Utilization of Herbal Components as Insecticidal and Repellent Effects.

Humans and many other creatures depend on agriculture for survival, but it is impossible to cultivate without the use of pesticides. Different types of harmful organism or pest exists in every agricultural crop. Synthetic pesticides are widely utilised around the world as a solution to this problem, but there are drawbacks associated with their application, the most significant of which are the severe negative impacts on ecosystems and human health. Organically made pesticides should be used instead of synthetic pesticides to reduce their harmful effects. Unlike chemical pesticides, natural pesticides do not cause any harm to non-target creatures and are inexpensive. Most botanical pesticides degrade rapidly, usually in only a few days but sometimes may even take hour. One of the most promising approaches to reducing pesticide pollution and protecting crops, food, and the environment is to use botanical insecticides. Beneficial insects such as earthworms are much less likely to be killed by biopesticides. The source of herbal insecticides is herbal plants. Each plant has distinct effect since every plant have their own chemical constituent. This review explains about numerous herbs and shrubs that feature distinct insecticidal, pesticidal and repelling effect. Insecticidal activity is discovered in a broad variety of herbal plants, and this review analyses those plants in detail, defining the major active ingredient responsible for these effects.

Herbal Drugs Inducing Autophagy for the Management of Cancer: Mechanism and Utilization.

When compared to chemical medicines, herbal medicines have the greatest therapeutic benefit while having fewer harmful side effects. Many different components in herbs have an anticancer impact, but the exact mechanism of how they work is unknown. Some herbal medicines have even been shown to trigger autophagy, a process that has shown promise as a potential cancer treatment. In the past ten years, autophagy has come to be recognised as a crucial mechanism in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, which has led to the discovery of its implications in the pathology of the majority of cellular environments as well as human disorders. Autophagy is a catabolic process that is used by cells to maintain their homeostasis. This process involves the degradation of misfolded, damaged, and excessive proteins, as well as nonfunctional organelles, foreign pathogens, and other cellular components. Autophagy is a highly conserved process. In this review article, several naturally occurring chemicals are discussed. These compounds offer excellent prospects for autophagy inducers, which are substances that can hasten the death of cells when used as a complementary or alternative treatment for cancer. It requires additional exploration in preclinical and clinical investigations, notwithstanding recent advances in therapeutic medications or agents of natural products in numerous cancers. These advancements have been made despite the need for further investigation.

Treatment Management of Diabetic Wounds Utilizing Herbalism: An Overview.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetes Mellitus, commonly known as DM, is a metabolic disorder which is characterized by high blood glucose level, i.e., chronic hyperglycemia. If it is not managed properly, DM can lead to many severe complexities with time and can cause significant damage to the kidneys, heart, eyes, nerves and blood vessels. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of those major complexities which affect around 15-25% of the population diagnosed with diabetes. Due to diabetic conditions, the body's natural healing process slows down leading to longer duration for healing of wounds only when taken care of properly. Herbal therapies are one of the approaches for the management and care of diabetic foot ulcer, which utilizes the concept of synergism for better treatment options. With the recent advancement in the field of nanotechnology and natural drug therapy, a lot of opportunities can be seen in combining both technologies and moving towards a more advanced drug delivery system to overcome the limitations of polyherbal formulations. METHODS: During the writing of this document, the data was derived from existing original research papers gathered from a variety of sources such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar. CONCLUSION: Hence, this review includes evidence about the current practices and future possibilities of nano-herbal formulation in treatment and management of diabetic wounds.

Effect of Maternal Supplementation With Two Different Doses of Vitamin D During Lactation on Vitamin D Status, Anthropometry and Bone Mass of Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in exclusively breast-fed infants in the absence of appropriate vitamin D supplementation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of two doses of maternal vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D levels of mother-infant pairs and to assess its effect on growth parameters (weight, length and head circumference) and bone mass of infants. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Lactating mother-infant pairs (n=220). INTERVENTION: Maternal oral vitamin D supplementation in two doses (group 1: 1,20,000 IU/month and group 2: 12,000 IU/month) for 12 months. MAIN OUTCOMES: Main outcomes: Maternal and infant serum 25OHD levels, and infants' growth and bone mass. RESULTS: There was high prevalence of VDD at baseline in mothers (94%) as well as infants (98.5%), which was reduced to 43.1% in (mothers) and 46.5% in infants after 12 months. Significantly higher median (IQR) serum 25OHD levels (ng/mL) were observed among mothers in group 1 compared to group 2 [46 (17-159) vs 18 (6-64); P<0.01] and in infants [36.5 (15-160) vs 17 (7-32); P<0.01]. No significant association was observed between growth parameters or bone mass and serum 25OHD levels of mother or infant between the two groups. Four mothers (3.6%) and two infants (1.8%) in group I had serum 25OHD>100 ng/mL, but without hypercalciuria or hypercalcemia. CONCLUSION: Bolus vitamin D supplementation in the dose of 1,20,000 IU/month was more efficacious in improving maternal and infant vitamin D status at 12 months, as compared to 12,000 IU/month.

