In vitro and Ex vivo study targeting the development of a Lavandula stoechas L. (Ustukhuddus) loaded Unani Transdermal patch: Implication of Unani Medicine in the treatment of Nisyan (Dementia).

Ustukhuddus (Lavandula stoechas L.) has been extensively used orally and topically in treating various neurological disorders, including dementia. The optimum potential of traditional dosage forms of Ustukhuddus is limited for various reasons. Transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) is a novel means of drug delivery and is known to overcome the drawbacks associated with traditional dosage forms. The current study aimed at fabricating and evaluating Ustukhuddus hydro-alcoholic extract (UHAE) and essential oil (UEO) loaded matrix-type transdermal patches having a combination of hydrophilic - hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydrophobic - ethyl cellulose (EC) polymers. ATR-FTIR, DSC, XRD, and SEM analysis were carried out to study drug-polymer interactions, confirming the formation of developed patches and drug compatibility with excipients. We assessed the fabricated patches to evaluate their physicochemical properties, in vitro drug release, and permeation characteristics via ex vivo experiments. The physicochemical characteristics of patches showcased the development of good and stable films with clarity, smoothness, homogeneity, optimum flexibility and free from causing skin irritancy or sensitization. In vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation profile of developed patches were evaluated employing Franz diffusion cells. UHAE and UEO patches exhibited a cumulative drug release of 81.61 and 85.24 %, respectively, in a sustained-release manner and followed non-Fickian release mechanisms. The ex vivo permeation data revealed 66.82 % and 76.41 % of drug permeated from UHAE and UEO patches, respectively. The current research suggests that the formulated patches are more suitable for TDDS and hold potential significance in the treatment of dementia, contributing to enhanced patient compliance, thereby highlighting the implication of Unani Medicine in Nisyan (Dementia) treatment.

Analytical review of Tiryaq-i-Wabai - A Unani panacea for the control of COVID-19.

Introduction: COVID-19 has affected the whole world drastically and led to a substantial loss of human life. Relentless research is underway to identify effective treatment to control the disease. Traditional systems are also being explored to search for a potent drug. Unani formulation 'Tiryaq-i-Wabai' has long been used in cholera, plague and other epidemic diseases. This review is aimed at analysing the possible role of Tiryaq-i-Wabai in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Methodology: Unani classical texts and Pharmacopoeias available in the library of Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Chennai were reviewed to collect information related to epidemics, commonly prescribed drugs during epidemics, and therapeutic uses of Tiryaq-i-Wabai ingredients. ScienceDirect, Springer, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to collect information regarding current pandemic and pharmacological activities of ingredients and phytoconstituents present in the formulation. The collected data was analyzed and interpreted. Results: Tiryaq-i-Wabai was found to be the most recommended prophylactic and curative drug during epidemics. The formulation ingredients, Sibr (Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.), Murr Makki (Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl.) and Zafran (Crocus sativus L.) are categorized under Tiryaqi Advia (literally - antidote drugs) and are considered to be very effective in SARS related conditions. These ingredients have been reported to exhibit immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antitussive, smooth muscle relaxant, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities corroborating the traditional use of Tiryaq-i-Wabai. Conclusion: Scientific data imply great potential and utility of the formulation which could be a possible alternative approach for the prevention and control of current and future pandemics.

Arq Ajib - a wonder Unani formulation for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and main protease - an in silico approach.

OBJECTIVES: The current pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona-Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global health menace with significant morbidity and mortality besides huge socioeconomic implications. Despite the approval of few vaccines for the prevention of the disease, the discovery of safe and effective countermeasures especially from natural sources is of paramount importance, as the number of cases continues escalating. Arq Ajib has long been used for various diseases and its ingredients have been reported for antiviral, antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activities. The present study investigates the inhibitory effect of phytocompound of Arq Ajib on potential drug targets of SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: The structures of phytocompounds present in Arq Ajib were retrieved from PubChem database and some were illustrated using Marvin Sketch. SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6LZG) and 3CLpro (PDB ID: 7BQY) were selected as the target protein. Dock Prep module in UCSF Chimera software was used for receptor structure processing. AutoDock Vina was used to calculate the binding affinities between the protein and ligands and to predict most promising compounds with best scores. RESULTS: Molecular docking results predicted that the phytocompounds of Arq Ajib had good binding affinity and interaction with S glycoprotein and 3CLpro. Quercetin and Isorhoifolin from Mentha arvensis were identified as promising candidates with the potential to interact with 3CLpro and spike glycoprotein and inhibit the viral replication and its entry into the host. CONCLUSIONS: Arq Ajib may prove valuable for developing novel therapeutic candidate for COVID-19; however, it has to be substantiated further with in-vitro and in-vivo studies.

