Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 68 in total

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  1. Magalingam KB, Somanath SD, Radhakrishnan AK
    Exp Neurobiol, 2023 Jun 30;32(3):119-132.
    PMID: 37403221 DOI: 10.5607/en22035
    A cell-based model of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a well-established in vitro experimental prototype to investigate the disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for a potential anti-PD drug. The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells and 6-OHDA combo is one of the many neurotoxininduced neuronal cell models employed in numerous neuroscience-related research for discovering neuroprotective drug compounds. Emerging studies have reported a significant correlation between PD and epigenetic alterations, particularly DNA methylation. However, the DNA methylation changes of PD-related CpG sites on the 6-OHDA-induced toxicity on human neuronal cells have not yet been reported. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using Infinium Epic beadchip array surveying 850000 CpG sites in differentiated human neuroblastoma cells exposed to 6-OHDA. We identified 236 differentially methylated probes (DMPs) or 163 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in 6-OHDA treated differentiated neuroblastoma cells than the untreated reference group with p<0.01, Δbeta cut-off of 0.1. Among 236 DMPs, hypermethylated DMPs are 110 (47%), whereas 126 (53%) are hypomethylated. Our bioinformatic analysis revealed 3 DMRs that are significantly hypermethylated and associated with neurological disorders, namely AKT1, ITPR1 and GNG7. This preliminary study demonstrates the methylation status of PD-related CpGs in the 6-OHDA-induced toxicity in the differentiated neuroblastoma cells model.
  2. Sumera A, Radhakrishnan AK, Aziz Baba A, George E
    Malays J Pathol, 2020 Dec;42(3):323-332.
    PMID: 33361713
    The long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the most prevalent and functionally diverse member of the non-coding RNA (ncRNA). The lncRNA has previously been considered to be a form of transcriptional "noise" but recent studies have found that the lncRNA to be associated with various disease conditions. It has also been found to play important roles in various physiological processes such as haemopoiesis, where lncRNA is reported to act as a fine-tuner of this very important process. To date, the effects of dysregulated lncRNA in thalassaemia has not been fully explored. This review article focuses on the possible roles of dysregulated lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of thalassaemia.
  3. Zainuddin MS, Bhuvanendran S, Radhakrishnan AK, Azman AS
    J Alzheimers Dis Rep, 2023;7(1):1335-1350.
    PMID: 38143777 DOI: 10.3233/ADR-230065
    BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized as rapid and progressive cognitive decline affecting 26 million people worldwide. Although immunotherapies are ideal, its clinical safety and effectiveness are controversial, hence, treatments are still reliant on symptomatic medications. Concurrently, the Streptomyces genus has attracted attention given its pharmaceutically beneficial secondary metabolites to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

    OBJECTIVE: To present secondary metabolites from Streptomyces sp. with regulatory effects on proteins and identified prospective target proteins for AD treatment.

    METHODS: Research articles published between 2010 and 2021 were collected from five databases and 83 relevant research articles were identified. Post-screening, only 12 research articles on AD-related proteins were selected for further review. Bioinformatics analyses were performed through the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) network, PANTHER Go-Slim classification system (PANTHER17.0), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Mapper.

    RESULTS: A total of 20 target proteins were identified from the 12 shortlisted articles. Amyloid-β, BACE1, Nrf-2, Beclin-1, and ATG5 were identified as the potential target proteins, given their role in initiating AD, mitigating neuroinflammation, and autophagy. Besides, 10 compounds from Streptomyces sp., including rapamycin, alborixin, enterocin, bonnevillamides D and E, caniferolide A, anhydroexfoliamycin, rhizolutin, streptocyclinone A and B, were identified to exhibit considerable regulatory effects on these target proteins.

    CONCLUSIONS: The review highlights several prospective target proteins that can be regulated through treatments with Streptomyces sp. compounds to prevent AD's early stages and progression. Further identification of Streptomyces sp. compounds with potential anti-AD properties is recommended.

  4. Md S, Abdullah ST, Alhakamy NA, Bani-Jaber A, Radhakrishnan AK, Karim S, et al.
    Gels, 2021 Nov 30;7(4).
