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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder, characterized by demyelination and loss of axonal parts of neurons in the central nervous system involving multiple genetic and environmental factors. Although, the demyelinated lesions develop throughout the brain, but more frequently are extensive in white matter. Currently, three different approaches are being utilized to treat MS, where synthetic drugs are the most frequently used but they do not cure the disease. Secondly, the stem cell therapy but this too has limited success in treating MS in humans. The thirds technique involving administering hormones has been found to be most effective method but this too have some significant side effects. Alternatively, natural products can potentially serve as an affordable and effective substitute for the treatment of MS with minimum or no side effects. Blackseeds (Nigella sativa) and honey possessing potent neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties with no reported side effects can be a prospective candidate for an alternate remedial treatment of MS in animal model as well as in humans. In this study we established a new animal model (quail), to assess the synergistic efficacy of honey and black seed against demyelination within brain. A total of 35 male quails were used, among 10 were non treated and 25 were treated with 200 mg/kg/day cuprizone (CPZ) demyelination for six months to induce demyelination. After that they were divided into seven groups of five animal each where 3 CPZ treated groups received either honey, black seed oil or mixture of both for 6 weeks after demyelination. Behavioral tests were performed at the end of treatment. Afterwards, oligodendrocyte population was estimated in cerebellar white matter after histology. It was found that all three treatments efficiently induce remyelination. Interestingly, the mixture of honey and black seed was significantly more efficient than honey and black seed alone. Our data support the need of clinical trials for administration of N. sativa and honey in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injuries are among those complicated medical conditions, which are still waiting for their highly effective first‐line therapies. In this study, the role of Calotropis procera crude leaves was evaluated at different doses for their effectiveness in improving functional recovery following sciatic nerve injury‐induced in the mouse model. Thirty‐two healthy albino mice were divided into four groups as Normal chow group (control, n = 8) and C. procera chow groups (50 mg/kg (n = 8), 100 mg/kg (n = 8) and 200 mg/kg (n = 8)). Behavioral analyses were performed to assess and compare improved functional recovery along with skeletal muscle mass measurement in all groups. Serum samples were analyzed for oxidative stress markers. Results showed that C. procera leaves at dose‐dependent manner showed statistically prominent (p <.05) increase in sensorimotor functions reclamation as confirmed by behavioral analyses along with muscle mass restoration and prominent decline in TOS and momentous increase in TAC along with the augmented activity of antioxidative enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is one of the major health concerns faced by the community at present. Till now, available therapeutic approaches are ineffective to fully heal a nerve injury and to assure the functional recovery entirely. Natural compounds can prove attractive and effective drug candidates to bridge up this gap. In this scenario, the present study was designed to explore the role of methanolic extract of Foeniculum vulgare (F. vulgare) seeds in accelerating the function regain following a sciatic nerve injury in a mouse model. For this purpose, 12 adult healthy albino mice (BALB/C), 8–10 weeks old, were grouped as control (Ctrl, n = 6) and treatment (Trt, n = 6). The treated group was given methanolic extract of F. vulgare (200 mg/kg per day) started from the day of nerve crush until the end of the study. The sensorimotor function regain assessed by hot plate test, grip strength, and SFI assessments was found significantly (p <.05) ameliorated in the F. vulgare‐treated group. A prominent improvement in the muscle mass of the treated group further affirmed these effects. Furthermore, morphometric analysis of muscle fiber cross‐sectional area of tibialis anterior muscle between groups revealed a noticeable improvement in muscle fibers' diameter of the treated group. Conclusively, these findings suggest that F. vulgare methanolic extract exhibits the potential to escalate functional recovery following a peripheral nerve injury. However, the real players of this extract and the mechanism involved in boosting functional restoration need to be dissected by further work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain is a central and pivotal organ of human body containing the highest lipids content next to adipose tissue. It works as a monitor for the whole body and needs an adequate supply of energy to maintain its physiological activities. This high demand of energy in the brain is chiefly maintained by the lipids along with its reservoirs. Thus, the lipid metabolism is also an important for the proper development and function of the brain. Being a prominent part of the brain, lipids play a vast number of physiological activities within the brain starting from the structural development, impulse conduction, insulation, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, myelin sheath formation and finally to act as the signaling molecules. Interestingly, lipids bilayer also maintains the structural integrity for the physiological functions of protein. Thus, in light to all of these activities, lipids and its metabolism can be attributed pivotal for brain health and its activities. Decisively, the impaired/altered metabolism of lipids and its intermediates puts forward a key step in the progression of different brain ailments including neurodegenerative, neurological and neuropsychiatry disorders. Depending on their associated underlying pathways, they serve as the potential biomarkers of these disorders and are considered as necessary diagnostic tools. The present review discusses the role and level of altered lipids metabolism in brain diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, neurological diseases, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Moreover, the possible mechanisms of altered level of lipids and their metabolites have also been discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various haematological parameters of two bat species belonging to the family Vespertilionidae (Scotophilus healthii and Pipistrellus pipistrellus) were examined on the seasonal basis. Blood samples were taken from 47 bats (23 S. heathii and 24 P. pipistrellus) captured from Potohar region. Results showed that P. pipistrellus exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher mean counts of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, haemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) as compared to S. heathii. However, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in S. heathii as compared to P. pipistrellus. Seasonal comparisons in both the species depicted lowest levels of RBCs, WBCs, MCV, MCH and PCV in spring when bats are least active just after hibernation. Highest mean estimates of RBCs, Hb, and PCV were observed in summer (bats are most active) in male and female bats belonging to both species. However, WBCs levels were at peak during autumn when bats are preparing to go into hibernation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the methanolic extract of Raphanus sativus (RSME) seeds was evaluated for its protective effect against CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity. The treatment of Swiss albino rats with intraperitoneal injections of CCl4 (1 ml/kg body weight) on alternate days for 30 days decreased the antioxidant enzymes, while lipid peroxidation and serum toxicity markers were increased. These changes were reversed in the animals receiving an oral dose of RSME (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) along with CCl4, thus increasing the level of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing serum toxicity markers and thus ameliorating the toxic effect of CCl4. These results show that seed extract of R. sativus can reciprocate the toxic effects of CCl4 and can be used to make a chemopreventive drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injury is a complex condition which results in restricted physical activity. Despite the tremendous efforts to figure out effective remedies, the complete functional retrieval is still a goal to be achieved. So, the need of hour is the exploration of potential natural compounds to recover this functional loss. Here, we have investigated the role of a local plant "Neurada procumbens" in ameliorating the functional recovery after an induced nerve compression injury in a mouse model. A dose of N. procumbens (50mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally from the day of injury to onwards. The motor functional recovery was assessed by evaluating muscle grip strength and sciatic functional index; while the sensory functions were gauged by the hotplate test. The serological parameters were carried out to analyze the effect of N. procumbens on oxidative stress level. The recovery of sensory and motor functions was significantly improved and perceived earlier in the treatment group. Moreover, the elevated antioxidant level was statistically significant in the treatment group. These results indicate that the supplementation of N. procumbens accelerates functional recovery after sciatic nerve crush injury.