A Landmark Approach to Aphrodisiac Property of Abelmoschus manihot (L.)

The Abelmoschus manihot (L.) commonly reffered to as “Junglee bhindi” is widely used to control fertility, depression and anxiety in traditional Chinese medicine and has potential therapeutic benefit for cardiovascular diseases associated with diabetes mellitus. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of 95% ethanolic extract of Abelmoschus manihot on general mounting frequency, intromission frequency, penile erection index along with body weight/organ weight and sperm count on sexually normal male mice. Two doses i.e. 100and 200 mg/kg b.w. of ethanolic extract administered to Swiss albino mice, showed pronounced anabolic and spermatogenic effect in animals of respective groups. There was a remarkable increased in sperm count and penile erection index and also improved sexual behavior of male mice by increased mount and intromission frequency.The result of the present study signatured for sexual enhancing capacity of the drug Abelmoschus manihot is an individual and also holds good aphrodisiac property when compared with standard drug. It was noticed that a 200 mg/kg b.w. dose of Abelmoschus manihot, the performance rate enhances without any side effect. Therefore, the conclusion suggestive that the Abelmoschus manihot will be a drug of choice or alternative therapy for a marketed product. Which may help the population to lead their sexual life perfectly with full of pleasure to interact body, mind and sole.Keywords: Abelmoschus manihot, Aphrodisiac, Mounting frequency, Intromission frequency, Penile erection index

Pharmacological insights into antioxidants against colorectal cancer: A detailed review of the possible mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the fourth most lethal and commonly diagnosed cancer in the world ac-cording to the National Cancer Institute’s latest report. Treatment methods for CRC are constantly being studied for advancement, which leads for more clinically effective cancer curing strategy. Patients with prolonged chronic inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis or similar inflammatory bowel disease are known to have high risks of developing CRC. But at a molecular level, oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important trigger for cancer. Hence, in recent years, exogenous antioxidants have been immensely experimented in pre-clinical and clinical trials, considering it as a potential cure for CRC. Significantly, potential antioxidant compounds especially derivatives of medicinal plants have received great attention in the current research trend for CRC treatment. Though antioxidant compounds seem to have beneficial properties for the treatment of CRC, there are also limitations for pure compounds to be tested clinically. Therefore, this review aims to delineate the pharmacological awareness among researchers on using antioxidant compounds to treat CRC and the measures taken to prove the effectiveness of such compounds as impending drug candidates for CRC treatment in modern medication

Traditional uses, Pharmacology and Phytochemistry of National flower of Nepal Rhododendron arboreum: A Review

Methods: This review provides scientific grounds in the literature for the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of Rhododendron arboreum, from 2010- 2021. Chiefly three bibliographic databases were used as the main sources of information (Google scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct). The keywords used in this research are as follows: “Phytochemical”, “National flower”, “Bioactive compounds”, “Pharmacology” and “Rhododendron arboreum”. Results: Various studies were included in this review according to the required criteria, including phytochemical and traditional uses. Rhododendron arboreum contains flavonoids alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, steroids, anthraquinones, saponins and tannins. Pharmacological and traditional uses of this plant on the basis of presence of above active ingredients. Keywords: Bioactive compounds, National flower, Rhododendron arboreu

Resveratrol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles mediated programmed cell death in prostate cancer cells

