RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: MOLECULAR BASIS AND CURES FROM NATURE

Incidences of arthritic diseases in human have seen recent increases which are thought to have resulted from a complex interplay of several factors, such as changes in lifestyle, nutritional insufficiencies, aging and genetic factors. These putative factors possibly lead to different arthritic diseases in humans affecting 2-5% of the total population in India. This group of diseases results in serious malfunction and structural abnormalities in the patient body leading to permanent and substantial immovability of joints. Conventional medicinal systems usually elicit various side effects in which the defence mechanism of the body i.e. the immune system is compromised. In the last few decades many alternative medicinal systems have been developed that show promising effects on treating such diseases. Many purified compounds from natural origin, both from plants and animal sources have shown promise and many new compounds are continuingly being identified which have no marked side effects. In the light of modern science and technology, different natural products and ethnic practices that ensure health, seem to be the best weapon to combat these diseases. Endemic as well as naturalized plants from India have been screened by several groups for their anti-arthritic activities. The review summarizes our current knowledge on the molecular basis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and discusses the efficacious roles of those natural products, especially of plant origin, in arthritic conditions

Assessment of woody species diversity and composition along a disturbance gradient in Behali Reserve Forest of Biswanath district, Assam, India

The present study was carried out in Behali Reserve Forest, a semi-evergreen forest of Assam, India to record and analyze the woody species diversity and community characteristics using random sampling. Altogether, 35 quadrats (20 m × 20 m) were randomly established and studied from August 2018 to April 2019 spreading across nine study sites. A total of 128 (118 identified and 10 unidentified) woody species from 83 genera and 43 families were found in the sampled area of 1.4 ha. Lauraceae with 19 species was the richest family by species followed by Euphorbiaceae and Phyllanthaceae (eight species each). Altogether, 787 individuals were recorded from the sampled plots and the stand density ranged between 250 individuals × ha-1 to 725 individuals × ha-1 with mean stand density of 543 individuals × ha-1. Species-wise density analysis revealed that Magnolia hodgsonii (96.43 individuals × ha-1) has the maximum tree density. Plot wise analysis showed that Dikal (58.32 m2 × ha-1) recorded the maximum basal area as well as the equitability index of 0.95. In Serelia, we recorded the highest Simpson index (0.92), Shannon H index (2.76), Brillouin index (2.11), Menhinick (3.49), Margalef (5.29) and Fisher alpha index (26.59). In Radhasu, we recorded maximum evenness (0.90), dominance (0.58) and Berger-Parker index (0.65). The maximal values of Chao index (38.53) was recorded in Hatimara. Our study also revealed that diversity was maximal for the community under medium level of disturbance in the reserve, while communities under the lowest and highest disturbance pressure had minimal diversity. The Behali Reserve Forest exhibited a great species richness (118 species), mean basal area (44.42 m2 × ha-1) and stand density (in total, 788 individuals per study area of 1.4 ha) compared to the other forests of the northeastern region of India

Variation in Phytochemical Composition Reveals Distinct Divergence of (L.) Burm.f. From Other Species: Rationale Behind Selective Preference of in Nutritional and Therapeutic Use

In the present study, we have phytochemically characterized 5 different abundant Aloe species, including Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., using silylation followed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry technique and compared the data using multivariate statistical analysis. The results demonstrated clear distinction of the overall phytochemical profile of A vera , highlighted by its divergent spatial arrangement in the component plot. Lowest correlation of the phytochemical profiles were found between A vera and A aristata Haw. (−0.626), whereas highest correlation resided between A aristata and A aspera Haw. (0.899). Among the individual phytochemicals, palmitic acid was identified in highest abundance cumulatively, and carboxylic acids were the most predominant phytochemical species in all the Aloe species. Compared to A vera , linear correlation analysis revealed highest and lowest correlation with A aspera ( R 2 = 0.9162) and A aristata ( R 2 = 0.6745), respectively. Therefore, A vera demonstrated distinct spatial allocation, reflecting its greater phytochemical variability

Effect of Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. on Oxidative Stress with Possible Implications in Alleviating Selected Cognitive Disorders.

