Ila Shukla

Thymol, thyme, and other plant sources: Health and potential uses: Thymol, health and potential uses

Thymol is a naturally occurring phenol monoterpene derivative of cymene and isomer of carvacrol. Thymol (10–64%) is one of the major constituent of essential oils of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae), a medicinal plant with several therapeutic properties. This plant, native to Mediterranean regions, is commonly used as a culinary herb and also with a long history of use for different medicinal purposes. Nowadays, thymol and thyme present a wide range of functional possibilities in pharmacy, food, and cosmetic industry. The interest in the formulation of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals based on thymol is due to several studies that have evaluated the potential therapeutic uses of this compound for the treatment of disorders affecting the respiratory, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. Moreover, this compound also exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenesis, anti‐inflammatory, and antispasmodic activities, as well as a potential as a growth enhancer and immunomodulator. In the present review, these bioactivities have been covered because some of them can contribute to explain the ethnopharmacology of thymol and its main source, T. vulgaris. Other important aspects about thymol are discussed: its toxicity and bioavailability, metabolism, and distribution in animals and humans.

Formononetin and biochanin A protects against ritonavir induced hepatotoxicity via modulation of NfκB/pAkt signaling molecules

Aims: Ritonavir (RIT) is a human immune deficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor (PI) active against HIV‐1 and HIV‐2. Among various adverse effects of PIs, hepatotoxicity is a very common adverse reaction of RIT which is concentration dependent. Red clover isoflavones are found to possess anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and anti‐apoptosis activity. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that these isoflavones can be used to alleviate the side‐effects of drugs. Hence, the present study was inquested to ascertain the effect of Formononetin (FMN) and Biochanin A (BCA) on RIT induced hepatotoxicity. Main methods: Five groups of animals were subjected to treatment as control, toxic control (RIT), third group (RIT + FMN), fourth group (RIT + BCA), the fifth group (RIT + FMN + BCA) and sixth group (FMN + BCA) for 14 days. The animals were evaluated for estimation of liver toxicity markers, inflammatory biomarkers, in‐vivo biochemical antioxidant parameters. The liver tissues were further evaluated histopathologically and western blotting examination for localization of apoptotic gene expression that plays a pivotal role in hepatotoxicity. Key findings: FMN and BCA ameliorated the increased levels of biochemical markers of liver, attenuated the RIT induced Bax, caspase‐3, NF&kgr;B and eNOS activation and persuaded the Bcl2 and pAkt level. Alteration in the levels of inflammatory markers was also observed in both hepatic tissue and serum. Significance: FMN and BCA exerts hepatoprotective effect through modulating the oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and reversing the tissue degeneration suggesting its therapeutic role in hepatotoxicity and other hepatocellular diseases.

Melioration of anti-hepatotoxic effect by Lichen rangiferinus against alcohol induced liver damage in rats

Background Reindeer lichen, Lichen rangiferinus syn. or Cladonia rangiferina (L.) F. H. Wigg. (Cladoniaceae) has been traditionally reported as a remedy to treat fever, colds, arthritis as well as convulsions, liver infections, coughs, constipation, and tuberculosis. The current study is aimed at rectification of alcohol induced liver damage by the use of L. rangiferinus extract. Objectives The aim of the study was to compare some biochemical markers for liver injury and hematological indices in normal untreated rats and treated rats. Material and Methods The study was performed using male Wistar rats. Animals were categorized into five groups, negative control group (normal diet only), treated groups (2 groups were lichen treated along with 10% ethanol & 1 group was only ethanol treated) and positive control group (Silymarin + 10% ethanol) of six animals in each group. Biochemical markers for liver injury and hematological indices of all animals were measured using standard diagnostic tools. The animals were then sacrificed and livers were sent to the pathology lab for histopathological analysis. Results Lichen extract showed a significant restoration of altered biochemical parameters towards normal in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of the LRE was found to be 21.78 μg PE/mg of extract and 5.13 μg RE/mg of extract respectively. The IC50 values for atranorin and fumarprotocetraric acid were found to be 128.48 and 218.46 mg/mL respectively. Reducing power of the extract was found to be quite significant. After administration of lichen extract, endothelial cells were less injured around central vein and number of fat vacuoles was also lesser in hepatocytes. Conclusion Conclusively, treatment with lichen extract assuages alcohol-related damage and guards hepatic tissue from alcohol-induced toxicity.