Pueraria tuberosa as Dipeptidyl-Peptidase-IV Inhibitor Prevents Streptozotocin-Induced Intestinal Stress

BACKGROUND: Enhanced expression of PTY-2 dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) has been found to improve has been found in various intestinal diseases. Pueraria tuberosa tuber water extract-2 (PTY-2) is already known to have DPP-IV inhibitory potential. At the mRNA level, this inhibition has not yet been investigated. Increased incretin secretion due to inhibition of DPP-IV could lead to the suppression of stress and apoptosis of intestinal cells. AIM: In this research, we tried to study the antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and DPP-IV inhibitory effect of PTY 2 against intestinal damage induced by STZ. METHODS: We found morphological damage to the intestine following streptozotocin (STZ) injection (65 mg/kg bw) in male Charles foster rats through histological examination. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and DPP-IV mRNA expressions were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and cell apoptosis was examined by tunnel assay and Bcl 2 immunoexpression. RESULTS: In STZ-induced diabetic control, the number and length of villi were decreased, but these damages were reversed by 10 days of PTY-2 treatment. SOD expression was found to be decreased whereas DPP-IV expression was enhanced with significant intestinal cell apoptosis in the diabetic control group. Treatment with PTY-2 decreases stress by upregulating SOD expression and by downregulating the expression of DPP-IV. These PTY-2 recoveries contribute to the suppression of apoptosis in the intestinal cells. CONCLUSION: The protective action of PTY-2 against STZ mediated intestinal damage is demonstrated by these short studies. Therefore, PTY-2 may be taken as a herbal remedy for diabetes-induced intestinal damages

Neuroprotective Activity of Evolvulus alsinoides & Centella asiatica Ethanolic Extracts in Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia in Swiss Albino Mice

AIM: To carry out the comparative nootropic, neuroprotective potentials of two medicinal plant species. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For neuroprotective activity; behavior models (elevated plus maze & morris water maze), in vivo antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase, lipid peroxidation & reduced glutathione), inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6 & TNF-α) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) assessment procedures followed at different dosages i.e. 250 & 500 mg/kg of Evolvulus alsinoides and Centella asiatica ethanolic extracts. At the end of the study, it was performed histopathological analysis of the following organs: brain, heart, liver, and kidney. RESULTS: In oral administration of different doses of ethanolic extracts of both medicinal plants i.e. Sco + EEA 250 = 2.49 ± 0.29 , Sco + EEA 500 = 2.67 ± 0.36, Sco + ECA 250 = 2.33 ± 0.17, Sco + ECA 500 = 2.77 ± 0.21, Sco + EEA + ECA 250 = 2.61 ± 0.32 and Sco + EEA + ECA 500 = 2.79 ± 0.16 U/mg of protein respectively against the scopolamine induced group Sco (control) = 5.51 ± 0.35 U/mg of protein extracts shows neuroprotective and nootropic activity with reducing AChE level in the brain homogenate of swiss albino mice. CONCLUSION: Since the E. alsinoides & C. asiatica are already used in traditional Indian medicine as the neuroprotective agent and also found promising effects over inflammatory diseases, wound healing, and immunomodulatory activity. The neuroprotective effect of both plants extracts attributed to inhibition of AChE activity and improve the spatial memory formation

In Vivo Toxicity Study of Ethanolic Extracts of Evolvulus alsinoides & Centella asiatica in Swiss Albino Mice

AIM: We aimed to investigate several parameters after the in vivo acute and sub-acute administration of ethanolic extracts from E. alsinoides & C. asiatica. METHODS: Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors for in vivo toxicity study guidelines 423 and 407 of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) were followed for acute and sub-acute toxicity assays respectively. For LD50 evaluation, a single dose of ethanolic extracts of Evolvulus alsinoides L. (EEA) and ethanolic extracts of Centella asiatica (ECA) was orally administered to mice at doses of 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 2000 mg/kg. Then the animals were observed for 72 hours. For acute toxicity evaluation, a single dose of both extracts was orally administered to mice at doses of 300, 600, 1200 and 2000 mg/kg and the animals were observed for 14 days. In the sub-acute study, the extracts were orally administered to mice for 28 days at doses of 300, 600, 1200 and 2000 mg/kg. To assess the toxicological effects, animals were closely observed on general behaviour, clinical signs of toxicity, body weight, food and water intake. At the end of the study, it was performed biochemical and hematological evaluations, as well as histopathological analysis from the following organs: brain, heart, liver, and kidney. RESULTS: The oral administration of E. alsinoides and C. asiatica ethanolic extracts, i.e. EEA 300, EEA 600, EEA 1200, EEA 2000, ECA 300, ECA 600, ECA 1200 & ECA 2000 mg/kg doses showed no moral toxicity effect in LD50, acute and sub-acute toxicity parameters. CONCLUSION: In this study, we had found that E. alsinoides & C. asiatica extract at different doses cause no mortality in acute and sub-acute toxicity study. Also, histopathology of kidney, liver, heart, and brain showed no alterations in tissues morphology

