Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 5, Issue 4, 2019

Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb. Planch (HI) has been used to treat various ailments including obesity, osteoarthritis, arthritis, inflammation, anemia, diabetes etc. To review the major phytochemicals and medicinal properties of HI, exhaustive bibliographic research was designed by means of various scientific search engines and databases. Only 12 phytochemicals have been reported including biologically active compounds like betulin, betulinic acid, epifriedlin, octacosanol, Friedlin, Holoptelin-A and Holoptelin-B. Analytical methods including the Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography With Mass Spectral (LC-MS) analysis have been used to analyze the HI. From medicinal potency point of view, these phytochemicals have a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor. In the current review, it has been noticed that the mechanism of action of HI with biomolecules has not been fully explored. Pharmacology and toxicological studies are very few. This seems a huge literature gap to be fulfilled through the detailed in-vivo and in-vitro studies.

Background: Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens), commonly known as Mediterranean cypress is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, North America and subtropical Asia at higher altitudes. The crude, semi-purified and purified extracts of C. sempervirens have long been recognized for its pharmacological activities as evidenced by its extensive use by indigenous cultures in herbal medicines, tonics and infusion. Pharmacological properties displayed the prodigious biological activities that could be further explored for development of new herbal formulations or therapeutic agents. Aims: This review presents a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge about the ethno medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of C. sempervirens L and its future applications. Materials and Methods: Literature related to C. sempervirens and its synonyms were searched on the available online literature databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SciFinder, Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, Wiley, ACS, Scielo and Web of Science, thesis, dissertations, books, reports, local herbal encyclopedias and other relevant websites. Results: A review of literature showed that decoction of cones and young branches of C. sempervirens gave astonishing effect in the treatment of hemorrhoids and to treat excessive sweating in the feet. Enormous pharmacological properties have been found including antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, wound-healing, anticoagulant, antihyperlipidemic, anticancer, neurobiological, antidiabetic, and antiosteoporotic. Approximately 109 phytochemical constituents have been searched out as isolates from various parts of this plant comprising mostly diterpenoids and biflavonoids. Conclusion: Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have provided support for the traditional uses of C. sempervirens but further research work is required towards isolating more active constituents and for validating its clinical utilization in the herbal formulations for humans as well as investigating any potential toxicity for future clinical studies.

Although the history of P. kurrooa Royle ex Benth., popularly known as “Kutki or Kadu” dates back to the Vedic era, it has only been about 69 years since research has focussed on exploring its pharmacological properties. It is a small perennial medicinal herb that belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. Found primarily in the north-western alpine Himalayan region at the altitudes of 3000-4300 meters (amsl), the plant has immense therapeutic and medicinal properties. Uniquely gifted, the plant holds its reputation in the modern system of medicine in the treatment of liver disorders. The species has earned an endangered status lately due to various issues like unawareness on its conservation, harvesting methods, and cultivation besides others. Therefore, various new scientific methods are being developed for its propagation and conservation. This article provides an overview of the therapeutic properties, various mode of propagation as well as the molecular aspects of P. kurrooa. Also, the metabolic engineering strategies to modulate its secondary metabolite picrosides are also discussed.

Background: Carica papaya, a tree-like herb, is cultivated in more than 50 tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. The parts [leaves, fruit (ripe and unripe), seeds and latex] are used as food as well as traditional medicine in several ways for a number of diseases. Papaya, with a variety of phytochemicals like carotenoids, polyphenols, benzyl isothiocynates, benzyl glucosinates, prunasin (cyanogenic substrate), papain and chymopapain, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamins (A, C, E), carotenoids, cyanogenicglucosides, cystatin, and glucosinolates exhibits significant health benefits ranging from digestive to immune modulation. These compounds have antioxidant, chemoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-plasmodial and anti-fungal activities. Papaya aqueous leaf extract was evaluated for immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities through cytokine modulation with Th1 type shift in human immune system through molecular studies. The platelet augmenting potential of aqueous leaf extract has been reported in numerous clinical studies and deserves special mention. Objective: The scientific knowledge of carica papaya in the post-genomic era including molecular studies and clinical trials is discussed in the review. Methods: The published literature on botany, chemical composition, ethnopharmacology, and uses of papaya in food and medical industry was searched through databases like Pub- Med, Scopus, and Google scholar to comprehend the benefits of Carica papaya for human use with around more than 600 published peer- reviewed papers. Results: Many traditional and novel uses of Carica papaya for the human benefit are detailed in the review that significantly adds to the scientific knowledge of curious readers. Conclusion: Each component of the papaya plant is rich in phytochemicals and is economically important. Most of the phytochemicals are linked to biological functions and influence a variety of cellular processes; hence they have implications in refining human health.

Background: Formulations employing synergistic combinations of antibiotics with Essential Oils (EOs) could help preserve the antibiotic repertoire by improving their activity against resistant bacteria. Objective: This study was aimed to screen the antibiotics oxacillin and ciprofloxacin for synergistic interactions with cumin, oregano and rosewood EOs and the EO components cuminaldehyde, carvacrol and linalool against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (antibiotic sensitive and resistant isolates). This will provide information on formulations with synergistic combinations of EOs and antibiotics that might resensitise antibiotic resistant bacteria. Methods: Antimicrobial interactions between double and triple combinations of EOs, EO components and antibiotics were determined using the checkerboard method. The most active triple combinations were then assessed by a time-kill assay. Results: Two synergistic EO-antibiotic combinations and eight additive EO-antibiotic combinations reduced the antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration below clinical sensitivity breakpoints according to the checkerboard method. However, all the tested combinations were additive according to the time-kill assay; while the combinations completely killed S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa cells in 2 h. At least one EO compound from the combination alone completely killed the cells of test species. Conclusion: Positive interactions support the use of EOs or EO components to enhance antibiotic efficacy against antibiotic resistant bacteria. The EO-antibiotic combinations tested by the time kill assay were indifferent; therefore, the observed antimicrobial activity did not arise from synergistic mechanisms as indicated by the checkerboard method. Investigation of other synergistic combinations identified by the checkerboard method could reveal more promising candidates.