Effect of Hijama (wet cupping), Dalk (massage) and Bukhur (medicated steam) in amelioration of Waja al-Zahr (non-specific low back pain) - an open prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is the most widespread musculoskeletal ailment and a common cause of disability worldwide. Conventional medicine typically treats low back pain with a combination of physical therapy; activity modification and rest; pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications which are associated with huge socioeconomic implications and adverse drug reactions. In contrast Hijama, Dalk and Bukhur are ancient medical techniques recommended in the management of musculoskeletal disorders with little or no adverse effects. To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Hijama bi'l Shart (wet cupping), followed by Dalk (Massage) with Roghan Dafli and Bukhur (medicated steam) with Tukhm Soya (Anethum graveolens Linn) in patients of Waja al-Zahr (Non-specific Low back pain). METHODS: Patients of either gender in the age group of 18-50 years with low back pain persisting for four weeks or more as chief complaint were recruited in the trial. The study was GCP compliant. The duration of the protocol therapy carried out was 14 days. RESULTS: Ninty two patients of NSLBP were screened, of which 34 who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were willing to participate in the study were recruited. Three participants were lost to follow-ups due to personal reasons and 31 patients completed the trial during the study period. Overall therapeutic response observed in this study was 97% while 3% of the patients did not respond to intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings imply that there is a credible evidence to ensure that the regimens intervened are safe and effective in ameliorating the symptoms of Waja al-Zahr.

Effects of co-administration of Unani pharmacopoeia formulations Qurs Tabasheer Sartani and Arq Hara Bhara with CAT-I antitubercular drugs in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem globally, despite incredible advancements in healthcare system. In Unani system of medicine, Qurs Tabasheer Sarthani (QTS) and Arq Hara Bhara (AHB) have been traditionally used for tuberculosis like conditions. The study was aimed to investigate the effects of co-administration of QTS and AHB with category I first line antitubercular drugs (CAT-I) on the indices of liver and kidney function in rats. METHODS: QTS and AHB were prepared individually and mixed to achieve final compound Unani pharmacopoeia formulation (UPF). The human equivalent doses for rats were calculated and administered with and without CAT-I. The effects of the formulations on serum indices of kidney and liver function, hematological markers and plasma CAT-I drug levels were estimated at 14th, 60th & 180th days of treatment. RESULTS: The administration of UPF, CAT-I and UPF + CAT-I altered the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and haematological markers. These alterations were within permissible range and randomly distributed among groups during various time points. Administration of CAT-I alone resulted in moderate histopathological changes which were completely abrogated in CAT-I + UPF co-administered animals. The co-administration of UPF with CAT-I improved the plasma peak rifampicin (RIF) levels, without altering the liver and kidney functions. CONCLUSIONS: The co-administration of UPF with ATT improved liver and kidney functions and increased the plasma levels of RIF. These beneficial findings provide a scope to evaluate the pharmacokinetic studies in humans.

Emergence of antimicrobial resistance and magnitude of Unani medicine - scope and challenges.

Emergence of antimicrobial resistance, with practically all newly developed and even more potent antibiotics like carbapenem and colistin, has become a matter of great public health concern. A number of common diseases of public health importance are becoming harder and sometimes impossible to treat due to increased resistance of pathogens. These alarming threats seek prime attention of scientific community to develop newer antibiotics with long-lasting efficacy, least side effects, and low economic burden. Unani classical texts have enormous citations on different infectious diseases. Many single drugs and compound formulations are in vogue since ages for the treatment of infectious diseases. Use of Afaviya (spices), Mufarrehat (exhilarants), Tiryaqi Advia (drugs with antidote properties) and Sirka (vinegar) is highly advocated in treating various infectious diseases. Though, enormous research activities have been undertaken worldwide to explore and develop newer antibiotics from natural resources, indicating massive magnitude of natural products in treating various infectious diseases, however, the higher plants, still largely seems to be unexplored. Moreover, elaborated and well controlled clinical studies are still lacking to authenticate their clinical significance. Hence, a rigorous, well-designed & well-structured research is highly paramount to ascertain the provision of newer, relatively safe and cost effective natural antibiotics.

