Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (Nelumbonaceae) a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine (common name: lotus), is a perennial, large and rhizomatous aquatic herb most prevalent in South India. Preliminary phytochemical screening of both white and pink Nelumbo nucifera flowers revealed the presence of phytochemical constituents (flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols etc,). Hence, an attempt has been made to screen the effect of Nelumbo nucifera flowers (both types) on platelet aggregation. The antiplatelet activity of hydroethanolic extract of both types of flowers was studied using platelet-rich plasma in different concentrations (100-500µg/ ml). Both white and pink Nelumbo nucifera flower extracts showed dose-dependent effective antiplatelet activity with maximum activity at 500µg/ml concentration; prevention of platelet aggregation was 50% of that achieved with standard aspirin. Furthermore, the antiplatelet activity of white flowers was relatively high (p<0.05; ANOVA) compared to pink flowers. In conclusion, these observations suggest that both varieties of Nelumbo nucifera flower extracts exert different levels of inhibitory action on platelets in vitro (secretion and platelet aggregation suppression) due to differences in phytochemical content (alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, phytosteroids, glycosides and saponins).Uniterms: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn./phytochemical constituents. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn./pharmacognosy. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn./Antiplatelet activity. Ayurvedic medicine. Natural products. Aspirin.Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (Nelumbonaceae, planta utilizada na medicina Ayurvédica, é erva aquática rizomatosa grande, predominante no sul da Índia. A triagem fitoquímica preliminar das flores brancas e cor-de-rosa de Nelumbo nucifera revelou a presença de constituintes fitoquímicos (flavonoides, alcaloides, fenóis etc). Assim, tentou-se a triagem do efeito das flores de Nelumbo nucifera de ambos os tipos na agregação plaquetária. A atividade antiplaquetária dos extratos hidroetanólico de ambos os tipos de flores foi estudada, utilizando-se plasma rico em plaquetas em duas diferentes concentrações (100 -500 µg/mL). Tanto os extratos das flores brancas quanto daquelas de cor-de-rosa mostraram atividade antiplaquetária dose-dependente, com o máximo na concentração de 500 µg/mL. A prevenção da agregação plaquetária foi 50% daquela alcançada com o padrão de ácido acetilsalicílico. Além disso, a atividade antiplaquetária das flores brancas foi, relativamente, alta (p<0,05; ANOVA), comparativamente às flores cor-de-rosa. Estas observações sugerem que ambas as variedades de extratos de flores de Nelumbo nucifera exercem diferentes níveis de ação inibitória nas plaquetas in vitro (supressão da secreção e da agregação plaquetária) devido a diferentes constituintes fitoquímicos (alcaloides, flavonoides, fenóis, taninos, fitoesteróides, glicosídeos e saponinas).Unitermos: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn./constituintes fitoquímicos. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn./farmacognosia. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn./atividade antiplaquetária. Medicina Ayurv...

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antityrosinase properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized from brown seaweed Turbinaria conoides.Methods: Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles were synthesized from the hydroethanolic extract of Turbinaria conoides. Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometric analysis was performed to confirm the formation of ZnO-NPs. Size, morphology and elemental composition of ZnO-NPs were analysed using SEM-EDAX. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles was investigated by total antioxidant capacity (phosphomolybdenum method), reducing power assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Anti tyrosinase activity was assessed to validate the skin whitening ability of the ZnO-NPs. Results:The antioxidant activity of ZnO-NPs synthesized from hydroethanolic extract of Turbinaria conoides was maximum when compared with that of the hydroethanolic algal extract. The antityrosinase activity of ZnO-NPs was found to be maximum with 75% tyrosinase inhibition when compared to hydroethanolic algal extract which had 56% inhibition at 250μg/ml concentration. Conclusion:Overall our study provides a firm evidence to support that antityrosinase and antioxidant activities are exhibited by ZnO-NPs synthesized from hydroethanolic extract of Turbinaria conoides and it might be used as an antioxidant and as a source of skin whitening agent in cosmetics.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized from Turbinaria conoides against a murine model of Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA). Nanoparticles were synthesized from the hydroethanolic extract of T. conoides (HETC). An ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric analysis was performed to confirm the formation of ZnO-NPs. Size, morphology, and elemental composition of ZnO-NPs were also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (SEM-EDX). Healthy Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally induced with DLA cells and treated with ZnO-NPs and HETC at a dose of 50 μg/kg (p.o.). The effects of ZnO-NPs and HETC on body weight, tumor volume, hematological profile, and liver biochemical parameters were studied. The results of in vivo studies revealed that the treatment with ZnO-NPs and HETC decreased the tumor volume, thereby increasing the lifespan of DLA-bearing mice. The treatment also restored the alterations in hematological profile, antioxidant status, and activities of liver marker enzymes. These histopathological results provided the evidence for the protective effect of ZnO-NPs and HETC on DLA-induced mice. Thus, we conclude that ZnO-NPs possess more significant anticancer and antioxidant activities in DLA-bearing mice than HETC.

Background: The zebrafish is the system of choice in developmental biology and genetics in the recent years. Zebrafish genetics is improving, and this opens up new ways to understand genetic mechanisms. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is used for investigation of developmental pathways and neurobiology because of its progression and physiological resemblance to humans. This species strikes stability between the sophistication as a vertebrate and its ease to be used as a model organism. In addition to this, the optical transparency of the developing fish together with novel imaging techniques enables a potent visualization of complex mechanisms at the level of the whole organism. Methods: This review comprises information regarding zebrafish and its potent use as a model organism to study neurological disorders. The literature was collected from articles published in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and PUBMED from 1974 to 2018. Results: This review highlights the applications of Danio rerio in major neuropsychiatric disorders. It paves way to understand the biochemical and molecular pathways that infer in the neuropsychiatric disorders. Conclusion: The present review discuss the significance of zebrafish as an animal model to study neurological disorders and to demonstrate the behavioural features observed which may be a precursor of a new loom for drug development.

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