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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The plant Cleome gynandra L. (Capparidaceae), is commonly known as 'Hurhur'and 'Karaila' in India and 'Cat's whiskers' in English. Traditionally the whole plant is used in the treatment of tumor, anti-inflammatory and lysosomal stability actions. AIM OF STUDY: The objective of present study is to explore the anticancer activity of the methanol extract of the Cleome gynandra in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anticancer activity of methanol extract of Cleome gynandra (MECG) was evaluated in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line at the doses of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. MECG was administered for nine consecutive days. Twenty-four hours of last dose and 18 h of fasting, the mice were sacrificed and antitumor effect of MECG assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight and hematological parameters of EAC bearing host. RESULTS: MECG showed significant decrease in (p<0.01) tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile such as RBC, hemoglobin, WBC and lymphocyte count reverted to normal level in MECG treated mice. CONCLUSION: From the result it was showed that the extract has potent dose dependent anticancer activity and that is comparable to that of 5-fluorouracil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive decline in cognitive function and behaviour. Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale Roscoe, has been an important ingredient of many Ayurveda formulations to treat neurological disorders. The present study aims to estimate the variation of 6-gingerol content in nine different ginger samples collected from Manipur, India, investigate the neuroprotective potential of the most potent ginger sample against scopolamine-induced cognitively impaired mice, and validate the therapeutic claim by molecular docking analysis. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analysis suggested that the sample GV6 had the highest 6-gingerol content with potent in vitro acetylcholnesterase (AChE) (IC50 = 336.10 µg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (IC50 = 411.73 µg/mL) enzyme inhibitory activity. The neuroprotective potential of GV6 was tested in scopolamine-induced cognitively impaired mice (200 and 400 mg/kg). The behavioral analysis showed that GV6 alleviated the spatial recognition, and short-term and long-term memory in the experimental mice model. GV6 significantly improved brain AChE and BChE activity, acetylcholine (ACh) level, markedly alleviated the antioxidant parameters, and reversed the neuroinflammation. Brain histopathological observations confirmed the presence of organized nerve fibers, improvement of neuronal cell density, and reverse the nucleus shrinkage. Further molecular docking analysis showed that 6-gingerol and galantamine exhibited stable interaction with AChE (-7.5 and - 7.3 kcaL/moL) and BChE (-7.3 and - 8.5 kcaL/moL). The present study emphasizes the quality-related therapeutic importance of ginger samples from Northeast India and demonstrates that administration of GV6 may improve brain cognitive functions by restoring neurotransmitter levels and inflammatory and antioxidant parameters in scopolamine-induced cognitively impaired mice., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: This study was performed according to The Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals. Approval was granted by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (Approval Number: JU/IAEC-22/10). Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae) is an essential food plant in India possessing antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities., Objective: The objective included comparative estimation of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzyme inhibition potential of B. hispida fractions prepared by microwave-assisted extraction and prediction of metabolite interaction against non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by metabolite profiling based network pharmacology analysis., Methods: A validated microwave-assisted extraction method was employed to obtain different fractions of B. hispida fruits. The in vitro enzyme assay was done with p-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside and acarbose as standard to evaluate antidiabetic potential. The phytomolecules present in the active fraction were identified by UHPLC-QToF-MS/MS analysis. Network pharmacology analysis gave possible gene and disease association, combination synergy network, and predicted probable mechanism of action., Results: The highest enzyme inhibition potential (IC 50 ) was shown by the ethyl acetate fraction (0.546 ± 0.17 mg/mL and 1.134 ± 0.42 mg/mL) compared to acarbose (0.298 ± 0.08 mg/mL and 0.532 ± 0.38 mg/mL), respectively, for α-glucosidase and α-amylase addressing the potential role in ameliorating non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Metabolite profiling resulted in the identification of 17 metabolites, and a synergy between the identified molecules suggested multimolecule action in the amelioration of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus through insulin resistance pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Combination synergy of identified molecules was observed through a multitarget approach to manage non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus., Conclusion: Polyphenol-enriched fraction of B. hispida fruits and identified phytocompounds ameliorate non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Thus, enriched extract of B. hispida can be further investigated in order to develop high-quality, safe, and effective products for the management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. (M. dioica Roxb.) a nutritious and therapeutic property rich crop of Cucurbitaceae plant family. In various folklore medicine including Ayurveda fruits are used to treat several metabolic related disorders i.e., hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity etc. Furthermore, traditionally it is used to treat fever, inflammation, ulcer, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, hypertension and also employed as cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, analgesic, diuretic., Aim of the Study: This study focuses to explore the therapeutic potential of Momordica dioica Roxb. ex Willd. through in-vitro and in-silico approach for managing hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and related metabolic disorders along with its phytochemical profiling for quality evaluation and validation of traditional claim., Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out on hydroalcohol extract of dried leaf and fruit of Momordica dioica. In-vitro antioxidant potential using DPPH and Nitric oxide scavenging assay along with in-vitro enzyme inhibitory potential against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase enzymes was studied. The bioactive metabolites were identified from the most potent bioactive extract by analysis with LC-QTOF-MS and also studied their role to lessen the metabolic related disorder through in-silico approaches., Results: The results confirmed that the fruit extract is more active to possess antioxidant and prominent enzyme inhibition potential compared to the leaf. Sixteen identified metabolites in M. dioica Roxb. fruits may be responsible for the therapeutic potential related to metabolic related disorder. The in-silico study of the identified phytomolecules against α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase showed significant docking scores ranging from -9.8 to -5.5, -8.3 to -4.8 and -8.3 to -6 respectively., Conclusion: The current study illustrated that M. dioica Roxb., a traditionally important plant is potential against metabolic related disorders. Phytocomponents present in the fruit extract may be responsible for antioxidant as well as the enzymes' inhibitory potential. Thus, fruits of M. dioica Roxb. will be useful as alternative therapeutics for treatment of hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and related metabolic disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The dried rhizome of Paris polyphylla Sm. is extensively used by traditional healers in India, China, and Vietnam to treat skin inflammation, cut wounds, uterine and traumatic bleeding, and cancer., Aim of the Study: The traditional use of P. polyphylla rhizomes for treating wounds and bleeding has been reported previously. However, the potential of P. polyphylla in the treatment of diabetic wounds has not yet been explored. Our present study focused on the investigation of the wound-healing activity of P. polyphylla infused ointment in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats to validate the traditional claim., Materials and Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of the dried rhizomes of P. polyphylla were quantified by validated and optimized HPTLC (High-performance thin layer chromatography) method for Paris saponin VII, Dioscin and Polyphyllin V. The extract was used to prepare P. polyphylla ointments (5 and 10%). P. polyphylla ointment was subjected to physiochemical analysis and skin irritation test. Thirty STZ-induced diabetic adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups (n = 6) and a circular excision wound was created. P. polyphylla ointment, ointment base (OB), and standard (STD) (Povidone Iodine 10%) were administered topically. The wound area of all groups were recorded every six days and compared with that of control. The epithelization period of each group was recorded. On day 18, the histopathological study of skin tissues of all groups was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Mallory's trichrome (MT)., Results: Marker analysis and quantification of phytomolecules in hydroalcoholic extract ofP. Polyphylla were found to be of paris saponin VII (3.28 ± 0.08% w/w), dioscin (1.94 ± 0.12% w/w), and polyphyllin V (1.87 ± 0.84% w/w). A physiochemical study of P. polyphylla ointment showed that the prepared ointment was within an acceptable range and was