Microarray analysis of genes from animals treated with a traditional formulation ChandraprabhaVati reveals its therapeutic targets.

BACKGROUND: Traditional medicinal preparations have not received global acceptance, and their therapeutic benefits remain disputed due to lack of scientific evidence on their mechanism of action. Microarray analysis has emerged as a powerful technique that can aid in understanding the complex signaling networks activated by these formulations and thereby assess their beneficial as well as adverse effects. AIM: The present work aims to investigate the differential influence of ChandraprabhaVati, Ayurvedic formulation used in the treatment of diabetes, anemia, urinary, respiratory, skin and liver disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The RNA from the liver of rats treated with different doses of ChandraprabhaVati for 28 days was isolated and studied for the genome-wide changes in the expression. RESULTS: The results revealed several molecular targets that could contribute to the therapeutic effects of ChandraprabhaVati. Several genes have been differentially expressed, among those miRNAs miR-434, miR877, and miRlet7e contribute to the anti-diabetic, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory of CPV. The rejuvenative activity of CPV may be due to the MeOX1 and Upf3b genes. Up-regulation of Hbaa2 gene facilitates the anti-anemic effect. Interestingly gender-specific differential expressions of genes were also observed. Rab3d were found to be altered in female when compared to male animals. CONCLUSION: Thus the microarray data for the CPV treated animals has revealed molecular targets that may be responsible for the various known therapeutic effects and also identified new beneficial effects of CPV.

Antimicrobial flavonoids isolated from Indian medicinal plant Scutellaria oblonga inhibit biofilms formed by common food pathogens.

Scutellaria oblonga Benth., a hitherto phytochemically unexplored Indian medicinal folklore plant was extracted with acetone and subjected to chromatography to yield nine flavonoids, for the first time from this plant. Antimicrobial assays were performed against 11 foodborne pathogens, and three molecules (Techtochrysin, Negletein and Quercitin-3-glucoside) depicted significant activity. These molecules were assessed for their rate of antibacterial action using time-kill curves which depicted complete inhibition of most of the bacteria within 12-16 h. The significant biofilm-reducing capability exhibited by these three molecules formed a significant finding of the current study. In most of the experiments, a 90-95% reduction in biofilms was observed. Thus, flavonoids as natural molecules from S. oblonga could be further researched to be used as potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents.

Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-electrospray ionization-micrOTOF-Q II analysis of flavonoid fractions from Jatropha tanjorensis.

BACKGROUND: Jatropha tanjorensis (Euphorbiaceae) an exotic traditional plant unique to Thanjavur district of Southern India also commonly called as Catholic vegetable. It has been used traditionally in decoctions for treating various ailments and as a health tonic. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present work is to study a comprehensive characterization of methanolic extract fractions using ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)+-electrospray ionization (ESI)-micrOTOF-Q II and correlate their bioactivities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phytoconstituents from J. tanjorensis leaves were extracted with methanol (MeOH) followed by successive chromatography using linear gradient polar solvents system. All fractions obtained were evaluated for their chemical potential using micrOTOF-Q II techniques and identified key molecules were determined for their anticancer and anti-oxidant potential using in vitro methods. RESULTS: Successive column chromatography of the MeOH residue yielded six fractions. Compounds such as such as C-glycosylflavones (mono-C-, di-C-), O, C-diglycosylflavones and aglycones were identified for the first time in this plant using UHPLC-ultraviolet-micrOTOF-Q II ESI and a correlation with their anticancer using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on Ehrlich ascites cells (EAC) and antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and lipid peroxidation were studied; fraction D extract exhibited the strongest activity against cancer cell. CONCLUSIONS: LC-mass spectrometry has been successfully applied for a quick separation and identification of the major phytoconstituents. All fractions have shown potent antioxidative activity as compared to standard antioxidant 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene. EAC cell-based cytotoxicity assay also revealed encouraging results. The antioxidant and anticancer activity determined in the present work can be attributed to the presence of flavonoids and flavone glycosides. Present work provides the first scientific report on phytoconstituents of J. tanjorensis and its ethnopharmacological significance.

Scientific Insights in the Preparation and Characterisation of a Lead-based Naga Bhasma.

Naga bhasma is one of the herbo-metallic preparations used in Ayurveda, a traditional Indian System of Medicine. The preparation of Naga bhasma involves thermal treatment of 'Naga' (metallic lead) in a series of quenching liquids, followed by reaction with realgar and herbal constituents, before calcination to prepare a fine product. We have analysed the intermediates obtained during different stages of preparation to understand the relevance and importance of different steps involved in the preparation. Our results show that 'Sodhana' (purification process) removes heavy metals other than lead, apart from making it soft and amenable for trituration. The use of powders of tamarind bark and peepal bark maintains the oxidation state of lead in Jarita Naga (lead oxide) as Pb(2+). The repeated calcination steps result in the formation of nano-crystalline lead sulphide, the main chemical species present in Naga bhasma.

Safety and toxicity issues associated with lead-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Herbal and herbo-mineral preparations are being traditionally used in Indian medicines. The herbo-mineral preparations have several benefits that have been instrumental in their widespread use in treatment of different disorders by traditional medicinal practitioners. These include better stability, lower dosage, ease of storability and sustained availability. Naga bhasma (lead sulphide ash), a traditional Indian herbo-mineral medication prepared using lead and several herbal ingredients, has been used as an oral medicine in India for many years for the treatment of diabetes, spleen enlargement, diarrhoea and various skin diseases. The elaborate preparation protocol involved in the traditional medicines is believed to modify the toxic nature of the precursor (metal) and adds therapeutic value. But modern scientists claim that these preparations are toxic to health as they contain large amount of metal. Many factors such as preparation based factors, chemical nature based factors, vehicle used, therapy associated factors, pharmacological factors, etc, determine whether the traditional medicines are toxic or not. This review focuses on the safety and critical issues associated with Naga bhasma-a lead based ayurvedic medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The detailed review of literature about Naga bhasma apart from other lead based formulations are carried out by utilizing the resources including, classical Indian text books, databases such as Pub med, Scopus, Science direct and few other web sources. RESULTS: Though metallic lead is known to be toxic to the biological system, no compelling evidence has been put forth to suggest any toxic manifestations of Naga bhasma. The elemental characterization of preparations containing Naga bhasma has shown extremely high levels of lead content and various parameters must be taken into consideration in deciding the safety and critical issues present in traditional medicines. As there are no molecular targets available for most of the traditional medicine, it is difficult to assure the safety in using this traditional preparation. Highly intensive research encompassing physico-chemical, engineering as well as biological aspects need to be carried out to understand the applicability of such preparations in a modern context. CONCLUSION: As there are no molecular targets available for most of the traditional medicine, it is difficult to assure the safety in using this traditional preparation. Highly intensive research encompassing physico-chemical, engineering as well as biological aspects need to be carried out to understand the applicability of such preparations in a modern context.

Scientific validation of the different purification steps involved in the preparation of an Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Lauha bhasma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lauha bhasma (iron ash) is one of the iron-based herbo-metallic preparations used in Ayurvedic medicine for treating various ailments due to iron deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preparation of Lauha bhasma (iron ash) requires normal purification (heat treatment in vegetable and animal products), special purification (treatment with herbal constituents) and calcination steps aimed at converting the raw material to a suitable therapeutic form. In this study, we have systematically and scientifically evaluated through a series of qualitative tests and modern analytical tools the importance of the treating media. RESULTS: Our data demonstrates that these steps are necessary to remove the grease and scales in the raw material. While heating, microcracks appeared on the surface of the iron, which improved the reactivity with the herbal constituents in addition to incorporating nanostructured features. Further, the use of plant products facilitated the removal of Fe³âº present in the raw material by forming soluble complexes. The Fe²âº present in the raw materials also forms an insoluble complex with the herbal constituents in the presence of UV radiation. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data summarily suggest that the purification steps involved in the preparation of Lauha bhasma (iron ash) are critical.

Mercury-based traditional herbo-metallic preparations: a toxicological perspective.

This review aims to explore the toxicological aspects of mercury-based herbo-metallic preparations like cinnabar and "Rasasindura" that are primarily composed of mercuric sulfide (HgS). Cinnabar-containing preparations have been used extensively in Indian and Chinese systems of medicine for treatment of chronic ailments like syphilis, high fever, pneumonia, insomnia, nervous disorders, deafness, and paralysis of the tongue. Contrary to Western medicine, which does not promote the use of mercury due to its toxic effects, Indian and Chinese traditional practitioners believe that mercury-based formulations have potent therapeutic efficacy, while there is no toxicity due to the unique and repeated purification processes employed during preparation. However, lack of proper pharmacovigilance and widespread self-medication has resulted in undesirable effects to certain sections of the consumers of these preparations, which have contributed to the negative publicity for these forms of medicine. Variations in the quality of the preparations coupled with the lack of understanding of the differences in the recommended dosages and treatment strategies adopted by traditional medicine practitioners, further fuels concerns in the Western world on the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine. But in spite of these concerns, concerted efforts to understand the biological interactions and transformations of these preparations are yet to gain momentum. Although scattered reports on the toxicity of these preparations are available in literature, their mechanism of action has not been conclusively established. Long-term pharmacotherapeutic and in-depth toxicity studies are needed to address the apprehensions raised by these herbo-metallic preparations. This review highlights the lacunae in the studies conducted thus far, and assesses the need for further studies to provide significant data to establish the safety and efficacy of such preparations, as well as develop gold standards for stringent quality control of these preparations.