KAFUR (C. CAMPHORA L.)–AN UPDATED REVIEW OF ITS ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY

The objective of present review was to provide comprehensive information on Cinnamomum camphora L. on its ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical, and pharmacological activities and provide insights into potential opportunities for future research. A thorough literature search was done to gather all the available updates on Kafūr for its mizāj (temperament), medicinal properties, and traditional uses. Classical Unani books and books on ethnomedicine and ethnobotany in English were referred for literature review. The information on phytochemical and pharmacological activities of C. camphora was collected from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Research Gate using keywords C. camphora, Kafūr, kapur, and camphor. The species name was checked with www. theplantlist. org. The material published in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English was included in the review. C. camphora is used as an analgesic and antiseptic in Unani and other traditional systems of medicine for a long. It possesses various bioactive compounds viz. terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, coumarins, fatty acids, lignans, alkaloids, etc. Out of all these, camphor is one of the volatile compounds which has many pharmacological activities including anti-nociceptive, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, wound healing, and hepatoprotective

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. (Sarphuka, Wild Indigo): An important drug of Unani system of medicine

Tephrosia purpurea is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, widespread in the Indian subcontinent. In Unani system of medicine it is either used as a single drug or as an ingredient in many Unani formulations which are use in the treatment of various ailments of the body. In the present manuscript the information available about this drug in Unani literature, phytochemical and pharmacological investigations carried out upto August 2018 are summarized. Sarphuka is a blood purifier, diuretic, digestive, laxative, resolvent, antidote etc. It is used in the treatment of syphilis, gonorrhea, leprosy, pruritus, inflammation, hemorrhoids and skin diseases. Pharmacological and clinical investigation of Tephrosia purpurea revealed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, antileishmanial, anti-carcinogenic and anti-lipidperoxidative activities.Â

Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Oxalis corniculata

Oxalis corniculata is commonly known as Indian wood Sorrel. In Unani it is called as Hummaz and distributed in the whole northern temperate zone, United State of America, Arizona and throughout India. Oxalis corniculata is used in Unani medicine in the management of liver disorders, jaundice, skin diseases, urinary diseases etc. The plant been proven to possess various pharmacological activities like liver tonic, appetizer, diuretic, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic, blood purifier etc. Here we summarize the therapeutic potential of Oxalis corniculat

The advent of system toxicology: aims and aspect of toxicogenomics

Last fifty years a significant advancement has been established in biological science. It happened due to the discovery of gene, genome and genetic code, function of genes and mutation of genes. Through this, the scientists have discovered that genetic code is the building block and fundamental of all molecular activity in biological system. According to this, several molecular techniques have been established to prove molecular events, effects of chemical exposure within individuals and environment. For this evaluation, the necessary of toxicogenomics is crucial, that deals with the effects of chemical in changing the genetic pattern along with mutation into gene. Toxicogenomics also deals with transcription of proteins and metabolite profiling to investigate the interaction of genes and environment stress in disease. Toxicogenomics also described the altered expression of genes caused by mutation and chemical exposure that cause several disease and show toxicant functions in cell. The main objective of toxicogenomics is to remove this exposure and provide remedy of these toxical diseases. The use, application, correlation, combination and collaboration of different significant, major, modern biological fields like proteomics, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, microarray and several other molecular process is carried out by toxicogenomics that gradually evolving in systems toxicology. This review recovered the evolution and significant application of the different fields of toxicogenomics

Induction of Labour by Extra-Amniotic Saline infusion in Women having Previous One Cesarean Section

Background: To determine the efficacy of labor induction by extra-amniotic saline infusion in women having previous one lower segment cesarean section. Method: All women, fulfilling inclusion criteria, were selected for study. In lithotomy position, Foley’s catheter no.16 was passed in the cervical canal extra amniotically and 30 ml sterile water was injected to inflate the balloon. Then 0.9 % normal saline at 40 ml/hour injected into the extra-amniotic space. Results: The successful cervical ripening was 74.8% (49/66). The number of women delivered vaginally within 24 hours of insertion of Foley’s catheter were 56.1% (37/66). The rate of uterine rupture was 1.5% (1/66). Thus extra-amniotic saline infusion through trans-cervical was an effective method for induction of labour in women having previous one lower segment cesarean section was 56.1% (37/66). Conclusion: Extra-amniotic saline infusion is an effective method for labor induction in women having previous one lower segment cesarean section. Keywords: Induction, labour, caesarean section, extra-amniotic saline infusion, Bishop score etc

A review on Phytochemical and biological properties of Calotropis gigantea (Linn) R.Br.

