Attenuation of Chemically Induced Diabetes in Rabbits with Herbal Mixture (Citrullus colocynthis and Cicer arietinum)

The present study was carried out to investigate the hypoglycemic potential of herbal mixture (Citrullus Colocynthis and Cicer arietinum) in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rabbits. Hypoglycemic potential was evaluated through curative and preventive modes of treatments. Blood glucose and lipid level was measured in serum of experimental rabbits. Significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in glucose level (466.33+9.07 mg/dl) in diabetic control group after the injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg) as compared to normal group (103.67±4.51 mg/dl). Treatment of diabetic rabbits with herbal mixtures at the dose of 150 mg/kg for three weeks significantly decreased (126±9.17 mg/dl) glucose level of the alloxan induced. The oral administration of herbal mixture in curative and preventive groups showed significant reduction in plasma glucose, and low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol levels, and significant (P<0.05) increased was observed in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL). The phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids in herbal mixture. The results of this study indicated that antidiabetic potential of herbal mixture (Citrullus Colocynthis and Cicer arietinum) may be due to presence of bioactive phytochemical constituents. It can be concluded that herbal mixture has strong hypoglycemic and antilipidemic potential which is comparable with standard drug

Optimization of process parameters by response surface methodology to develop a more bioefficacious nanosuspension of Silybum marianum seed extract

Purpose: To develop a nanosuspension drug delivery system to enhance the dissolution rate of Silybum marianum seeds extract. Methods: Central composite design was used to study the effect of the input variables (stabilizer to plant extract ratio, antisolvent to solvent ratio, stirring time) on the dependent variables (mean particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential). The optimized formulation was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Fourier Transformed Infrared Microscopy (FT-IR) and in vitro dissolution testing. Results: The optimized nanosuspension with mean particle size of 137 nm, PDI of 0.327 and zeta potential of -37 mV was obtained. SEM studies revealed irregular shaped particles. AFM studies showed nanosized particles with good surface characteristics. The optimized formulation showed faster dissolution rate than coarse suspension. Conclusion: Results suggested that nanosuspension has remarkable potential for enhancement of the dissolution properties of poorly soluble S. marianum seed extract. Keywords: Silybum marianum; Nanosuspension; Optimization; Dissolution rat

Cardioprotective and Metabolomic Profiling of Selected Medicinal Plants against Oxidative Stress

In this research work, the antioxidant and metabolomic profiling of seven selected medicinally important herbs including Rauvolfia serpentina, Terminalia arjuna, Coriandrum sativum, Elettaria cardamom, Piper nigrum, Allium sativum, and Crataegus oxyacantha was performed. The in vivo cardioprotective potential of these medicinal plants was evaluated against surgically induced oxidative stress through left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LADCA) in dogs. The antioxidant profiling of these plants was done through DPPH and DNA protection assay. The C. oxyacantha and T. arjuna showed maximum antioxidant potential, while the E. cardamom showed poor antioxidative strength even at its high concentration. Different concentrations of extracts of the said plants exhibited the protection of plasmid DNA against H2O2 damage as compared to the plasmid DNA merely treated with H2O2. The metabolomic profiling through LC-MS analysis of these antioxidants revealed the presence of active secondary metabolites responsible for their antioxidant potential. During in vivo analysis, blood samples of all treatment groups were drawn at different time intervals to analyze the cardiac and hemodynamic parameters. The results depicted that the group pretreated with HC4 significantly sustained the level of CK-MB, SGOT, and LDH as well as hemodynamic parameters near to normal. The histopathological examination also confirmed the cardioprotective potential of HC4. Thus, the HC4 being safe and inexpensive cardioprotective herbal combination could be considered as an alternate of synthetic drugs

Cardioprotective Potential of Polyphenolic Rich Green Combination in Catecholamine Induced Myocardial Necrosis in Rabbits

The present study was designed to develop safer, effective, and viable cardioprotective herbal combination to control oxidative stress related cardiac ailments as new alternatives to synthetic drugs. The synergetic cardioprotective potential of herbal combination of four plants T. arjuna (T.A.), P. nigrum (P.N), C. grandiflorus (C), and C. oxyacantha (Cr) was assessed through curative and preventive mode of treatment. In preventive mode of treatment, the cardiac injury was induced with synthetic catecholamine (salbutamol) to pretreated rabbits with the proposed herbal combination for three weeks. In curative mode of treatment, cardiotoxicity/oxidative stress was induced in rabbits with salbutamol prior to treating them with plant mixture. Cardiac marker enzymes, lipids profile, and antioxidant enzymes as biomarker of cardiotoxicity were determined in experimental animals. Rabbits administrated with mere salbutamol showed a significant increase in cardiac marker enzymes and lipid profile and decrease in antioxidant enzymes as compared to normal control indicating cardiotoxicity and myocardial cell necrosis. However, pre-and postadministration of plant mixture appreciably restored the levels of all biomarkers. Histopathological examination confirmed that the said combination was safer cardioprotective product

