Variability in starch granular morphology of Tinospora cordifolia: an important species of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM).

Tinospora cordifolia is an important medicinal plant species known for therapeutic action of starch along with other medicinal ingredients. The starch prepared from the aqueous extract of fresh stems is used in the Indian Systems of Medicines. The plant extract prepared from T. cordifolia is a  promising source for the treatment of COVID-19. This investigation explores for the first time, the morphological details of the starch granules and its accumulation pattern along with its variability among the germplasm of T. cordifolia collected from different parts of India. Starch content was 39.80% on dry weight basis and moisture content was about 28.21%. Starch granule recovery based on stem dry weight and starch content ranged from 14.70 to 20.28% and 52.02 to 71.76%, respectively in different starch settling methods. Starch accumulation pattern in the stem was also studied in the species. Even though wide variability in starch granule shapes was observed among the germplasm, majority of the genotypes had starch granules of round or oval shape. Similarly, starch granule size also varied greatly (38.32-88.03 µm) within and among the genotypes. Significantly small sized starch granules (p = 0.05) were present in the genotype, IC 283650 and biggest (p = 0.05) starch granules were present in the genotype, IC 310610. The information generated in the present study will have application in starch industry for the inclusion of T. cordifolia as an alternative source of starch in addition to its use in Traditional Systems of Medicine. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42535-021-00286-y.

Journey of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.: From traditional utilization to modern therapeutics-A review.

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam. (Araliaceae) is a short and edible medicinal herb, which is used in the traditional system of medicines. The review aims to report the current information of H. sibthorpioides on the basis of its botanical and taxonomical description, traditional use, active phytoconstituents, pharmacological use and toxicity. The information on H. sibthorpioides with respect to its journey from traditional uses to scientific validation was gathered based on the online survey. The results from the review signify that the plant is used by the different tribes of the world for the treatment of patients suffering from fever, edema, dysentery, rheumatalgia, whooping cough, jaundice, throat pain, psoriasis, herpes zoster infection, hepatitis-B infection, soothing pain, dysmenorrhoea and carbunculosis. It is also used as a brain tonic, detoxifying agent and hepatoprotective agent. Scientific investigation reported that the plant has a significant pharmacological activity, viz. cognitive agent, anti-cancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal and hepatoprotective. Moreover, based on the phytochemical aspects, a total of 50 phytoconstituents was identified and isolated from the plant. In conclusion, the outcome of this review will be useful for (a) developing a comprehensive plant profile; (b) assist investigators for exploring further research; and (c) to fulfil the gaps lacking in terms of clinical studies.

Nano zinc oxide - An alternate zinc supplement for livestock.

AIM: This study was aimed to investigate antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effect of nano ZnO in in vitro for the application of livestock feed supplement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nano ZnO was synthesized by wet chemical precipitation method using zinc acetate as a precursor and sodium hydroxide was used for reducing the precursor salt. The properties of synthesized powder were characterized using ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. In vitro antimicrobial activities were analyzed against the pathogenic bacteria in poultry Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus aeruginosa. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was conducted to analyze the cytotoxicity effect of nano ZnO. RESULTS: SEM showed a spherical ZnO particle in the range of 70-100 nm. The size of the particle and purity of the sample were confirmed by XRD. The nano-sized ZnO particles exhibited the UV absorption peak at 335 nm. In FTIR spectroscopy, pure ZnO nanoparticles showed stretching vibrations at 4000-5000 cm-1. ZnO nanoparticles exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, and S. aeruginosa bacterial strains. Cell viability was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the cytotoxicity study. CONCLUSION: From the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and the lower cytotoxicity observed at the prescribed dose, it is concluded that nano ZnO powder is a potential alternate zinc supplement for livestock.

Acute oral toxicity evaluation of extracts of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides in wister albino rats as per OECD 425 TG.

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (Family: Apiaceae) is a medicinal plant and is been a part of traditional cuisine. Hence, an acute toxicity study was performed to confirm its safety profile. Female rats (n=5) were randomly divided into 5 groups. One group served as the control and the other groups were been administered with the petroleum ether, chloroform, methanolic and aqueous extract of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides at 2000 mg/kg body weight. Blood was collected at certain intervals to measure the haematological and biochemical parameters. The vital organs were isolated and preserved for histopathological examinations. The result suggested that the LD50 of all the extracts are greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. There was no significant change in body weight, Behaviour, Renal Function test, Liver function test and Lipid profile. In haematological evaluation, there was an increase in RBC count and haemoglobin production post administration of methanolic and aqueous extract. The study suggested that the LD50 of the plant is greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight of rats in all the extracts.

A Novel Extract of Fenugreek Husk (FenuSMART™) Alleviates Postmenopausal Symptoms and Helps to Establish the Hormonal Balance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Despite the widespread use of hormone replacement therapy, various reports on its side effects have generated an increasing interest in the development of safe natural agents for the management of postmenopausal discomforts. The present randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of 90-day supplementation of a standardized extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) (FenuSMART™), at a dose of 1000 mg/day, on plasma estrogens and postmenopausal discomforts. Eighty-eight women having moderate to severe postmenopausal discomforts and poor quality of life (as evidenced from the scores of Greene Climacteric Scale, short form SF-36® and structured medical interview) were randomized either to extract-treated (n = 44) or placebo (n = 44) groups. There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in plasma estradiol (120%) and improvements on various postmenopausal discomforts and quality of life of the participants in the extract-treated group, as compared with the baseline and placebo. While 32% of the subjects in the extract group reported no hot flashes after supplementation, the others had a reduction to one to two times per day from the baseline stages of three to five times a day. Further analysis of haematological and biochemical parameters revealed the safety of the extract and its plausible role in the management of lipid profile among menopausal women. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Inhibition of UV-induced ROS and collagen damage by Phyllanthus emblica extract in normal human dermal fibroblasts.

As a part of ongoing research for novel natural cosmeceutical actives from plant extracts, this study demonstrates that Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract has shown its efficacy in protection against ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and collagen damage in normal human dermal fibroblasts. At a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, emblica extract showed a significant response of 9.5 ± 0.28-fold protection from UVB induced-collagen damage as compared to untreated cells. A known active, ascorbic acid, at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, showed 3.7 ± 0.07-fold protection from UVB-induced collagen damage. While the untreated cells showed 84 ± 1.4% induction in ROS on UVB irradiation as compared to the non-irradiated cells, emblica extract treatment inhibited the induction of ROS to 15 ± 4% at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. Ascorbic acid inhibited the induction in ROS to 64 ± 2% at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. Emblica extract is a significantly better natural active, with promising cosmeceutical benefits against photoaging.

Control of urinary risk factors of stone formation by Salvadora persica in experimental hyperoxaluria.

Urolithiasis, the process of formation of stones in the kidneys and urinary tract, is the major clinical manifestation of hyperoxaluria. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria with increased renal excretion of oxalate, sodium, calcium and phosphate and a decrease in the excretion of magnesium. Supplementation with an aqueous and alcoholic extract of the leaves of Salvadora persica significantly reduced elevated urinary oxalate levels, indicating a regenerative action on endogenous oxalate synthesis. The deposition of stone-forming constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats was also significantly lowered by curative and preventive treatments with the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Salvadora persica. The high serum creatinine level observed in ethylene glycol-treated rats was also reduced following treatment with the extracts. Histopathological findings showed signs of improvement after treatment with the extracts. These observations led to the conclusion that the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Salvadora persica are endowed with antiurolithiatic properties.