Hits and misses in treatment of ESCPM gram negative infections.

Treatment of Enterobacter infections is complex and often associated with development of resistance when wrong antibiotics are chosen for treatment despite in vitro susceptibility. This infectious diseases grand round highlights two cases, how antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship approach could detect and prevent development of such resistance in - vivo.

An open-label, randomized, 10 weeks prospective study on the efficacy of vitamin D (daily low dose and weekly high dose) in vitamin D deficient patients.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is an important vitamin required to maintain normal skeletal as well as nonskeletal functions. The daily supplementation of vitamin D not only have poor adherence to the regimen but also of doubtful efficacy in deficient patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of oral high-dose vitamin D regimens (60,000 IU weekly) and daily low-dose vitamin D regimen of 1000 IU in mitigating symptoms and increase in serum levels of vitamin D in patients with hypovitaminosis D. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 patients aged 18-60 years with vitamin D deficiency (serum levels < 30 ng/mL) were enrolled. A total of 38 subjects received 60,000 IU of vitamin D weekly with 500 mg/day calcium and 40 subjects received a dose of 1000 IU of vitamin D daily with 500 mg/day calcium for 10 weeks. Baseline and follow-up total serum vitamin D levels and improvement in symptoms were measured within and between groups. RESULTS: For high-dose vitamin D (60,000 IU weekly), the increase in mean serum vitamin D levels from baseline was 28.33 ng/mL over 10 weeks' treatment period; whereas for the low-dose group (1000 IU daily) the mean increment in serum vitamin D was 6.79 ng/mL for the same period. The mean difference in increase in serum vitamin D between two groups was highly significant (P < 0.001). In both the groups, decrease in myalgia as evaluated on visual analog scale was observed after 10 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose vitamin D (60,000 IU weekly) regimen rapidly normalized 25(OH) D levels and ensure symptomatic relief earlier than daily dosing of 1000 IU vitamin D for same duration.

Experimental modulation of mood by acoustic stimulation and its effect on exertional dyspnoea.

We examined the interactions between acoustically driven mood modulation and dyspnoea. Following familiarisation, 18 healthy participants attended three experimental sessions on separate days performing two 5 min treadmill tests with a 30 min interval per session while listening to either a positive, negative or neutral set of standardised International Affective Digitised Sounds (IADS). Participants rated intensity and affective domains of dyspnoea during the first exercise test and mood during the second. Mood valence was significantly higher when listening to positive (mean (95% CI): 6.5 (5.9-7.2)) compared with negative sounds (3.6 (2.9-4.4); p<0.001). Dyspnoea intensity and affect were statistically significantly lower when listening to positive (2.4 (1.8-2.9) and 1.3 (0.7-1.9)) compared with negative IADS (3.2 (2.3-3.7), p=0.013 and 2.3 (1.3-3.3), p=0.009). These findings indicate that acoustically induced mood changes influence exertional dyspnoea.

Quality of Life (QoL) and the Factors Affecting it in Transfusion-dependent Thalassemic Children.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the Quality of life (QoL) and the factors affecting it in transfusion-dependent thalassemic children. METHODS: Current study was conducted at Department of Pediatrics, Dr. SNMC, Jodhpur. Ninety-three transfusion-dependent thalassemic children aged between 8 and 18 y were enrolled. Quality of life was assessed using Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) measurement model in thalassemic children. RESULTS: Mean age of children was 11.8 ± 3.2 y. Lowest mean score was observed in School functioning (57.4) while in Physical functioning, Emotional functioning and Social functioning it was 73.9, 82.2 and 83.49 respectively. Mean PedsQL score was higher in 8-12 y age group as compared to 13-18 y (p = 0.024). PedsQL score was higher in children who required transfusion once in a month (p = 0.028) and children on combined chelation therapy as compared to children who were on injectable chelator (p = 0.039). Health Related QoL was not affected with gender, education status, family history of thalassemia, ferritin level, splenectomy or consanguinity. CONCLUSIONS: Factors related with low QoL in current study were higher age, increased transfusion frequency and injectable mode of chelation. In order to improve the QoL in thalassemic children appropriate programmes and interventions should be started targeting above domains.

