Balaji Venkataraman

United Arab Emirates University | UAEU · Department of Physiology

Introduction: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) plays a vital role in regulating intestine inflammation. PPAR-γ is highly expressed in the adipose tissue and the colon. The nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1 (Keap1) system protects cells from oxidative stress and inflammation. Ther...

Inflammation of the GI tract leads to compromised epithelial barrier integrity, which increases intestine permeability. A compromised intestinal barrier is a critical event that leads to microbe entry and promotes inflammatory responses. Inflammatory bowel diseases that comprise Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) show an increase in i...

Inflammatory bowel disease, comprising Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is often debilitating. The disease etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic susceptibility, microbial dysregulation, abnormal immune activation, and environmental factors. Currently, available drug therapies are associated with adverse effects when used lo...

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory disorders that include Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The incidence of IBD is rising globally. However, the etiology of IBD is complex and governed by multiple factors. The current clinical treatment for IBD mainly includes steroids, biological agents and need-based surg...

Introduction: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) plays a vital role in regulating intestine inflammation. PPAR-γ is highly expressed in the adipose tissue and the colon. Therefore, PPAR-γ ligands offer a drug-targeting system that can be exploited to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), especially in ulcerative colitis....

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis) are increasing worldwide. The etiology of IBD is multifactorial, including genetic predisposition, dysregulated immune response, microbial dysbiosis, and environmental factors. However, many of the existing therapies are associated with marked...

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders with increasing incidence and prevalence worldwide. Here, we investigated thymoquinone (TQ), a naturally occurring phytochemical present in Nigella sativa, for anti-inflammatory effects in colonic inflammation. To address this, we used in vivo (mice) and in vitro (HT-29 cells) mod...

Nerolidol (NED) is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene alcohol present in various plants with potent anti-inflammatory effects. In the current study, we investigated NED as a putative anti-inflammatory compound in an experimental model of colonic inflammation. C57BL/6J male black mice (C57BL/6J) were administered 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in...

Introduction Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR‐γ) plays an important role in regulating intestinal inflammation. PPAR‐γ is expressed in many tissues in the body but high amount is found in adipose tissue and colon. Therefore, PPAR‐γ ligands offer drug‐targeting system that can be exploited for treating inflammatory bowel diseas...

The physiological role of prolactin (PRL) in the heart, and in particular the diabetic heart, are largely unknown. The effects of PRL on ventricular myocyte shortening and Ca²⁺ transport in the streptozotocin (STZ) – induced diabetic and in age-matched control rats were investigated. PRL receptor protein, myocyte shortening, intracellular [Ca²⁺], L...

Plant‐based compounds or phytochemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins, resins, and polyphenols have been used extensively in traditional medicine for centuries and more recently in Western alternative medicine. Extensive evidence suggests that consumption of dietary polyphenolic compounds lowers the risk of infla...

Introduction Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprises of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), which causes inflammation in both small and large intestine. The aetiology of IBD is unclear however, seems to be multifactorial. Therefore, impetus to search for the new therapeutic compounds is warranted. Phytochemicals (a group of second...

Acetaminophen (APAP), which is also known as paracetamol or N-acetyl-p-aminophenol is a safe and potent drug for fever, pain and inflammation when used at its normal therapeutic doses. It is available as over-the-counter drug and used by all the age groups. The overdose results in acute liver failure that often requires liver transplantation. Curre...

In this study, the hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic actions of nootkatone (NTK) were investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. CCl4 administration elevated serum aspartate and alanine transaminases levels, respectively. In addition, CCl4 produced hepatic oxidative and nitrative stress, characterized by diminis...

Cisplatin (CP) is a potent and widely used chemotherapeutic agent. However, the clinical benefits of CP are compromised because it elicits nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. In this study, we investigated the nephroprotective effects of the phytochemical genipin (GP) isolated from the gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) fruit, using a murine model of CP-i...

Cisplatin (CSP) is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat a variety of malignancies. The major setback with CSP treatment is that its clinical efficacy is compromised by its induction of organ toxicity, particular to the kidneys and ears. Despite the significant strides that have been made in understanding the mechanisms underlying CSP-ind...

A siddha polyherbal preparation consisting of 5 medicinal plants, namely, Asparagus racemosus, Emblica officinalis, Salacia oblonga, Syzygium aromaticum, and Tinospora cordifolia, in equal ratio, was formulated to examine the molecular mechanism by which it exhibits antidiabetic effects in the liver of high-fat and fructose-induced type 2 diabetic...

Aroclor 1254 is the commercial mixture of highly toxic environmental pollutant, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Being immensely durable, it is extensively used and widely distributed. Studies show that Aroclor 1254 causes a variety of adverse health effects through free radical generation. The present investigation was designed to check the effec...

According to the principles of Siddha system of medicine, the following polyherbal preparation consisting of 5 plant parts in equal ratio namely, Asparagus racemosus, Emblica officinalis, Salacia oblonga, Syzygium aromaticum, and Tinospora cordifolia was formulated to treat experimental type 2 diabetic rats. So, using plants having aphrodisiac prop...

Several studies have used medicinal plants for the management of experimental and clinical diabetes but a novel polyherbal preparation which contains plants having anti-diabetic and aphrodisiac properties were used in the present study for the management of type-2 diabetic patients. Mild Diabetic group (MD) (n=52) fasting blood glucose ranges from...

Diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) is an endocrine disruptor, it influences various organ systems in human beings and experimental animals. DEHP reduced the serum testosterone and increased the blood glucose, estradiol, T(3) and T(4) in rats. However, the effect of DEHP on insulin signaling and glucose oxidation in skeletal muscle is not known. Adult m...