Calotropis gigantea Linn is a well known medicinal herb commonly known as Madar and has been used in Unani, Ayurveda and Siddha system of medicine for years. It is a native of India, China and Malaysia and distributed in almost all over world. All parts of the plant have been used as a medicine as well as an important ingredient in a number of Unani formulations used for the treatment of various ailments. In classical Unani literature it is mentioned to have anthelmintic, appetizer, anti flatulence, astringent, tonic, expectorant, emetic, diaphoretic, anti inflammatory, sedative, wound healer, antidote and digestive properties and used in asthma, stomach ache, cholera, amenorrhea and toothache. Phytochemical constituents include giganteol,ï¡ and ï¢ calotropeol, ï¢-amyrin, giganteol and isogiganteol etc. The drug has been reported for its anti asthmatic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, wound healing, antiinflammatory, antidiarrhoeal, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activities. In this article the recently published papers were reviewed. Well known scientific search engines viz. Pub med, Medline, Google scholar, and Science Direct were used to retrieve online literature. All referred studies published in peer reviewed indexed journals were included. For Unani literature classical text and manuscripts were referred

Evaluation of the effect of aromatase inhibitor in reducing the size of endometrioma

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic and progressive estrogen-dependent disorder that can result in substantial morbidity, including pelvic pain, multiple operations, and infertility. Endometriosis can be ovarian, peritoneal or deep infiltrative. Blocking estrogen production by inhibiting aromatization, aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) has been shown to reduce the size of endometrioma and endometriosis associated pain. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of aromatase inhibitor in reducing the size of endometrioma.Methods: A prospective non comparative observational study was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility of BSMMU on 30 women with ovarian endometrioma during the period of April 2019 to March 2020. Women were treated with aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) 2.5 mg, norethisterone 5 mg, calcium 1200 mg, and vitamin D 800 IU daily for 6 months. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months after treatment to assess the mean diameter and volume of endometriomas. Statistical analyses were carried out by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0.Results: More than 50% reduction in volume occurred in 90% of endometrioma. In one (3.3%) case endometrioma disappeared completely after 6 months. There was statistically significant reduction of size of endometrioma (estimated by mean diameter and volume) and pain. Volume decrease was linearly related to baseline endometrioma volume and inversely related to baseline body mass index (BMI). The side effects were mild and well tolerated by the patients.Conclusions: Treatment of ovarian endometrioma with aromatase inhibitor combined with progestin add-back for 6 months cause substantial reduction in size of endometrioma and associated pain

Acarbose versus orlistat in weight management of infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects about 4 to 12% of women worldwide. PCOS is the most common cause of anavulation in infertile women. The endocrine dysfunction of PCOS is aggravated by obesity. Weight management is the first line treatment of this condition. In this study, we tried to compare acarbose versus orlistat in weight management of infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acarbose and orlistat in weight management of infertile polycystic ovarian syndrome women.Methods: This open label randomized controlled trial study was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study period was 1 year from July 2019 to June 2020. A total of 32 obese infertile women with PCOS were included in the study and randomized to two treatment arms: acarbose 100 mg tds for 3 months and orlistat 120 mg tds for 3-months.Results: The response of adequate (>10%) weight reduction with acarbose was 67% of that with orlistat. The side effects with acarbose were 15% of that with orlistat. Acanthosis nigricans was reduced in 18.8% (n=3/16) of those receiving acarbose.Menstrual cycle regularized in 37.5% (n=6/16) in experimental (acarbose) group and in 18.8% (n=3/16) in control (orlistat) group.Conclusions: The therapeutic potential of acarbose in reducing weight was relatively less than orlistat in obese infertile PCOS women

Effect of aromatase inhibitor, letrozole on semen parameters in eugonadotropic hypoandrogenic men with oligozoospermia

Background: Some men with severely defective sperm production commonly have excess aromatase activity, reflected by low serum testosterone and relatively elevated estradiol levels. Elevated levels of estrogen lead to feedback inhibition of the hypothalamic -pituitary-gonadal axis, and the end result is a decrease in LH necessary for the production of testosterone, and FSH to optimize sperm production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aromatase inhibitor, letrozole on the semen parameters of infertile male having oligozoospermia, low serum testosterone level and testosterone to estradiol ratio <10.Methods: This Prospective study was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from May 2019 to April 2020. The sample size was 30 subfertile men with oligozoospermia (≤ 10 million/ml), low serum testosterone level (<300 ng/dl) and low testosterone to estradiol ratio (<10). All patients were treated with letrozole 2.5 mg daily for 4 months. At the end of the 4 months the semen analysis was performed. Statistical analysis was carried out by using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 for windows (SPSS version 25.0).Results: The sperm concentration, sperm motility and total motile sperm count significantly increased after letrozole treatment. The side effects were mild and well tolerated.Conclusions: This study suggests that some men with oligozoospermia, low serum testosterone levels and normal gonadotropin concentration may have a treatable endocrinopathy. Letrozole may be used to improve sperm parameters in infertile men with low serum testosterone to estradiol ratio

Comparison of vitamin D (25OHD) status between fertile and infertile men

Background: Vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency has become a modern-day epidemic, being the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Many infertile men are experiencing low total sperm count or different semen abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D (25OHD) status among fertile and infertile men.Methods: This was an observational (cross sectional comparative) study and was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from April 2019 to March 2020. The sample size was 112 men where 56 participants were in fertile men group and 56 participants were infertile men group. Statistical analyses were carried out by using Windows based Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23.0).Results: The predictability of vitamin D insufficiency was significant. Holding the effects of vitamin D deficiency constant, males with vitamin D insufficiency were 3.28 times more likely to be infertile than males with vitamin D sufficiency. Subgroup analysis of infertile men was done regarding semen parameters in different vitamin D status categories. There was statistically significant difference in semen volume and sperm concentration between infertile men of different vitamin D status but no significant difference in case of motility and morphology.Conclusions: There was no significant different of serum vitamin D (25OHD) between fertile and infertile men. Men with vitamin D insufficiency (≥20 ng/ml to <30 ng/ml) are more likely to be infertile than men with vitamin D sufficiency.