not irritable to the skin. Daily topical administration of 10% P. polyphylla ointment (PP10) for 18 days completely healed the STZ-induced diabetic wounds. On day 18, the 5% P. polyphylla ointment (PP5) showed 99.1 ± 2.9% wound closure, while that of the standard and control was 78.4 ± 7.3% and 18.5 ± 5.9%, respectively. The epithelialization period of PP10 was 18 days, whereas that of the control was 28 days. Histopathological analysis of the progression of PP10 and PP5 wounds showed a decrease in inflammatory cells, regenerated epithelial layer, keratosis layer, hair follicles, fibroblasts, and collagen. Upon collagen intensity quantification of MT stained sections, an increase in collagen density of PP10 and PP5 treated groups was observed, showing accelerated wound healing potential of P. polyphylla extract in diabetic wounds compared to the standard ointment., Conclusion: This study suggested the potential of P. polyphylla rhizomes derived formulation to treat diabetic wounds, although the plant is traditionally used to treat normal wounds. The results indicate the validation of traditional claim, which has been explored commercially in industrial aspect., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: The Bruguiera cylindrica L. is a mangrove plant that is typically found in coastal areas of Asia, including India. It has been known for its medicinal properties, which have been utilized for generations. For example, in Thailand, it has been used to treat wounds and diarrhoea, while in India, it has been effective in addressing diabetes, ulcers, and other health issues. This particular study sought to investigate the potential of B. cylindrica bark extract in reducing the symptoms of diabetes in rats., Methods: In this study, we examined the potential of B. cylindrica bark extract as an inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro. We also evaluated the effects of the extract and Metformin on rats fed high-fat diets and measured their lipid profiles and biochemical parameters. Furthermore, we conducted a network pharmacology analysis to identify proteins and pathways involved in the amelioration of diabetes., Results: Through metabolite profiling, we identified 58 compounds in B. cylindrica hydroalcoholic extract. These compounds include alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, and fatty acids. The extract was found to have a dose-dependent inhibition activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values similar to acarbose. In rats, oral administration of 200-400 mg/kg of B. cylindrica led to reduced blood glucose levels and normalized serum biochemical parameters., Conclusions: Bruguiera cylindrica bark may reduce blood sugar levels in rats with diabetes. The study found metabolites that interact with protein targets associated with different types of diabetes., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) varies widely due to varying concentrations of phytochemicals and geographical origin. Rapid non-invasive quality and traceability assessment techniques ensure a sustainable value chain., Objective: The objective of this study is the development of suitable machine learning models to estimate the concentration of 6-gingerol and check traceability based on the spectral fingerprints of dried ginger samples collected from Northeast India and the Indian market using near-infrared spectrometry., Methods: Samples from the market and Northeast India underwent High Performance Liquid Chromatographic analysis for 6-gingerol content estimation. Near infrared (NIR) Spectrometer acquired spectral data. Quality prediction utilized partial least square regression (PLSR), while fingerprint-based traceability identification employed principal component analysis and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). Model performance was assessed using RMSE and R 2 values across selective wavelengths and spectral fingerprints., Results: The standard normal variate pretreated spectral data over the wavelength region of 1,100-1,250 nm and 1,325-1,550 nm showed the optimal calibration model with root mean square error of calibration and R 2 C (coefficient of determination for calibration) values of 0.87 and 0.897 respectively. A lower value (0.24) of root mean square error of prediction and a higher value (0.973) of R 2 P (coefficient of determination for prediction) indicated the effectiveness of the developed model. t-SNE performed better clustering of samples based on geographical location, which was independent of gingerol content., Conclusion: The developed NIR spectroscopic model for Indian ginger samples predicts the 6-gingerol content and provides geographical traceability-based identification to ensure a sustainable value chain, which can promote efficiency, cost-effectiveness, consumer confidence, sustainable sourcing, traceability, and data-driven decision-making., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The different varieties of melons ( Cucumis melo L.) have been used in various traditional systems of medicine for decades to treat different ailments, including inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, edema, etc. The present study was designed for the quantification of cucurbitacin E in five different varieties of melon fruit through a validated RP-HPLC method. A solvent system is being optimized with a 70:30 ( v/v ) ratio of acetonitrile: water (1% glacial acetic acid) at a 1 mL/min flow rate and scanning spectrum (λ max ) of 230 nm. A calibration curve for standard cucurbitacin E was generated and found to be linear (1-100 µg/mL). The variation of cucurbitacin E content among five different varieties of melon fruits is 0.0129% w/w - 0.231% w/w . This precise and reproducible method may be beneficial in addressing the quality-related aspects of medicinal food plants of Cucurbitaceae and its derived products or formulations.

Background: The medicinal plants of the Cucurbitaceae family, such as Solena heterophylla Lour. fruits, have significant ethnobotanical value and are readily accessible in North East India., Aims: We conducted a study on Solena heterophylla Lour. fruits to evaluate their anti-diabetic activity in vivo, standardize their HPTLC, and profile their metabolites using LC-QTOF-MS. We aimed to explore the molecular mechanism behind their effects on oxidative stress and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)., Methods: Firstly, the ethyl acetate fraction of Solena heterophylla Lour. fruits was standardized using Cucurbitacin B as a standard marker by conducting HPTLC evaluation. Next, we delved into analyzing metabolite profiling. In addition, the standardized fraction was utilized in an experimental study to investigate the molecular mechanism of action in an in vivo high-fat diet and a low dose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic model., Results: We have reportedly identified 52 metabolites in the ethyl acetate fraction of Solena heterophylla (EASH). In the in vitro tests, it has been observed that this extract from plants possesses notable inhibitory properties against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Solena heterophylla fruits with high levels of Cucurbitacin B (2.29% w/w) helped lower FBG levels in animals with EASH treatment. EASH treatment reduced HbA1c levels and normalized liver lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme levels. SGOT, SGPT, and SALP serum enzyme levels also returned to normal., Conclusion: Based on the current evaluation, it was found that EASH exhibited encouraging hypoglycemic effects in diabetic rats induced by a low dose of STZ and high-fat diet, which warrants further investigation., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. In developing countries, it is the cause of increased morbidity and mortality. Diabetes and its complications are associated with education, occupation, and income across all levels of socioeconomic status. Factors, such as hyperglycemia, social ignorance, lack of proper health knowledge, and late access to medical care, can worsen diabetic complications. Amongst the complications, neuropathic pain and inflammation are considered the most common causes of morbidity for common populations. This review is focused on exploring protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated TGF-946; regulation in diabetic complications with particular emphasis on allodynia. The role of PKC-triggered TGF-946; in diabetic neuropathy is not well explored. This review will provide a better understanding of the PKC-mediated TGF-946; regulation in diabetic neuropathy with several schematic illustrations. Neuroinflammation and associated hyperalgesia and allodynia during microvascular complications in diabetes are scientifically illustrated in this review. It is hoped that this review will facilitate biomedical scientists to better understand the etiology and target drugs effectively to manage diabetes and diabetic neuropathy., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Houttuynia cordata (Thunb.), an important medicinal plant of Northeast India, Korea, and China, is used to treat various ailments and for anticancer research. Knowing its traditional practices, we are interested in the mode-of-action of HCT on HepG2 to co-relate the traditional practice with modern drug therapeutics. UPLC-Q-ToF-Ms analysis of HCT reveals identification of 14 metabolites. Network pharmacology analysis of the 14 compounds showed interaction with 232 different targets with their potential involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma. Whole extracts impart cytotoxicity on variety of cell lines including HepG2. There was a significant morphological alteration in treated HepG2 cells due to impairment of cytoskeletal components like β and γ- tubulin. Arrest at G 1 -S checkpoint was clearly indicated downregulation of Cyclin D1. The root extracts actuated apoptosis in HepG2 as evident from altered mitochondrial membrane potential, Annexin V- FITC, BrdU-PI, AO/EtBr assays, and modulations of apoptotic protein expression but without ROS generation. Whole extracts caused abrogation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition with repression of Snail, N-Cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-9, and upregulation of Pan-Cadherin. Pathway analysis found GSK-3β in Wnt/β-Catenin signaling cascade to be involved through Hepatocellular carcinoma (hsa05225) pathway. The GSK-3β/β-Catenin/PDL-1 signaling was found to be inhibited with the downregulation of pathway components. This was further confirmed by application of EGF, an inducer of the GSK-3β/β-Catenin pathway that neutralized the effect of Houttuynia cordata (Thunb.) root extract on the said pathway. Network pharmacology analysis also confirms the synergy network with botanical-bioactive-target-disease which showed Kaempferol to have the highest degree of association with the said pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We declare no competing financial interest and all the result are original research. The data presented herein have not been published elsewhere. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Andrographis paniculata (family Acanthaceae) is known as Kalmegh, one of the traditionally used important medicinal plant contains several biologically active phytochemical including andrographolide. A. paniculata is broadly used by healthcare practitioners in India and also used in different traditional medicinal system. In this study, the leaves of A. paniculata were collected from West Medinipur, East Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Purulia and Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. This study aiming towards validation and development of a simple, precise and reproducible reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) methods for quantification of andrographolide in A. paniculata extracts. The validated RP-HPLC and HPTLC study confirmed that different concentrations of andrographolide content present in the plant samples, which are collected from above different districts of West Bengal, India. The amounts of andrographolide were found to be 2.71% (w/w), 3.19% (w/w), 1.83% (w/w), 1.73% (w/w) and 2.94% (w/w) in RP-HPLC study and 2.13% (w/w), 2.51% (w/w), 1.01% (w/w), 1.25% (w/w) and 2.15% (w/w) in HPTLC study. This precise, reproducible, accurate and specific method can be used for the quantification of andrographolide in kalmegh, as per the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines recommendations., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Black rice (Oryza sativa L.), which is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, is indigenous to Northeast India, specifically Manipur, and traditionally consumed for its protective effects on human health. Due to its economic value, it is crucial to evaluate the quality of different black rice varieties to authenticate their therapeutic and nutritional properties., Objective: We aimed to evaluate the quality of pre- and post-marketed black rice samples by a validated high-performance thin layer chromatography method and determine variations of total phenolics and total flavonoids with antioxidant potential., Material and Methods: The ferulic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, and caffeic acid contents of three black rice varieties-Poireiton, Amubi, and Sempak-along with two marketed samples of Amubi from Manipur, India, were quantified based on standards. Antioxidant potential was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl hydrate free radical scavenging assay., Results: The highest and lowest relative biomarker contents were found in hydroalcoholic extracts of Amubi [caffeic acid (1.43% w/w), ferulic acid (1.15% w/w), quercetin (0.6% w/w), and gallic acid (0.39% w/w)] and the marketed sample Var. Amubi from Kakching District, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient of antioxidant potential with phenolic and flavonoid content showed a moderate to strong correlation for all samples., Conclusion: This validated, rapid, accurate standardization method for black rice varieties will be beneficial for the quality evaluation of black rice and its derived products. It will also be helpful to authenticate the nutritional benefits for the consumers., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in carrageenan (CARR) induced inflammation models to reprofile their use. We also aimed to explore the role of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-mediated H 2 O 2 -NF-κB-COX-2 pathway in acute inflammation., Methods: In vitro anti-inflammatory activity and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) scavenging activity were performed according to the established procedure. Inflammation was induced using CARR in BALB/c mice at the foot paw and peritoneal cavity. Hourly measurement of paw swelling was performed. The level of nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peritoneal fluid was collected to investigate total count, differential count of leukocytes, and capillary permeability., Results: In vitro anti-inflammatory evaluations revealed the potential role of MAOI to inhibit heat-induced protein denaturation and human red cell membrane destabilization. H 2 O 2 inhibition activity of MAOI also proved their powerful role as an H 2 O 2 scavenger. Treatment with MAOI in CARR-induced mice significantly reduced paw edema, leukocyte extravasation, and total and differential leukocyte count. The result of ELISA showed MAOI effectively reduce the level of COX-2, PGE 2 and NF-κB in inflamed tissue., Conclusions: In short, this study demonstrates that inhibition of H 2 O 2 by MAOI alleviates CARR-induced paw edema possibly by inhibiting the H 2 O 2 -mediated NF-κB-COX-2 pathway. The present investigation identifies MAOI might reprofile for the treatment of acute inflammation also, the MAO enzyme may use as a novel therapeutic target to design and develop new class of anti-inflammatory agents., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Apiaceae), commonly known as "Ajwain" is distributed throughout India. Ajwain fruits contain fiber, carbohydrates, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tannins. The fruits also yield a small amount of essential oil, with Thymol as the principal constituent. Ajwain has various pharmacological activities like anti-leishmanial, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antispasmodic, nematocidal, and anthelmintic. The fruits are of high therapeutic value; thus, it becomes quite essential to evaluate the quality of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague to authenticate and ensure its therapeutic and nutritional properties. The ethyl acetate fraction of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague fruits exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content values of 149.55 ± 1.19 mg rutin equivalent and 682.85 ± 3.68 mg gallic acid equivalent, respectively. Metabolite profiling of the ethyl acetate fraction using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry analysis resulted in identifying 19 phytomolecules. A validated high-performance thin-layer chromatography method was developed to quantify standard phytomolecules in the ethyl acetate fraction. The highest and lowest percentages of phytomarker were found to be caffeic acid (5.51% ± 0.16% w/w) and gallic acid (1.29% ± 0.09% w/w), respectively. This validated rapid, accurate, and precise method for standardization of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague will be beneficial for its quality evaluation as well as the derived products., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Type 2 diabetes has become one of the major health concerns of the 21st century, marked by hyperglycemia or glycosuria, and is associated with the development of several secondary health complications. Due to the fact that chemically synthesized drugs lead to several inevitable side effects, new antidiabetic medications from plants have gained substantial attention. Thus, the current study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic capacity of the Ageratina adenophora hydroalcoholic (AAHY) extract in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA)-induced diabetic Wistar albino rats. The rats were segregated randomly into five groups with six rats each. Group I was normal control, and the other four groups were STZ-NA-induced. Group II was designated diabetic control, and group III, IV, and V received metformin (150 mg/kg b.w.) and AAHY extract (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose, serum biochemicals, liver and kidney antioxidant parameters, and pancreatic histopathology were observed after the experimental design. The study concludes that the AAHY extract has a significant blood glucose lowering capacity on normoglycemic (87.01 ± 0.54 to 57.21 ± 0.31), diabetic (324 ± 2.94 to 93 ± 2.04), and oral glucose-loaded (117.75 ± 3.35 to 92.75 ± 2.09) Wistar albino rats. The in vitro studies show that the AAHY extract has α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities which can restore the altered blood glucose level, glycated hemoglobin, body weight, and serum enzymes such as serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total protein, urea, and creatinine levels close to the normal range in the treated STZ-NA-induced diabetic rats. The evaluation of these serum biochemicals is crucial for monitoring the diabetic condition. The AAHY extract has significantly enhanced tissue antioxidant parameters, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and lipid peroxidation, close to normal levels. The presence of high-quantity chlorogenic (6.47% w/w) and caffeic (3.28% w/w) acids as some of the major phytoconstituents may contribute to the improvement of insulin resistance and oxidative stress. The study provides scientific support for the utilization of A. adenophora to treat type 2 diabetes in the STZ-NA-induced diabetic rat model. Although the preventive role of the AAHY extract in treating Wistar albino rat models against type 2 diabetes mellitus is undeniable, further elaborative research is required for efficacy and safety assessment in human beings., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Chanu, Sharma, Kshetrimayum, Chaudhary, Ghosh, Haldar and Mukherjee.)

