Anti-inflammatory potential of spectroscopically analyzed trans-13-octadecenoic acid of Yucca elephantipes Regel roots: in-vitro and in-vivo analysis.

Plants are always better choice for treatment of disease in contrast to synthetic agents due to their less toxicity, and free availability with minor limitations of identifications, purity and potency which should be addressed. The objective of current study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of methanol extract of Yucca elephantipes roots by using oxidative burst assay and carrageen an induced rat paw edema. GC-MS analysis was carried for the determination of ani-inflammatory potential of fatty acids and other phytochemicals present in Yucca elephantipes roots. Among fifteen detected compounds trans-13-octadecenoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid were found as 84.21%, 5.21% and 2.17% respectively. Oxidative burst assay showed anti-inflammatory potential of Yucca elephantipes roots 74.58±0.32% with IC50 of 15.3±2.2µg/mL as compared to Ibuprofen with percentage of inhibition 73.20±0.17% and IC50 was 11.2±0.98µg/mL. Fortunately, less than 8g/kg dose of the Yucca elephantipes roots found safe in albino rats. Interestingly, in-vivo carrageen an induced paw edema method proved its anti-inflammatory potential at dose 100 and 200mg/kg in albino rats. Conclusively, 200mg/kg dose of Yucca elephantipes roots extract was optimized for 88.89±0.015% anti-inflammatory effect which can be considered most potent, safe and better alternative of synthetic drugs.

Single or Combined Applications of Zinc and Multi-strain Probiotic on Intestinal Histomorphology of Broilers Under Cyclic Heat Stress.

Two-hundred-eighty-day-old broiler chicks were divided into seven groups. The groups were designated as T1, thermoneutral zone; T2, heat stressed (HS); T3, HS + zinc (Zn) supplementation (30 mg/kg); T4, HS + Zn (60 mg/kg); T5, HS + probiotic (0.1 g/kg); T6, HS + probiotic (0.1 g/kg) + Zn (30 mg/kg); and T7, HS + Zn (60 mg/kg) + probiotic (0.1 g/kg). Significant decrease (p < 0.05) was observed in villus height (VH), VH to crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area of all intestinal segments in the T2 group when compared with the T1 group. The same parameters had significantly higher (p < 0.05) values in the jejunum and ileum of the Zn- and probiotic-supplemented groups (alone + combination) when compared with the T2 group. The birds exposed to HS showed fewer (p < 0.05) intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the jejunum and ileum than the T1 group, while their count increased in the jejunum and ileum with dietary treatments. In conclusion, Zn and probiotic positively modulated the intestinal microstructures of broilers kept under high environmental temperature.

Plant derived anticancer agents: A green approach towards skin cancers.

Plants have been used as medicinal agents since the origin of mankind. High cost and severe side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy has limited their general acceptability and fuel up the search for alternate options. The alternative treatment options like phytochemicals have come up with ease of availability and cost effectiveness. Owing to their general acceptance, safety, low side effects and multistep targeting in signal transduction pathways, plant derived phyto-constituents have promising anti-carcinogenic potential for skin related cancers. This leads to the surge in research of new phytochemicals for the prevention and cure of a variety of skin cancers which are major cause of morbidity and mortality in present world. Although very limited clinical data involving humans is available in literature to demonstrate favorable eff ;ects of phyto-constituents on various types of skin carcinomas yet the topical treatment with these plant derived anticancer phytochemicals is very promising. There are various mechanisms and pathways responsible for antitumor activity of plant derived medicinal compounds such as loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome-c, Down regulation of Anti-apoptotic proteins and Up regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins, Activation of Caspase, Fas, FADD, p53 and c-Jun signaling pathway, Inhibition of Akt signaling pathway, phosphorylation of ERK, P13K, Raf, survivin gene, STAT 3 and NF-kB. In-vitro testing of skin cancer cell lines models offers the opportunity for identifying mechanisms of action of compounds from plant origin against variety of skin related cancers. This review thus aims at providing an overview of plant derived anti-cancer compounds which have been reported to show promising anti-carcinogenic effects against various skin cancer cell lines and on animal models. Phytochemicals that are discussed in this review include steroids, coumarines, trepenes, essential oils, alkaloids, esters, ethers, resins, phenols and flavonoids. This review also provides information about marketed formulations developed so far from plant derived compounds for skin cancer prevention and treatment.

Presentation of osteomalacia in Kohistani women.

BACKGROUND: Osteomalacia is a common diagnosis in the Kohistani women presenting with aches and pains. This study was conducted to assess calcium and Phosphate levels in Kohistani women with osteomalacia. METHODS: 50 diagnosed cases of Osteomalacia selected from amongst the women presenting with body aches were included in the study. History regarding age, marital status, parity, dietary habits, socioeconomic status etc was taken. RESULTS: The median age was 23 years. 74% were married. Most of the women had 5 children (mode). Nine (18%) patients had hypocalcaemia, 10 (20%) had hypophosphatemia. Alkaline phosphatase was elevated in 13 patients (26%). Six (12%) patients were pregnant at the time. 74% of patients belonged to the poor class. 70% of the patients drank less than 1 cup of milk per day. Body aches (100%), waddling gait (14%), proximal myopathy (12%), bone tenderness (6%) and carpopedal spasm (8%). CONCLUSIONS: We therefore conclude that in comparison with other parts of the world where individual risk factors cause osteomalacia. Kohistani population has a higher frequency of osteomalacia due to aggregation of three major factors namely lack of sunlight due to geographical location, excessive clothing blocking available sunlight and nutritional deficiency.