Correlation of Serum Vitamin D Levels in Lactating Mothers and Their Infants.

BACKGROUND: Although Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Indians, data on Vitamin D eficiency in lactating mothers and exclusively breast fed infants is inadequate. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in lactating mothers and their infants and to find out any correlation between them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This hospital based, cross sectional study included 200 healthy infants between 1-30 days and their mothers. Serum sample was collected from both for Ca, inorganic phosphate (IP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and 25(OH)D. RESULTS: Mean serum 25(OH)D level of mothers was 11.33 ± 5.86 ng/ml with a range of 2-37 ng/ml. Hypovitaminosis D was defined as serum 25(OH)D level <10 ng/ml. Almost 94 (47%) of mothers were having hypovitaminosis D. Mean serum 25(OH)D level of infants was 11.92 ± 7.89 ng/dl with a range of 2.5-68 ng/dl. Ninety (45%) infants were having hypovitaminosis D. There was a moderate positive correlation between individual mothers' and infants' serum 25(OH)D values (Pearson coefficient = 0.516, P < 0.001). Using logistic regression, it was found that infants born to mothers with hypovitaminosis D carry a 4.47 times more risk of developing hypovitaminosis D as compared to infants born to mothers with normal serum 25(OH)D (Odds ratio = 4.47, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study shows a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in lactating mothers and their breastfeeding infants with a positive correlation between them. These results provide a justification for adequate Vitamin D supplementation of all exclusively breastfeeding infants and highlight the urgent need to improve maternal Vitamin D status.

Pharmacotherapy of Insomnia and Current Updates.

Insomnia is highly prevalent and is associated with a range of psychological, psychiatric, and medical conditions. Insomnia affects health by influencing cognitive, emotional and social functioning. Circadian and sleep homeostatic processes play an important role in insomnia development and its maintenance. Several efficacious treatments, both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic, exist for the management of insomnia. Among non-pharmacologic treatments including stimulus control therapy, sleep restriction, relaxation, sleep hygiene and cognitive therapy have been shown to be efficacious. Pharmacological treatment acts as adjuvant to cognitive behavioural treatment. Despite availability of various classes drugs for insomnia treatment, none can be considered as an ideal agent. Novel therapies are still being explored and tested to arrive at a hypnotic that has acceptable side effects and tolerability profile while still being efficacious.

Extraction and Characterization of Boswellia Serrata Gum as Pharmaceutical Excipient.

BACKGROUND: This manuscript deals with the purification and characterization of Boswellia serrata gum as a suspending agent. The Boswellia serrata gum was purchased as crude material, purified and further characterized in terms of organoleptic properties and further micromeritic studies were carried out to characterize the polymer as a pharmaceutical excipient. The suspending properties of the polymer were also evaluated. The results showed that the extracted gum possesses optimum organoleptic as well as micromeritic and suspending properties. OBJECTIVES: To characterize Boswellia serrata gum as a natural excipient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Boswellia serrata gum, paracetamol, distilled water. RESULTS: The results showed that the extracted gum possesses optimum organoleptic as well as micromeritic and suspending properties. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded from the research work that the gum extracted from Boswellia serrata shows the presence of carbohydrates after chemical tests. All the organoleptic properties evaluated were found to be acceptable. The pH was found to be slightly acidic. Swelling Index reveals that the gum swells well in water. Total ash value was within the limits. The values of angle of repose and Carr's Index of powdered gum powder showed that the flow property was good. IR spectra confirmed the presence of alcohol, amines, ketones, anhydrides and aromatic rings. The suspending properties of Boswellia serrata gum were found to be higher as compared to gum acacia while the flow rate of Boswellia serrata gum (1% suspension) was less than gum acacia (1% suspension). The viscosity measurement of both Boswellia serrata gum suspension and gum acacia suspension showed approximately similar results.

Extraction and characterization of artocarpus integer gum as pharmaceutical excipient.

