Association of cholesterol with hepatorenal markers and quality of life in diabetic patients before and after magnesium and potassium supplements.

Background: Magnesium and potassium are two critical minerals that have been linked to the treatment of diabetes and its consequences. A lack of magnesium has been linked to insulin resistance and diabetes, whereas potassium has been found to promote insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The study aimed to determine the relationship between cholesterol, liver and kidney markers, and quality of life in diabetic patients before and after magnesium and potassium supplementation. Methods: It was a single-blind randomized controlled study at Lahore Garrison University and Lahore Medical Research Centre (LMRC). The study included 200 diabetes participants. Four groups were made based on supplements. Blood samples of all diabetes patients were obtained to assess their quality of life before and after using Mg + and K + supplements, as well as the association between cholesterol, liver, and kidney markers. Results: The participants' average age was 51.0 ± 11.08. 139 (69.5 %) of the 200 participants were female, whereas 26 (30.5 %) were male. There was no correlation between the quality of life measure and the patients' cholesterol levels before and after the magnesium and potassium supplementation. Furthermore, the kidney and liver indicators were not dependent on the diabetes individuals' cholesterol levels. Conclusions: The study concluded that none of the four groups noticed a significant effect of magnesium and potassium therapies on the patient's quality of life or cholesterol levels. However, more research is needed to determine if liver and kidney problems are linked to cholesterol levels before and after medication, as the current study found no significant correlation between the two parameters.

Role of Natural Products in the Management of COVID-19: A Saudi Arabian Perspective.

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented circumstance that has never previously occurred. This has caused the Saudi Arabian people to recognize the necessity of preventive measures and explore alternative systems, such as using natural products (NPs), for treating their infection. Therefore, the specific objectives of this study were to explore the factors that influence the selection of NPs for COVID-19 management and to know the outcome of using NPs in COVID-19 infection management. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between February and April 2022. The validated pretested questionnaire was distributed among different regions of the country via a purposive snowball sampling procedure. Both descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the parameters related to the use of medicinal plants for the prevention of COVID-19 and the treatment of respiratory symptoms during the pandemic. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Of the 677 participants, 65% reported using NPs for themselves or family members during COVID-19. Utilizing NPs is always given priority by a significant (p < 0.001) percentage of survey respondents. Further, a highly significant (p < 0.001) percentage of participants felt that using NPs reduced their COVID-19 symptoms without having any remarkable (p < 0.001) adverse effects. Family and friends (59%) were the most frequent sources of information about utilizing NPs, followed by personal experience (41%). Honey (62.7%) and ginger (53.8%) were the most utilized NP among participants. Moreover, black seeds, garlic and turmeric were used by 40.5%, 37.7% and 26.3% of the surveyors, respectively. Those who used NPs before COVID-19 were 72.9% more likely to use them during COVID-19. NPs are more likely to be used by 75% of people who live in the central part of the country and whose families prefer it. This is true even if other factors are considered, such as the practice of using NPs along with traditional therapies and the fact that some participants' families prefer it. Our findings show that NPs were commonly used to treat COVID-19 infection among Saudi Arabian residents. Close friends and family members mainly encouraged the use of NPs. Overall, the use of NPs was high among those who participated in our study; such practices are strongly impacted by society. It is essential to promote extensive studies to improve the recognition and accessibility of these products. Authorities should also educate the people about the benefits and risks of using commonly used NPs, especially those reported in this study.

Inhibition of SARS-CoV2 viral infection with natural antiviral plants constituents: An in-silico approach.