Introduction: Ginger constitutes the rhizome part of the plant Zingiber officinale from the Zingiberaceae family. A large number of ginger varieties with high sensorial and functional quality are found in Northeast India. Hence, phytopharmacological screening of different ginger varieties is essential that will serve as a guideline in applied research to develop high-end products and improve economical margins., Objective: To determine the variation in total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and antioxidant activities and correlate that with 6-gingerol contents of different ginger varieties collected from Northeast India using Pearson's correlation analysis., Materials and Methods: The TPC and TFC values were determined using standard methods. Antioxidant activities were measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, while reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis was utilised for quantitative determination of 6-gingerol content., Results: The result revealed that ginger variety 6 (GV6) contains the highest 6-gingerol content and TPC value showing maximum antioxidant activity, followed by GV5, GV4, GV9, GV3, GV2, GV8, GV1, and GV7. The findings also suggested that the antioxidant activity has much better correlations with TPC as compared with TFC values. Pearson's correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between 6-gingerol contents and TPC values., Conclusion: This work underlines the importance of ginger varieties from Northeast India as a source of natural antioxidants with health benefits., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Mollugo oppositifolia Linn. is traditionally used in neurological complications. The study aimed to investigate in-vitro neuroprotective effect of the plant extracts through testing against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). To understand the safety aspects, the extracts were tested for CYP450 isozymes and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HepG2) inhibitory potential. The heavy metal contents were estimated using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Further, the antioxidant capacities as well as total phenolic content and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured spectrophotometrically. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis was employed to identify phytometabolites present in the extract. The interactions of the ligands with the target proteins (AChE, BChE, and BACE-1) were studied using AutoDockTools 1.5.6. The results showed that M. oppositifolia extract has more selectivity towards BChE (IC 50 = 278.23 ± 1.89 μg/ml) as compared to AChE (IC 50 = 322.87 ± 2.05 μg/ml). The IC 50 value against β-secretase was 173.93 μg/ml. The extract showed a CC 50 value of 965.45 ± 3.07 μg/ml against HepG2 cells and the AAS analysis showed traces of lead 0.02 ± 0.001 which was found to be within the WHO prescribed limits. Moreover, the IC 50 values against CYP3A4 (477.03 ± 2.01 μg/ml) and CYP2D6 (249.65 ± 2.46 μg/ml) isozymes justify the safety aspects of the extract. The in silico molecular docking analysis of the target enzymes showed that the compound menthoside was found to be the most stable and showed a good docking score among all the identified metabolites. Keeping in mind the multi-targeted drug approach, the present findings suggested that M. oppositifolia extract have anti-Alzheimer's potential., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Das, Bhardwaj, Sharma, Sarkar, Haldar and Mukherjee.)

Introduction: Drymaria cordata (Linn.) Willd is a creeping herb belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family, widely used as a traditional medicine in Africa and North-east India for various ailments. Many therapeutic applications of D. cordata have been reported in various scientific studies, but the teratogenicity study of this herb has not been documented till now., Methods: The present study aimed to assess the developmental toxic effect and median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of methanol extract of Drymaria cordata leaf (DCME) using zebrafish embryos. After spawning of male and female zebrafish, healthy zebrafish embryos were selected by microscopic screening and transferred into 96-well plate for the study. Embryos were exposed to DCME at concentrations ranging from 50-400 μg/ml in 2% DMSO from 24 hpf to 72 hpf., Results: Developmental and morphological abnormalities were microscopically evaluated. Fifty percent lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of DCME was determined by observation from 24 hpf to 72 hpf. The concentration-dependent toxic effects of DCME on developing embryos of zebrafish were found in the study in a time-dependent manner., Conclusion: At 72 hpf, the median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of DCME was found with visible developmental defects, such as heartbeat rate, less pigmentation, oedema, spinal curvature, immature yolk sac as well as reduced hatching rate and a slow growth. The median lethal dose was found to be 448 μg/ml at 72 hpf for zebra fish embryos, meriting further studies on toxicological profiling of the plants., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The release of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and methylene blue (MB) dye into the aquatic system uncontrollably caused major environmental and health problems; hence, their prevention required serious attention. Adsorption process is now being researched in order to increase adsorption efficiency and reprocess to alleviate environmental issues. The use of magnetic nanoparticle as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment has a lot of prospective. A magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle surface modified by Vasaka ( Justicia adhatoda ) leaf extract (JA-MIONs) is used to give a fast removal approach for MB dye and TCH antibiotics. Dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis and band gap measurement, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were operated to analyse the formation and size of these magnetic nanoparticles. The impacts of different factors such as contact time (30-150 min), adsorbate concentration (10-50 mg/L), pH (4-10), and adsorbent dose (2-10 mg) were explored. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms show that it follows the pseudo-first-order kinetic and the Freundlich isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 76.92 mg/g for MB and 200 mg/g for TCH at 298 K. The reusability of the JA-MIONs eventually exhibited a decline in the adsorption percentage of MB and TCH after five and four times respectively. After the desorption-adsorption cycles, this adsorbent continued to exhibit significant adsorption capacity. This investigation furnished the significant reference data for the synthesis of JA-MIONs as a novel and auspicious adsorbent for the industrial clean-up of toxic dyes and heavily used antibiotics from water., Competing Interests: Competing InterestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Programmed cell death protein 1 or Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) research have tremendously been taken into great consideration in the field of cancer immune pharmacology. Cancer immunotherapy has been convoyed by a capable outcome over the past few years. PD-1 and PD-L1 play a pivotal role in attenuating immune involvement, modulating the activity of T-cells, and promoting different types of programmed cell death. Participation of antigen-specific T cells and regulatory T cells and their acute mutations during cancer cell invasion and migration may lead to challenges for three programmed cell death methods, namely, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis called "PANoptosis". This review aimed to explore the correlation between the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in "PANoptosis" using available recently published literature with several schematic representations. Hopefully, the review will facilitate the biomedical scientist targeting cancer immune pharmacological aspect for the management of Breast Adenocarcinoma shortly., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Water contamination has turned into one of the most serious issues in the world. Nanomaterials are proficient to carry away heavy metals, organic and inorganic dyes, pesticides, and small molecules from polluted water. In this regard, nanoparticles have gained much attention due to their extraordinary properties compared to bulk materials. Metal oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites have several advantages such as elevated surface area, low concentration, easily separable after treatment and so on. Among many feasible techniques, the adsorption process is one of the most useful techniques for removing heavy ions and dyes from wastewater and has gained much attention from researchers. Several studies on metal oxide nanoparticles and their use in wastewater treatment have been published in the literature. This chapter gives an outline about five metal oxide based nanomaterials and nanocomposites as well as their applications in water pollution removal where the efficiency, limits and favourable circumstances are compared and explored. This article surely helps to gather information about some metal oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites in wastewater treatment by the adsorption technique. In this review article, we primarily focused on five metal oxide nanoparticles and some of their recent applications published in the last two years.

