Genistein: a promising modulator of apoptosis and survival signaling in cancer.

Genistein, a commonly occurring isoflavone, has recently gained popularity owing to its ever-expanding spectrum of pharmacological benefits. In addition to health benefits such as improved bone health and reduced postmenopausal complications owing to its phytoestrogen properties, it has been widely evaluated for its anti-cancer potential. Several studies have established the potential for its usage in the management of breast, lung, and prostate cancers, and its usage has significantly evolved from early applications in traditional systems of medicine. This review offers an insight into its current status of usage, the chemistry, and pharmacokinetics of the molecule, an exploration of its apoptotic mechanisms in cancer management, and opportunities for synergism to improve therapeutic outcomes. In addition to this, the authors have presented an overview of recent clinical trials, to offer an understanding of contemporary studies and explore prospects for a greater number of focused trials, moving forward. Advancements in the application of nanotechnology as a strategy to improve safety and efficacy have also been highlighted, with a brief discussion of results from safety and toxicology studies.

Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in the management of obesity-induced Alzheimer's disease: an overview of preclinical and clinical studies.

Obesity is a global epidemic that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It can lead to a plethora of disorders, including diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, musculoskeletal problems, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative abnormalities. Obesity has also been linked to neurological diseases such as cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), caused by oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the production of reactive oxygen free radicals (ROS). Secretion of insulin hormone is impaired in obese people, leading to hyperglycaemia and increased accumulation of amyloid-ß in the brain. Acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter necessary for forming new neuronal connections in the brain, decreases in AD patients. To alleviate acetylcholine deficiency, researchers have proposed dietary interventions and adjuvant therapies that enhance the production of acetylcholine and assist in the management of AD patients. Such measures include dietary intervention with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid-rich diets, which have been found to bind to tau receptors, reduce gliosis, and reduce neuroinflammatory markers in animal models. Furthermore, flavonoids like curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, morin, delphinidins, quercetin, luteolin, and oleocanthal have shown to cause significant reductions in interleukin-1ß, increase BDNF levels, stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis and synapse formation, and ultimately prevent the loss of neurons in the brain. Thus, flavonoid-rich nutraceuticals can be a potential cost-effective therapeutic option for treating obesity-induced AD, but further well-designed, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical studies are needed to assess their optimal dosages, efficacy, and long-term safety of flavonoids in humans. The main objectives of this review are to underscore the therapeutic potential of different nutraceuticals containing flavonoids that can be added in the daily diet of AD patients to enhance acetylcholine and reduce neuronal inflammation in the brain.

Resveratrol and Its Role in the Management of B-Cell Malignancies-A Recent Update.

The growing incidence of B cell malignancies globally has prompted research on the pharmacological properties of phytoconstituents in cancer management. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic stilbenoid widely found in nature, has been explored for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and promising results from different pre-clinical studies have indicated its potential for management of B cell malignancies. However, these claims must be substantiated by a greater number of clinical trials in diverse populations, in order to establish its safety and efficacy profile. In addition to this, there is a need to explore nanodelivery of this agent, owing to its poor solubility, which in turn may impact its bioavailability. This review aims to offer an overview of the occurrence and pathogenesis of B cell malignancies with a special focus on the inflammatory pathways involved, the mechanism of actions of resveratrol and its pharmacokinetic profile, results from pre-clinical and clinical studies, as well as an overview of the marketed formulations. The authors have also presented their opinion on the various challenges associated with the clinical development of resveratrol and future perspectives regarding therapeutic applications of this agent.

Challenges and Opportunities of Metal Chelation Therapy in Trace Metals Overload-Induced Alzheimer's Disease.

Essential trace metals like zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) play an important physiological role in the metabolomics and healthy functioning of body organs, including the brain. However, abnormal accumulation of trace metals in the brain and dyshomeostasis in the different regions of the brain have emerged as contributing factors in neuronal degeneration, Aß aggregation, and Tau formation. The link between these essential trace metal ions and the risk of AD has been widely studied, although the conclusions have been ambiguous. Despite the absence of evidence for any clinical benefit, therapeutic chelation is still hypothesized to be a therapeutic option for AD. Furthermore, the parameters like bioavailability, ability to cross the BBB, and chelation specificity must be taken into consideration while selecting a suitable chelation therapy. The data in this review summarizes that the primary intervention in AD is brain metal homeostasis along with brain metal scavenging. This review evaluates the impact of different trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe) on normal brain functioning and their association with neurodegeneration in AD. Also, it investigates the therapeutic potential of metal chelators in the management of AD. An extensive literature search was carried out on the "Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar" to investigate the effect of trace elements in neurological impairment and the role of metal chelators in AD. In addition, the current review highlights the advantages and limitations of chelation therapies and the difficulties involved in developing selective metal chelation therapy in AD patients.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)-Derived Phytochemicals Target Multiple Signaling Pathways to Confer Oncopreventive and Oncotherapeutic Effects.

