Molecular docking studies of bacoside from Bacopa monnieri with LRRK2 receptor

Bacosides, constituents of Bacopa monnieri (Linn.), are reported to be potential therapeutic saponins in the cure of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, detailed mechanism for control of PD by bacosides is not well documented. PD has been reported to be caused by genetic mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) leading to higher kinase activity that has been identified as a major cause of familial PD. The LRRK2 was thus proposed as an important marker in the pathogenesis of PD. This suggests that inhibition of LRRK2 holds promise as a potential treatment for PD. Our study focuses on the possible application of bacoside A constituents as potential inhibitors of LRRK2. In this work, we have carried out the in silico molecular docking studies of bacoside A constituents with LRRK2, proposing their role as an inhibitor in PD. The study has revealed the significant interactions between bacosaponin and LRRK2 having ten H-bonds at receptor-ligand site with binding affinity ?7.5 kcal/mol. Hence, amongst the studied triglycosidic saponins, bacosaponin was analyzed to be a better ligand, proposing it to be a major constituent in inhibiting enzymatic activities of mutated LRRK2.     

The Effects of Chronic Exposure to Common Bedding Materials on the Metabolic Rate and Overall Health of Male CD-1 Mice

Anecdotes and personal Web pages claim that cedar and pine beddings cause respiratory distress in rodents, although no previous research could be found to support these claims. There have, however, been published studies of respiratory distress in cedar and pine mill workers. That research links exposure to wood dust to asthma and to bronchial and alveolar damage in humans. This study looks at the effects of 3 types of bedding (CareFRESH®Original, cedar, and pine) on the growth, food intake, oxygen consumption, IgE antibody concentrations, and general appearance and behavior in male CD-1 mice. Mice who were housed on these beddings for approximately 4 months did not show significant differences in any of these variables. This suggests that these 3 materials provide equally healthy substrates for long-term rearing of mice and possibly other rodents.