Phytochemical and pharmacological status of indigenous medicinal plant Pedalium murex L.-A review.

PURPOSE: Pedalium murex is a fruit-bearing annual herb, native to South India, Mexico and tropical Africa. The plant is widely used to treat numerous diseases including gastric ulcer, asthma, heart problems, anti inflammatory activity and particularly urinary disorders. Traditional medicine has become a skilled approach by means of rational values in handling a variety of diseases and developing an affordable phytotherapy. It is proclaimed that P.murex is an expensive source of unique bioactive compounds for the development of natural medicines against various diseases. CONCLUSION: This review provides the details of ethno pharmacological importance of P. murex, as well as its composition of phytochemicals, biological activities and traditional usage. Also provides a source for future studies such as isolation of bioactive components and mechanism of action of this plant extract.

Cigarette smoke and related risk factors in neurological disorders: An update.

Cigarette smoking is known to be harmful to health, and is considered the main cause of death worldwide, especially in India. Among the well-distinguished diseases related to smoking are, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, oral and peripheral cancers, and cardiovascular complications. However, the impact of cigarette smoking on neurocognitive and neuropathological effects, including anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischemic stroke, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, still remains unclear. Cigarette smoke consists of more than 4500 toxic chemicals that combine to form free radicals, which lead to oxidative stress-associated neurological disorders. Herein, we discuss the role of antioxidant agents in delaying or attenuating disease complications. In addition, in this review, we discuss the neuropathological effect of cigarette smoke and its interference in neurodegeneration.