GCMS AND TLC ANALYSIS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SEED MOMORDICA CHARANTIA

To perform the TLC and GCMS analysis of ethanolic extract of seed Momordica charantia. The seeds ofMomardicacharantia was extracted with ethanol and tested for TLC and GCMS by standard procedure as per the guidelines of WHO.The phytochemical and TLC studies showed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, phenols, steroids, terpenoids and proteins.The GCMS analysis of seed Momardicacharantiashowed five major compounds were found to be n-hexadeconic acid, 9,12-Octadecadinoic acid,Octadecanoic acid,Hexadecanoic acid-2-hydroxy-1-hydroxy methyl ethyl ester and Gamma-sitosterol.The Therapeutic activity may be due to the major compounds identified by GCMS and further have to be evaluated.Mostly cucurbitaceae plant possesses the highest nutritive value and also a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Fruits are composed of sufficient of water,protein and lipids respectively.In addition to this MC seeds can represent a good source of lipids, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and they are among the few foods containing conjugated linolenic acid, being as eleostearic acid. The essential oil, obtained from drought seeds, contains sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids and monoterpenes. Other bioactive compounds, such as tocopherols and polyphenols have been reported in general. The pericarp, the aril, the stem and the leaves of the plant are also a good source of phenolic compounds, which can be useful to protect from oxidative damage by acting directly on reactive oxygen species and to induce endogenous defense systems.

Potential Therapeutic Approaches through Modulating the Autophagy Process for Skin Barrier Dysfunction

Autophagy is an attractive process to researchers who are seeking novel potential treatments for various diseases. Autophagy plays a critical role in degrading damaged cellular organelles, supporting normal cell development, and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Because of the various effects of autophagy, recent human genome research has focused on evaluating the relationship between autophagy and a wide variety of diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, cancers, and inflammatory diseases. The skin is the largest organ in the body and provides the first line of defense against environmental hazards, including UV damage, chemical toxins, injuries, oxidative stress, and microorganisms. Autophagy takes part in endogenous defense mechanisms by controlling skin homeostasis. In this manner, regulating autophagy might contribute to the treatment of skin barrier dysfunctions. Various studies are ongoing to elucidate the association between autophagy and skin-related diseases in order to find potential therapeutic approaches. However, little evidence has been gathered about the relationship between autophagy and the skin. In this review, we highlight the previous findings of autophagy and skin barrier disorders and suggest potential therapeutic strategies. The recent research regarding autophagy in acne and skin aging is also discussed.

Crucial Roles of Carotenoids as Bacterial Endogenous Defense System for Bacterial Radioresistance of Deinococcus radiodurans

Background. The central dogma of radiation biology is that the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of radiation are principally the result of biological macromolecules (DNA, RNA, polysaccharides, proteins and lipids) damage caused during the course of irradiation. Previous studies on the radioresistance of the extremely radiation-resistant red-carotenoid-pigmented bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans have been focused on DNA repair system. However, relative little is known about the biochemical basis of the extraordinary recovery capacity of D. radiodurans for ionizing radiation and can include hundreds of DNA double-strand breaks. Methodology and Principal Findings. Here we identified a novel carotenoid in D. radiodurans and characterized the intracellular distribution of carotenoids. Following exposure to ionizing radiation, the wild-type parent of D. radiodurans survived much higher compared with radiation-sensitive colorless mutants screened by 60Co irradiation and by knockout of crtB or crtI genes for the carotenoid biosynthesis. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis showed that two carotenoid can effectively scavenge radicals including superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical. Consistent results showing the substantial antioxidant abilities of the two carotenoids were obtained by UV-induction of bacteriophage λ method in vivo, and the detectable reaction potentials of two carotenoids with nitric oxide evaluated by ultraviolet-visible near-infrared ray spectra assay. Conclusions and Significance. Our findings support the idea that the degree of bacterial 58 radioresistance of D. radiodurans is partly related to the levels of carotenoids in the cells. Carotenoids, as an important member of the structural and non-structural components of the cells, are endogenous scavengers of reactive oxygen species and can effectively quench radicals generated during irradiation. The current work suggests that carotenoids play a previously unrecognized protection role in the endogenous defense System that facilitates the recovery from radiation injury. And we propose a complete model to elucidate the mechanisms of extreme radioresistance in this remarkable bacterium.

