Rubus moluccanus L.: a valuable medicinal plant of traditional system of medicine.

Rubus moluccanus L., commonly known as Molucca bramble or broad-leaf bramble is a member of family Rosaceae which occurs mainly in tropical Asia and Australia. It has applications in indigenous medicines and is used in the treatment of number of ailments like headache, diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal pain, nocturnal micturition of children and enhancement of female fertility. This plant is a rich and valuable source of bioactive flavonoids, terpenes and other chemical compounds. The presence of these active chemical compounds exerts antibacterial, antifungal, antihelminthic and antioxidant activities. Regardless of its use in various diseases and disorders, the information about this plant is scanty. So the present review assessed and summarised the knowledge on taxonomy, morphology, geographical distribution, nutritional value, ethnobotany, phytochemistry and biological activities of R. moluccanus.

Antiglycation potential of plant based TiO2 nanoparticle in D-ribose glycated BSA in vitro.

Biosynthetic procedure is one of the best alternatives, inexpensive and ecologically sound for the synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles using a methanolic extract of medicinal plant. The main prospect of this study was to investigate the antiglycation activity of the TiO2 nanoparticles (TNP) prepared by ethanolic leaf extract of the Coleus scutellarioides. In this study, biosynthesized TNP characterized with UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. These TNP were further investigated with respect to their antiglycation property and it was checked in the mixture of d-ribose glycated bovine serum albumin (BSA) by measuring ketoamine, carbonyl content, Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and aggregation of protein instigated by glycation process. The inhibitory effect of TNP to restore the structure of BSA in presence of d-ribose were also characterize by biophysical techniques mentioned above. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest repurposing of TNP for its antiglycation property that could be helpful in prevention of glycation instigated AGEs formation and structural loss of proteins.

Novel mechanistic insights of selenium induced microscopic, histochemical and physio-biochemical changes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plant. An account of beneficiality or toxicity.

Selenium (Se) is a well-known beneficial element in plants. The window of Se between toxic and optimal concentration is narrow and uneven which fluctuates with plants species. This experiment was aimed to investigate the morpho-physiological, microscopic and histochemical responses of two different varieties of tomato (S-22 and PKM-1), exposed to different concentrations of Se (0, 10, 40 or 80 µM), applied to soil at 30 days after transplantation (DAT). At 40 DAT, it was observed that high concentrations (40 or 80 µM) of Se radically increased oxidative stress examined by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, cell death, electrolyte leakage and decreased chlorophyll content leading phenotypic symptoms of Se-induced toxicity like stunted growth and chlorosis. Furthermore, high doses of Se altered the chloroplast and stomatal organisation, and adversely affected the photosynthetic performance of plants. But low concentration of Se improved the plant dry mass, photosynthesis, Rubisco activity, protein content and maintained the steady-state equilibrium among ROS generation and antioxidant enzymes like catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Our outcomes proposed that high concentration of Se generated toxicity (phyto-selenosis), whereas lower concentration of Se-triggered positive impact by improving growth, photosynthetic traits and maintaining steady-state equilibrium between scavenging-system and ROS generation.

Inhibitory Effect of Nepeta deflersiana on Climax Bacterial Community Isolated from the Oral Plaque of Patients with Periodontal Disease.

BACKGROUND: The red-complex bacteria are one of the most significant complexes found simultaneously in subgingival plaque next to the periodontal pocket. The current antibacterial treatment is not adequate, and multidrug resistance to it is developing. Henceforth, the antibacterial effect of the ethanolic extract of Nepeta deflersiana was put to test against red-complex bacteria in patients with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Well diffusion and micro broth dilution procedure by Alamar blue were applied to assess the zone of inhibition (ZOI), the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Anti-virulence efficacies of the plant extract that comprise of adherence and formation of biofilms were examined by the process of adherence and biofilm production assay. RESULTS: The crude extract of Nepeta deflersiana exhibited significant inhibitory outcome against periodontopathic bacteria with noteworthy MIC (0.78-3.12 mg/mL), inhibitory zone (12-20 mm), as well as MBC (3.12-12.50 mg/mL). The N. deflersiana extract inhibited bacterial adhesion ranging from 41% to 52%, 53% to 66%, and 60% to 79% at the given MIC × 0.5, MIC × 1, and MIC × 2 in succession. Substantial suppression was also developed in the biofilm production of the investigated periodontopathic strains following exposure to numerous concentrations of N. deflersianan extract for a period of 24 and 48 h. CONCLUSION: These outcomes divulge a new concept that N. deflersiana extract can be utilized to manufacture valuable antibacterial compounds to treat chronic and acute periodontitis. This identifies N. deflersiana as an essential natural source for future drug development.

Formulation Design and Development of a Unani Transdermal Patch for Antiemetic Therapy and Its Pharmaceutical Evaluation.

The Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS) is one of the novel routes for systemic delivery of drugs through intact skin. A transdermal patch (TP) is a medicated patch that is placed on skin for delivery of medication through skin into the blood stream. The aim of present study was to formulate and evaluate a Unani transdermal patch that could be used for antiemetic therapy. The incorporation of Unani ingredients, namely, Khardal (Brassica nigra), Zanjabeel (Zingiber officinale), Podina (Mentha arvensis), and Sirka (Vinegar) were envisaged. The TP was prepared by solvent evaporation technique and was evaluated for organoleptic characteristics and other physicochemical properties, such as thickness, weight uniformity, folding endurance, moisture content, drug content, and tolerability and acceptability of patch. The in vitro permeation study of the patch was carried out through Franz diffusion cell using egg shell membrane as barrier membrane. Phosphate buffer pH 7.4 was used as dissolution medium and the temperature was maintained at 37 ± 1°C. The in vitro permeation study of the prepared TP indicated a time dependent increase in drug release throughout the study. The percentage of cumulative drug release was found to be 77.38% in 24 hours. The study shows a new approach to work in Unani pharmaceutics.

Intussusception: Jordan University Hospital experience.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to retrospectively review all children who presented with intussusception over a 24-year period. METHODOLOGY: The medical records of children who presented with intussusception from July 1979 through July 2003 at Jordan University Hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred and nine children (74 male, 35 female) presented with intussusception. Their mean age was 16.3 months (range 2 months-14 years). The presenting symptoms were: vomiting (92%), abdominal colic/pain (80%) rectal bleeding (78%), and abdominal mass (65%). Ninety-six cases were ileocolic intussusception (idiopathic type). Eleven patients had small bowel intussusception. Laparotomy was required in 86 cases, manual reduction being successful in 59 (56%); 20 (18%) had bowel resection; 2 had resection of Meckel's diverticulum; and 5 patients underwent Ladd procedure for associated malrotation. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic intussusception commonly presenting as an ileocolic type constituted the majority of the cases in the present study, occurring in 96 patients (89.7%). The clinical features were classical, vomiting being the most common. The average interval between the onset of symptoms and presentation to the hospital was 46 hours and barium enema reduction was successful in 20 out of 48 cases in which it was attempted. Surgical intervention was required in 86 cases (81%); of which manual reduction was successful in 59 cases, resection was required in 22 cases and 5 patients required an additional Ladd procedure for associated malrotation.