Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Okhaldhunga is a hilly district with fragile socioeconomic conditions, limited access to health care, social stigma, and poor resource management, where most people rely on medicinal plants for primary health care. The use of medicinal plants for primary health care varies with socioeconomic attributes. Following the intra-cultural analysis, we documented and tested the hypothesis that use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, Nepal, depends on socioeconomic variables. METHODS: We interviewed 224 respondents, 53.12% female and 46.88% male, including 31 Brahmin, 157 Chhetri, 13 Dalit, and 23 Janajati, and conducted three focused group discussions and seven key informant interviews to record the ethnomedicinal plants used in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga District. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was computed to know the importance of the species. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to see the relationship between medicinal plants reported with the sociocultural variables, which include age, gender, occupation, education, ethnicity, and religion. RESULTS: We documented 149 medicinal plants, including 69 herbs, 22 shrubs, nine climbers, 48 trees, and one parasitic plant, belonging to 68 families and 130 genera, and used to treat 48 distinct diseases and ailments. Plant parts, leaf, and digestive disorders were frequently treated during healing. Curcuma angustifolia was the most cited species with RFC 0.9554. The respondents' knowledge of medicinal plant use varied significantly with age (p = 0.0001) and occupation (p = 0.003). Changes in land use, population decline of medicinal plant species, and unsustainable harvesting practices constituted the local threats to medicinal plants and associated knowledge. Elders died without passing on their knowledge to the younger generations during sociocultural transformation, and youth disinterest coupled with the free availability of allopathic medicine led to knowledge erosion. CONCLUSIONS: The use of medicinal plants in Champadevi, Okhaldhunga, was significantly depended on two socioeconomic variables age and occupation. Ethnomedicinal plants are essential in the primary healthcare system in Nepal; however, their availability and practices are declining. Thus, plans regulating land use change and human migration, acknowledging traditional healthcare practices, and raising awareness of the significance of traditional medical practices as complementary healthcare practices should be strengthened.

Conscious entry into sleep: Yoga Nidra and accessing subtler states of consciousness.

Human sleep is a dynamic and complex process comprising sleep stages with REM and NREM sleep characteristics that come in cycles. During sleep, there is a loss of responsiveness or a perceptual loss of conscious awareness with increasing thresholds for wakefulness as sleep progresses. There are brief bursts of wakefulness or Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO) throughout a nocturnal sleep. Conscious experience during nocturnal sleep is known to occur during lucid dreaming when one is aware during dreams when the dream is occurring. Most cultures have known lucid dreaming since antiquity. However, conscious experience during dreamless sleep is relatively lesser known. Nevertheless, selected Indo-Tibetan meditation literature has documented it since antiquity. Minimal Phenomenal Experience (MPE) research describes lucid dreamless sleep as its target phenomenology. "Conscious entry into sleep" posits tonic alertness is maintained post sleep onset through the sleep stages for sustained durations of time until an eventual loss of conscious awareness. Entering sleep consciously and being aware during dreamless sleep, including Slow Wave Activity, is plausibly to be in the state of "Yoga Nidra" or Yogic sleep. An attentive sleepful state provides access to subtler states of consciousness and significantly deepens the levels of silence. It is phenomenologically distinct from hypnagogic hallucinations and lucid dreaming. Unfortunately, sleep studies validating this phenomenology are yet to be done. Therefore, an experimental methodology akin to those used in lucid dreaming experiments is described.

Fructooligosaccharide and Bacillus subtilis synbiotic combination promoted disease resistance, but not growth performance, is additive in fish.

