The study evaluates the effects of genistein on blood pressure (BP) and ultrastructural changes in kidney of fructose-fed hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats were fed a diet containing 60 % starch or 60 % fructose as the source of carbohydrate. After 15 d, rats in each dietary group were divided into two groups and were treated with either genistein (1 mg/kg per d) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or 30 % DMSO alone. BP, pressor mechanisms, protein kinase C-bII (PKC-bII) expression, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and renal ultrastructural changes were evaluated after 60 d. Fructose-fed rats displayed significant elevation in BP and heart rate. Significant increase in plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, alterations in renal lipid profile, nitrite and kallikrein activity, enhanced expression of membrane-associated PKC-bII and decreased expression of eNOS were observed in them. Histology and electron microscopic studies showed structural changes in the kidney. Genistein administration lowered BP, restored ACE, PKC-bII and eNOS expression and preserved renal ultrastructural integrity. These findings demonstrate that genistein has effects on eNOS activity in renal cells, leading to eNOS activation and NO synthesis. These effects could have been mediated by activation of PKC-bII. The observed benefits of genistein make it a promising candidate for therapy of diabetic kidney disease.Key words: Blood pressure: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase: Fructose: Genistein: Nitric oxideThe fructose-fed rat mimics the human metabolic syndrome in which a constellation of abnormalities such as glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia and hypertension are described (1) . These risk factors predispose to type 2 diabetes, CVD and renal disease. Renal hypertrophy, arteriolopathy, glomerular hypertension, cortical vasoconstriction and oxidative damage are the pathological findings observed in fructose-fed rats (2) . The rise in blood pressure (BP) in this model has been related to defects in vasodilatory mechanisms such as impaired NO z production due to decreased endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activity, activation of selective isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) and downregulation of the renal kallikrein -kinin system (3 -5) Genistein, a phyto-esterogen with isoflavone structure, is found in a wide variety of plant-derived foods, in particular in soyabean. Genistein exerts an anti-diabetic effect by improving glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic subjects (6) . A study has demonstrated the beneficial effects of soya isoflavones on kidney damage induced by nephrotoxins (7) . Interestingly, we found that genistein improves insulin sensitivity and restores renal function in fructose-fed rats (8) . However, there is a lack of data that directly relate the improvement of BP and renoprotective effect of genistein in the insulin-resistant state. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of genistein on BP, related pressor mechanisms like plas...

Several studies have revealed that certain naturally occurring medicinal plants inhibit the growth of various cancers. The present study was conducted to evaluate cytotoxicity and apoptotic induction potential of Myristica fragrans Houtt mace extract. The cytotoxic activity of the Myristica fragrans Houtt mace acetone extract was assayed by MTT assay on human oral epidermal carcinoma KB cell lines. KB cells were incubated with different concentration of mace extract ranging from 25 to 125 μg/mL for 24hrs. The apoptotic induction potential was also studied by the analysis of Bcl-2 protein and gene expression in mace extract incubated KB cell lines using western blotting technique and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The mace extract exhibited cytotoxicity and anticancer effect against KB cell lines and it also suppressed the growth of cancer cells, therefore growth inhibitory effect was noted in extract treated cell lines. The apoptotic potential of mace extract was accompanied by reduced gene expression of Bcl-2 compared to the untreated KB cells. The mace extract shows the cytotoxic activity and induced the apoptosis through the modulation of its target genes Bcl-2 in the KB cell lines, suggesting the potential of mace as a candidate for oral cancer chemoprevention. This can be further investigated in vivo for its anticancer potential.

Aim: Rhizophora mucronata, commonly called as 'red mangrove' grows in the tropical and subtropical regions and on the sheltered shores. The bioactive compounds from the plant have been used in the treatment of wide range of diseases. Though the beneficial effects have been reported, the safety and toxicological studies are not carried out. Hence, major bioactives have been identified by HPLC and then acute and sub-acute toxicity studies of (BERM) in Swiss Albino mice have been carried out. Main methods: HPLC fingerprinting was carried out of BERM for the characterization of bioactives. BERM as a single dose was given orally at 800, 1600 mg/kg and 3200 mg/kg by a stainless steel cannula to the mice. Then the mice were observed for 14 days for mortality and behavioural changes. Food, water intake and body weight changes were also observed throughout the study period. On the fifteenth day, the mice were anesthetized with isofluorane and blood was withdrawn for haematological and biochemical analysis. The animals were sacrificed by overdose of isofluorane and organs such as liver, kidney, lungs and spleen were dissected out for histopathological analysis. There was no mortality of the mice even in 3200 mg/kg dose, stating that the oral LD50 of BERM is more than 5000 mg/kg. In terms of Sub-acute toxicity, for a period of 28 days repeated dose of 400 mg/ kg and 800 mg/kg as an optimum dose and a control group was kept with only distilled water at 5 ml/kg against the treated groups. On 29 th day, the mice from all groups were sacrificed and blood was withdrawn and organs such as liver, kidney, lungs and spleen were dissected out for the assessment of internal tissues, wherein no abnormalities were observed in the treatment groups as compared to the control. The blood parameters, biochemical analysis of the treated groups were well within the range, histopathological confirmed the findings wherein the organs viz, liver, kidneys, lungs and spleen possessed normal architecture. Key findings: Based on HPLC results, prominent 5 major compounds viz: Diadzein, Epicatechin, Hesperidin, Diosmin and Quercitrin respectively were identified. Isolated changes observed in the haematological, biochemical and histopathological studies were not dose related and showed the safety of the bark extract. Similarly, the sub-acute toxicity of BERM has been conducted for 28 days, wherein repeated dose of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg and control group was given orally. There were no abnormalities found both in external and internal parameters. Significance: Based on the study it is concluded that the bark extract of Rhizophora mucronata (BERM) is safe at 1000 mg/kg or less on repeated dosage can be considered as a safe dose for pharmacological efficacy studies.

