Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 6, Issue 2, 2020

Camellia oil is a common edible oil extracted from Camellia oleifera seeds in China, and it is also a traditional medicine for stomachaches and burns in folk. Camellia oil exhibits a good regulation effect on the human heart and brain blood vessels, digestion, reproduction, neuroendocrine and immune system. Meanwhile, various bioactive components such as unsaturated fatty acids, tea polyphenols, squalene, and carotene isolated from Camellia oil exhibit significant free radical scavenging, antioxidant activity, anti-tumor, antiinflammatory and hypoglycemic effects. The material remaining after oil extraction was named as Camellia oil cake, which also contains numerous bioactive components such as sasanquasaponin (SQS), flavonoid and tannin. Many studies had shown that these components have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumor and some other special pharmacological activities. In this review, we summarize the main components and its pharmacological activities of Camellia oil and Camellia oil cake, and their applications in various industries, thus providing a valuable reference for the future development and utilization of Camellia seeds.

Background: Relations among markers, quality assessment and standardization of classical preparations like Triphala an Ayurvedic potent formulation are necessary for the selectivity as well as acceptability of genuine plant drugs and formulation. Objective: Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of three batches of in-house Triphala along with its ingredients collected from three different locations of India with respect to assess the six active markers. Methods: Phytochemical studies, spectrophotometric estimations (TPC & TFC), chromatographic (HPLC & HPTLC) methods were developed for the identification and quantification of active markers in Triphala. Results: Chemical analysis and HPTLC profiles with respect of gallic acid at Rf 0.35 of methanol extracts showed the presence of almost similar phytochemicals in three batches. The highest HPLC peak % area for corrilagin, 1,3,6-Trigalloyl-beta-D-glucose, ellagic acid and chebulinic acid was calculated to be 3.753, 5.27, 24.55 and 29.47, respectively with a majority of markers i.e. four observed in batch-III. The percentage amount of TPC at λ max 720 for batch-III of Phyllanthus emblica L., Terminalia bellirica Roxb., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Triphala was 393.1, 374.81, 628 & 644.5 mg of TAE/g dry weight equivalent, respectively. Similarly, TFC at λ max 510 for the same batch and ingredients was calculated to be 60.27, 40.043, 74.84 and 59.21 QUE/g dry weight equivalent, which were also observed to be maximum in batch-III. Conclusion: Batch-III of Triphala is of the highest quality and up to pharmacopoeial standards (API). It may be used to predict the quality and efficacy of various commercial formulations of Triphala. These outcomes may be utilized in pharmaceuticals for routine batch standardization and quality control.

Background: Many herbal drugs have been found to possess oral insulin mimetic property as evidenced from the literature. Although, to date there is no efficient, synthetic orally active insulin-mimetic drug available clinically. Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) may help in the development of such agents through Pharmacophore modeling. Objective: The present work is aimed at the In-silico designing of Pharmacophore that defines the structural requirements of a molecule to possess oral insulin-mimetic properties. Methods: A set of 16 orally active insulin-mimetic natural compounds available through literature was used to develop a structure-based pharmacophore in a “three-step filtration process” comprised of Lipinski’s rule of 5, Minimum binding energy with the receptor and Ghose filter to the Lipinski’s rule for oral bioavailability of the drugs. The selected ligands were docked with phosphorylated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase in complex with peptide substrate and ATP analog (PDB ID: 1IR3) using Autodock 4.2 and their interaction with the receptor was analyzed followed by the generation of shared and merged feature pharmacophore by Ligandscout 4.2.1. Results: There are three important structural features that contribute to interaction with the active site of the insulin receptor: these are hydrogen bond donor groups, hydrogen bond acceptor groups and hydrophobic interactions. It is important to note that positive or negative ionizable groups or the presence of aromatic rings are not important for the activity. Conclusion: Taking a clue from the developed pharmacophore, one may design new lead having necessary groups required for the insulin-mimetic activity that can be elaborated synthetically to get a series of compounds with possible oral insulin-mimetic activity.

Aims: The aim of the current study was to identify active compound(s) responsible for the antiproliferative effects of O. basilicum and explore their underlying mechanism/s. Background: Plants have been the source of medicines for the treatment of various diseases since ancient times. Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil, Bobai Tulsi) has been used in the folk medicine for the treatment of human liver, spleen and stomach cancers. Objective: To emphasize the importance of O. basilicum as a potential novel non-toxic alternative to the conventional anticancer therapy. Methods: O. basilicum (aerial parts) methanolic extract and fractions were screened against HT-144, MCF-7, NCI-H460 and SF-268 human cancer cell lines using sulforhodamine B assay. The more active Petroleum Ether Insoluble (PEI) fraction was fractionated into six sub-fractions (OB-1 to OB-6). Four pure compounds (3-O-methyl ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, 3-epi-ursolic acid and ursolic acid) were isolated from the more potent sub-fraction OB- 6. Triple channel immunofluorescence microscopy was employed to observe the effects of methanolic extract, PEI fraction, sub-fractions OB-5 and OB-6, 3-epi-ursolic acid and oleanolic acid on the cytoskeleton and nuclei of MCF-7 cells. Results: The methanolic extract and the PEI fraction exhibited selectively greater growth inhibition against MCF-7 cell line (TGI: 56 and 36.2 μg/ml, respectively). By using triple channel immunofluorescence microscopy, it was observed that the methanolic extract, PEI fraction, sub-fraction OB-5 and 3-epi-ursolic acid induced irregular mitotic spindle formation and slowing of mitotic progression in MCF-7 cells while sub-fraction OB-6 induced mitotic arrest in the prophase stage. F-actin aggregation was also visible in PEI fraction, subfraction OB-5 and 3-epi-ursolic acid treated MCF-7 cells. Conclusion: These results emphasize the importance of O. basilicum as a potential novel non-toxic alternative to the conventional anticancer therapy and suggest that it inhibits the growth of MCF-7 cancer cells via multiple mechanisms such as interaction with the microtubules and mitotic spindle apparatus, and F-actin aggregation.