Species diversification from major to minor carps for their sturdiness and initial higher growth, and also a quest for antibiotic-free aqua farming in the subcontinent, mandates search for and evaluation of alternatives. An experiment was performed to investigate the potential of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) (alone or as synbiotics) in promoting growth and immunity against infections in Labeo fimbriatus fingerlings. Six iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets containing combinations of two levels of FOS (0% and 0.5%) and three levels of BS (0, 104, 106 CFU/g feed) were fed to fish for 60 days. At the end of the feeding trial, twenty-four fish from each group were injected intra-peritoneally with pathogenic strain of Aeromonas hydrophila O:18 to test the immunoprotective efficacy of the supplements against bacterial infection. BS, but not FOS, significantly improved (P < 0.05) growth and feed utilisation attributes like percentage weight gain (PWG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). There were interactive effects of FOS and BS on PWG, SGR and FCR; however, the effects were not additive in nature. These beneficial effects of BS, alone or in combination with FOS, were corroborated by increased protease activity, microvilli density and diameter and number of goblet cells. Overall beneficial effects of FOS and BS included improved erythrocyte (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), total protein and globulin levels. Total leucocyte (WBC) count and immunological parameters like respiratory burst activity of leucocytes (NBT reduction), lysozyme activity, albumin: globulin ratio and post-challenge survival were significantly improved by both FOS and BS, and their dietary combination yielded the highest improvement in these parameters. Synergistic effects of FOS and BS as dietary supplements indicate that a combination of 106 CFU/g BS and 0.5% FOS is optimal to improve growth, feed utilisation, immune functions, and disease resistance in L. fimbriatus fingerlings.

Therapeutic Potential of Quercetin and its Derivatives in Epilepsy: Evidence from Preclinical Studies.

Quercetin is a polyphenolic bioactive compound highly enriched in dietary fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries. Quercetin and its derivatives like rutin and hyperoside are known for their beneficial effects in various neurological conditions including epilepsy. The clinical studies of quercetin and its derivatives in relation to epilepsy are limited. This review provides the evidence of most recent knowledge of anticonvulsant properties of quercetin and its derivatives on preclinical studies. Additionally, the studies demonstrating antiseizure potential of various plants extracts enriched with quercetin and its derivatives has been included in this review. Herein, we have also discussed neuroprotective effect of these bioactive compound and presented underlying mechanisms responsible for anticonvulsant properties in brief. Finally, limitations of quercetin and its derivatives as antiseizure compounds as well as possible strategies to enhance efficacy have also been discussed.

Asiatic acid attenuates aluminium chloride-induced behavioral changes, neuronal loss and astrocyte activation in rats.

Aluminium (Al) is a potent neurotoxic metal known to cause neurodegeneration. Al exposure causes oxidative stress by accumulation of reactive oxygen species, followed by the activation of neuronal cell death in the brain. Asiatic acid (AA), the major bioactive compound of Centella asiatica (a medicinal plant), act as multifunctional drug as well as an antioxidant. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effect of AA against Al neurotoxicity. Rats were orally administered aluminium chloride (AlCl3; 100 mg/kg b. wt.) dissolved in distilled water for 8 weeks or AA (75 mg/kg b. wt.) in combination with AlCl3. The results showed that AlCl3-intoxication causes significant impairment of memory, enhances anxiety-like behavior, acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity, malondialdehydes (MDA) level, and concomitant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the cortex and hippocampus regions of rat brain. In addition, AlCl3-intoxication enhanced neuronal loss and reactive astrogliosis in both regions. However, co-administration of AA with AlCl3 significantly attenuated the behavioral alterations, restored SOD and CAT activities, while reduced AChE activity and MDA content. Further, the study demonstrated that AA attenuates neuronal loss and reactive astrogliosis in rat brain. In conclusion, the study suggests that AA protects rat brain from Al neurotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress, neuronal loss and reactive astrogliosis.

Prevalence of low birth weight and its associated factors: Hospital based cross sectional study in Nepal.

Low birth weight is still an important public health problem worldwide. It is a major contributor to neonatal death in developing countries, including Nepal. The government of Nepal has developed and implemented different programs to improve maternal and neonatal health, including baby's birth weight. However, low birth weight is a major maternal and child health challenge. Maternal factors determining the birth weight of neonates have been poorly assessed in previous studies in Nepal. Thus, this study aims to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with low birth weight in Nepal. An institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Paropakar Maternity Hospital and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital of Kathmandu district among 308 postnatal mothers. The data was collected through the face-to-face interview technique. The data was entered in EpiData 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package and Service Solutions version 21 for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to obtain an adjusted odds ratio, while p-value < 0.05 with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was considered significant. The findings showed that 15.3% of the children had low birth weight. The mean and standard deviation of childbirth weight was 2.96±0.59 kg. Mothers belonged to Dalit ethnic (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.2-7.1), Antenatal Care visited three or fewer (AOR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.0-6.6) and did not comply with Iron and Folic Acid supplementation (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.0-4.4) were significantly associated with low birth weight. Nearly one in every six children had low birth weight. Maternal health services such as antenatal care and compliance with a recommended dose of maternal micronutrients significantly impact on birth weight. Maternal and neonatal health programs should consider these factors to reduce adverse birth outcomes in Nepal.