A rapid validated ultra-fast liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (UFLC-PDA) method was developed to identify and quantify ayapanin (AY) and umbelliferone (UM) simultaneously in Ayapana triplinervis Vahl methanolic extract. The method was validated for linearity, limit of detection (LOD; 3:1σ/S), limit of quantification (LOQ; 10:1σ/S), precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness. The response was linear with a good correlation between concentration and mean peak area through a correlation coefficient of 0.9996, y = 7025.7x - 2269.8 and 0.9997, y = y = 16,262x - 946 with LOD of 6.256 ± 0.52 and 3.325 ± 0.36, and LOQ of 18.838 ± 0.18 and 8.870 ± 0.85 for AY (0.67% w/w) and UM (0.18% w/w), respectively. The relative standard deviation (%) of precision and recovery of AY and UM was <2.0%. The proposed method was simple, accurate, specific, precise and reproducible., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: The worldwide corona virus disease outbreak, generally known as COVID-19 pandemic outbreak resulted in a major health crisis globally. The morbidity and transmission modality of COVID-19 appear more severe and uncontrollable. The respiratory failure and following cardiovascular complications are the main pathophysiology of this deadly disease. Several therapeutic strategies are put forward for the development of safe and effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2 virus from the pharmacological view point but till date there are no specific treatment regimen developed for this viral infection., Purpose: The present review emphasizes the role of herbs and herbs-derived secondary metabolites in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 virus and also for the management of post-COVID-19 related complications. This approach will foster and ensure the safeguards of using medicinal plant resources to support the healthcare system. Plant-derived phytochemicals have already been reported to prevent the viral infection and to overcome the post-COVID complications like parkinsonism, kidney and heart failure, liver and lungs injury and mental problems. In this review, we explored mechanistic approaches of herbal medicines and their phytocomponenets as antiviral and post-COVID complications by modulating the immunological and inflammatory states., Study Design: Studies related to diagnosis and treatment guidelines issued for COVID-19 by different traditional system of medicine were included. The information was gathered from pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions approaches. The gathered information sorted based on therapeutic application of herbs and their components against SARSCoV-2 and COVID-19 related complications., Methods: A systemic search of published literature was conducted from 2003 to 2021 using different literature database like Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science to emphasize relevant articles on medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and Post-COVID related complications., Results: Collected published literature from 2003 onwards yielded with total 625 articles, from more than 18 countries. Among these 625 articles, more than 95 medicinal plants and 25 active phytomolecules belong to 48 plant families. Reports on the therapeutic activity of the medicinal plants belong to the Lamiaceae family (11 reports), which was found to be maximum reported from 4 different countries including India, China, Australia, and Morocco. Other reports on the medicinal plant of Asteraceae (7 reports), Fabaceae (8 reports), Piperaceae (3 reports), Zingiberaceae (3 reports), Ranunculaceae (3 reports), Meliaceae (4 reports) were found, which can be explored for the development of safe and efficacious products targeting COVID-19., Conclusion: Keeping in mind that the natural alternatives are in the priority for the management and prevention of the COVID-19, the present review may help to develop an alternative approach for the management of COVID-19 viral infection and post-COVID complications from a mechanistic point of view., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) are presently used to treat depression, parkinsonian, and other psychiatric disorders. The present study was aimed to repurpose the use of MOAI in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The animal model of RA was developed using collagen type II (CII) in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a booster dose of CII in FCA. The effect of MAOI, Selegiline was evaluated whereas the indicators like paw thickness, arthritic score, and the splenic index were measured and compared with the standard drug Methotrexate. Further to explore the molecular mechanism, the expression of serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), radiographical and histopathological study of hind paw were also checked and analyzed. Treatment with MAOI, Selegiline not only reduced the paw thickness, arthritic score, and the splenic index, but also greatly improved the inflammatory biochemical and hematologic parameters and improved the arthritis score. The serum level of IL-6 and TNF-α are considerably decreased dose dependently, however, the notable significant effect (**p < 0.01) observed at concentration of 30 mg/kg b.w. when the RA animals treated by Selegiline. Collectively, Selegiline improved the progression of RA possibly via decreased catecholamine breakdown at synovial fluid resulting decrease hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) generation and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines in situ. Thus, the finding support and indicate the repurposing of MAOI for the treatment of RA meriting further studies on synovial monoamine oxidase as a new therapeutic target to design a new drug for RA., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Medicinal plants of Cucurbitaceae family consist of several edible fruits and vegetables consumed worldwide since ancient times. The plants of this family have played an essential role in the ethnopharmacological as well as traditional medicinal system globally and their evidence is well established in several traditional literatures. Various plant parts have been used to treat several human ailments viz. Pandu (anemia), Pliharoga (splenomegaly), Sopha (inflammation), Gulma (tumor growth), Adhmana (indigestion. acidity), Garavisa (poisoning) etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review article aims to systematically document and bridge scientific evidences with the ethnopharmacological, ethnoveterinary and folklore claims along with the therapeutic efficacy with mechanism of action found in different literature, books, and scientific articles belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family., Materials and Methods: To construct the manuscript a comprehensive literature review was done based on the information collected from Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; books, research articles and databases such as ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, SciFinder, Scopus, Springer, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ACS Publications and PubMed., Results: The plants of Cucurbitaceae family are rich in phytochemicals like terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, etc., responsible for the therapeutic effect. Various parts of these plants such as leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots etc. exhibit a plethora of pharmacological activity viz. hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, anticancer, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and immunomodulatory activities. Also, in-vitro and in-vivo reports suggest strong inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, lipase, carbonic anhydrase enzyme along with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-tumor, antifungal, etc. Furthermore many reports suggest these plants are beneficial for nutritional, economical and ethnoveterinary uses., Conclusions: The current review enlightens the therapeutic potential of the gourd family, comprising of the geographical origins, morphology, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, ethnoveterinary, nutritional importance, therapeutic benefits, safety, efficacy and related aspects. The phytochemical and pharmacological potential indicated will popularize this family as a potential source of novel therapeutic agents and functional foods. This study will help to validate the therapeutic claims of several ethnomedicinal uses of this plant family. Furthermore the Cucurbitaceae family needs to be evaluated based on the combine approaches of chemoprofiling and bioexploration to develop the concept of food as medicine for the development of new generation therapeutics leading to the human wellness., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing abundantly due to lifestyle-related obesity and associated cardiovascular problems. Presently, Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has gained considerable attention from biomedical scientists to treat diabetes. Phosphorylation of GSK-3 permits a number of cellular activities like regulation of cell signaling, cellular metabolism, cell proliferation and cellular transport. Inhibiting GSK-3 activity by pharmacological intervention has become an important strategy for the management of T2DM. This review focuses on the schematic representation of fundamental GSK-3 enzymology and encompasses the GSK-3 inhibitors as a future therapeutic lead target for the management of T2DM that may significantly regulate insulin sensitivity to insulin receptor, glycogen synthesis and glucose metabolism. The various signaling mechanisms of inhibiting the GSK-3 by describing insulin signaling through Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS-1), Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase (PI3K) and Protein Kinase B (PKB/ AKT) pathways that may hopefully facilitate the pharmacologist to design for antidiabetic drug evaluation model in near future have also been highlighted., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Ursolic acid (UA) is a potent plant-based hepatoprotective agent having poor bioavailability, which hampers its therapeutic efficacy. The present study tries to overcome this limitation by combining it with piperine (PIP), a proven bioenhancer and hepatoprotective agent., Methods: The type of interaction (synergism, addition, or antagonism) resulting between UA and PIP was analyzed and quantified by isobologram and combination index analysis. The hepatoprotective activity of UA and PIP was evaluated by measuring the level of hepatic marker enzymes. Pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out to ascertain the improvement of bioavailability., Results: The combinations significantly decrease the enzyme levels, which indicate better hepatoprotective activity compared to single drugs. The relative oral bioavailability of UA was increased about tenfold (from AUC 0- t =12.78 ± 2.59 µg/h/ml to 125.15 ± 1.84 µg/h/ml) along with the improvement of plasma concentration and elimination half-life., Conclusions: The findings indicated that the combination of PIP and UA is an effective strategy in enhancing the bioavailability and hepatoprotective potential of UA.KEY MESSAGESUrsolic acid in a combination with piperine provides a synergistic hepatoprotective effect in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats.Piperine improves the pharmacokinetic properties of ursolic acid when given in combination.Piperine improves the relative oral bioavailability of ursolic acid by tenfold when combined together.

