carbohydrazide Analogues with Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties

The article describes the use of facile one-pot, high-yielding reactions to synthesize substituted 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamides 3a–m and carbohydrazide analogues 5a–l as potential antifungal and antimicrobial agents. The structural identity and purity of the synthesized compounds were assigned based on appropriate spectroscopic techniques. Synthesized compounds were assessed in vitro for antifungal and antibacterial activity. The compounds 5h, 5i and 5j were found to be the most potent against Aspergillusfumigatus, with MIC values of 0.039 mg/mL. The compound 5f bearing a 2, 6-dichloro group on the phenyl ring was found to be the most active broad spectrum antibacterial agent with a MIC value of 0.039 mg/mL. The mode of action of the most promising antifungal compounds (one representative from each series; 3j and 5h) was established by their molecular docking with the active site of sterol 14α-demethylase. Molecular docking studies revealed a highly spontaneous binding ability of the tested compounds in the access channel away from catalytic heme iron of the enzyme, which suggested that the tested compounds inhibit this enzyme and would avoid heme iron-related deleterious side effects observed with many existing antifungal compounds.

Non-invasive Qualitative Urinary Metabolomic Profiling Discriminates Gut Microbiota Derived Metabolites in the Moderate and Chronic Alcoholic Cohorts

BACKGROUND

Excessive alcohol consumption damages the intestine and liver cells directly as well as through unbalancing the gut microbiota.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was undertaken to correlate the alcohol consumption and change in urinary metabolites profile linked with gut microbiota.

METHOD

Non-alcoholic (control) healthy (n=22) and moderate alcoholic (n=26) males with an average age of 39.3±1.83 years subjected to alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) were considered for study. First pass urine and blood samples were collected in the morning.

RESULTS

Liver function test showed the increased levels of γGT, AST and ALT to 40.3 ± 2.3, 53.3 ± 0.7, and 38.9 ± 0.5 U/L, respectively. Urine samples were processed and subjected to HPLC-Q-TOFMS analysis in positive and negative ion polarity modes. Mass data were processed to align and filter out insignificant entities and subjected to One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni multiple testing corrections analysis. The analysis provided list of 211gut microbes specific metabolites with p>0.05 and fold change >1.5. All metabolites were identified using standards and referring to METALIN library of standard metabolites. Further analyses showed that alcohol intake disturbed more than ten metabolic pathways. Tryptophan, tyrosine, branched chain amino acids and short-chain fatty acids metabolism were the significantly disturbed pathways in alcoholics.

CONCLUSION

Correlation of various metabolites with gut microbiota showed that chronic and moderate dose intake of alcohol decreased the level of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus Ruminococcus and Faecalibacterium spp. and increased the levels of Proteobacteria, Alcaligenes and Clostridium.

Plasma metabolomics reveal the correlation of metabolic pathways and Prakritis of humans

BACKGROUND

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medicinal system, has categorized human body constitutions in three broad constitutional types (prakritis) i.e. Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

OBJECTIVES

Analysis of plasma metabolites and related pathways to classify Prakriti specific dominant marker metabolites and metabolic pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

38 healthy male individuals were assessed for dominant Prakritis and their fasting blood samples were collected. The processed plasma samples were subjected to rapid resolution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (RRLC-ESI-QTOFMS). Mass profiles were aligned and subjected to multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model showed 97.87% recognition capability. List of PLS-DA metabolites was subjected to permutative Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) correction and final list of 76 metabolites with p < 0.05 and fold-change > 2.0 was identified. Pathway analysis using metascape and JEPETTO plugins in Cytoscape revealed that steroidal hormone biosynthesis, amino acid, and arachidonic acid metabolism are major pathways varying with different constitution. Biological Go processes analysis showed that aromatic amino acids, sphingolipids, and pyrimidine nucleotides metabolic processes were dominant in kapha type of body constitution. Fat soluble vitamins, cellular amino acid, and androgen biosynthesis process along with branched chain amino acid and glycerolipid catabolic processes were dominant in pitta type individuals. Vata Prakriti was found to have dominant catecholamine, arachidonic acid and hydrogen peroxide metabolomics processes.

CONCLUSION

The neurotransmission and oxidative stress in vata, BCAA catabolic, androgen, xenobiotics metabolic processes in pitta, and aromatic amino acids, sphingolipid, and pyrimidine metabolic process in kapha Prakriti were the dominant marker pathways.

