Phyto-physicochemical, acute and subacute toxicity studies of Garcinia lanceifolia Roxb.- A rare ethnomedicinal plant of Assam, India

Garcinia lanceifolia; a small, glabrous, evergreen tree found in Northeast India belonging to the Clusiaceae family; has long, acuminate, lanceolate and fleshy leaves; tetramerous and polygamous inflorescence with both male and hermaphrodite flowers. A recent study has claimed that the bark contains antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, and membrane stabilising activities. However, no reports on the pharmacognostic details and toxicity of the bark are reported. The bark was collected, dried and subjected to conventional organoleptic, microscopic evaluation, physicochemical evaluation and TLC methods. The powdered crude drug was examined for its physicochemical, fluorescence and microscopic characteristics. The extracts obtained after hot Soxhlet extraction were screened for their phytochemical constituents and the TLC fingerprints were also established. The toxicological profile of the hydroalcoholic extracts of G. lanceifolia, through acute and subacute toxicity tests, were performed. Male and female rats (Wistar) received 5000 mg/kg of hydromethanolic extract of G. lanceifolia (HAEGL) for the acute toxicity test and 500, 1000, 1500 or 2500 mg/kg of HAEGL for subacute toxicity test. This is the first study for the bark of G. lanceifolia which will serve as a standard for quality control and assurance thereby promoting further insights and conclusive studies on this plant

Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical evaluation of Cinnamomum bejolghota (Buch.-Ham.) Sweet bark

Pharmacognostic, physico-chemical and preliminary phytochemical studies of Cinnamomum bejolghota (Buch.-Ham.) Sweet (Family Lauraceae) bark was carried out. Physico-chemical parameters such as total, acid insoluble and water soluble ash value were determined. In microscopic studies, transverse and longitudinal section of bark and its powder characters were studied and characteristic features were established. Different extracts obtained by successive solvent extraction were tested separately for the presence of various phytoconstituents, viz. alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats and fixed oils, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, gums, lignins, proteins, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. The present study of C. bejolghota bark will be useful in laying down standardization and pharmacopoeia parameters and information obtained can be used as markers in the identification

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical evaluation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">C<span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">innamomum bejolghota </span></i>(Buch.-Ham.) Sweet bark</span>

59-64<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">Pharmacognostic, physico-chemical and preliminary phytochemical studies of Cinnamomum bejolghota (Buch.-Ham.) Sweet (Family Lauraceae) bark was carried out. Physico-chemical parameters such as total, acid insoluble and water soluble ash value were determined. In microscopic studies, transverse and longitudinal section of bark and its powder characters were studied and characteristic features were established. Different extracts obtained by successive solvent extraction were tested separately for the presence of various phytoconstituents, viz. alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats and fixed oils, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, gums, lignins, proteins, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. The present study of C. bejolghota bark will be useful in laying down standardization and pharmacopoeia parameters and information obtained can be used as markers in the identification.</span

Phytochemical analysis and DPPH scavenging activity of Combretum punctatum var. squamosum (Combretaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant of Mizoram.

The main objective of the study is to determine the phytochemical constituents and the DPPH scavenging activity of the aqueous extract of Combretum punctatum var. squamosum.  The phytochemical screening revealed that the crude aqueous extract contained phenols, flavonoids, phytosterols and diterpenes while alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids were found to be absent. The total phenol and flavonoid content in the crude aqueous extract was found to be comparatively high, i.e. 111 mg/g GAE and 120.99 mg/g QE respectively. It was also found that the % DPPH scavenging activity was very high and comparable to the standard used. The IC50 value of the aqueous extract was found to be 1.76 mg/ml which is lower but comparable to the IC50 value of the standard

Phyto-physicochemical, acute and subacute toxicity studies of <em>Garcinia lanceifolia</em> Roxb.- A rare ethnomedicinal plant of Assam, India

360-369Garcinia lanceifolia; a small, glabrous, evergreen tree found in Northeast India belonging to the Clusiaceae family; has long, acuminate, lanceolate and fleshy leaves; tetramerous and polygamous inflorescence with both male and hermaphrodite flowers. A recent study has claimed that the bark contains antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, and membrane stabilising activities. However, no reports on the pharmacognostic details and toxicity of the bark are reported. The bark was collected, dried and subjected to conventional organoleptic, microscopic evaluation, physicochemical evaluation and TLC methods. The powdered crude drug was examined for its physicochemical, fluorescence and microscopic characteristics. The extracts obtained after hot Soxhlet extraction were screened for their phytochemical constituents and the TLC fingerprints were also established. The toxicological profile of the hydroalcoholic extracts of G.lanceifolia, through acute and subacute toxicity tests, were performed. Male and female rats (Wistar) received 5000 mg/kg of hydromethanolic extract of G.lanceifolia (HAEGL) for the acute toxicity test and 500, 1000, 1500 or 2500 mg/kg of HAEGL for subacute toxicity test. This is the first study for the bark of G. lanceifolia which will serve as a standard for quality control and assurance thereby promoting further insights and conclusive studies on this plant