Cancer is a highly lethal disease, and its incidence has rapidly increased worldwide over the past few decades. Although chemotherapeutics and surgery are widely used in clinical settings, they are often insufficient to provide the cure for cancer patients. Hence, more effective treatment options are highly needed. Although licorice has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times, the knowledge about molecular mechanisms behind its diverse bioactivities is still rather new. In this review article, different anticancer properties (antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects) of various bioactive constituents of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) are thoroughly described. Multiple licorice constituents have been shown to bind to and inhibit the activities of various cellular targets, including B-cell lymphoma 2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinases, mammalian target of rapamycin, nuclear factor-κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, vascular endothelial growth factor, and matrix metalloproteinase-3, resulting in reduced carcinogenesis in several in vitro and in vivo models with no evident toxicity. Emerging evidence is bringing forth licorice as an anticancer agent as well as bottlenecks in its potential clinical application. It is expected that overcoming toxicity-related obstacles by using novel nanotechnological methods might importantly facilitate the use of anticancer properties of licorice-derived phytochemicals in the future. Therefore, anticancer studies with licorice components must be continued. Overall, licorice could be a natural alternative to the present medication for eradicating new emergent illnesses while having just minor side effects.

Baicalein: promising therapeutic applications with special reference to published patents.

Baicalein is a medicinally important flavonoid present in Scutellaria baicalensis, which has numerous biological benefits like anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxicity, anticancer properties, etc. Recent studies have revealed that baicalein is an efficient antihepatoma agent and has the strongest antiproliferative effect toward cancerous bladder cell lines, and suppression of cell cycle progression in prostate cancer cells. This natural substance has a high commercial value because it strengthens the heart and cerebral vessels and protects the nervous system and also reduces diabetes and diabetic complications. In addition, baicalein is known to decrease inflammatory markers such as IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α. In this review, we have attempted to compile the list of recent therapeutic patents of baicalein used for treating different disorders.

Cannabinoid 2 receptor agonist and L-arginine combination attenuates diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats via NF-Ä¸ß inhibition.

Beta-caryophyllene (BCP), a cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor agonist has recently been found to have cardioprotective activity as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecule. L-arginine (LA), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, is a potential regulator of cardiovascular function. Considering the role of CB2 receptor activation and NO regulation in cardiovascular diseases, the combination of BCP with LA may be a possible treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Hence, we investigated the efficacy of the novel combination of BCP with LA on cardiovascular inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. DCM was induced by streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) in Sprague-Dawley rats intraperitoneally. BCP, LA, and BCP with LA were administered to diabetic rats for 4 weeks. After completion of the study, hemodynamic parameters, biochemical parameters, and inflammatory cytokine levels were analyzed. Also, oxidative stress parameters, nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-ĸß) expression, and histopathology in cardiac tissues were estimated. The combination of BCP (200 mg/kg) with LA (200 mg/kg) significantly normalized the hemodynamic parameters and decreased the glucose, cardiac markers, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. Treatment of BCP and LA showed a significant decrease in oxidative stress and downregulated the cardiac expression of NF-ĸß. Thus, the combination of BCP with LA improves cardiac functions by attenuating inflammation through NF-Ä¸ß inhibition in DCM.

Therapeutic Applications of Human and Bovine Colostrum in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Distinctive Cancer Types: The Current Evidence.