    PMID: 34940303 DOI: 10.3390/gels7040243
    This study aimed to develop gastro-retentive sustained-release ambroxol (ABX) nanosuspensions utilizing ambroxol-kappa-carrageenan (ABX-CRGK) complexation formulations. The complex was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, powder x-ray diffractometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The prepared co-precipitate complex was used for the development of the sustained-release formulation to overcome the high metabolic and poor solubility problems associated with ABX. Furthermore, the co-precipitate complex was formulated as a suspension in an aqueous floating gel-forming vehicle of sodium alginate with chitosan, which might be beneficial for targeting the stomach as a good absorption site for ABX. The suspension exhibited rapid floating gel behaviour for more than 8 h, thus confirming the gastro-retentive effects. Particle size analysis revealed that the optimum nanosuspension (ABX-NS) had a mean particle size of 332.3 nm. Afterward, the ABX released by the nanoparticles would be distributed to the pulmonary tissue as previously described. Based on extensive pulmonary distribution, the developed nanosuspension-released ABX nanoparticles showed significant cytotoxic enhancement compared to free ABX in A549 lung cancer cells. However, a significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) also occurred. The level of caspase-3 was the highest in the ABX-NS-released particle-treated samples, with a value of 416.6 ± 9.11 pg/mL. Meanwhile, the levels of nuclear factor kappa beta, interleukins 6 and 1 beta, and tumour necrosis alpha (NF-kB, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, respectively) were lower for ABX-NS compared to free ABX (p < 0.05). In caspase-3, Bax, and p53, levels significantly increased in the presence of ABX-NS compared to free ABX. Overall, ABX-NS produced an enhancement of the anticancer effects of ABX on the A549 cells, and the developed sustained-release gel was successful in providing a gastro-retentive effect.
  5. Palanisamy UD, Sivanathan M, Radhakrishnan AK, Haleagrahara N, Subramaniam T, Chiew GS
    Molecules, 2011 Jul 05;16(7):5709-19.
    PMID: 21730920 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16075709
    Ostrich oil has been used extensively in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. However, rancidity causes undesirable chemical changes in flavour, colour, odour and nutritional value. Bleaching is an important process in refining ostrich oil. Bleaching refers to the removal of certain minor constituents (colour pigments, free fatty acid, peroxides, odour and non-fatty materials) from crude fats and oils to yield purified glycerides. There is a need to optimize the bleaching process of crude ostrich oil prior to its use for therapeutic purposes. The objective of our study was to establish an effective method to bleach ostrich oil using peroxide value as an indicator of refinement. In our study, we showed that natural earth clay was better than bentonite and acid-activated clay to bleach ostrich oil. It was also found that 1 hour incubation at a 150 °C was suitable to lower peroxide value by 90%. In addition, the nitrogen trap technique in the bleaching process was as effective as the continuous nitrogen flow technique and as such would be the recommended technique due to its cost effectiveness.
  6. George A, Chinnappan S, Chintamaneni M, Kotak C V, Choudhary Y, Kueper T, et al.
    PMID: 25252832 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-355
    The study was aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Polygonum minus (Huds) using in vitro and in vivo approaches.
  7. Er HM, Cheng EH, Radhakrishnan AK
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2007 Sep 25;113(3):448-56.
    PMID: 17698306
    The anti-proliferative effects of the aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves of Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC (Cactaceae) against a mouse mammary cancer cell line (4T1) and a normal mouse fibroblast cell line (NIH/3T3) were evaluated under an optimal (in culture medium containing 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS)) and a sub-optimal (in culture medium containing 0.5% FBS) conditions. Under the optimal condition, the aqueous extract showed a significant (p<0.05) anti-proliferative effect at 200 microg/mL and 300 microg/mL in 4T1 cells and 300 microg/mL in NIH/3T3 cells, whereas the methanol extract did not show any notable anti-proliferative effect in these cell lines, at any of the concentrations tested. Under the sub-optimal condition, the aqueous extract showed a significant (p<0.05) anti-proliferative effect at 200 microg/mL and 300 microg/mL in NIH/3T3 cells, whilst the methanol extract showed a significant (p<0.05) anti-proliferative effect at 200 microg/mL and 300 microg/mL in both cell lines. An upward trend of apoptosis was observed in both 4T1 and NIH/3T3 cells treated with increasing concentrations of the aqueous extract. The level of apoptosis observed at all the concentrations of the aqueous extract tested was consistently higher than necrosis. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of necrosis observed in the 4T1 cells treated with 300 microg/mL of the methanol extract. Generally, the level of necrosis was noted to be higher than that of apoptosis in the methanol extract-treated cells. The mutagenicity assay performed showed that in the absence of S-9 liver metabolic activation, the extract was not mutagenic up to the concentration of 165 microg/mL . However, in the presence of S-9 liver metabolic activation, the aqueous extract was mutagenic at all the concentrations tested. This study shows that both the aqueous and methanol extracts of the leaves from Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC (Cactaceae) do not have appreciable anti-proliferative effect on the 4T1 and NIH/3T3 cells as the EC(50) values obtained are greater than 50 microg/mL when tested under optimal culture condition. Moreover, the aqueous extract may form mutagenic compound(s) upon the metabolisation by liver enzymes.
