Current strategies for the management of psoriasis with potential pharmacological pathways using herbals and immuno-biologicals.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an acute to chronic multifunctional inflammatory skin disorder mediated through T-cell activation, dendritic cell intervention, local vascular variations, atypical keratinocyte proliferation, and neutrophil activation, leading to a skin disorder with no permanent cure. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to find a potent, secure, and dependable medication, with a more scientific examination of herbal resources and recent targeted immunobiological therapies. METHOD: Reports evaluating the effectiveness of biologics & herbal remedies for the topical therapy of psoriasis against control therapies were taken into consideration (placebo or active therapy). The work examined cellular circuits involved in inflammation with its immunogenetic mechanism behind various options available for treating psoriasis in addition to the role of agents inducing psoriasis. RESULTS: The extent of psoriasis can range from small, localized spots to total body coverage, and it can happen at any stage of life. Several theories exist for clarification however, the exact cause of psoriasis is not entirely understood. Researchers have discovered genetic loci linkages, environmental changes, drug induction, lifestyle conditions, some infections, etc. resulting in this disorder. There are numerous known conventional medical treatments for psoriasis, ranging from topical and systemic medicines to phototherapy or combinations of both with recent immunobiological treatment. However, the majority of these treatments are ineffective and have a variety of side effects that limit their long-term usage, such as cutaneous atrophy, tissue toxicity, mutagenicity, and immunosuppression. CONCLUSION: Herbal extracts or isolated compounds can be considered as a substitute for conventional psoriasis treatment. Unfortunately, many investigations often provide a small amount of facts about the safety and effectiveness of topically applied herbal remedies for the treatment of psoriasis. Thus, further factual evidences and validations are needed to promote herbal options, which must be supported by rigorous animal studies or clinical trials using standardised materials and compositions.

Improvement in the Phytochemical Content and Biological Properties of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni Plant Using Endophytic Fungi Fusarium fujikuroi.

This study aimed to increase the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants through inoculation with endophytic fungi. As endophytes influence medicinal plants' biological properties, twenty fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal plant Ocimum tenuiflorum. Among all fungal isolates, the R2 strain showed the highest antagonistic activity towards plant pathogenic fungi Rosellinia necatrix and Fusarium oxysporum. The partial ITS region of the R2 strain was deposited in the GenBank nucleotide sequence databases under accession number ON652311 as Fusarium fujikuroi isolate R2 OS. To ascertain the impact of an endophytic fungus on the biological functions of medicinal plants, Stevia rebaudiana seeds were inoculated with Fusarium fujikuroi (ON652311). In the DPPH assay, the IC50 value of the inoculated Stevia plant extracts (methanol, chloroform, and positive control) was 72.082 µg/mL, 85.78 µg/mL, and 18.86 µg/mL, respectively. In the FRAP assay, the IC50 value of the inoculated Stevia extracts (methanol, chloroform extract, and positive control) was 97.064 µM Fe2+ equivalents, 117.662 µM Fe2+ equivalents, and 53.384 µM Fe2+ equivalents, respectively. In the extracts of the plant inoculated with endophytic fungus, rutin and syringic acid (polyphenols) concentrations were 20.8793 mg/L and 5.4389 mg/L, respectively, which were higher than in the control plant extracts. This approach can be further utilized for other medicinal plants to increase their phytochemical content and hence medicinal potential in a sustainable way.

Effect of moderate intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength and girth in young adults - a randomized control trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of moderate intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction on muscle strength and forearm girth. METHODS: Total of 39 students enrolled in this study were divided into three groups that is group A (control group), group B and group C. Group A performed exercise training without restrictive pressure, group B and C performed exercise training with 50 and 75 mmHg respectively. Both the outcome measures were evaluated on day 1 and day 12th with the help of digital dynamometer and measuring tape. RESULTS: Repeated measure ANOVA with Post hoc analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. The result of the study showed significant (p≤0.05) within subject improvement in muscle strength and muscle girth in all the three groups. However, significant improvement in muscle strength was found in between group analysis (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study can be concluded as the partial blood flow restriction (50 mmHg) with moderate intensity resistance training resulted in greater handgrip strength than the other two groups. No difference was found in forearm girth among the three groups, however within the group difference was found.

Phytochemistry, and pharmacological efficacy of Cordia dichotoma G. Forst. (Lashuda): A therapeutic medicinal plant of Himachal Pradesh.