Photo-oxidative skin damage is mainly caused by the UV-A radiation of the sun. Synthetic sunscreens used to counter this acts mostly on the superficial skin layer and possess serious side effects. P-coumaric acid (PCA) is a UV-A protective plant phenolic having quick diffusion and distribution in superficial skin layers limiting its application as herbal sunscreen. The present study was designed to formulate an optimized phospholipid complex of PCA (PCAPC) through response surface methodology to enhance its skin permeation to deeper skin layers providing protection against photo-oxidative stress. PCAPC was characterized by FT-IR, DTA, PXRD, TEM, zeta potential etc. PCAPC was then incorporated into a gel formulation (PCAPC-GE) to facilitate its transdermal delivery. Physicochemical properties of the gel were assessed by pH, homogeneity, rheology, spreadability etc. In-vitro SPF and UVA-PF of the gel was evaluated and compared with conventional gel (PCA-GE). Ex-vivo skin permeation flux, permeability coefficient, skin deposition and dermatokinetic analysis were carried out to measure the rate and level of skin permeation. This was accompanied by in-vivo evaluation of PCAPC-GE and PCA-GE in the experimental rat model by measuring the various oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase, catalase etc. PCAPC-GE provided high SPF and UVA-PF value compared to PCA-GE. The physicochemical parameters were suitable for transdermal application. PCAPC-GE enhanced the permeation rate of PCA by almost 6 fold compared to PCA-GE. Besides, a significant reduction of UV-A induced oxidative stress biomarkers were observed for PCAPC-GE. Thus, the PCAPC-GE may be an effective alternative of synthetic sunscreens due to its enhanced permeation and protection against UVA-induced oxidative stress., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Immunity boosting has emerged as a global strategy to fight the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation. In India, AYUSH systems of medicine have been promoted as an immune-protection strategy. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F) Nees (AP) mentioned in Ayurveda has been widely used for treating sore throat, flu, and upper respiratory tract infections which may provide possible novel therapeutic approaches, exclusively targeting SARS-CoV-2 and its pathways., Objectives: The present work uses liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics and combination synergy analysis based on network pharmacology to mine multimode evidence to understand the possible mechanism of action, diseases association, protein-protein interaction and major pathways involved therein., Material and Methods: Metabolite profiling was performed by Agilent QTOF LC-MS/MS system. Network pharmacology analysis was performed by using functional annotation analysis based on databases like Binding DB, STRING, DAVID and KEGG for further data mining. Further combination synergy was evaluated using "neighbourhood approach" and networks were constructed through Cytoscape 3.2.1., Results: The molecules from kalmegh provides immune-protection and anti-viral response via involving different pathways, like toll-like receptor pathway, PI3/AKT pathway and MAP kinase pathways against COVID-19 infection. The KEGG analysis showed that in a vast majority of the most enriched pathways, AP were associated with viral infections and upper respiratory tract infections., Conclusions: The results suggest a synergy between andrographolide and other molecules identified as safe and efficacious anti-inflammatory agent having effects on upper respiratory tract infections and can significantly decrease the production of cytokines and pro-inflammatory factors in viral infections., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Recently, several types of lead halide perovskites have been actively researched for resistive switching (RS) memory or artificial synaptic devices due to their current-voltage hysteresis along with the feasibility of fabrication, low-temperature processability and superior charge mobility. However, the toxicity and environmental pollution potential of lead halide perovskites severely restrict their large-scale commercial prospects. In the present work, the environmentally friendly and uniform CsSnCl 3 perovskite films are introduced to act as an active layer in the flexible memristors. Ag/CsSnCl 3 /ITO devices demonstrate bipolar RS with excellent electrical properties such as forming free characteristics, good uniformity, low operating voltages, a high ON/OFF ratio (10 2 ) and a long retention time (>10 4 s). The RS mechanism has been well explained in the outline of electric field-induced formation and rupture of Ag filaments in the CsSnCl 3 layer. The metallic nature of the conducting filament has been further confirmed by temperature-dependent variation of low and high resistance states. Additionally, various pulse measurements have been carried out to mimic some of the basic synaptic functions including postsynaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, long-term potentiation and long-term depression under normal as well as bending conditions. Our work provides the opportunity for exploring artificial synapses based on lead-free halide perovskites for the development of next-generation flexible electronics.

Introduction: Lagenaria siceraria, is a popular food plant among Indians, contains a large number of phenolic compounds with several medicinal benefits, mentioned in Indian System of Medicine (ISM)., Objectives: To investigate the carbonic anhydrase inhibitory potential and inhibitory mechanism of the most potent fraction of L. siceraria fruits., Materials and Methods: The extract and fraction of dried fruit of L. siceraria screened for their in vitro carbonic anhydrase II (bCA II) inhibitory activity. The active fraction was purified by using flash chromatography. The bioactive compounds were identified and quantified through liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Finally, the underlying carbonic anhydrase inhibitory mechanism of the compounds was explained by enzyme kinetics and molecular docking study., Results: The LC-QTOF-MS based identification of the most active fraction revealed the presence of phenolic compounds. The results of the enzyme inhibition assay revealed that coniferyl alcohol, ferulic acid and p-Coumaric acid inhibited bCA II activity [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) value range of 80 to 250 μM) in a dose dependent manner. The kinetics study of enzyme inhibition revealed that p-Coumaric acid binds to the enzyme competitively whereas the non-competitive type of inhibition was observed for ferulic acid and coniferyl alcohol. The molecular docking study explored the interaction mechanism of phenolic compounds at the active site of bCA II., Conclusion: The present research led us to conclude that, the phenolic compounds from L. siceraria serve as major contributors for carbonic anhydrase inhibition, which could play a useful role in the management of oedema, hypertension, obesity and related metabolic disorders., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease responsible for maximum human morbidity in modern life, whereas oxidative stress is the ultimate potential biomarker for determining disease activity in patients with RA., Objective: The present study scientifically validated the effectiveness of antioxidants commonly present in different food supplements to neutralize the free radicals mediated oxidative stress in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes (PBML) of patients with RA., Methods: The study population included patients with Rheumatoid arthritis, RA (n =15), who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. Peripheral blood was collected, and isolated mononuclear lymphocyte cells (PBML) were pretreated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMS) and furthermore, incubated with different concentrations of Naringenin, β carotene and Nacetyl cysteine (NAC) in an ex vivo condition. The resultant cell lysate was used for further studies for the determination of other oxidative biomarkers. The increase of superoxide and nitric oxide production was observed when PBML was treated PMS., Results: Importantly, the increased oxidative stress was effectively decreased by the selected plantderived compounds β-carotene and naringenin., Conclusion: The study scientifically evaluated the efficacy of the molecules validated by one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett's post hoc test of significance. Collectively, our results indicate that both β carotene and naringenin may be a promising non-toxic food supplement in attenuating the oxidative stress associated pathology in RA, meriting further pharmacological studies on other inflammatory cells like neutrophils., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The ecology of aerobic microorganisms is never explored in marine oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) sediments. Here we reveal aerobic bacterial communities along ∼3 m sediment-horizons of the eastern Arabian Sea OMZ. Sulfide-containing sediment-cores retrieved from 530 mbsl (meters beneath the sea-level) and 580 mbsl were explored at 15-30 cm intervals, using metagenomics, pure-culture-isolation, genomics and metatranscriptomics. Genes for aerobic respiration, and oxidation of methane/ammonia/alcohols/thiosulfate/sulfite/organosulfur-compounds, were detected in the metagenomes from all 25 sediment-samples explored. Most probable numbers for aerobic chemolithoautotrophs and chemoorganoheterotrophs at individual sample-sites were up to 1.1 × 107 (g sediment)-1. The sediment-sample collected from 275 cmbsf (centimeters beneath the seafloor) of the 530-mbsl-core yielded many such obligately aerobic isolates belonging to Cereibacter, Guyparkeria, Halomonas, Methylophaga, Pseudomonas and Sulfitobacter which died upon anaerobic incubation, despite being provided with all possible electron acceptors and fermentative substrates. High percentages of metatranscriptomic reads from the 275 cmbsf sediment-sample, and metagenomic reads from all 25 sediment-samples, matched the isolates' genomic sequences including those for aerobic metabolisms, genetic/environmental information processing and cell division, thereby illustrating the bacteria's in-situ activity, and ubiquity across the sediment-horizons, respectively. The findings hold critical implications for organic carbon sequestration/remineralization, and inorganic compounds oxidation, within the sediment realm of global marine OMZs., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

Little is known about life in the boron-rich hot springs of Trans-Himalayas. Here, we explore the geomicrobiology of a 4438-m-high spring which emanates ~70 °C-water from a boratic microbialite called Shivlinga. Due to low atmospheric pressure, the vent-water is close to boiling point so can entropically destabilize biomacromolecular systems. Starting from the vent, Shivlinga's geomicrobiology was revealed along the thermal gradients of an outflow-channel and a progressively-drying mineral matrix that has no running water; ecosystem constraints were then considered in relation to those of entropically comparable environments. The spring-water chemistry and sinter mineralogy were dominated by borates, sodium, thiosulfate, sulfate, sulfite, sulfide, bicarbonate, and other macromolecule-stabilizing (kosmotropic) substances. Microbial diversity was high along both of the hydrothermal gradients. Bacteria, Eukarya and Archaea constituted >98%, ~1% and <1% of Shivlinga's microbiome, respectively. Temperature constrained the biodiversity at ~50 °C and ~60 °C, but not below 46 °C. Along each thermal gradient, in the vent-to-apron trajectory, communities were dominated by Aquificae/Deinococcus-Thermus, then Chlorobi/Chloroflexi/Cyanobacteria, and finally Bacteroidetes/Proteobacteria/Firmicutes. Interestingly, sites of >45 °C were inhabited by phylogenetic relatives of taxa for which laboratory growth is not known at >45 °C. Shivlinga's geomicrobiology highlights the possibility that the system's kosmotrope-dominated chemistry mitigates against the biomacromolecule-disordering effects of its thermal water.