Background and Objective: In 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) was declared pandemic. Advancement in computational technology has provided rapid and cost-effective techniques to test the efficacy of newer therapeutic agents. This study evaluated some of the potent phytochemicals obtained from AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homeopathy)-listed medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2 proteins using computational techniques. Materials and methods: The potential SARS-CoV-2 protein targets were utilized to study the ligand-protein binding characteristics. The bioactive agents were obtained from ashwagandha, liquorice, amla, neem, tinospora, pepper, and stevia. Ivermectin was utilized as a reference agent to compare its efficacy with phytochemicals. Results: The computational analysis suggested that all the bioactive components from the selected plants possessed negative docking scores (ranging from -6.24 to -10.53). The phytoconstituents were well absorbed, distributed in the body except for the CNS, metabolized by liver enzymes, well cleared from the body, and well tolerated. The data suggest that AYUSH-recommended plants demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against SARS CoV-2 virus infection with significantly reduced toxicity. Conclusion: The phytoconstituents were found to hinder the early stages of infection, such as absorption and penetration, while ivermectin prevented the passage of genetic material from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Additional research involving living tissues and clinical trials are suggested to corroborate the computational findings.

Potential Antioxidant Activity of Apigenin in the Obviating Stress-Mediated Depressive Symptoms of Experimental Mice.

This study aimed to examine the antidepressant properties of apigenin in an experimental mouse model of chronic mild stress (CMS). Three weeks following CMS, albino mice of either sex were tested for their antidepressant effects using the tail suspension test (TST) and the sucrose preference test. The percentage preference for sucrose solution and the amount of time spent immobile in the TST were calculated. The brain malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, catalase activity, and reduced glutathione levels were checked to determine the antioxidant potential of treatments. When compared to the control, animals treated with apigenin during the CMS periods showed significantly shorter TST immobility times. Apigenin administration raised the percentage preference for sucrose solution in a dose-dependent manner, which put it on par with the widely used antidepressant imipramine. Animals treated with apigenin displayed a significantly (p ˂ 0.05) greater spontaneous locomotor count (281) when compared to the vehicle-treated group (245). Apigenin was also highly effective in significantly (p ˂ 0.01) lowering plasma corticosterone levels (17 vs. 28 µg/mL) and nitrite (19 vs. 33 µg/mL) produced by CMS in comparison to the control group. During CMS, a high dose (50 mg/kg) of apigenin was given, which greatly increased the reduced glutathione level while significantly decreasing the brain's MDA and catalase activity when compared to the control group. As a result, we infer that high doses of apigenin may have potential antidepressant effects in animal models via various mechanisms.

Selenium and COVID-19: A spotlight on the clinical trials, inventive compositions, and patent literature.

Selenium is an indispensable trace element for all living organisms. It is an essential structural component of several selenium-dependent enzymes, which support the human body's defense mechanism. Recently, the significance of selenium in preventing/treating COVID-19 has been documented in the literature. This review highlights the clinical studies, compositions, and patent literature on selenium to prevent/treat COVID-19. Selenium exerts its anti-COVID-19 action by reducing oxidative stress, declining the expression of the ACE-2 receptor, lowering the discharge of pro-inflammatory substances, and inhibiting the 3CLPro (main protease) and PLpro enzyme of SARS-CoV-2. The data of clinical studies, inventive compositions, and patent literature revealed that selenium monotherapy and its compositions with other nutritional supplements/drugs (vitamin, iron, zinc, copper, ferulic acid, resveratrol, spirulina, N-acetylcysteine, fish oil, many herbs, doxycycline, azithromycin, curcumin, quercetin, etc.,) might be practical to prevent/treat COVID-19. The studies have also suggested a correlation between COVID-19 and selenium deficiency. This indicates that adequate selenium supplementation may provide promising treatment outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The authors foresee the development and commercialization of Selenium-based compositions and dosage forms (spray, inhalers, control release dosage forms, etc.) to battle COVID-19. We also trust that numerous selenium-based compositions are yet to be explored. Accordingly, there is good scope for scientists to work on developing novel and inventive selenium-based compositions to fight against COVID-19. However, there is also a need to consider the narrow therapeutic window and chemical interaction of selenium before developing selenium-based compositions.

Antidepressant Effect of Crocin in Mice with Chronic Mild Stress.

