Evaluation of in vitro Anti-psoriatic Activity of a Novel Polyherbal Formulation by Multiparametric Analysis.

BACKGROUND: We have developed a novel aqueous polyherbal formulation (SIRB-001) consisting of 3 herbs; Rheum palmatum L., Lonicera Japonica and Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch in the ratio 1:1:3. SIRB-001 has demonstrated efficacious effects in psoriasis patients. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at scientifically evaluating the in vitro antipsoriatic activity of SIRB-001. METHOD: The in vitro anti-psoriatic properties of SIRB-001 were assessed in human keratinocyte cell line; HaCaT. Anti-proliferative effect was studied using MTT assay. Apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry and colorimetric methods. Inflammatory markers and VEGF were determined by ELISA. IL-17/IL-23 secretion was assessed in immune cells. Signaling markers (kinases) by enzymatic assay and Topoisomerase-II activity by Kinetoplast DNA Cleavage assay was tested. RESULTS: SIRB-001 significantly inhibited (p<0.01) proliferation of HaCaT cells and induced apoptosis. Significant (p<0.01) downregulation of pro-inflammatory markers (TNF- α, IFN-γ, IL-6, NO, sPLA2) and VEGF was observed. IL-17/IL-23 secretion was significantly (p<0.01) alleviated in immune cells (RAW264.7 and THP-1). Inhibition of signaling markers (AKT1, FLT3, MAPK1, PRKCA, MAP2K) was observed. SIRB-001 demonstrated inhibition of Topoisomerase-II activity. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of SIRB-001 was carried out using standard marker compounds chlorogenic acid (tR=13.98min), Acteoside (tR=24.22 min) and Rhein (tR=53.76 min). CONCLUSION: The in vitro results substantiate the anti-psoriatic effect of SIRB-001 in patients. SIRB-001 exerted anti-psoriatic effects at cellular level via multiple arms (antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic). This study provides insight into mechanism of action of SIRB-001 and highlights its promising potential for development as a herbal therapeutic agent for psoriasis, emphasizing the need of further pharmacological evaluation and toxicological studies.

Antidiabetic potential of polyherbal formulation DB14201: Preclinical development, safety and efficacy studies.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The poly-herbal formulation DB14201 is a new combination of ayurvedic ingredients for treatment of diabetes. The aim of present study was to investigate safety and in vivo efficacy of DB14201 extract. Further this work was aimed to develop, characterize and standardize DB14201 extract and develop it as a botanical drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The polyherbal extract was standardized using four chemical markers. The LC-MS/MS method was developed for identification and quantification of mangiferin, berberine, kaempferol and curcumin. The extract was standardized for heavy metal content, aflotoxins, and microbial tests. The mechanism of action of DB14201 extract was explored through glucose uptake by adipocytes, TNF-α production and free fatty acid release, in vitro, was studied using murine adipocytes (3T3-L1). The effect of extract on insulin release was evaluated using murine pancreatic beta cell (ß TC-6). The safety and in vivo efficacy of extract was studied using suitable animal model. Hematology and blood biochemistry parameters were also assessed. RESULTS: In vitro studies of DB14201 in murine adipocytes and murine pancreatic beta cells demonstrated the plausible mechanism of action of DB14201 could be through increase in glucose uptake and by stimulation of insulin release by RIN-5f cells. The microbial load, heavy metals were found to be within the AYUSH permissible limits and aflotoxins were absent. Preclinical efficacy studies in animal models proved the anti-diabetic potential of the extract. The preclinical acute dose toxicity study and 90-days repeated dose toxicity study of DB14201 extract in wistar rats by oral route indicated that the extract is safe up to 1000mg/kg dose. Hematology and blood biochemistry parameters were within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented herein demonstrated anti-diabetic potential of developed DB14201 extract and this study will serve as the benchmark for the further research on this polyherbal formulation.

