NOPR Collection: [Pages 229-294]

Conjugation of enrofloxacin with amine functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticle enhances antibacterial activity in vitro

2022-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Conjugation of enrofloxacin with amine functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticle enhances antibacterial activity in vitro Authors: Mulla, Hussain Basha; K, Bharavi; Jahan, Afroz; M, Alpha Raj; GS, Rao Abstract: Increased resistance to a large number of antibacterial drugs poses a serious challenge in chemotheraphy of infectious diseases. Here, we have made and attempt to redesign the existing chemotherapeutic agent enrofloxacin (EN) to treat resistant bacteria. Precisely, we synthezied EN conjugated zinc oxide nanoparticles (EN-ZNP) and explored enhancing the antibacterial activity of enrofloxacin. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNP) were synthesized by microwave irradiation and amine functionalization by co-condensation with APTES and then by utilizing EPC/NHS chemistry, enrofoxacin was conjugated. Conjugation and their stability were confirmed by FT-IR spectra and Zeta potential. EN fraction in EN-ZNP was determined indirectly using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The MIC values obtained for EN-ZNP against MTCC cultures and clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus were significantly (P <0.05) lower than ZNP and, when compared to native EN it is significantly higher. However, the concentration of conjugated EN in EN-ZNP was significantly lower than the MIC of native EN. The results suggest that enrofloxacin can be successfully conjugated with amine functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The antibacterial efficacy was significantly improved when ZNP conjugated with EN against standard MTCC cultures and clinical isolates. Page(s): 233-240

Comparative studies on protective efficacy of gentisic acid and 2-pyrocatechuic acid against 5-fluorouracil induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

2022-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Comparative studies on protective efficacy of gentisic acid and 2-pyrocatechuic acid against 5-fluorouracil induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats Authors: Pujari, Rohini R; Bandawane, Deepti D Abstract: Nephrotoxicity is a frequent and severe side effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy which limits its use clinically regardless of being one of the most promising chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we assessed the nephroprotective activity of two structurally related phenolic acids 2-pyrocatechuic acid (2,3 dihyroxybenzoic acid) and gentisic acid (2,5 dihyroxybenzoic acid) against 5-FU induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. Intraperitoneal administration of 5-FU at a dose of 20 mg/kg once a day for 5 days produced a significant elevation in serum parameters of the kidney such as uric acid, urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium levels along with severe histopathological changes in renal tissues of rats indicating severe nephrotoxicity. Administration of 2-pyrocatechuic acid (2-PCA) at 10, 30 and 100 by oral route for 9 days and additional 5 days with 5-FU resulted in an amelioration of altered serum parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, 2-PCA attenuated the renal damage produced by 5-FU demonstrating its efficacy as a nephroprotective agent for the prevention as well as amelioration of 5-FU induced nephrotoxicity. None of the doses of gentisic acid (GA) were found to be effective in this posology when given orally. Page(s): 241-247

Extremely low frequency magnetic exposure attenuates oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in injured spinal cord of rats

2022-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Extremely low frequency magnetic exposure attenuates oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in injured spinal cord of rats Authors: Ambalayam, Sajeev; Mathur, Rashmi Abstract: Secondary spinal cord injury (SCI) sets on immediately after trauma which results in vascular, morphological and biochemical changes at the site of lesion. Amongst these, the crucial events such as oxidative stress and apoptosis result in spreading the injury to adjacent tissues following the initial insult. Exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELFMF) is reported to modulate oxidative stress and cell death in vivo. Here, we investigated the influence of ELFMF on oxidative stress and cell death after SCI. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into Sham-SCI (Laminectomy only), Sham-SCI+MF (ELFMF exposure; 17.96 μT intensity, 50 Hz frequency, 2 h duration/day to Sham-SCI rats), SCI (complete transection of T13 spinal cord) and SCI+MF (ELFMF exposure to SCI rats) groups. They were sacrificed on day 2 for antioxidant assay and day 1, 2 and 3 for cell death study. The oxidative stress was assessed by antioxidant enzyme activities and the cell death was assessed by TUNEL assay and Caspase-3 immnuohistochemistry. Data revealed significant reduction in the lipid peroxidation and number of cells undergone cell death besides improvement in antioxidant levels in the spinal cord of ELFMF exposed SCI rats. These novel findings demonstrate the potential of ELFMF to attenuate oxidative stress and cell death in the early stage of secondary injury process after SCI. Page(s): 248-257

Bone impairment in adolescent female rats chronically exposed to ethanol

2022-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Bone impairment in adolescent female rats chronically exposed to ethanol Authors: Ferreira, Railson Oliveira; Fernandes, Rafael Monteiro; Bittencourt, Leonardo Oliveira; Alvarenga, María Olimpia Paz; Cartágenes, Sabrina Carvalho; Fernandes, Luanna Melo Pereira; Maia, Cristiane Socorro Ferraz; Lima, Rafael Rodrigues Abstract: Ethanol consumption has increased among teenagers worldwide considerably,including females. Long-term ethanol consumption in women has been reported to cause bone metabolism imbalance. However, only few studies are available on the impact of long-term ethanol consumptionon bone morphology during adolescence. Here, we report the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on bone structure in adolescent female rats. Twenty female Wistar rats (35 days old) received, by gavage, distilled water (control) or ethanol (6.5 g/kg/day, 22.5% w/v) once daily for 55 days. After ethanol administration, animals were perfused, and the femora were collected. Morphometric evaluations were performed by electron microscopy scanning. Femora length, cortical bone thickness and medullar bone diameter was measured. The results demonstrated that ethanol exposure during adolescence reduced the length of femurs, with a decrease of the anterior thickness, posterior thickness, and mid-lateral diameter (P<0.05). Thus, long-term ethanol intake may lead to alterations on bone morphometry, reducing the thickness of compact bone and femur length in adolescent females. Page(s): 258-262