This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant property of crocin (Crocetin digentiobiose ester) using a chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression model in experimental mice. The tail suspension test (TST) and the sucrose preference test were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect on albino mice of either sex after three weeks of CMS. The period of immobility in the TST and percentage preference for sucrose solution were recorded. By monitoring brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, the antioxidant potential was assessed. Three dosages of crocin (4.84, 9.69, and 19.38 mg/kg) were evaluated. When compared to controls, animals that received crocin administration during three periods of CMS had considerably shorter immobility times during the TST. Crocin treatment also raised the percentage preference for sucrose solution in a dose-dependent manner, bringing it to parity with the conventional antidepressant, imipramine. Animals that received a high dose of crocin had a much greater spontaneous locomotor activity. Furthermore, a high dose of crocin remarkably lowered plasma corticosterone and nitrite levels brought on by CMS. Additionally, high doses of crocin given during CMS greatly enhanced reduced glutathione levels while considerably reducing the brain's MDA and catalase activities. In conclusion, high doses of crocin may have an antidepressant effect in an animal model through several mechanisms. However, further studies should be carried out to explore the role of neurotransmitters for their antidepressant property.

Insights into the Uses of Traditional Plants for Diabetes Nephropathy: A Review.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious kidney illness characterized by proteinuria, glomerular enlargement, reduced glomerular filtration, and renal fibrosis. DN is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease, accounting for nearly one-third of all cases of diabetes worldwide. Hyperglycemia is a major factor in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Many contemporary medicines are derived from plants since they have therapeutic properties and are relatively free of adverse effects. Glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids are among the few chemical compounds found in plants that are utilized to treat diabetic nephropathy. The purpose of this review was to consolidate information on the clinical and pharmacological evidence supporting the use of a variety of medicinal plants to treat diabetic nephropathy.

Preclinical Studies to Evaluate the Gut Stimulatory Activity of Aloe Musabbar.

Background: Constipation is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder. Medicines derived from nature are routinely used to treat it. The present study evaluates the gut stimulatory activity of Aloe musabbar (processed powder of Aloe vera) using in vitro and in vivo models for gut stimulatory activity. Materials and Methods: In vitro tests were conducted on isolated rat colon, guinea pig ileum, and rabbit jejunum, while in vivo study was performed using mice intestinal transit time. Aloe musabbar (A. musabbar) was tested at doses 0.2-200 mg/mL (in-vitro study) and 86.6 mg/kg (in vivo study). In vitro studies were done in the presence and absence of atropine sulphate (1 ng/ml). The results were statistically analyzed, and p < 0.05 was considered to indicate the significance. Results: A. musabbar exhibited dose-dependent increase in the smooth muscle contraction of isolated gut tissues. Presence of atropine minimized the contractile responses and shifted the dose-response curves towards the right-hand side. The intestinal transit time in mice was observed to be increased significantly (p < 0.01) in A. musabbar-treated animals, when compared with normal animals. Conclusion: A mild smooth muscle contraction induced by A. musabbar suggests that it can stimulate intestinal bowel movement without causing spasms. The diminished responses in the presence of atropine indicated that the gut stimulatory activity could be mediated partially through parasympathetic innervations. More studies are needed to determine the precise mechanism of action including the specific active ingredient responsible for the gut stimulatory activity.

The antiepileptic potential of Vateria indica Linn in experimental animal models: Effect on brain GABA levels and molecular mechanisms.

Background: Epilepsy is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by uncontrollable convulsions caused by a misalignment of the central nervous system's inhibitory and excitatory branches. Vateria indica is a medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antiulcer, antitumor, and anticancer properties. Objectives: To investigate the antiepileptic activity of Vateria indica using maximal electrical shock (MES), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), and isoniazid (INH) induced experimental animal models. Methodology: Vateria indica bark was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethanol and quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed. The antiepileptic activity of Vateria indica bark extract (VIE) was investigated using different animal models in mice. GABA levels in the brain and antioxidant capacity in vitro were estimated. Results: Treatment of mice with VIE significantly reversed the MES-induced convulsions, which was reflected by the decrease in the duration (sec) of all the phases of MES-induced convulsions, with an increment in the GABA levels. In the PTZ and INH models, pretreatment with VIE delayed the latency to clonic convulsions (p 0.001), reduced the intensity and duration of clonic convulsions, and reduced the mortality rate in the treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner. VIE intervention dose-dependently restored brain GABA levels. VIE also exhibited significant in-vitro antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Overall, the findings imply that Vateria indica has substantial antiepileptic activities, mediated by positive GABAergic neurotransmission and antioxidant capabilities. To summarize, Vateria indica may provide adequate protection against epileptic seizures, suggesting that it could be used to treat petitmal and grandmal epilepsy. We plan to provide pure lead compounds derived from Vateria indica in the future in order to better understand the role it could play in the development of natural anticonvulsant drugs.