Evaluation of herb-drug interaction of a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation through high throughput cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibition assay.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Arishtas are Ayurvedic formulation made with decoction of herbs. Arjunarishta formulation is being used in Ayurveda for cardio-protective activity. Ashwagandharishta formulation possesses antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-stress properties. Ridayarishta, a novel empirical formulation was prepared using combination of selected ingredients from these two formulations to support healthy heart functions and to reduce stress. AIM OF THE STUDY: Aim of the Study was to investigate herb-drug interaction (HDI) of Ridayarishta formulation through human hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme inhibition assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ridayarishta formulation was phyto-chemically standardized against arjunolic acid, arjunetin, berberine, piperine, resveratrol and withaferin-A using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis. The formulation was standardized with respect to ethanol by gas chromatographic (GC) analysis. HDI was evaluated with Ridayarishta formulation and amlodipine besilate, atenolol, atorvastatin, metformin, glipizide glimepiride cocktail using high throughput CYP450 enzyme inhibition assay; against CYP1A2, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 isozymes. RESULTS: Contents of arjunolic acid, arjunetin, berberine, piperine, resveratrol and withaferin-A in Ridayarishta formulation were found to be 1.76±0.12, 1.51±0.09, 1.85±0.05, 3.2±0.12, 1.21±0.08, and 2.16±0.09ppm, respectively. Quantity of ethanol in Ridayarishta was found to be 7.95±0.023% (V/V). Ridayarishta showed significantly higher (P<0.001) IC50 value against CYP1A2 (IC50-13.80±1.96µg/mL), 2C19 (IC50-14.343±2.28µg/mL), 2D6 (IC50-0.897±0.28µg/mL) and 3A4 (IC50-32.057±2.51µg/mL) compared to positive controls such as furafylline, tranylcypromine, quinidine and ketoconazole respectively. Cocktail of herbal formulation and cardio protective, antihypertensive, anti-diabetic drugs showed significantly (P<0.001and P<0.01) less or negligible HDI. CONCLUSION: Ridayarishta formulation alone and cocktail with amlodipine besilate, atenolol, atorvastatin, metformin, glipizide, glimepiride had negligible or insignificant effect on CYP450 inhibition. It may be concluded that consumption of Ridayarishta along with selective cardio protective, antihypertensive and anti-diabetic conventional medicine is safe with negligible or without any significant CYP450 (CYP1A2, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4) inhibition mediated HDI.

Pre-clinical evidence for altered absorption and biliary excretion of irinotecan (CPT-11) in combination with quercetin: possible contribution of P-glycoprotein.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is found to play a very significant role in intestinal and biliary transport of irinotecan and its active metabolite, SN-38. This makes P-gp inhibition a logical strategy for improving irinotecan's oral efficacy and reducing its toxicity. The objective of the present study was to identify the most suitable P-gp inhibitor, amongst various commonly used herbal components via in vitro screening; followed by determination of in vivo effects in rats. Caco-2 cell monolayers were used to investigate the influence of various components (quercetin, hesperitin, piperine, curcumin and naringenin) on the transport of irinotecan. The secretory transport (basolateral-to-apical) was significantly decreased by all components (p<0.05) except piperine. In the apical-to-basolateral transport, quercetin showed the highest absorptive permeability enhancement and P-gp interaction potential making it an appropriate candidate for further in vivo studies in female Wistar rats. Quercetin pre-treatment resulted in increased irinotecan C(max) and area under curve (AUC) with a concomitant decrease in t(max), plasma clearance and volume of distribution (p<0.05). The absolute bioavailability (F) of irinotecan control was 33%, which was increased to 43% (1.3 fold) by quercetin administration. The amounts of irinotecan and SN-38 eliminated in bile in control rats, is reduced to almost half when treated with quercetin. Our studies not only propose a safe approach for bioavailability enhancement and reducing toxicity of irinotecan by P-gp inhibition but in another way also reiterate the significance of elucidating herb-drug interactions for future insights.

Preclinical pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of noscapine, a tubulin-binding anticancer agent.

BACKGROUND: Noscapine, a naturally occurring antitussive phthalideisoquinoline alkaloid, is a tubulin-binding agent currently in Phase I/II clinical trials for anticancer therapy. Unlike currently available antimitotics such as taxanes and vincas, noscapine is water-soluble, well tolerated, and shows no detectable toxicity. OBJECTIVE: The goal was to develop a simple, sensitive, quantitative, selective, and less time-consuming high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determination of noscapine and to study its pharmacokinetics in mice models. METHOD: Noscapine was extracted from mice plasma using the protein-precipitation method and detected using a reversed-phase C8 column with mobile phase consisting of 35% acetonitrile and 65% ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.5) at 232 nm wavelength. Pharmacokinetic studies of noscapine were performed in mice following intravenous bolus at 10 mg/kg and oral administrations at 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg. RESULTS: The standard curves for noscapine estimation were linear between 390 and 50,000 ng/ml (lower limit of quantification was 390 ng/ml) and the recovery was approximately 80%. Following 10 mg/kg intravenous dose, mean plasma concentrations of 7.88 microg/ml were achieved at 5 min in mice and declined with undetectable levels at 4 h. The mean total body clearance was 4.78 l/h. The mean volume of distribution (V (d)) was 5.05 l. Non-compartmental analysis yielded the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) for noscapine as 53.42, 64.08, and 198.35 h microg/ml reaching maximum plasma concentrations (C (max)) of 12.74, 23.24, and 46.73 microg/ml at a t (max) of 1.12, 1.50, and 0.46 h at the linearly increasing dose levels. CONCLUSION: A rapid and simple HPLC/UV method for the quantification of noscapine in plasma has been developed to study pharmacokinetics of noscapine at tumor-suppressive doses in the mouse. Since orally available anticancer drugs are rare, therefore, noscapine, an innocuous agent, having a mean oral bioavailability of 31.5% over the studied dose range merits its further advancement in humans for anticancer therapy.