The incidence of gastrointestinal disorders (GID) and cancers is escalating all over the world. Limited consumption of colostrum by newborns not only weakens the immune system but also predisposes infants to microbial infections. Colostrum is nature's perfect food, sometimes referred to as the 'elixir of life'. Breast-fed infants have a lower incidence of GI tract infections than infants fed formula or cow's milk. As per WHO statistics, cancer is the most prevalent disease globally and causes 9.6 million deaths worldwide. The current strategies for treating cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, chemotherapy and radiation exposure are usually associated with serious long-term side effects and deterioration in the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Furthermore, the hospitalization and medication costs for treating cancers are exorbitant and impose high economic burden on healthcare systems. People are desperately looking for cost-effective and affordable alternative therapies for treating GID and cancers. Therefore, there is an urgent need for clinically evaluating the anticancer compounds isolated from plants and animals. Such therapies would not only be economical and have fewer side effects, but also help to improve the QOL of cancer patients. Recently, bovine colostrum (BC) has caught the attention of many investigators to explore its anticancer potential in humans. BC impregnated dressings are highly effective in treating chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcer. BC is rich in lactoferrin, a glycoprotein with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. Intravaginal application of BC tablets is effective in causing the regression of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The underlying mechanisms of BC at cellular, genetic, and molecular levels remain to be ascertained. Oral BC supplement is well-tolerated, but some people may experience problems such as flatulence and nausea. Well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials are needed to access the therapeutic potential, long-term safety, and optimal doses of BC products. This review is aimed to highlight the anticancer potential of BC and its components, and the therapeutic applications of BC supplements in treating gastrointestinal diseases in children and adults. We also discuss the health promotion benefits and therapeutic potential of BC nutraceuticals in reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases.

Insulinotropic and antidiabetic effects of ß-caryophyllene with l-arginine in type 2 diabetic rats.

Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is a flavoring agent, whereas l-arginine (LA) is used as a food supplement. They possess insulinotropic and ß cell regeneration activities, respectively. We assessed the antidiabetic potential of BCP, LA, and its combination in RIN-5F cell lines and diabetic rats. Ex vivo studies were carried out for glucose uptake and absorption of the combination of BCP with LA. The results indicated that the combination of BCP with LA showed a significant decrease in glucose absorption and an increase in its uptake in tissues and also an increase in insulin secretion in RIN-5F cells. The combination treatment of BCP with LA showed a significant reduction in glucose, lipid levels, and oxidative stress in pancreatic tissue when compared with the diabetic group. Furthermore, the combination of BCP with LA normalized glucose tolerance and pancreatic cell damage in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the combinational treatment showed significant potentials in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most prevalent chronic metabolic disorder affecting a large population. Beta-caryophyllene is a CB2 receptor agonist shown to have insulinotropic activity. l-Arginine is a food supplement that possesses beta-cell regeneration property. The combination of BCP with LA could work as a potential therapeutic intervention, considering the individual pharmacological activities of each. We evaluated the antidiabetic activity of the combination of BCP with LA in diabetic rats using ex vivo and in vitro experimentations. Results from the study revealed that the combination of BCP with LA showed a significant (p < .001) reduction in glucose and lipid levels as compared to individual treatment. In vitro study also supports the diabetic potential of the combination of BCP with LA in the glucose-induced insulin secretion in RIN-5F cell lines. The study indicates a therapeutic approach to treat T2DM by BCP and LA combination as food and dietary supplement.

Cocos nucifera and metformin combination for modulation of diabetic symptoms in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Cocos nucifera, belonging to Arecaceae family, holds quite an importance in the Indian traditional medicinal system. C.nucifera inflorescence (CnI) has been reported in the literature to be useful in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, diabetes, and dyspepsia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CnI as an adjuvant with metformin in ameliorating Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2-DM). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate antidiabetic activity of CnI in combination with metformin in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats using streptozotocin (45 mg/kg; i.p.). Plasma glucose level (PGL) was estimated after 72 h of STZ injection. Ethanolic extract of CnI (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) per se and in combination with metformin (22.5 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily to rats for a period of 28 days. PGL level was estimated on 7th, 14th and 21st day followed by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and PGL both on the 28th day of treatment. DPPH assay was performed to evaluate antioxidant activity of CnI extract. RESULTS: Extract of CnI (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg alone and the combination of extract (250 mg/kg) along with metformin (22.5 mg/kg) significantly decreased PGL (p < 0.0001) on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days. Histopathological analysis of pancreatic tissue showed that treatment with CnI extract per se and in combination with metformin improved the damaged architecture of pancreas. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of CnI and metformin produced a significant antidiabetic effect than that of the extract alone and provides a scientific rationale for their use in antidiabetic therapy as an adjuvant.

