Analysis of scopoletin and mangiferin in botanicals and formulations of Shankhpushpi by HPLC

Introduction: Shankhpushpi has been widely used in traditional Indian systems of medicine as a brain and memory boosting tonic. There are a variety of botanicals reported to be used as sources of Shankhpushpi in various parts of India. For instance, Canscora decussata Schult, Clitorea ternatea Linn., Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy. and Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. are most commonly used as sources of Shankhpushpi by practitioners of Ayurveda in different parts of the country. Objective: When it comes to using Shankhpushpi in herbal formulations, qualitative and quantitative analysis of the correct botanicals in the formulation decides its pharmacological effectiveness. Scopoletin and mangiferin are proven bioactive markers identified in Shankhpushpi botanicals in our previous studies. Hence the study is aimed at providing a simple analytical method for the identification of the correct variety of Shankhpushpi using proven markers. Methods: In this study, a High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the estimation of scopoletin and mangiferin levels in four botanicals of Shankhpushpi and their marketed formulations. Result: A simple analytical method was developed which proved to be very crucial in estimating concentrations of mangiferin and scopoletin in various test samples. This method can be used to identify the correct botanicals of Shankhpushpi present in any Ayurvedic formulation or raw material or processed powder by evaluating the content of scopoletin or mangiferin as markers. Conclusion: The developed HPLC method is a quick and reliable method for the quantitative monitoring of mangiferin and scopoletin in herbal extracts and marketed formulations of Shankhpushpi

Aptamer-based targeted drug delivery systems.

Nano-therapeutics often aims to design site-specific delivery of the therapeutics at the molecular level to treat diseased tissues or organs. On the contrary, both reachability and interaction of these therapeutic active molecules at the delivery site are challenging tasks, and most of the therapeutics are unable to achieve therapeutic efficacy, because of their side effect associated with off-targeting due to limited selectivity. Therefore, to avoid “off-target” delivery, presently aptamer-based drug target delivery systems have emerged as a vital therapeutic option having specific receptor recognition ability. Moreover, the wide range of chemical flexibility and tissue penetration competency of such delivery systems make aptamers suitable candidates for targeted drug delivery. Recently, various cutting-edge aptamer-based technologies received considerable attention due to their wider applicability in therapeutics including chemotherapeutics, peptides, toxins, and oligonucleotides. The objective of this book chapter is to explore aptamer-based targeting strategy as an advanced therapeutic option supported by evidence collected from past and current research progress. The outcome of the current chapter is thoroughly evaluated, discussed, and concluded for the present scenario and future direction considering the aptamer-based drug delivery