Lithotriptic effect of Safuf Hajar-al Yahud in patients of Hasat-ul Kilya (Nephrolithiasis) - an open prospective clinical validation trial.

BACKGROUND: Hasat-ul Kilya (Nephrolithiasis) is one of the most common chronic conditions and has been known to the mankind since antiquity. The incidence is increasing globally with geographic, racial and gender variation in its occurrence. Medical management of Nephrolithiasis still poses a considerable challenge for modern medical practice. Unani drugs possessing lithotriptic activity are not only cost effective but also have least side effects. Safuf Hajar-al Yahud has been used since long for the treatment of Hasat-ul Kilya (Nephrolithiasis) but no documentary evidence based on scientific parameters as to its safety and efficacy are available. OBJECTIVE: To validate the safety and efficacy of Safuf Hajar-al Yahud in the treatment of Hasat-ul Kilya. METHODOLOGY: An open prospective clinical trial was carried out on 107 subjects of renal calculi of 3-7 mm diameter diagnosed by Ultrasonogram-KUB (USG-KUB). Subjects were evaluated by clinical history & examination, laboratory investigations followed by USG-KUB for confirmation. The safety was assessed by reporting of adverse events and by pathological and biochemical investigations. Assessment of efficacy was based on improvement observed in VAS score and expulsion/reduction of stone size as detected by USG-KUB. RESULTS: Substantial reduction (53%) in the size of calculi confirmed by USG-KUB and considerable lowering of VAS score (75%) were observed with the active intervention in majority of the cases. CONCLUSION: The trial has revealed that the Unani pharmacopoeal formulation Safuf Hajar-al Yahud was well tolerated and has the therapeutic potential in the reduction and expulsion of renal calculi.

Antimicrobial and wound healing potential of Marham-e-Aatshak (A Herb-o-Mineral formulation).

Marham-e-Aatshak (MA) is a Unani ointment, with wide use for treating chronic and infectious wounds since long time. This study was designed to screen the antimicrobial and wound healing potential of MA to validate the ethno-therapeutic claims. The agar diffusion method was used to study the antimicrobial action of MA as well as for all of its ingredients. Inhibition zone diameters were measured and MIC values were calculated. Wound healing activity was studied in models of both, excision and incision wounds. Wound contractibility was measured at different intervals in excision wound model; similarly tensile strength was measured in incision wound model. MA and its ingredients showed remarkable inhibitory activity against most of the organisms. In excision wound, a significantly enhanced wound contraction and significantly reduced epithelialization period was observed. In incision wound, significant increase in the mean breaking strength in the test group was observed. The results indicate that MA is capable of fighting against wound infections and able to potentiate the natural healing process.

Effect of detoxification (tadbeer) in content of toxic metabolites of Strychnos nux-vomica: A Unani approach for its use in human.

BACKGROUND: Azaraqi (Strychnos nux-vomica, Loganiaceae) has been the important Unani medicine since long time as a stimulant, anti-inflammatory, and blood purifier. It has been used very frequently by the Unani practitioner. But the Unani system recommends application of azaraqi in medicine only after its detoxification (tadbeer) may be because of the presence of its deadly poisonous alkaloids (strychnine and brucine). In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to quantify the actual content of their toxic alkaloids before and after the tadbeer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sensitive high-performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been developed for estimation of strychnine and brucine in different samples of azaraqi before and after tadbeer. Precoated HPTLC silica gel plates were used as stationary phase and (toluene: Ethyl acetate: Dietylamine 7:2:1 v/v/v) was used as mobile phase. RESULT: The Rf value of strychnine and brucine was found as 0.53 and 0.41, respectively. Detection and quantification were performed by densitometry at 270 nm. The calibration plot was linear in the range of 50-1000 ng of strychnine and brucine, respectively, with the correlation coefficient (r (2)) 0.993 and 0.991 for strychnine and brucine, respectively, which confirms good linearity. The content of strychnine was 0.175, 0.07, 0.18, 0.051, and 0.075% w/w whereas brucine was 0.16, 0.117, 0.061, 0.045, and 0.057 in crude azaraqi, azaraqi without outer cover, azaraqi outer cover only, azaraqi mudabbar and azaraqi mudabbar by fried in ghee, respectively. CONCLUSION: The detoxification results in sharp decrease in content of toxic metabolites. The process by boiling in milk was found much effective but tedious as compare to frying method.