  8. Ling LT, Radhakrishnan AK, Subramaniam T, Cheng HM, Palanisamy UD
    Molecules, 2010 Apr;15(4):2139-51.
    PMID: 20428033 DOI: 10.3390/molecules15042139
    Thirteen Malaysian plants; Artocarpus champeden, Azadirachta indica, Fragaria x ananassa, Garcinia mangostana, Lawsonia inermis, Mangifera indica, Nephelium lappaceum, Nephelium mutobile, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Psidium guajava and Syzygium aqueum, selected for their use in traditional medicine, were subjected to a variety of assays. Antioxidant capability, total phenolic content, elemental composition, as well as it cytotoxity to several cell lines of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts from different parts of these selected Malaysian plants were determined. In general, the ethanolic extracts were better free radical scavengers than the aqueous extracts and some of the tested extracts were even more potent than a commercial grape seed preparation. Similar results were seen in the lipid peroxidation inhibition studies. Our findings also showed a strong correlation of antioxidant activity with the total phenolic content. These extracts when tested for its heavy metals content, were found to be below permissible value for nutraceutical application. In addition, most of the extracts were found not cytotoxic to 3T3 and 4T1 cells at concentrations as high as 100 microg/mL. We conclude that although traditionally these plants are used in the aqueous form, its commercial preparation could be achieved using ethanol since a high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity is associated with this method of preparation.
  9. Montazeri S, Nalliah S, Radhakrishnan AK
    Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2010 May;88(2):139-45.
    PMID: 20189261 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2010.01.028
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate if an association exists between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-beta genes.
    METHODS: The DNA was extracted and SNP in the human TNF-alpha and TNF-beta genes at positions -308 (G/A) and 252 (A/G), respectively, was analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Plasma levels of TNF-alpha in different stages of pregnancy were quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
    RESULTS: There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequency of SNP at position -308 (G/A) in the promoter region of the human TNF-alpha gene as well as the SNP at position 252 (A/G) in the human TNF-beta gene between the GDM and control subjects. Using the logistic regression model, it was found that the SNP in the TNF-alpha as well as TNF-beta were not associated with development of GDM. In addition, the TNF-alpha levels in the plasma of GDM and control mothers were not significantly different.
    CONCLUSIONS: In the population studied, the SNP in position -308 (G/A) of the human TNF-alpha or in position 252 (A/G) of the human TNF-beta gene is not an independent risk factor or a predictor for GDM.
  10. Subramaniam S, Selvaduray KR, Radhakrishnan AK
    Biomolecules, 2019 11 21;9(12).
    PMID: 31766399 DOI: 10.3390/biom9120758
    Cancer is a devastating disease that has claimed many lives. Natural bioactive agents from plants are gaining wide attention for their anticancer activities. Several studies have found that natural plant-based bioactive compounds can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, and in some cases ameliorate some of the side-effects of drugs used as chemotherapeutic agents. In this paper, we have reviewed the literature on the anticancer effects of four plant-based bioactive compounds namely, curcumin, myricetin, geraniin and tocotrienols (T3) to provide an overview on some of the key findings that are related to this effect. The molecular mechanisms through which the active compounds may exert their anticancer properties in cell and animal-based studies also discussed.
  11. Thambiah SC, Wong TH, Das Gupta E, Radhakrishnan AK, Gun SC, Chembalingam G, et al.
    Malays J Pathol, 2018 Dec;40(3):287-294.
    PMID: 30580359
    INTRODUCTION: Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have not been consistently associated with bone mineral density (BMD). It has been suggested that calculation of the free/bioavailable 25(OH)D may correlate better with BMD. We examined this hypothesis in a cohort of Malaysian women.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 77 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 29 controls was performed. Serum 25(OH)D was measured using the Roche Cobas E170 immunoassay. Serum vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) was measured using a monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Free/bioavailable 25(OH)D were calculated using both the modified Vermuelen and Bikle formulae.

