Browsing by Author "Mehra, Richa"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Caulerpa taxifolia inhibits cell proliferation and induces oxidative stress in breast cancer cells
    (Springer, 2018) Mehra, Richa; Bhushan, Satej; Yadav, Umesh Prasad; Bast, Felix; Singh, Sandeep
    Caulerpa taxifolia (M. Vahl) C. Agardh or killer alga is known to possess several bioactive secondary metabolites with unique structural modifications. We investigated anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative activity of C. taxifolia extract (CTE) on breast and lung cancer cells, along with possible effects on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cell cycle progression. The results revealed up to 6-folds increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), 2-folds increase in glutathione reductase (GR) activity, 1.7-fold increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and 1.8-fold change in catalase activity w.r.t. untreated cells i.e. 10.72 to 21.44 nmol/min/mL, 2.0 to 3.49 U/mL and 37.51 to 69.26 U/min/g FW, respectively, in MDA-MB-cells. Likewise, selective anti-proliferative activity with IC50 0.19 + 0.1, 0.27 + 0.1, and 0.43 + 0.1 μg/μL, was recorded in MDA-MB-231, T-47D, and H1299 cells. In addition, dose-dependent increase in MMP of up to 40% and G1/S phase mitotic arrest was documented by CTE treatment in MDA-MB-231 cells. The results suggest an anti-proliferative and oxidative stress inducing activity of CTE. Changes in MMP and cell cycle arrest further support the anti-cancer effects of CTE. It is believed that C. taxifolia may be considered as a potent source of anti-cancer drugs, subject to further validations.
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    DB IndAlgae: An on-line resource of marine algae from India identified on the basis of molecular and morphological features
    (Indian Academy of Sciences, 2016) Bhushan, Satej; Mehra, Richa; Rani, Pooja; Bast, Felix
    DbIndAlgae is a free on-line database of marine algae from India. It provides information about the geographical distribution, morphological characteristics and most importantly, sequence data of marine algae collected from different coasts. It is the only database which contains molecular data of the algal species from India. Identification of the species is based on both morphological as well as molecular information. The database also serves as an interface to the herbarium maintained at the Centre for Plant Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. So far the database lists 45 marine algal species. Some algal species have been identified for the first time from India, but have already been reported from places other than India, whereas new species are those which have been identified by us for the first time as a part of this study and have never been reported elsewhere.
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    DNA barcoding and phylogeny based comparative evaluation of anti-cancer properties of Caulerpa (J V Lamouroux) spp. from Indian coasts
    (Central University of Punjab, 2019) Mehra, Richa; Bast, Felix and Singh, Sandeep
    A total of 15 Caulerpa samples were collected from Indian coasts and identified based on morphological and molecular data inferred from ITS, 18S, tufA and rbcL. Seven different species viz. C. scalpelliformis, C. racemosa, C. sertularioides, C. verticillata, C. taxifolia, and C. corynephora; and their geographical isolates were identified. Barcode data for these species was generated using aforementioned molecular markers and used for phylogenetic assessment. Phylogenetic trees using Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) function were generated for each molecular marker. tufA was found to be most suitable marker for the genus Caulerpa, resolving the species into 17 different lineages, with 15 corresponding to already known sections and 2 new lineages. Besides, a database named DbIndAlgae of Indian algae was generated and all the morphological as well as molecular data generated in this study is uploaded on the database. In addition, the phycochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and phenols in different Caulerpa species. The selective cytotoxicity of methanolic extracts of Caulerpa (CMEs) was evaluated on MDA-MB-231, T47-D and H1299 cells, and the results revealed significant cytotoxicity of all species. C. racemosa KNY-254 and C. taxifolia TEN-158 were found to be most potent on MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 value of 0.226 ± 0.004 and 0.246 ± 0.009 µg/µL. The mitochondrial membrane perturbation was revealed by JC-1 and apoptotic cell death was confirmed by Annexin V/FITC staining. CMEs also induced ROS in MDA-MB-231 cells as depicted by DHE, and increased activity of SOD, decreased activity of gluthatione reductase. The CMEs also exhibit anti-invasion activity and inhibited up to 71% migration across the artificially scratched wound in MDA-MB-231, w.r.t. untreated control cells. Moreover, chemical probing of C. racemosa KNY-254 by LC-MS analysis revealed six previously reported and six unreported molecules. The molecular docking analysis revealed weak to moderate interactions with all of the protein targets viz. Bcl2, AMPK, mTOR, BID, PERK, IGF-1R, PI3K, PTP1B and Akt2, known to play important role in cancer cell signaling. Additionally, a moderately positive correlation amongst the phylogeny and anti-cancer activity was observed suggesting that phylogeny might provide cues for anti-cancer activity, subject to further validations.