The Therapeutic and Prophylactic Potential of Quercetin against COVID-19: An Outlook on the Clinical Studies, Inventive Compositions, and Patent Literature.

Quercetin is a phenolic flavonol compound with established antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immuno-stimulant properties. Recent studies demonstrate the potential of quercetin against COVID-19. This article highlighted the prophylactic/therapeutic potential of quercetin against COVID-19 in view of its clinical studies, inventions, and patents. The literature for the subject matter was collected utilizing different databases, including PubMed, Sci-Finder, Espacenet, Patentscope, and USPTO. Clinical studies expose the potential of quercetin monotherapy, and also its combination therapy with other compounds, including zinc, vitamin C, curcumin, vitamin D3, masitinib, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and ivermectin. The patent literature also examines claims that quercetin containing nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements, alone or in combination with other drugs/compounds, including favipiravir, remdesivir, molnupiravir, navitoclax, dasatinib, disulfiram, rucaparib, tamarixin, iota-carrageenan, and various herbal extracts (aloe, poria, rosemary, and sphagnum) has potential for use against COVID-19. The literature reveals that quercetin exhibits anti-COVID-19 activity because of its inhibitory effect on the expression of the human ACE2 receptors and the enzymes of SARS-CoV-2 (MPro, PLPro, and RdRp). The USFDA designated quercetin as a "Generally Recognized as Safe" substance for use in the food and beverage industries. It is also an inexpensive and readily available compound. These facts increase the possibility and foreseeability of making novel and economical drug combinations containing quercetin to prevent/treat COVID-19. Quercetin is an acidic compound and shows metabolic interaction with some antivirals, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory agents. Therefore, the physicochemical and metabolic drug interactions between quercetin and the combined drugs/compounds must be better understood before developing new compositions.

Nigella sativa L. and COVID-19: A Glance at The Anti-COVID-19 Chemical Constituents, Clinical Trials, Inventions, and Patent Literature.

COVID-19 has had an impact on human quality of life and economics. Scientists have been identifying remedies for its prevention and treatment from all possible sources, including plants. Nigella sativa L. (NS) is an important medicinal plant of Islamic value. This review highlights the anti-COVID-19 potential, clinical trials, inventions, and patent literature related to NS and its major chemical constituents, like thymoquinone. The literature was collected from different databases, including Pubmed, Espacenet, and Patentscope. The literature supports the efficacy of NS, NS oil (NSO), and its chemical constituents against COVID-19. The clinical data imply that NS and NSO can prevent and treat COVID-19 patients with a faster recovery rate. Several inventions comprising NS and NSO have been claimed in patent applications to prevent/treat COVID-19. The patent literature cites NS as an immunomodulator, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, a source of anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds, and a plant having protective effects on the lungs. The available facts indicate that NS, NSO, and its various compositions have all the attributes to be used as a promising remedy to prevent, manage, and treat COVID-19 among high-risk people as well as for the therapy of COVID-19 patients of all age groups as a monotherapy or a combination therapy. Many compositions of NS in combination with countless medicinal herbs and medicines are still unexplored. Accordingly, the authors foresee a bright scope in developing NS-based anti-COVID-19 composition for clinical use in the future.

