Vidhu Aeri

Antidiabetic effect of Punica granatum flowers: effect on hyperlipidemia, pancreatic cells lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in experimental diabetes.

The present study investigated the effects of Punica granatum aqueous extract (PgAq) on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats by measuring fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles (atherogenic index), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activities of both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg) to albino Wistar rats. The increase in blood glucose level, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), LPO level with decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), reduced glutathione (GSH) content and antioxidant enzymes namely, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were the salient features observed in diabetic rats. On the other hand, oral administration of PgAq at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg for 21 days resulted in a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and tissue LPO levels coupled with elevation of HDL-C, GSH content and antioxidant enzymes in comparison with diabetic control group. The results suggest that PG could be used, as a dietary supplement, in the treatment of chronic diseases characterized by atherogenous lipoprotein profile, aggravated antioxidant status and impaired glucose metabolism and also in their prevention.

Cucurbitacins - An insight into medicinal leads from nature

Cucurbitacins which are structurally diverse triterpenes found in the members of Cucurbitaceae and several other plant families possess immense pharmacological potential. This diverse group of compounds may prove to be important lead molecules for future research. Research focused on these unattended medicinal leads from the nature can prove to be of immense significance in generating scientifically validated data with regard to their efficacy and possible role in various diseases. This review is aimed to provide an insight into the chemical nature and medicinal potential of these compounds exploring their proposed mode of action, probable molecular targets and to have an outlook on future directions of their use as medicinal agents.

New sterol esters from the flowers of Punica granatum Linn.

Two new β-sitosterol esters have been isolated from the flowers of Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae) along with the known compounds n-tricosane (3), n-heptacosanyl n-hexanoate (4), olean-5,12-dien-3β-ol-28-oic acid (5), and olean-12-en-3β-ol-28-oic acid (6). The structures of the new phytosterols have been elucidated as stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-3β-dodecanoate (β-sitosterol laurate, 1) and stigmast-5-en-3β-ol-3β-tetradecanoate (β-sitosterol myristate, 2) on the basis of spectral data and chemical analyses.

Inhibitory effect of Careya arborea on inflammatory biomarkers in carrageenan-induced inflammation

Abstract Context: Careya arborea Roxb. (Lecythidaceae) has multiple applications in traditional medicine; it exhibits analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, and protective effects. However, the effect of C. arborea on biochemical and immmunological inflammatory mediators has not been explored. Objective: The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory potential of the methanol extract of C. arborea stem bark and further assesses its possible mechanism on the modulation of inflammatory biomarkers. Materials and methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of C. arborea methanol extract (CAME) was evaluated (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o) using indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o) as the standard drug in Wistar albino rats. Inflammation was induced by injecting 0.1 ml carrageenan (1% w/v) into the left hind paw. The anti-inflammatory mechanism was studied by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, and IL-1β levels in both control and treated groups. A protocol has also been established to quantify quercetin and betulinic acid content in CAME using HPTLC fingerprint. Results: Careya arborea significantly (p < 0.001) decreased carrageenan-induced paw edema, showed a reduction of 48.87 and 65.53% at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, CAME significantly decreased the MDA, CRP, NO, and MPO levels, elevated by carrageenan induced inflammation. CAME also markedly down-regulated serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels. These findings were further supported by the histological study. The content of quercetin and betulinic acid in CAME was found to be 0.177 and 3.14%, respectively. Conclusion: Several mechanisms, including the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enzymes and mediators release, appear to account for the anti-inflammatory potential of C. arborea.

New flavonoids from Punica granatum flowers

Two new flavonoids were isolated from the flowers of Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae) along with the known compounds ellagic acid, gallic acid, sucrose, and gallic acid glycoside. The structures of the new flavonoids have been characterized as 5,6,7,8,2′,3′,5′-heptahydroxy-4′-methoxyflavanone (punicaflavanol) and 5,6,7,8,2′,5′-hexahydroxy-4′-methoxyflavanone-7-β-D-xylopyranoside (granatumflavanyl xyloside) on the basis of spectral data analyses and chemical reactions.

A Review on Hepatoprotective and Immunomodulatory Herbal Plants.

The liver is the most important organ that plays an important role in maintaining various physiological processes in the body. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and is characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. There are five main viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D, and E. These five types are of the greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death. Liver injury or liver dysfunction is a major health problem that challenges not only health care professionals but also the drug regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. Herbal medicines have been used in the treatment of liver disease for a long time. The immune system is the part of body that diagnoses the pathogen by using a specific receptor to reveal immediate response by the activation of immune components cells, chemokines, and cytokines, and also the release of the inflammatory mediator. They potentiate and modulate the immune system. The plant-derived phytoconstituents (polysaccharides, proteins and flavanoids, lignans, rotenoids, etc.) stimulate the immune system and maintained hepatic diseases. There are a number of hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory herbs that have been reported. The present review is aimed at compiling data on promising phytochemicals from hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory herbs.

Evaluation of in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. and Shorea robusta stem bark extracts

Objective To evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of stem bark extract of Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. (D. indica f. elongata) and its comparison with Shorea robusta Gaertn. (S. robusta) and respective standard drugs in experimental animals.

