Revalidation of the neuroprotective effects of a United States patented polyherbal formulation on scopolamine induced learning and memory impairment in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia yet treatment options are extremely limited. The disease is associated with cognitive impairment as well as structural irregularities, accumulation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, diminished levels of acetylcholine, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the brain. We have previously reported on the positive effects of a united states patented (US 7,273,626 B2) poly herbal test formulation, consisting of Bacopa monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides and Dioscorea bulbifera extracts, on cognitive deficits in AD patients. The present study was conducted to investigate the mechanism(s) of action of the formulation using scopolamine treated rats as an AD model. METHOD: The formulation was administered daily along with scopolamine for a period of 14days following which the elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests were performed to assess learning and memory. Rats treated with scopolamine or vehicle only were also included in the experiment. Acetylcholine levels and activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and anti-oxidant enzymes in the brain were also measured at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS: The study demonstrate that scopolamine treatment resulted in learning and memory deficits which were partially and significantly ameliorated by the formulation. The formulation also counteracted scopolamine-induced decreases in acetylcholine levels, increases in AChE activity, and decreases in activities of the antioxidant enzymes. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the ability of the test formulation to reverse scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits in rats which may at least partially be explained by the reversal of scopolamine-induced reductions in brain acetylcholine levels and antioxidant activities by the test formulation.

Evaluation of plant based formulation on adolescent obesity and its associated bio-markers: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and overweight are the fifth most fatal diseases leading to an increased rate of morbidity and mortality in global population, with its incidence increasing drastically. Taking this into consideration we have conducted the present study in order to explore the efficacy of plant based formulation in the management of adolescent obesity and its associated biomarkers. DESIGN: Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial was conducted in 130 obese adolescent of both sexes, with BMI above 25kg/m(2). The subjects were randomly assigned into test formulation group (TFG) and placebo group (PG). TFG received two 500mg capsule containing test formulation whereas, the PG received two 500mg of cellulose powder containing capsule daily for 3 months. The parameters such as blood pressure, inflammatory cytokines, adipokines and lipid profile were assessed in all subjects pre and post treatment. RESULTS: There was a considerable improvement in the levels of lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, adipokines and blood pressure after treatment in TFG compared to PG. The statistical difference obtained between the groups after three months of treatment for the various biomarkers are given as mean with 95% CI for BMI (-1.4±0.6 (-2.5 to -0.7)), total cholesterol mg/dl (-20.9±5.0 (-30.8 to -11.0)), triglyceride mg/dl (-12.9±5.7 (-23.9 to -1.2)), HDL-c mg/dl (7.2±0.8 (5.6-8.8)), IL-6 (-0.7±0.1 (-0.9 to -0.6)), hs C-reactive protein (CRP) mg/l(-1.0±0.01 (-1.2 to -0.8)), adiponectin µg/ml(4.9±0.4 (4.2-5.7)), leptin ng/ml (-8.0±1.4 (-10.7 to -5.3)), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) mmHg (-10.4±0.8 (-12.0 to -8.7)) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) mmHg (-6.7±0.7 (-8.1 to -5.3)). Also, there was a statistical significance within group TFG. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that the test formulation may prevent the future cardio vascular risk incidence in obese adolescents by reducing inflammation, overweight, lipid profile and by regulating adipokines. Thus it may help to improve the health pattern in obese patients with least side effects.

Age dependent levels of plasma homocysteine and cognitive performance.

