Auburn Research Day 2022

58 Julia M Salamat 1 , Kodye L Abbott 1 , Patrick C Flannery 1 , Mohammed Majrashi 2 , Mohammed Almaghrabi 2 , Manoj Govindarajulu 2 , Sindhu Ramesh 2 , Suneel K Onteru 3 , Chen-Che Huang 1 , Kristina Gill 1 , Natasha Narayanan 1 , Darshini Desai 2 , Rishi Nadar 1 , Edwin McElroy 1 , Timothy Moore 2 , Kalyanam Nagabhushanam 4 , Muhammed Majeed 4 , Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran 2 , Satyanarayana R Pondugula 1 1 Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University; 2 Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University; 3 Animal Biochemistry Division, National Dairy Research Institute, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, Haryana 132001, India; 4 Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ B i omed i ca l Resea rch | Gr adua te/Undergr adua te St udent Oroxylum Indicum Extract, at a Physiologically Relevant Dosage, Does Not Induce Hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J Mice

Botanical supplements provide several beneficial health effects. However, they can induce unintended adverse events, including hepatotoxicity. Oroxylum indicum extract (OIE, Sabroxy®) has several health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antifungal, antibacterial, and neuroprotective effects. However, it is unknown whether OIE can cause hepatotoxicity. In the current study, we sought to determine whether OIE can induce hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice. The male mice were fed powdered rodent food (control group) or powdered rodent food mixed with OIE (Sabroxy®, 500mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks. Following the treatment, serum levels of various biomarkers, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and liver histology were

assessed to detect hepatotoxicity. No significant alterations were observed in liver histology, and serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin, albumin, globulin, and total protein in the OIE fed mice compared to the control mice. Taken together, our results suggest that OIE, when fed at its physiologically relevant concentration, does not induce hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice.

B i omed i ca l Resea rch | Gr adua te/Undergr adua te St udent Covid-19 Induced Ophthalmic Disorders Contrast From That In Other Viral Infections 59

Phillip McCain; Sindhu Ramesh; Timothy Moore; Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19), inducing more than 290.6 million cases worldwide, is highly contagious and is capable of presenting numerous health implications. COVID-19 can range from presenting asymptomatic to life-threatening symptoms. While mainly involving the respiratory system, it can affect almost every organ of the body, including the eye. Patients with COVID-19 may present or develop ophthalmic disease and symptoms. Literature was acquired from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) using the following search terms: COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, ophthalmic viral manifestations, adenovirus, influenza, conjunctivitis, keratitis, retinitis, HSV-1, and herpes simplex keratitis. COVID-19 induced ophthalmic manifestations and diseases include conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, ocular irritation, and chemosis. Other viral infections causing ophthalmic disease include follicular conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis corneal blindness, and epithelial keratitis. Although a portion of the mechanisms behind ophthalmic

disorders among the studied viral infections are corresponding, the frequency and severity of eye symptoms differ. Populations such as those wearing contact lenses or having pre-existing ocular conditions are more likely to experience viral-associated complications. Viral mechanisms associated with eye infections are similar but differ in severity, duration, and symptoms potentially due to the increased pro- inflammatory cytokines activated by COVID-19. Ocular manifestations of COVID-19 differ from other viral manifestations, due to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expression in conjunctival epithelial cells, allowing for entry of COVID-19.

34