Evaluation of the In Vitro Antimicrobial Activities of Delphinium roylei: An Insight from Molecular Docking and MD-Simulation Studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The burden of antimicrobial resistance demands a continued search for new antimicrobial drugs. The synthetic drugs used clinically have serious side effects. Natural products or compounds derived from natural sources show diversity in structure and play an essential role in drug discovery and development. OBJECTIVE: Delphinium roylei is an important medicinal herb of Kashmir Himalaya, India. Traditionally this medicinal plant treats liver infections, skin problems, and chronic lower back pain. The current study evaluates the antimicrobial potential of various extracts by in -vitro and in -silico studies. METHODS: Three extracts and 168 bioactive compounds analysed through LC-MS data, with the vast majority of them having therapeutic applications. D. roylei have been screened for the antimicrobial activity against bacteria (Escherichai coli, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria mucosa) and fungi (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida paropsilosis) species through molecular docking using autodock Vina, MD simulation and a broth microdilution method for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation. RESULTS: The extracts and the compounds analyzed through the LC-MS technique of Delphinium roylie showed significant antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSION: Our study established that the leaf extracts of Delphinium roylei exhibit antimicrobial activity and thus confirm its importance in traditional medicine.

Formulation and in-vitro characterization of fast-disintegrating herbal extract sublingual immunotherapy tablet for peanut-induced allergic asthma.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) involves the regimen of gradually incrementing doses of the allergen, thereby inducing desensitization and tolerance. Sublingual Immunotherapy tablets (SLIT-tablets) have been formulated for several allergies and had manifested efficacy for allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. SLIT promises an alternative method to other routes of AIT enabling patients to self-administer AIT. Objective: The study aimed to formulate fast disintegrating SLIT containing crude peanut extract for peanut-induced allergic asthma. Methods: The crude peanut extract was prepared by a simple extraction method and was subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis. The extract was also characterised for its physical properties. The preformulation study for the extract and excipients of the tablet was performed using FT-IR spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry. The tablet powder blends were characterised for pre-compression properties. The SLIT tablets were developed by direct compression and the post-compression evaluation was performed. Results: The results of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of extract confirmed the presence of peanut proteins in the extract. The preformulation studies using FT-IR spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry revealed that there is no significant interaction between the CPE and excipients. The pre-compression characterisation showed that the powder blends had good flowproperties. Three doses of SLIT tablets were formulated with each dose containing four batches and the tablet of each dose was optimized by studying the effect of varying concentrations of super disintegrants on disintegration time and dissolution rate. The post compression characterization of the tablets was performed and the optimized batch of the three doses with the concentration of 5% crospovidone and 2% croscarmellose sodium showed less wetting time and high-water absorption ratio, shorter disintegration time of 14secs and maximum drug release of >90% within 2-3 min. Conclusion: The results indicated the suitability of formulated SLIT tablets for peanut induced allergic asthma.

Cardioprotective Potential of Garlic Oil and Its Active Constituent, Diallyl Disulphide, in Presence of Carvedilol during Chronic Isoprenaline Injection-Mediated Myocardial Necrosis in Rats.

In isoprenaline (ISO)-induced myocardial infarcted rats, garlic oil (GO) and its main ingredient, diallyl disulfide (DADS), were examined for cardioprotective effects when used with carvedilol (CAR). GO, DADS and CAR were given to rats in their respective groups, either alone or together, with the addition of isoprenaline (3 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) during the last 10 days of treatment. At the end of 14 days of treatment, blood samples were collected, the hearts were excised under anesthesia and weighed. Heart tissue homogenate was used to measure superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Furthermore, the serum activities of cardiac markers, including lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and cardiac troponin, were checked. Moreover, inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin one beta, interleukin six, and kappa bp65 subunit were assessed. Rats that received GO, DADS, and CAR exhibited a significant increase in the cardiac antioxidant enzyme activities with a simultaneous decrease in serum cardiac markers enzymes and inflammatory markers. The TBARS were significantly reduced in rats that received treatment. The addition of carvedilol to GO or DADS significantly elevated antioxidant activities and decreased the release of cardiac enzymes into blood circulation. Both DADS and GOl were almost similar in efficacy, indicating the potential role of DADS in garlic oil-mediated cardioprotection. Combining GO or DADS with CAR increased CAR's cardioprotective impact and protected rats from developing ISO-induced myocardial infarction.

Potential Interaction of Fresh Garlic with Metformin during Ischemia-Reperfusion Induced Cardiac Injury in Diabetic Rats.