Plant-Based Antioxidant Extracts and Compounds in the Management of Oral Cancer.

Oral cancer continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide, and its prevalence is particularly high in developing countries, where people chew tobacco and betel nut on a regular basis. Radiation-, chemo-, targeted-, immuno-, and hormone-based therapies along with surgery are commonly used as part of a treatment plan. However, these treatments frequently result in various unwanted short- to long-term side effects. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop treatment options for oral cancer that have little or no adverse effects. Numerous bioactive compounds derived from various plants have recently attracted attention as therapeutic options for cancer treatment. Antioxidants found in medicinal plants, such as vitamins E, C, and A, reduce damage to the mucosa by neutralizing free radicals found in various oral mucosal lesions. Phytochemicals found in medicinal plants have the potential to modulate cellular signalling pathways that alter the cellular defence mechanisms to protect normal cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various medicinal plants and phytoconstituents that have shown the potential to be used as oral cancer therapeutics.

Protective effect of standardised fruit extract of Garcinia cowa Roxb. ex Choisy against ethanol induced gastric mucosal lesions in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The fruit of Garcinia is a rich and valuable source of bioactive compounds and is traditionally used for treating wounds and ulcers. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of chromatographically standardized fruit extract of Garcinia cowa (GCE) on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: The effect of GCE (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was evaluated by determining various gastric ulcer parameters like gastric wall mucus, non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) content, microvascular permeability, endogenous antioxidant enzyme, and gastric histopathological study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of GCE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg exhibited significant (p < .01) dose-dependent inhibition of ulcer index by 18.94-44.02%, respectively. Pre-treatment of rats with GCE (400 mg/kg) significantly restored the depleted gastric wall mucus level by 34.09% and NP-SH content by 33.35% induced by ethanol administration. In addition, GCE (400 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in microvascular permeability of Evans Blue by 47.43%, rationalizing its protective effect. Furthermore, a significant increase in oxidative enzyme levels with reduction in malondialdehyde level and elevation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed in the GCE treated group as compared to the ulcer control group. The histopathological assessment also confirmed the protective nature of GCE. HPTLC analysis showed the presence of 0.27%, 0.11% w/w gallic acid, and amentoflavone, respectively in GCE. The content of α-mangostin and xanthochymol in the G. cowa extract sample quantified by HPLC-PDA method was 0.72 and 8.46%, respectively. The results obtained indicate that the protective effect of GCE against gastric ulcers in rats through multiple actions confirmed by the reduction of oxidative stress and restoration of adhered gastric mucus, NP-SH content, and histological architecture.KEY MESSAGESEthanol is the most typical ulcerogenic agent and has been shown to extend the risk of ulcer in humans.Natural products are promising alternative medication for the development of new drugs to regulate gastrointestinal diseases.Garcinia cowa protects the gastric mucosa through multiple actions that include restoration of adhered gastric mucus and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Beneficial Role of Antioxidant Secondary Metabolites from Medicinal Plants in Maintaining Oral Health.

Plant-derived phytochemicals have been touted as viable substitutes in a variety of diseases. All over the world, dentists have turned to natural remedies for dental cure due to the negative possessions of certain antibacterial mediators used in dentistry. Antimicrobial and other drugs are currently in use, but they show some side effects. Since ancient times, antioxidant EOs have been used for different ailments and have grown in popularity over time. Several in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials have shown the safety and effectiveness of antioxidant essential oils (EOs) in oral health obtained from medicinal plants. The current review of literature provides a summary of secondary metabolites, more specifically EOs from 20 most commonly used medicinal plants and their applications in maintaining oral health. Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common and preventable global infectious diseases, with diseases of the oral cavity being considered major diseases affecting a person's health. Several clinical studies have shown a connection between oral diseases and oral microbiota. This review discusses the role of antioxidant secondary metabolites in inhibiting the growth of oral pathogens and reducing the formation of dental plaque, and as well as reducing the symptoms of oral diseases. This review article contributes a basic outline of essential oils and their healing actions.