Therapeutic potential of cannabinoid receptor 2 in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

The biological effects of endocannabinoid system are mediated by two types of receptors, cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2). They play a pivotal role in the management of pain, inflammation, cancer, obesity and diabetes mellitus. CB2 receptor activity downregulation is hallmark of inflammation and oxidative stress. Strong evidence display the relation between activation of CB2 receptors with decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-apoptotic factors. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have been validated to confirm the role of CB2 receptor in the management of obesity, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Activation of CB2 receptor has led to reduction of inflammatory cytokines; tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κß) and also amelioration of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species playing role in apoptosis. Many studies confirmed the role of CB2 receptors in the insulin secretion via facilitating calcium entry into the pancreatic ß-cells. CB2 receptors also displayed improvement in the neuronal and renal functions by decreasing the oxidative stress and downregulating inflammatory cascade. The present review addresses, potential role of CB2 receptor activation in management of diabetes and its complications. It also includes the role of CB2 receptors as an anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory for the treatment of DM and its complications. Also, an informative summary of CB2 receptor agonist drugs is provided with their potential role in the reduction of glucose levels, increment in the insulin levels, decrease in the hyperglycaemic oxidative stress and inflammation.

Pharmacodynamic interaction of cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum L.) with glyburide in diabetes.

Background and objective The plethora of anti-diabetic agents available today has many side effects, especially on chronic usage. Hence, alternative approaches utilizing natural and synthetic agents are sought after. Cumin has been shown to be beneficial in treating diabetes. This study evaluates the anti-diabetic effect of cumin and glyburide in the streptozotocin induced diabetes model in rats, and investigates their pharmacodynamic interactions and its implication in diabetes. Methodology The phytoconstituents present in the ethanolic cumin seed extract were determined using appropriate analytical methods. After acute toxicity studies (OECD 2001), the anti-diabetic effect of the extract was evaluated in wistar rats. The rats were divided into five groups - Groups I and II served as the normal and diabetic control. Group III was the standard control (glyburide 5 mg/kg), while groups IV and V received the extract (600 mg/kg) and a combination of the extract (600 mg/kg) and glyburide (2.5 mg/kg; half dose). Biochemical parameters viz. plasma glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin, were measured periodically during the 28 day treatment. On the 28th day, oral glucose tolerance test, lipid profile, renal profile and histopathological evaluation were performed after completion of the study. To investigate the nature of herb-drug interaction, HPLC analysis for estimation of glyburide concentration in the blood was conducted. Results Acute toxicity studies showed the extract to be safe till a dose of 2 g/kg. The extract alone, and in combination with glyburide (half-dose), significantly lowered elevated glucose (by more than 45% from baseline; without producing hypoglycemia), and other lipid and renal parameters. The effects produced by 2.5 mg/kg glyburide, and 5 mg/kg glyburide (without extract) were similar. Histopathological analysis also showed that the extract was able to reverse the degeneration brought about by streptozotocin which was especially notable on the pancreatic and renal tissue. HPLC analysis revealed differing pharmacokinetics of glyburide in the groups treated with 5 mg/kg dose, and 2.5 mg/kg + 600 mg/kg extract. Conclusion The results obtained in this study suggest that Cuminum cyminum L. is a promising anti-diabetic agent, and exhibits pharmacodynamic interaction with glyburide to mitigate symptoms of diabetes mellitus.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases with Anti-Inflammatory and Anti- Oxidant Nutraceuticals and Herbal Products: An Overview of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation-induced endothelial abnormalities, dietary habits, and tobacco smoking are considered to be the primary risk factors for causing atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), including Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disorders, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart defects, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Prevention of CVDs with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents has been a challenging task for decades. Currently, CVDs have taken a top position among the health-related issues and are considered the foremost cause of mortality and morbidity around the globe. OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence from several sources indicates that nutraceuticals and plant products may be a cost-effective approach for the prevention of CVDs. A limited number of clinical studies done with nutraceuticals have shown positive effects for promoting health and well-being as well as reduction of CVDs in humans. Some plants from which nutraceutical ingredients are isolated and will be discussed in this review are: Murraya koenigii, Curcuma longa, Beta vulgaris, Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Lagenaria siceraria Stand, Trigonella foenum-graecum. METHODS: Literature searches were done using keywords for plants, nutraceuticals, and plant products that have revealed beneficial effects in the prevention of CVDs. The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory actions of nutraceuticeuticals and plant ingredients play a significant role in capturing free radicals and reducing endothelial risk factors associated with the occurrence CVDs. RESULTS: This review has explored the usefulness of animal studies performed with nutraceuticals and herbal products and to understand their mode of action in the prevention of CVDs. Also, we have referred to patents for different nutraceuticals for better understanding their quantitative effects and dosage forms. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that nutraceuticals possess enormous health benefits and their interventions can be highly beneficial in the prevention/reduction of CVDs and related disorders such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart attack and stroke. The findings of this review provide an update on the emerging uses of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and herbal remedies in humans. Nevertheless, large-scale randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are needed to confirm the health benefit claims about nutraceuticals and herbal products to establish their long-term safety and to resolve the controversy about the role of clinical nutrition in curing lifestyle diseases.

