Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2018

Background: The clinical efficacy of the current anticancer agents that are being in use was reduced due to reappearance of carcinoma and severe adverse effects of chemotherapy agents. Hence there is a need to discover novel anticancer molecules which is possible from nature only. The dual topo drugging is an important phenonomena in the cancer treatment. Even though many synthetic drugs as topo- poisons have been developed and used in the clinical trials, but having many challenges and are not successful due to cancer resistance. Objective: Hence there is a current demand for new human dual topo-poisons I & II, which is possible from unexplored plants and algal sources. Conclusion: Hence the current review is focused on the importance of latest discovered topopoison leads like (Tetrahydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(octadecahydro-2,7,10atrimethyl- 1-propylchrysen-8-yloxy)-2HPyran- 3,4,5-triol, (1E)-1-hydroxyprop-1-en-2-yl (2E)-3-(4- hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate, Ruscogenin etc., from the unexplored weeds of the Niligiris like Solanum mauritianum, Cytisus scoparius etc. and also the novel lipids like Sulpha quinovosyl dicyl glycerol and methyl gamma linolenate discovered recently from the algae like Arthrospira Platensis using current high throughput screening technologies like flash chromatography and in-silico molecular tools.

Background: Medicinal plants play an important role in the world's human healthcare system including folk practices as well as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. Approximately, 80% of the world's human population relies on the usage of traditional medicine which is primarily based on plant-derived drugs. Liver is the most important organ for the detoxification of various toxins and disposition of the endogenous substances. It is always exposed to the toxins and chemotherapeutic agents that lead to hepatotoxicity. Herbal drugs and their pharmaceutical formulations have been used in the treatment of liver diseases and hepatotoxicity for a long time. Aims: The present review is aimed at compiling data on promising medicinal plants that have been tested in hepatotoxicity models using the modern scientific system. Materials and Methods: Literature surveys on scientific national and international journals, books as well as electronic resources were performed. Results: It showed several herbal drugs and their pharmaceutical formulations that have hepatoprotective activity. The herbal medicines mentioned were of an enormous value. Conclusion: This reported insight of herbal drugs and their pharmaceutical formulations will definitely be helpful to the future researchers and the practitioners while deciding and choosing an effective drug for the treatment of liver diseases and hepatotoxicity.

Chyawanprash is “the foremost of all rasayanas” known for delaying the ageing process and had been one of the most respected anti-ageing ayurvedic tonic since ages. The content of this manuscript is intended to highlight the scientific basis of use of Chyawanprash by Rishi Chaywan who has claimed Chyawanprash as a wonderful product transforming an old aged person to a rejuvenated one. In this manuscript, authors are hypothesizing the rejuvenative/corrective role of various components of Chyawanprash based on scientific evidences created by different scientist groups all over the world. There is a plethora of scientific evidences that support theory of Rishi Chaywan for his rejuvenation by use of Chaywanprash. A number of reviews and quality standardisation studies have been conducted on this formulation and evidences for individual components have been made available. However, there is lack of systematic scientific studies on preparation as a whole for its wonder therapeutic actions. There is a need to start concerted clinical trials on scientific evidences for components of Chaywanprash so that the formulation can be further promoted on scientific basis all over the world.

Background: Muehlenbeckia sagittifolia (Ortega) Meisn. is widely used to manage arthritis, inflammation, hepatic disorders, skin conditions, allergies, and diabetes mellitus. Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant properties as well antinociceptive activity of methanol extract of M. sagittifolia (MEMS). Method: The antioxidant properties of methanol extract of MEMS were evaluated using different in vitro systems. A xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, which generates superoxide radicals, was used to evaluate the superoxide radical scavenging activity of MEMS and its ability to inhibit xanthine oxidase activity. The interaction with peroxyl radicals was assayed by the luminol chemiluminescence intensity induced by an azo initiator, with the measurements of total reactive antioxidant potential and total antioxidant reactivity. The hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal chelating activities also were evaluated. In addition, antinociceptive activity of MEMS was investigated by formalin test. Results: The GC-MS analysis of the extract showed a mixture of different compounds including hexadecanoic and octadecatrienoic acids as well as vitamin E. MEMS inhibited xanthine oxidase activity and showed the ability to scavenge peroxyl and superoxide radicals. However, MEMS did not show any metal chelating activity and was unable to scavenge hydrogen peroxide. MEMS (intraperitoneally) was ineffective in first phase of the formalin test what could exclude centrally mediated antinociceptive activity. MEMS significantly inhibited the late nociception phase induced by formalin in mice, indicating an anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Muehlenbeckia sagittifolia exhibits antioxidant activity and antinociceptive action in inflammatory pain and can validate its traditional use in inflammatory conditions.

Background: Quisqualis indica Linn (Q.indica), family- Combretecea, vining and evergreen plant, is broadly grown in India as ornamental plant in most of the gardens. Traditionally, different parts of this plant (root, seed, fruit) have different uses such as killing of parasitic worms; fruits are also used for nephritis; leaves as to relieve pain; whereas roots are used to treat rheumatism. Pharmacologically, Q. indica have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-staphylococcal, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity etc. Objective: In the present study, micro and macroscopic characteristics of fresh and dried leaves were determined and physiochemical parameters, quantitave microscopy and phytochemical screening were done as per the WHO guidelines. Anti-oxidant activity was done using DPPH method. HPTLC detection was conducted using lupeol and urosolic acid. Standards were scanned at 550 and 522 nm, respectively. Result: Microscopic parameters (Q. indica) showed the presence of trichomes (different types), stomata calcium oxalate crystals, parencymatous cells, epidermis, phloem and xylem. Total ash value, water soluble ash, acid soluble ash, water soluble extract, alcohol soluble extract, loss on drying, swelling index and foaming index were found to be 7.84±0.79, 3.4±0.02, 1.2±0.01, 60.1±1.75, 19.9±1.30, 7.8±0.79, 2.4±0.33, less than 100. Different quantitative parameters were established. Phytochemical analysis of different extracts showed the presence of different primary and secondary metabolites like alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds etc. The IC50 value was found to be 14 and 12.5 in case of ethanolic extract and aqueous extract of Q.indica. HPTLC data showed the presence of both the standards. The amount of Lupeol was found to be 0.011% while Urosolic acid was 0.018%. An attempt was made to explore the proteinaceous nature of selected extracts and was subjected to western blotting. Promising results were obtained as the extract exhibited 70, 50, 55, 48, 35, 30, 25 and 10 kda in all the cases. The obtained protein was found to exhibit impressive antimicrobial activity. Further studies are under progress on selected plants. Conclusion: The research data generated may serve as a supporting reference for future research work. Researchers may also use a supportive data while preparing monograph. Standardization parameters may be of use in quality control studies on selected plants in the near future.