Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts as capping and reducing agents for the biomedical applications has received considerable attention. Moreover, emergence and spread of multidrug resistance among bacterial pathogens has become a major health concern and lookout for novel alternative effective drugs has gained momentum. In current study, we synthesized gold nanoparticles using the seed extract of Trachyspermum ammi (TA-AuNPs), assessed its efficacy against drug resistant biofilms of Listeria monocytogenes and Serratia marcescens, and evaluated its anticancer potential against HepG2 cancer cell lines. Microwave-assisted green synthesis of gold nanoparticles was carried out and characterization was done using UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Most nanoparticles were observed as spherical and spheroidal with few anisotropies with an average crystalline size of 16.63 nm. Synthesized TA-AuNPs demonstrated significant biofilm inhibitory activity against L. monocytogenes (73%) as well as S. marcescens (81%). Exopolysaccharide (EPS), motility, and CSH, key elements that facilitate the formation and maintenance of biofilm were also inhibited significantly at the tested sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs). Further, TA-AuNPs effectively obliterated preformed mature biofilms of S. marcescens and L. monocytogenes by 64% and 58%, respectively. Induction of intracellular ROS production in TA-AuNPs treated bacterial cells could be the plausible mechanism for the reduced biofilm formation in test pathogens. Administration of TA-AuNPs resulted in the arrest of cellular proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. TA-AuNPs decrease the intracellular GSH in HepG2 cancer cell lines, cells become more prone to ROS generation, hence induce apoptosis. Thus, this work proposes a new eco-friendly and rapid approach for fabricating NPs which can be exploited for multifarious biomedical applications.

PCOS is a leading endocrinopathy of young women instigating androgens elevation, insulin resistance, obesity, cardiometabolic and menstrual complications. The study investigated the effects of quercetin in a letrozole induced rat model of polycystic ovarian syndrome, which displayed both clinical and metabolic features as in PCOS women. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups; control group received aqueous solution of carboxymethyl (CMC 0.5%); PCOS group administered with letrozole (1 mg/kg) dissolved in solution (CMC 0.5%); Metformin group given with metformin (20 mg/kg) + letrozole (1 mg/kg); and Quercetin group provided with quercetin (30 mg/kg) + letrozole (1 mg/kg). All doses were given orally via gavage, for 21 consecutive days and colpocytological analysis was carried till end. After 21rst day, blood was taken out, centrifuged and plasma was kept for biochemical analysis (ELISA, anti-oxidant enzymes, lipid profile) and the reproductive organs were dissected out for histopathological evaluation. Quercetin as a chief member of flavonoid, showed beneficial effects by decreasing body weight, ovarian diameter, cysts and restoring healthy follicles, follicle’s extra-glandular layers, and corpora lutea in contrast to the positive control. Additionally, lipid profile and anti-oxidant status were also maintained to baseline which was very high in diseased rats (p < 0.001).Quercetin depicted a mark regulation in steroidogenesis by decreasing the levels of testosterone (0.78 ng/ml ± 0.14 in quercetin vs. PCOS positive control 1.69 ng/ml ± 0.17, p < 0.001) and estradiol (8.85 pg/ml ± 0.19 in quercetin vs. PCOS positive 1.61 pg/ml ± 0.29) and increasing progesterone levels (34.47 ng/ml ± 1.65 in quercetin vs. 11.08 ng/ml ± 1.17 in PCOS positive). The effects of quercetin were moderately parallel to the standard drug available in market i.e. metformin. The present study has confirmed that quercetin has the potentials to alleviate the hormonal and metabolic disturbances occurring in PCOS.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline drug used for cancer treatment. However, its treatment is contiguous with toxic effects. We examined the nephroprotective potential of A. hydaspica polyphenol-rich ethyl acetate extract (AHE) against DOX persuaded nephrotoxicity. 36 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assorted into 6 groups. Control group received saline; DOX group: 3 mg/kg b.w. dosage of DOX intraperitoneally for 6 weeks (single dose/week). In co-treatment groups, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w AHE was given orally for 6 weeks in concomitant with DOX (3 mg/kg b.w, i.p. injection per week) respectively. Standard group received silymarin 400 mg/kg b.w daily + DOX (single dose/week). Biochemical kidney function tests, oxidative stress markers, genotoxicity, antioxidant enzyme status, and histopathological changes were examined. DOX caused significant body weight loss and decrease kidney weight. DOX-induced marked deterioration in renal function indicators in both urine and serum, i.e., PH, specific gravity, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, etc. Also, DOX treatment increases renal tissue oxidative stress markers, while lower antioxidant enzymes in tissue along with degenerative alterations in the renal tissue compared to control rats. AHE co-treatment ameliorates DOX-prompted changes in serum and urine chemistry. Likewise, AHE treatment decreases sensitive markers of oxidative stress and prevented DNA damages by enhancing antioxidant enzyme levels. DOX induction in rats also caused DNA fragmentation which was restored by AHE co-treatment. Moreover, the histological observations evidenced that AHE effectively rescued the kidney tissue from DOX interceded oxidative damage. Our results suggest that co-treatment of AHE markedly improve DOX-induced deleterious effects in a dose-dependent manner. The potency of AHE co-treatment at 400 mg/kg dose is similar to silymarin. These outcomes revealed that A. hydaspica AHE extract might serve as a potential adjuvant that avoids DOX-induced nephrotoxicity.