Resveratrol (RL), a natural polyphenol, is known for its diverse biological effects against various human cancer cell lines. But low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, and stability limit its efficacy against prostate cancer. In this study polymeric nanoparticles encapsulating resveratrol (RLPLGA) were designed and their cytotoxic and mode of apoptotic cells death against prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) was determined. Nanoparticles were prepared by solvent displacement method and characterized for particle size, TEM, entrapment efficiency, DSC and drug release study. RLPLGA exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability with 50% and 90% inhibitory concentration (IC50 and IC90) of 15.6 ± 1.49 and 41.1 ± 2.19 μM respectively against the LNCaP cells. This effect was mediated by apoptosis as confirmed by cell cycle arrest at G1-S transition phase, externalization of phosphatidylserine, DNA nicking, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species generation in LNCaP cells. Furthermore, significantly greater cytotoxicity to LNCaP cells was observed with nanoparticles as compared to that of free RL at all tested concentrations. RLPLGA nanoparticles presented no adverse cytotoxic effects on murine macrophages even at 200 μM. Our findings support the potential use of developed resveratrol loaded nanoparticle for the prostate cancer chemoprevention/ chemotherapy with no adverse effect on normal cells. Keywords: Resveratrol, PLGA nanoparticles, Prostate cancer, LNCaP cells, Apoptosis, Drug deliver

Does an Adjustable-Loop Device Loosen following ACL Reconstruction with a Hamstring Graft? A Retrospective Study with a Follow-Up of Two Years

Arthroscopic anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is the gold standard treatment for an ACL tear and requires the use of fixed or adjustable-loop devices to fix a femoral-side graft. Although the adjustable mechanism is designed to provide one-way tensioning, there is a concern that the adjustable loop will loosen and lengthen during cyclic loads, creating graft laxity. The present paper is a retrospective study of patients who underwent ACLR with the fixation of a hamstring graft with an adjustable loop on the femoral side from November 2016 to October 2018. The knee’s functional outcome was evaluated using an International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, Lachman test, and pivot shift test. The patients were assessed preoperatively and finally postoperatively after two years of surgery. Thirty-two patients were analyzed. Significant improvement was obtained in the final clinical outcome of the patients. Twenty-seven patients (84.4%) were Lachman negative, and twenty-eight patients (87.5%) were pivot shift test negative, the mean Lysholm score was 96.91, and the IKDC score was 91.47 (p < 0.001). There was no infection, graft failure, or flexion restriction. Arthroscopic ACLR with an adjustable-loop suspensory device is a successful fixation method for femoral-side graft fixation and offers a similar functional outcome as with fixed-loop devices

Hepatoprotectivity of Panduratin A against liver damage: In vivo demonstration with a rat model of cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide

This experiment evaluated Panduratin A (PA), a chalcone isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda rhizomes, for its hepatoprotectivity. Rats were subjected to liver damage induced by intra-peritoneal injection of thioacetamide (TAA). PA was tested first for its acute toxicity and then administered by oral gavage at doses 5, 10, and 50 mg/kg to rats. At the end of the 8th week, livers from all rats were excised and evaluated ex vivo. Measurements included alkaline phosphatase (AP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), and hepatic metalloproteinase enzyme (MMP-2) and its inhibitor extracellular matrix protein (TIMP-1). Oxidative stress was measured by liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrotyrosine levels, urinary 8-hydroxy 2- deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), and hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities. The immunohistochemistry of TGF-β1 was additionally performed. PA revealed safe dose of 250 mg/kg on experimental rats and positive effect on the liver. The results suggested reduced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activity as verified from the attenuation of serum PDGF and TGF-β1, hepatic MMP-2 and TIMP-1, and oxidative stress. The extensive data altogether conclude that PA treatment could protect the liver from the progression of cirrhosis through a possible mechanism inhibiting HSCs activity

Ambroxol hydrochloride loaded gastro-retentive nanosuspension gels potentiate anticancer activity in lung cancer (A549) cells

