GLUCOSE HOMEOSTATIC AND PANCREAS PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF TECOMELLA UNDULATA ROOT EXTRACT IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS .

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate glucose homeostatic and pancreas protective potential of Tecomella undulata root extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods: The ethanolic root extract was prepared by following standard soxhlation methods. The experimental design was divided in to control and treated groups for 28 days of comparative experimental schedule. The body and organ weights, serum biochemistry, histo-pathology, hematology and toxicity profiles were assayed by following standard methods and protocols.Results: The treatment of ethanolic extract of root of T. undulata was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced glucose levels at 7day, 14day, 21day and 28 days in comparison to standard drug of metformin. Correspondingly, lipid profile i.e. total cholesterol, HDL, VLDL, LDL and triglyceride were also altered significantly. Whereas, body and organs weight and hematological parameters were not shown significant changes. Subsequently, toxicity profile i.e. hepatic and renal parameters were remained under normal ranges. Corresponding, the treatment of ethanolic root extract caused normalcy of histoarchitecture of pancreas in comparison to standard drugs.Conclusion: The results of study illustrated that Tecomella undulata root extract possessing particular kind of phytocompounds which caused glucose homeostatic and pancreas protective potential in diabetic rats

Ameliorations in dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic plaque by the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and antioxidant potential of phytoconstituents of an aqueous seed extract of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd in rabbits

The assigned work was aimed to examine the capability of phytoconstituents of an aqueous seed extract of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and regression of the atherosclerotic plaque. The chemical fingerprinting of the test extract was assessed by LC-MS/MS. Consequently, the analyses of in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico were executed by using the standard protocols. The in-vitro assessment of the test extract revealed 74.1% inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. In-vivo assessments of the test extract indicated that treated hypercholesterolemic rabbits exhibited a significant (P≤0.001) amelioration in the biomarker indices of the dyslipidaemia i.e., atherogenic index, Castelli risk index(I&II), atherogenic coefficient along with lipid profile. Subsequently, significant reductions were observed in the atherosclerotic plaque and antioxidant levels. The in-silico study of molecular docking shown interactions capabilities of the leading phytoconstituents of the test extract i.e., eicosanoic acid, linoleic acid, and flavan-3-ol with target protein of HMG-CoA reductase. The values of RSMF and potential energy of top docked complexes were show significant interactions. Accordingly, the free energy of solvation, interaction angle, radius of gyration and SASA were shown significant stabilities of top docked complex. The cumulative data of results indicate phytoconstituents of an aqueous seed extract of Acacia senegal have capabilities to inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase and improve the levels of antioxidants

A cooperativity between virus and bacteria during respiratory infections

Respiratory tract infections remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The burden is further increased by polymicrobial infection or viral and bacterial co-infection, often exacerbating the existing condition. Way back in 1918, high morbidity due to secondary pneumonia caused by bacterial infection was known, and a similar phenomenon was observed during the recent COVID-19 pandemic in which secondary bacterial infection worsens the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) condition. It has been observed that viruses paved the way for subsequent bacterial infection; similarly, bacteria have also been found to aid in viral infection. Viruses elevate bacterial infection by impairing the host’s immune response, disrupting epithelial barrier integrity, expression of surface receptors and adhesion proteins, direct binding of virus to bacteria, altering nutritional immunity, and effecting the bacterial biofilm. Similarly, the bacteria enhance viral infection by altering the host’s immune response, up-regulation of adhesion proteins, and activation of viral proteins. During co-infection, respiratory bacterial and viral pathogens were found to adapt and co-exist in the airways of their survival and to benefit from each other, i.e., there is a cooperative existence between the two. This review comprehensively reviews the mechanisms involved in the synergistic/cooperativity relationship between viruses and bacteria and their interaction in clinically relevant respiratory infections