Cordia dichotoma, Indian cherry is one of the traditional medicinal plant well-known for its medicinal properties against variety of diseases primarily hepatocellular disorders. C. dichotoma is moderate size tree that may be found throughout the Himachal Pradesh and commonly called as lashuda. The objective of the present study is to emphasize the phytochemical and pharmacological study with hepatocurative assessment of C. dichotoma to strengthen not only traditional knowledge but also to validate scientific value of its medicinal potential. Furthermore, comprehensive literature information of C. dichotoma has been compiled from the variety of sources, including scientific databases like PubMed and Google Scholar and pertinent publications and books. The information provided in this study covers the years from 1956 to 2021 and KingDraw chemical structure editor software was used to depict the chemical structures of various secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, proteins carbohydrate and phenolic compounds extracted from the different parts of the C. dichotoma. Although, flavonoids and phenolic compounds are the most prominent phytoconstituents predominantly detected in C. dichotoma, which are known for great antioxidant potential and also they are renowned for their various pharmacological and therapeutic efficiency against various chronic diseases. Overall, the studies included in this review implies that the plant and its extracts have significant therapeutic benefits not only for hepatic but also for a variety of diseases. While further research is required to fully understand the processes underlying C. dichotoma application in various pharmacological activities.

Ethnomedicinal plants used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in Himachal Pradesh, India in Western Himalaya.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Medicinal plants are considered as a healthcare resource and widely used by rural people in their traditional medicine system for curing neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases refer to incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration/death of nerve cells or neurons in the human brain. This review is mainly focused on the usage of different ethnomedicinal plants in the treatment of different neurodegenerative diseases in Himachal Pradesh. Study reveals total of 73 ethnomedicinal plants, which are used for treating different neurological disorders in different areas of Himachal Pradesh. The data is compiled from the different sources that described the detailed information of plants in tabular form and highlights the significance of different phytochemicals on neuroprotective function. The present study also provides the scientific data and clinical (in-vivo and in-vitro) studies in support of ethnomedicinal use. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review aims to provide information of ethnomedicinal plants which are used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in Himachal Pradesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information on the use of ethnomedicinal plants to treat various neurological disorders has been gathered from a variety of sources, including various types of literature, books, and relevant publications in Google Scholar, Research Gate, Science Direct, Scopus, and Pub Med, among others. The collected data is tabulated, including the botanical names of plants, mode of use and the disease for which it is used for curing, etc. RESULTS: There are 73 ethnomedicinal plants that are used to cure various neurological disorders, with the most plants being used to treat epilepsy problem in Himachal Pradesh. CONCLUSION: Numerous phytochemicals and extracts from diverse plants were found to have a protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidant activity is known to exist in a variety of herbal plants. The most common bioactive antioxidant chemicals having their significant impacts include flavonoids, flavones, coumarins, lignans, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanins, and isocatechins.

Integrative Approach to COVID-19: An Indian Facebook Recipe for Mental Health.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has given the world a big blow and has forced the entire world to develop a new thought process. To cope with the stress of lockdown, it was important for people to indulge in educational and health activities to save them from the threats being caused by the news and social media. Summary: A Facebook page named Yoga scholars Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) was created where three sessions were held per day for 225 days regularly. This activity resulted in people adopting an integrative approach towards alternative medicine. Key message: This also made possible a trial of Ashwagandha for COVID-19 treatment by the Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) ministry.

Sustainable approach to almond skin mediated synthesis of tunable selenium microstructures for coating cotton fabric to impart specific antibacterial activity.

Currently, the synthesis of nanostructured inorganic materials with tunable morphology is still a great challenge. In this study, almond skin extract was employed for the biogenic synthesis of selenium nanoparticles with tunable morphologies such as rods and brooms. The effects of various synthesis parameters on morphologies were investigated using UV-Visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which indicated that selenium brooms (SeBrs) were best synthesized using almond skin extract and optimized conditions of SeO2, ascorbic acid, pH, incubation temperature and time. Based on these results, the mechanism of SeBrs synthesis is proposed as having involved four stages such as nucleation, self-assembly, Ostwald ripening, and decomposition. Further, the test of antibacterial activity together with minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations indicated the selective, specific and good activity against B. subtilis. In addition, in situ coating of SeBrs on cotton fabric and its investigation by SEM demonstrated successful coating. Evident from plate-based assay and study of growth kinetics, coated fabric exhibited excellent anti-B. subtilis activity which demonstrated that biogenic SeBrs can be employed to coat cotton fabrics that can be used in operation theatres to reduce the episodes of Bacillus related Bacteraemia.