    RESULTS: Since there were no significant differences between RA patients and controls for VDBP and 25(OH)D, the dataset was analysed as a whole. Calculated free 25(OH)D by Vermeulen was strongly correlated with Bikle (r = 1.00, p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was noted between measured total 25(OH)D with free/bioavailable 25(OH)D (r = 0.607, r = 0.637, respectively, p < 0.001). Median free/bioavailable 25(OH)D values were significantly higher in Chinese compared with Malays and Indians, consistent with their median total 25(OH)D. Similar to total 25(OH)D, the free/bioavailable 25(OH)D did not correlate with BMD.

    CONCLUSION: In this first study of a multiethnic female Malaysian population, free/bioavailable 25(OH)D were found to reflect total 25(OH)D, and was not superior to total 25(OH)D in its correlation with BMD. Should they need to be calculated, the Bikle formula is easier to use but only calculates free 25(OH)D. The Vermuelen formula calculates both free/bioavailable 25(OH)D but is more complex to use.
  12. Ayakannu R, Abdullah NA, Raj VL, Radhakrishnan AK, Liam CK
    Mol Immunol, 2022 Jan 14;143:50-57.
    PMID: 35038659 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2022.01.005
    Asthma is a disease with complicated network of inflammatory responses of cytokines and ImmunoglobulinE (IgE). The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics, cytokine profile and plasma IgE in the Malaysian population. This is a cross-sectional study involving physician-diagnosed asthma patients (n = 287) recruited from the Chest Clinic, University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Blood (8 mL) was taken after consent was obtained. The peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) were cultured in presence of a mitogen for 72 h to quantify cytokines [Interleukin-5(IL-5), Interleukin-9 (IL-9), Interleukin-12 Beta (IL-12ꞵ) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)] and plasma was used to quantify IgE levels with commercial ELISA kits. Results were compared against the same biomarkers in healthy subjects (n = 203). In addition, the amount of the biomarkers in the asthma patients were compared with their disease severity and clinical characteristics. Statistical tests in the SPSS software (Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal Wallis) were used to compare cytokine production and plasma IgE levels. The mean plasma IgE level was markedly higher (p < 0.0001) in asthmatics compared to controls. There were higher levels of IL-5, IL-9, IL-12ꞵ and GM-CSF (p < 0.0001) produced by cultured PBL from asthma patients compared to controls. However, our results did not expose a significant association between these cytokine levels and severity and clinical symptoms of asthma. However, there was a marked association between asthma severity and blood lymphocyte count [ꭓ2(2) = 6.745, p < 0.05]. These findings support the roles played by cytokines and IgE in the airway inflammation in asthma. The findings of this study provide new information about inflammatory cytokines in Malaysian asthma patients.
  13. Khalid AQ, Bhuvanendran S, Magalingam KB, Ramdas P, Kumari M, Radhakrishnan AK
    Nutrients, 2021 Nov 12;13(11).
    PMID: 34836311 DOI: 10.3390/nu13114056
    The last decade has witnessed tremendous growth in tocotrienols (T3s) research, especially in the field of oncology, owing to potent anticancer property. Among the many types of cancers, colorectal cancer (CRC) is growing to become a serious global health threat to humans. Chemoprevention strategies in recent days are open to exploring alternative interventions to inhibit or delay carcinogenesis, especially with the use of bioactive natural compounds, such as tocotrienols. This scoping review aims to distil the large bodies of literature from various databases to identify the genes and their encoded modulations by tocotrienols and to explicate important mechanisms via which T3s combat CRC. For this scoping review, research papers published from 2010 to early 2021 related to T3s and human CRC cells were reviewed in compliance with the PRISMA guidelines. The study included research articles published in English, searchable on four literature databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase) that reported differential expression of genes and proteins in human CRC cell lines following exposure to T3s. A total of 12 articles that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study were short-listed for data extraction and analysis. The results from the analysis of these 12 articles showed that T3s, especially its γ and δ analogues, modulated the expression of 16 genes and their encoded proteins that are associated with several important CRC pathways (apoptosis, transcriptional dysregulation in cancer, and cancer progression). Further studies and validation work are required to scrutinize the specific role of T3s on these genes and proteins and to propose the use of T3s to develop adjuvant or multi-targeted therapy for CRC.
  14. Appukutty M, Radhakrishnan AK, Ramasamy K, Ramasamy R, Abdul Majeed AB, Noor MI, et al.
    BMC Res Notes, 2012;5:649.