Moderate alcohol consumption in chronic form enhances the synthesis of cholesterol and C-21 steroid hormones, while treatment with Tinospora cordifolia modulate these events in men

Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption disrupts lipid metabolism and hormonal balance including testosterone levels. However, studies doubt the relationship between moderate alcohol intake and sex hormone levels. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to establish the direct impact of chronic and moderate alcohol intake on cholesterol homeostasis and steroid hormone synthesis. Asymptomatic chronic and moderate alcoholics (n=12) without chronic liver disease and healthy volunteers (n=14) were selected for the study. Furthermore, effects of standardized water extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Mier. (Menispermaceae) (TCJ), a well reported anti-alcoholic herbal drug, on urinary steroids was studied. This study included four groups, i.e. a) healthy; b) healthy+TCJ; c) alcoholic; d) alcoholic+TCJ. The blood and urine samples from each group were collected on day 0 and 14 of the post-treatment with TCJ and analyzed. Alcoholic blood samples showed the significantly higher values of traditional biomarkers γ-GT and MCV along with cholesterol, LDL, TGL and urinary methylglucuronide compared to healthy. Qualitative analysis of steroids showed that moderate alcohol intake in a chronic manner increased the cholesterol synthesis and directed its flow toward C-21 steroids; shown by increased levels of corticosterone (2.456 fold) and cortisol (3.7 fold). Moreover, alcohol intake also increased the synthesis of estradiol and clearance rate of other steroids through the formation of glucuronides. Therefore, it decreased the synthesis and increased the clearance rate of testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A). Quantitative analysis confirmed decreased T/A ratio from 2.31 to 1.59 in plasma and 2.47 to 1.51 in urine samples of alcoholics. TCJ intervention normalized the levels of steroids and significantly improved the T:A ratio to 2.0 and 2.12 in plasma and urine. The study revealed that TCJ modulated lipid metabolism by inhibiting cholesterol and glucuronides synthesis.

Detection and qualitative analysis of fatty acid amides in the urine of alcoholics using HPLC-QTOF-MS

Fatty acid amides (FAAs) in alcoholism lead to liver diseases. These amides have been reported in plasma and in other organs of the body, while their detection or presence in the urine is still unknown. Therefore, the focus of the current study was to detect and analyze FAAs qualitatively in urine samples of alcoholics. Furthermore, the effects of Tinospora cordifolia (hepatoprotective medicinal plant) intervention on FAA levels in moderate alcoholics were also analyzed. In the study, asymptomatic chronic alcoholics (n = 22) without chronic liver disease and nonalcoholic healthy volunteers (n = 24) with a mean age of 39 ± 2.0 years were selected. The first-pass urine and fasting blood samples were collected in the morning on day 0 and day 14 after T. cordifolia water extract (TCE) treatment and analyzed using automated biochemistry analyzer and HPLC-QTOF-MS. Results indicated the increased levels of serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and liver function enzymes in alcoholic subjects, which were significantly down-regulated by TCE intervention. Multivariate discrimination analysis of QTOF-MS data showed increased urinary levels of oleoamide (2.55-fold), palmitamide (5.6-fold), and erucamide (1.6-fold) in alcoholics as compared to control subjects. Levels of oleamide (1.8-fold), palmitamide (1.7-fold), and linoleamide (1.5-fold) were found to be increased in plasma. Treatment with TCE in alcoholics (3.0 g lyophilized water extract/day) significantly decreased the plasma and urinary levels of all FAAs except linoleamide. The HPLC-QTOF-MS approach for FAAs analysis in both urinary and plasma samples of alcoholics worked very well. Moreover, findings (i.e., increased levels of FAAs in urine and in plasma) further support other findings that these amides play a very important role in alcoholism. Further, like our previous findings, TCE proved its hepatoprotective effect against alcoholism not only by lowering the levels of these detected FAAs, but also by decreasing the level of liver-specific enzymes and lipids.

Detection of new human metabolic urinary markers in chronic alcoholism and their reversal by aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem

AIMS

We have studied urine metabolic signature of chronic alcoholism (CA) before and after treatment with an Ayurvedic drug Tinospora cordifolia aqueous extract (TCE).

METHODS

Urinary metabolites of chronic alcoholics and apparently healthy subjects were profiled using HPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Discrimination models from the initial data sets were able to correctly assign the unknown samples to the CA, treated or healthy groups in validation sets with r(2) > 0.98.

RESULTS

Metabolic signature in CA patients include changed tryptophan, fatty acids and pyrimidines metabolism. Several novel biomarkers of alcoholism were observed in urine for the first time which includes, 5-hydroxyindole, phenylacetic acid, picolinic acid, quinaldic acid, histidine, cystathionine, riboflavin, tetrahydrobiopterin and chenodeoxyglycocholic acid, in addition to previously reported biomarkers. Treatment of CA with TCE reverted the levels of most of the biomarkers except tetrahydrobiopterin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that the measurement of these urine metabolites could be used as a non-invasive diagnostic method for the detection of CA. As TCE treatment significantly reversed the affected pathways without any side effect. Overall, the present data depicts that TCE may be used either alone or adjunct in reducing alcohol-induced disorders.

In vitro antifungal activity and probable fungicidal mechanism of aqueous extract of Barleria grandiflora

Barleria grandiflora Dalz. (Acanthaceae) is being used in India to treat different types of disorders including skin infections. Therefore, there are good possibilities to find antifungal compounds in its extracts with novel mechanism of action. The main objectives of the present study were to evaluate the antifungal activity of plant extracts and to study its effects on metabolic pathways of A. fumigatus. The microbroth dilution assay was used to explore antifungal activity and MIC of various extracts. Metabolic profiles of control and treated cultures were collected from Q-TOF-MS interfaced with HPLC. Affected metabolic pathways of A. fumigatus after the treatment were analyzed by discrimination analysis of mass data. Antifungal activities were observed in hot and cold water extracts of the plant. Hot water extract of B. grandiflora showed significant activity against tested fungi in the range 0.625-1.25 mg/mL. Partial least discrimination analysis revealed that the hot water plant extract downregulated amino acid, glyoxylate pathway, and methylcitrate pathways at the same time due to the synergistic effects of secondary metabolites. Hot water extract also downregulated several other metabolic pathways unique to fungi indicating its specific activity toward fungi. B. grandiflora showed promising antifungal activity which can further be exploited by identification of active compounds, to inhibit the specific fungal pathways and development of novel therapeutic antifungal drugs.

In vivo efficacy of a synthetic coumarin derivative in a murine model of aspergillosis

Despite advances in therapeutic modalities, aspergillosis remains a leading cause of mortality. This has necessitated the identification of effective and safe antifungal molecules. In the present study, in vivo safety and antifungal efficacy of a coumarin derivative, N, N, N-Triethyl-11-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-benzopyran-7-yloxy)-11-oxoundecan-1-aminium bromide (SCD-1), was investigated. The maximum tolerable dose of compound was determined according to OECD 423 guidelines. The compound could be assigned to category IV of the Globally Harmonized System and its LD₅₀ cut-off was found to be 2000 mg/kg body weight. The survival increased in Aspergillus fumigatus-infected mice treated with a dose of 200 mg/kg, orally or 100 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally, of SCD-1 in comparison to infected-untreated animals. The SCD-1 treatment resulted in significant reduction in colony counts in vital organs of the animals. Its protective effect was also observed on day 14 as there was marked reduction in fungal colonies. The treatment with SCD-1 also reduced the levels of serum biochemical parameters with respect to infected-untreated animals. It could be concluded that SCD-1 is a quite safe antifungal compound, which conferred dose dependent protection against experimental aspergillosis. Therefore, SCD-1 holds potential for developing new formulations for aspergillosis.

β-sitosterol in different parts of Saraca asoca and herbal drug ashokarista: Quali-quantitative analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

β-sitosterol is an important component in food and herbal products and beneficial in hyperlipidemia. Its higher concentrations in serum may lead to coronary artery disease in case of sitosterolemia. Therefore, it is essential to determine the quantity of β-sitosterol in food and herbal drugs. Saraca asoca and its preparations have been widely used by traditional healers are also a source of β-sitosterol. In the present study, quantitative estimation of β-sitosterol present in hot and cold water extracts of bark, regenerated bark, leaves and flowers of the S. asoca and Ashokarista drugs were carried out first time using high performance liquid chromatography coupled (HPLC) with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Different concentrations of β-sitosterol and crude extracts were estimated by HPLC and targeted mass spectrometry. Standard curve for β-sitosterol was prepared from the intensities of transitions (397.50 → 147.0987 m/z) having regression coefficient (r (2)) 0.9952. Out of eight extracts and two drugs used in the study bark water, leaves water and leaves hot water extracts were found to have a considerable quantity of β-sitosterol, i.e. 170, 123.5 and 19.3 ng/mL, respectively. The results showed significant differences in the distribution of β-sitosterol among different organs of S. asoca and drugs prepared from its bark. HPLC/electrospray ionizationmass spectroscopy method is accurate, reproducible and requires less specimen, sample preparation and analysis time over HPLC assay. This type of approaches could be helpful for the quality control of herbal medicines and provides necessary information for the rational utilization of plant resources.

Quantitative analysis of catechins in Saraca asoca and correlation with antimicrobial activity

Herbal medicines are highly complex and have unknown mechanisms in diseases treatment. Saraca asoca (Roxb.), De. Wild has been recommended to treat gynecological disorders and used in several commercial polyherbal formulations. In present study, efforts have been made to explore antimicrobial activity and its co-relation with the distributions of catechins in the organs of S. asoca using targeted MS/MS. Eight extracts (cold and hot water) from four different organs of S. asoca and two drugs were prepared and antimicrobial activity was assessed by microbroth dilution assay. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of catechins in crude extracts was done by using targeted and auto-MS/MS and correlated with antimicrobial activity. (+)-Catechin and (+)-epicatechin and their biosynthesis related compound were found to be up-regulated in regenerated bark and leaves extracts. (−)-Epigallocatechin was found to be significantly higher in bark water extract as compared to others but showed low antimicrobial activity. Result showed down-regulation of (−)-epigallocatechin and up-regulation of (+)-catechin and (+)-epicatechin in the regenerated bark and leaves of S. asoca. It might be the contributing factor in the antimicrobial activity of regenerated bark and leaves of the plant. The concentration of (+)-epicatechin in processed drugs (Ashokarishta) from Baidyanath was found to be seven times higher than that of Dabur Pvt. Ltd., but no antimicrobial activity was observed, indicating the variations among the plant based drugs. This will be helpful in rational use of S. asoca parts. Furthermore, the analytical method developed is sensitive, repeatable and reliable; therefore, it is suitable for quality control of herbal drugs.

Antifungal Treatments Delineate a Correlation between Cathepsins and Cytokines in Murine Model of Invasive Aspergillosis

In the pathogenesis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis both fungal and host factors play roles. Though cytokines and phagocyte, as host factors, have been shown to participate in defence against Aspergillus species yet the role of cysteine proteases, that is cathepsins, a lysosomal enzymes of phagocytes, remains unknown in fungal infection. Studies are available which shows that cytokines regulate the cysteine proteases processed immune molecules for their further action but their relationship with each other under fungal infection is not clear. Therefore, in this study, we demonstrate the substantial role of cathepsins and cytokines in aspergillosis. In the present murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, on seventh day of Aspergillus fumigatus infection, both kidney and liver showed significant (P<0.05) fungal burdens, which was also confirmed by histological analyses. The activity profiles of four cathepsins in the kidney and liver tissue were analysed and correlated with blood cytokines level in the presence and absence of antifungal compounds (amphotericin B, a standard drug and 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate, isolated in our laboratory from natural source) treatment. The data illustrate that the reduction in fungal load in both organs probably results in a decreased local inflammatory response, as measured by decreased levels of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 and increased level of interferon gamma in the antifungal compounds treated mice. Interestingly, this altered level of cytokines relates well with the activity level of cathepsins, that is decreased in interleukines (interleukinL-4/interleukin-10) and cathepsins (cathepsin B, cathepsin C and cathepsin L); and increase in interferon gamma and cathepsin H levels in the mice treated with antifungal compounds were observed. These observations support not only the negative (cathepsin B, cathepsin C and cathepsin L) and positive (cathepsin H) role of cathepsins in aspergillosis but also prove the role of cytokines in remodelling of immune response. Overall, the study reveals a correlation between cathepsins and cytokines and their regulatory role in fungal mediated infection.

Natural products--antifungal agents derived from plants

A new spectrum of human fungal infections is increasing due to increased cancer, AIDS, and immunocompromised patients. The increased use of antifungal agents also resulted in the development of resistance to the present drugs. It makes necessary to discover new classes of antifungal compounds to cure fungal infections. Plants are rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites of wide variety such as tannins, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and other compounds, reported to have in vitro antifungal properties. Since the plant kingdom provides a useful source of lead compounds of novel structure, a wide-scale investigation of species from the tropics has been considered. Therefore, the research on natural products and compounds derived from natural products has accelerated in recent years due to their importance in drug discovery. A series of molecules with antifungal activity against different strains of fungus have been found in plants, which are of great importance to humans. These molecules may be used directly or considered as a precursor for developing better molecules. This review attempts to summarize the current status of important antifungal compounds from plants.

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities of seeds of Caesalpinia bonduc (Lin.) Roxb

AIM OF THE STUDY

Caesalpinia bonduc (Lin.) Roxb. is a known drug in Ayurveda to treat various diseases specifically tumors, cysts and cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study was to assess in vitro as well as in vivo antimicrobial activity of Caesalpinia bonduc seeds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The in vitro antimicrobial activities of seed coat and seed kernel extracts were investigated by microbroth dilution assay. In vivo activities of hydro-alcoholic extracts were investigated in rat models of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia mimicking that in patients with cystic fibrosis.

RESULTS

Various extracts of plant seeds exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activities in a range of 22-350 microg/ml. The extracts also showed activity against methicillin resistant (MR) Staphylococcus aureus and ampicillin resistant (AR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa as in the sensitive strains. In rat model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, hydro-alcoholic extracts of Caesalpinia bonduc seed kernel (CBSK) and Caesalpinia bonduc seed coat (CBSC) were injected subcutaneously in the test groups of animals. The control groups were treated with cortisone and saline. Two weeks after challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the CBSK treated animals showed a significant bacterial clearance from the lungs (P<0.04) and less severe incidence of lung abscess (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Results showed that Caesalpinia bonduc may have the potential to be promising natural medicine, with other forms of treatments, for CF patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections.

T lymphocyte subset profile and serum alpha-1-antitrypsin in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by the presence of non-fully reversible airflow limitation. The study was undertaken to investigate the involvement of alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha(1)AT) and T lymphocyte subsets in the pathogenesis of COPD. Blood samples of 50 subjects, including 25 healthy volunteers and 25 patients with COPD, were analysed. Serum trypsin inhibitory capacity (STIC) was determined by enzymatic assay. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were enumerated in heparinized blood using a fluorescence activated cell sorter counter. The STIC in COPD patients was found to be decreased significantly than in controls (P < 0.01). In COPD patients with lower expression levels of alpha(1)AT, a highly significant decrease in the number of CD4(+) T lymphocytes (P < 0.0009) and CD4/CD8 ratio was observed compared with control subjects (P < 0.008). The mean +/- standard error of CD8(+) lymphocytes was found to be little different (only marginally decreased) in COPD patients compared to healthy controls; however, an alteration in the individual count of CD8(+) lymphocytes cells was observed in COPD patients. Using linear regression analysis, a negative correlation was observed between STIC and CD4(+) lymphocytes and CD8(+) lymphocytes (r = -0.40, P < 0.04; r = -0.42, P < 0.03, respectively) in COPD patients. An alteration in alpha(1)AT and T lymphocyte subsets in COPD patients suggested that interplay of these factors may be responsible for the progression of COPD.

Post-antifungal effects of the antifungal compound 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate on Aspergillus fumigatus

The post-antifungal effect (PAFE) of the antifungal compound 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate (DHP) upon Aspergillus fumigatus was investigated. The conidia of A. fumigatus were exposed to DHP at concentrations of 1× and 4× MIC90 for variable times at 37 °C. Amphotericin B (AmB)-treated or drug-free controls were included in the study. DHP as well as AmB exposure resulted in prolonged lag phases of the turbidimetric growth curves. Both the treatments gave rise to delayed growth, with lag phases of 11 h upon treatment with a concentration of 4× MIC90 for 4 h. Furthermore, it was observed that DHP inhibited the expression of three A. fumigatus secretory proteins of 18, 42 and 55 kDa. One protein of 42 kDa was found to be a metalloprotease, which is an important virulence factor. Analysis of time-dependent antigenic profiles showed the early expression of high-molecular-mass antigens. Expression of low-molecular-mass antigens started after 24 h culture. The antigens of A. fumigatus that are expressed during the early phase of growth were observed to be adversely affected after treatment with DHP. Although the mechanism of action of DHP to inhibit these proteins/antigens is unknown, the observations may be valuable to understand their role in the virulence of the pathogen, as well as the antigen-mediated responses caused by A. fumigatus.

An antifungal protein from Escherichia coli

A cytosolic protein was purified fromEscherichia coliBL21 that demonstrated potent antifungal activity against pathogenic strains ofAspergillus fumigatus,Aspergillus flavus,Aspergillus nigerandCandida albicans. The MIC of purified protein fromE. coliBL21 (PPEBL21) againstAspergillusspecies andC. albicanswas 1.95–3.98 and 15.62 μg ml−1, respectively.In vitrotoxicity tests demonstrated no cytotoxicity of PPEBL21 to human erythrocytes up to the tested concentrations of 1250 μg ml−1. Amphotericin B was lethal to 100 % of human erythrocytes at a concentration of 37.5 μg ml−1. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of PPEBL21 was found to be DLAEVASR, which showed 75 % sequence similarity with alcohol dehydrogenase of yeast. Mass fingerprinting by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry also substantiated these observations. The results suggested thatE. coliBL21 might be an important bioresource of lead molecules for developing new peptide-based therapies for treating fungal infections.

Antimicrobial activity of some Indian medicinal plants

The antimicrobial potential of seventy-seven extracts from twenty-four plants was screened against eight bacteria and four pathogenic fungi, using microbroth dilution assay. Lowest concentration of the extract, which inhibits any visual microbial growth after treatment with p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet, was considered to be minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Water extracts of Acacia nilotica, Justicia zelanica, Lantana camara and Saraca asoca exhibited good activity against all the bacteria tested and the MIC was recorded in range of 9.375-37.5 microg/ml and 75.0-300.0 microg/ml against the bacterial and fungal pathogens, respectively. The other extracts of Phyllanthus urinaria, Thevetia nerifolia, Jatropha gossypifolia Saraca asoca, Tamarindus indica, Aegle marmelos, Acacia nilotica, Chlorophytum borivilianum, Mangifera indica, Woodfordia fruticosa and Phyllanthus emblica showed antimicrobial activity in a range of 75-1200 microg/ml.

Crystal structure of the restriction-modification system control element C.Bcll and mapping of its binding site

Protection from DNA invasion is afforded by restriction-modification systems in many bacteria. The efficiency of protection depends crucially on the relative expression levels of restriction versus methytransferase genes. This regulation is provided by a controller protein, named C protein. Studies of the Bcll system in E. coli suggest that C.Bcll functions as a negative regulator for M.Bcll expression, implying that it plays a role in defense against foreign DNA during virus infection. C.Bcll binds (Kd = 14.3 nM) to a 2-fold symmetric C box DNA sequence that overlaps with the putative -35 promoter region upstream of the bcllM and bcllC genes. The C.Bcll fold comprises five alpha helices: two helices form a helix-turn-helix motif, and the remaining three helices form the extensive dimer interface. The C.Bcll-DNA model proposed suggests that DNA bending might play an important role in gene regulation, and that Glu27 and Asp31 in C.Bcll might function critically in the regulation.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of antimicrobial dihydropyridines and tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ones: Novel compounds against aspergillosis