The use of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants are the fundamental unit of traditional medicine system in Nepal. Nepalese people are rich in traditional medicine especially in folk medicine (ethnomedicine), and this system is gaining much attention after 1995. The use of medicinal plants has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a private behavior (not under the control of government). A lot of misinterpretations of the use of medicinal plants to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been spreading throughout Nepal which need to be managed proactively. In this context, a research was needed to document medicinal plants used, their priority of use in society, their cultivation status, and the source of information people follow to use them. This study aimed to document the present status of medicinal plant use and make important suggestion to the concerned authorities. METHODS: This study used a web-based survey to collect primary data related to medicinal plants used during COVID-19. A total of 774 respondents took part in the survey. The study calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants. The relationship between plants recorded and different covariates (age, gender education, occupation, living place, and treatment methods) was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon test. The relationship between the information sources people follow and the respondent characteristics was assessed using chi-square test. RESULTS: The study found that the use of medicinal plants has increased during COVID-19 and most of the respondents recommended medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This study recorded a total of 60 plants belonging to 36 families. The leaves of the plants were the most frequently used. The Zingiber officinale was the most cited species with the frequency of citation 0.398. Most of the people (45.61%) were getting medicinal plants from their home garden. The medicinal plants recorded were significantly associated with the education level, location of home, primary treatment mode, gender, and age class. The information source of plants was significantly associated with the education, gender, method of treatment, occupation, living with family, and location of home during the lockdown caused by COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: People were using more medicinal plants during COVID-19 claiming that they can prevent or cure COVID-19. This should be taken seriously by concerned authorities. The authorities should test the validity of these medicinal plants and control the flow of false information spread through research and awareness programs.

Green silver nano-particles: synthesis using rice leaf extract, characterization, efficacy, and non-target effects.

Green synthesis of silver nano-particles (AgNPs) from silver nitrate was carried out using purple-colored rice leaves' extracts containing higher phenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. The efficacy of synthesized AgNPs was tested against rice diseases and investigation was carried out to check negative effect of AgNPs on soil microbes. Substantial reduction of total anthocyanins, total phenols, and total flavonoids was observed in reaction mixture during AgNP formation indicating the role of secondary metabolites on AgNP formation and stabilization. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopic images and FTIR spectral analysis of AgNPs confirmed the presence of elemental silver encapped by biomolecules. The optimized reaction parameters for synthesis of AgNPs from silver nitrate were (a) 48 h of incubation, (b) 9:1 (v/v) 1 mM AgNO3:plant extract, and (c) room temperature at 20-30 °C. Zeta potential and hydrodynamic particle sizes of synthesized AgNPs were ranged between - 16.61 to - 29.45 mV and 36-107 nm, respectively, at different time of incubation. AgNPs could control effectively Rhizoctonia solani and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae and Helminthosporium oryzae. AgNPs at higher concentration could cause negative effect on microbial biomass carbon and soil enzymes for distant future. But the negative effects of AgNP solution (10% of 1 mM AgNPs) were comparable to commercial fungicide, carbendazim. The synthesized AgNPs with desirable characters were effective against a number of disease-causing pathogens in rice, and it can be recommended as broad-spectrum pesticide.

Hepatoprotective efficacy of Premna integrifolia L. leaves against aflatoxin B1-induced toxicity in mice.

The present study evaluated the hepatoprotective role of ethanol extract of P. integrifolia leaves (EEPL) on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced toxicity in mice. Mice were administered with AFB1 (0.1 mg/kg b. wt., orally) for 90 days, EEPL (400 and 600 mg/kg b. wt., orally) and silymarin (100 mg/kg b. wt., orally) in combination with AFB1. The study shows the protective effect of EEPL by the restoration of altered hematological indices and liver marker enzymes. Restoration of lipid peroxidation and glutathione content, along with activities of antioxidant enzymes, suggest amelioration of oxidative stress in AFB1-intoxicated mice. In addition, EEPL attenuated apoptosis and histopathological alterations in liver tissue. In conclusion, the current study suggests that EEPL protect mice liver against AFB1 toxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis. The protective activity of EEPL may be due to the enrichment of flavonoids (neohesperidin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, catechin hydrate, cyanidin chloride, quercetin-3-galactoside, diosmin, genistein, malvin chloride, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinoside, myricitrin, poncirin, vitexin and tiliroside) in the extract as identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS.

