Hepatoprotective activity of brown alga Padina boergesenii against CCl_4 induced oxidative damage in Wistar rats

Objective:To investigate the protective effects of brown alga Padina boergesenii（P.boergeseii） against carbon tetrachloride（CCl4） induced oxidative damage and liver fibrosis in rats.Methods: To assess the hepatic damage liver weight,the activities of TBARS level,glutathione,SOD,CAT and GPx in circulation and liver.Results:The group of rats induced with CCl4 alone（2 mL/kg body weight）,showed noticeable increase in the liver weight and TBARS level.Followed by, the level of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase,Superoxide dismutase and catalase was also significantly（P【0.01） diminished.Where as,the rats pretreated with P.boergesenii（150 mg/ kg body weight） modulated the CCl4 induced liver fibrosis.The level of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation products was found to be significandy（P【0.01） attenuated to near normal level, when compared with rats induced with CCL,alone.In order to assess the role of carotenoids in the relevant activity,total carotenoid content of the extract was analysed and found to be 0.59 mg/g fresh weight（FW）.Further,the histopathogical studies provide a supportive evidence for this study to show the protective nature of P.boergesenii.Conclusions:The protective role of brown alga P.boergesenii extract has confirmed its potential activity through its antioxidant sparing actions against CCl4 induced free radical damage.However,the possible mechanism of hepatoprotection is rather speculative at this stage and investigations are underway to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds from P.boergesenii.

Anti-dermatophytic activity of marine sponge,Sigmadocia carnosa(Dendy)on clinically isolated fungi

Objective:To screen the anti-fungal effects and find out the active metabolites from sponge, Sigmadocia carnosa(S.carnosa) against four dermatophytic fungi.Methods:The methanol,ethyl acetate and acetone extract of marine sponge,S.carnosa was examined against Trichaphyton mentagrophytes(T.mentagrophytes),Trichophyton rubrum(T.rubrum),Epidermophyton floccosum(E.floccosum) and Microsporum gypseum(M.gypseum) and qualitative analysed to find out the active molecules.Results:The methanol extract of sponge was expressed significant activity than ethyl acetate and acetone.The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of methanol extract of sponge that resulted in complete growth inhibition of T.mentagrophytes,T.rubrum, E.floccosum and M.gypseum were found to 125,250,250 and 250 μg/mL respectively.But, 100%inhibition of fungal spore germination was observed in T.mentagrophytes at 500 μg/mL concentration followed by T.rubrum,E.floccosum and At.gypseum at 1000 μg/mL concentration. Other two extracts showed weak anti spore germination activity against the tested dermatophyte fungi.Methanol extracts showed presence of terpenoids,steroids,alkaloids,saponins and glycosides.Conclusion:Based on the literature,this is the first study which has conducted to inhibit the growth and spore germination of dermatophytic fungi with S.carnosa.Further research also needs to purify and characterize the secondary metabolites from the sponge,5.carnosa for the valuable source of novel substances for future drug discovery.

Studies on bioprospecting potential of a gastropod mollusc Cantharus tranquebaricus(Gmelin,1791)

Objective:To study the biological activities of the tissue extract of Cantharus tranquebaricus(C.tranquebaricus).Methods:Crude extract of gastropod was tested for inhibition of bacterial growth.Antibacterial assay was carried out by disc diffusion method and the activity was measured accordingly based on the inhibition zone around the disc impregnated with gastropod extract.Molecular weight of the extract was determined by using SDS-PAGE.Plasma coagulation,Fibrin plate assay and substrate SDS-PAGE were used to determine the effect of sample on plasma coagulation,fibrin(ogen)olytic and proteolytic;activity.Results:The maximum inhibition zone(10 mm)was observed against Vibrio cholera(V.cholera)and minimum inhibition zone(2 mm)was noticed against Proteus mirablis(P.mirablis).The molecular weight was determined as 47-106kDa.The tissue extract shows proteolytic activity above 48 kDa.SDS-PAGE analysis of fibrinogen after incubation with the tissue extract showed fibrinogenolytic activity.In plasma coagulation assay C.tranquebaricus tissue extract showed procoagulant property and it coagulated chicken plasma within 150 s,while control took 5 min to clot.The 9 HU hemolytic units were found against chicken blood and also exhibit high level of brine shrimp lethality.Conclusions:This study suggests that C.tranquebaricus could be used as potential source for isolating bioactive compounds,since it is explored first time and found with promising results.