BACKGROUND: Natural polymers are widely used as excipients in pharmaceutical formulations. They are easily available, cheap and less toxic as compared to synthetic polymers. OBJECTIVES: This study involves the extraction and characterization of kathal (Artocarpus integer) gum as a pharmaceutical excipient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Water was used as a solvent for extraction of the natural polymer. Yield was calculated with an aim to evaluate the efficacy of the process. The product was screened for the presence of Micrometric properties, and swelling index, flow behavior, surface tension, and viscosity of natural polymers were calculated. RESULTS: Using a water based extraction method, the yield of gum was found to be 2.85%. Various parameters such as flow behavior, organoleptic properties, surface tension, viscosity, loss on drying, ash value and swelling index together with microscopic studies of particles were done to characterize the extracted gum. The result showed that extracted kathal gum exhibited excellent flow properties. The gum was investigated for purity by carrying out chemical tests for different phytochemical constituents and only carbohydrates were found to be present. It had a good swelling index (13 ± 1). The pH and surface tension of the 1% gum solution were found to be 6 ± 0.5 and 0.0627 J/m2, respectively. The ash values such as total ash, acid insoluble ash, and water soluble ash were found to be 18.9%, 0.67% and 4% respectively. Loss on drying was 6.61%. The extracted gum was soluble in warm water and insoluble in organic solvents. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed rough and irregular particles of the isolated polymer. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the evaluated properties showed that kathal-derived gum has acceptable pH and organoleptic properties and can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient to formulate solid oral dosage forms.

Pyrimidine containing furanose derivative having antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer activity.

BACKGROUND: A series of 6-(substituted aldehyde)-3,4-dihydro-1-(tetrahydro-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl) furan-2-yl)-4-phenylpyrimidine-2(1H)-one derivative (6A-6P) was synthesized from the 6-(substituted aldehyde)-4-phenylpyrimidine-2(1H)-one derivative (5A-5P) through following reaction mechanisms Claisen-Schmidt, Cyclization, and Satos fusion. The structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by I.R.,(1)H-NMR, elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopic techniques. RESULT: The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antifungal activity at 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/ml concentrations. Among them, compounds 6P, 6D, and 6M exhibited significant antifungal activity that was carried out by cup plate method against fungal strain which was collected from IMTECH Chandigarh, India, against standard drug fluconazole. Compounds have been further evaluated by measuring zone of inhibition and percent inhibition. The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay, based on the AAI and antioxidant activity unit (AAU), using a combination relation between DPPH concentration and absorbance. The antioxidant strength of compounds was compared against ascorbic acid. Among them, compounds 6K, 6F, 6E, 6G, 6H, and 6M exhibited significant antioxidant activity and 6J have less active compound. The data of these synthesized compounds were submitted to the National Institute of Health, USA, under the drug discovery program of National Cancer Institute (NCI) and screened for anticancer activity at a single high dose (10(-5) M) in full NCI 60 cell lines. The selected compounds have shown potent significant anticancer activity in the NCI 60 cell line screening. CONCLUSION: A new series of pyrimidine analogues that contain furanose moiety were synthesized by Satos fusion and characterized. The synthesized compounds screened for their in vitro antioxidant, antifungal activity, as well as anticancer activity given by the derivative which has chloro, methoxy, nitro, and chloro substitution having furanose contain pyrimidine derivative that showed the most potent activity.

Extraction and characterization of Aegle marmelos derived polymer as a pharmaceutical excipient.

BACKGROUND: Natural polymers have been used as pharmaceutical excipients. They are easily available, cheap, less toxic andbiodegradable. Many of them have been identified and research is ongoing regarding their characterization. OBJECTIVE: The present study depicts the extraction and characterization of Aegle marmelos derived polymer which can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A water based extraction method was used to extract Aegle marmelos derived polymer. Its yield was found to be 15.07%. Characterization was based on various parameters such as a test for carbohydrates, test for purity, organoleptic properties, ash value, solubility behavior, pH, swelling index, surface tension, viscosity, particle size, loss on drying, bulk density, bulkiness, powder flow behavior, etc. RESULT: The polymer was yellowish-brown and showed poor flow (angle of repose 19.28 degrees ± 0.883) with neutral pH, i.e. 7, and bulkiness depicting the heaviness of polymer. The extracted polymer showed solubility in warm water and insolubility in organic solvents. CONCLUSIONS: The results easily predict the fact that the yield of the polymer was quite good, so it can be used as a commercial source of mucilage. The isolated polymer can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient in different dosage forms. 2 /

Circadian cycle and chronotherapeutics: recent trend for the treatment of various biological disorders.

Chronotherapeutics is a novel approach in the treatment of various biological disorders. Circadian rhythms are the important factor in the biological cycle through which the drug dosing should be matched with the rhythms of the diseases for the successful treatment of the illness or the disorder. Through this review it shows that different chronotherapeutic approaches have been successfully employed for treating different biological disorders through different formulation methods, and discussion of recent patents.

Prostatic abscess: diagnosis and management in the modern antibiotic era.

