Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics

  Polyphenols and flavonoids from natural products possess antioxidant properties which are known to prevent as well as treat cancer. Natural compounds from plant kingdom are non-toxic in a wide range of concentrations and are safe for long term usage. Many studies have demonstrated anticancer properties of many polyphenols and other antioxidants involving cell cycle modulation, transcription factor NF-κB and protein kinases. Research results from our laboratory have shown enhanced cytotoxic activity of a number of polyphenols, such as triphala, ellagic acid, curcumin, biochanin A and others in tumor cells in combination with radiation whereas normal cells were protected against the damage. The present paper gives a brief review of differential action of polyphenols in tumor and normal cells and outlines the mechanism of action through induction of apoptosis in oxidatively stressed cells. It is suggested that antioxidants drive cells to survival or death depending upon the level of homeostasis. Results point to clinical evaluation of some of these polyphenols for practical applications in cancer radiotherapy.
Keywords: Polyphenols; Cancer; Antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Chemoprevention.

  Proteins are one of the most dynamic and versatile biomolecules which present in all the organisms. Protein plays a pivotal role in cell growth, cell motility, and biosignalling, provide immunity as well as cell recognition and many more biological processes like replication, transcription and repair.  Transcription factors are also protein which present in vicinity of various DNA sequences and by binding to these sequences they can upregulate or downregulate the expression of the particular gene. Some protein performs more than one function in body and some are specific for a particular function in the biological system. Cancer is one of the deadly diseases of present century. Cancer is abnormal growth of cells which can be generated by multiple unlimited cell divisions and form a lump or tumor which can be benign or malignant. At present era the role of protein in cancer is very much skeptical that weather it enhance metastasis or suppress the effect of cancer. Cancer is the second most deadly disease of century after the heart disease. This mini review is an effort to give a glimpse of indispensable role of protein in cancer.
Keywords: Protein; Cancer; F-Box Protein; Cell Proliferation; Apoptosis; Metastasis.

 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder rapidly rising all over the globe at an alarming rate. Since last 3 decades the status of diabetes has changed from being considered as a mild disorder of the elderly to one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality affecting the youth and middle aged people. It is important to note that the rise in prevalence is seen in all six inhabited continents of the globe. Diabetes mellitus is condition of glucose embolic disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. The Centre for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) estimated the prevalence of 7.9% in adults or about 16.7 million people in 2001. Due to the undiagnosed cases the number may raise above 22 million. The increased prevalence estimates that the diabetes will globally affect about 300 million peoples till 2025. The statistics shows that this disease is one of the main threatening diseases of 21st Centaury. The diabetes prevalence is associated with the age and approximately half of all cases occur in the age of 55 years. The present study established the facts which already researched and written by the various scientists of the World. In addition to that the fact that BMI which is the determinant of the overweight and underweight in society, also have influenced by the type of oil consumption, television watch time and late sleeping time. This study suggests that a particular age group of 25-55 is more prone to the metabolic disease like diabetes and hypertension. The epidemiological survey also have outcome that the females of age group 25-45 having some % of underweight also. The underweight 25-45 age group have Hb% on lower side suggesting the occurrence of anemia.

Keywords: Body Mass Index; Diabetes; Blood Glucose; Epidemiology; Hb%; Hypertension.

  Background: Hypertension is the third leading killer disease in the world and is responsible for 1 in every 8 deaths. Uric acid has been associated with hypertension in many studies involving different population but results were controversial and no information was found on the association between vitamin D insufficiency and elevated uric acid. The aim of present study was to assess the serum uric acid and vitamin D level in essential hypertension and try to find out its correlation. Material and Methods: The present study was case-control study. Total 90 subjects were included and divided into two groups. Group I consisted 45 subjects of essential hypertension in the age group 25-75 years while Group II consisted of age and sex matched 45 normal healthy individuals who served as control with no history of essential hypertension. Serum levels of uric acid, vitamin D were estimated in all the subjects under study. Values were expressed as mean± standard deviation. SYSTAT version 12 software was used for statistical analysis.Comparisons of study groups to control groups were done by applying student t test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to find out the correlation between two variables. Results: Serum uric acid level was increased significantly (p<0.001) in essential hypertension as compared with controls. Correlation between uric acid and diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure was positively correlated and significant. Correlation between Vitamin D and diastolic and systolic blood pressure was negatively correlated and non- ignificant. Conclusion: In the present study,It can be concluded that, the essential hypertension is associated with abnormalities in the level of serum uric acid and vitamin D. Serum uric acid and vitamin D can be used as biochemical markers to determine severity of hypertension and it may be beneficial for better management and for developing new treatment strategies. 

