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Aims and Background: The most prevalent chronic joint disease, which remains as one of the few chronic disorders of ageing is Osteoarthritis (OA). One of the predominant symptoms of OA is pain, with very little effective treatment and contributes to limitations in daily functioning. Therapy of pain due to OA includes pharmaceutical agents that need to be used in lowest possible dose to avoid adverse effects. Lot of advances have taken place in understanding the pathogenesis of OA, however, relief of pain have always remained an unfulfilled need. The anti-inflammatory property of Curcumin is mediated through the inhibition of induction of COX-2, LOX, iNOS and production of cytokines and tumor necrosis factor and activation of transcription factors like NF-κB, and AP-1. Its oral bioavailability is extremely poor. Material and Methods: In the current study, Liposomal Curcumin was administered to 30 patients suffering from pain due to OA for 30 days. The therapeutic activity was assessed by reduction in the pain severity based on NPRS Score. Results: By 30 days, there was statistically significant decrease in NPRS score. The pain reduced significantly along with decrease in weakness and fatigue. Improvement in daily physical functioning was shown by the WOMAC Arthritis Index. In 10 subjects the serum levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)α were examined at baseline and at 30th day. There was 76% improvement in TNF-α levels and 62% improvement in IL-6 levels in these subjects. Conclusion: These results have shown for the first time in Indian population the efficacy of Liposomal Curcumin for OA Pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem in India. The development of a new drug of natural origin that assures safety with moderate but definite efficacy is the need of the time. Authors have developed formulation containing phytoactives from Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb and Andrographis paniculata Nees in specific proportion for the first time, as an anti-diabetic supplement which improves the glycemic control. We aim to study the effect of PtyroneTM in patients with treated uncontrolled T2DM and its safety and tolerability. Study Design: In an open labelled trial, 115 patients with T2DM were divided in three groups: Metformin, Metformin + Gliptins and Metformin + Sulphonylurea. PtyroneTM capsules were given to all the patients along with their OHA's, orally twice a day for 12 weeks. Laboratory investigations were studied at the baseline and at fixed intervals till the end of the study. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease (p value< 0.0001) in fasting and post prandial blood sugar along with triglycerides in all groups. There was reduction in levels of glycosylated haemoglobin also in all the groups. All other biochemical investigations were within normal limits. PtyroneTM capsules were well tolerated clinically and no serious adverse events were reported during the period of therapy. Conclusion: The authors have shown, for the first time, the therapeutic potential of PtyroneTM at a dose of 450 mg twice a day supplemented along with anti-diabetic medications. This therapeutic efficacy needs to be evaluated further in a larger sample size, with a placebo/active controlled randomized double blind multicentric trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and one of the most commonly used vitamins. With increasing vitamin C intake, the plasma steady state concentration reaches a maximal level of about 70-80 μM. However, from the available literature, it appears that a daily intake of about 200-400 mg of vitamin C ensures saturation of the blood in healthy individuals. Bioavailability can be increased by various methods, such as encapsulation, micronisation, etc. VitaLip-C is a liposomal form of vitamin C, which is shown to be clinically proven and evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for the presence of liposomes. Materials and Methods: In the present study, authors have studied the relative bioavailability of VitaLip-C with the marketed formulation of vitamin C in animals. Results and Conclusion: It has been observed that VitaLip-C has 88.76% higher relative oral bioavailability in comparison to marketed formulation claiming 500 mg of vitamin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Curcumin is a naturally derived yellow polyphenolic compound from the rhizome Curcuma longa. Curcumin modulates various signalling pathways, such as Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs), glutathione, protein kinase C, ATPase, nuclear Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kb), Activator protein 1 (AP-1), P-glycoprotein 1 (P-gp), Multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP-1, MRP-2), Receptor tyrosine-protein kinase (ErbB2), Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein AGP), Cyclin D1 etc. Curcumin, as a free drug, has a short plasma half-life because it is rapidly metabolised in the liver. Its oral bioavailability is extremely poor, and hence Curcumin is classified as a class IV compound in the BCS system. Materials and Methods: Authors of the current study have formulated Liposomal Curcumin and conducted a Relative Oral Bioavailability Study of Liposomal Curcumin in comparison with plain Curcumin in rats. The treatment group was given Curcumin 25% I lipo at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight and the control group was given plain Curcumin 500 mg/ kg body weight of the rats. Observations: Oral administration of Liposomal Curcumin showed rapid absorption (tmax =15 min) with Peak plasma concentration (Cmax), Area under Curve (AUC) and half-life (t1/2) of 42.3 ng/ml, 244 ng.h/ml and 5.5 h, respectively. In the control group, the Curcumin levels were below the level of quantitation (5.43 ng/ml). Conclusion: This study shows that Liposomal Curcumin has higher bioavailability as compared to the marketed formulations of Curcumin. Further extensive clinical studies are needed to prove efficacy of Liposomal Curcumin in various human applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide next only to water for enjoyment and health, and is available in various forms. Amongst all types of tea, Green tea is a popular drink, especially in Asian countries, although its popularity continues to spread across the globe. Various studies have been conducted since many years to understand the health benefits of Green tea which is derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea is composed of polyphenols, caffeine, minerals, and trace amounts of vitamins, amino acids, and carbohydrates. Green tea contains more catechins, than black tea. There are four main catechins (polyphenols) found in Green tea: (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). All of them are known to boost the immunity in humans. Amongst these ECG, EGC, and EGCG have been shown to have antimicrobial action against a variety of microbes. Catechins are in vitro and in vivo strong antioxidants. In addition, the minerals and vitamins increase the antioxidant potential of this type of tea. Since ancient times, the traditional Chinese medicine has considered Green tea as a healthy beverage. It is known that the polyphenols present in Green tea stimulate the central nervous system and maintain overall health in humans. Much research is available depicting the health benefits of Green tea for a wide variety of implications, including different types of disorders. The current paper reviews such health benefits with a focus on its polyphenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Childhood Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is a significant public health problem especially in developing countries like India. Humoral immunity as well as cellular immunity act to reduce infections throughout the entire respiratory tract. Literature suggests that Vitamin C possesses the anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant properties which boost the Immune system. Unfortunately, the highly unstable nature of Vitamin C has posed technological challenges for its incorporation into different food systems. We investigate the use of Liposomal Vitamin C which provides a well-tolerated, easily absorbed and highly bioavailable form of Vitamin C without any unpleasant side-effects. Material and Methods: In the current study we studied for the first time effect of Liposomal Vitamin C in children aged 4 to 12 years suffering from URTI. This study was approved by Ethics Committee and registered with CTRI. Out of 30 participants, 26 children completed the study. The scoring was based on 'The Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS)' for Kids. Results: Within 4-5 days of starting of treatment with Liposomal Vitamin C, the score as indicated by the WURSS scale had reduced. The symptoms also subsided and no recurrence was observed till the end of 30 days. Conclusion: The results suggest that Liposomal Vitamin C can be useful as an adjunct in the management of URTI to improve immunity. Further study with larger sample size and suitable clinical markers is required for better understanding of the effect of Liposomal Vitamin C and its mode of action in boosting Immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]