2+ ion, shaded spheres Carbon and white spheres Nitrogen 3.1.3 Geometric representation of the octahedral structure of the ferrocyanide complex in Prussian Blue. Red sphere is the central Fe 2+ ion & surrounding green spheres Carbon 3.1.4 Potassium ions shown in purple occupy the body centers in half of the sub-cubes 3.1.5 In Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3.xH2O there are fewer Fe(II) ions compared to Fe(III) ions leaving some sites vacant which are occupied by water molecules 3.3.1 Representation of a cyclic voltammogram 3.3.2 Cyclic voltammogram of a pseudocapacitive material. It is either rectangular or contains broad peaks. 3.3.3 Cyclic voltammogram of Prussian Blue in electrolytes of Aluminum and Tin salts at a scan rate of 25mV/sec 3.3.4 Output from galavanostatic cycling 3.3.5 Galvanostatic charge-discharge of Prussian Blue in Calcium Nitrate at 0.5A/g 4.1.1 Instantaneous formation of Prussian Blue in solution viii 4.2.1 Experimental setup of three-electrode cell and potentiostat 4.2.2 Three-electrode cell setup. 4.2.3 Three-Electrode Cell Setup used for electrochemical characterization and measurement 5.1.1 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg electrodes in cations K+, Ca2+ and Al3+ at 0.5A/g of current density 5.1.2 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg electrodes in cations K+, Ca2+ and Al3+ at 2A/g of current density 5.1.3 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg electrodes in cations K+, Ca2+ and Al3+ at 5A/g of current density 5.1.4 Cyclic Voltammogram of Prussian Blue in K+ at 25mV/sec 5.1.5 Cyclic Voltammogram of Prussian Blue in Ca2+ at 25mV/sec 5.1.6 Cyclic Voltammogram of Prussian Blue in Al3+ at 25mV/sec 5.1.7 Galvanostatic charge-discharge of Prussian Blue in K+, Ca2+ and Al3+ at 0.5A/g 5.1.8 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge Cycle for 0.4mg electrodes in cations Na+, Ca2+, Al3+ and Sn4+ at 1A/g of current density 5.1.9 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge Cycle for 0.4mg electrodes in cations Na+, Ca2+, Al3+ and Sn4+ at 1A/g of current density 5.1.10 Galvanostatic charge-discharge of Prussian Blue in Al3+ and Sn4+ at 1A/g 5.1.11 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg, 0.3mg & 0.4mg electrodes in Ca2+ at 0.5A/g of current density 5.1.12 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg, 0.3mg & 0.4mg electrodes in Ca2+ at 2A/g of current density 5.1.13 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg, 0.3mg & 0.4mg electrodes in Al3+ at 0.5A/g of current density 5.1.14 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for 0.2mg, 0.3mg & 0.4mg electrodes in Al3+ at 2A/g of current density 5.1.15 1st cycle of Galvanostatic charge-discharge of Prussian Blue in K+ at 2A/g 5.1.16 500th cycle of Galvanostatic charge-discharge of Prussian Blue in K+ at 2A/g 5.1.17 1000th cycle of Galvanostatic charge-discharge of Prussian Blue in K+ at 2A/g 5.1.18 Variation of Specific Capacitance with Discharge cycle for electrode in K+ at 2A/g of current density subje...

Cancer is a disease in which a group of abnormal cells grow uncontrollably by disregarding the normal rules of cell division. Across several cancers, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive cancers in worldwide. It is held responsible for up to 1 million deaths globally per annum. HCC is an inflammation-related cancer, as a chronic inflammatory state is necessary for cancer appearance. In this study, the drug astaxanthin and encapsulated astaxanthin was tested against HCC. Mice were divided into 7 groups; Group I: control, Group II: DEN induced, Group III: DEN + 50 mg/kg astaxanthin, Group IV: DEN + 100 mg/kg astaxanthin, Group V: DEN + 50 mg/kg encapsulated astaxanthin, Group VI: DEN + 100 mg/kg encapsulated astaxanthin, Group VII: DEN + 10 mg/kg sorafenib. Regular diet was given. Body weight, Food intake, water intake was noted. Other biochemical parameters such as ALP, AST, Albumin, proteins and TNF-α was determined. Finally, the liver was removed from each mice of different group by sacrificing them and histopathology was done. In vivo evaluation in mice models showed significant antitumor activities by both encapsulated and non-encapsulated astaxanthin at 100 mg/kg as compared with the control, DEN induced group and positive drug sorafenib. This research suggested that encapsulated astaxanthin can also be used as chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).