Curcumin activates Nrf2 through PKCδ-mediated p62 phosphorylation at Ser351

Curcumin, a phytochemical extracted from Curcuma longa rhizomes, is known to be protective in neurons via activation of Nrf2, a master regulator of endogenous defense against oxidative stress in cells. However, the exact mechanism by which curcumin activates Nrf2 remains controversial. Here, we observed that curcumin induced the expression of genes downstream of Nrf2 such as HO-1, NQO1, and GST-mu1 in neuronal cells, and increased the level of Nrf2 protein. Notably, the level of p62 phosphorylation at S351 (S349 in human) was significantly increased in cells treated with curcumin. Additionally, curcumin-induced Nrf2 activation was abrogated in p62 knockout (−/−) MEFs, indicating that p62 phosphorylation at S351 played a crucial role in curcumin-induced Nrf2 activation. Among the kinases involved in p62 phosphorylation at S351, PKCδ was activated in curcumin-treated cells. The phosphorylation of p62 at S351 was enhanced by transfection of PKCδ expression plasmid; in contrast, it was inhibited in cells treated with PKCδ-specific siRNA. Together, these results suggest that PKCδ is mainly involved in curcumin-induced p62 phosphorylation and Nrf2 activation. Accordingly, we demonstrate for the first time that curcumin activates Nrf2 through PKCδ-mediated p62 phosphorylation at S351.

Skin Health from the Inside Out

The skin is the main interface between the body and the environment, providing a biological barrier against an array of chemical and physical pollutants (e.g., ultraviolet light, ozone, etc.). Exposure of the skin to these outdoor stressors generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can overwhelm the skin's endogenous defense systems (e.g., catalase, vitamins C and E, etc.), resulting in premature skin aging due to the induction of DNA damage, mitochondrial damage, lipid peroxidation, activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, and formation of protein adducts. In this review, we discuss how topical application of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, carotenoids, resveratrol, and pycnogenol, can be combined with dietary supplementation of these antioxidant compounds in addition to probiotics and essential minerals to protect against outdoor stressor-induced skin damage, including the damage associated with aging.

Pro-/Anti-Inflammatory Food Supplements

Probiotics are living microorganisms, meaning “for life” and consist of two parts, “pro” and “biota,” and prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that increase the number and activities of colon bacteria and the effectiveness of probiotics. Probiotic consumption has been reported to have many positive effects, such as increasing immune response, balancing the colony, and increasing endogenous defense capacity of cells. The aim of prebiotics is to grow probiotic bacteria, thus improving the gastrointestinal and immune systems. Recent studies have shown that probiotics may have an impact on gastrointestinal system diseases. It has been shown to stimulate the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms in prebiotics and assist in the probiotic effect. The most commonly used probiotics and prebiotics are lactic acid bacteria that are types of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Prebiotics are naturally present in nutrients. Probiotics and prebiotics are used to prevent many diseases.

New therapeutic approach with ozoile® to the EAC eczema, a chronic and annoying pathology

The Eczema of the external auditory canal (EAC) is a challenge for the otolaryngologist and it’s a pathology that can annoy the patients and, in the most extreme cases, compromise their quality of life. Hence patients with eczema of EAC are exposed to a greater number of bacterial (acute bacterial otitis externa) or fungal (otomycosis) infections. The therapies proposed as of now for chronic eczematous external otitis (more than 3 months) are empirical. The most widely used drugs in this condition are topical corticosteroids which unfortunately can lead to dehydration of the skin, hypotropism with a reduction in their effectiveness over time Ozoile® (Stable Ozonides with Vitamin E acetate) acts as a biological inducer, regulates the main metabolic pathways, stimulates the endogenous defense system and through the regulation of gene transcription promotes tissue regeneration and damage-injury repair. This biological inducer has anti-inflammatory, anti-itching and anti-microbial action. Based on these results, the author used Ozoile® for the treatment of chronic eczematous external otitis (symptoms lasting more than three months). Sixty patients suffering from chronic eczematous otitis externa (CEOE) were recruited and given 1 month of treatment with 5 drops per ear in the morning and in the evening. Through a visual analogue scale (minimum score 0 and maximum 10 depending on the severity of the symptoms) the parameters itching, secretions, flaking and complications were evaluated at the beginning of the treatment (time 0) and at one month (time 1). After the treatment the results were as follow: 62.5% itching reduction, desquamation reduction by 72%, reduction of secretions by 80%. Total absence of side effects. We can conclude that Ozoile® (Stable Ozonides with Vitamin E acetate) has an excellent "outcome" in EAC eczema even for prolonged periods and is a manageable and complication-free biological inducer.

Neuroprotection in TBI

Neuroprotection represents an important scientific objective in traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the limited treatment options and the importance of the extent of secondary injury in determining short- and long-term complications. Neuroprotection in TBI targets secondary neuronal injury, a multidimensional molecular cascade that includes excitotoxicity, immune response imbalances, oxidative stress, and apoptotic-like processes. These molecular processes lead to dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier and alterations of neurotransmitter and hormonal systems. The result is an imbalance of the interplay between endogenous defense activity and damage mechanisms. The disappointment over the failure of most randomized clinical trials to produce a neuroprotective therapy for improving outcomes has led to the development of a critical, constructive view of the current understanding of the complexity of secondary injury pathways, how these pathways could be modulated, and how a clinical trial should be designed to detect the multidimensional aspects of TBI outcomes.