Hepatoprotective action of Orthosiphon diffusus (Benth.) methanol active fraction through antioxidant mechanisms: An in vivo and in vitro evaluation

Ethnopharmacological relevance Preparations of Orthosiphon diffusus (Benth.) have been used by folk medicinal practitioners in the Western Ghats of India for treating inflammation, hepatitis and jaundice for many years and their effectiveness is widely acclaimed among the tribal communities. Aim of the study To evaluate the mechanisms behind the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of Orthosiphon diffusus methanol active fraction (MAF) using in vivo (rat) and in vitro (cell culture) models. Materials and methods Neutralization of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by MAF was evaluated in rats. Towards this, serum levels of hepatic injury markers (lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase), antioxidant enzymes in the liver homogenates, and histological examination were performed. In in vitro studies, mechanisms of neutralization of H2O2-induced toxicity by MAF using MTT, Comet assay and up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes at genetic level (RT-PCR) was performed in HepG2 cells. Results Rats pre-treated with Orthosiphon diffusus MAF demonstrated significantly reduced levels of serum LDH (1.3-fold, p<0.05) and ALP (1.6-fold, p<0.05). Similarly, multiple dose MAF administration demonstrated significantly enhanced levels (p<0.05) of antioxidant enzymes in the liver homogenates. Histological analysis revealed complete neutralization of CCl 4-induced liver injury by the extract. The in vitro studies demonstrated that, pre-treatment of MAF effectively prevented H 2O2-induced oxidative stress, genotoxicity and significantly enhanced ( 6-fold, p<0.01) expression of genes for antioxidant enzymes. Conclusions Orthosiphon diffusus MAF demonstrated significant hepatoprotection against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by antioxidant mechanisms comparable to silymarin. H2O2-induced oxidative stress was completely neutralized by MAF through enhanced expression of genes for antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, this study validates the use of Orthosiphon diffusus by folk medicinal practitioners in India. Further, MAF of Orthosiphon diffusus can serve as a strong candidate for the development of herbal hepatoprotective agents

Plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles: advances in the new millennium towards understanding their therapeutic role in biomedical applications

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have become one of the most popular metal oxide nanoparticles and recently emerged as a promising potential candidate in the fields of optical, electrical, food packaging, and biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and low cost. They have a role in cell apoptosis, as they trigger excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and release zinc ions (Zn2+) that induce cell death. The zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the plant extracts appear to be simple, safer, sustainable, and more environmentally friendly compared to the physical and chemical routes. These biosynthesized nanoparticles possess strong biological activities and are in use for various biological applications in several industries. Initially, the present review discusses the synthesis and recent advances of zinc oxide nanoparticles from plant sources (such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits, flowers, and seeds) and their biomedical applications (such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, photocatalytic, wound healing, and drug delivery), followed by their mechanisms of action involved in detail. This review also covers the drug delivery application of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles, focusing on the drug-loading mechanism, stimuli-responsive controlled release, and therapeutic effect. Finally, the future direction of these synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles’ research and applications are discussed

Regulation of Golgi structure and secretion by receptor-induced G protein βγ complex translocation

We show that receptor induced G protein βγ subunit translocation from the plasma membrane to the Golgi allows a receptor to initiate fragmentation and regulate secretion. A lung epithelial cell line, A549, was shown to contain an endogenous translocating G protein γ subunit and exhibit receptor-induced Golgi fragmentation. Receptor-induced Golgi fragmentation was inhibited by a shRNA specific to the endogenous translocating γ subunit. A kinase defective protein kinase D and a phospholipase C β inhibitor blocked receptor-induced Golgi fragmentation, suggesting a role for this process in secretion. Consistent with βγ translocation dependence, fragmentation induced by receptor activation was inhibited by a dominant negative nontranslocating γ3. Insulin secretion was shown to be induced by muscarinic receptor activation in a pancreatic β cell line, NIT-1. Induction of insulin secretion was also inhibited by the dominant negative γ3 subunit consistent with the Golgi fragmentation induced by βγ complex translocation playing a role in secretion

Plant-Mediated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Advances in the New Millennium towards Understanding Their Therapeutic Role in Biomedical Applications

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have become one of the most popular metal oxide nanoparticles and recently emerged as a promising potential candidate in the fields of optical, electrical, food packaging, and biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and low cost. They have a role in cell apoptosis, as they trigger excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and release zinc ions (Zn2+) that induce cell death. The zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the plant extracts appear to be simple, safer, sustainable, and more environmentally friendly compared to the physical and chemical routes. These biosynthesized nanoparticles possess strong biological activities and are in use for various biological applications in several industries. Initially, the present review discusses the synthesis and recent advances of zinc oxide nanoparticles from plant sources (such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, rhizomes, fruits, flowers, and seeds) and their biomedical applications (such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, photocatalytic, wound healing, and drug delivery), followed by their mechanisms of action involved in detail. This review also covers the drug delivery application of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles, focusing on the drug-loading mechanism, stimuli-responsive controlled release, and therapeutic effect. Finally, the future direction of these synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles’ research and applications are discussed.</jats:p