Drymaria cordata (Caryophyllaceae), commonly known as Abhijalo in Sikkimese-Tibetan, is a creeping herb grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is used by ethnic groups of Sikkim, North-East India, for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic effect of methanol extract from D. cordata leaf (DCME) in streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotinamide (NA)-induced type 2 diabetes in rats. Diabetic Wistar albino rats were treated with DCME at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg orally for 28 days. Metformin (150 mg/kg b.w.) was used as a reference drug. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) level; serum biochemical parameters; and liver, kidney, and antioxidant parameters were estimated, and pancreatic histopathology was performed after 28 days of treatment. Administration of DCME to STZ-NA-induced diabetic rats at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg orally for 28 days exhibited statistically significant ( P < 0.05) and dose-dependent reduction of FBG, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum lipid, and hepatorenal antioxidative parameters in DCME-treated groups when compared to those of diabetic controls. Histopathological studies of pancreas in DCME-treated rats showed improvement in β-cell density compared to diabetic group. The results demonstrate the significant antidiabetic potential of D. cordata leaf in albino rats plausibly by reducing oxidative stress and serum lipids levels, justifying the folkloric use of this plant in the treatment of diabetes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research.)

All cultivated members of the phylum Chlorobi are classified under the two classes Chlorobia and Ignavibacteria. The recently-reported, uncultivated genome-species of Chlorobi have not suggested any alteration in the dichotomy of the two classes, but have hypothesized the existence of a distinct, aerobic and photoheterotrophic, order/family level lineage within Chlorobia, which otherwise was considered to be a monophyletic group of anaerobic sulfur-photolithoautotrophs. Here we report the discovery of a novel population genome bin (named Chlorobi-445) from the combined metagenomes of three spatially-contiguous but visually-distinct microbial mats growing along the 65-41 °C hydrothermal gradient of a boron-rich microbialite spring located in the Puga geothermal area of Eastern Ladakh, India. 1.3, 8.2 and 3.8% metagenomic reads from the mat communities located at 65 °C, 52 °C and 41 °C sample-sites respectively, were found to map-back to the 2,809,852 bp genome of Chlorobi-445. Phylogenomically, and therefore in terms of potential metabolic attributes, Chlorobi-445 showed close relationship with Ca. Thermochlorobacter aerophilum. Gene content suggested Chlorobi-445 to be an aerobic photoorganoheterotroph. Although this new lineage encodes all the proteins necessary for the biosynthesis of bacteriochlorophylls and the photosynthetic reaction centre, it is potentially devoid of genes concerned with lithotrophic sulfur oxidation and carbon-fixation. Individual Chlorobi phylogenies based on the sequence similarities of 16S rRNA genes, 22 ribosomal proteins, and 56 conserved marker-proteins that are encoded from single-copy genes, unanimously suggested that the class Chlorobia encompasses two major branches/clades. Whereas the Clade-I is a homogeneous cluster of culturable, anaerobic sulfur-/iron-oxidizing photolithoautotrophs, Clade-II harbors (i) Chloroherpeton species, and (ii) uncultivated aerobic photoheterotrophs such as Chlorobi-445, Chlorobium sp. GBChlB &Ca. T. aerophilum, in its two sub-clades. Distribution of bioenergetic attributes over the different branches of Chlorobi, together with the aerobic chemoorganoheterotrophic nature of the deepest-branching genome-species NICIL-2, indicated that the early Chlorobi were aerobic chemoorganoheterotrophs, while anaerobicity, phototrophy, lithotrophy, and autotrophy were all potentially added in the course of evolution., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease responsible for significant human morbidity in modern life. However, oxidative stress is one of the key markers for determining pathophysiology of patients with RA. The interaction between cellular immune system and body's endogenous and/or exogenous antigens produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in autoimmune disease like RA. ROS and RNS include highly toxic superoxide (O 2 - ) and peroxynitrite (ONOO - ) radicals, which activate the signaling cascades of inflammatory cells to synthesize pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Previous studies reported that Th1 cytokines could promote the development of autoimmune disorders like RA, whereas the Th2 cytokines may attenuate the same diseases. An increased awareness of the relationship between food and health led to a tremendous increase of antioxidant research in the last decade. Evaluation of the efficacy of dietary antioxidants is also becoming highly acceptable in RA research. A number of dietary phytomolecules are already established as having antioxidant activity in isolated synovial cellular infiltrate or peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes. This review aims to highlight the oxidative stress in inflammatory cells of patients with RA and to summarize the clinical relevance of dietary antioxidants as a first step in assessing beneficial effect, safety and dose safety ratio in patients with RA.

