Medicinal plants with antimalarial activities mediated via glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3ß) inhibition.

Many of the therapeutic effects of plant extracts and bioactive compounds appear related to their immunomodulatory effects and impact on the host immune system. The immune response is desirable to mitigate established infections and, in the case of severe malaria, is a feasible approach to dealing with the overwhelming cytokine response. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), a Ser/Thr kinase that is a central regulator of the cytokine response, is a promising antimalarial drug target. In this review, we discussed our ongoing research projects, which include assessing the antimalarial activities of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds, immunomodulatory activities mediated by GSK3, and the potential inflammatory pathway involved in malarial infection.

Medicinal plants with antimalarial activities mediated via glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) inhibition

@#Many of the therapeutic effects of plant extracts and bioactive compounds appear related to their immunomodulatory effects and impact on the host immune system. The immune response is desirable to mitigate established infections and, in the case of severe malaria, is a feasible approach to dealing with the overwhelming cytokine response. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), a Ser/Thr kinase that is a central regulator of the cytokine response, is a promising antimalarial drug target. In this review, we discussed our ongoing research projects, which include assessing the antimalarial activities of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds, immunomodulatory activities mediated by GSK3, and the potential inflammatory pathway involved in malarial infection.

Evaluation of the anti-pyretic potential of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth standardized extract.

The anti-pyretic activity of a standardized methanol/water (50/50) extract of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. (SEOS) was investigated for its effect on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The SEOS showed no effect on normal body temperature. Doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of SEOS significantly reduced the yeast-induced elevation in body temperature. This effect persisted up to 4 h following the administration of the extract. The anti-pyretic effect of SEOS was comparable with that of paracetamol (acetaminophen in U.S) (150 mg/kg p.o.), a standard anti-pyretic agent. HPLC study revealed that rosmarinic acid, sinensetin, eupatorin and tetramethoxyflavone were present in SEOS in the amounts of 7.58%, 0.2%, 0.34% and 0.24% respectively. The LD(50) of the extract in rats was higher than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Therefore, the present study ascertained that SEOS possesses a significant anti-pyretic activity.

Sequential intravenous-oral administration of ciprofloxacin vs ceftazidime in serious bacterial respiratory tract infections.

The efficacy and safety of sequential intravenous/oral ciprofloxacin in moderate to severe respiratory tract infections (RTI) were compared with those of ceftazidime in a prospective clinical trial. Sixty-six patients received IV ciprofloxacin (200 to 300 mg twice daily), followed by oral ciprofloxacin (500 mg twice daily). Fifty-six patients received intravenous ceftazidime (1 to 2 g two to three times daily). Ciprofloxacin was as effective as ceftazidime and produced a 91 percent clinical cure rate. Significantly more pretreatment bacterial isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had a significantly higher rate of sputum bacterial eradication than did ceftazidime. Ciprofloxacin showed broad in vitro antibacterial activity with particularly low minimal inhibitory concentrations for Gram-negative organisms. Ciprofloxacin was well tolerated; there were few adverse effects. Ciprofloxacin was an effective and well-tolerated treatment for severe RTI that had the advantages of broad in vitro antibacterial activity, twice-daily dosing, and sequential availability in an intravenous and oral formulation.