    PMID: 23173926 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-649
    This study examined the effects of bovine colostrum on exercise -induced modulation of antioxidant parameters in skeletal muscle in mice. Adult male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups (control, colostrum alone, exercise and exercise with colostrum) and each group had three subgroups (day 0, 21 and 42). Colostrum groups of mice were given a daily oral supplement of 50 mg/kg body weight of bovine colostrum and the exercise group of mice were made to exercise on the treadmill for 30 minutes per day. Total antioxidants, lipid hydroperoxides, xanthine oxidase and super oxide dismutase level was assayed from the homogenate of hind limb skeletal muscle.
  15. Radhakrishnan AK, Sim GC, Cheong SK
    Biores Open Access, 2012 Oct;1(5):239-46.
    PMID: 23515111 DOI: 10.1089/biores.2012.0229
    Repetitive vaccinations with dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines over long periods of time can break pre-existing tolerance to tumors and achieve clinically relevant immune response. This requires a large number of DCs to be generated under good manufacturing protocol, which is time- and cost intensive. Thus, producing a large numbers of DCs at one time point and cryopreserving these cells in ready-for-use aliquots for clinical application may overcome this constraint. This could also reduce batch-to-batch variations. In this study, we generated DCs from bone marrow obtained from BALB/c mice. Some of the generated DCs were cryopreserved before conducting various tests. There were no significant differences in the morphology and phenotype between cryopreserved and freshly generated DCs. Both types of DCs pulsed with tumor lysate (TL) from 4T1 murine mammary cancer cells (DC+TL) possessed a similar capacity to stimulate the proliferation of T-cells. In addition, cryopreserved and fresh DC pulsed with TL showed similar tumor growth inhibition patterns. Both DCs induced initial retardation of tumor growth (p<0.05) and prolonged the survival (p<0.05) of tumor-bearing mice treated with DC+TL as compared with nontreated control mice. Cryopreserved DCs shared similar therapeutic efficacy to fresh DCs, and this finding lends supports the routine use of cryopreserved DCs in future clinical trials.
  16. Hee CS, Gun SC, Naidu R, Das Gupta E, Somnath SD, Radhakrishnan AK
    Mod Rheumatol, 2007;17(5):429-35.
    PMID: 17929139 DOI: 10.1007/s10165-007-0612-9
    In this study, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within the promoter of the human interleukin (IL)-10 gene [rs1800896 (position: -1087G>A), rs1800871 (position: -824C>T) and rs1800872 (position: -597C>A)] were investigated in 84 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 95 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Production of IL-10 by peripheral blood lymphocytes from the RA patients and healthy subjects cultured in the presence of Concanavalin A (Con A) was determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results show that the distribution of the IL-10 genotypes did not differ significantly between RA patients and healthy subjects (P>0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in allele frequencies of -824CT, -824TT, -597CA, and -597AA between the RA patients and healthy volunteers (P=0.04). The -1087A/-824T/-597A (ATA) haplotype, which comprises all mutant alleles, was associated with lower IL-10 production when compared with the other haplotypes. In contrast, the RA patients who did not display the ATA haplotype produced significantly higher levels of IL-10 when compared with those carrying either one (P=0.012) or two (P=0.005) ATA haplotypes. Our findings suggest that there is an association between SNPs in the promoter of the human IL-10 gene and susceptibility to RA.
    Study site: Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar, (Hospital Seremban), Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
  17. Radhakrishnan AK, Lee AL, Wong PF, Kaur J, Aung H, Nesaretnam K
    Br J Nutr, 2009 Mar;101(6):810-5.
    PMID: 18702848 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114508039998
    Vitamin E is divided into two subgroups; tocopherols and tocotrienols. Both have protective roles in biological systems. The present study was conducted to compare the effect of short-term supplementation at 200 mg/d of either alpha-tocopherol or a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) from palm oil on immune modulation and plasma vitamin E levels in normal healthy Asian volunteers. In a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted, fifty-three healthy volunteers aged 20-50 years were recruited based on the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly assigned into three groups, i.e. two experimental groups that received daily supplementation at 200 mg of either alpha-tocopherol or the TRF, and the control group that received a placebo. Blood was drawn on days 0, 28 and 56 for several laboratory analyses. Differences in the production of IL-4 or interferon-gamma by concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes isolated from these volunteers were not significant (P>0.05). There were no significant differences observed in immune parameters between the healthy volunteers who received daily supplementation with either alpha-tocopherol or the TRF. As these observations were made in the absence of any immunogenic challenge, we feel it would be of benefit to study if there would be any differences observed when an immunogenic challenge such as vaccination were introduced.
