Search

The gastrointestinal tract is the prime organ for digestion while exposing to outer environmental toxins and pathogens. A breach in the epithelial barrier of the gastrointestinal tract will lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, growth retardation, ulcers, and extra intestinal manifestation. The current therapeutic approach causes dysbiosis and worsens the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases, ultimately leading to colorectal cancer. Herbal medicine is the key to resolving the issue without or least side effects. Current experimental study was executed to evaluate the anti-oxidative and therapeutic potential of both Helianthus annuus seeds and Spinacia oleracea leaves extract against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced acute colitis in Wistar rat and to support the clinical use of herbal medicine with scientific evidence. Results revealed that H. annuus seeds (500 mg/kg) have significantly (P<0.05) higher amount of total phenolic and flavonoid content with higher 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reducing power in comparison to S. oleracea leaves (500 mg/kg) extract. The serum total antioxidative capacity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Helianthuus annuus seeds and Spinacia oleracea leaves as compared to positive control group, while total oxidative stress was significantly lower in both treatment groups as compared to positive control group. Gene expression analysis revealed that JAK/STAT signaling pathways (Cell stress pathways) were significantly (P<0.05) down regulated, and NRF-2 transcriptional pathways (antioxidant pathways) were significantly (P<0.05) upregulated in H. annuus seeds and S. oleracea leaves groups compared to control positive group. The obtained results after analyzing biological samples revealed that Helianthus annuus seeds and Spinacia oleracea leaves possess a significant antioxidant dependent anti-inflammatory potential. Histopathology of gut revealed that positive control group showed irregular epithelial lining with shortening of villi and damaged mucosal surface while treatment group showed recovery with normal epithelial parenchyma. The overall results of this experimental study determined that both herbal interventions elicited an antiinflammatory effect dependent on antioxidative mechanisms in response to experimentally induced acute colitis in Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the persistent inflammation of Gastrointestinal tract (GIT). IBD mainly divided into ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease affects the whole gastrointestinal tract, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. The current experimental study elucidates the antioxidative and microbial homeostatic efficacy of monolaurin, monolaurin with butyric acid and propionic acid in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) induced acute colitis in rat model. The results revealed that total antioxidant capacity was significantly raised in all the treatment groups compared to the positive control group. While the results of total oxidative stress and relevant gene expression analysis revealed that mRNA expression of cell stress pathways such as Traf-4, Traf-6 and MAPK-8 genes (Mitogen activated Protein Kinase) pathways and Calm-2, Gerk-2 and Pias-2 genes (Calcium signaling pathways) were significantly higher expressed in the positive control group as compared to all the treatment groups. Total antioxidant capacity and NFR-1, Keap-1 and Nef-212 (Nrf2 signaling cascade) were significantly down expressed in the positive control group as compared to all the treatment groups. Histopathological study revealed that disruption of intestinal mucosa and immune infiltration in the positive control group, while restoration and regeneration of intestinal parenchyma were observed in all the treatment groups. Overall study results concluded that monolaurin, monolaurin with butyric acid and propionic acid can develop innovative, customized remedies against DSS-induced acute colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aims to quantify antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. Methods and results This observational study was conducted at two tertiary care hospitals of Pakistan over a 1-year period. The AMC and resistance patterns of Escherichia coli isolates collected from hospitals were observed and analysed using the pearson correlation coefficient. AMC in hospitals varied between 0.00186 and 0.72 (Mean = 0.12 ± 0.191) Defined Daily Dose (DDDs)/1000 patient-days. Fluoroquinolones were the most consumed antimicrobial followed by penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides. Antimicrobial-resistant rates in hospitals varied between 92.2% and 34.6%. The highest resistance rate was observed for moxifloxacin, followed by ampicillin, cefotaxime, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, amoxiclav, and amikacin. Statistically significant association was found between AMC and resistance rate for ampicillin (r = 0.78, P  = 0.032), cefotaxime (r = 0.87, P  = 0.012), ceftriaxone (r = 0.67, P  = 0.042), and ciprofloxacin (r = 0.63, P  = 0.031). Additionally, there was a significant association between fluoroquinolone consumption and the resistance rate of third generation cephalosporins (r = 0.61, P  = 0.032), and significance was also found when all antimicrobials were combined into 1 analysis (r = 0.721, P  = 0.032). Conclusion This data documented a significant association between AMC and resistant rates for multiple antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study is engrossed in identification of phyto-constituents from aerial part extracts of Tamarix gallica and appraisal of its anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory potential based upon its folktale use. The methanol and n-hexane fractions of aerial parts were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) respectively. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed better results in case of methanolic extract for both in antioxidant (IC50= 15.47 µg/mL) and alpha amylase (IC50=18.75 µg/mL) assays. Significantly higher quantities of phenolic and flavonoid contents were present in methanolic extract. A significant correlation was found to be existed between these contents and IC50 of antioxidant assay. Alloxan induced hyperglycaemia declined along with improvement in lipid profile, C-reactive proteins (CRP), liver function tests (LFTs) and renal function tests (RFTs). Methanolic fraction (500 mg/kg) was also related to significant reduction in levels of inflammatory markers i.e. tumour necrosis factor-alpha, TNF- α (1.28 ± 0.13 g/L) and interleukin-6, IL-6 (98 ± 10.4 pg/L) as observed in diabetic rats. Based upon the above findings, the study suggests that methanolic fraction from aerial parts of the T. gallica has better anti-diabetic profile which might be attributed to its alpha amylase, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]