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    First report of Zoanthus pulchellus from India
    (AMET University, 2015) Mehra, Richa; Yadav, Digvijay Singh; Kundu, Pushpendra; Rehman, Wahid Ul; Bast, Felix
    The marine ecosystem carries immense undescribed organisms having huge potential uses for mankind. The zoanthids, classified under phylum Cnidaria, are mostly found in shallow waters, below the low tide mark. Based on morphological features, we identified a zoanthid during an expedition to Kanyakumari. Thorough examination of the color variations, polyp length, tentacle number, colony appearance and comparison with previously reported species of the genus, suggests that the species is Zoanthus pulchellus. This is the first report of this species from India.
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    Ganoderic acid, lanostanoid triterpene: a key player in apoptosis
    (Springer New York LLC, 2018) Gill, Balraj Singh; Navgeet; Mehra, Richa; Kumar, Vicky; Kumar, Sanjeev
    Cancer is a multifactorial disease, causing behavioral and metabolic alterations, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation with collateral weakening of immune system. Crucial balance between cell proliferation and cell death determines the fate of a cell, which might progress towards survival or apoptosis. Apoptosis is a complex, programmed, and highly regulated process causing dramatic morphological and biochemical perturbations in the cellular machinery. Ganoderma lucidum is a basidiomycetes, polypore mushroom known for its pharmacological properties in cancer. The major bioconstituents in G. lucidum are terpenoids, polysaccharides, and proteins that target cancer-signaling factors like plasma membrane receptors proteins and adapter molecules. Of all constituents, the major terpenoid, i.e. Ganoderic acid is reported to interact with membrane receptors mainly, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTKs). Ganoderic acid interacts and modulates the signaling network in IR, IGFR-1, IGFR-2, VEGFR-1, VEFGR-2, and EGFR in cancer signaling pathways. It primarily targets NF-?B, RAS-MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and cell cycle resulting in apoptosis. This review highlights the role of ganoderic acid in apoptosis and modulations of various signaling proteins in cancer. ? 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
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    Isolation and characterization of heavy metal resistant bacteria from soil
    (Central University of Punjab, 2014) Mehra, Richa; Saini,R.G
    The exploitation of microbes to remove heavy metals from contaminated sites and industrial effluents is an extensive area of research. In this study, isolation of heavy metal resistant bacteria was done from potentially heavy metal contaminated agricultural soil of Bathinda region. The ICAP-AES analysis of soil revealed toxic concentrations of lead and nickel whereas most other heavy metals were also present in considerable amounts. The organisms showing maximum resistance to eight heavy metals tested (Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Cd, Fe and As) were screened. The 29 potent metal resistant organisms were subjected to biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequencing, and tentatively identified as strains of Bacillus and Streptomyces spp. All the strains showed multiple heavy metal resistance with varied degrees of resistance. A strain of B. megaterium FE1 exhibited maximum resistance to all the heavy metals- Pb (2.5 mg/ml), Cu (1.5 mg/ml), Ni (1.0 mg/ml), Cr (3.0 mg/ml), Co (0.5 mg/ml), Cd (2.5 mg/ml) and As (2.5 mg/ml). The incidence of such extent of heavy metal resistance in native bacteria suggest that agricultural soil is undergoing stress which needs more intensive studies.
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    Vitex negundo and its medicinal value
    (Springer, 2018) Gill, Balraj Singh; Mehra, Richa; Navget; Kumar, Sanjeev
    Natural products are rich in several potent bioactive compounds, targeting complex network of proteins involved in various diseases. Vitex negundo (VN), commonly known as “chaste tree”, is an ethnobotanically important plant with enormous medicinal properties. Different species of Vitex vary in chemical composition, thus producing different phytochemicals. Several bioactive compounds have been extracted from leaves, seeds, roots in form of volatile oils, flavonoids, lignans, iridoids, terpenes, and steroids. These bioactive compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial. VN is typically known for its role in the modulation of cellular events like apoptosis, cell cycle, motility of sperms, polycystic ovary disease, and menstrual cycle. VN, reportedly, perturbs many cancer-signaling pathways involving p-p38, p-ERK1/2, and p-JNK in LPS-elicited cells, N-terminal kinase (JNK), COX-1 pathways, MAPK, NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Akt, mTOR, vascular endothelial growth factor, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α). Several bioactive compounds obtained from VN have been commercialized and others are under investigation. This is the first review presenting up-to-date information about the VN, its bioactive constituents and their mode of action.