Multiple interval mapping of QTLs and epistasis for iron toxicity tolerance in segregating population of Indica rice

The global average temperature has increased by approximately 0.5 °C, over a last few decades and is projected to continue to increase. Environmental stress factors such as, elevated temperature, salinity, toxic elements (Fe, Al, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn and As), drought and rising CO2 affect plant growth and make a growing threat to agriculture. Rice is a primary food crop in the world and the establishment of rice crop in acidic soil and in marginal soil is a major goal for the improvement of rice production to fulfill the food security. Among environmental stresses, Fe2+ toxicity is one of the main stresses in limiting the cereal crops production. Tolerant rice genotypes that can tolerate the high concentration of Fe2+ toxicity are the potential source genes for rice tolerance improvement in Fe2+ toxicity. In this research work, the genetic basis of seed germination traits and growth traits was investigated in rice using (multiple interval mapping) MIM. Many rice genotypes serve as source of tolerant against toxic metal ion like Fe2+, could be an important factor in controlling the sever effect of Fe2+ toxicity on germination and seedling growth traits.  The F3 progenies of cross between Fe2+ toxicity tolerant cultivar ‘Pokkali’ and susceptible cultivar ‘Pak basmati’ were test against the optimized level of Fe2+ toxicity at germination, to determine the mode of inheritance to Fe2+ toxicity tolerance. Wide range of continues variation was found in F3 progenies. Among the 49 quantitative germination trait and 23 growth trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 linked with tolerance to Fe2+ toxicity was mapped. Additionally, 21 QTLs for germination traits and 9 QTLs for growth traits were classified as major QTLs using MIM. For germination and growth traits, notable epistasis between the chromosome 1, 2, 4, 6 and 11 was detected across germination and growth traits. Our results suggest that the tolerance mechanisms at germination and seedling phases could differ for Fe2+ toxicity. QTLs detected in this study for germination and seedling growth could be a source of new alleles for development of tolerance rice to Fe2+ toxicity varieties and transformation, gene cloning and gene editing in the futur

Green inspired synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Silybum marianum (milk thistle) extract and evaluation of their potential pesticidal and phytopathogens activities

Background The green approaches for the synthesis of nanoparticles are gaining significant importance because of their high productivity, purity, low cost, biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. Methods The aim of the current study is the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using seed extracts of Silybum marianum, which acts as a reducing and stabilizing agent. central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) optimized synthesis parameters (temperature, pH, reaction time, plant extract, and salt concentration) for controlled size, stability, and maximum yields of ZnO-NPs. Green synthesized ZnO-NPs was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy and Zetasizer analyses. Results The Zetasizer confirmed that green synthesized ZnO-NPs were 51.80 nm in size and monodispersed in nature. The UV-visible results revealed a large band gap energy in the visible region at 360.5 nm wavelength. The bioactivities of green synthesized ZnO-NPs, including antifungal, antibacterial, and pesticidal, were also evaluated. Data analysis confirmed that these activities were concentration dependent. Bio-synthesized ZnO-NPs showed higher mortality towards Tribolium castaneum of about 78 ± 0.57% after 72 h observation as compared to Sitophilus oryzae, which only displayed 74 ± 0.57% at the same concentration and time intervals. Plant-mediated ZnO-NPs also showed high potential against pathogenic gram-positive bacteria (Clavibacter michiganensis), gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas syringae), and two fungal strains such as Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillums niger with inhibition zones of 18 ± 0.4, 25 ± 0.4, 21 ± 0.57, and 19 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study showed that Silybum marianum-based ZnO-NPs are cost-effective and efficient against crop pests

EVALUATION OF: DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF Achyranthes aspera (Chirchita) IN GOATS

The investigations were carried out to evaluate the diuretic activity by oral administration of aqueous extract of Achyranthes aspera (Chirchita) at dose Level of 3.00 g/kg b.wt. in goats. Furosemide at dose level of 5.0 mg/kg b.wt. was used as standard diuretic drug. The effects of Achvranthes aspera on diuresis, pH, creatinine, urea and electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3) in blood and urine samples were studied. The plant extract treated goats showed high diuretic effect as compared to control but this effect was less than furosemide. Significant increase in renal clearance of sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate was observed in plant extract treated and furosemide treated goats

Isolation and characterization of antihypertensive peptides from soy bean protein

Proteins and peptides are the most diverse biomolecules found in nature and make our interest due to their wide applications in food and pharmaceutical industry. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) plays a major role in controlling blood pressure. The inhibition of ACE with peptides is a main target in the regulation of hypertension. The objective of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of soy bean. This was accomplished by isolation of ACE inhibitory peptides using response surface methodology (RSM) and characterization of these bioactive peptides by mass spectrometry. 31 hydrolyzed fractions were isolated and evaluated for their ACE inhibition potential. Hydrolyzed fraction having highest ACE inhibitory activity was characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique. RSM results showed maximum ACE inhibition potential (64%) by hydrolyzate was obtained at 45 ºC temperature, pH 8.0, E/S 0.2 in 2 hours hydrolysis time. Results of LC-MS analysis revealed Ser-Gly, Ser-Pro, Met-Ala, His-Ala, Lys-Pro, Phe-Thr, Met-Leu, Pro-Arg, Ala-Pro-Val, Pro-Ala-Leu, Val-Met-Gly, Pro-Leu-Val, Pro-Pro-Gln, His-Arg-Gly, Ser-Phe-Val-Leu, Ala-Val-His-Try, Arg-Thr-Val-Arg, His-His-Tyr-Leu-Val, Asp-Gly-Ala-Cys-Ser-Ala-Asn and MetVal-Thr-Gly-Pro-Gly-Cys-His bioactive peptides in hydrolyzed fraction of soy bean. Our data provide evidence that response surface methodology is a good approach for isolation of antihypertensive bioactive peptides with more potent activity as nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals. Therefore soy bean can be use for industrial production of pharmaceutical grade natural medicines for handling high blood pressure

Identification of Hypotensive Biofunctional Compounds of Coriandrum sativum and Evaluation of Their Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibition Potential

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the bioactive compounds of Coriandrum sativum responsible for the treatment of hypertension and to explore their mechanism of action as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Bioactive fractions like alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and tannins were extracted and evaluated for their ACE inhibition potential. Among them, only flavonoid-rich fraction showed high ACE inhibition potential with IC50 value of 28.91 ± 13.42 μg/mL. The flavonoids were characterized through LC-ESI-MS/MS. Seventeen flavonoids were identified in this fraction of Coriandrum sativum in negative ionization mode which includes pinocembrin, apigenin, pseudobaptigenin, galangin-5-methyl ether, quercetin, baicalein trimethyl ether, kaempferol dimethyl ether, pinobanksin-5-methylether-3-O-acetate, pinobanksin-3-O-pentenoate, pinobanksin-3-O-phenylpropionate, pinobanksin-3-O-pentanoate, apigenin-7-O-glucuronoide, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, apigenin-3-O-rutinoside, rutin, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and quercetin dimethyl ether-3-O-rutinoside, while six flavonoids including daidzein, luteolin, pectolinarigenin, apigenin-C-glucoside, kaempferol-3-7-dimethyl ether-3-O-glucoside, and apigenin-7-O-(6-methyl-beta-D-glucoside) were identified in positive ionization mode. The results of this study revealed that Coriandrum sativum is a valuable functional food that possesses a number of therapeutic flavonoids with ACE inhibition potential that can manage blood pressure very efficiently

Cardioprotective Potential of Polyphenolic Rich Green Combination in Catecholamine Induced Myocardial Necrosis in Rabbits

The present study was designed to develop safer, effective, and viable cardioprotective herbal combination to control oxidative stress related cardiac ailments as new alternatives to synthetic drugs. The synergetic cardioprotective potential of herbal combination of four plants T. arjuna (T.A.), P. nigrum (P.N), C. grandiflorus (C), and C. oxyacantha (Cr) was assessed through curative and preventive mode of treatment. In preventive mode of treatment, the cardiac injury was induced with synthetic catecholamine (salbutamol) to pretreated rabbits with the proposed herbal combination for three weeks. In curative mode of treatment, cardiotoxicity/oxidative stress was induced in rabbits with salbutamol prior to treating them with plant mixture. Cardiac marker enzymes, lipids profile, and antioxidant enzymes as biomarker of cardiotoxicity were determined in experimental animals. Rabbits administrated with mere salbutamol showed a significant increase in cardiac marker enzymes and lipid profile and decrease in antioxidant enzymes as compared to normal control indicating cardiotoxicity and myocardial cell necrosis. However, pre- and postadministration of plant mixture appreciably restored the levels of all biomarkers. Histopathological examination confirmed that the said combination was safer cardioprotective product