Curcumin's antiepileptic effect, and alterations in Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 expression in iron-induced epilepsy.

The present study was carried out to evaluate: the antiepileptic effect of dietary curcumin, and the effect of epileptic state and curcumin on the molecular expression of voltage-activated Na+ channel subtypes Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 in the iron-induced experimental epilepsy in the rat. Rats were divided into four groups; Group I (control rats), Group II (epileptic rats), Group III (curcumin-fed epileptic rats), and Group IV (curcumin-fed rats). Curcumin was fed chronically to rats approximately at the dose of 100 mg/kg body wt. The animals were made epileptic by intracortical injection of FeCl3. The mRNA and protein expressions of Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 were examined by RT-PCR analysis and immuno-histochemistry. Results showed a significant increase (upregulation) in the expression of both Nav1.1 and Nav1.6 with seizure activity in the cortex and hippocampus of epileptic rats. Epileptic rats fed with curcumin showed a marked decrease in epileptiform activity, and reduced mRNA and protein levels of Nav1.1. It appears that the antiepileptic action of curcumin may be associated with the downregulation of Nav1.1 in the cortex.

Premna integrifolia ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity by modulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.

The present study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of ethyl acetate extract of Premna integrifolia L. (EAEPI) leaves in cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced hepatic injury in mice. Mice were intoxicated with CP (200 mg/kg b. wt., i.p.) for 5 weeks or EAEPI (400 and 600 mg/kg b. wt., orally) in combination with CP. The results demonstrated that EAEPI exerts protective effect against CP induced hepatotoxicity, as evident from restoration of altered haematological parameters and alleviations of liver marker enzymes in serum. EAEPI also attenuated oxidative stress and antioxidant markers as evident from reversal of lipid peroxidation, glutathione levels as well as activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes. Moreover, EAEPI attenuated apoptosis and histopathological liver tissue damage in CP-intoxicated mice. In conclusion, EAEPI could protect mice liver against cyclophosphamide toxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis.The protective activity of EAEPI may be due to presence of polyphenolic compounds as identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

Carbon sequestration in macroalgal mats of brackish-water habitats in Indian Sunderbans: Potential as renewable organic resource.

Large influx of excess nutrients into sub-tropical brackish-water habitats is expected to radically affect the algal populations in the heavily populated Sunderbans brackish-water ecozone. Twelve selected brackish-water sites in the Indian Sunderbans were surveyed to investigate the growth performance of mat-forming dominant algal/cyanobacterial macrophytes and their potential for carbon (C) sequestration into hydrologic and pedologic pools. The mats were dominated by particular taxa at different seasons related to physico-chemical properties of the wetland habitats. Different environmental variables and biomass productivity parameters were measured on fortnightly basis to assess the carbon cycle related to dominant algal blooms of the study area. The dominating species at the twelve sites included seven genera (Spirogyra, Rhizoclonium, Ulva, Cladophora, Pithophora, Chaetomorpha) belonging to Chlorophyta, three genera (Polysiphonia, Gracilaria, Catenella) belonging to Rhodophyta and Lyngbya majuscula from cyanobacteria. Multivariate statistical methods indicated that nutrient availability, particularly dissolved P concentration and N:P ratio in the water column, along with salinity in the water column mainly affected biomass yield and C sequestration of mat-forming macrophytes and OC input into water column. However, OC contents of underlying muck proved to be very stable, though small influxes of OC occurred at each bloom. High biomass yields (34-3107 g/m2) of the dominant mat components accumulated enormous stocks of OC, very little of which reaches the pedologic pool. This transient biomass might be utilized as dietary supplements or biofuel feedstocks. Availability of important dietary fatty acids in Spirogyra punctulata, Gracilaria sp., Polysiphonia mollis, Rhizoclonium riparium, R. tortuosum, Pithophora oedogonia and Ulva lactuca was considered as suitability of these species as nutraceuticals. Fatty acid compositions of L. majuscula, Catenella repens, R. tortuosum and Cladophora crystallina were estimated to be applicable for producing biodiesel for usage in sub-tropical climates.

Attenuation of neurobehavioral and neurochemical abnormalities in animal model of cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease by fermented soybean nanonutraceutical.