Elevated plasma homocysteine (hcy) levels, also known as hyperhomocysteinemia (hhcy), have been associated with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders. Hhcy has been attributed to deficiency of B vitamins which can adversely affect the brain and result in memory loss and poor attention power. Monitoring hcy levels and the use of vitamin supplementation to treat hhcy may therefore prove advantageous for the prevention and management of cognitive impairment. With this in consideration, we measured plasma hcy, folate and vitamin B12 levels in 639 subjects from different age groups in two sub-regions of India. Cognitive function was also measured using attention span and immediate and delayed memory recall tests. Depression scores were obtained using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and functional impairment was assessed using the functional activities questionnaire (FAQ) score. As hhcy has also been linked to inflammation, plasma levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also measured. The results demonstrated significant negative correlations between hcy levels and folic acid levels, vitamin B12 levels and cognitive performance (attention span and delayed but not immediate memory recall) along with significant positive correlations between hcy levels and depression scores and hsCRP (but not IL-6) levels. A positive correlation was also observed between hcy levels and FAQ scores, however this was not found to be significant. Based on these results, folic acid and vitamin B12 intervention in people with elevated hcy levels in India could prove to be effective in lowering hcy levels and help maintain or improve cognitive function.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Azadirachta indica fruit skin extract and its isolated constituent azadiradione.

This study was carried out to evaluate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of carbon tetrachloride extract (CTCE) of Azadirachta indica fruit skin and its isolated constituent azadiradione at two different dose levels (50 and 100 mg kg⁻¹ body weight). Anti-nociceptive screening by writhing test and hot-plate technique supported both peripheral and central mechanisms, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was observed using carrageenan-induced paw oedema model. The results concluded that the animals treated with 100 mg kg⁻¹ dose of CTCE and azadiradione exhibited significant anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. This study had rationalised the ethnomedicinal use of the plant for wound, burns and injury by tribal people.

Larvicidal activity of Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. and Croton macrostachyus Del. against Anopheles arabiensis Patton, a potent malaria vector.

Methanol leaf extracts of two Ethiopian traditional medicinal plants viz., Lomisar [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. (Poaceae)] and Bisana [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Croton macrostachyus Del. (Euphorbiaceae)] were screened for larvicidal activity against late third instar larvae of Anopheles arabiensis Patton, a potent malaria vector in Ethiopia. The larval mortality was observed 24 h of post treatment. Both plant extracts demonstrated varying degrees of larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis. Cymbopogon citratus extract has exhibited potent larvicidal activity than Croton macrostachyus at lower concentrations. The LC50 and LC90 values of Cymbopogon citratus were 74.02 and 158.20 ppm, respectively. From this data, a chi-square value 2.760 is significant at the P < 0.05 level. While, the LC50 and LC90 values of Croton macrostachyus were 89.25 and 224.98 ppm, respectively and the chi-square value 1.035 is significant at the P < 0.05 level. The present investigation establishes that these plant extracts could serve as potent mosquito larvicidal agents against Anopheles arabiensis. However, their mode of actions and larvicidal efficiency under the field conditions should be scrutinized and determined in the near future.

Invitro antioxidant activity of selected antiasthmatic herbal constituents.

Asthmatic patients are more subjected to continuous oxidative stress. Roosting the antioxidant defenses of asthma patient could be beneficial as it may help thwart symptoms of the lung disease and asthma. Considering these facts different plant extracts and phytoconstituents with proven anti asthmatic property had been subjected to antioxidant study at various combinations using Diphenyl Vicryl Hydrazyl radical scavenging method, Hydrogen Peroxide radical scavenging method, Nitric oxide radical inhibition method, ABTS radical scavenging method and Lipid peroxidation assay method.All the selected herbal based constituents and extracts at different combination showed a potent antioxidant activiy by Nitric oxide radical inhibition activiy method followed by ABTS method. The present finding suggests that the selected plant based anti asthmatic constituents namely Coleus extract (10% Forskolin), Piper longum extract (20% Piperine), CurcuminC3Complex (60% Curcumin), Vasaka (30% Vasicinone), Forskolin (95%), Pperine (98%), Curcumin C3 Complex (98.5%) and Vasicinone (75%) could be utilised in alternate anti asthmatic therapy, since they play a vital role in scavenging Nitric oxide which could prevent the bronchial inflammation in asthmatic patients.

Antifeedant activity of Momordica dioica fruit pulp extracts on Spodoptera litura.

The hexane extract and ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of the fruit pulp of Momordica dioica exhibited moderate and concentration dependent antifeedant activity against Spodoptera litura.