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.

Recent updates in the development of small molecules as potential clinical candidates for Alzheimer's disease: A review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the prominent causes for disability and lowered quality of life worldwide in elderly population. It has fostered immense burden to AD patients, families and society. Burgeoning progress in the field of pathogenesis over last two decades has persuaded the investigation of novel pharmacological therapeutics that focuses towards the pathophysiological events of AD. Miscellaneous clinical trials, development and testing of interventions aimed at various targets, such as anti-tau and anti-amyloid interventions, neurotransmitter modification, neuroprotection and anti-neuroinflammation interventions, cognitive enhancement and interventions to palliate behavioural symptoms have been carried out. Despite massive efforts to find disease-modifying therapies, there lingers a vital need for continuing the advancement in progress of the AD research. This review features the new developments of small molecule compounds that will be beneficial in evolution of new AD therapies. In particular, this review briefly describes summary of mechanistic causes chiefly associated with AD and focuses on medicinal approach via small molecule inhibitors that can manage cognitive impairment and dysfunction and may combat Alzheimer's development.

Root-Knot Disease Suppression in Eggplant Based on Three Growth Ages of Ganoderma lucidum.

This investigation presents a novel finding showing the effect of culture filtrates (CFs) of macrofungi, Ganoderma lucidum, against Meloidogyne incognita evaluated in vitro and in planta. To determine the nematicidal activity, juveniles of M. incognita were exposed to Ganoderma CFs of three different ages (Two, four and eight weeks old) of pileus and stipe at different concentrations, i.e., 100%, 50%, 10% and 1% for different time intervals (12, 24, 48 and 72 h). Ganoderma species were examined morphologically based on external appearance and analytically using SEM. The ethanolic samples of basidiocarp were prepared and analyzed for in vitro nematicidal assay and different bioactive compounds. The in vitro experiment results revealed that among all three ages of pileus and stipe, two-week-old pileus and stipe exhibited great nematotoxic potency and caused 83.8% and 73.8% juveniles' mortality at 100% concentration after 72 h of exposure time, respectively. Similarly, the two-week-old pileus and stipe showed the highest egg hatching inhibition of 89.2% and 81.0% at the 100% concentration after five days. The eight-week-old pileus and stipe were not more effective than the two- and four-week-old pileus and stipe. The metabolites were characterized using GC-MS, including sugar alcohol, steroids, silanes, glucosides, pyrones, ester, oleic acid, phthalic acid, linoleic acid, palmitates and ketones. The in planta study conducted in the greenhouse demonstrated that the root dip treatment for 30 min with Ganoderma CFs curtailed the infection level of M. incognita and promoted the eggplant plant growth. The maximum percent increase in plant length, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and yield/plant was obtained at 100% conc. of fungus CFs, whereas a reduction was observed in nematode infestation parameters. It was concluded from the study that Ganoderma CFs can be explored as an effective and eco-friendly antinemic biocontrol agent in fields infected with root-knot nematodes.