Essential oils extracted from Citrus macroptera and Homalomena aromatica (Spreng.) Schott. exhibit repellent activities against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background & objectives: Mosquitoes alone transmit diseases to around 700 million individuals annually, killing approximately 0.7 million people every year worldwide. Considering the potential health risks linked with synthetic repellents, it has become vital to identify eco-friendly, natural repellents for mosquito control as well as to understand the underlying mechanism for mosquito repellent activity. To address this, objectives were set to extract essential oils from Citrus macroptera peel and Homalomena aromatica (Spreng.) Schott. rhizomes, evaluate their mosquito repellent activity against Aedes aegypti, and further explore their mosquito odorant receptor inhibition potential. Methods: The oils were extracted using Clevenger’s apparatus, and properties like specific gravity, refractive index, and boiling point were evaluated and characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Aedes aegypti mosquito eggs collected from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dibrugarh, were reared in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Research Laboratory, to obtain adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for the mosquito repellent activity evaluation of the essential oils using the Human Bait technique’. Molecular docking studies were performed for the oil components against mosquito odorant binding proteins. Further, toxicity studies of these two oils were evaluated against human dermal fibroblast adult (HDFa) cells. Results: The results revealed the presence of limonene (86.76%) and linalool (52.35%), respectively, in Citrus macroptera and Homalomena aromatica oils. It was found that the combination of the oils in a ratio of 1:1 showed mosquito repellent activity for up to 6.33 ± 0.23 h. Molecular docking studies showed the presence of major oil components having mosquito odorant receptor blocking potential comparable to N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), indicating a rationale for extended mosquito repellent action. Further, both of these oils were found to be non-cytotoxic against HDFa cells after 24 h. Interpretation & conclusion: The encouraging mosquito repellent activity of these two oils as compared to synthetic mosquito repellent DEET might pave the way for the development of novel herbal mosquito repellent formulations containing these essential oils

Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical studies on shoot of <i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Calamus leptospadix </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Griff.- An ethnomedicinal plant of Assam </span>

320-325Calamus leptospadix Griff. belonging to family Arecaceae, is an ethnomedicinal plant of Assam used by the folks of state for many medicinal properties like anthelmintic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic. Its vernacular names include Betgaj,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Lejaibet, Bet, Bethas, Rattan palm,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Cane, Tangtangma, Titipi,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Jeyying and Ayyagoomi. Since there are no reports of systemic pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on the shoot, the present work was planned to study the detailed macroscopical, microscopical, quantitative standards, physicochemical and chromatographic characteristics of the shoot. Preliminary phytochemical investigation indicated the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, tannins and phenolic compounds. Fluorescent characteristics were analysed for the powdered crude drug and TLC profile was developed for petroleum ether, chloroform and methanolic extract of the shoot. Thus these conventional parameters would serve as a standard reference for identification, authentication and for distinguishing the plant from its adulterants. </span

Pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical studies on shoot of Calamus leptospadix Griff.- An ethnomedicinal plant of Assam

Calamus leptospadix Griff. belonging to family Arecaceae, is an ethnomedicinal plant of Assam used by the folks of state for many medicinal properties like anthelmintic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic. Its vernacular names include Betgaj, Lejaibet, Bet, Bethas, Rattan palm,Cane, Tangtangma, Titipi, Jeyying and Ayyagoomi. Since there are no reports of systemic pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on the shoot, the present work was planned to study the detailed macroscopical, microscopical, quantitative standards, physicochemical and chromatographic characteristics of the shoot. Preliminary phytochemical investigation indicated the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, tannins and phenolic compounds. Fluorescent characteristics were analysed for the powdered crude drug and TLC profile was developed for petroleum ether, chloroform and methanolic extract of the shoot. Thus these conventional parameters would serve as a standard reference for identification, authentication and for distinguishing the plant from its adulterants

Adenoviral Vector-Based Vaccine Platform for COVID-19: Current Status

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) breakout had an unimaginable worldwide effect in the 21st century, claiming millions of lives and putting a huge burden on the global economy. The potential developments in vaccine technologies following the determination of the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 and the increasing global efforts to bring potential vaccines and therapeutics into the market for emergency use have provided a small bright spot to this tragic event. Several intriguing vaccine candidates have been developed using recombinant technology, genetic engineering, and other vaccine development technologies. In the last decade, a vast amount of the vaccine development process has diversified towards the usage of viral vector-based vaccines. The immune response elicited by such vaccines is comparatively higher than other approved vaccine candidates that require a booster dose to provide sufficient immune protection. The non-replicating adenoviral vectors are promising vaccine carriers for infectious diseases due to better yield, cGMP-friendly manufacturing processes, safety, better efficacy, manageable shipping, and storage procedures. As of April 2022, the WHO has approved a total of 10 vaccines around the world for COVID-19 (33 vaccines approved by at least one country), among which three candidates are adenoviral vector-based vaccines. This review sheds light on the developmental summary of all the adenoviral vector-based vaccines that are under emergency use authorization (EUA) or in the different stages of development for COVID-19 management