Dipsacus asperoides (Xue Duan) inhibits spinal cord injury-induced inflammatory responses in rats

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Dipsacus asperoides (Xue Duan), a traditional Chinese medicine, on rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: In this study a total of 40 adult rats were used after inducing SCI where Xue Duan was applied on experimental group and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administered in corresponding control groups. Intraperitoneal administration of both compounds for a period of four weeks (28 days) was carried out at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. Bright field microscopy was performed on the tissues. Results: Bright Field microscopy of tissue sections showed significant reduction in cavity area that resulted from injury, that is from 0.19 ± 0.05 mm2 to 0.09 ± 0.03 mm2 (p < 0.01) in untreated and treated groups respectively. Similarly western blotting results showed a decrease in the expression of NF-kB p65 and I-kBα (p < 0.01). These two compounds are important in increasing secondary pathophysiology in SCI. The results for MPO activity also revealed significantly reduced infiltration of leukocytes to the injury site (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study reveals the positive effect of the plant material in reducing inflammation in rats with traumatic SCI.

Polymeric implant of methylprednisolone for spinal injury: preparation and characterization

Purpose: To improve the effectiveness and reduce the systemic side effects of methylprednisolone in traumatic spinal injuries, its polymeric implants were prepared using chitosan and sodium alginate as the biocompatible polymers. Methods: Implants of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) were prepared by molding the drug-loaded polymeric mass obtained after ionotropic gelation method. The prepared implants were evaluated for drug loading, in vitro drug release and in vivo performance in traumatic spinal-injury rat model with paraplegia. Results: All the implant formulations were light pale solid matrix with smooth texture. Implants showed 86.56 ± 2.07 % drug loading. Drug release was 89.29 ± 1.25 % at the end of 7 days. Motor function was evaluated in traumatic spinal injury-induced rats in terms of its movement on the horizontal bar. At the end of 7 days, the test group showed the activity score (4.75 ± 0.02) slightly higher than that of standard (4.62 ± 0.25), but the difference was not statistically different (p > 0.05). Conclusion: MPSS-loaded implants produces good recovery in traumatic spinal-injury rats.

Isolation of a potential anticancer agent with protein phosphatase inhibitory activity from soil-derived Penicillium sp strain H9318

Purpose: To determine the effect of the secondary metabolites from Penicillium sp. H9318 on cytotoxicity and cell cycle progression. Methods: A yeast PP1 inhibitory screening system was carried out to confirm the presence of anti- PP1c activity in crude acetone extracts of strain H9318. The extracts were fractionated and identified as Fraction S1 and Citrinin 9318 (CTN9318). Various cancer cell lines were used to test for the toxicity of the crude acetone extracts, Fraction S1 and Citrinin 9318, using MTT viability assay. Results: It was found that a colorectal cancer cell line, HT-29, was susceptible to Fraction S1 and Citrinin 9318. A propidium iodide (PI)-incorporated DNA assay was used to show that there was G2/M arrest in HT-29 by Citrinin 9318. Conclusion: Citrinin 9318 inhibits the viability of HT-29 via mitotic block. The results suggest that Citrinin 9318 is capable of exerting cytotoxicity and mitotic arrest in a colon cancer cell line, HT29

Liver injury from ampicillin-induced intestinal microbiota distresses in rats fed carbohydrate- and protein-rich diets

Purpose: To investigate the effect of ampicillin on rat intestinal microflora and liver in the presence of high carbohydrate and protein diets. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. The first group served as the control, the second group was treated with ampicillin (50 mg/kg for 3 weeks) and fed with a standard diet, while the third and fourth groups were treated with the same dose of ampicillin and fed with acarbohydrateand protein-rich diets, respectively, to observe the effect of diet on gut flora and liver. Fecal specimens were collected and used for qualitative determination of gut microbiota composition. Serum hepatospecific markers (AST, ALT and ALP) were estimated. The antioxidant status of liver tissues was estimated for GSH, MDA, GST, LDH and vitamin C l, in addition to sodium and potassium. Results: Administration of orogastric dose of ampicillin for 3 weeks induced inhibition of E.coli, yeasts, total anaerobes, and anaerobic lactobacilli with new growth of P. vulgaris and K. pneumonia. The levels of serum AST, ALT and ALP showed significant (p ˂ 0.05) increase to 163, 112.38 and 115.35 %, respectively in ampicillin-treated animals, compared to control. Also significant (p ˂ 0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation (120 %) and LDH (111 %) coupled with significant (p ˂ 0.05) decrease in glutathione (74.57 %), vitamin C (63.49 %) and glutathione S-transferase (41.51 %) were observed in ampicillintreated groups. No significant variation (p ˂ 0.05) in sodium and potassium levels were found between control and the treated group after 3 weeks of treatment. Conclusion: These results confirm that extended ampicillin therapy disrupts gut flora, which results in liver injury; hence, overuse of antibiotics should be avoid.