Posted by admin on Apr 12, 2018 in |
Curcuma is an important genus in traditional medicine. Five plants are reported in Sri Lanka; C. albiflora, C. aromatica, C. longa, C. zedoaria, and C. oligantha. Since the phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences and combining with complete genomic sequences helps to identify the genetic basis of plants, the current study was conducted. Standard CTAB method with little modifications was used for the extraction and purification. Extracted DNA was amplified using universal primers for matK genes in chloroplast genome by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Sequenced fragments were analyzed and used for DNA barcoding. DNA barcodes {Accession Numbers: C. aromatica (GU180412), C. albiflora (KF 521885), C. longa (JQ409688), C. oligantha (JQ409715), C. zedoaria (JQ409703)} were used for analysis. C. albiflora appeared as a different group as per the Neighbor-Joining method and therefore, it can be identified as a new group. The matK gene of C. albiflora and other species showed, totally 222 variable sites. Therefore, the matK gene was an appropriate DNA barcode for identifying C. albiflora from remaining Curcuma plants...
Read More
Posted by admin on Apr 12, 2018 in |
Antigonon leptopus Hook & Arn. (family Polygonaceae), also called: chain of love, Queen’s wreath and Mexican creeper is a fast-growing vine with stems reaching up to 20 feet long. It has heart-shaped, green leaves climbing by tendrils which wrap around many types of supports. It is native to Mexico and commonly found in tropical Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. It possesses anticoagulant activity, analgesic, antithrombin, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anti-depressant activities. Aerial parts of the vine have been used as hepatoprotective and for spleen disorders. During the current study, the GC-MS experiment was conducted on both the methylene chloride and n-butanol fractions of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of the vine. Results revealed the identification of total thirty-five (35) and thirty-seven (37) compounds respectively in both fractions examined. Compounds were characterized by their retention times, mass spectra with comparison to online mass bank database. The presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and organic acids in both fractions examined may be responsible for its wide pharmacological...
Read More
Posted by admin on Mar 15, 2018 in |
The aim of the present study to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of methanolic extract n-butanol fraction of Curculigo orchioides (Amaryllidaceae) against in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Fractions were administrated orally at 200 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 3weeks. The effects were compared with an oral dose of 10 mg/kg of glibenclamide. Blood glucose levels are a determination by GOD-POD kit method. In the results, our study indicates that Curculigo orchioides n-butanol fraction of leaf methanolic extract exhibited significant antihyperglycemic activities in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats without significant change in body weight. And shows the values are given in average body weight (g) ± SEM for groups of six animals each. A) Normal saline. B) Normal saline + streptozotocin. Significance vs. Control group *P < 0.01. **P < 0.005, ***P <...
Read More
Posted by admin on Mar 15, 2018 in |
The present study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant effects and potential benefits of using coconut kernel extract in preventing the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. Defatted extract from coconut kernel (CKf) was evaluated for its radical scavenging, prevention of human LDL oxidation, cytotoxic, apoptotic and nuclear effects on MCF-7 cells. Intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide radical was studied. It was showed that CKf significantly scavenged free radicals and prevented LDL oxidation. MCF-7 cell viability was found to be decreased in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with CKf. AO-EB and DAPI staining confirmed that treatment with CKf, induced nuclear damage and apoptosis as distinctly visualized in cells. Our observations suggest that nuclear/cellular damage and poor mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) appears to be an indirect consequence of the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide...
Read More
Posted by admin on Mar 15, 2018 in |
Disturbance in retinal blood supply can have an effect on the supply of oxygen and the substrates which leads to retinal ischemia, the result is irreversible, ischemic and apoptotic cascades resulting in cell death. The present study was conducted to study the protective effects of diltiazem and vitamin E “alpha-tocopherol,” against degenerative ischaemic retinal changes induced by Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) in rabbits. Animals were classified into normal control group which received tap water throughout the experiment, positive control where induction of retinal ischemia was done by MCAO and three treated groups: a group received diltiazem (15 mg/kg), another received vitamin E (200 mg/kg body), and a third received both diltiazem and vitamin E for three successive weeks followed by induction of retinal ischemia by MCAO for all treated groups. When assessment of the protective effects of diltiazem and vitamin E and their combination, was done by clinical examination of the eyes, measurement of reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, electroretinography and histopathologically, it showed that both...
Read More
