Green tea leaves extract with low concentration of EGCG can provide health benefits without causing renal damage

Green tea or its concentrated extract is coveted for its health promoting catechin-like polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). However, its amicable efficacy is now being doubted considering the recent occurrence of several cases of hepato- and nephrotoxicity, after the ingestion of EGCG-fortified (≥85–90%) nutritional supplements. Therefore, the current study was carried out to ascertain the effect of green tea leaves extract (GTE), having low EGCG content (73.8%), on liver and kidney functions of male Wistar rats using various in vivo experiments and in vitro radical scavenging activity. In terms of acute toxicity, GTE was observed to be safe when delivered at a dosage of 2000 mg kg−1 body weight (BW). Oral delivery of GTE for 28 days at a concentration of 200 mg kg−1 BW/day did not trigger sub-acute toxicity to the liver and kidneys, as per serum biochemical analyses and histopathological examination. In contrast, GTE counteracted the effects of carbon tetrachloride (a potent hepato-degenerative compound) on the liver. Furthermore, increase in high-density lipoprotein―cholesterol with concomitant lowering of serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein―cholesterol were noticed in GTE-treated rats. These findings suggest that low EGCG containing GTE, with appreciable antioxidant activity (IC50 = 53.18–71.28 μg mL−1), can serve as a hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and hypocholesterolemic ingredient.

A Non-Fourier Bioheat Transfer Model for Cryosurgery of Tumor Tissue with Minimum Collateral Damage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Incorporation of non-Fourier heat conduction while studying heat transfer phenomena in biological materials has emerged has an important approach as it predicts better and more realistic results than Fourier based models. In this article we have proposed a non-Fourier computational model and applied the same to simulate cryosurgery of lung tumor and attempted minimization of freezing damage of healthy lung tissue using pulsed laser irradiation.

METHODS

A non-Fourier bioheat transfer model for phase change in biological tissues is solved via a Fourier heat conduction based solution approach. A unified model is proposed combining all variants of bioheat models: Fourier's heat conduction based Pennes' bioheat model, hyperbolic heat conduction model and dual phase lag model. The proposed model takes into account the different thermophysical properties of frozen and unfrozen regions. In order to mimic the actual biotransport process, the blood perfusion and metabolic heat generation are switched off in the frozen region. Implicit source based enthalpy method is used to model phase change process. A new iterative enthalpy update equation is developed for capturing evolution of freezing front implicitly. Finite Volume based numerical discretization technique is used to discretize the governing PDE. The resulting discrete algebraic equation set is solved implicitly by Tri-diagonal Matrix Algorithm. The proposed model is verified with existing results from the literature.

RESULTS

For Fourier heat conduction, freezing time of 99.99% of tumor is 1247s, which increases to 1267s for τ_q= 5s (τ_T= 0s) and again reduces to 1255s for τ_q= 5s and τ_T= 3s. τ_q and τ_T are phase lag parameters for non-Fourier heat conduction. For τ_q= 5s and τ_T= 0.05s, the freezing damage of healthy tissue decreases by 23.76% when pulsed laser irradiation (I_o = 10⁶ W/m²) is used to warm the neighboring healthy tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

So non-Fourier bioheat transport models are better and more accurate in predicting temperature history, freezing time and freezing front propagation as compared to Fourier based models. Pulsed laser irradiation can prove to be a very efficient technique in minimizing collateral damage during cryosurgery.

Floral contrivances and specialised pollination mechanism strongly influence mixed mating in Wrightia tomentosa (Apocynaceae)

Reproductive success of a plant species is largely influenced by the outcome of mating pattern in a population. It is believed that a significantly larger proportion of animal-pollinated plants have evolved a mixed-mating strategy, the extent of which may vary among species. It is thus pertinent to investigate the key contributors to mating success, especially to identify the reproductive constraints in depauperate populations of threatened plant species. We examined the contribution of floral architecture, pollination mechanism and breeding system on the extent of outcrossing rate in a near-threatened tree species, Wrightia tomentosa. The breeding system was ascertained from controlled pollination experiments. In order to determine outcrossing rate, 60 open-pollinated progeny were analysed using an AFLP markers. Although the trees are self-compatible, herkogamy and compartmentalisation of pollen and nectar in different chambers of the floral tube effectively prevent spontaneous autogamy. Pollination is achieved through specialised interaction with moths. Differential foraging behaviour of settling moths and hawkmoths leads to different proportions of geitonogamous and xenogamous pollen on the stigma. However, most open-pollinated progeny were the result of xenogamy (outcrossing rate, tm = 0.68). The study shows that floral contrivances and pollination system have a strong influence on mating pattern. The differential foraging behaviour of the pollinators causes deposition of a mixture of self- and cross-pollen to produce a mixed brood. Inbreeding depression and geitonogamy appear to play a significant role in sustaining mixed mating in this species.