PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND SUPPRESSION OF INFLAMMATORY TARGETS BY ADATHODA VASICA

 Objectives: A persistent and chronic inflammation may act as an underlying definition for many of the long-term illness such as diabetic foot ulcer, Alzheimer's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Folklore medicinal plants provide immense health benefits with new remedies. Active compounds from plants containing alkaloids and phenolic compounds (flavonoids and tannins) possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The leaves of Adhatoda vasica are most known for its effectiveness in treating respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. In this report, we investigated the possible action of A. vasica against inflammation.Methods: Solvents with varying polarity (Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) were used for the sequential extraction of leaves of A. vasica Linn (Family: Acanthaceae). The antiâ€inflammatory activity was assessed using simple in vitro methods. Phenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins, alkaloids, and tannins were analyzed qualitatively using standard protocols. Antiâ€inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation assay, membrane stabilization assay and proteinase inhibitory activity. Aspirin (diclofenac) was used as a standard drug for the study of anti-inflammatory activity.Results: Our results substantiated that methanolic extract of A. vasica gave a maximum yield of 12.5% and apparently all bioactive phytochemical constituents were at a higher concentration in the methanolic extract. Methanolic extract of A. vasica showed a significant inhibition of the heat-induced albumin denaturation, red blood cells membrane stabilization, and proteinase inhibitory effects with 86±1.46, 88±1.24, and 96±0.93% for 1000 μg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The above results delineate that the bioactive components were extracted using high polar solvent are mostly flavonoids and related polyphenols. These compounds may be the active constituents to render the anti-inflammatory activity to A. vasica

Presence of pyrroloquinazoline alkaloid in Adhatoda vasica attenuates inflammatory response through the downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages

Introduction: Inflammation is the primary response caused due to harmful stimuli which are followed by the increased draining of plasma and immune cells from the body into the site of the injured tissue. A signaling cascade of growth factors and cytokines propagates and eventually matures in the inflammatory site involving the blood vessels and immune markers within the injured tissue in order to promote the renewal of the degenerated tissue. During a chronic disorder like diabetic foot ulcer, there is an obstinate inflammation which may act as a prime factor for limb amputation and upon persistent prevalence may even lead to death. Methods: This study focuses on the mode of action of ALK-F (alkaloid fraction) isolated from Adhatoda vasica in attenuating the nitric oxide production which was estimated by Griess assay, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression was analyzed by ELISA and expression of COX-2 and iNOS by RT-PCR and western blotting in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Total intracellular ROS was analyzed by DCFH-DA probing and the presence of quinazoline alkaloid (vasicine) in the ALK-F was evidenced by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The ALK-F of A. vasica exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on LPS elicited nitrite production (13.2 ± 1.06 µM), iNOS, and COX-2 (2.6 and 3.3 fold) in a dose-dependent manner. There was a significant decrease in the generation of these pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (1102 ± 1.02 pg/mL) and IL-6 (18 ± 0.87 ng/mL) and total intracellular ROS in the highest tested concentrations (1 µg and 10 µg) of ALK-F of A. vasica. HPLC analysis by the gradient elution method revealed the presence of 12% of quinazoline alkaloid vasicine in the crude alkaloid fraction. Conclusion: Thus this study communally suggests that attenuation of nitric oxide and the dysregulation of genes responsible for inflammation which deliberates A. vasica to conflict against inflammation and provide remedial benefits in diabetic wound care

ANTIHYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF JATROPHA GOSSYPIFOLIA METHANOLIC EXTRACT IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-NICOTINAMIDE INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

  Objective: The objective of the present study is to explore the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of Jatropha gossypifolia methanolic extract (ME) in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NIC) induced diabetic model.Methods: Type II diabetes was induced by a single dose of NIC (110 mg/kg) and STZ (50 mg/kg b.w.) intraperitoneally. The diabetic animals were treated with ME (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg b.w.) of J. gossypifolia. At the end of experimental period, the effect of the ME on creatinine level, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very LDL (VLDL) were analyzed. Liver function parameters such as glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were analyzed and liver glycogen content was estimated spectrophotometrically. After scarification of animals, the liver was collected and subjected to histopathology analysis. Glycogen content was estimated spectrophotometrically.Results: The ME treated diabetic rats showed a significant increase in HDL level and a decrease in creatinine, TG, TC, and VLDL levels. The treated group showed a significant decrease in liver function parameters such as GOT and GPT levels and significantly increased the liver glycogen content.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that ME possess antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity against STZ - NIC induced diabetic rats

Noncommunicable disease in rural India: Are we seriously underestimating the risk? The Nallampatti noncommunicable disease study

Aim: To assess the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in a true rural farming population in South India and compare the data with the landmark contemporary Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study. Methods: Local Ethics Committee approval and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Inclusion criteria were participants, aged ≥20 and ≤85 years, from Nallampatti, a classical farming village from Tamil Nadu state, India. All participants were administered a detailed questionnaire, had anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference. Bloods were drawn for random blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), nonfasting lipid profile, Cystatin C, uric acid, and hemoglobin. All participants had carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) done by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound. Results: More than 50% of the population had either diabetes or prediabetes based on HbA1c. Nearly, 40% of the population had hypertension with suboptimal control in those with known hypertension. Nearly, a third of the population had dyslipidemia, elevated cystatin C levels, and abnormal CIMT. The burden was higher than the comparable ICMR-INDIAB study in rural Tamil Nadu. Conclusion: One-third to one-half of this rural farming population is at risk of cardiovascular disease, with poor control of preexisting cardiovascular risk factors. Current Indian data may underestimate the risk in different ethnic populations and regions of India. Long-term follow-up of this cohort for the incident cardiovascular disease will shed light on the true cardiovascular risk in a typical South Indian rural farming population