Purified c-phycoerythrin: safety studies in rats and protective role against permanganate-mediated fibroblast-DNA damage

We have evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity of cyanobacterial phycoerythrin (C-PE) on three human cell lines by cell proliferation and neutral red uptake assays. No toxic effects of C-PE were observed to any of the cell lines tested. The protective role of purified C-PE to potassium permanganate-mediated human fibroblast-DNA damage was assessed by comet assay at 0 (control), 10 and 20 microg C-PE ml(-1) doses in pre-, simultaneous and post-mutagen exposure conditions. Significant DNA damage was detected only in post-mutagen exposure conditions. Our findings confirmed that the C-PE is non-toxic and provides protection against permanganate-mediated DNA damage. The preliminary acute (2000 mg C-PE kg(-1) body weight, b.w.) and 90 day sub-chronic (0, 5, 15 and 25 mg C-PE kg(-1) b.w./day) oral toxicity studies of purified C-PE in male albino rats showed no mortality or treatment-related major clinical signs, and all the doses of C-PE were well tolerated. The no observed adverse effect level and no observed effect level were found to be 15 and 5 mg C-PE kg(-1) b.w./day respectively.

Free radical scavenging and antiatherogenic activities of Sesamum indicum seed extracts in chemical and biological model systems

An emerging consensus underscores the importance of oxidative events in vascular disease including excess production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), in addition to lipoprotein oxidation. Sesamum indicum has long been used extensively as a traditional food. The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant action of aqueous and ethanolic seed extracts from S. indicum using various in vitro ROS/RNS generated chemical and biological models. Results demonstrated that the graded-dose (25-1000 microg/ml) of aqueous and ethanolic extracts markedly scavenged the nitric oxide, superoxide, hydroxyl, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals and, showed metal chelating ability as well as reducing capacity in Fe(3+)/ferricyanide complex and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. In biological models, both extracts were found to inhibit metal-induced lipid peroxidation in mitochondrial fractions, human serum and LDL oxidation models. In lipoprotein kinetics study, both extracts significantly (P<0.05) increased lag phase time along with reduced oxidation rate and conjugated dienes production. Ethanolic extract of S. indicum showed higher amounts of total polyphenol and flavonoid content as compared to their counterpart. The IC(50) values of both extracts were compared with respective antioxidant standards. Overall, ethanolic extract of S. indicum possess strong antioxidant capacity and offering effective protection against LDL oxidation susceptibility.