Background: Human Swine flu is a viral disease caused by Influenza A virus, an orthomyxovirus, contains the glycoprotein neuraminidase described as H1N2. Neuraminidase, a glycoside hydrolase enzyme assist in budding from the host cells. The medicines available for the treatment of swine flu are Oseltamivir and Zanamivir acting against glycoproteins, mainly haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Ayurvedic medicinal system described many herbs which acts as antiviral and among that Curcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin, Cyclocurcumin, Ascorbic Acid and Eugenol have been selected based on their potential antiviral properties. Objective: This study aims to provide the interaction between Curcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin, Cyclocurcumin, Ascorbic Acid and Eugenol (herbal molecules) against influenza A virus by targeting Neuraminidase. Methods: The selected protein target (1NN2.pdb) of swine flu (neuraminidase) was downloaded from Protein Data Bank with resolution 2.2 A0. The ligands (Curcumin, Cyclocurcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin, Ascorbic acid, Eugenol and Zanamvir) for the docking study have been download form PubChem database. The present study has been performed using docking simulation with the help of AutoDock Vina. Results: Result shows that the Curcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin and Cyclocurcumin is showing good binding affinity with target protein, Nuraminidase as compared to known drug Zanamivir and other selected ligands (Eugenol, Ascorbic Acid). The docking energy values varies between -4.9 to -7.5 Kcal/mole. Conclusion: The present study has shown that the Curcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin and Cyclocurcumin showing good binding affinity with target protein, Nuraminidase as compared to known binder Zanamivir and other selected ligands (Eugenol, Ascorbic Acid). Curcumin and their derivatives (Bisdemethoxycurcumin, Cyclocurcumin) based drugs may act singly or synergistically along with other known drugs and prove to be more effective for influenza type A treatment.

Background: Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. is a herb consumed as food and has medicinal value. It is a rich source of bioactive nutrients which cure and prevent many ailments. Traditionally, it is used to treat hypertension, diabetes, constipation, cancer etc. Methods and Objective: Present work illustrates morphological, microscopic and physicochemical parameters of Fagopyrum esculentum seeds as per WHO guidelines, in vitro antioxidant activity; assessed by DPPH scavenging method, hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and β-carotene linoleic acid bleaching method and study of lipid lowering potential of the ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of seeds on normal diet fed Wistar rats. Results: Morphological studies delineated the triangular shape, dark brown colour, 8 mm length and 6 mm width of the seed. The microscopic examination of the transverse section of seed depicted features like testa or pericarp (seed coat), the endosperm, embryo and sclerenchyma cells. Study of physiochemical parameters exhibited 0.3±0.02% of foreign matter and 1.44±0.51% crude fibre content. Total ash, acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash value were 6.7±1.7%, 1.9±0.23% and 3.9± 0.31% respectively. Alcohol soluble and water soluble extractive value came out to be 65.02± 3.21 mg/g and 12.7±1.24 mg/g respectively. Foaming index was less than 100, swelling index was found to be 0.5±0.01 ml/g. Loss on drying was 4.02±1.27%. Phytochemical screening of ethyl acetate and ethanol extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, phytosterols and flavonoids. Trace amount of heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Pesticide residue analysis confirmed the presence of nontoxic pesticides like dimethipin, hymexazol, phenothrin-2, methoprene, triadimenol, prohydrojasmon- 1, jasmolin ii, triademinol, jasmolin i, prohydrojasmone i, cyromazine in both the extracts by gc-ms spectrometer. The ethyl acetate and ethanol extract has shown significant in-vitro antioxidant activities demonstrated by the DPPH method (IC50 = 94.37±2.51 and 216.04±4.39 μg/ml respectively), hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay (IC50 = 83.72±3.72 and 193.47±5.05 μg/ml respectively) and β-carotene bleaching method (IC50 = 100.67±4.01 and 205.39±2.89 μg/ml respectively). Lipid lowering study performed on Wistar rats demonstrated a significant (p<0.001) decrease in serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG) and increase in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) level as compared to normal group. Both the extracts have shown a non significant difference in the level of TG as compared to standard drug atorvastatin, depicting that the efficacy of extracts is at par with that of standard drug atorvastatin. Conclusion: Pharmacognostical study of the plant can be a very good tool for identification as well as authentication of a herb. Moreover, these parameters may be helpful in the development of monograph of the plant. Pharmacological activity confirmed Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. seed to be a good antioxidant and have lipid lowering potential.