Poulami Datta

Anti arthritic activity of aqueous extract of Indian black tea in experimental and clinical study

Aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of aqueous black tea extract against experimental arthritis model and in clinical study. Black tea leave (Assam, CTC, India) was collected commercially from authenticated tea supplier. BTE was prepared with MilliQ water and expressed in terms of dry weight. Rheumatoid arthritis was developed in male albino rats by FCA injection into the sub planter surface of hind foot and divided into five groups: Group-1 (Gr.1): Sham control; Group-2 (Gr.2) : Arthritic control, Group-3 (Gr.3): Standard anti-arthritic drug Indomethacin, Group-4 (Gr.4) & Group-5 (Gr.5) : BTE (high and low dose). Anti-arthritic activity of BTE was examined in animal models through physical, urinary, serum parameters and clinical serum samples. Histological studies of joints were done. Clinical study with BTE performed on the rheumatoid arthritis patients and the serum cytokines (IL-10, IL-6, IL-4) was done. Data was expressed in terms of mean ± SEM (n = 6). The data were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test using Graph Pad InStat3 software to establish statistical significance. Physical, urine, serum parameters and anti-oxidant markers, changed significantly in FCA induced arthritic rats but restored in BTE treated groups. Histological studies of joints showed restoration of the structural architecture of the joint after BTE treatment. Clinical study showed decreased cytokines level in the BTE treated group of patients as compared with the arthritis control group of patients. Data was expressed in terms of mean ± SEM (n = 6). The data were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test to establish statistical significance (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). The findings showed BTE had anti-arthritic activity in both experimental and clinical study. Further studies required to ascertain the action of BTE extract at molecular level.

Hepatoprotective activity of the edible snail (Bellamia bengalensis) flesh extract in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE In the folk-traditional medicine, snails were used to purify blood, boost immune system, prevent conjunctivitis and to treat liver problems. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the edible snail (Bellamia bengalensis) flesh extract in male Wistar rats treated with carbon tetrachloride as an hepatotoxicant. MATERIALS AND METHODS Live adult Bellamia bengalensis was collected commercially from the Kolkata market. Aqueous flesh extract (BBE) was prepared in 0.9% saline and expressed in terms of wet weight basis. The aqueous flesh extract was administered orally (1, 2 g kg(-1)day(-1)) to male rats for 12 days. Liv52 was used as positive control. 24h after administration of extract, the rats were given a single oral dose of CCl(4) (1.25 ml kg(-1)), except vehicle control rats. After 24h of CCl(4) administration, all the animals were sacrificed to collect the blood and liver tissue. RESULTS BBE (1 and 2 g kg(-1)day(-1), p.o.×12 days) significantly prevented CCl(4) induced elevation of SGOT, SGPT, γGT, ACP, ALP, bilirubin, LDH and CCl(4) induced decrease in total protein, triglyceride level in male Wistar rats. BBE treated rat liver anti-oxidant parameters (LPO, SOD, GSH, CAT, GPx) were significantly antagonized for the pro-oxidant effect of CCl(4). Histopathological studies also supported the protective effect of BBE. CONCLUSION This study validated the folk and traditional use of snail in liver disorder through CCl(4)-induced rat experimental model.

Anti arthritic and anti inflammatory activity of a cytotoxic protein NN-32 from Indian spectacle cobra (Naja naja) venom in male albino rats

The anti arthritic and anti inflammatory activity of NN-32, a cytotoxic protein from Indian spectacle cobra snake (Naja naja) venom has been studied in Freunds complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis and carrageenan induced anti inflammatory model. NN-32 treatment showed significant decrease in physical and urinary parameters, serum enzymes, serum cytokines levels as compared to arthritic control group of rats. NN-32 treatment recovered carrageenan induced inflammation as compared to control group of rats. The findings showed that the cytotoxic protein NN-32 shares anti arthritic and anti inflammatory activity and thus NN-32 may target complex pathophysiological processes like cancer- arthritis-inflammation.

Herbonanoceuticals: A New Step Towards Herbal Therapeutics

Herbs and herbal derivatives are of great research interest owing to their wide applications in therapeutics. Several folk evidences have been recorded in the formulations of ancient world’s medicinal system, which have attracted researchers for their scientific validation. Various herbal compounds has been identified and showed their therapeutic efficiency against pathophysiological conditions. Employing these herbal compounds for synthesizing nanoparticles for biomedical applications have been ventured in recent times. Green synthesis is the procedure of synthesizing nanoparticles from herbal/ biogenic resources and several metallic nanoparticles have been synthesized by this process. The metal nanoparticle-herb combination may show better efficacy against different pathophysioloical conditions. This review tries to put forward the different metal nanoparticles formed from different herbal resources and their role in health and diseases. Although green synthesis of nanoparticle is an emerging area of research but very few data are available regarding their physiological effects, compatibility and toxicity. This review is an effort to elaborate in detail the role of medicinally important herbs in synthesizing metal nanoparticles, their physiological compatibility and therapeutic efficacy. Further, considerations and discussions are also made on limitations (toxicity) of the green synthesis of nanoparticles along with their future prospects in health and diseases. This review opens door to a completely new dimension in medicinal plant research combining the nanotechnology with herbs i.e. Herbonanoceuticals.