Background: New approaches for the prevention of colon cancer perseveres an essential necessity. Though, resistance to existing chemo-preventive drugs is moderately predominant in colon carcinogenesis. Taxifolin (dihydroquercetin) is a flavononol, have shown virile biological activities against few cancers. The current study was designed to investigate and equate antitumor activity of Taxifolin (TAX) in colorectal cancer cell lines and in HCT116 xenograft model in a comprehensive approach. Methods: Two human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29, were used. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MMT) protocol was performed to elucidate the impact of TAX and β- catenin inhibitor (FH535) on the viability of HCT116 and HT29 cell lines. Apoptosis /cell cycle assay was performed. Data interpretation was done with a FACScan (Becton Dickinson, NJ). About 1 × 10 ⁴ cells per sample were harvested. Histograms of DNA were analyzed with ModiFitLT software (verity Software House, ME, USA). Western blotting and RT-PCR were performed for protein and gene expression respectively in in vitro and in vivo . Results: We found that TAX induced cytotoxicity in colorectal cells in a dose-dependent manner and time dependent approach. Further, our data validated that administration of TAX to human colorectal cancer HCT116 and HT29 cells resulted in cell growth arrest, variation in molecules controlling cell cycle operative in the G2 phase of the cell cycle and apoptosis in a concentration dependent approach. Further our results concluded that TAX administration decreases expression of β-catenin gene , AKT gene and Survivin gene and protein expression in in vitro and in vivo . Conclusion: Our findings proposed that targeting β-catenin gene may encourage the alterations of cell cycle and cell cycle regulators. Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway possibly takes part in the genesis and progression of colorectal cancer cells through regulating cell cycle and the expression of cell cycle regulators.

Acacia hydaspica R. Parker, family leguminosae, is a medicinally important plant. Different plant parts are used in various ailments in folk medicine. The current study aimed at investigating the in vitro antioxidant, anti-hemolytic and anticancer activity of A. hydaspica. Antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH, ABTS and •OH, scavenging of H2O2, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and β-carotene bleaching inhibition assays. Anti-hemolytic activity was assessed using H2O2 induced hemolysis of RBCs. Anticancer potential was assessed using MTT assay. Spectrometric methods and HPLC-DAD analysis was performed for phytochemical screening. EC50 values based on reduction of DPPH, ABTS and •OH, scavenging of H2O2, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and β-carotene bleaching for AHB, AHE and AHM were generally lower manifesting potential antiradical capacities. The fractions also exhibited significant (P <0.001) anti-hemolytic potential. Regarding IC50 values for anticancer activity against HCC-38 and MDA-MB-361 cancer cell lines; AHB, AHE and AHM exhibited significant (P 250 μg/ml). While significant (P <0.001) cytotoxicity was elicited by these extract/fractions against cancer cell lines. AHE was the most effective and IC50 was found to be 29.9 ± 0.909 μg/ml (SI = 9.83) and 39.5 ± 0.872 μg/ml (SI = 7.44) against MDA-MB-361 and HCC-38 cancer cells respectively. Higher amounts of TPC and TFC were exhibited by AHE and AHB as compared to other fractions. Gallic acid, catechin and myricetin were identified in AHE whereas gallic acid and catechin were identified in AHB by HPLC. The presence of bioactive constituents in AHE and AHB might be responsible for antioxidant, anti-hemolytic and anticancer activities.

Inflammation and pain underlies several pathological conditions. Synthetic drugs used for the management of these conditions carry severe toxic effects. Globally efforts are ongoing to introduce novel medicinal plants to develop effective, economic and innocuous drugs. The current study was aimed at investigating the antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of methanol extract of A. hydaspica aerial parts (AHM) and its active fraction. Furthermore identification and isolation of polyphenolic compounds was carried out to identify the active principles. Yeast induced pyrexia, Paw edema, acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate test were carried out in vivo. HPLC-DAD analysis and combination of different chromatographic techniques, involving vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and flash chromatography (FC) were carried out for chemical characterization. The structural heterogeneity of flavanols was characterized by ESI- MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses, and also by comparison with reported literature. Oral administration of A. hydaspica methanol extract (AHM) and A. hydaspica ethyl acetate fraction (AHE), showed dose and time dependent decrease in body temperature in yeast induced pyrexia, comparable to standard, Paracetamol. AHM and AHE (150 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001) inhibit pain sensation in various pain models, i.e. acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate test. Similarly AHM and AHE demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect in carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and 150 mg/kg dose being distinctly more effective (91.92% inhibition). When studied on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced edema in rats, AHM and AHE showed maximum inhibition of edema at 150 mg/kg after 4 h. HPLC chromatogram of AHM revealed the presence of gallic acid, catechin, rutin and caffeic acid. Chromatographic separation and structure characterization of AHE, has led to the identification of three flavan-3-ol derivative including 7-O-galloyl catechin, +catechin and methyl gallate, which have been reported for the first time in A. hydaspica. These results revealed that the presence of bioactive compounds in A. hydaspica might be responsible for the pharmacological activities, confirming the indigenous utility of A. hydaspica against inflammatory disorders.