Background: Recent studies have sought to draw attention of biological activity of Campylandra aurantiaca. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of flavonoid enriched fraction of Campylandra aurantiaca (FEFCA) on in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and DNA protective effect in mouse peritoneal macrophages cells., Methods: FEFCA was characterized by HPLC analysis. The in vitro antioxidant activities of FEFCA was measured by different in vitro assays like 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil radical (DPPH), superoxide anions, nitric oxide and hydroxyl radicals scavenging methods. Isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages were oxidized by carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) in animal model; subsequently the protective effect of FEFCA was determined in terms of estimation of antioxidant enzyme and the damage to DNA of the cells., Results: FEFCA exhibited both in vitro antioxidant activities in a concentration dependent manner. FEFCA significantly (*p<0.05) attenuated the oxidative DNA damage of mouse peritoneal macrophage cells induced by CCl4 in an in vivo assay., Conclusion: Therefore FEFCA showed good free radical scavenging activity as well as reduced oxidative DNA damage in mouse peritoneal macrophages in animal model., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

Objective: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. (Family: Rubiaceae), a folk medicine commonly known as "Kadam" in Bengali, has been used for the treatment of tumor. The methanolic extract of A. cadamba (MEAC) showing antitumor activity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells treated mice was already reported. This study was designed to study the apoptosis-inducing property of MEAC and its mechanism in EAC cells in mice., Materials and Methods: Apoptogenic morphology was determined by fluorescent DNA-binding double staining method using dyes acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB). Comet assay was estimated to check the DNA damage. Flow cytometry (fluorescence-activated cell sorting [FACS]) was used to detect the apoptotic rate quantitatively by double labeling techniques using annexin V FITC/propidium iodide staining. Apoptotic protein expression was done using Western blotting assay method., Statistical Analysis: Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post hoc test of GraphPad Prism software. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 and *** P < 0.001 were considered statistically significant., Results: Apoptosis-inducing effect of MEAC on EAC cells was confirmed from AO/EB staining and FACS analysis. MEAC treatment showed dose-dependent induction of DNA damage. Apoptosis was induced by increasing the expression of multiple downstream factors such as pro-apoptotic protein p53 and p21 in EAC. Bax was up-regulated and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was down-regulated resulting in decrease of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio by MEAC treatment., Conclusion: Experimental results revealed that MEAC induces apoptosis by modulating the expression of some pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins in EAC and thus exerts its anti-tumor activity.

Introduction: The present study evaluates the antioxidant effect of methanol extract of Hippophae salicifolia (MEHS) bark with special emphasis on its role on oxidative DNA damage in mouse peritoneal macrophages., Material and Methods: In vitro antioxidant activity was estimated by standard antioxidant assays whereas the antioxidant activity concluded the H(+) donating capacity. Mouse erythrocytes' hemolysis and peritoneal macrophages' DNA damage were determined spectrophotometrically. In vivo antioxidant activity of MEHS was determined in carbon tetrachloride-induced mice by studying its effect on superoxide anion production in macrophages cells, superoxide dismutase in the cell lysate, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and reduces glutathione., Results: The extract showed good in vitro antioxidant activities whereas the inhibitory concentrations values ranged from 5.80 to 106.5 μg/ml. MEHS significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the oxidative DNA damage. It also attenuated the oxidative conversion of hemoglobin to methemoglobin and elevation of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant in cells., Conclusion: The result indicates MEHS has good in vitro-in vivo antioxidant property as well as the protective effect on DNA and red blood cell may be due to its H(+) donating property.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the antiproliferative and apoptogenic mechanistic studies of methanol extract of Anthocephalus cadamba (MEAC) on Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells treated mice. Determination of antiproliferative activity was performed by using different DLA cells (2×10 6 cells, i.p.) inoculated mice groups ( n = 12). Groups were treated for 14 consecutive days with MEAC at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/Kg b.w. respectively. The mechanism of antiproliferation activity of MEAC was investigated through morphological studies by acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) double staining method. Comet assay was estimated to check the DNA damage induced apoptosis property. Furthermore, flow cytometry (FACS) was used to quantitatively detect the apoptotic rate by double labeling techniques using Annexin-V FITC/propidium iodide staining analysis and apoptotic proteins expression done by western blotting assay method. MEAC exhibited significant ( p <0.01) decrease the tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of DLA tumor bearing mice. Analysis of AO/EB staining and flow cytometry showed that MEAC possessed apoptosis induced antitumor activity on DLA cells in a dose dependant manner. Dose dependent induction of DNA damage on DLA cells were observed after MEAC treatment, which was evident from the appearance of comet tail length. Pro-apoptotic gene, Bax was up-regulated and down-regulation of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, suggesting that Bcl-2 family involved in the control of apoptosis. Experimental results revealed that MEAC possess potent antitumor activity via induction of cancer cell apoptosis mechanism.

Exploration of the aquatic microbiota of several circum-neutral (6.0-8.5 pH) mid-temperature (55-85°C) springs revealed rich diversities of phylogenetic relatives of mesophilic bacteria, which surpassed the diversity of the truly-thermophilic taxa. To gain insight into the potentially-thermophilic adaptations of the phylogenetic relatives of Gram-negative mesophilic bacteria detected in culture-independent investigations we attempted pure-culture isolation by supplementing the enrichment media with 50 μg ml(-1) vancomycin. Surprisingly, this Gram-positive-specific antibiotic eliminated the entire culturable-diversity of chemoorganotrophic and sulfur-chemolithotrophic bacteria present in the tested hot water inocula. Moreover, it also killed all the Gram-negative hot-spring isolates that were obtained in vancomycin-free media. Concurrent literature search for the description of Gram-negative thermophilic bacteria revealed that at least 16 of them were reportedly vancomycin-susceptible. While these data suggested that vancomycin-susceptibility could be a global trait of thermophilic bacteria (irrespective of their taxonomy, biogeography and Gram-character), MALDI Mass Spectroscopy of the peptidoglycans of a few Gram-negative thermophilic bacteria revealed that tandem alanines were present in the fourth and fifth positions of their muropeptide precursors (MPPs). Subsequent phylogenetic analyses revealed a close affinity between the D-alanine-D-alanine ligases (Ddl) of taxonomically-diverse Gram-negative thermophiles and the thermostable Ddl protein of Thermotoga maritima, which is well-known for its high specificity for alanine over other amino acids. The Ddl tree further illustrated a divergence between the homologs of Gram-negative thermophiles and mesophiles, which broadly coincided with vancomycin-susceptibility and vancomycin-resistance respectively. It was thus hypothesized that thermophilic Ddls have been evolutionarily selected to favor a D-ala-D-ala bonding. However, preference for D-ala-D-ala-terminated MPPs does not singlehandedly guarantee vancomycin susceptibility of thermophilic bacteria as the large and relatively-hydrophilic vancomycin molecule has to cross the outer membrane before it can inhibit peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Literature shows that many mesophilic Gram-negative bacteria also have D-ala-D-ala-terminated MPPs, but they still remain resistant to vancomycin due to the relative impermeability of their membranes. But the global vancomycin-susceptibility phenotype of thermophilic bacteria itself testifies that the drug crosses the membrane in all these cases. As a corollary, it seems quite likely that the outer membranes of thermophilic bacteria have some yet-unknown characteristic feature(s) that invariably ensures the entry of vancomycin.

Context: Many of the major chemotherapeutic agents are secondary metabolites found in nature. Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. (Rutaceae) is traditionally used in the treatment of various diseases., Objective: The present study evaluates the apoptotic activity of methanol extract of Z. alatum (MEZA) on Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) in Swiss albino mice., Materials and Methods: The presence of flavonoids in MEZA was standardized by HPLC. The in vitro cytotoxicity of MEZA was measured by the MTT assay. The in vivo antitumor activity of MEZA (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w., i.p. for 9 days) was also evaluated. On the 10th day, EAT tumor volume, cell viability, and hematological parameters were assayed. Apoptotic morphology was determined by acredine orange/ethedium bromide using fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis percentage was measured by flow cytometric analysis using annexine-V-FITC. Also, DNA damage and bcl-2/bax were estimated by UV-method and western blot, respectively., Results and Discussion: HPLC analysis revealed presence of three flavonoids, rutin, myricetin, and quercetin. MEZA showed satisfactory cytotoxicity in MTT assay (IC50 = 111.50 µg/ml). The extract significantly (p < 0.01) changed the tumor volume, viable, non-viable cell count, and hematological parameters towards the normal. Apoptotic activity of MEZA was confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, annexin-V-FITC staining, DNA fragmentation, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio., Conclusion: The study showed that MEZA has antitumor activity which may be due to the presence of flavonoids in the extract.