Role of <i style="">Rubia cordifolia</i> Linn. in radiation protection

620-625The radioprotective potential of alcoholic extract of root of R. cordifolia, was studied by survival, hemopoietic cell protection and micronucleus assay. The LD50 value for the alcoholic root extract was found to be 1200 mg/kg body weight at 72 hr post irradiation. A significant radiation protection (67%) as assessed by increased animal survival was observed when R. cordifolia (RC) extract was administered intraperitoneally, 90 min. before the radiation exposure. Besides, the extract also inhibited radiation induced lipid peroxidation measured by the inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). The RC extract at a selected dose of 460 mg/kg body weight was effective in protecting the radiation induced suppression of endogenous colony forming units in spleen. A significant inhibition of radiation (2 Gy) induced micronuclei formation was observed when RC extract was administered 90 min prior to irradiation. Thus, it appears that the alcoholic root extract of R. cordifolia provides significant protection against radiation induced lipid peroxidation, hemopoietic injury and genotoxicity. The mechanism of action of RC extract appears to be through its anti-oxidant, metal chelation and anti-inflammatory property

Identification of therapeutic targets for controlling COVID-19 pandemic by traditional system of Ayurvedic medicines: A systematic reviewCOVID-19 is a severe respiratory disorder caused by the SARS COV-2 virus that involves limited innate immunity. Numerous publications have suggested that plants/minerals used in the Traditional system of Ayurveda, has revealed much about the biology of COVID-19. One theory is that combination of anti viral, anti inflammatory, agents activating immune cells, anti toxic herbs and metals may be helpful for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. Anti viral Drugs used for COVID-19 are those which blocks RNA synthesis, virus invasion, bind to receptor proteins on the surface of cells, cell cycle protein, and physiological and pathological processes inhibitor. Anti-inflammatory drugs used for COVID-19 re those which controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production, break down the basement membrane, regulate outer mitochondrial membrane permeability, controlling the host cell life, stimulates activated B-cell and T-cell proliferation, virus dissemination, a slowdown of cell metabolism or secretion of cytokines. Drugs which is having role in the innate immunity, inhibits ROS, enhances cell lifespan, activates macrophages, physiological effects on cells activates the Lung resident immune cells. The focus of this review is to elucidate the Ayurvedic pharmacological properties with their therapeutic targets.

COVID-19 is a severe respiratory disorder caused by the SARS COV-2 virus that involves limited innate immunity. Numerous publications have suggested that plants/minerals used in the traditional system of Ayurveda, has revealed much about the biology of COVID-19. One theory is that combination of anti viral, anti inflammatory, agents activating immune cells, herbs and metals may be helpful for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. Anti-viral drugs used for COVID-19 are those which block RNA synthesis and virus invasion, and bind to receptor proteins on the surface of cells, cell cycle protein, and physiological and pathological processes inhibitor. Anti-inflammatory drugs used for COVID-19 are those which controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production, break down the basement membrane, regulate outer mitochondrial membrane permeability, controlling the host cell life, stimulates activated B-cell and T-cell proliferation, virus dissemination, a slowdown of cell metabolism or secretion of cytokines. Drugs which is having role in the innate immunity, inhibits ROS, enhances cell lifespan, activates macrophages, physiological effects on cells activates the Lung resident immune cells. The focus of this review is to elucidate the Ayurvedic pharmacological properties with their therapeutic targets

