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Aims: In this study, we hypothesized that maternal anemia leads to altered expression of angiogenic proteins vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PLGF), nitrotyrosine (NT) residues, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) in the placenta. Hence, we study the expression of the abovementioned proteins in the placentas of mothers with different grades of anemia. Materials and methods: Our study was conducted in 48 pregnant women (36-40 weeks of gestation), who were divided into four groups-normal, mild, moderate, and severe anemia. After delivery, the expression of the angiogenic proteins was studied in their placentas by immunohistochemistry. Results: In our study, 58.3% of the pregnant women were anemic, among which 20.83% had mild anemia, 18.75% had moderate anemia, and 18.75% had severe anemia. Immunohistochemical staining intensity for VEGF, PLGF, NT residues, and e-NOS proteins was observed to be higher in the placentas of anemic women when compared with the non-anemic women. Conclusion: Our study showed that there is an increased expression of angiogenic proteins in the placentas of anemic mothers, which probably is an adaptive response leading to changes in placental vessels.

The present study was intended to assess the anti-obesity efficiency of methanolic extracts of leaves of Acalypha indica, Pergularia daemia and Tinospora cordifolia in WNIN/GR-Ob rats. Leaves of three plants were extracted with methanol by using soxhlet apparatus and flash evaporated. WNIN/GR-Ob rats were taken for this study and plant extracts were supplemented to rats in the form of handmade pellets along with standard dietfor 30 days. We evaluated the effects of plant extracts on body and organ weights, blood glucose, and lipid profiles, body composition by TOBEC and DXA and histopathological analysis as well. In the current study, we found that decreased body and organ weights, blood glucose and increased bone mineral density and bone mineral concentration were noticed. We also observed that decreased lipid levels and altered body composition parameters were restored to near normal in treated obese rats when compared to untreated rats. Histopathological study confirmed that these three plant extracts significantly reduced the pathological changes in treated groups caused by obesity. Hence, these results suggest that plant extracts of metanolic extract of A. indica, P. daemia and T. cordifolia (200 mg/kg BW) may be consider in the treatment of obesity. Keywords: Metabolic disorders, Obesity, Acalypha indica, Pergularia daemia, Tinospora cordifolia, Cholesterol, Natural products

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) generally follows prediabetes (PD) conditions such as impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Although studies reported an association of IGT or IFG with cataract, the experimental basis for PD associated cataract is not known. Hence, we evaluated neonatal streptozotocin (nSTZ) induced rat model to study PD associated cataractogenesis by injecting STZ to two-day old rats. While majority (70%) of nSTZ injected pups developed IGT (nSTZ-PD) by two months but not cataract even after seven months, remaining (30%) nSTZ rats developed hyperglycemia (nSTZ-D) by two months and mature cataract by seven months. Lens biochemical analysis indicated increased oxidative stress as indicated by increased SOD activity, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl levels in nSTZ-D cataractous lens. There was also increased polyol pathway as assessed by aldose reductase activity and sorbitol levels. Though nSTZ-PD animals have not shown any signs of lenticular opacity, insolubilization of proteins along with enhanced polyol pathway was observed in the lens. Further there was increased oxidative stress in lens of IGT animals. These results suggest that oxidative stress along with increased polyol pathway might play a role in IGT-associated lens abnormalities. In conclusion, nSTZ-PD rat model could aid to investigate IGT-associated lens abnormalities.