Mohd Asif

Role of phenolic compounds in peptic ulcer: An overview

Peptic ulcer is the most common gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorder in clinical practice, which affects approximately 5-10% of the people during their life. The use of herbal drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases is constantly developing throughout the world. This is particularly true with regard to phenolic compounds that probably constitute the largest group of plants secondary metabolites. Phenolic compounds have attracted special attention due to their health-promoting characteristics. In the past ten years a large number of the studies have been carried out on the effects of phenolic compounds on human health. Many studies have been carried out that strongly support the contribution of polyphenols to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes mellitus, and suggest a role in the prevention of peptic ulcer. Polyphenols display a number of pharmacological properties in the GIT area, acting as antisecretory, cytoprotective, and antioxidant agents. The antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds have been widely studied, but it has become clear that their mechanisms of action go beyond the modulation of oxidative stress. Various polyphenolic compounds have been reported for their anti-ulcerogenic activity with a good level of gastric protection. Besides their action as gastroprotective, these phenolic compounds can be an alternative for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Therefore, considering the important role of polyphenolic compounds in the prevention or reduction of gastric lesions induced by different ulcerogenic agents, in this review, we have summarized the literature on some potent antiulcer plants, such as, Oroxylum indicum, Zingiber officinale, Olea europaea L., Foeniculum vulgare, Alchornea glandulosa, Tephrosia purpurea, and so on, containing phenolic compounds, namely, baicalein, cinnamic acid, oleuropein, rutin, quercetin, and tephrosin, respectively, as active constituents.

Evaluation of Myrtus communis Linn. berries (common myrtle) in experimental ulcer models in rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of the dried berries of Myrtus communis L. in gastric ulcer against ethanol, indomethacin and pyloric ligation induced models in Wistar rats. Two doses of aqueous extracts of M. communis (AE 1 and AE2) at the dose 105 and 175 mg/kg, respectively, and methanolic extracts (ME1 and ME2) at the dose of 93 and 154 mg/kg, respectively, were administered orally to animals prior to the exposure of ulcerogens. The parameters taken to assess anti-ulcer activity were ulcer index, gastric juice volume, gastric pH, total acidity, gastric wall mucus and histopathological studies. Oral administration of AE1 and AE2 significantly reduced the ulcer index in all models of ulcers. Low dose of aqueous extract and high dose of methanolic extract of M. communis exhibited more significant effect in comparison to omeprazole (standard drug) in ethanol-induced ulcer model. Both the doses of aqueous and methanolic extracts also reduced the gastric juice volume, total acidity and increased the gastric pH and gastric wall mucus content in all the models of ulcers used in the present study. Histopathological examinations of gastric tissues of rats treated with the aqueous and methanolic extracts in indomethacin-induced ulcer exhibited significant ulcer-protective effect at both the dose levels.

Development of Polymeric Nanopaclitaxel and Comparison with Free Paclitaxel for Effects on Cell Proliferation of MCF-7 and B16F0 Carcinoma Cells

Paclitaxel is hydrophobic in nature and is recognized as a highly toxic anticancer drug, showing adverse effects in normal body sites. In this study, we developed a polymeric nano drug carrier for safe delivery of the paclitaxel to the cancer that releases the drug in a sustained manner and reduces side effects. N-isopropylacrylamide/ vinyl pyrrolidone (NIPAAm/VP) nanoparticles were synthesized by radical polymerization. Physico- chemical characterization of the polymeric nanoparticles was conducted using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance, which confirmed polymerization of formulated nanoparticles. Drug release was assessed using a spectrophotometer and cell viability assays were carried out on the MCF-7 breast cancer and B16F0 skin cancer cell lines. NIPAAm/ VP nanoparticles demonstrated a size distribution in the 65-108 nm range and surface charge measured -15.4 mV. SEM showed the nanoparticles to be spherical in shape with a slow drug release of ~70% in PBS at 38° over 96 h. Drug loaded nanoparticles were associated with increased viability of MCF-7 and B16F0 cells in comparison to free paclitaxel. Nano loaded paclitaxel shows high therapeutic efficiency by sustained release action for the longer period of time, i increasing its efficacy and biocompatibility for human cancer therapy. Therefore, paclitaxel loaded (NIPAAm/VP) nanoparticles may provide opportunities to expand delivery of the drug for clinical selection.

