No abstract

Fumonisins are one of the most agriculturally significant environmental toxins produced by Fusarium and Aspergillus species that grow on agricultural commodities in the field or during storage. Cereals contaminated with fumonisins causes serious loss to agricultural produce leads to health problems in humans and other farm animals. In the present study, polyclonal hyperimmune sera was raised against FB1 in rabbits immunized with FB1-keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Purified antibodies were used to establish a sensitive gold nanoparticle based immunochromatographic strip (ICG) for detecting FB1 levels in cereal grains. Effective on-site detection of FB1 was achieved by developing a rapid and sensitive pAb based ICG strip. This strip had a detection limit of 5 ng mL −1 for FB1 in cereal samples and it could be completed within 3 min. Close examination of 150 cereal samples by ICG strip method revealed that 77 were fumonisin-positive. Results obtained by the developed method was further validated with well standardized HPLC method and results of strip method was correlated well with those obtained by HPLC method. In conclusion, the developed method was a better alternative for onsite detection of FB1 in cereal samples intended for human consumption to reduce risk of humans and other farm animals. The high level of FB1 concentrations recorded in present study warrants the need to develop an awareness creation programme to the farmers of India for safe handling of cereal grains at the time of harvesting and storage of grains.

The effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Curculigo orchoides on hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) induced toxicity in rats was investigated. Sub-acute toxicity studies were performed by OECD guidelines. K 2 Cr 2 O 7 (30 mg/kg) was administered to all groups except control group for a period of 28 days by oral gavage. Control group received distilled water; treatment groups received C. orchoides (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Cr (VI) administration resulted in up-regulation of serum biochemical parameters such as alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and tissue biochemical markers viz. lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content. C. orchioides (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased these enzyme levels. The activities of anti-oxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly decreased by Cr(VI) administration (50.7%, 43.7% and 37.9%, respectively). Further, mRNA expression studies and histopathology studies confirmed Cr(VI) toxicity. In all cases, C. orchioides promoted significant restoration of enzyme levels in a dose dependent manner. These results suggest the ameliorating effect of C. orchoides on Cr(VI) induced oxidative stress is probably via, modulation of cytokines, transcription factors and apoptotic genes.

Terminalia chebula tannin-rich extract showed significant anxiolytic activity against picrotoxin and could be used as natural therapy in neurodegenerative disorders.

Objective: Terminalia arjuna is commonly known as Arjuna and widely used as cardioprotective agent in Indian traditional medicine. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of ethanolic extract of T. arjuna bark (TAA) and its fractions, including dichloromethane (TAD), ethyl acetate (TAE), butanol (TAB) and water (TAW) against free radicals, protein oxidation and DNA damage. Methods: Protective effect of arjuna bark against H 2 O 2 induced DNA damage on pBR322 plasmid and rat adrenal PC-12 cells was analyzed by DNA strand breakage assay and single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) respectively. AAPH induced protein oxidation was analyzed with SDS-PAGE. In vitro antioxidant activities were carried out by spectrophotometric methods to asses free radical scavenging activities, such as DPPH, hydroxyl, ABTS, nitric oxide, metal chelation, FRAP and reducing power. Results: The ethanolic extract and its fractions of arjuna bark effectively protected H 2 O 2 induced DNA damage and AAPH induced protein oxidation in the following manner: TAE > TAB > TAA > TAD > TAW. The maximum inhibition of DPPH, hydroxyl, ABTS, nitric oxide radicals and metal chelation was observed in TAE fraction (IC 50 values: 270 AE 2 mg/ml, 175 AE 11 mg/ml, 25 AE 1.2 mg/ml, 405 AE 9 mg/ml, 310 AE 11 mg/ ml, 82 AE 4 mg/ml, respectively). Conclusion: In the present study we report that arjuna bark extracts ameliorate various impairments associated with DNA damage and free radical formation.