Partitioning of radiological, stress and biochemical changes in pre-diabetic women subjected to Diabetic Yoga Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Yoga is an ancient system of wellness with Asana and Pranayama as its most popular and propagated modules for management of lifestyle disorders. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to characterise the liver abnormalities, biochemical changes, and stress levels after Yoga intervention in prediabetic females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 37 females were randomly divided into Yoga practising and non-practising control groups. The Yoga practising group performed Diabetic Yoga Protocol (DYP) for 3 months. Parameters including size of liver, fatty infiltration, and grade of severity were measured using ultrasonography along with biochemical parameters and stress levels at baseline and after Yoga practice. RESULTS: The glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glucose levels were found significantly reduced in prediabetic (p = 0.015) women after practising DYP, although cholesterol levels increased in menopausal women. No escalation of fatty liver was noted among women practising DYP. CONCLUSION: DYP reduced the HbA1c and stress levels and therefore, could be a cost-effective tool for preventing prediabetes to diabetes progression.

Optimization of methyl jasmonate and ß-cyclodextrin for enhanced production of taraxerol and taraxasterol in (Taraxacum officinale Weber) cultures.

CONTEXT: Taraxacum officinale Weber (TO) commonly known as "dandelion", is a tropical Asian medicinal plant which contains taraxasterol (TX) and taraxerol (TA) in its roots, which are reported to be commercially important anticancer compounds. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the increase in yield of TX and TA through elicitation by addition of abiotic elictors like methyl jasmonate (MJ) and ß-cyclodextrin (CD), to the root callus suspension cultures of TO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The root callus suspension was maintained on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium MS + IAA + BA + 2, 4-D (0.5 ppm + 1 ppm + 0.5 ppm). The concentrations of the abiotic elicitors MJ and CD were optimized using central composite design (CCD) and quantification of TA and TX in elicited cultures was done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. RESULT: It was observed that MJ at a concentration of 0.2 mM showed good increase in content of TX to 0.032% w/w and at concentrations 0.05 mM, 0.1 mM and 0.2 mM showed similar increase in TA content to 0.018% w/w, whereas CD at the concentration of 25 mM showed highest increase in TX content to 0.036% w/w and at the concentrations of 25 mM, 50 mM showed increase in TA content to 0.023% w/w as compared to the plant root (PR) which showed content of TX as 0.0299% w/w and TA as 0.0169% w/w. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: From the present investigation it was concluded that out of the two abiotic elicitors MJ and CD, CD was found to be more effective to increase TA and TX content in Dandelion cell cultures.

Occurrence of taraxerol and taraxasterol in medicinal plants.

Indian soil germinates thousands of medicinal drugs that are cultivated with a purpose to obtain a novel drug. As it is a well-established fact that the structural analogs with greater pharmacological activity and fewer side-effects may be generated by the molecular modification of the functional groups of such lead compounds. This review throws light on two natural triterpenes - Taraxerol and Taraxasterol which have many important pharmacological actions including anti-cancer activity, their chemistry, biosynthesis aspects, and possible use of these compounds as drugs in treatment of cancer. A silent crisis persists in cancer treatment in developing countries, and it is intensifying every year. Although at least 50-60% of cancer victims can benefit from radiotherapy that destroys cancerous tumors, but search for the paramount therapy which will prove to be inexpensive with minimal side effects still persists. Various treatment modalities have been prescribed, along with conventional and non-conventional medicine but due to their adverse effects and dissatisfaction among users, these treatments are not satisfactory enough to give relief to patients. Hence, this review sparks the occurrence of Taraxerol (VI) and Taraxasterol (VII) in nature, so that the natural godowns may be harvested to obtain these potent compounds for novel drug development as well as discusses limitations of these lead compounds progressing clinical trials.

Lead-induced upregulation of the heme-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha kinase is compromised by hemin in human K562 cells.

Expression and kinase activity of the heme-regulated-eIF-2alpha kinase or -inhibitor (HRI) are induced during cytoplasmic stresses leading to inhibition of protein synthesis. Using a reporter construct with HRI promoter, we have determined the promoter activity during heat-shock and lead toxicity in human K562 cells. These two conditions induced HRI promoter activity by 2- to 3-fold. Contrary to this, hemin, a suppressor of HRI kinase activity, downregulated HRI promoter activity and stimulated hemoglobin synthesis. Interestingly, when hemin-treated cells were transfected and exposed to lead, hemin compromised lead-effect substantially by downregulating HRI promoter activity, HRI transcription and HRI kinase activity. These results together suggest that heme signaling in relation to translation regulation is not only restricted to the cytoplasm (modulating HRI kinase activity) alone but it also spans to the nucleus modulating HRI expression. Hemin may thus be useful for alleviation of stress-induced inhibition of protein synthesis.

Feasibility of computer-assisted Tai Chi education.

This study is an initial effort to examine the efficiency of a computer assisted Tai Chi educational model for learning the basics of Tai Chi, a Chinese exercise regime.