Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 3, Issue 2, 2017

Background: Obesity has developed as an epidemic and as a psychosocial problem globally at an alarming rate. The lack of physical exercise, sedentary lifestyles and the consumption of junk foods are the major contributing factors to the etiology of obesity. Overweight and obesity rank fifth as the leading risk factors for deaths globally. Method: There are a number of claimed treatment options including drug therapy, yoga, surgery, lifestyle changes and natural herbal and homeopathic remedies. Most of the synthetic drugs used for anti-obesity have one or more side effects. Moreover, the treatment is also costly. A herbal drug may be a safer as well as cost effective alternative for anti-obesity and antihyperlipidemic activity. Discussion: The article discussed the current epidemiological status and prevalence of diabetes. After introducing the conventional treatment of obesity the herbal drug research was reviewed exhaustively. Results & Conclusion: The meta analysis and SWOT analysis of herbal drug research were done, major lacunae in the current research was identified and the solutions to boost the research field were suggested. The rational and judicious use of more and more in vitro and in vivo assays, chemical fingerprinting of herbal extracts and development of validated protocols for evaluation parameters may be helpful in taking the herbal drug research for developing a bioactive lead molecule.

Background: Faujasiopsis flexuosa (Lam.) C. Jeffrey. (FF) (Asteraceae) is traditionally used in the tropical island of Mauritius to manage several diseases including dysentery, asthma, and diabetes. Attempts have been made to validate its ethnopharmacological uses using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Findings from in vitro studies have shown that FF possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-diabetic properties. Objective: This mini-review attempts to present recent scientific data on the pharmacological potential of FF and aims at extending knowledge on its ethnopharmacological applications, botanical description and phytochemical profile to the scientific community. Conclusion: Limited documentation of in vivo assays of this plant demonstrates an urgent need for extensive research in order to validate traditional uses and open new avenues for drug development.

Background: Traditionally plants are being used as an important source of medicines since ancient era. Cucurbit seeds have been used as nutritious snacks as they are rich in phytonutrients and have a wide arena of ethnopharmacological relevance. Objective: Present research study was designed to identify the phytochemicals in n-hexane seed extracts of Cucurbita pepo (CP), Cucumis melo (CM), Cucumis sativus (CS) belonging to family Cucurbitaceae by hyphenated techniques such as Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Method: Soxhlet extraction of Cucurbita pepo , Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus seeds was done using n-hexane as solvent and GCMS analysis was performed using Joel, USA with model of Accu Time of Flight GCV. Result: The components were identified by matching mass spectra with mass spectrum libraries. There were six, eight and nine different compounds analysed from CP, CM and CS extracts respectively. The components present were Palmitic acid; 17-Octadecynoic acid; Z-7-Hexadecenal; Squalene; 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-; γ-Tocopherol; 17- Octadecynoic acid; 1-Heptatriacotanol; Cholest-22-ene-21-ol-3,5-dehydro-6-methoxy-, pivalate; 9,10-Secocholesta-5,7,10(19)-triene-3,24,25-triol,(3β,5Z,7E)-; 1-Naphthalenepropanol,α-ethyldecahydro-α,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-2-methylene-[1S-[1α(Sx),4αβ,8αα)]]-; 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, 2-(acetyloxy)-1-[(acetyloxy)methyl]ethyl ester,(Z,Z,Z)-; 1-Heptatriacotanol; Ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol,(3β,5α,22E)-; Stigmaterol; D:C-Friedours-7-en-3-one in CP, CM and CS seeds extracts respectively. Conclusion: From the results obtained it is concluded that Cucurbita pepo , Cucumis melo, and Cucumis sativus contain various phytochemicals, justifying their use for various human ailments.

