Disease relevance of Argemone

• We explored the reproductive toxicity of argemone oil and its principal alkaloid fraction in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9) [1].

High impact information on Argemone

• Argemone oil/alkaloid showed a Type II binding spectra with hepatic cytochrome P-450 (P-450) protein, thereby causing loss of P-450 content and an impairment of phase I and phase II enzymes [2].
• Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally administered 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ml/kg body wt. of argemone oil to analyze chromosome aberrations and micronucleus test, while 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ml/kg body wt. were given for alkaline comet assay [3].
• A prior temperature shock treatment to the larvae was enough to protect the larvae from argemone oil-induced tissue damage as evidenced by little or no trypan blue staining [4].
• These results suggest that primarily 1O2 and OH. radicals are involved in argemone oil-induced hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation, and that bio-antioxidant vitamins including riboflavin, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol may prove useful in reducing argemone oil-induced hepatotoxicity [5].
• Also, multiple treatment of argemone oil caused a depletion of endogenous hepatic glutathione (GSH) content (72%) with a concomitant increase in lipid peroxidation (177%) and decrease in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity (30%) [6].

Anatomical context of Argemone

• Lipid peroxidation aided by various pro-oxidants, namely Fe2+, Fe2+/ADP and ascorbic acid also revealed a significant enhancement in the whole homogenate, mitochondria and microsomes of argemone oil-treated rats [7].
• Further, when compared with whole homogenate, the hepatic mitochondria and microsomes of either control or argemone oil-treated rats showed a 4- and 6-fold increase in non-enzymatic, and a 5- and 18-fold increase in NADPH-dependent enzymatic lipid peroxidation, respectively [7].

Associations of Argemone with chemical compounds

• Hepatic alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities were inhibited by 30, 29 and 29% after 30 days of argemone intake along with concomitant enhancement in serum by 27, 29 and 66%, respectively [8].
• Mustard oil, which was used for cooking, was found to be contaminated with oil of Argemone mexicana seeds [9].
• The effects of sub-lethal treatments (20 and 60% of 24-h LC(50)) with plant-derived molluscicides Annona squamosa, acetogenins, Argemone mexicana seed and protopine, in combination (1 + 5) with MGK-264 (ENT 8184) or piperonyl butoxide on the reproduction of Lymnaea acuminata has been studied [10].

Gene context of Argemone

• Animals sacrificed 72 h after a single intraparenteral dose of argemone oil exhibited a significant loss of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (35%) and cytochrome b5 (34%) contents and inhibition of aminopyrine-N-demethylase (APD), aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECD) activities (21-39%) [6].
• Inhibition of human pregnancy plasma diamine oxidase with alkaloids of Argemone mexicana--berberine and sanguinarine [11].

References