Keywords: Essential Hypertension; Uric Acid; Vitamin D.

 The earlier work in the lab has reported the identification of bioactive components from the methanolic extract of E. scaber Linn. These components are evaluated in silico for their cardiotonic properties and the binding energy is compared with positive controls; Dronaderone and azimilide, both class III antiarrhythmic drugs. The ligand, 2-amino-4-(4 henylpiperazino)-1,3,5-triazine had exhibited efficient binding with Kir2.1 channel with a low binding energy of -10.14 kcal/mol; which was comparatively lower than Dronaderone (-9.06 kcal/mol). Similar result was obtained with the cardiac potassium ion channel, kir3.1, where the ligand ononin had better binding efficiency than the positive control, Azimilide with binding energies of -9.24 kcal/mol and -8.8 kcal/mol respectively. The present study has revealed 2-amino-4-(4-phenylpiperazino)-1,3,5-triazine and ononin with better cardiotonic property that are devoid of arrhythmic side-effects.
Keywords: Cardiotonic Agents; Anti-Arrhythmic Drug; Elephantopus Scaber; Cardiac Potassium Ion Channels Kir2.1 and Kir3.1, Autodock 4, Lipinski Rule of Five.

 The present work focuses on the integration of aqueous two-phase extraction with membrane processes (ultrafiltration/microfiltration) for the concentration and purification of alcohol dehydrogenase and  invertase from crude extract of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Integration was carried out in three different modes. Integration of microfiltration (using nanofibrous membrane) with aqueous twophase extraction was found to be best compared to other modes which has resulted in 8.12 fold purification with 647.32 U/mg specific activity and 95% enzyme activity recovery in case of alcohol dehydrogenase and 14.09 fold purification with 54.52 U/mg specific activity and 92.41% enzyme activity recovery in case of invertase.
Keywords: Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction; Bioseparation; Process Integration; Purification; Ultrafiltration; Yeast; Enzymes.

 The cross sectional study was performed to find out the incidence of -Thalassemia trait in  ribal population of Hingoli district; Maharashtra from July 2014 to May 2016. The study was conducted at IIMSR,Medical College,Jalna. In this study we screened 1075 tribal subjects comprising adult men & women as wellas children. Whole blood Samples were collected in EDTA bulb for Naked Eye Single Tube Red cell Osmotic Fragility Test (NESTROFT). The screening of â thalassemia trait was done on NESTROFT with 0.36% freshly prepared saline. Out of 1475 tribal subjects the NESTROFT was positive for 111 subjects which indicated very high chances of subjects having -Thalassemia trait. With this rate of  thalassemia trait, urges necessity in studying beta thalassemia carrier status in the child bearing group, as a primary step to prevent the birth of beta thalassemia major.
Keywords: Tribal; -Thalassemia Trait; NESRTROFT.

 Background and Objective: Incidence of preeclampsia in India is reported to be 8-10% of pregnancies. It is a non-convulsive form of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. The present study has been undertaken to estimate and compare the serum values of calcium, uric acid, triglycerides, total cholesterol HDL-C and LDL-C between l non pregnant healthy women, normotensive pregnant women and pre-eclamptic women. Materials and Methods: Study includes 120 women divided into three groups. Estimation of serum calcium, uric acid, triglycerides, total-cholesterol and HDL-C were analyzed by O-CresolphthaleinComplexone , Modified Trinder Peroxidase, CHOD-PAP and Phosphotungstic acid precipitation method, using Erba Chem-5 plus semi-autoanalyser. Results: Mean serum calcium and HDL-C levels were significantly decreased in group-C and group-B in comparison to group-I,p<0.05. The mean serum concentration of uric acid in pre-eclamptic pregnant women (group-C) was significantly elevated than normotensive pregnant women (group-B) cases and healthy non-pregnant women (group-A). The mean triglyceride, and LDL-C levels were significantly increased in group-C as compared to group-B, p<0.05. But there was no difference in the mean values of total-cholesterol between cases (group-B and groupC) and control (group-A), p>0.05. Conclusion: Women having pre-eclampsia had low levels of serum calcium, elevated the serum uric acid and disturbed lipid profile. These levels may have cause and effect relationship with these disorders.
Keywords: Pregnancy; Pre-Eclampsia; Calcium; Uric Acid; Lipid Profile; Women.