Immunotherapeutic potential of ethanolic olive leaves extract (EOLE) and IL-28B combination therapy in ENU induced animal model of leukemia.

Cytokine therapies have shown promising results against cancers. Cytokines are secreted naturally from different bodily cells. These have fewer side effects but higher specificity than chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In leukemia, changes in normal hematopoiesis and defective leukocyte production limit the efficacy of immunotherapy by reducing the count of functional immune cells. Therefore, the treatment of leukemia needs advanced therapeutics that can target multiple cancer sustaining mechanisms. In combination therapy, using two different therapeutic agents affect cancer growth in many ways and sometimes gives synergistic effects. Here, we examined the effect of the ethanolic olive leaf extract (EOLE) and IL-28B in combination. N-N' Ethyl-nitrosourea (ENU) induced leukemia in Swiss albino mice was treated with EOLE for four weeks and IL-28B for one week after confirming the development of leukemia. The combination of EOLE and IL-28B significantly reduced the blast cell and total WBC counts in the peripheral blood, altered the levels of various cytokines in plasma, and induced the functional activity of NK cells in leukemic mice. The induced NK activity correlates with increased expression of perforin and granzyme studied at the gene level through real-time (RT)-PCR. The treatment of leukemic mice with combined EOLE and IL-28B has also caused an increased serum IL-10 and IFN-γ level, and reduced serum TGF-ß indicates improved overall immunity. Altogether, the combination of EOLE and IL-28B has given substantial therapeutic activity against leukemia.

Bromelain and Olea europaea (L.) leaf extract mediated alleviation of benzo(a)pyrene induced lung cancer through Nrf2 and NFκB pathway.

Lung cancer is the most aggressive as well as deadly form of cancer and most of the lung cancer cases are involved in direct smoking or passive smoking. Oxidative stress and pulmonary inflammation regulated by some transcription factors like Nrf2, NF-κB etc. play important roles in lung cancer. Various combinations of therapies are currently attributed to lung cancer treatment. A plethora of evidence supports that the consumption of plant-derived foods can prevent chronic diseases like cancer. Leaves of olive (Olea europaea L.) are rich in phenolic compounds which are having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property. Also, bromelain from pineapple juice and from pineapple stem is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. We took a pragmatic approach to prevent carcinogenesis by supplementing the combination of these two extracts. In this study, we have tried to evaluate the amelioration of various hallmarks associated with benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis upon the combinatorial treatment of ethanolic olive leaf extract (EOLE) and bromelain. We have studied the role of EOLE in amelioration of BaP-induced oxidative stress in the lung. As several reports of anticancer activity of bromelain are available, we have combined EOLE with bromelain to study their protective role against BaP-mediated lung damage. Changes in DNA integrity, LPO level in lung after EOLE-treated animal were examined. Then, we have evaluated the synergistic role of EOLE and bromelain. We have found that EOLE in combination with bromelain was able to increase the translocation of Nrf2 from cytoplasm to nucleus and decrease the translocation of NF-κB from cytoplasm to nucleus. Combination of treatment also reduced the expression of TNFα, IL-6, and some matrix metalloproteinases in lung tissue. Our findings suggest that EOLE and bromelain can synergistically reduce the BaP-induced lung carcinogenesis associated with inflammation and oxidative stress via regulating the expression of various inflammatory markers and also modulating the activity of pulmonary antioxidant armories.

An omics approach to understand the plant abiotic stress.

Abiotic stress can lead to changes in development, productivity, and severe stress and may even threaten survival of plants. Several environmental stresses cause drastic changes in the growth, physiology, and metabolism of plants leading to the increased accumulation of secondary metabolites. As medicinal plants are important sources of drugs, steps are taken to understand the effect of stress on the physiology, biochemistry, genomic, proteomic, and metabolic levels. The molecular responses of plants to abiotic stress are often considered as a complex process. They are mainly based on the modulation of transcriptional activity of stress-related genes. Many genes have been induced under stress conditions. The products of stress-inducible genes protecting against these stresses includes the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of various osmoprotectants. Genetic engineering of tolerance to abiotic stresses help in molecular understanding of pathways induced in response to one or more of the abiotic stresses. Systems biology and virtual experiments allow visualizing and understanding how plants work to overcome abiotic stress. This review discusses the omic approach to understand the plant response to abiotic stress with special emphasis on medicinal plant.

