Dr.Harita Parikh's Talk

Mar 26, 2015 - 17:00

Mar 26, 2015 - 18:00

Room 240 Computer Lab Chemical Engineering

Seminars

Dr.Harita Parikh Ph.D. School of Science NMIMS University.

Abstract: Acetaminophen (APAP) which is a widely used over-the-counter drug and considered safe and effective as an analgesic and antipyretic drug is associated with hepatotoxicity in overdoses. To study the effect of phytoextract for hepatoprotection APAP-induced toxicity model was hence established in vitro using HepG2 cell line which mimic parenchyma cells of human liver. Various concentrations of APAP were evaluated to establish the toxicity model. The assessment of hepatocyte dysfunction includes cytotoxicity assessment by MTT assay various biochemical parameters namely AST ALT GGT and ALP as the indices of hepatic injury. Various antioxidant defence mechanisms operates within the hepatocytes as excessive generation of ROS play a central role in APAP toxicity that can be studied to evaluate the extent of injury and following reversal by the phytoextract. In the current study the generation of ROS was detected directly by employing a sensitive and automated flow cytometric technique using an intracellular dye DCFDA. Further the cell cycle analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of APAP on different phases of cell cycle and monitor the level of apoptosis occurring as a consequence of APAP toxicity. This work was also performed employing flow cytometer involving the use of propidium iodide (PI) as a fluorescent dye which enters the cell on permeabilization and intercalates within the strands of the nuclear DNA quantitatively. Besides the necrosis caused due to APAP induced hepatocyte injury was visualized by fluorescence imaging using EB/AO staining. Brassica juncea Czern. and Coss. also known as Indian mustard is an economically important plant that has been well known in India for centuries for its medicinal and nutritive values. The rich phytochemical profile of B. juncea and related species indicate the presence of various phytoconstituents reported to show varied pharmacological properties along with antioxidant potential. The broad spectrum of beneficial effects of the seeds observed in the earlier studies on B. juncea studies warrants further exploration of B. juncea seeds as a potential source for obtaining pharmacologically standardized phytotherapeutics that could be potentially useful. The present study is one such attempt to rationalize the existing knowledge within the framework of modern science principles practices and the techniques. Subsequently the elucidation of mechanism of action of the characterized extract in hepatoprotection at the cellular level was also studied.Bio-sketch : Harita Parikh is a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from School of Science NMIMS University (January 2015); from where she also received her M. Sc. in Biological Sciences in 2010. Harita received her bachelors in Biotechnology from Mithibai College Mumbai University. Her constant interest in Cell biology and Science of cell-communication inspired her to work in the similar area for her doctoral research under the supervision of a stem-cell biologist. Her doctoral work involved multidisciplinary approach involving partly phytochemistry and partly cell biology involving the development of in vitro mammalian cell culture model for the toxicity testing as well as assessment of hepatoprotective activity of phytoextract. Harita has presented her doctoral work in international conferences as well as has published in peer reviewed international journal. Dr. Harita was also involved in setting up the mammalian tissue culture laboratory in her institute and was also responsible in running the laboratory for two years of her doctoral research. Note : Attendance is mandatory for CL702/CL704 participants