The present study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nanonutraceuticals (NN) for attenuation of neurobehavioral and neurochemical abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease. Solid-state fermentation of soybean with Bacillus subtilis was performed to produce different metabolites (nattokinase, daidzin, genistin and glycitin and menaquinone-7). Intoxication of rats with colchicine caused impairment in learning and memory which was demonstrated in neurobehavioral paradigms (Morris water maze and passive avoidance) linked with decreased activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). NN treatment led to a significant increase in TLT in the retention trials as compared to acquisition trial TLT suggesting an improved learning and memory in rats. Further, treatment of NN caused an increase in the activity of AChE (42%), accompanied with a reduced activity of glutathione (42%), superoxide dismutase (43%) and catalase (41%). It also decreased the level of lipid peroxidation (28%) and protein carbonyl contents (30%) in hippocampus as compared to those treated with colchicine alone, suggesting a possible neuroprotective efficacy of NN. Interestingly, in silico studies also demonstrated an effective amyloid-ß and BACE-1 inhibition activity. These findings clearly indicated that NN reversed colchicine-induced behavioral and neurochemical alterations through potent antioxidant activity and could possibly impart beneficial effects in cognitive defects associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Triterpenoids principle of Wedelia calendulacea attenuated diethynitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma via down-regulating oxidative stress, inflammation and pathology via NF-kB pathway.

The aerial part of Wedelia calendulacea have been used in Ayurveda, Unani, Tibetan, Siddha and other folk medicine systems to protect the liver and renal tissue. Liver is considered as primary metabolizing site of body, which is prone to damage by endogenous and exogenous toxicants. A reason for liver toxicity, and major causes of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 19-α-Hydroxyurs-12(13)-ene-28 oic acid-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (HEG), a triterpenoids found in the higher plants, has been known to possess protective effect against various toxicants. The aim of the current study was to scrutinize the hepatoprotective mechanism of HEG against DEN-induced oxidative stress, hyperproliferation, inflammation and apoptosis tissue injury in Wistar rats. Invitro cell lines study of HEG scrutinized against the Hep-G2 and HuH-7 cells. A single dose of DEN (200 mg/kg) and double dose of phenobarbitol were administered to induce the liver damage in rats; the dose treatment of HEG was terminated at the end of 22 weeks. Macroscopical study was performed for the confirmation of hepatic nodules. The serum and hepatic samples were collected for further biochemical and histopathological analysis. Hepatic; non-hepatic; Phase I and II antioxidant enzymes were also examined. Additionally, we also scrutinized the inflammatory cytokines viz., tumor necrosis factor-α, interlukin-6, interlukin-1ß, and Nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB), respectively. Histopathological study was also performed for analyzing the changes during the HCC. HEG confirmed the reduction of growth and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis of both cell lines. DEN successfully induced the HCC in all group, which was significantly (p < 0.001) altered by the HEG in a dose-dependent manner. The decreased level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and altered membrane-bound enzyme activity were also observed. HEG inhibits the phase I, II and antioxidant enzymes at the effective dose-dependent manner, which were considered as the precursor of the HCC. The alteration of phase I, II and antioxidant enzymes confirmed the inhibition of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, which directly or indirectly inhibited the NF-kB expression. Collectively, we can conclude that the HEG inhibited the growth of Hepatocellular carcinoma via attenuating the NF-kB pathway.

Preclinical renal chemo-protective potential of Prunus amygdalus Batsch seed coat via alteration of multiple molecular pathways.

Prunus amygdalus Batsch (almond) is a classical nutritive traditional Indian medicine. Along with nutritive with anti-oxidant properties, it is, clinically, used in the treatment of various diseases with underlying anti-oxidant mechanism. This study is an effort to scrutinise the renal protective effect of P. amygdalus Batsch or green almond (GA) seed coat extract and its underlying mechanism in animal model of Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) induced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RCC was induced in Swiss Albino Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of Fe-NTA. The rats were then treated with ethanolic extract of GA (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg per oral) for 22 weeks. Efficacy of GA administration was evaluated by change in biochemical, renal, macroscopical and histopathological parameters and alterations. Additionally, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and inflammatory mediator including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were also observed to explore the possible mechanisms. The oral administration of GA significantly (p < .001) altered the Fe-NTA induced RCC in rats by inhibition of renal nodules, decolourisation of tissues, tumour promoter marker including thymidine 3[H] incorporation, ornithine decarboxylase, renal parameters and anti-oxidant parameters in serum. Additionally, GA treatment significantly (p < .001) down-regulated the IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, inflammatory mediators PGE2 and NF-κB in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathology observation supported the renal protective effect of GA by alteration in necrosis, size of Bowman capsules and inflammatory cells. Hence, it can be concluded that GA possesses observable chemo-protective action and effect on Fe-NTA induced RCC via dual inhibition mechanism one by inhibiting free radical generation and second by inhibiting inflammation.