THE TUBER EXTRACT OF PUERARIA TUBEROSA LINN. COMPETITIVELY INHIBITS DPP-IV ACTIVITY IN NORMOGLYCEMIC RATS

Objective: The main objective of this research was to explore the effect of the polar fraction of tubers of Pueraria tuberosa (PTWE) on DPP-IV activity.Methods: The comparison of in vitro inhibitory potential between commercially available Galvus (Vildagliptin) and PTWE was determined by measuring percent inhibition and IC50. The enzyme kinetics were also done to reveal the nature of inhibition. In vivo study was done via the glucose tolerance test and by the measurement of increased plasma GLP-1 concentration and DPP-IV activity after glucose load.Results: PTWE has given the IC50 value of 17.4 mg/ml and was found to be a competitive inhibitor having the Ki value of 13.11 mg/ml. Plasma GLP-1 concentration was increased and DPP-IV activity was decreased after 60 minutes of glucose load in PTWE treated rats as compared to control rats. Overall PTWE was found to be less potential DPP-IV inhibitor than Galvus.Conclusion: These findings suggest that antidiabetic effect of PTWE could be because of its role in DPP-IV inhibition.Â

Engineered Cellular Uptake and Controlled Drug Delivery Using Two Dimensional Nanoparticle and Polymer for Cancer Treatment

Two major problems in chemotherapy, poor bioavailability of hydrophobic anticancer drug and its adverse side effects causing nausea, are taken into account by developing a sustained drug release vehicle along with enhanced bioavailability using two-dimensional layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with appropriate surface charge and its subsequent embedment in polymer matrix. A model hydrophobic anticancer drug, raloxifene hydrochloride (RH), is intercalated into a series of zinc iron LDHs with varying anion charge densities using an ion exchange technique. To achieve significant sustained delivery, drug-intercalated LDH is embedded in poly­(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix to develop intravenous administration and to improve the therapeutic index of the drug. The cause of sustained release is visualized from the strong interaction between LDH and drug, as measured through spectroscopic techniques, like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared, UV–visible spectroscopy, and thermal measurement (depression of melting temperature and considerable reduction in heat of fusion), using differential scanning calorimeter, followed by delayed diffusion of drug from polymer matrix. Interestingly, polymer nanohybrid exhibits long-term and excellent <i>in vitro</i> antitumor efficacy as opposed to pure drug or drug-intercalated LDH or only drug embedded PCL (conventional drug delivery vehicle) as evident from cell viability and cell adhesion experiments prompting a model depicting greater killing efficiency (cellular uptake) of the delivery vehicle (polymer nanohybrid) controlled by its better cell adhesion as noticed through cellular uptake after tagging of fluorescence rhodamine B separately to drug and LDH. <i>In vivo</i> studies also confirm the sustained release of drug in the bloodstream of albino rats using polymer nanohybrid (novel drug delivery vehicle) along with a healthy liver vis-à-vis burst release using pure drug/drug-intercalated LDHs with considerable damaged liver

MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19: AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

Ayurveda, a branch of AYUSH system of health care in India is considered as alternative/complementary of medicine (CAM) in WHO. Here, it’s products are covered under “drug and cosmetics” act but in abroad it is supplements or functional foods. The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the wellness of a healthy person and to treat a patient. For treatment Ayurveda adopts 3 approaches i.e. (1) Daivavyapasharya (दैवव्यपाश्रय) (२) Yuktivyapashraya (युक्तिव्यपाश्रय),    (३)Satvavajaya (सत्वावजय), and focuses to enhance the Vyadhikshmatwa (capacity to fight against spread of pathogenesis) by strengthening all 7 dhatus (rasa, rakta, meda, mansa, asthi, majja and shukra).  The disease COVID-19, falls under “Bhootvidya (GrahaVidya)”, which is one of the 8 branches of “Astanga Ayurveda”. It is an “Agantuja” disease, where the disease symptoms appears in 1st stage, followed by its spread in the body. Thus, progress of disease (Samprapti) has been considered under concept of shatkriyakala (6 stages of disease development), which has been given high importance for deciding the stage of disease progress and its treatment protocol. Here, we have described the introduction to Astang Ayurveda, concept of disease pathogenesis and holistic approach of treatment in respect to management of COVID-19. It specifically covers symptom based stage of disease progress and its targeted treatment guideline by including all 3 approaches of treatment, described above. Here the current line of diagnosis, treatment and research related to COVID -19 management has been included, which are reported by basic scientists and physicians of allopathic system. These are indexed in Pubmed and web of science and also described in classical text books of Ayurveda. The same has been reviewed and summarized here, with an objective of possible correlation between the two languages of science of health care