Momordica balsamina: a medicinal and neutraceutical plant for health care management.

Momordica balsamina, African pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae), is a tendril-bearing, wild climber containing wide spectrum of medicinal and nutritional values and has been used as a traditional folk medicine in many countries. The leaves, fruits, seeds, and bark of the plant contains resins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, terpenes, cardiac glycoside, saponins having various medicinal importance viz. anti-HIV, anti-plasmodial, shigellocidal, anti-diarrheal, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, analgesic and hepatoprotective properties. The therapeutic agent 'Momordin' is capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and other viruses. The leaves are also important source of nutrients having 17 amino acids with adequate mineral composition like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, zinc, manganese and iron. It also helps to combat the problem of micronutrient deficiencies in soil and high value of protein and fat with low fibre content. High potassium content is a good source for the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. This plant is being promoted as a protein supplement for cereal-based diets in poor rural communities. The commercial exploitation of this plant for biopharmaceuticals and neutraceuticals are some of the prospective future potential of this wild herb. This review discusses the potential of medicinal and nutritional importance of this wild herb for health care management.

Chlorophytum borivilianum: a white gold for biopharmaceuticals and neutraceuticals.

Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & Fernandes (Liliaceae) also known as 'Safed Musli' is a traditional rare Indian medicinal herb which has many therapeutic applications in Ayurvedic, Unani, Homeopathic and Allopathic system of medicine. Its roots (tubers) are widely used for various therapeutic applications. It is used to cure physical illness and weakness, as an aphrodisiac agent and revitalizer, as general sex tonic, remedy for diabetes, arthritis and increasing body immunity, curative for natal and postnatal problems, for rheumatism and joint pains, increase lactation in feeding mothers, as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor agent, also used in diarrhea, dysentery, gonorrhea, leucorrhea etc. It has spermatogenic property and is found useful in curing impotency, now it is considered as an alternative 'Viagra'. Its root contains steroidal and triterpenoidal saponins, sapogenins and fructans which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications. It is a rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids, saponins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phenol, resins, mucilage, and polysaccharides and also contains high quantity of simple sugars, mainly sucrose, glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose and xylose. The commercial exploitation of this plant and their secondary metabolites, germplasm conservation and in vitro production of secondary metabolites for quality control are some of the major prospects of this rare medicinal herb. The focus of the present review is to galvanize the potential of therapeutic and nutritive values of this herb and production of their secondary metabolites. The in vitro tuber induction, extraction, purification and characterization of saponins are also discussed in the present review.

Jatropha curcas L., a multipurpose stress resistant plant with a potential for ethnomedicine and renewable energy.

Jatropha curcas is a stress--resistant perennial plant growing on marginal soils. This plant is widespread throughout arid and semiarid tropical regions of the world and has been used as a traditional folk medicine in many countries. J.curcas is a source of several secondary metabolites of medicinal importance. The leaf, fruits, latex and bark contain glycosides, tannins, phytosterols, flavonoids and steroidal sapogenins that exhibit wide ranging medicinal properties. The plant products exhibit anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. The paper highlights the ability of various metabolites present in the plant to act as therapeutic agents and plant protectants. The plant is designated as an energy plant and use of J.curcas oil as biodiesel is a promising and commercially viable alternative to diesel oil. The seeds of the plant are not only a source of biodiesel but also contain several metabolites of pharmaceutical importance. Commercial exploitation for biopharmaceuticals and bio-energy production are some of the prospective future potential of this plant. Further reclamation of wastelands and dry lands is also possible with J.curcas cultivation.

Micropropagation: a tool for the production of high quality plant-based medicines.

Medicinal plants are the most important source of life saving drugs for the majority of the world's population. The biotechnological tools are important to select, multiply and conserve the critical genotypes of medicinal plants. Plant tissue culture techniques offer an integrated approach for the production of standardized quality phytopharmaceutical through mass-production of consistent plant material for physiological characterization and analysis of active ingredients. Micropropagation protocols for cloning of some medicinal plants such as Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae), Chlorophytum borivilianum (Liliaceae), Datura metel (Solanaceae), and Bacopa monnieri (Scrophulariaceae) have been developed. Regeneration occurred via organogenesis and embryogenesis in response to auxins and cytokinins. The integrated approaches of our culture systems will provide the basis for the future development of novel, safe, effective, and high-quality products for consumers.