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Candida species has become the seventh most frequent causal microorganisms of nosocomial sepsis. Prematurity and low birth weights are strongly associated with the development of neonatal nosocomial bloodstream infections. Candida albicans has been the species most often associated with neonatal infections, but recently, there has been a changing pattern in the isolates recovered from neonates with invasive candidiasis, which poses resistance to the existing class of azoles such as fluconazole antifungals along with cross resistance to newer triazoles, which results in a therapeutic challenge in invasive fungal infections causing high incidence of mortality. Candida species was isolated from blood of neonates and children younger than 15 years admitted to hospital and susceptible for Candida-induced sepsis. Polymerase chain reaction-based identification and confirmation of individual Candida species were done using DNA sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility assay and resistance pattern for fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin were done for all the isolates. Furthermore, the change in free radical, cytokine release, and nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes isolated from control and pediatric sepsis cases were also performed. The present study probably for the first time reports the change in increasing incidence of nonalbicans Candida-induced sepsis in neonates and children admitted to the intensive care unit of hospital, and current antibiotics load posing resistance for antifungal treatment strategy and provide serious threats in future treatment. The increase in free radicals in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and increase in expression of nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide release in Candida-infected pediatric sepsis cases underlie the role of host factor in dissemination and invasiveness of infection from exogenous sources and pathogenesis of systemic inflammation during sepsis., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of degenerative conditions occurring at cellular level with serious health implications. This study was aimed at investigating the antioxidative potentials of probiotic lactobacilli of Indian gut origin and their ability to augment antioxidant defense enzyme systems in the host cells under oxidative stress conditions. A total of 39 Lactobacillus cultures were assessed for their resistance against reactive oxygen species. Most of the cultures were moderately to strongly resistant towards 0.4 mM H(2)O(2). The Lactobacillus isolate CH4 was the most H(2)O(2) resistant culture with only 0.06 log cycle reduction. Majority of the cultures demonstrated high resistance towards hydroxyl ions and Lp21 was the most resistant with log count reduction of 0.20 fold only. Almost all the cultures were also quite resistant to superoxide anions. Lp21 also showed the highest superoxide dismutase content (0.8971 U). Amongst the 39 cultures, Lactobacillus spp. S3 showed the highest total antioxidative activity of 77.85 ± 0.13 % followed by Lp55 (56.1 ± 1.2 %) in terms of per cent inhibition of linolenic acid oxidation. Lp9 up-regulated the expression of superoxide dismutase 2 gene in HT-29 cells both at 0.1 mM (1.997 folds) and 1.0 mM H(2)O(2) (2.058 folds) concentrations. In case of glutathione peroxidase-1, Lp9, Lp91 and Lp55 showed significant (P < 0.001) up-regulation in the gene expression to the level of 5.451, 8.706 and 10.083 folds, respectively when HT-29 was challenged with 0.1 mM H(2)O(2). The expression of catalase gene was also significantly up-regulated by all the cultures at 0.1 mM H(2)O(2) conditions. It can be concluded that the antioxidative efficacy of the putative probiotic lactobacilli varied considerably between species and strains and the potential strains can be explored as prospective antioxidants to manage oxidative stress induced diseases.

Introduction: The clinical presentation of ischaemic reperfusion in postoperative patients correlates with oxidative stress. The limited clinical success of anti-ischaemic reperfusion agents has prompted a comparison of the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and magnesium (Mg) in South Indian patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)., Methods: In Clinical Trial I, 52 South Indian patients who had undergone CABG surgery (with intraoperative Mg supplementation) and 40 controls (without Mg supplementation) were selected and matched. The control patients underwent the same protocol without Mg. In Clinical Trial II, the study population consisted of 50 patients, where 25 patients received NAC just before the release of the aortic cross clamp. In the NAC untreated group, dextrose solution was administered at the same time as the placebo. Six blood samples were taken at different times during the cardiac surgery and the antioxidant enzymes, ATPase and cardiac markers from the coronary sinus blood samples were analysed., Results: Increased blood lipid peroxidation was observed in patients who were not treated with Mg/NAC. The administration of Mg/NAC just before the release of the aortic cross clamp reduced the lipid peroxidation significantly (p-value is less than 0.05). The above observations were supported by the antioxidant enzyme levels. Significant improvements to the erythrocyte ATPase and cardiac markers in patients treated with Mg/NAC correlated with a reduction in postoperative abnormalities. Based on the biochemical status of the patients, Mg was shown to mediate better recovery from postoperative changes., Conclusion: NAC and Mg decreased pump-induced oxidative stress during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), suggesting that it could be a novel therapy for assisting in the prevention of CPB-induced oxidative stress.

Free radicals play a main pathogenic role in several human diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and cancer. Although there has been progress in treatment of these diseases, the development of important side effects may complicate the therapeutic course. Curcumin, a well known spice commonly used in India to make foods colored and flavored, is also used in traditional medicine to treat mild or moderate human diseases. In the recent years, a growing body of literature has unraveled the antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antinfectious activity of curcumin based on the ability of this compound to regulate a number of cellular signal transduction pathways. These promising data obtained in vitro are now being translated to the clinic and more than ten clinical trials are currently ongoing worldwide. This review outlines the biological activities of curcumin and discusses its potential use in the prevention and treatment of human diseases.