Ten 4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridine and three 4-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-one derivatives have been synthesized and examined for their activity against pathogenic strains of Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Although none of the three compounds belonging to pyrimidin-2-one series showed any activity against two pathogens, two of the compounds of the dihydropyridine series, that is, diethyl 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-3,5-dicarboxylate and dimethyl 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-3,5-dicarboxylate, exhibited significant activity against A. fumigatus in disc diffusion, microbroth dilution and percent spore germination inhibition assays. The most active diethyl dihydropyridine derivative exhibited a MIC value of 2.92 microg/disc in disc diffusion and 15.62 microg/ml in microbroth dilution assays. The MIC(90) value of the most active compound by percent germination inhibition assay was found to be 15.62 microg/ml. The diethyl dicarboxylate derivative of dihydropyridine also exhibited appreciable activity against C. albicans. The in vitro toxicity of the most active diethyl dihydropyridine derivative was evaluated using haemolytic assay, in which the compound was found to be non-toxic to human erythrocytes even at a concentration of 625 microg/ml. The standard drug amphotericin B exhibited 100% lysis of erythrocytes at a concentration almost 16 times less than the safer concentration of the most active dihydropyridine derivative.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino [1,2-a] indoles

A series of substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino [1,2-a] indole derivatives have been synthesized and tested against the Gram positive and Gram negative strains of bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus (MTCCB 737), Salmonella typhi (MTCCB 733), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCCB 741), Streptomyces thermonitrificans (MTCCB 1824) and Escherichia coli (MTCCB 1652). All synthesized compounds showed mild to moderate activity. However, compounds 4d-f were found to have potent activity against pathogenic bacteria used in the study. Their MIC ranged from 3.75 to 60 microg/disc. In vitro toxicity tests demonstrated that toxicity of 4d-f was not significantly different than that of gentamycin. However, at higher concentration (1000-4000 microg/ml) difference was highly significant.

Investigations on anti-Aspergillus properties of bacterial products

AIMS

To investigate the anti-Aspergillus properties of bacterial products.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the present study, 12 bacterial strains were screened for antifungal activity against Aspergilli. The culture supernatant and lysates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli (BL21, DH5alpha, HB101, XL Blue), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptomyces thermonitrificans, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi were examined for antifungal activity in protein concentration ranging from 1000.0 to 7.8 microg ml-1 using microbroth dilution assay. The lysate of Salm. typhi and E. coli BL21 exhibited the maximum activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. Their in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were found to be 15.6-31.2 microg ml-1 by microbroth dilution and spore germination inhibition assays. In disc diffusion assay, a concentration of 3.1 microg disc-1 of Salm. typhi lysate showed significant activity against Aspergilli. Escherichia coli BL21 exhibited similar activity at 6.2 microg disc-1. The work on identification of molecule endowed with antimycotic properties is in progress.

CONCLUSION

The products of Salm. typhi and E. coli demonstrated significant activity against Aspergillus species.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first time that E. coli has been reported for anti-Aspergillus activity. It could be an important source of biologically active compounds useful for developing better new antifungal drugs/or probiotics.

Efficacy of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1h-pyrrole-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate in a murine model of invasive aspergillosis

2-(3,4-Dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate, an antifungal compound, was found to be nontoxic to RAW cells up to a concentration of 312.5 microg/ml, whereas amphotericin B was lethal to all cells at 37.5 microg/ml. The treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus-infected mice with a dose of 200.0 mg of compound/kg of body weight increased their survival rate by 60%, with a decrease in CFU in organ tissues. The protection afforded by the compound against experimental aspergillosis was found to be dose dependent.

In vitro antifungal activity of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate, a dihydropyrrole derivative

A novel compound 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate was isolated from the plant Datura metel L. The in vitro activity of this dihydropyrrole derivative against Aspergillus and Candida species was evaluated by using standard methods approved by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. The compound was found to be active against all the species tested, namely Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. The MIC at which more than 90% of growth was inhibited (MIC(90)) by the compound ranged from 21.87 to 43.75 microg ml(-1) against various fungal species by microbroth dilution assay. Since the compound 2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-methylethyl pentanoate has antifungal activity it can be explored further to develop new antimycotic drugs.

Association of the PIM3 allele of the alpha-1-antitrypsin gene with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE

The study investigated the association of genetic polymorphism of the alpha1AT gene with COPD.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The mutations and polymorphism of alpha1AT gene were investigated by DNA sequence analysis using polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The frequency of the PIM3 allele in COPD patients was found to be significantly higher than the controls (P < 0.0001). Five SNPs, including a novel SNP (24_25insA), were observed near the junction of exon-intron I. The occurrence of these SNPs didn't show any association with COPD. However, the PIM3 allele of the alpha1AT gene was found to be associated with COPD.

CONCLUSION

The PIM3 allele of the alpha1AT gene is found to have an association with the pathogenesis of COPD in the Indian population.