This retrospective study was aimed at analyzing the clinical findings and therapeutic strategies in 24 patients who were admitted with prostatic abscess, during the period from 1999 to 2008. The diagnosis of prostatic abscesses was made clinically by digital rectal palpation based on the presence of positive fluctuation with tenderness. All cases were confirmed by trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS), and only positive cases were included in this study. The diagnostic work-up included analysis of midstream urine and abscess fluid culture for pathogens. Therapeutic options included endoscopic trans-urethral incision or trans-perineal aspiration under ultrasound guidance, or conservative therapy. Of the 24 patients studied, 45.83% of the cases had a pre-disposing factor, and diabetes mellitus (37.50%) was the most common. Digital rectal palpation revealed fluctuation in 70.83% of the cases. Trans-abdominal ultrasonography missed the condition in 29.16% of the cases. On TRUS, all the study patients showed hypo-echoic zones, while nine others showed internal septations. In most of the cases, the lesion was peripheral. A causative pathogen could be identified in 70.83% of the cases. Surgical drainage of the abscess by trans-urethral deroofing was performed in 17 cases (including one with failed aspiration), trans-perineal aspiration under TRUS guidance was performed in three cases and conservative therapy was followed in five cases. Our data confirms the importance of predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of prostatic abscess. In most of the cases, the clue to diagnosis is obtained by digital rectal palpation. TRUS gives the definite diagnosis and also helps in follow-up of patients. Trans-urethral deroofing is the ideal therapy where the abscess cavity is more than 1 cm, although in some selected cases, TRUS-guided aspiration or conservative therapy does have a role in treatment.

Release behavior of drugs from various natural gums and polymers.

Polymers are the high molecular weight compounds of natural or synthetic origin, widely used in drug delivery of formulations. These polymers are further classified as hydrophilic or hydrophobic in nature. Depending upon this characteristic, polymers exhibit different release behavior in different media. This property plays an important role in the selection of polymers for controlled, sustained or immediate release formulations. The review highlights the literatures related to the research made on several polymers regarding the release kinetics which made them a novel approach for modifying the action of the particular formulation.

Design, synthesis and anti-inflammatory evaluation of PEGylated 4-methyl and 4,8-dimethylcoumarins.

Aberrant interaction between the leukocyte and the endothelial cell (EC) resulting from the deregulated expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on the endothelium results in uncontrolled inflammation leading to various inflammatory disorders. The existing drugs used to modulate the cytokine-induced expression of cell molecules have severe side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet therapeutic need to develop potent and safe drugs to treat inflammatory disorders. In the present study, novel PEGylated and non-PEGylated 4-methyl and 4,8-dimethylcoumarin derivatives were designed, synthesized and, evaluated for ICAM-1 inhibitory activity. The PEGylated coumarins were synthesized in two different ways. In the first approach, diesters of 4-methyl and 4,8-dimethylcoumarin were co-polymerized, separately with poly(ethylene glycol) using Candida antarctica lipase under solventless conditions. In the other approach, 4-methyl and 4,8-dimethylcoumarins were suitably converted to their bromo analogues and were tethered to already synthesized PEGylated polymers. Synthesized derivatives were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activities with respect to their ability to inhibit the TNF-alpha induced ICAM-1 (intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1) on human endothelial cells. It was found that PEGylated 4-methyl and 4,8-dimethylcoumarin derivatives were more effective than their non-PEGylated analogues to inhibit ICAM-1 expression. The present study opens new vista for PEGylated non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds and their further investigations.

Transdermal delivery of ketorolac.

A reservoir type transdermal patch for delivery of ketorolac, a potent analgesic agent was studied. The low permeability of skin is the rate-limiting step for delivery of most of the drugs. Studies were carried out to investigate the effect of permeation enhancers on the in vitro permeation of ketorolac across rat skin. The reservoir type transdermal patch was fabricated and the core was filled with gel system of a non ionic polymer HPMC (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose) formulated in PBS (phosphate buffer saline) solution of pH of 5.4 along with isopropyl alcohol at 25% w/w concentration. Various permeation enhancers' viz. dimethyl sulphoxide, d-limonene, eucalyptus oil and transcutol (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether) were incorporated into the gel system. Permeation enhancement of ketorolac with different enhancers followed the order eucalyptus oil> transcutol> DMSO> d-limonene. Cyclic terpene containing eucalyptus oil was found to be the most promising chemical permeation enhancer for transdermal delivery of ketorolac. The increase in concentration of eucalyptus oil further enhanced drug permeation with maximum flux being achieved at 10% w/w of 66.38 microg/cm(2)/h. Further enhancement of permeation rate of ketorolac across skin was attained by application of abrading gel containing crushed apricot seed onto the skin. There was 5.16 times enhancement and flux of 93.10 microg/cm(2)/h was attained. A reservoir type transdermal patch for delivery of ketorolac thus appears to be feasible of delivering ketorolac across skin.