METHODS: The study was undertaken on both normoglycemic and alloxan (90 mg/kg) induced diabetic Sprague Dawley rats weighing 150-250 g. At the completion of the treatment phase (30 days for garlic, 250 mg/kg, oral; 10 days for MET, 70 mg/kg, oral), rats were anesthetized and mounted on the modified Langendorff's apparatus. IRI was produced by myocardial no-flow global ischemia. Developed tension (DT) and heart rate (HR) were recorded both before and after ischemia. The perfusate was collected to estimate the leakage of cardiac biomarkers (Creatine Kinase-MB: CK-MB and Lactate dehydrogenase: LDH). Hearts were removed from the setup and utilized to prepare heart tissue homogenate (HTH) and histological slides. The endogenous antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), in addition to oxidative thiobarbituric acid substances (TBS), were estimated in HTH. RESULTS: The hemodynamic parameters, including percentage recovery in HR and DT, were found significantly higher in animals pretreated with garlic and MET in diabetic rats (DR). Both SOD and CAT enzyme activities increased significantly while TBS levels were reduced in the HTH of animals treated with garlic and MET. The cardiac markers CK-MB and LDH levels also increased in HTH with a corresponding decrease in the perfusate. The histopathological changes in the heart and pancreas demonstrated noticeable protection of the tissues due to pretreatment with garlic and MET. Taken together, these findings advocate that reactive oxygen species derived from hyperglycemia execute an important function in myocardial global IRI; the therapy of garlic homogenate was found to be effective in alleviating these toxic effects. CONCLUSION: The combined therapy of MET and garlic provided synergistic cardioprotection, implying that garlic seems to possess promise in lowering toxic parameters by protecting diabetic induced myocardial injury.

Cytoprotective Potential of Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) and Its Active Constituent, S-allyl-l-cysteine, in Presence of Carvedilol during Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Disturbance and Metabolic Derangements in Rats.

This study was conducted to determine the potential interaction of aged garlic extract (AGE) with carvedilol (CAR), as well as to investigate the role of S-allyl-l-cysteine (SAC), an active constituent of AGE, in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial dysfunction. At the end of three weeks of treatment with AGE (2 and 5 mL/kg) or SAC (13.1 and 32.76 mg/kg), either alone or along with CAR (10 mg/kg) in the respective groups of animals, ISO was administered subcutaneously to induce myocardial damage. Myocardial infarction (MI) diagnostic predictor enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatinine kinase (CK-MB), were measured in both serum and heart tissue homogenates (HTH). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) were estimated in HTH. When compared with other groups, the combined therapy of high doses of AGE and SAC given alone or together with CAR caused a significant decrease in serum LDH and CK-MB activities. Further, significant rise in the LDH and CK-MB activities in HTH was noticed in the combined groups of AGE and SAC with CAR. It was also observed that both doses of AGE and SAC significantly increased endogenous antioxidants in HTH. Furthermore, histopathological observations corroborated the biochemical findings. The cytoprotective potential of SAC and AGE were dose-dependent, and SAC was more potent than AGE. The protection offered by aged garlic may be attributed to SAC. Overall, the results indicated that a high dose of AGE and its constituent SAC, when combined with carvedilol, has a synergistic effect in preventing morphological and physiological changes in the myocardium during ISO-induced myocardial damage.

Haematotoxic effects of methanolic extract of Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin (frankinccense) in rats.

In several parts of the world, Boswellia sacra Fluck. is one of the most commonly used herbs for the treatment of arthritis. Its usage should be validated in light of recent findings of haematotoxicity. This study was aimed to determine the effect of chronic administration of standardized methanolic extract of frankincense on blood cell count in experimental animals. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, the active constituents of B. sacra extract; boswellic acids were analyzed. The effect of three different doses of the extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) on different blood cells and associated parameters was investigated. The behavior, food, and water consumption of the rats were recorded. Boswellic acids were present in varying amounts with α-boswellic acid and ß-boswellic acid present in more amounts compared to other boswellic acids in the extract. All three doses tested had no effect on the animals' behavior, food consumption, or weight gain. The administration of a low (500 mg/kg) and high (1000 mg/kg) dose of the extract resulted in a non-dose dependent reduction in MCH (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), but no other blood parameters were significantly affected. The B. sacra extract produces hypochromic normocytic anemia in rats at higher doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg and this effect was not dose-dependent.

