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In the current pandemic, COVID-19 patients with predisposing factors are at an increased risk of mucormycosis, an uncommon angioinvasive infection that is caused by fungi with Mucor genus which is mainly found in plants and soil. Mucormycosis development in COVID-19 patient is related to various factors, such as diabetes, immunocompromise and neutropenia. Excessive use of glucocorticoids for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients also leads to opportunistic infections, such as pulmonary aspergillosis. COVID-19 patients with mucormycosis have a very high mortality rate. This review describes the pathogenesis and various treatment approaches for mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients, including medicinal plants, conventional therapies, adjunct and combination therapies.
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The complement cascade is a central component of innate immunity which plays a critical role in brain inflammation. Complement C3a receptor (C3aR) is a key mediator of post-ischemic cerebral injury, and pharmacological antagonism of the C3a receptor is neuroprotective in stroke. Cerebral ischemia injures brain endothelial cells, causing blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption which further exacerbates ischemic neuronal injury. In this study, we used an in vitro model of ischemia (oxygen glucose deprivation; OGD) to investigate the protective effect of a C3aR antagonist (C3aRA, SB290157) on brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3). Following 24 hours of reperfusion, OGD-induced cell death was assessed by TUNEL and Caspase-3 staining. Western blot and immunocytochemistry were utilized to demonstrate that OGD upregulates inflammatory, oxidative stress and antioxidant markers (ICAM-1, Cox-2, Nox-2 and MnSOD) in endothelial cells and that C3aRA treatment significantly attenuate these markers. We also found that C3aRA administration restored the expression level of the tight junction protein occludin in endothelial cells following OGD. Interestingly, OGD/reperfusion injury increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and C3aR inhibition significantly reduced the activation of ERK suggesting that endothelial C3aR may act via ERK signaling. Furthermore, exogenous C3a administration stimulates these same inflammatory mechanisms both with and without OGD, and C3aRA suppresses these C3a-mediated responses, supporting an antagonist role for C3aRA. Based on these results, we conclude that C3aRA administration attenuates inflammation, oxidative stress, ERK activation, and protects brain endothelial cells following experimental brain ischemia.
Subject(s)
Blood-Brain Barrier , Blotting, Western , Brain Ischemia , Brain , Caspase 3 , Cell Death , Complement C3a , Complement System Proteins , Encephalitis , Endothelial Cells , Glucose , Immunity, Innate , Immunohistochemistry , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , In Vitro Techniques , Inflammation , Ischemia , Neurons , Occludin , Oxidative Stress , Phosphorylation , Reperfusion , Stroke , Tight JunctionsABSTRACT
The pentacyclic triterpenic acids isolated from the oleo gum resin of various Boswellia species are collectively called as Boswellic acids (BA). The oleo gum resin obtained from Indian variety i.e. Boswellia serrata (Family – Burseraceae) is commonly known as Salai guggal. The resin fraction of Salai guggal is rich in Boswellic acids and its essential oil is composed of a mixture of mono, di and sesquiterpenes while gum fraction chiefly contains pentose and hexose sugars. This oleo-gum resin is quite popular among traditional practitioners of traditional Chinese and Indian Systems of medicine owing to their wide range of useful biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-rheumatic, anti-diarrheal, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial anti-fungal, anti-complementary and analgesic activity, etc. It has been used as a herbal medicine since the prehistoric time to cure acute and chronic ailments including inflammatory diseases. Phytochemical investigation of this herbal medicine lead to identification of Boswellic acids which are found to be novel, potent, specific anti-inflammatory agents due to non-redox inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzyme. However, the other important targets of Boswellic acids also include topoisomerases, angiogenesis, and cytochrome p450 enzymes. This review is a sincere attempt to discuss and present the current status of therapeutic potential, phytochemical as well as pharmacological profile of Boswellic acids primarily obtained from B. serrata.
