Safiya Khan

Publications (2)0.86 Total impact

• Article: Effect of L-ascorbic Acid on the hsp70 Expression and Tissue Damage in the Third Instar Larvae of Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9).

  Barkha Shakya, Smita Jyoti, Falaq Naz, Safiya Khan, Rahul Mohammad Afzal, Yasir Hasan Siddique
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  ABSTRACT: All living organisms respond to various physical or chemical stressors by the induction of heat shock protein (HSP). The present study was performed on transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9) in which the transformation vector is inserted with a P-element, the line contains wild-type hsp70 sequence up to the lacZ fusion point. The effect of L-ascorbic acid on the hsp70 expression and tissue damage was studied at the doses of 1, 2, 4, and 8 × 10(-4) g/ml in the third instar larvae of transgenic D. melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9). The larvae were exposed to different doses of L-ascorbic acid for 24 and 48 hours. A dose-dependent significant increase in the hsp70 expression was observed at 2, 4, and 8 × 10(-4) g/ml of L-ascorbic acid for both 24 and 48 hours. The tissue damage was observed only in the 48 hours of exposure and mostly only in the salivary glands of the third instar larvae of transgenic D. melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9). The present study also validates and supports the use of transgenic D. melanogaster (hsp70-lacZ) Bg(9) for the toxicological evaluations.
  Toxicology International 09/2012; 19(3):301-5.
• Article: Effect of L-Ascorbic Acid on the Climbing Ability and Protein Levels in the Brain of Drosophila Model of Parkinson's Disease.

  Safiya Khan, Smita Jyoti, Falaq Naz, Barkha Shakya, Mohammad Afzal, Yasir Hasan Siddique
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  ABSTRACT: ABSTRACT In the present study, the effect of l-ascorbic acid (AA) was studied on the climbing ability of the Parkinson's disease (PD) model Drosophila expressing normal human alpha synuclein (h-αs) in the neurons. These flies show locomotor dysfunction as the age progresses. AA at final concentration of 11.35 × 10(-5) M, 22.71 × 10(-5) M, 45.42 × 10(-5) M, and 68.13 × 10(-5) M was added to the diet, and the flies were allowed to feed for 21 days. AA at 11.35 × 10(-5) M did not show any significant delay in the loss of climbing ability of PD model flies. However, AA at 22.71 × 10(-5) M, 45.42 × 10(-5) M, and 68.13 × 10(-5) M showed a dose dependent significant (p < .05) delay in the loss of climbing ability of PD model flies as compared to the untreated PD flies. The total protein concentration in brain homogenate was measured in treated as well as control groups after 21 days, no significant difference was obtained between treated as well as control (PD flies and l-dopa) groups. The results suggest that AA is potent in delaying the climbing disability of the PD model flies expressing h-αs in the neurons.
  The International journal of neuroscience 07/2012; · 0.86 Impact Factor