Selective Th2 Upregulation by Crocus sativus: A Neutraceutical Spice

The immunomodulatory activity of an Indian neutraceutical spice, saffron (Crocus sativus) was studied on Th1 and Th2 limbs of the immune system. Oral administration of alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus (ACS) at graded dose levels from 1.56–50 mg/kg p.o. potentiated the Th2 response of humoral immunity causing the significant increases in agglutinating antibody titre in mice at a dose of 6.25 mg/kg and an elevation of CD19+ B cells and IL-4 cytokine, a signature cytokine of Th2 pathway. Appreciable elevation in levels of IgG-1 and IgM antibodies of the primary and secondary immune response was observed. However, ACS showed no appreciable expression of the Th1 cytokines IL-2 (growth factor for CD4+ T cells) and IFN-γ (signature cytokine of Th1 response). A significant modulation of immune reactivity was observed in all the animal models used. This paper represents the selective upregulation of the Th2 response of the test material and suggests its use for subsequent selective Th2 immunomodulation

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oil of Leaves of Malus domestica Growing in Western Himalaya (India)

Light pale-colored volatile oil was obtained from fresh leaves of Malus domestica tree, growing in Dhauladhar range of Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh, India), with characteristic eucalyptol dominant fragrance. The oil was found to be a complex mixture of mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, phenolics, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Seventeen compounds accounting for nearly 95.3% of the oil were characterized with the help of capillary GC, GC-MS, and NMR. Major compounds of the oil were characterized as eucalyptol (43.7%), phytol (11.5%), α-farnesene (9.6%), and pentacosane (7.6%). Cytotoxicity of essential oil of leaves of M. domestica was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays. The essential oil of leaves of M. domestica, tested against three cancer cell lines, namely, C-6 (glioma cells), A549 (human lung carcinoma), CHOK1 (Chinese hamster ovary cells), and THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell). The highest activity showed by essential oil on C-6 cell lines (98.2%) at concentration of 2000 μg/ml compared to control. It is the first paper in literature to exploit the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of leaves essential oil of M. domestica

Anabaena flos-aquae

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are the most primitive prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms, that have survived and flourished on the planet for more than 3 billion years and produced the oxygen that enabled aerobic metabolism. Anabaena is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria, known for its nitrogen fixing abilities and is one of cyanobacterial genera that produce toxins. Because of plasmid DNA, the nontoxic strain of Anabaena flos-aquae, transformed into a toxic strain that producing neuro-toxins. The major toxins those were produced by this species are anatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, and anatoxin-a(s). Presence of these toxins in the source of fresh water makes water toxic and every year so many reports on death of animals were documented. Several studies have been done over this toxic cyanobacterium and showed that under controlled environment this species is very useful for human being. However, presence of this alga in the water sources makes environment toxic. Several analytical methods were reported for the detection of these toxins. This review is be focused on the detailed literature survey on fresh water cyanobacterium, Anabaena flos-aquae, with respect to its importance and cure

A new oxo-sterol derivative from the rhizomes of <i>Costus speciosus</i>

<p>Chemical investigation of the rhizomes of <i>Costus speciosus</i> led to the isolation of a new compound, 22-ketocholesteryl palmitate (<b>1</b>) along with four known compounds, 24-methylenecycloartanol (<b>2</b>), cycloartanol (<b>3</b>), stigmasterol (<b>4</b>) and linoleic acid (<b>5</b>). The structure of new compound was characterised by extensive 1D-, 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry (GC-MS and HR-ESI-MS) techniques.</p

Antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of <em>Roylea cinerea</em> extracts: a comparative study

611-621Roylea cinerea (D.Don) Baill. (Fam. Lamiaceae), commonly known as Ashy Royleais, and locally, kattu is widespread in the Himalaya from Kashmir to Nepal, and known for its antidiabetic activity. In this study, we evaluated the crude ethanolic extract and its sub-extracts obtained from the aerial part of R. Cinerea for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by different chemical-based assays, viz. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The total phenolic content in R. cinerea extracts varied widely 3.87-95.3 mg GAEs/g of dry plant extract. Reduction in the blood glucose level was observed in albino male wistar rats after treatment for 15 days and the treatment with ethyl acetate extract showed highest reduction (41.13%) in blood glucose level. Serum lipid profile, hepatic glycogen content, SOD, GPx, GSH and TBARS of pancreatic tissue were also examined. The plant extract treatment increased the levels of SOD, GSH and GPx in the tissues and reduced the level of TBARS as compared to the control group. Histopathological studies showed that the treatment with plant extracts normalized the histology of pancreas and liver. These findings suggest that Roylea cinerea extracts has potent antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and thereby substantiate its use in traditional medicines

Comparative metabolic profiling of <i>Costus speciosus</i> leaves and rhizomes using NMR, GC-MS and UPLC/ESI-MS/MS

<p><i>Costus speciosus</i> had been used in oriental systems of medicines, to treat diverse ailments. The present study was focused on NMR, GC-MS and UPLC/ESI-MS/MS-based metabolic profiling of <i>C. speciosus</i>. This metabolic study resulted in the identification of 91 and quantification of 69 metabolites. Caffeic acid derivatives previously unreported in <i>C. speciosus</i> were also identified. High quantity of steroidal saponins namely methyl protogracillin (297.97 ± 0.07 mg/g dried wt.) and dioscin (158.72 ± 0.27 mg/g dried wt.) were observed in butanol fraction of rhizomes. Health care metabolites including caffeic acid (37.88 ± 0.04 mg/g dried wt.) and trehalose (75.12 ± 0.08 mg/g dried wt.) were also detected in ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of rhizomes, respectively. Metabolites of nutraceutical and biological significance including eremanthine (5.14 ± 0.68%, peak area), tocopherols (~22%), sterols (~25%) were also identified from hexane fractions of rhizomes and leaves using GC-MS. The analytical techniques used had successfully differentiated metabolites composition among leaves and rhizomes.</p

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf essential oil of Skimmia laureola growing wild in Jammu and Kashmir, India

The analysis of Skimmia laureola hydrodistillate by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 20 constituents, representing 94.6% of the total oil. The major constituents of oil were linalyl acetate (33.0%), linalool (25.0%), limonene (8.1%), α-terpineol (5.9%) and geranyl acetate (5.9%). The monoterpene (93.4%) rich essential oil was evaluated for its antibacterial and antifungal activities against seven microorganisms by agar diffusion and microdilution methods. The oil showed appreciable antimicrobial effects against all Gram-positive bacteria tested, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC values 32 and 64 mgmL-1, respectively. The oil also exhibited strong fungicidal activity against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum with MIC value in the range 32–16 mgmL-1. The oil could be used in the formulation of antimicrobial agents