Phytochemical and pharmacological validation of folklore medicine practiced in south-western Satpuda Ranges (India) for management of inflammatory conditions.

INTRODUCTION: The ethnobotanical survey of the South-western Satpuda ranges has continued for decades. However, very few disease-specific surveys and their pharmacological validation have been published. The present study aimed to identify, document, and pharmacologically validate the tribal knowledge on anti-inflammatory medicinal plants. METHODS: The field survey was conducted over a year from July 2015 to June 2016, scattered in the South-Western region of Satpuda Ranges. Documentation and identification of the medicinal herbs used often in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Two plants, namely Eulophia herbacea Lindl., and Grewia flavescens A. Juss. were commonly used for inflammatory conditions. Phytopharmacological validation was done using carrageenan induced inflammation and CFA-induced arthritis. RESULTS: The current investigation identified 32 plants from 22 different families as anti-inflammatory plants. G. flavescens exhibited substantial antiarthritic action in complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats, and E. herbacea showed powerful anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model. This activity might be attributed to the presence of gallic acid, quercetin, ß-sitosterol and lupeol. CONCLUSION: The research reveals that selected plants had anti-inflammatory properties in both acute and chronic inflammation. Further studies to highlight the exact mechanism of action of these plants are warranted.

Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Cassia glauca in diabetes mellitus through network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics.

Cassia glauca is reported as anti-diabetic medicinal plant and is also used as an ethnomedicine. However, its mode of action as an anti-diabetic agent has not been clearly elucidated. Hence, the present study investigated the probable mechanism of action of C. glauca to manage diabetes mellitus via network pharmacology and molecular docking and simulations studies. The reported bioactives from C. glauca were retrieved from an open-source database, i.e. ChEBI, and their targets were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction. The proteins involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes were identified from the therapeutic target database. The targets involved in diabetes were enriched in STRING, and the pathways involved in diabetes were identified concerning the KEGG. Cytoscape was used to construct the network among bioactives, proteins, and probably regulated pathways, which were analyzed based on edge count. Similarly, molecular docking was performed using the Glide module of the Schrodinger suite against majorly targeted proteins with their respective ligands. Additionally, the drug-likeness score and ADMET profile of the individual bioactives were predicted using MolSoft and admetSAR2.0 respectively. The stability of these complexes were further studied via molecular dynamics simulations and binding energy calculations. Twenty-three bio-actives were retrieved from the ChEBI database in which cassiarin B was predicted to modulate the highest number of proteins involved in diabetes mellitus. Similarly, GO analysis identified the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to be primarily regulated by modulating the highest number of gene. Likewise, aldose reductase (AKR1B1) was majorly targeted via the bioactives of C. glauca. Similarly, docking study revealed methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinate (docking score -9.209) to possess the highest binding affinity with AKR1B1. Additionally, drug-likeness prediction identified cassiaoccidentalin B to possess the highest drug-likeness score, i.e. 0.84. The molecular dynamics simulations and the MMGBSA indicate high stability and greater binding energy for the methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinate (ΔG bind = -40.33 ± 6.69 kcal mol-1) with AKR1B1, thus complementing results from other experiments. The study identified cassiarin B, cassiaoccidentalin B, and cinnamtannin A2 as lead hits for the anti-diabetic activity of C. glauca. Further, the PI3K-Akt and AKR1B1 were traced as majorly modulated pathway and target, respectively.

Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Bridelia retusa (Spreng) bark.

Several species of Bridelia have been used in the condition of pain & arthritis in Indian folk medicine. Present study revealed the preliminary phytochemical investigation and evaluation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity as well as underlying mechanism of bark of Bridelia retusa Spreng. (Euphorbiaceae). The bark was subjected to extraction using pet.ether, ethyl acetate and acetone. All the extracts were significantly inhibit abdominal writhings response and licking time in late phase of formalin test. Extracts could also significantly inhibit mean paw edema of rats induced by carrageenan & histamine at dose of 200 & 400 mg/kg, i.p. Test materials also showed significant dose dependent reduction in cotton pellet granuloma & acetic acid induced vascular permeability at 400 mg/kg. Oral administration of B. retusa fractions in CFA induced arthritic rats, physical, biochemical and hematological parameters observed in arthritic animals were altered significantly to near normal condition. The maximum paw edema inhibition at day 21 was observed at 400 mg/kg. It also proved significant protection against protein denaturation & RBC membrane damage. The GC-MS analysis of EA extract revealed the presence of ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol and friedelin (Pentacyclic triterpenoid). Therefore present study has demonstrated the analgesic; anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of B. retusa bark and suggested that the molecular membrane might be associated with inhibition of biochemical and hematological parameters. Overall bioactive profile of B. retusa used phytomedicine in future for inflammatory conditions.

Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on Ficus Microcarpa L. fil.

BACKGROUND: Ficus microcarpa L. fil. (Syn: Ficus retusa) (Moraceae) is well-known traditional medicinal plant. The bark is used for diverse health ailments in traditional and folklore remedies. AIMS: The present study was undertaken to lay down pharmacognostical and phytochemical standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pharmacognostic studies on fresh, dried and powdered bark was carried out to determine it's morphological, anatomical, and phytochemical diagnostic features. Furthermore, major phytoconstituents were identified from the extracts with the help of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) study. RESULTS: The morphology showed to be soft, brittle, rough, shallow vertical, irregularly oriented fissures, curved surface; with splintering, laminated fracture. Microscopically F. microcarpa showed all general characteristics of bark with some distinct differentiation. The phellem is thin and even, phelloderm few cell and rectangular and followed by smaller sclerides, the phloem rays are broad, multi-serrate and showed the scattered bundles of sclerides. The fluorescence and physicochemical standards for bark were established. HPLC analysis showed the predominant presence of therapeutically important phytoconstituents such as oleanolic, betulinic acid, lupeol, ß-sitosterol, catechin, and gallic acid. CONCLUSION: The bark of F. microcarpa considered equivalent to other Ficus species, such as Ficus virens, Ficus infectoria, Ficus arnottiana, Ficus lacor, and Ficus talboti. However, there is no pharmacognostical and phytochemical reports on F. microcarpa to authenticate and differentiate it from similar species. Present work has described pharmacognostical and phytochemical characteristics of F. microcarpa and diagnostic features to differentiate it.

Free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective potential of Ficus microcarpa L. fil. bark extracts.

Successive extracts of Ficus microcarpa L. fil. bark (FMB) were tested for antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicities in rats. The ethyl acetate extract of FMB exhibited significant antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity by reducing carbon tetrachloride- and paracetamol-induced changes in biochemical parameters as evidenced by enzymatic and histological examination. Pretreatment with ethyl acetate extract of FMB significantly shortened the duration of pentobarbitone-induced necrosis in mice, indicating its hepatoprotective potential. Phytochemical studies confirmed the presence of the phenolic compound, catechin, in FMB, which may interfere with free-radical formation and may account for its significant hepatoprotective effects. The present study thus provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver disorders.