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Based on ethnobotanical surveys, an Indian traditional plant, i.e., Baccharoides anthelmintica (L.) Moench (Family – Asteraceae) was selected for detailed phytochemical investigations. B. anthelmintica seeds, purchased from local market, were extracted exhaustively in a Soxhlet apparatus using methanol as solvent. A well-established method was adopted to obtain phenolic compounds and flavonoids rich fraction of methanol extract. This fraction yielded two isolates (AK-1 and AK-2) upon purification by column chromatographic process. AK-1 was characterized as mixture of two isomeric compounds − 3′,4′,5,6,7- and 3′,4′,5,7,8-pentahydroxy flavanone, and AK-2 as butein (chalcone derivative) by UV, IR and NMR spectral analysis. A TLC densitometric method was developed and validated to estimate the content of butein in B. anthelmintica seeds, and was found to be 1.252 mg/g. Bioactive Marker (butein) based standardized B. anthelmintica seeds will ensure reproducibility in efficacy and safety of the plant or authenticity of its products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transungual drug delivery system (TDDS) is basically the system which deals with the treatment of diseases like onychomycosis and nail psoriasis. The treatment involves the drug being delivered through the keratinized nail plate. The drug penetration is done basically into the nail plate because it is the main route for drug penetration. Various other formulations like gels and creams are available. This system is efficient in nails treatment. In these types of disorders, drugs are absorbed into the unit of nail and to the nail plate. Permeability of nail is low and however limits early-stage disease topical therapy in cases like onychomycosis which is fungal infection of nail. Current researches are based on nail permeation which suggests the alterations in the barriers of nail plate by chemical treatment and other methods like mechanical or penetration enhancers. Medicated form of lacquers shows maximum anti-fungal activity. Lacquers are the productive forms which treats disorders of nail that is concluded by current reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a mental state characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and selfreproach. Pharmacological therapy is considered evidenced based approach and frequently used for the treatments of depression. Pharmacological healing of depression involves the use of different class of drugs like monoamine oxidase inhibitors [MAOI], tricyclic antidepressant drugs [TCAD] and 2nd generation antidepressant drugs [2GAD] including the selective nor epinephrine and serotonin reuptake-inhibitors. However, problems associated with pharmacological therapy are patient adherence, high treatment cost, drug associated side effects, low diminution rates and high placebo responses. Objective of the present review is the compilation of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) approaches for the treatment of depression. CAM approaches includes the use of herbal remedy, traditional Chinese medicinal plant formulation, traditional Japanese herbal medicine, Ayurvedic formulations, nutraceuticals, aromatherapy, acupuncture, music therapy, stress and relaxation techniques, yoga and meditation. Benefits of the CAM approaches embrace the relatively reduced prevalence of adverse effects, economical, better patient compliance and are holistic approach to the folk’s problems. The database was searched using the different term “Depression: Alternative Therapies”, “Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of depressive disorder” and depressive disorder in combination with St John’s wort, exercise, acupuncture, and omega-3 fatty acids. The specific CAM approaches were selected based on the available reviews and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conium maculatum Linn. (Umbelliferae) has been traditionally used in the treatment of spasmodic disorders, and to relieve nervous excitation, rheumatic pains in the old and feeble, pain in stomach, pain of gastric ulcer, nervousness and restlessness. Alkaloids have long been considered as bioactive group of constituents present in C. maculatum. Despite a long tradition of use, C. maculatum has not been evaluated pharmacologically to validate its traditional claims for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. Thus, the present investigations were undertaken with an objective to evaluate alkaloidal fraction of C. maculatum aerial parts for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. Test doses (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) of alkaloidal fraction were evaluated for analgesic activity using tail flick test and antiinflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw oedema test in rats. Morphine (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg, p.o.) were used as standard analgesic and antiinflammatory drugs, respectively. Alkaloidal fraction of the plant exhibited significant analgesic activity at a dose of 200 mg/kg as it showed significant increase in tail flicking reaction time with respect to the control during 2 h intervals of observation. It also exhibited significant antiinflammatory activity at a dose of 200 mg/kg as it inhibited paw oedema in rats to 71% and reduced the paw volume one-fourth to the control during 1st h of the study. The present investigations suggest that alkaloids are responsible for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of C. maculatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]