High concentration of fluorine is noxious to the health of humans and animals. Analysis of fluoride in water samples meant for human consumption in the Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, India, revealed its presence above the permissible limit (4.56 ppm). The present study was aimed to investigate the toxic effects of oral administration of the water sample that contains the highest fluoride content on the status of pathophysiological parameters and lipid peroxidation in experimental rats. A positive control group orally treated with 4.5 ppm of fluoride was also included in the study. The assay of pathophysiological enzymes and histological observations made on the stomach and intestinal tissue have revealed the toxic effects of fluoride intoxication. The observed increase in the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) both in plasma and in intestinal epithelium, with a concomitant decrease in both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in the plasma of experimental rats, revealed that the altered antioxidant status during fluoride intoxication may be due to increased free radical generation., (Copyright 2007 Prous Science.)

Anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging activities of the methanolic extract of Ricinus communis (RCM) (Euphorbiaceae) Linn. root was studied in Wistar albino rats. The methanolic extract at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg p.o. exhibited significant (P<0.001) anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model. The extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. also exhibited significant (P<0.001) anti-inflammatory activity in cotton pellet granuloma model. The methanolic extract showed significant free radical scavenging activity by inhibiting lipid peroxidation initiated by carbon tetrachloride and ferrous sulphate in rat liver and kidney homogenates. The extract enhanced free radical scavenging activity of stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH*), nitric oxide and hydroxyl radical in in vitro assay methods. The results of the study indicate that the methanolic extract of Ricinus communis root possess significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammatory models in rats. The observed pharmacological activity may be due to the presence of phytochemicals like flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins present in the plant extract with various biological activities.

Background and Objectives: Smoking plays a dominant role in premature atherosclerosis particularly among males in South Asian countries. It initiates and promotes atherosclerosis by altering cardiac haemodynamics, causing dyslipidaemia and producing oxidative damage. Not much information is available from our country. We therefore undertook this study to see the effect of smoking on electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, lipids, apolipoprotein B level and free radical activity in young asymptomatic male smokers., Methods: The study included 100 consecutive male subjects (50 smokers and 50 non smokers) aged 30-40 yr. Smoking profile, detailed cardiovascular assessment including ECG and lipid profile were evaluated in each subject., Results: Of the 50 smokers, 22 (44%) had grade I hypertension as against 5 of 50 non smokers. Sinus tachycardia (10%) and P-pulmonale (8%) were the only notable ECG abnormalities. Dyslipidaemia was detected in 92 per cent smokers and 48 per cent non smokers (P<0.001). Total serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B levels were significantly higher (P<0.001) in smokers compared to non smokers. LDL-cholesterol was > or =135 mg/dl in 94 per cent dyslipidaemic smokers. However, no significant difference was found in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. Smokers had significantly higher serum malondialdehyde levels (P<0.001) and low superoxide dismutase (P<0.001) compared to non smokers., Interpretation and Conclusion: Our data indicate that young asymptomatic male smokers tend to have hypertension, dyslipidaemia and increased production of free oxygen radicals, perhaps by attenuation of oxidative stress by cigarette smoking. This makes them prone for premature coronary artery disease. However, the findings need to be confirmed on a larger sample.

The antidiarrhoeal activity of the ethanolic extract of Cissampelos pareira (Menispermaceae) roots was assessed on experimental animals. The hydroethanolic extract (25-100 mg dry extract kg(-1) body mass, p.o.) exhibited a dose dependent decrease in the total number of faecal droppings (control 65, reduced to 26-46) and 29.2-60.0% inhibition in castor oil-induced diarrhoea. Further, C. pareira produced a significant (p < 0.01) and dose dependent reduction in intestinal fluids accumulation (26.0-59.0%). The extract showed a greater inhibitory effect on the concentration of Na+ (20.0 and 34.5%) than on the concentration of K+ (6.7 and 9.4%). The extract also reduced dose dependently the gastrointestinal transit from 46.4 and 38.7%, equivalent to 53.6 and 61.3%. However, C. pareira significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation and inhibited the decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels (superoxide dismutase and catalase) on prior administration to castor oil-induced fluid accumulation. The extract of C. pareira had no effect on normal defecation at 25 mg kg(-1) in mice. However, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) inhibited defecation by 100% in the initial 2 h and the activity was reduced to 40.0 and 73.0%, respectively, in the third hour.

During the functioning of the immune system, such as in phagocytosis, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are generated. If they are left unchecked they can affect the components of the immune system by inducing oxidative damage. This is more so in the elderly or during inflammation where there is excess generation of these reactive species than can be taken care of by the defenses in the form of antioxidants. Dietary supplementation with antioxidants may greatly help in such conditions. There are some indications of possible benefits of antioxidant supplementation. Natural compounds from medicinal plants having antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities have potential as therapeutic agents in this regard. Indian medicinal plants with these activities have been identified and their antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects reviewed. The possible future prospects in this regard are also outlined.