Densitometric Validation and Optimisation of Polyphenols in Ocimum sanctum Linn by High Performance Thin‐layer Chromatography

INTRODUCTION Ocimum sanctum Linn (Sanskrit: Tulasi; family: Libiaceae), popularly known as holy basil or Ocimum teinufolium, is found throughout the semitropical and tropical parts of India. In Ayurveda, Tulasi has been well known for its therapeutic potentials. OBJECTIVE To optimise and develop a standard method to quantify seven polyphenols simultaneously by HPTLC. METHODS A three-level factor Box-Behnken statistical design was used for optimisation, where extraction time (min), temperature (°C) and methanol:water ratio (% v/v) are the independent variables with polyphenols as the dependent variable. The separation was archived on a silica-gel 60 F254 HPTLC plate using toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid:methanol (3:3:0.8:0.2 v/v) as the mobile phase. Densitometric analysis of polyphenols was carried out in the absorbance mode at 366 nm. RESULTS The quantification of polyphenols was carried out based on peak area with a linear calibration curve at concentration ranges of 60-240, 20-200, 100-1600, 40-200, 200-1400, 10-160, 200-1400, 100-5000 ng/band for caffeic acid, ellagic acid, rutin, kaempferol, catechin, quercetin, eupalitin and epicatechin respectively. The method was validated for peak purity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ). Method specificity was confirmed using the retention factor value and visible spectra correlation of marker compounds. CONCLUSIONS A validated HPTLC method was newly developed for simultaneous quantification of seven polyphenols in an Ayurvedic preparation of O. sanctum. The proposed method is simple, precise, specific, accurate, cost-effective, less time consuming and has the ability to separate the polyphenols from other constituents.

Development of internet technology TIPHAM (Tool for identity of Powdered Herbals through Analytical Microscopy) for microscopic identification of crude herbal drugs

Background: Industrial usage of herbal plants has gone up, but techniques for verifying their botanical identity is still questionable. In the herbal industry, bulk consignments are received in powdered form as it is cumbersome to transport drugs in whole form. To ensure that the final product is safe and efficacious, the authenticity of the herbal plant should be established at the first stage. A proper methodology should be adopted in terms of computer technology to establish the correct botanical identity of the plant and to check the presence of substitutes and adulterants. Objective: To develop a software for identification of powdered samples of leaves and barks used in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India along with their substitutes and adulterants. Materials and Methods: Almost 100 plants have been selected from the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India comprising 54 barks and 46 leaves. Samples were self-collected and authenticated from the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, Pusa, New Delhi. The selected crude herbal drugs were subjected to a detailed powdered microscopic identification and standard operating procedure for the preparation of slides was prepared. The features selected for identification of bark included14 specific characters - stone cells, calcium oxalate crystals, starch grains, medullary rays, fibers, sclereids, cork, isolated oil cells, tubular lactiferous canals, phloem parenchyma, masses, rhytidoma, parenchyma, and secretory canals. These characters are further differentiated into 75 features and 151 subfeatures, whereas for leaves, 13 specific characters were included, namely, epidermis, stomata, trichomes, calcium oxalate crystals, fibers, cell contents, cystoliths, lamina, starch grains, tracheids, lactiferous canals, and xylem vessels which are differentiated into 139 features. The details of all the features have been uploaded in the software under the name tool for identity of powdered herbals through analytical microscopy (www.tipham.com) with the database of 100 selected drugs. Results: A computer-based approach is developed which contains standard requirements for powdered plant parts, thus enabling identification of a bark or leaf powder in short time with minimum expertise. Conclusion: Computer-based technology would be a landmark in the field of pharmacognosy as proper identification of plant is the key to develop quality herbal products ensuring their safety and efficacy. Abbreviations used: μm: Micrometer; AHP: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia; DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid; GMP: Good Manufacturing Practices; ICMR: Indian Council of Medical Research; Id: Identity Document; IT: Information Technology; MICROAID: Microaided Identification; MP: Megapixel; NA: Not Applicable; NISCAIR: National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources; TIPHAM: Tool for Identity of Powdered Herbals through Analytical Microscopy; TLC: Thin-Layer Chromatography; UK: United Kingdom; WHO: World Health Organization.

Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from the blood glucose-lowering extracts of Coccinia indica and Momordica balsamina fruits

Context: Few vegetables that are commonly consumed in India as part of diet have been claimed for their antidiabetic potential. Objective: The present study was aimed at evaluating preventive effects of cucurbit vegetables namely, Coccinia indica and Momordica balsamina belonging to family Cucurbitaceae in diabetic hyperglycemia. Materials and Methods: The fruits of M. balsamina and C. indica were extracted with chloroform and fractionated with hexane to prepare an extract rich in moderately polar components. These extracts were used for evaluating the effect of these cucurbits in nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes. Streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced diabetic animals were orally treated with chloroform extract of fruits (250 mg/kg BW) given daily for a week separately. Results: Both the extracts reduced fasting blood glucose significantly (P < 0.05 versus diabetic control) when estimated on seventh day of treatments. Pretreatment with fruit extracts for 7 days also blunted the OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) curve. Results indicated that C. indica and M. balsamina fruits possess beneficial effects in diabetes by lowering elevated blood glucose level. Six cucurbitane-type triterpenoids were isolated from bioactive extracts of C. indica (1-3) and M. balsamina (4-6). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis.Conclusion: The study concludes that the inclusion of C. indica and M. balsamina fruits in food can be useful for newly diagnosed diabetic patients or highrisk group of population for glycemic control. Abbreviation used: C: indica (Coccinia indica), M: balsamina (Momordica balsamina), Kbr: Potassium bromide, FTIR: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, COSY: Corelated Spectroscopy, DEPT: Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, TMS: tetramethylsilane, ESI-MS: Electrospray Ionization mass spectrometry, TLC: thin layer chromatography, STZ-NA: Streptozotocin-nicotinamide, CMC: carboxy methyl cellulose, BW: body weight, ANOVA: analysis of variance, AUC: area under curve