Use of Bacillus Subtilis PB6 as a potential antibiotic growth promoter replacement in improving performance of broiler birds.

The intestinal gut health is one of the primary determinants of broiler growth and performance. Among the various enteric diseases, necrotic enteritis (NE) is an enterotoxemic disease caused by Clostridium perfringens, which can result in severe economic losses in poultry farming. Antibiotics like bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) and avilamycin (AVL) are commonly used antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in poultry feed to control necrotic enteritis in birds. Bacillus subtilis PB6 was reported to prevent necrotic enteritis and improve performance in birds. This paper investigated the influence of Bacillus subtilis PB6 in improving the performance of broiler birds in comparison with BMD and avilamycin. A 35 day trial was conducted with 240 day-old commercial broiler chicks (VenCobb 400), which were divided into four treatment groups, where each treatment group was composed of 6 replicates each containing 10 birds, for a total of 60 birds per treatment. The treatment groups included a negative control (no AGP), Bacillus subtilis PB6, BMD, and avilamycin. The parameters analyzed included body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, villus histomorphometry, and European efficiency factor (EEF). Bacillus subtilis PB6 significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight and FCR (8 points) compared to the control. The group supplemented with B. subtilis PB6 or BMD had higher (P < 0.05) body weight compared to all other treatment groups. The supplementation of B. subtilis PB6 significantly improved the villus height (P < 0.05) compared to control and other AGP groups. The EEF was found to be the highest in the B. subtilis PB6 supplemented group at 35th day as compared to other treatment groups. The combined data from this study indicate that supplementation of B. subtilis PB6 improves overall performance of broilers compared to BMD and avilamycin, and can be used as potential AGP replacement in poultry farming.

Melastoma malabathricum Linn attenuates complete freund's adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation in Wistar rats via inflammation response.

BACKGROUND: Natural products use for arthritis treatment is gaining importance in the medical worldt. Various studies reports medical importance of Melastoma malabathricum Linn. (MM) (Melastomataceae), also known as "putki," has a broad range of health benefits, for its free radical scavenging constituents. The current investigation scrutinizes the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of MM against adjuvant-induced arthritis in experimental rats. METHODS: High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used for estimation of phytochemical-constituents present in the MM extract. Protective effect of MM extract in Wistar rats was estimated using CFA-induced model. The rats were divided into different groups with six rats in each group. All animals received oral administration of MM and indomethacin for 28 days. The body weight and arthritic score were scrutinized at regular intervals. At the end of experimental protocol, the rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were used for antioxidant, hematological parameters, pro-inflammatory and inflammatory mediator, respectively. Histopathological observation was used to evaluate the protective effect of MM extract. RESULT & DISCUSSION: Current study confirmed the preventive effect of MM against adjuvant-induced paw edema, paw redness and arthritic progression. MM significantly (P < 0.001) modulated the oxidative stress parameters as well as hematological parameter induced by CFA. The result also altered the distorted level of proinflammatory mediators and inflammatory mediator, which further reinforce the implication of MM in CFA induced arthritis. Histological analyses of joints of rats showed a reduction in the synovial hyperplasia and mononuclear infiltration in the MM treated group which provides evidence for the antiarthritic effect of MM. CONCLUSION: From above parameters our study states that the MM is capable of restraining the alteration produced via adjuvant-induced arthritis in aminals. The repressing effect of MM could be attributed, at least in part, to antioxidant, hematological and anti-inflammatory effect. Figure Caption: Melastoma Malabathricum Linn Attenuates Complete Freund's Adjuvant-Induced Chronic Inflammation in Wistar rats by Inflammation Response.