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Biomedical subjects

B Panikkar

Publications and source records attributed to B Panikkar.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Modified polyacrylamide microspheres as immunosorbent.

Extracorporeal immunoadsorption system has been used for the specific removal of immunologically active substances from the blood. In this study, an attempt is made to utilise polyacrylamide microspheres as a matrix for immunoadsorption. Phenyl alanine is coupled onto the polymer beads using glutaraldehyde. These modified beads exhibit a high binding affinity for gamma-globulin compared to bare beads. The surface modified ones showed selective adsorption of immunoglobulins of IgG class. The C3 adsorption pattern is not altered significantly upon modification. Modified beads are found to be less hemolytic after modification. However, more studies are to be conducted for the development of a hemoperfusion column based on this modified matrix.

Acrylic Resins

Effect of asoka on the intracellular glutathione levels and skin tumour promotion in mice.

The bark of Saraka asoca (asoka) is commonly used to treat various diseases by the Indian system of medicine and in Sri Lanka. Further purification and chemical analysis of the active compound from the bark extract of asoka showed that (-)-epicatechin was responsible for the observed antitumour/anticarcinogenic activity. Papilloma formation in mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promoted using croton oil was inhibited by the topical application of 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of (-)-epicatechin isolated from asoka bark extract. Oral administration of the same dose restricted the growth of s.c. injected 20 methylcholanthrene (MCA) induced soil tissue fibrosarcomas significantly in mice. Elevations of almost 2-4-fold in the intracellular reduced glutathione and related enzymes viz., glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase of sarcoma-180 tumour cells were noted in the presence of 1 microgram/ml of (-)-epicatechin, further highlighting its antiproliferative effect.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene

Effect of saffron on thymocyte proliferation, intracellular glutathione levels and its antitumor activity.

Liposome encapsulation of saffron effectively enhanced its antitumor activity towards Sarcoma-180 (S-180) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma solid tumors in mice. Significant inhibition (P < 0.001) in the growth of these tumors was observed as compared with vehicle (control) mice. In the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a T cell mitogen, saffron stimulated non-specific proliferation of lymphocytes in vitro. The intracellular reduced glutathione and related enzymes, i.e. glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, of S-180 tumor cells were significantly elevated when incubated with saffron, possibly acting to maintain functional levels of other antioxidants. Our studies indicate the antioxidant activity of saffron.

Animals

Inhibitory effects of Ixora javanica extract on skin chemical carcinogenesis in mice and its antitumour activity.

Topical application of 100 mg/kg body weight of Ixora javanica flower extract inhibited the growth and delayed the onset of papilloma formation in mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promoted using croton oil. The extract at the same dose, when administered orally inhibited the growth of subcutaneously injected 20-methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced soft tissue fibrosarcomas significantly. Oral administration of 200 mg/kg of the extract inhibited the growth of intraperitoneally transplanted sarcoma-180 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma tumours besides showing an increase in the life span of the treated mice. Toxicity studies showed that the blood urea nitrogen levels were elevated post treatment. The active compounds responsible for the above inhibitory effects on tumour growth were identified as ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid) and its regionmer 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy cinnamic acid.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene

Modulatory effects of Crocus sativus and Nigella sativa extracts on cisplatin-induced toxicity in mice.

In mice, an extract of Crocus sativus stigmas partially prevented the decreases in body weight, hemoglobin levels and leucocyte counts caused by 2 mg/kg of cisplatin i.p. for 5 days. Treatment with the C. sativus extract also significantly prolonged the life span of cisplatin-treated mice almost three-fold. In contrast, an extract of Nigella sativa seed only tended to protect from cisplatin-induced falls in hemoglobin levels and leucocyte counts.

Animals

Detection and estimation of 3,4-dehydroproline.

A method has been described for the detection and estimation of 3,4-dehydroproline using initial oxidation with isatin or H2O2 and subsequent reaction with p-dimethylamino benzaldehyde (Ehrlich reagent). The method is sensitive enough to detect as low as 0.6 micrograms of 3,4-dehydroproline/sq. cm on paper chromatogram. 3,4-dehydroproline could also be estimated by the classical H2O2-oxidation procedure employed for hydroxyproline apparently yielding the same chromophore on a molar basis. However, when estimated by the chloramine-T oxidation method, its sensitivity was only 1/100th of that of 4-hydroxyproline. The usefulness of these procedures in the detection and estimation of 3,4-dehydroproline has been described.

Chemical Phenomena