Five steps towards transformative valuation of nature

The Values Assessment (VA) of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services shows that while a wide range of valuation methods exist to include nature's values in diverse decision-making contexts, uptake of these methods remains limited. Building on the VA, this paper reviews five critical steps in the evaluation of project or policy proposals that can improve the inclusion of nature's values in decisions. Furthermore, improving valuation practice requires guidelines that utilise quality criteria for valuation of nature and ensure a balance between them. This paper proposes three such quality criteria: relevance, robustness and resource efficiency. The paper argues that the five steps and three Rs can generate a practical checklist to support commissioning, evaluation and performance of more plural valuations. Such guidelines can provide the next steps needed to improve uptake of nature valuation in decision-making

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being(1,2), addressing the global biodiversity crisis(3) still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature's diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever(4). Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature's values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)(5) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals(6), predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature(7). Arguably, a 'values crisis' underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change(8), pandemic emergence(9) and socio-environmental injustices(10). On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature's diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions(7,11). Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being1,2, addressing the global biodiversity crisis3 still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever4. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature’s values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)5 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals6, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature7. Arguably, a ‘values crisis’ underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change8, pandemic emergence9 and socio-environmental injustices10. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature’s diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions7,11. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

Diverse values of nature for sustainability

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being, addressing the global biodiversity crisis still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature’s values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature. Arguably, a ‘values crisis’ underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, pandemic emergence and socio-environmental injustices. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature’s diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures

ANTIATHEROSCLEROTIC AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF PETROLEUM ETHER EXTRACT OF PROSOPIS CINERARIA POD IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RABBITS

Objective: The present study is done to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic efficacy of petroleum ether extract of Prosopis cineraria pod in hypercholesterolemic diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Methods: Atherosclerosis was induced in rabbits by feeding normal diet supplemented with oral administration of cholesterol (500 mg/kg body weight/day) which was mixed in coconut oil for 15 days. Rabbits were then administered with petroleum ether extract of P. cineraria pod for 45 days (Group III), and another set of the group was treated with standard drug Atorvastatin for 45 days. After the completion of the experimental period, the serum biochemistry and histological analysis of thoracic aorta was done. Along with it lipid peroxidation(LPO) and antioxidant parameters such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were estimated. Results: There was a significant increase (p≤0.001) in serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprtein (LDL) and triglycerides after cholesterol feeding when compared with the control group (Group I). Antioxidant parameters were altered too with an increased serum LPO while the reduction in CAT, SOD, and FRAP was observed. After the administration of the petroleum ether extract, significant reduction in TC, LDL-C, very low-density lipoprotein -C, and triglyceride was observed as compared to high-fat diet control rabbits. Slightly significant reduction in (p≤0.05) atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta was observed while cardiac LPO was lowered alternatively CAT, SOD, and FRAP levels increased in petroleum ether extract administered rabbits. Conclusion: The outcomes from this study recommend that P. cineraria pod extract has hypocholesterolemic effect thereby controlling atherosclerosis and has potent antioxidant activity which may be responsible for improving the lipid profile

HMG – CoA reductase inhibition mediated hypocholesterolemic potential of myricetin and quercetin: in-silico and in-vivo studies

ABSTRACTThe study was aimed to examine the HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibition potential. The in-silico investigations followed the assessments of molecular docking, druggability and molecular dynamics. The molecular dynamics was performed at 100 ns by calculating interaction free energies, RSMD, RSMF, radius of gyration and SASA. Consequently, in-vivo examinations were performed by using a hypercholesterolemic rabbit animal model. The molecular docking showed significant interaction capabilities of myricetin as revealed by binding energy data up to −8.4 Kcal/mol. Accordingly, the data of molecular dynamics i.e. free energy, solvation free energy, radius of gyration, RSMD, RSMF and SASA were shown significant interaction capabilities of myricetin with HMGCR. Supportively, significant ameliorations were made in lipid profile, dyslipidemia indices and oxidative stress by the treatments of myricetin compared to quercetin and atorvastatin. Thus, it can be concluded that myricetin is a potent flavanol with significant potential for HMGCR inhibition and free radical scavenging capability