In human body, several categories of degenerative processes are largely determined by free radicals originating in cell. Free radicals are also known to have correlated with a variety of cognitive disorders (CDs) resulting in neuronal injury and eventually to death. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are such kind of killer CDs that occur due to dysfunction of cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons. Plant parts of Ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri etc. are being used for the treatment of cognitive disorders in several countries. The present study was aimed to explore the detailed antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of Acaciacatechu leaf (ACL) over CDs. Gas chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were employed to identify the bioactive components present in ACL. Furthermore, the extract was evaluated to check the cytotoxic effects of ACL on normal cells. Amongst several antioxidant assays, DPPH assay, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide radical and hypochlorous acid inhibitory activities were found to be greater in ACL than that of the respective standards while other assays exhibited a moderate or at per inhibitory activity with standards. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were also found to be present in decent amount. In addition, we found, a greater acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of ACL when compared to other medicinally important plants, indicating its positive effect over CDs. Forty one bioactive components were explored through GC-MS. Of these, gallic acid, epicatechin, catechin, isoquercitrin etc. were found, which are potent antioxidant and a few of them have anti-neurodegenerative properties. Eventually, ACL was found to be nontoxic and safer to consume. Further studies with animal or human model however, would determine its efficacy as a potential anti-schizophrenic drug

List of metabolites detected in <i>A</i>. <i>catechu</i> leaf extract by GC-MS analysis.

<p>List of metabolites detected in <i>A</i>. <i>catechu</i> leaf extract by GC-MS analysis.</p

Schematic representation of possible biosynthetic pathway of catecholamines identified in ACL extract.

<p>Schematic representation of possible biosynthetic pathway of catecholamines identified in ACL extract.</p

The effect of ACL extract on the viability of murine splenocytes and peritonealexudate macrophages, evaluated by MTT method.

<p>Each value represents mean ±SD (n = 6); Where, ^NS<i>p</i> = 0>0.05.</p

Gas chromatogram-Mass spectroscopy of <i>A</i>. <i>catechu</i> leaf extract.

<p>Gas chromatogram-Mass spectroscopy of <i>A</i>. <i>catechu</i> leaf extract.</p

Antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activities of ACL extract.

<p><b>(A)</b> DPPH radical scavenging activities of ACL extract and standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 15.52±0.46μg/ml and ascorbic acid = 240.10±28.35 μg/ml; <i>p</i><0.001). <b>(B)</b> Total reductive abilities of ACL extract and standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The absorbance (A₇₀₀) was plotted against concentration of sample; higher absorbance value signified greater reducing capacity. <b>(C)</b> Hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities of ACL extract and standard mannitol (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 121.20±1.22μg/ml and mannitol = 589.06±46.57μg/ml; <i>p</i><0.01). <b>(D)</b> Superoxide radical scavenging activities of ACL extract and standard quercetin (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 131.900±4.40μg/ml and quercetin = 63.93±4.16μg/ml; <i>p</i><0.01). [Each value represents mean ±SD (n = 6); Where, α = <i>p</i><0.001 Vs 0 μg/ml].</p

Free-radical scavenging potentials of ACL extract.

<p><b>(A)</b> Singlet oxygen scavenging capacities of ACL extract and standard lipoic acid (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 1103.79±24.69μg/ml and lipoic acid = 48.40±2.02μg/ml; <i>p</i><0.001). <b>(B)</b> Nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activities of ACL extract and standard Curcumin (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 45.57±1.33μg/ml and curcumin = 96.88±5.09μg/ml; <i>p</i><0.01). <b>(C)</b> Peroxynitrite scavenging activities of ACL extract and standard gallic acid (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 854.05±59.96 μg/ml and gallic acid = 734.81±28.30 μg/ml; <i>p</i>>0.05). <b>(D)</b> Hypochlorous acid (HOCL) scavenging activities of ACL extract and standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ value: ACL = 130.675±4.78 μg/ml and ascorbic acid = 165.91±16.31μg/ml; <i>p</i><0.01). [Each value represents mean ±SD (n = 6); Where, α = <i>p</i><0.001 Vs 0 μg/ml].</p