A nutraceutical combination of Cinnamomum cassia &Nigella sativa for Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Nigella sativa (black cumin) and Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon) are an integral part of the Indian diet, and have also been sourced in the ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, for their medicinal properties. Both the herbs individually have been successfully evaluated for their preliminary antidiabetic potential. OBJECTIVE: Herein, we dived deeper into antidiabetic properties of these herbs, by investigating the combinatorial effect of both herbs, on parameters of diabetes and further, as an adjunct to metformin therapy, for assessing the pharmacodynamics of herb-drug interaction in diabetes mellitus. The objectives were to screen the combinatorial extract of Nigella sativa & Cinnamomum cassia's (NSCCe) alone and in combination with metformin for its potential in mitigating symptoms of diabetes mellitus-alone, and as an adjunct therapy with metformin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in the animals by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Animals were divided into seven groups with 6 animals each: Vehicle control, Negative control, Positive control (Metformin 50 mg/kg), treatment groups 4 and 5 received NSCCe at the doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Groups 6 and 7 received the same doses, in combination with Metformin (50 and 25 mg/kg). Following a 28-day dosing period, plasma glucose levels, lipid profile and renal function profile were evaluated. Histopathological examinations were performed to measure any morphological change in kidney, liver and pancreatic tissue. RESULTS: Combination of Nigella sativa & Cinnamomum cassia extracts significantly normalized plasma glucose levels, lipid profile and kidney function parameters, compared to the diabetic control group. Animals treated with the combinatorial extract and metformin showed more prominent effects on these parameters. Significant reversal in the pancreatic cell damage was observed on treatment with NSCCe. CONCLUSION: This study generates evidence to support Nigella sativa & Cinnamomum cassia as an adjunctive in diabetes treatment protocols.

Influence of piperine and quercetin on antidiabetic potential of curcumin.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin is a nutraceutical obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa with a significant medicinal value against numerous disorders. However, the potential cannot be completely exploited due to low in vivo bioavailability. Hence, in order to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin, we combined it with the bioavailability enhancers like piperine and quercetin. METHODS: The present study was targeted to explore the antidiabetic potential of combinatorial extract of curcumin with piperine and quercetin (CPQ) in streptozotocin- and nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) and nicotinamide (120 mg/kg-1). CPQ was orally administered at 100 mg kg-1 dose/day for a period of 28 days. At the end of 28 days, blood was analyzed for glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol level. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also conducted at the end of 28 days. RESULTS: Oral administration of CPQ at the dose of 100 mg kg-1 significantly (p<0.01) reduced plasma glucose at the end of 28 days, as compared to the diabetic control group. The reduction in the plasma glucose produced by the CPQ extract was equivalent to that of glibenclamide and significantly more compared to curcumin alone (p<0.01). Furthermore, a significant (p<0.01) reduction in the raised LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides and improvement was observed in the group fed with CPQ compared to diabetic control as well as the alone (p<0.05) curcumin group. There was a significant improvement in the body weight with CPQ compared to diabetes control group. OGTT revealed a significantly high glucose tolerance in CPQ fed rats compared to the diabetic control as well as the rats fed with curcumin alone. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with combinatorial extract of curcumin presented a significantly better therapeutic potential when compared with curcumin alone, which reveals that CPQ, with reduced dose of curcumin may serve as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Antibacterial and Antiinflammatory Properties of Bovine Colostrum.

CONTEXT: Immunity related disorder is one of the leading causes of disease in the world. Oxidative stress and microbial infections play a major role in inflammation-induced diseases. Bovine colostrum (BC) contains immunoglobulins and lactoferrins which help in building the immunity and protect against the bacterial proliferation and growth. AIM: This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial and antiinflammatory activities of BC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antimicrobial activity was determined by the pour-plate method using five different strains of bacteria (Gram -ve and +ve), and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method was used for the evaluation of antiinflammatory activity in adult Wistar rats. Diclofenac was used as standard antiinflammatory drug, and amoxicillin was used as standard antimicrobial agent. RESULTS: BC showed significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia. coli, Staphylococcus. aureus, Proteus. vulgaris, Enterobacter. aerogenes and Salmonella. typhi. At 100 µg/mL of BC, the inhibition zones were found to be 13mm, 11mm, 12mm, 12mm, and 11mm, respectively. The BC zones were comparatively smaller than those of amoxicillin at 10µg/mL, where the inhibition zones were 16mm, 30mm, 23mm, 22mm and 23mm, respectively. In the BC treated animals, the percentage edema inhibition was found to be 67.94% at the third hour, suggesting high antiinflammatory activity of BC in rats. CONCLUSION: BC may be beneficial in reducing the risks of inflammation associated diseases. Further studies are needed before BC can be recommended for therapeutic interventions in humans.