Objective: The tropical ginger, Zingiber montanum (J. König) A. Dietr., has significant potential in scavenging free radicals and protection of chromosomes from radiationinduced aberrations. The present investigation aims at determining antioxidant activities and radioprotective potentials of the rhizome extract of tropical ginger. Method: Sulfur (thiyl) free radical, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide radical scavenging assays were carried out to assess the antioxidant activities. Radiationinduced DNA damage in pBR322 could be significantly reduced up to 71% (P<0.05) by treatment with 60% ethanol extract (20 μg) at 50 Gy γ-radiation exposure. The LD50 and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 60% ethanol extract of Z. montanum rhizome as determined through acute toxicity tests using albino rats (Rattus norvegicus, 2n=42) as experimental model and was found to be 2.9 g/kg and 1.3 g/kg respectively. Albino rats were administered intra-peritoneal injection of 0.5 g/kg rhizome extract in 60% ethanol and were subsequently exposed to 100, 300 and 500 cGy respectively. Single cell alkaline comet assay revealed significant reduction (P < 0.05) of comet tail DNA (68%) and length (61%) in rat bone marrow cells at a radiation dose of 500 cGy. Results and Conclusion: The results do demonstrate that tropical ginger has free radical scavenging properties and can protect rat bone marrow cells from radiation-induced DNA damage. Radioprotection assay using pBR322 plasmid obviously justify that the extract at low concentration can protect DNA from undergoing strand breakage due to gamma radiation exposure.

Background: Nerium oleander leaves extract preparations have been used for centuries against sores, abscesses and solid tumors. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify active compound(s) responsible for the antiproliferative activity of N. oleander leaves against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and to explore their mechanisms of action. Methods: The methanolic extract and fractions were screened against four human cancer cell lines: HT-144, MCF-7, NCI-H460 and SF-268 using sulforhodamine B assay. The most active ethyl acetate soluble fraction led to the isolation of eleven pure compounds viz adynerigenin, adynerin, odoroside A, odoroside B, 5-O-kaempferobinoside, β-neriursate, oleanderocioic acid, oleandiginoside, oleandrin, 5-O-quercetibinoside and ursolic acid. The methanolic extract and the ethyl acetate soluble fraction exhibited significant growth inhibition (TGI: 0.14 to 3.3 μg/ml) against HT-144, MCF-7, NCI-H460 and SF-268 cell lines. The effects of the methanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble fraction, odoroside A and oleandrin on the cytoskeleton and nuclei of MCF-7 cells were evaluated using immunofluorescence microscopy. Significant reduction in the mitotic index of MCF-7 cells were exhibited by the methanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble fraction, odoroside A and oleandrin accompanied by morphological changes such as band-like arrangement of cells, reduction in F-actin processes, disruption of interphase microtubule network and condensation of nuclei. Results: These results support that the N. oleander leaves possess antiproliferative activity against the aforementioned cell lines particularly estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 cells, thereby justifying its traditional use against tumors. Moreover, the antiproliferative effects induced by the methanolic extract, ethyl acetate soluble fraction, odoroside A and oleandrin were possibly related to skeletal and nuclear morphological changes.

Background: The development of novel drug delivery systems for herbal drug application has reduced the toxicity and improved their bioavailability. This work evaluated the toxicity of crude ethanolic extract of Morus nigra (CEE-Mn)/CEE-Mn-loaded electrospun fibers and in vitro release profile of encapsulated extract. The electrospun fibers were prepared using ethanolic solution of Eudragit L-100 and CEE-Mn at different concentrations. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis were performed to identify the encapsulation degree. Method: The toxicity was evaluated by single dose toxicity assay, mice orally received CEEMn or CEE-Mn-loaded electrospun fibers (both at concentration of 2.0 g/kg). The in vitro release of CEE-Mn electrospun fibers was evaluated in simulated intestinal fluid solution. Result: The results of SEM of CEE-Mn-loaded electrospun fibers indicated a slick texture (no beads) and the FTIR confirmed the incorporation of CEE-Mn on electrospun fibers of Eudragit L-100. The CEE-Mn and CEE-Mn-loaded electrospun fibers showed a tolerable toxicity and in vitro assays demonstrated a controlled release of CEE-Mn. Conclusion: Thus, the CEE-Mn-loaded in electrospun fibers can be considered as a promising new candidate to be applied in the treatment of several pathologies.