This study aimed to develop gastro-retentive sustained-release ambroxol (ABX) nanosuspensions utilizing ambroxol-kappa-carrageenan (ABX-CRG(K)) complexation formulations. The complex was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, powder x-ray diffractometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The prepared co-precipitate complex was used for the development of the sustained-release formulation to overcome the high metabolic and poor solubility problems associated with ABX. Furthermore, the co-precipitate complex was formulated as a suspension in an aqueous floating gel-forming vehicle of sodium alginate with chitosan, which might be beneficial for targeting the stomach as a good absorption site for ABX. The suspension exhibited rapid floating gel behaviour for more than 8 h, thus confirming the gastro-retentive effects. Particle size analysis revealed that the optimum nanosuspension (ABX-NS) had a mean particle size of 332.3 nm. Afterward, the ABX released by the nanoparticles would be distributed to the pulmonary tissue as previously described. Based on extensive pulmonary distribution, the developed nanosuspension-released ABX nanoparticles showed significant cytotoxic enhancement compared to free ABX in A549 lung cancer cells. However, a significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) also occurred. The level of caspase-3 was the highest in the ABX-NS-released particle-treated samples, with a value of 416.6 ± 9.11 pg/mL. Meanwhile, the levels of nuclear factor kappa beta, interleukins 6 and 1 beta, and tumour necrosis alpha (NF-kB, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, respectively) were lower for ABX-NS compared to free ABX (p < 0.05). In caspase-3, Bax, and p53, levels significantly increased in the presence of ABX-NS compared to free ABX. Overall, ABX-NS produced an enhancement of the anticancer effects of ABX on the A549 cells, and the developed sustained-release gel was successful in providing a gastro-retentive effect

Therapeutic strategy of biological macromolecules based natural bioactive compounds of diabetes mellitus and future perspectives: A systematic review

High blood glucose levels are a hallmark of the metabolic syndrome known as diabetes mellitus. More than 600 million people will have diabetes by 2045 as the global prevalence of the disease continues to rise. Contemporary antidiabetic drugs reduce hyperglycemia and its consequences. However, these drugs come with undesirable side effects, so it's encouraging that research into plant extracts and bioactive substances with antidiabetic characteristics is on the rise. Natural remedies are preferable to conventional anti-diabetic drugs since they are safer for the body, more affordable and have fewer potential adverse effects. Biological macromolecules such as liposomes, niosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions and metallic nanoparticles are explored in this review. Current drug restrictions have been addressed, and the effectiveness of plant-based antidiabetic therapies has enhanced the merits of these methods. Plant extracts' loading capacity and the carriers' stability are the primary obstacles in developing plant-based nanocarriers. Hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and amphiphilic drugs are covered, and a brief overview of the amphipathic features of liposomes, phospholipids, and lipid nanocarriers is provided. Metallic nanoparticles' benefits and attendant risks are highlighted to emphasize their efficiency in treating hyperglycemia. Researchers interested in the potential of nanoparticles loaded with plant extracts as antidiabetic therapeutics may find the current helpful review

Contact energy and protein geometry of the TREM2 domain.

<p><b>A)</b> Pie chart showing the energy significance for wild-type and mutant residues of Arg⇒His47, i.e., wild-type Arg47 (green) −0.696 kcal/mol and His (red) mutant type −3.914 kcal/mol. <b>B)</b> The constructed TREM2 domains for wild-type and mutant positions of the amino acid residues are shown on the x-axis, while the contact energies are shown on the y-axis. The chain 1 (red) mutant type structure of residue His47 energy was shown on the y-axis is indicated by the arrow shown in the downstream region (white), but chain 2 (green) of wild type residue His47 energy is shown as the x-axis and is indicated by the arrow shown in the upstream region (white). The trends in the variation of the contact energy in most of the parts of the TREM2 domain were in good agreement with that of the X-ray structure of TREM2. <b>C)</b> The rotamer wild type and mutant structure residue positions are shown on the x-axis, although the contact energies are shown on the y-axis. The chain 1 (red) mutant type structure of amino acid residue His47 energy was shown as the y-axis indicated by the arrow shown in the upstream region (white), but chain 2 (green) of wild-type residue His47 energy was shown as the x-axis indicated by the arrow shown in the downstream region (white). <b>D)</b> The protein backbone of both mutants was shown in red (chain-1), and the wild type from is shown in green, with a bond length that is based on the Z-score profile of the protein geometry. The distribution of three portions is given: 1) [PC-N (pink), N-CA (blue), 2) CA-C (green), CB-CA (white), and 3) C = O (red), CB-CA (white).</p