Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 3, Issue 1, 2017

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on herbal plants for the treatment of diseases including cancer. Objective and Method: Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its organosulphur compounds (OSCs) are extensively studied among various naturally occurring compounds for their anticancer effects in forestomach, esophagus, colon, mammary gland and lung cancers in experimental animals. Although the exact mechanism is not clear, but the investigation reveals that OSCs inhibit growth of cancer cells by multiple pathways, which includes inhibition of metabolism, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of angiogenesis. The organosulphur compounds include water-soluble OSCs such as S-Allyl Cysteine (SAC) and S-Allyl Mercaptocysteine (SAMC) and oil-soluble OSCs such as diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide(DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), dithiins and ajoene. The clinical trials are further needed to evaluate the effective dose in humans with no toxicity. Conclusion: The present review briefly summarizes the findings on oil-soluble organosulphur containing compounds in prevention of colon cancer with their possible mechanism of action.

Background: Autism spectrum disorders pertain to neuro-developmental disorders that threaten not only the quality of life and social activities of children (or adults) with these illnesses in their lifetime if no proper training is provided, but also multiplies social costs such as public health expenditures. A variety of treatments, including complementary and alternative medicine, demonstrate improvement, among which acupuncture shows impacts on the autistic symptoms. Method: This literature review includes 37 empirical projects with 2,743 children in mainland China, Hong Kong, the UK, and Egypt. It offers an overview of the effectiveness of acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, on enhancing impairments that affect these disorders; for example, communication and social skills, sensation, speech, motor skills, behaviour, emotion, cognition, intelligence, and self-care. Performed in different forms (for example, scalp and tongue acupuncture, auricular point pressure), this method can be used alone or with other therapies, supported by advanced technology such as electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture. Result: Although the findings are encouraging, well-designed randomised controlled studies are suggested for further research. Conclusion: In summary, acupuncture is a potential measure for treating autism.

Background: Active pharmaceutical ingredients have been reported to vary with environmental and edaphic conditions from region to region. Global resurgence in traditional and alternative health care systems has necessitated the quality standardization and authentication of medicinal plants with respect to their active ingredients which have also been stressed by World Health Organization and modern pharmacopoeias. Objectives: The present investigation is focused to find out chemotypic variation of lupeol in roots of Hemidesmus indicus collected from twelve locations belonging to ten agroclimatic regions of Madhya Pradesh state of India for its scientific validation, quality standardization and selection of elite chemotypes. Methods: 1 gm powdered root sample of each location was refluxed in methanol for 15-20 minutes consecutively three times on a water bath. The extract solutions were pooled, filtered and concentrated to get the extract residues. Dried extracts were dissolved separately in 10 ml of methanol to prepare the test samples to assess lupeol content using CAMAG HPTLC system equipped with Linomat V applicator, TLC scanner, WIN CATS software Version 1.4.8 and Hamilton Syringe (100 μL). Results: The result showed significant variation in lupeol content in the range from 0.016 to 0.299% (dry wt.). The highest content of lupeol (0.299%) was found in the accessions of Amarkantak and lowest content (0.016%) in the accessions of TFRI belonging to Northern Hills Zone of Chhattisgarh and Kymore Plateau & Satpura Hills agroclimatic regions of Madhya Pradesh, respectively. Conclusion: Variation in lupeol content resulted from the study revealed the accessions of Amarkantak of best quality and elite chemotypes which may be in situ conserved for their further exploitation to meet the demand of the species on commercial scale.

Background: Croton bonplandianum is an important medicinal plant and widely used in Indian system of medicine to heal cuts and wounds. However, systematic evaluation of wound healing activity of C. bonplandianum is lacking. Objectives: The present study was aimed to assess the wound healing activity of different parts of C. bonplandianum herbal preparations. Method: Wistar albino rats of both sexes were selected and divided into five groups, viz, untreated control, wounded rats treated with herbal preparations from leaf (CBLf), fruit (CBFt) and latex (CBLx) of C. bonplandianum and α-tocopherol. The collagen content in tissue and wound contraction rate was analysed. The levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and granulation tissue were analysed. Results: The increased levels of collagen content and wound contraction rate were observed in CBLf, CBFt and CBLx treated rats when compared with untreated control group. Increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and reduced level of lipid peroxidation were found in both serum and granulation tissue of wounded rats treated with CBLf, CBFt and CBLx. The wounded rats treated with CBLx showed more antioxidant activity, significant wound contraction rate and higher level of collagen content when compared to CBLf and CBFt treated rats. Conclusion: The results suggested that the CBLx treated rats showed maximum percentage of healing activity than CBLf and CBFt treated rats. The results of this study supported that the traditional claims of C. bonplandianum latex as a wound healer.

Background: The erythrocytes are primarily exposed to xenobiotics and are highly susceptible to endogenous oxidative damage due to presence of high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Objective: The aim of the present investigation is to assess the protective ability of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana extract (MEKB) against chemical oxidative stress induced by 2,2`- azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) on rat erythrocyte. Method: The inhibition rates of haemolysis, concentration of malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione were evaluated as the biomerkers of oxidative status. Results: Phytochemical analysis indicates the presence of phenolic compound (249.1±9.4 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gm of dry extract) and flavonoids (335±3.7 mg quercetin equivalent per gm of dry extract) in substantial amounts. In addition, the major phenolic compound determined by HPLC analysis was quercetin. MEKB displayed significant antioxidant effect by ferric reducing ability and also oxygen and DPPH radical scavenging activity. MEKB significantly protected erythrocyte against AAPH induced haemolysis and this was further substantiated by its ability to reduce membrane lipid peroxidation along with restoration of glutathione. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that MEKB may have the potential to act as natural antioxidant, thereby providing membrane stability to erythrocytes and protecting the cells from oxidative damage.

Background: Urolithiasis (UL) is the process of formation of calculi in the urinary system that includes, ureterolithiasis, urethrolithiasis and cystolithiasis, and is prevalent in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Nevertheless, exact natural drugs are not available to control the nucleation and aggregation of various renal calculi. Objective: To screen the plant species (Holarrhena antidysenterica, Alternanthera sessilis, Solanum nigrum and Centella asiatica) and identify the polyphenolic fraction that controls the formation of renal calculi. Methods: Different extraction methodologies were attempted to prepare the crude extracts. Spectroscopic analysis was performed to determine the nucleation and aggregation of renal calculus. TLC, PTLC and LC-MS-PDA analyses were executed to identify the polyphenols in the eluates. Results: An appreciable inhibition of nucleation (Nu) and aggregation (Agg) of calcium oxalate (CaOx) (Nu- 96.9±1.3%; Agg- 98.7±2.8%), struvite (Nu- 96.3±2.1%; Agg- 97.8±1.1%) and calcium phosphate (CaP) (Nu- 97.6±3.0%; Agg- 97.4±1.6%) crystals were recorded by the pressurized hot water bark extract of Holarrhena antidysenterica more than the other extracts. The studies proved significant nucleation inhibition of all types of crystals by the chromatography (planar and column) eluates of the plant species. A substantial dissolution of CaOx and CaP kidney stones was observed in the PAEs, and the chromatography eluates of Holarrhena antidysenterica and Solanum nigrum. The LC-MS-PDA analysis of Solanum nigrum revealed the presence of few novel polyphenols such as carboxylated caffeic acid phenethylester and flavonoid pentoside. Conclusion: The present investigation concludes the significant antiurolithic activity of purified polyphenols present in the Holarrhena antidysenterica and Solanum nigrum.