Chemical composition and skin inflammation protective profile of pulegone rich essential oil of Mentha arvensis L.

The mint oil obtained from Mentha arvensis L. is an important ingredient of ointments, pain balms, lozenges, syrups and various cosmetic preparations. Using half sib progeny selection method, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, India has developed a new chemotype (MAC/BS-11) of Mentha arvensis. Essential oil extracted from the aerial shoots of this chemotype (MaP) is rich in pulegone. Here, we conducted a blind pharmacological study using MaP to evaluate its therapeutic profile against skin inflammation using in vivo and in silico assays. Results of this study conclude that MaP significantly (P <0.05) reduced the skin thickness, ear weight and pro-inflammatory cytokines production in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear inflammation model. In vivo toxicity profiles indicate that it is safe for topical application on skin. Molecular docking study also revealed its strong binding affinity to the active site of the pro-inflammatory proteins. These findings suggest that MaP, a pulegone rich essential oil of Mentha arvensis, could be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of skin inflammation.

Potentiation of antimalarial activity of arteether in combination with Vetiver root extract.

In malaria, development of resistance towards artemisinin derivatives has urged the need for new drugs or new drug combinations to tackle the drug resistant malaria. We studied the fresh root extract of Vetiver zizanioides (Linn.) Nash (VET) with a CDRI-CIMAP antimalarial α/β arteether (ART) together for their antimalarial potential. Our results showed additive to synergistic antimalarial activity of VET and ART with sum fractional inhibitory concentrations Σ FICs 1.02±0.24 and 1.12±0.32 for chloroquine sensitive (CQS) and chloroquine resistant (CQR) strain of Plasmodium falciparum (William H. Welch), respectively. Further, these combinations were explored against multidrug resistant rodent malaria parasite i.e. P. yoelii nigeriensis. Analysis of in vivo interaction of ART and VET showed that 10 mg/kg×5days of ART with 1000 mg/kg of VET ×5 days cured 100% mice infected with MDR parasite, while the same dose of ART could produce only up to 30% cure and VET fraction was not curative at all. Synergism/additiveness, found between VET and ART is reported for the first time. The curative dose of ART in the combination was reduced to its one fourth, and thus limits the side effects, if any. Although antimalarial potential of ART was enhanced by VET, action mechanism of later needs to be elucidated in detail.

Relevance of Small Laboratory Animals as Models in Translational Research: Challenges and Road Ahead.

Translational research using small laboratory animals is being done to demonstrate proof of concept, to study pharmacokinetics as well as to understand efficacy and safety of new drug molecules. During the evaluation of a drug candidate, the assessment of efficacy and safety is normally performed in different experiments using various animal models. In such experiments, efficacy is assessed by mimicking the disease state in animal model while safety is investigated in healthy animals. Inventing new drugs using biotechnological and nanotechnological approaches is becoming a major thrust area in drug research. Apart from this, the development of medicine from traditional knowledge like Ayurveda has emerged as major area for drug industry. Use of conventional in-vivo approaches may not prove useful to answer many questions. Transgenic/knock-out/knock-in animals are now getting space in pharmaceutical research for target identification and validation. Predictability of in-vivo research depends on scientific protocols and methods adopted for model selection and development. Various alternative approaches for in-vivo research are being followed. It is a fact that no animal model is 100 % capable of mimicking the complex human body but still, researchers have not yet found any alternative model which can completely replace in-vivo models. This review is a holistic approach explaining the various animal models being used for translational research, animal ethical issues, alternative approaches available and provides a critical analysis of major issues/challenges faced in translational research using in-vivo approaches.

Heat modifiability of outer membrane protein of Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2.

Outer membrane proteins (OMP) are generally porins, functioning as molecular sieves assisting in the transmembrane transportation. Heat modifiable characteristics of OMP from P. multocida B: 2 have been explored to know their basic characteristics on event of temperature rise. A major band of 32 kDa and two minor bands of approximately 39 and approximately 28 kDa were found to be heat modifiable. It is suggested that boiling at 100 degrees C in presence of beta mercaptoethanol for 5 min is sufficient for characterisation of OMP by Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis.