Phytochemical profile and biological activity of Nelumbo nucifera

© 2015 Keshav Raj Paudel and Nisha Panth. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaeaceae) is a potential aquatic crop grown and consumed throughout Asia. All parts of N. nucifera have been used for various medicinal purposes in various systems of medicine including folk medicines, Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicine, and oriental medicine. Many chemical constituents have been isolated till the date. However, the bioactive constituents of lotus are mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Traditionally, the whole plant of lotus was used as astringent, emollient, and diuretic. It was used in the treatment of diarrhea, tissue inflammation, and homeostasis. The rhizome extract was used as antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of asteroidal triterpenoid. Leaves were used as an effective drug for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia. Flowers were used to treat diarrhea, cholera, fever, and hyperdipsia. In traditional medicine practice, seeds are used in the treatment of tissue inflammation, cancer and skin diseases, leprosy, and poison antidote. Embryo of lotus seeds is used in traditional Chinese medicine as Lian Zi Xin, which primarily helps to overcome nervous disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases (hypertension and arrhythmia). Nutritional value of lotus is as important as pharmaceutical value. These days' different parts of lotus have been consumed as functional foods. Thus, lotus can be regarded as a potential nutraceutical source

Microparticles-Mediated Vascular Inflammation and its Amelioration by Antioxidant Activity of Baicalin.

Microparticles (MPs) are extracellular vesicles (0.1-1.0 μm in size), released in response to cell activation or apoptosis. Endothelial microparticles (EC-MP), vascular smooth muscle cell microparticles (VSMC-MP), and macrophage microparticles (MØ-MP) are key hallmarks of atherosclerosis progression. In our current study, we investigated the potent antioxidant activity of baicalin to ameliorate MP-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction and endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, as well as the production of inflammatory mediators in macrophage (RAW264.7). In our study, baicalin suppressed the apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, NO production, foam cell formation, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in MØ-MP-induced RAW264.7. In addition, VSMC migration induced by VSMC-MP was dose-dependently inhibited by baicalin. Likewise, baicalin inhibits metalloproteinase-9 expression and suppresses VSMC-MP-induced VSMC proliferation by down-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expressions. Baicalin also inhibited ROS production and apoptosis in VSMC. In EC, the marker of endothelial dysfunction (endothelial senescence, upregulation of ICAM, and ROS production) induced by EC-MP was halted by baicalin. Our results suggested that baicalin exerts potent biological activity to restore the function of EC and VSMC altered by their corresponding microparticles and inhibits the release of inflammation markers from activated macrophages

Reactive Oxygen Species: A Key Hallmark of Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been the prime cause of mortality worldwide for decades. However, the underlying mechanism of their pathogenesis is not fully clear yet. It has been already established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in the progression of CVDs. ROS are chemically unstable reactive free radicals containing oxygen, normally produced by xanthine oxidase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, lipoxygenases, or mitochondria or due to the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase in vascular cells. When the equilibrium between production of free radicals and antioxidant capacity of human physiology gets altered due to several pathophysiological conditions, oxidative stress is induced, which in turn leads to tissue injury. This review focuses on pathways behind the production of ROS, its involvement in various intracellular signaling cascades leading to several cardiovascular disorders (endothelial dysfunction, ischemia-reperfusion, and atherosclerosis), methods for its detection, and therapeutic strategies for treatment of CVDs targeting the sources of ROS. The information generated by this review aims to provide updated insights into the understanding of the mechanisms behind cardiovascular complications mediated by ROS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Related Knowledge, Risk Perception and Practices among Married Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-sectional Study from Mid-western Development Region, Nepal

Background: Despite the implementation of anti.human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) interventions, it has continued to spread from high risk to the low risk population population with the devastating social, economic and health consequences. Aim: The aim of the following study is to identify HIV related knowledge, risk perceptions and practices among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in Mid-Western Development Region, Nepal.Subjects and Methods: A community based, cross.sectional study was conducted during May-December 2010 among 618 MWRA in Mid-western Development Region, Nepal. Multistage random sampling was followed wherein four districts, representing each ecological zone were selected in the first stage. Nine Village Developments Committees with the total 81 clusters were selected in the second and third stages. Finally, 7/8  participants/cluster were selected randomly. Household interviews were conducted using pretested structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). Percentages, mean, Chi-square value and odds ratio were calculated. Results: Nearly three quarters (434/618) of all participants had heard about the HIV. Radio was the most common source of the information 73.3% (318/434) amongst all sources. Unsafe sex 55.3% (240/434), infected blood transfusion 33.2% (144/434), needle sharing 24.7% (107/434) and mother to child transmission 4.1% (18/434) were reported modes of HIV transmission. Condom use during extramarital sex 51.8% (225/434), use of sterilized syringes 24.2% (105/434), restricting sex within couple 22.6% (98/434) and blood safety 20.3% (88/434) were reported HIV preventive measures. Extramarital sex, needle sharing and sharing of the razors/blades were perceived to be the risk behaviors. About 4.9% (30/618) had extramarital sexual experience amongst all participants. Only a quarter (8/30) of those who had extramarital sex used condom regularly.Conclusions: Almost half of the MWRA had limited awareness on HIV transmission and preventive measures. There was poor HIV preventive practices; indicating knowledge-behavior gaps. Awareness raising and behavior change interventions are recommended.Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus, Knowledge, Married women of reproductive age, Nepal, Practice, Risk perceptio

Vascular protection by ethanol extract of Morus alba root bark: Endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aorta and decrease of smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation

Copyright © 2018 Nisha Panth et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License Morus alba (white mulberry) is native to the northern part of Korea and popularly used as a traditional medicine due to its numerous health benefits against human's disease. However, the possibility that M. alba may also affect the cardiovascular system remains unexplored. This study sought to investigate the vascular protective effects of the root bark extract of M. alba (MAE). Vascular reactivity was performed in organ baths using isolated rat thoracic aorta, while platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) and wound healing assay, respectively. MAE evoked a concentration dependent vasorelaxation following endothelium-dependent pathway. However, vessel relaxations in response to MAE were markedly reduced after endothelium removal; treatment of endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, and nonspecific potassium channel inhibitor, however, was not altered by cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Furthermore, MAE also significantly blunted contractile response to vasoconstrictor agent, phenylephrine. Taken together, the current evidence revealed that MAE is a potent endothelium-dependent vasodilator and this effect was involved in, at least in part, nitric oxide cyclic-guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) pathway in combination with potassium (K + ) channel activation. Moreover, MAE inhibited proliferation and migration of VSMCs induced by PDGF. Therefore, MAE could be a promising candidate of natural medicine for preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases linked with endothelial dysfunction

Antiatherogenic Effect of Camellia japonica Fruit Extract in High Fat Diet-Fed Rats

© 2016 Hyun-Ho Lee et al. Hypercholesterolemia is a well-known etiological factor for cardiovascular disease and a common symptom of most types of metabolic disorders. Camellia japonica is a traditional garden plant, and its flower and seed have been used as a base oil of traditional cosmetics in East Asia. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of C. japonica fruit extracts (CJF) in a high fat diet- (HFD-) induced hypercholesterolemic rat model. CJF was administered orally at three different doses: 100, 400, and 800 mg·kg-1·day-1 (CJF 100, 400, and 800, resp.). Our results showed that CJF possessed strong cholesterol-lowering potency as indicated by the decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), accompanied by an increase in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Furthermore, CJF reduced serum lipid peroxidation by suppressing the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. In addition, oil red O (ORO) staining of rat arteries showed decreased lipid-positive staining in the CJF-treated groups compared to the control HFD group. Taken together, these results suggest that CJF could be a potent herbal therapeutic option and source of a functional food for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and other diseases associated with hypercholesterolemia

Recent advancement in drug delivery system

Abstract Ease of drug administration, safety, affordability and effi cacy are the major concerns in pharmacotherapy leading to exploration of better drug delivery systems. Liposomes are lyotropic liquid crystals composed mainly of ampiphilic bilayers and these are more frequently used as drug carriers. Liposomes help reduce the toxicity and deliver the drug to the target tissue. So far, liposomes have been the most intensively studied lipid-based delivery system. In liposomes, a hydrophilic drug can be trapped in aqueous interior or channels between successive phospholipids bilayers whereas a hydrophobic drug can reside with the bilayer itself. The non-toxic and nonimmunogenic bilayers dissipate allowing the diffusion of the drug into the tissues. Attachment of polyethyl glycol to the surface of liposome (known as stealth liposome) aids in the better targeting of the drug to the tissues. Pegylated proteins and polymers of lactic and glycolic acids have been well studied as drug carriers and found to be resistant to phagocytosis and complement activation. Newer DNA based strategies including DNA vaccination and antisense oligonucleotides and immunomodulation show good results for new therapeutic systems. Though the DNA based therapeutic systems have high selectivity and specifi city with few adverse effects, these systems are so far restricted to animal models and clinical trials

Formulation and Development of Adapalene Topical Nanohydrogel Using Different Surfactants and Cosurfactants for Antiacne Activity: In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation

A formulation of an adapalene nanohydrogel (ADP-NH) using different surfactants and cosurfactants for topical application was developed and characterized. The best formulation was obtained with nanohydrogel (NH) containing Tween-80- (NH-Tween-80-) incorporated carbopol-940 and ethanol, 0.67% and 3.00% w / w , respectively. The optimized formulations of NH-Tween-80, nanohydrogel containing sodium lauryl sulphate (NH-SLS), and nanohydrogel containing glycerol (NH-glycerol) were separately evaluated to examine their in vitro and ex vivo permeability characteristics and compared with 0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide (control) solution. The polydispersity index of NH-Tween-80, NH-SLS, and NH-glycerol were found to be 0.264 ± 0.312 , 0.382 ± 0.0045 , and 0.310 ± 0.412 , respectively. All NH formulations showed pH within human skin pH ranges throughout the stability period. The NH-Tween-80 revealed 191.22 μg/mL of ADP permeation through Strat-M® membrane which was statistically significant ( p &lt; 0.05 ) compared to NH-SLS, NH-glycerol, and control solution. At 24 h, NH-Tween-80 demonstrated 305.11 μg/mL of ADP permeation in Wistar rat abdominal skin which was 1.99-, 1.56-, and 4.89-fold higher in comparison with NH-SLS, NH-glycerol, and control solution, respectively. Moreover, the ex vivo permeability of NH-Tween-80 was also compared with conventional gel (market sample) which was 3.38-fold greater at 24 h. During the 6th month of accelerated stability analysis, the NH-Tween-80, NH-SLS, and NH-glycerol demonstrated 99.25 % ± 0.15 , 91.23 % ± 0.41 , and 96.08 % ± 0.20 drug content, respectively. There were no noticeable physical changes observed up to 6 months for NH-Tween-80, while color change was observed in the 1st month and 3rd month of accelerated stability samples of NH-SLS and NH-glycerol, respectively. In this study, only NH-Tween-80 was considered both physically and chemically stable formulation. Therefore, it was concluded that the topical application of ADP-NH containing Tween-80 could be a very promising alternative for the treatment of acne vulgaris.</jats:p