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Brassica rapa has been widely reported as an anti-diabetic plant and is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the plant's anti-diabetic activity has not been elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the possible molecular mechanism of B.rapa for managing diabetes mellitus through network pharmacology and molecular docking studies. The active ingredients and associated target proteins were obtained from a literature review and the Swiss Target Prediction platform and validated using the PubChem database. The disease-associated genes were retrieved from the Genecard database. The B. rapa-DM target network was analyzed using the STRING database, and the results were integrated and visualized using Cytoscape software. The molecular mechanism and therapeutic effect of B.rapa for the treatment of DM were determined by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses using the Enrichr Platform. Fifty-two active ingredients were screened from B. rapa, and 1528 putative target genes were identified from these ingredients. Four hundred and fifty-four overlapping targets matched with DM were considered potential therapeutic targets. First, ten key targets (ALB, AKT1, TNF, GAPDH, MAPK3, EGFR, VEGFA, CTNNB1, CASP3, and STAT3) were found by topological analysis. Then, the results of GO and KEGG suggested that the anti-diabetes effect of B. rapa was strongly associated with the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Lipid and atherosclerosis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and Calcium signaling pathway. The AKT1 (Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase) enzyme is targeted by major bioactive constituents of B.rapa. Molecular Docking studies revealed that Liquiritin (docking score -6.1 Kcal/mol) showed the highest binding affinity with AKT1. These results suggest that Brassica rapa may play a role in regulating several pathways that are involved in the development of Diabetes Mellitus. Keywords: Network pharmacology, molecular mechanisms, Brassica rapa, Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

The technique for order of preference by similarity ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach was used for optimizing the process parameters of laser micro-drilling of nickel superalloy C263 with Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC). Plasma spraying was used to deposit the TBC and a pico-second Nd:YAG pulsed laser was used to drill the specimens. Drilling angle, laser scan speed and number of passes were considered as input parameters. Based on the machining conditions, Taguchi L8 orthogonal array was used for conducting the experimental runs. The surface roughness and surface crack density (SCD) were considered as the output measures. The surface roughness was measured using 3D White Light Interferometer (WLI) and the crack density was measured using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The optimized result achieved from this approach suggests reduced surface roughness and surface crack density. The holes drilled at an inclination angle of 45°, laser scan speed of 3 mm/s and 400 number of passes found to be optimum. From the Analysis of variance (ANOVA), inclination angle and number of passes were identified as the major influencing parameter. The optimized parameter combination exhibited a 19% improvement in surface finish and 12% reduction in SCD.

Aims: The aim of the present work was to design and evaluate the Imatinib mesylate microspheres using natural and semi synthetic polymers for stomach specific drug delivery. Study Design: Design and Evaluation of Imatinib Mesylate loaded microspheres Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in Department of Pharmaceutics, JKKMMRF’s Annai JKK Sampoorani Ammal College of Pharmacy, between November 2012 and July 2013. Methodology: The microspheres were prepared using Sodium alginate as a polymer by Emulsification Ionic Gelation Technique. Copolymers of natural origin namely Guar gum, Karaya gum, Chitosan and semi synthetic origin namely Hydroxy propoylmethyl cellulose K4M, K15M, K100M are used as mucoadhesive polymers. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for their percentage yield, entrapment efficiency, degree of swelling, particle size, surface morphology and in-vitro mucoadhesion, drug release studies. Drug release kinetics was determined from drug release data. Selected formulations are subjected to stability studies under varying conditions of temperature and humidity. Results: The production yields of microspheres were found to be between 76.74 to 88.18%. Percentage drug entrapment efficiency of Imatinib mesylate microspheres was ranged from 65.51 to 88.78%. Particle size of the prepared microspheres was in the size range of 440-810µm. SEM analysis revealed that all the prepared microspheres were discrete, spherical in shape. The in-vitro mucoadhesive study demonstrated that Hydroxy propoylmethyl cellulose adhered to the mucus to a greater extent than other polymers. The in-vitro release study shows that, retarded release with increase in percentage of polymers. The release of drug from the microspheres followed Krosmeyer Peppas kinetics. After the stability studies, the formulations remained stable at the end of storage period. Conclusion: Based on the results, it was concluded that, the formulations with natural polymers were found to be best than semi synthetic polymers for the oral delivery of Imatinib mesylate.

The present study demonstrates the anti-tumor effects of combined supplementations of dietary fish oil (Maxepa) and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (vitamin D(3)) on 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Female Sprague-Dawley rats at 50 days of age were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene (DMBA; 0.5mg/100g body weight) by a single tail vein injection in an oil emulsion. Both fish oil (rich in EPA and DHA) and vitamin D(3) were administered orally at a dose of 0.5 ml/day/rat and 0.3 microg/100 microL propylene glycol twice a week respectively and continued to 35 weeks after DMBA administration. Fish oil in combination with vitamin D(3) resulted in a significant reduction in incidence, multiplicity and volume of mammary tumors. These supplementation also inhibited DMBA-induced mammary 7-methylguanine DNA adducts formation, which was measured by HPLC-fluorescence assay (at four sequential time points; ANOVA, F=42.56, P

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic B-cell malignancy, affecting > 16,000 individuals each year in the United States with a median life expectancy of 3–5 years and a prevalence accounting for ∼50,000 patients alive annually, and contributing to ∼12,000 cancer related deaths. MM is characterized by accumulation of clonal malignant plasma cells predominantly within the bone marrow and a heterogenous clinical course, which can be often preceded by a premalignant condition, defined as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and may progress to extramedullary and/or disseminated disease. MM is associated with a constellation of disease manifestations, including osteolytic lesions due to uncoupled bone metabolism, anemia and immunosuppression due to loss of normal hematopoietic stem cell function, and end-organ damage due to monoclonal immunoglobulin secretion (Barlogie et al. 2004).

Chitosan adsorbed microspheres containing tetanus toxoid were prepared in the size range of 10 µm to 75 µm, by emulsion-cross linking technique at different speeds of agitation. The amount of tetanus toxoid incorporated into chitosan microspheres were estimated by limes flocculation test and in vivo evaluation of tetanus toxoid adsorbed chitosan microspheres were determined by toxin neutralization method using albino mice. The results of in vivo release for the batches of 10 µm and 25 µm correlates with the results of in vitro in which both the batches passes the limit of IP standard (4 Lf) where as, for the batches of 50 µm and 75 µm, the in vitro release of tetanus toxoid was 2 Lf. But our in vivo studies for the batches of 50 µm and 75 µm fail to pass the limit stated in IP. The release of tetanus toxoid from the chitosan microspheres was found to be sustained for the period of 6 months.