Analysis ofPaeonia emodi root oil

The root oil ofPaeonia emodi was analyzed. Unsaponifiable lipid was found to contain a mixture ofn-alkanes C14–C33; β-amyrin, butyrospermol, cycloartenol, lupeol, 24-methylenecycloartanol; two unidentified triterpene diols; cholesterol (?), campesterol, and sitosterol. Saponifiable lipid contains octanoic, decanoic, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids.

Physicochemical and phytochemical standardization of berries of Myrtus communis Linn.

Purpose: Herbal medicines are gaining more and more attention all over the world due to their long historical clinical practice and less side effects. The major limitation with herbal medicines is that the lack of standardization technique. Initially, the crude drugs were identified by comparison only with the standard description available. Materials and Methods: Standardization of drugs means confirmation of its identity and determination of its quality and purity. The quality control standards of various medicinal plants, used in indigenous system of medicine, are significant nowadays in view of commercialization of formulations based on medicinal plants. The quality of herbal drugs is the sum of all factors, which contribute directly or indirectly to the safety, effectiveness, and acceptability of the product. Lack of quality control can affect the efficacy and safety of drugs that may lead to health problems in the consumers. Standardization of drugs is needed to overcome the problems of adulteration and is most developing field of research now. Therefore, there is an urgent need of standardized drugs having consistent quality. Results: The drug showed the presence of phyto-chemical constituents. Powdered drug was treated with different reagents and examined under UV light. Different reagents showed different colors of the drug at 2 wavelengths. The percentage of physiological active compounds viz. total phenolics, tannins, volatile oil, fixed oil, and alkaloids were also observed. Conclusion: Myrtus communis L. (Family: Myrtaceae) is one of the important drug being used in Unani system of medicine for various therapeutic purposes. In this study, an attempt has been made to study berries of M. communis from physico-chemical and phytochemical standardization point of view.

Amelioration of Inflammation Induced Oxidative Stress and Tissue Damage by Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Nigella sativa Linn. in Arthritic Rats

Pathology of rheumatoid arthritis suggests autoimmunity linked to inflammation. This study is an attempt to identify targets of inflammation in joints and amelioration of the disease process by a natural product.Wistar rats were immunised with collagen, disease developed after 13±1 days post induction. Nigella sativa Linn. aqueous methanolic extract was given at two diffferent dosages, viz. 400 and 500 mg/kg daily until the 20th day. The analysis of inflammation and associated protease activation was evaluated by myeloperoxidase (MPO) and articular elastase (ELA). Post inflammatory generation of various free radicals was checked by evaluating several enzymatic and non enzymatic parameters (GSH, SOD and catalase), including peroxidation of membranes. Finally, articular nitrite content was estimated as to highlight the tissue injury evidenced by histology caused by autoimmunity.Nigella sativa decreased MPO and associated elastase activity dose dependently (p < 0.001). Moreover, Nigella sativa decreased the lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) with replenishment of GSH (p < 0.001) confirming their inverse nature. SOD activity increased significantly (p < 0.01), with a parallel increment in catalase activity (p < 0.01). Consistent with these findings, articular nitrite content was reduced (p < 0.01), which was further confirmed by the histological findings. Our study suggests autoimmune stimulation of inflammatory cells and associated oxidative stress as a putative mechanism of RA and possible prevention by N. sativa.

In vivo anti-arthritic efficacy of Camellia sinensis (L.) in collagen induced arthritis model

BACKGROUNDnRheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune inflammatory disorder with synovial hyperplasia, destruction of cartilage, bone damage is often associated with risk of infections. Such risk could be attributed towards usage of immunosuppressive agents. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-arthritic efficacy of aquo-alcoholic extract of Camellia sinensis (L.).nnnMATERIAL AND METHODSnDried leaves of Camellia sinensis (L.) or Cs were filtered and extracted in 1:1 aqueous: ethanol by Soxhlet apparatus followed by lyophilization and spray drying to develop amorphous powder. Four different oral doses (50, 100, 200, 400mg/kg/body wt.) of aquo-alcoholic extract were evaluated for anti-edematogenic effect in collagen induced arthritis model. The selected anti-arthritic doses of Cs were evaluated for the oxidative stress markers like Glutathione [5-5dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoicacid (DTNB)], Superoxide dismutase [Epinephrine], Catalase [Hydrogen peroxide], Lipid peroxidation [Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS)], Nitric oxide [Griess reagents:Nitrobluetetrazolium], Articular elastase [N-methoxysuccinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro- Val p-nitroanilide] in joints followed by haematological evaluation including RBC, WBC, Haemoglobin, platelets and haematocrit. To validate these biochemical changes, the radiological and histopathological (Haematoxylin & Eosin) evaluation was also conducted.nnnRESULTSnThe selected anti-arthritic dose of Cs i.e. 400mg/kg/body wt. (∼60% anti-arthritic efficacy on 35th day) could be attributed towards significant (p<0.05) increase in the levels of enzymatic (Superoxide dismutase and Catalase) and non-enzymatic (Glutathione) antioxidants by 34%, 59% and 50% respectively. Simultaneously, the significant (p<0.05) reduction of lipid peroxides, nitrite radical and elastase activity by 32%, 45% & 32% respectively as compare to control indicated overall decrease in oxidative stress. Haematological evaluation revealed restoration of RBC, WBC and platelets level in treatment group. The confirmatory analysis utilizing radiological and histological assessment showed alleviation of joint deformity, tissue swelling, pannus formation and neutrophils infiltration in treatment group as compared to collagen induced arthritis.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe analysis showed that Cs can play an effective role in reduction of oxidative stress by modulating levels of antioxidants, reducing levels of free radicals while restoring normal haematopoietic cascade as observed in collagen induced arthritis model. Thus, the cumulative dose impact of 400mg/kg body wt., over a period of 14days also found extremely effective in terms of safeguarding their structural conformity against such auto-immune disorder.

Real time sequence characterized amplified region (RT- SCAR) marker: Development and its application for authentication and quantification of Catharanthus roseus L. Don.

The objective of the present study was to develop a Real Time-Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (RT-SCAR) ofxa0Catharanthus roseus,xa0an effective molecular marker for authentication and quantification. Here, we made a comparative study of SCAR and RT-SCAR marker. These newer RT-SCAR methods are useful for the correct identification and quantification of C. roseus. In particular, this technique is very attractive and can be used as a novel tool for quantification of C. roseus when the SCAR results cannot be quantified and the RAPD results are not consistent. RAPD analysis of collected samples from different geographical locations in India was carried out with 25 random primers. The RAPD polymorphic band was cloned, sequenced and from the sequence information, primers pair for SCAR was developed. The same primers was used for RT-SCAR marker by using SYBR green fluorescence-based detection in Real Time PCR. Utilizing this newly specific RT-SCAR marker, we detected the presence and quantity ofxa0C. roseusxa0in all the analyzed several samples, by aiding 10% its substitute and adulterants at time of DNA isolation. No difference was found in pure sample and 10% adulterant sample with the help of SCAR but in the case of RT-SCAR difference was found in the DNA sample. This analytical strategy could be used further for large scale quantification ofxa0C. roseus’sxa0market samples. n n xa0 n n Key words:xa0Catharanthus roseus,xa0RAPD, Sequence-Characterized-Amplified-Region (SCAR) Marker, Real Time Sequence-Characterized-Amplified-Region (RT-SCAR) Marker, Real Time PCR.

Stimuli responsive polymeric nanoparticles in regulated drug delivery for cancer

Stimuli responsive polymeric nanoparticles in regulated drug delivery for cancer Stimuli-responsive drug delivery system is a concept in which a drug is delivered at a suitable rate in response to stimuli. States of diseases may cause an alteration in some parameters of the body (e.g. in tumors) and the onset and offset of the drug delivery can be done by using this as a stimuli or a trigger. Stimuli-responsive (intellectual or sharp) resources and molecules show abrupt property changes in response to miniature changes in external stimuli such as pH, temperature etc. For regulated drug delivery, environmental stimuli such as pH and temperature, which undertake phase transition in polymer system, have been investigated. Thermally-responsive polymers can be tuned to a preferred temperature variety by copolymerization with a hydrophilic co-monomer or a hydrophobic co-monomer. Hydrophilic co-monomers increase the LCST while hydrophobic co-monomers decrease the LCST. The stimuli responsive polymer for regulated drug delivery can contain a polymer and copolymers having equilibrium of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. A number of these polymers have been investigated extensively and some success in drug delivery with them has been achieved, such as polymers and copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide, PLGA, and PLA, HEMA etc. Thus this review is designed for stimuli pH and temperature responsive polymeric nanoparticles, which would be helpful to treat various cronic diseases such as cancer and others, for scientists in the field of the regulated drug delivery system.

WITHDRAWN: Development of paclitaxel loaded NIPAAm/VP polymeric nanoparticles for efficacy enhancement against human cancer therapy

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.