Comparative Evaluation of Conventional and Novel Extracts of Stem Bark of Terminalia arjuna for Antihypertensive Activity in BSO Induced Oxidative Stress based Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Terminalia arjuna (TA) has been reported and explored traditionally for its cardiotonic properties while the mechanism of antihypertensive effect of TA has not been clearly reported. METHOD: The oxidative stress is a major cause for hypertension, hence different extracts of TA having variable marker yield were evaluated for their antihypertensive effect in buthionine sulfoxamine (BSO) induced oxidative stress based model. Soxhlet extraction (SE), room temperature extraction (RTE), microwave assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasound assisted extraction (USAE) were quantitatively estimated for marker compounds arjunolic acid and arjunic acid through HPTLC. RESULTS: The hypertension was induced using buthionine sulfoxamine (2 mmol/kg b.w. i.p.) and results suggested that the MAE and USAE showed better recovery of systolic blood pressure (110.33±0.10 and 118.33±0.10) and GSH level (3.62±0.07 nmoles/mL and 3.22±0.13 nmoles/mL), respectively as compared to the positive control group treated with ascorbic acid (Systolic BP: 119.67±0.10, GSH level: 3.11±0.10 nmoles/mL). The RTE and SE also showed a decrease in hypertension but were having moderate effect as compared with the standard positive control. CONCLUSION: The total percentage yield, the yield of the marker compounds arjunolic and arjunic acid, the IC50 values for antioxidant activity as well as the antihypertensive effect were in order: MAE>USAE>SE>RTE that suggested the role of biomarkers arjunolic acid and arjunic acid in reversing the effect of buthionine sulfoxamine.

Emblica officinalis - Anti-obesity activity.

Context Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (family-Phyllanthaceae) fruits, known commonly as amla, is extensively used in Indian traditional system of medicine for the treatment of various disorders. The ethanolic E. officinalis extract is reported to have various activity such as antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activity in experimental animals. Objective To evaluate anti-obesity effect of aqueous E. officinalis extract in murine model of high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Materials and methods Male Wistar rats fed with HFD (20 g/day/rat, p.o) for a period of 42 days were used to induce obesity. Aqueous E. officinalis extract (20 mg/kg bw) administered orally to HFD-fed rats from day 8 to 50 days for a period of 42 days. Body weight gain, serum lipids, insulin and leptin parameters were measured. Results Oral feeding of the aqueous E. officinalis extract (20 mg/kg) to HFD-induced obese rats for a period of 42 days resulted in significant reduction in body weight gain, insulin, leptin, lipids as compared to rats fed HFD alone. Further, the extract also showed significant increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels. Discussion and conclusions These results show that aqueous E. officinalis extract possess significant anti-obesity potential.

Eugenol nanocapsule for enhanced therapeutic activity against periodontal infections.

Eugenol is a godsend to dental care due to its analgesic, local anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. The aim of the present research work was to prepare, characterize and evaluate eugenol-loaded nanocapsules (NCs) against periodontal infections. Eugenol-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) NCs were prepared by solvent displacement method. The nanometric size of the prepared NCs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The in vitro drug release was found to follow a biphasic pattern and followed Michaelis-Menten like model. The percentage cell viability values near to 100 in the cell viability assay indicated that the NCs are not cytotoxic. In the in vivo studies, the eugenol NC group displayed significant difference in the continuity of epithelium of the interdental papilla in comparison to the untreated, pure eugenol and placebo groups. The in vivo performance of the eugenol-loaded NCs using ligature-induced periodontitis model in rats indicated that eugenol-loaded NCs could prevent septal bone resorption in periodontitis. On the basis of our research findings it could be concluded that eugenol-loaded PCL NCs could serve as a novel colloidal drug delivery system for enhanced therapeutic activity of eugenol in the treatment of periodontal infections.

Pharmacognostic standardization, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of the seeds of Triticum aestivum L - A dietary staple.

