Anti-Arthritic Potential of the Plant Justicia Gendarussa Burm F

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-arthritic potential of the plant Justicia gendarussa using two different rat models. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The anti-arthritic potential of the alcoholic extract of the plant Justicia gendarussa was evaluated using the Freund's adjuvant-induced and collagen-induced arthritic rat models. The rats were treated with the ethanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa and with standard aspirin. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa showed significant anti-arthritic activity that was statistically similar to that of aspirin. Our results suggest that the alcoholic extract of Justicia gendarussa exhibits significant anti-arthritic potential

Selected novel 5'-amino-2'-hydroxy-1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones arrest cell cycle of HCT-116 in G0/G1 phase

A series of 5’-amino-2’-hydroxy-1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones (AC1-AC15) were synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 5'-acetamido-2’-hydroxy acetophenone with various substituted aromatic aldehydes. The synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR and mass spectrometry and evaluated for their selective cytotoxicity using MTT assay on two cancer cell lines namely breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) and one normal kidney epithelial cell line (Vero). Among the tested compounds, AC-10 showed maximum cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cell line with IC50 value 74.7 ± 3.5 μM. On HCT-116 cells, AC-13 exhibited maximum cytotoxicity with IC50 value 42.1 ± 4.0 μM followed by AC-14 and AC-10 with IC50 values 62 ± 2.3 μM and 95.4 ± 1.7 μM respectively. All tested compounds were found to be safe on Vero cell line with IC50 value more than 200 μM. Based on their highest efficacy on HCT-116, AC-10, AC-13 and AC-14 were selected for mechanistic study on this cell line by evaluating changes nucleomorphological characteristics using acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AOEB) dual stain and by analyzing cell cycle with flow cytometry using propidium iodide stain. In AOEB staining, all three tested compounds showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in percentage apoptotic nuclei compared to control cells, with highest increase in apoptotic nuclei by AC-13 treatment (31 %). Flow cytometric studies showed cell cycle arrest by AC-10 and AC-14 treatment in G0/G1 phase and by AC-13 in G0/G1 and G2/M phase. The study reflected the potential of AC-10, AC-13 and AC-14 to be the lead molecules for further optimization

Caesalpinia sappan – A medicinal and dye yielding plant

75-82Natural products have provided a variety of lead structures, which serve as templates for the development of new drugs. The water kept in Caesalpinia sappan Linn. (Sappan lignum) heartwood is being used in Kerala as herbal drinking water for its antithirst, blood purifying, antidiabetic, improvement of complexion and several other properties. The plant is also being used worldwide for a large number of traditional medicinal purposes. Modern day research confirms its cytotoxic, antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, immunostimulant and several other activities. Several triterpenoids, flavonoids, oxygen heterocycles, etc. were isolated. Brazilin is found to be the main constituent of the plant responsible for several of its biological activities. The use of heartwood as a colouring agent for wine, meat, fabric, etc. is well established. It has the potential to hit the market as a safe natural colouring agent with good medicinal value for food products, beverages and pharmaceuticals. There is also a scope for further research to establish its medicinal properties and to identify lead compounds for drug development

Need and Viability of Newborn Screening Programme in India: Report from a Pilot Study

India, a country with the second largest population in the world, does not have a national newborn screening programme as part of its health policy. With funding support from the Grand Challenges Canada, a pilot newborn screening programme was implemented for the Udupi district of South India to study the need and viability of a national programme in India. Six disorders were selected for the study based on the availability of funding and recommendation from pediatricians in the district. Here, we report the observed incidence during the study. A cost-effectiveness analysis of implementing newborn screening in India was performed. It is evident from our analysis that the financial loss for the nation due to these preventable diseases is much higher than the overall expenditure for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. This cost-effectiveness analysis justifies the need for a national newborn screening programme in India

Synthesis and in vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation of 5&apos;-Acetamido-2&apos;-Hydroxy Chalcone derivatives

Abstract A series of chalcones (3a-j

Treatment of H. pylori infection and gastric ulcer: Need for novel Pharmaceutical formulation

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is one of the most prevalent gastro intestinal disorder which often leads to painful sores in the stomach lining and intestinal bleeding. Untreated Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the major reasons for chronic PUD which, if left untreated, may also result in gastric cancer. Treatment of H. pylori is always a challenge to the treating doctor because of the poor bioavailability of the drug at the inner layers of gastric mucosa where the bacteria resides. This results in ineffective therapy and antibiotic resistance. Current treatment regimens available for gastric ulcer and H. pylori infection uses a combination of multiple antimicrobial agents, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2-receptor antagonists, dual therapy, triple therapy, quadruple therapy and sequential therapy. This polypharmacy approach leads to patient noncompliance during long term therapy. Management of H. pylori induced gastric ulcer is a burning issue that necessitates alternative treatment options. Novel formulation strategies such as extended-release gastro retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) and nanoformulations have the potential to overcome the current bioavailability challenges. This review discusses the current status of H. pylori treatment, their limitations and the formulation strategies to overcome these shortcomings. Authors propose here an innovative strategy to improve the H. pylori eradication efficiency

Synthesis, in vitro anticancer and antioxidant activity of thiadiazole substituted thiazolidin-4-ones

A series of novel 5-alkyl/aryl thiadiazole substituted thiazolidin-4-ones were synthesized by a two-step process. In the first step, 5-alkyl/aryl substituted 2-amino-thiadiazoles were synthesized, which on reaction with substituted aromatic aldehydes and thioglycolic acid in presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide afforded thiazolidin-4-ones. All compounds were synthesized in fairly good yields and their structures were confirmed by spectral and physical data. The title compounds were screened for in vitro anti-proliferative activity on human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) by the MTT assay. Most derivatives showed an IC50 less than 150 µmol L–1. Among the compounds tested, 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-thiazolidin-4-one (3f), 2-(3-fluorophenyl)-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-thiazolidin-4-one (3b), and 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-thiazolidin-4-one (3c) were found to be the most active derivatives with IC50 values of 46.34, 66.84, and 60.71 µmol L–1, respectively. Antioxidant studies of all synthesized compounds were carried out using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay. Among the compounds tested, 2-phenyl-3-(5-styryl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-thiazolidin-4-one (3s) elicited superior antioxidant activity with IC50 of 161.93 µmol L–1