Anti-Osteoporosis and Anti-Osteoarthritis Activity of Fresh Water Snail <i>(Viviparous bengalensis)</i>Flesh Extract in Experimental Animal Model

Aims: Aim was to evaluate the anti-osteoporotic and anti-osteoarthritic activity of fresh water snail (Viviparous bengalensis) (VB) flesh extract (VBE) in experimental model. Settings and Design: Experimental osteoporosis (OSP) was developed in female Wistar rats by bilateral overectomy and Osteoarthritis (OA) was developed in male Wistar rats by bacterial collagenase injection. Methods and Material: VB was collected locally and authenticated, then homogenized in 3500 rpm × 15 mins and supernatant was collected. Rats were divided into-Group-1: Sham control, Group-2: OSP/OA control, Group-3: Standard (vitD3 200 mg·kg -1;p.o., calcium i.p. 1500 mg·kg -1?× 15 days in OSP and indomethacin 0.25 mg·kg-1, p.o. × 5 alternative days in OA), Group-4: VBE treated (1 gm·kg-1;p.o. × 15 days), Group-5: VBE treated (2 mg·kg-1;p.o. × 15 days). Anti-osteoporotic and anti-osteoarthritic activity of VBE was examined through physical, urinary and serum parameters. Statistical use: Data were expressed in terms of mean ± SEM (n = 6). ANOVA was performed, p Key findings: It was observed that the body weight, ankle/ knee diameters, urinary markers hydroxyproline/glucosamine/calcium/phosphate/creatinine, serum ACP/ALP/TRAP, calcium/creatinine, cytokines (TNF-α/IL-1β/CINC-1) levels were changed significantly and restored after VBE treatment. Significance: Fresh water snail flesh extract possess anti-osteoporosis and anti-osteoarthritic activity in experimental animal models.

Expression of Overlapping PCR-generated Shiga Toxin B Gene Fragment in E. Coli and Its Ascitic Polyclonal Antibody

The mature Shiga toxin B （StxB） gene was optimized and generated by overlapping PCR. Recombinant expression vector pQE40-DHFR/StxB was constructed when the gene was cloned into pQE fusion expression vector. Induced by Isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside （IPTG）, the DHFR/StxB fusion protein was highly expressed to the level of 41.36% in E. coli MI5 cells. The 35 kDa fusion protein with a 6 His-tag was one-step purified from inclusion bodies using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography column under denaturing conditions, and was refolded by dialyzing with a decreasing urea gradient. Purified DHFR/StxB fusion protein was used to immunize Kunming mice for generating the ascitic polyclonal antibody against recombinant StxB protein by injecting sarcoma 180 cells and the titer ofascitic polyclonal antibody is up to 1： 1× 10^6 detected by the indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assy （ELISA）. Western immunoblotting analysis revealed that the ascitic polyclonal antibody against StxB had a specific affinity for a 70 kDa shiga toxin protein of Shigella dysenteriae type 1. It is a new simple and quick method to produce a large amount of ascitic polyclonal antibody. The antibody is used to develop immunological method for detecting shiga toxin.

Study of Free-Radical Processes during Rotenone Modeling of Parkinson Disease

The study has shown free radical processes during modeling of Parkinson Disease (PD) with rotenone. We isolated striatum, brainstem, neocortex, cerebellum, spinal cord, thymus, heart, and liver of rats after rotenone injection in the right striatum. The samples were taken on the 5th, 10th and 15th days after the injection. According to chemiluminescence data, the injection of rotenone initiates the disturbance of intensity of free radical processes in striatum at 5th day in a bilateral mode. After this until the 10th day these changes had restoring character, but after 15 days according to chemiluminescence and thio-barbituric acid test disturbance of lipid peroxide oxidation processes occurred. While superoxide dismutase activity has been changed significantly in all studied tissues, especially in the striatum and neocortex. It should be noted that during rotenone model there are no observed clinical symptoms in rats during 1 to 20 days, and the symptoms of the disease are observed approximately 28 days after the injection. This research could help diagnose PD in the early stage of its onset.

An overview of the marine natural products in clinical trials and on the market

The first marine natural products that served as leads or scaffolds for medicines were discovered in the middle of last century:the arabinosyl glycosides from the marine sponge Tectitethya crypta.Synthesis and modifications of the natural molecules generated antiviral and antileukemic drugs developed in the 1970’s and in the following decades,including the first effective treatment against HIV infection.With the improvement of techniques for the elucidation of chemical structure of the molecules,as well as chemical synthesis,especially from the 1990’s,there was an increase in the number of bioactive natural products characterized from marine organisms.New chemical structures with high specificity towards molecular targets in cells allowed the development of new drugs with indication for the treatment of several illnesses,from cancer to new antibiotics,and even neurological disorders.Currently there are at least 13 molecules derived from marine natural products on advanced clinical trials,and nine were approved to be used as medicines.Considering that in the past eight years,more than 1000 new compounds from marine organisms were described,per year,the expectation is that many more drugs will be derived from marine natural products in a near future.