Morus alba Prevented the Cyclophosphamide Induced Somatic and Germinal Cell Damage in Male Rats by Ameliorating the Antioxidant Enzyme Levels.

Cytogenetic analysis is essential to determine the effect of mutagens and antimutagens on genetic material. This study was done to evaluate the protective effect of root bark extract of Morus alba (M. alba) against cyclophosphamide induced somatic and germinal cell damage in male rats. The ethanolic extract of M. alba (0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/kg, 2 weeks) was evaluated against cyclophosphamide (75 mg/kg, single dose) induced nuclear damage. The sampling was done after 48 h of the clastogen treatment. The somatic and germinal nuclear damage was studied by bone marrow micronucleus and sperm analysis, respectively. Serum superoxide and catalase levels were estimated to determine the antioxidant status in each group. The results were analyzed statistically to find the significant variation. The administration of M. alba for 2 weeks suppressed dose-dependently the changes induced by cyclophosphamide. M. alba (0.5 g/kg) decreased the frequency of micronucleated erythrocyte, sperm shape abnormality and enhanced the sperm count, sperm motility and polychromatic-normochromatic erythrocytes ratio significantly (p < 0.05) in comparison with the cyclophosphamide treated group. The highest tested dose of M. alba (1 g/kg) produced more prominent suppression (p < 0.01) in the cyclophosphamide-induced somatic and germinal cell defects. The results also showed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the serum antioxidant enzymes levels with M. alba when compared with the challenge group. The lower dose of M. alba extract (0.25 g/kg) prevented the CP-induced changes but was found to be statistically insignificant. Therefore, antimutagenic potential of the high dose of the extract of M. alba is possibly due to its antioxidant nature. The ability of the M. alba extract to prevent the nuclear damage could play an important role in overcoming several mutational defects that are associated with anticancer chemotherapy.

Insights into the Protective Effects of Thymoquinone against Toxicities Induced by Chemotherapeutic Agents.

The drugs used to treat cancer not only kill fast-growing cancer cells, but also kill or slow the growth of healthy cells, causing systemic toxicities that lead to altered functioning of normal cells. Most chemotherapeutic agents have serious toxicities associated with their use, necessitating extreme caution and attention. There is a growing interest in herbal remedies because of their pharmacological activities, minimal side effects, and low cost. Thymoquinone, a major component of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa Linn, also known as black cumin or black seeds, is commonly used in Middle Eastern countries as a condiment. It is also utilized for medicinal purposes and possesses antidiabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. This review attempts to compile the published literature demonstrating thymoquinone's protective effect against chemotherapeutic drug-induced toxicities.

Role of Daucus carota in Enhancing Antiulcer Profile of Pantoprazole in Experimental Animals.

The carrot plant (Daucus carota) and its components are traditionally reported for the management of gastric ulcers. This study was performed to evaluate the role of carrot when administered concurrently with a conventional antiulcer treatment, pantoprazole, in alleviating gastric and duodenal ulcers in female experimental animals. The study involved standard animal models to determine the ulcer preventive effect using pylorus ligation, ethanol, and stress induced acute gastric ulcer models and duodenal ulcer models involving cysteamine. Acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models were used to evaluate the ulcer healing effect. Carrot fruit (500 mg/kg) and its co-administration with pantoprazole produced significant protection in an ethanol- and stress-induced acute gastric ulcer and cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer. The healing of the acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer was also augmented with this combination. Both total proteins and mucin contents were significantly increased in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. Similarly, in pylorus ligation, the pepsin content of gastric juice, total acidity, and free acidity were reduced. Overall, both ulcer preventive effects and ulcer healing properties of the pantoprazole were significantly enhanced in animals who received the co-administration of carrot fruit (500 mg/kg).