  18. Md S, Alhakamy NA, Neamatallah T, Alshehri S, Mujtaba MA, Riadi Y, et al.
    Gels, 2021 Nov 24;7(4).
    PMID: 34842729 DOI: 10.3390/gels7040230
    The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate α-mangostin-loaded polymeric nanoparticle gel (α-MNG-PLGA) formulation to enhance α-mangostin delivery in an epidermal carcinoma. The poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were developed using the emulsion-diffusion-evaporation technique with a 3-level 3-factor Box-Behnken design. The NPs were characterized and evaluated for particle size distribution, zeta potential (mV), drug release, and skin permeation. The formulated PLGA NPs were converted into a preformed carbopol gel base and were further evaluated for texture analysis, the cytotoxic effect of PLGA NPs against B16-F10 melanoma cells, and in vitro radical scavenging activity. The nanoscale particles were spherical, consistent, and average in size (168.06 ± 17.02 nm), with an entrapment efficiency (EE) of 84.26 ± 8.23% and a zeta potential of -25.3 ± 7.1 mV. Their drug release percentages in phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) at pH 7.4 and pH 6.5 were 87.07 ± 6.95% and 89.50 ± 9.50%, respectively. The release of α-MNG from NPs in vitro demonstrated that the biphasic release system, namely, immediate release in the initial phase, was accompanied by sustained drug release. The texture study of the developed α-MNG-PLGA NPs gel revealed its characteristics, including viscosity, hardness, consistency, and cohesiveness. The drug flux from α-MNG-PLGA NPs gel and α-MNG gel was 79.32 ± 7.91 and 16.88 ± 7.18 µg/cm2/h in 24 h, respectively. The confocal study showed that α-MNG-PLGA NPs penetrated up to 230.02 µm deep into the skin layer compared to 15.21 µm by dye solution. MTT assay and radical scavenging potential indicated that α-MNG-PLGA NPs gel had a significant cytotoxic effect and antioxidant effect compared to α-MNG gel (p < 0.05). Thus, using the developed α-MNG-PLGA in treating skin cancer could be a promising approach.
  19. Chu WL, Quynh le V, Radhakrishnan AK
    J Diet Suppl, 2013 Sep;10(3):229-40.
    PMID: 23927690 DOI: 10.3109/19390211.2013.822452
    The aim of this study was to investigate whether Spirulina (Arthrospira) supplementation could enhance the immune response to tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine in a mouse model. Vaccination of TT was performed on day 7 and 21 in mice fed daily with Spirulina (50 and 150 mg/kg body weight). Both Spirulina supplementation and TT vaccination did not significantly affect body weight gain of the mice. Supplementation of Spirulina significantly enhanced IgG level (p = .01) after the first but not after the second TT vaccination. The anti-TT IgG levels of the groups that received low dose and high dose of Spirulina were not significantly different. Spirulina supplementation did not show significant effects on in vitro splenocyte proliferation and cytokine (IFN-γ and IL-4) production induced by Con A and TT. This study showed that Spirulina supplementation could enhance primary immune response in terms of antibody production, but not secondary immune response following TT vaccination in a mouse model.
  20. Appukutty M, Ramasamy K, Rajan S, Vellasamy S, Ramasamy R, Radhakrishnan AK
    Benef Microbes, 2015;6(4):491-6.
    PMID: 25691103 DOI: 10.3920/BM2014.0129
    Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits through the gastrointestinal microbiota. This nutritional supplement may benefit athletes who undergo rigorous training by maintaining their gastrointestinal functions and overall health. In this study the influence of moderate physical exercise using a graded treadmill exercise, alone or in combination with the consumption of a soy product fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum LAB12 (LAB12), on tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) responses was investigated in a murine model. Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups of six mice each (control, exercise alone, LAB12 and LAB12 + exercise). Mice treated with the potential probiotic LAB12 were orally gavaged for 42 days. At autopsy, blood and spleen from the animals were collected. The splenocytes were cultured in the presence of a mitogen, concanavalin A (Con A). The amount of TNF-α produced by the Con A-stimulated splenocytes was quantified using ELISA, while their proliferation was determined using the [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation method. This study shows that LAB12-supplemented and exercise-induced mice showed marked increase (P<0.05) in cell proliferation compared to the control animals. TNF-α production was suppressed (P<0.05) in the LAB12 group compared to the untreated mice. These results demonstrate that supplementation with LAB12 has immunomodulatory effects, under conditions of moderate physical exercise, which may have implications for human athletes. Further investigation in human trials is warranted to confirm and extrapolate these findings.
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