A fraction from Escherichia coli with anti-Aspergillus properties

The products of various strains of Escherichia coli (BL21, DH5alpha, HB101 and XL Blue) were investigated for antimycotic properties using pathogenic isolates of Aspergillus. Co-culture experiments revealed that E. coli strains exhibited variable activity against Aspergillus fumigatus. The lysates prepared from DH5alpha, HB101 and XL Blue strains of E. coli showed inhibitory activity against A. fumigatus in the protein concentration range of 62.50 to 250.00 microg ml(-1). The highest activity was seen in the lysate of BL21, which inhibited the growth of A. fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus completely at a concentration of 31.25 microg protein ml(-1). The MIC of BL21 lysate against Aspergillus niger was found to be 62.50 microg ml(-1). The in vitro toxicity of BL21 lysate was evaluated using a haemolytic assay. A BL21 lysate protein concentration of 1250.00 microg ml(-1) was found to be nontoxic to human erythrocytes. The standard drug amphotericin B lysed 100 % of erythrocytes at a concentration of 37.50 microg ml(-1). SDS-PAGE showed the presence of at least 15 major proteins in the lysate of BL21. Ion-exchange chromatography resolved the BL21 lysate into five fractions and fraction III was found to be endowed with anti-Aspergillus properties. The MIC of this fraction was found to be 3.90 microg ml(-1). Further work on the purification of the active molecule and its characterization is in progress.

The role of glutathione in cancer

Glutathione is an abundant natural tripeptide found within almost all cells. Glutathione is highly reactive and is often found conjugated to other molecules via its sulfhydryl moiety. It instils several vital roles within a cell including antioxidation, maintenance of the redox state, modulation of the immune response and detoxification of xenobiotics. With respect to cancer, glutathione metabolism is able to play both protective and pathogenic roles. It is crucial in the removal and detoxification of carcinogens, and alterations in this pathway, can have a profound effect on cell survival. However, by conferring resistance to a number of chemotherapeutic drugs, elevated levels of glutathione in tumour cells are able to protect such cells in bone marrow, breast, colon, larynx and lung cancers. Here we present a number of studies investigating the role of glutathione in promoting cancer, impeding chemotherapy, and the use of glutathione modulation to enhance anti-neoplastic therapy.

Construction of ordered protein arrays

Artificially ordered protein arrays provide a facile approach to a variety of problems in biology and nanoscience. Current demonstration systems use either nucleic acid tethers or methyltransferase fusions in order to target proteins or peptides of interest to nucleic acid scaffolds. These demonstrations point to the large number of useful devices and assemblies that can be envisioned using this approach, including smart biological probes and drug delivery systems. In principle, these systems are now capable of imitating the earliest forms of prebiotic organisms and can be expected to reach the complexity of a small virus in the near future. Third-generation methyltransferase inhibitors provide an example of a smart chemotherapeutics that can be constructed with this approach. We describe the use of mechanistic enzymology, computer-aided design, and microfluidic chip-based capillary electrophoresis in assessing the final assembly and testing of designs of this type.

A novel antifungal pyrrole derivative from Datura metel leaves

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Datura metel Linn. led to the isolation of a new pyrrole derivative 1 which was characterised as 2beta-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1'-methylethyl pentanoate on the basis of spectral data analyses and chemical reactions. Compound 1 was endowed with antifungal activity and its MIC was found to be 87.5 microg/ml. Two proteins having molecular weights of 42 and 58 kD of Aspergillus fumigatus are potential targets for compound 1.

Antifungal potential of Indian medicinal plants

Fourteen Indian plants, selected based on their use in respiratory and other disorders in traditional systems of medicine, were analyzed for their potential activity against fungi. The antifungal activity was investigated by disc diffusion, microbroth dilution and percent spore germination inhibition tests against pathogenic Aspergilli. Methanolic extracts of Solanum xanthocarpum and Datura metel inhibited the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger and their in vitro MICs were found to be 1.25-2.50 mg/ml by both microbroth dilution and percent spore germination assays. In disc diffusion assay, a concentration of 0.062 mg/disc of methanol extract of D. metel showed significant activity against Aspergilli. S. xanthocarpum exhibited similar activity at 0.125 mg/disc.