Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a number of important human diseases. One of the key determinants of parasite infectivity and survival is the surface glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG). In addition, LPG is shown to be useful as a transmission blocking vaccine. Since culture supernatant of parasite promastigotes is a good source of LPG, we made attempts to characterize functions of the culture supernatant, and membrane LPG isolated from metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania major. The purification scheme included anion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and cold methanol precipitation. The purity of supernatant LPG (sLPG) and membrane LPG (mLPG) was determined by SDS-PAGE and thin layer chromatography. The effect of mLPG and sLPG on nitric oxide (NO) production by murine macrophages cell line (J774.1A) was studied. Both sLPG and mLPG induced NO production in a dose dependent manner but sLPG induced significantly higher amount of NO than mLPG. Our results show that sLPG is able to promote NO production by murine macrophages.
Nitric Oxide/analysis/*biosynthesis ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice ; Macrophages/*drug effects/metabolism/parasitology ; Leishmania major/chemistry/pathogenicity/*physiology ; Glycosphingolipids/isolation & purification/*pharmacology ; Endotoxins/analysis ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Culture Media ; Chromatography, Thin Layer/methods ; Cell Membrane/chemistry ; Cell Line ; Animals

Objective To determine the larvicidal activities of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of roots and fruits extracts of Astrodaucus persicus from Apiaceae family against malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (An. stephensi). Methods Twenty five third instar larvae of An. stephensi were exposed to various concentrations (10–160 g/L) of fractions and were assayed according to World Health Organization protocol. The larval mortality was calculated after 24 h treatment. Results Among tested fractions, the highest larvicidal efficacy was observed from ethyl acetate fraction of fruits extract with 50% and 90% mortality values (LC

Objective: To investigate the effect of isoimperatorin on histopathological and biochemical changes in acetic acid-induced colitis rats. Methods: Colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of acetic acid solution (4% v/v) in rats. Rats were divided into six groups including the sham group, the negative control group, the dexamethasone-treated group, and the groups treated with isoimperatorin (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg/d by gavage). The treatments were administered for three days and then colonic status was assessed by macroscopic, histopathological, and biochemical analyses. Results: Isoimperatorin significantly alleviated colonic damage in a dose-dependent manner and improved histological changes in rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. It also significantly reduced myeloperoxidase, TNF-α, IL-1β, and malodialdehyde levels. Conclusions: Isoimperatorin alleviates acetic acid-induced colitis in rats and may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of colitis.