TNF-α modulation by natural bioactive molecules in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of plant-derived products marketed for human health benefits. METHODS: The tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) was used as a proinflammatory biomarker generated by mouse macrophage RAW 264.6 cells. The in vitro tested plant products include Saskatoon berry (SKB), quercetin, purified oat beta-glucan (OBG), curcumin, and turmeric. Quantification of TNF-α in cell culture supernatants was carried out using mouse TNF-α assay kit and the cell proliferation was determined by MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum and 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 µg/mL streptomycin. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a concentration of 500 ng/mL was employed to stimulate the TNF-α production in mouse macrophage cells. RESULTS: Results showed that curcumin at 10 µM (3.7 µg/mL) level effectively attenuated the LPS-induced inflammatory response, and at 100 µM completely inhibited macrophage RAW cell growth (p<0.05). The aqueous turmeric extract caused inhibitory effect on TNF-α at 25, 50, 100, and 500 µg/mL. SKB inhibited TNF-α production at 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL. On the other hand, at 10, 25, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL SKB promoted significant cell growth/proliferation. Quercetin at 10, 25, 50 and 100 µg/mL inhibited TNF-α, but at 500 and 1,000 µg/mL stimulated cell growth. OBG at 10, 25, and 50 µg/mL inhibited TNF-α, but in some cases OBG stimulated TNF-α At 1,000 and 10,000 µg/mL OBG proved to be extremely toxic or lethal to the macrophage cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the plant products showed anti-inflammatory effects as well as cell proliferation or inhibition in the in vitro system used in this investigation. The underlying mechanisms of dualistic actions caused by plant-derived ingredients, viz., macrophage cellular growth stimulation or retardation, remain to be elucidated.

Antibacterial activity of combination of synthetic and biopolymer non-woven structures.

BACKGROUND: Fibrous structures and synthetic polymer blends offer potential usages in making biomedical devices, textiles used in medical practices, food packaging, tissue engineering, environmental applications and biomedical arena. These products are also excellent candidates for building scaffolds to grow stem cells for implantation, to make tissue engineering grafts, to make stents to open up blood vessels caused by atherosclerosis or narrowed by blood clots, for drug delivery systems for micro- to nano-medicines, for transdermal patches, and for healing of wounds and burn care. The current study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of woven and non-woven forms of nano- and macro-scale blended polymers having biocompatible and biodegradable characteristics. METHODS: The antimicrobial activity of non-woven fibrous structures created with the combination of synthetic and biopolymer was assessed using Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes using pour plate method. Structural evaluation of the fabricated samples was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: Broad spectrum antibacterial activities were found from the tested materials consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with chitosan and nylon-6 combined with chitosan and formic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of PVA with chitosan was more bactericidal or bacteriostatic than that of nylon-6 combined with chitosan and formic acid. PVA combination with chitosan appears to be a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent.

Evaluation of anti-osteoarthritic activity of Vigna mungo in papain induced osteoarthritis model.

AIM: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Vigna mungo hydroalcoholic extract (VMHA) by papain induced osteoarthritis (OA) in the rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OA was induced by intra-articular injection of papain (4% w/v) along with cysteine (0.03 M) on day 1, 4 and 7 in rats and VMHA was administered orally in three doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) after last papain injection. The anti-osteoarthritic activity was evaluated by measuring knee joint diameter, grip strength, locomotion activity and hanging time. Histopathological analysis and acute toxicity study were also performed. RESULTS: VMHA improved inflammatory condition with all the doses, but significant (P < 0.05) attenuation of inflammation was present only with 400 mg/kg dose. The grip strength, locomotion activity and hanging time were also significantly (P < 0.05) improved at dose level of 100 mg/kg however other two doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) were not found to be effective. VMHA did not show any mortality or any toxic clinical signs after oral administration of 2 g/kg dose. CONCLUSION: VMHA improved arthritic condition by significantly reducing pain and inflammation.