AIMS: To establish the Quality standards of Triticum aestivum L, seeds as per WHO guidelines. To study the antioxidant and hepatoprotective profile of T. aestivum L. seeds. METHODS: Pharmacognostic studies like morphological, microscopical, physico-chemical, phytochemical evaluation, fluorescence analysis, TLC, HPTLC, phytochemical analysis etc. of various extracts of the seeds of T. aestivum were carried out as per established methods. The ethanolic extract was evaluated for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity using rat model. RESULTS: Preliminary phytochemical analysis mainly revealed the presence of carbohydrates, phenolics, proteins, resins, lipids and flavonoids. T. aestivum at different doses, i.e. 5-45 µg/ml showed free radical scavenging activity in dose dependent manner. The amount of phenolic components was found to be 313.5 µg/mg indicating considerable antioxidant activity. The ethanolic extract of T. aestivum was administered at dose level of 100 mg/kg/day, every day for 21 days along with CCl4. Biochemical and histopathological results conclude that the seeds have hepatoprotective activity.

Exploring scientifically proven herbal aphrodisiacs.

Procreation was an important moral and religious issue and aphrodisiacs were sought to ensure both male and female potency. Sexual dysfunction is an inability to achieve a normal sexual intercourse, including premature ejaculation, retrograded, retarded or inhibited ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, arousal difficulties (reduced libido), compulsive sexual behavior, orgasmic disorder, and failure of detumescence. The introduction of the first pharmacologically approved remedy for impotence, Viagra (sildenafil) in 1990s caused a wave of public attention, propelled in part by heavy advertising. The search for such substances dates back millennia. An aphrodisiac is an agent (food or drug) that arouses sexual desire. The hunt for natural supplement from medicinal plants is being intensified mainly because of its fewer side effects. In this review, we have mentioned the pharmacologically tested (either in man or animal or in both) aphrodisiac plants, which have claimed for its uses.

Current concepts and prospects of herbal nutraceutical: A review.

Nutraceuticals are food or part of food that provides medical or health benefits including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease. Nutraceutical has advantage over the medicine because they avoid side effect, have naturally dietary supplement, etc. Nutraceutical; on the basis of their natural source, chemical grouping, categories into three key terms -nutrients, herbals, dietary supplements, dietary fiber, etc. The most rapidly growing segments of the industry were dietary supplements (19.5 percent per year) and natural/herbal products (11.6 percent per year). Global nutraceutical market is estimated as USD 117 billion. FDA regulated dietary supplements as foods to ensure that they were safe. In 2006, the Indian government passed Food Safety and Standard Act to regulate the nutraceutical industry. Herbal nutraceutical is used as a powerful instrument in maintaining health and to act against nutritionally induced acute and chronic diseases, thereby promoting optimal health, longevity, and quality of life.

Eugenol: a natural compound with versatile pharmacological actions.

Eugenol, the major constituent of clove oil, has been widely used for its anesthetic and analgesic action in dentistry. Eugenol exhibits pharmacological effects on almost all systems and our aim is to review the research work that has identified these pharmacological actions. Eugenol possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular properties, in addition to analgesic and local anesthetic activity. The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of the compound in humans have been studied. Eugenol has also been used as a penetration enhancer. The compound is a very promising candidate for versatile applications, and the design of new drugs based on the pharmacological effects of eugenol could be beneficial.

Herbal remedies for the treatment of periodontal disease--a patent review.

Periodontal diseases, if left unchecked, can lead to major health problems. There are a number of traditional herbal remedies for the treatment and management of diseases related to teeth, gum and oral hygiene. Use of clove oil is an age old remedy still practiced for periodontal problems. Our aim is to present an overall view of the current strategies adopted for the formulation and application of traditional herbal remedies. The article provides a review of the patents obtained on herbal remedies for the treatment of periodontal diseases. In addition, it also provides an overall view of potent herbal remedies widely used for periodontal diseases.