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Objective: To evaluate and compare the antioxidant activity, total phenolic contents (TPCs) and in vitro antidiabetic activity of various pits extracts obtained from five Omani date cultivars. Methods: Sun-dried mature fruits of five Omani date varieties, namely, Fardh, Naghal, Khalas, Khinazi and Khasab were purchased from the local market in Muscat, Oman in the month of September 2014. Four seed extracts viz. water, ethanol, methanol and acetone were prepared for each date variety and their antioxidant activities were investigated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide scavenging method and reducing power assay method, respectively. In vitro antidiabetic activity of the date pit extracts was evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase and α-amylase level. TPCs were also quantified colorimetrically. Results: The results indicated that TPC of date seeds was solvent dependent. Acetone, ethanol and methanol were found to be significantly better solvents than water in extracting phenolic compounds from the date seeds. Pit extracts exhibited moderate to good in vitro antioxidant activity and increased reducing power. Among all date pit extracts, water extract exhibited significant in vitro antidiabetic activity in comparison to standard drug, acarbose. Conclusions: The present study confirms that disposed waste of Omani dates is a rich source of dietary antioxidant because of its high TPC. The pits due to their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase level could be used as a monotherapy along with an appropriate diabetic diet and exercise or might be in conjunction with antidiabetic therapy to manage and prevent progression of diabetes.
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Nowadays, use of alternative and complementary therapies with mainstream medicine has gained the momentum. Aromatherapy is one of the complementary therapies which use essential oils as the major therapeutic agents to treat several diseases. The essential or volatile oils are extracted from the flowers, barks, stem, leaves, roots, fruits and other parts of the plant by various methods. It came into existence after the scientists deciphered the antiseptic and skin permeability properties of essential oils. Inhalation, local application and baths are the major methods used in aromatherapy that utilize these oils to penetrate the human skin surface with marked aura. Once the oils are in the system, they remodulate themselves and work in a friendly manner at the site of malfunction or at the affected area. This type of therapy utilizes various permutation and combinations to get relief from numerous ailments like depression, indigestion, headache, insomnia, muscular pain, respiratory problems, skin ailments, swollen joints, urine associated complications etc. The essential oils are found to be more beneficial when other aspects of life and diet are given due consideration. This review explores the information available in the literature regarding therapeutic, medical, cosmetic, psychological, olfactory, massage aromatherapy, safety issues and different plants used in aromatherapy. All the available information was compiled from electronic databases such as Academic Journals, Ethnobotany, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and library search.
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Objective: To carry out the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with high performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting of Piper nigrum L. (P. nigrum) fruits in order to ascertain the standard pharmacognostical parameters of this king of spices. Methods: Many standardization parameters like extractive values, total ash value, water soluble ash value and acid insoluble ash, moisture content, loss on drying and pH values of P. nigrum L. fruits were analyzed. The method of Harborne was adopted for the preliminary phytochemicals screening. Analysis of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, pesticides residues, aflatoxin and heavy metals were also performed. CAMAG-high performance thin layer chromatography system was used for fingerprinting of methanolic extract of P. nigrum L. fruits. Results: The results of phytochemicals testing indicated the presence of carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, saponins, lipids, sterols and tannins in various solvent extracts. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in methanolic extract were found to be 1.728 1 mg/g and 1.087 μg/g, respectively. Heavy metals concentrations were found to be within standard limits. Aflatoxins and pesticides residues were absent. Conclusions: The outcome of this study might prove beneficial in herbal industries for identification, purification and standardization of P. nigrum L. fruits.
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OBJECTIVE@#To find out the ideal organic solvent and extraction technique for the isolation of luteolin from the leaves of Vitex negundo Linn. (V. negundo) by quantitative estimation of luteolin through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.@*METHODS@#The leaves of V. negundo were identified by a botanist, cleaned, dried under shade and powdered. Maceration, reflux, Soxhlet and ultrasound assisted extraction techniques were used for the extraction of luteolin from the leaves by using four different solvents of varying polarity such as methanol, ethanol, chloroform, and dichloromethane. A simple HPLC method was used to determine the quantity of luteolin in each sample extract.@*RESULTS@#The calibration plot of standard luteolin showed a linear relationship in the concentration range of 100-500 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient, r(2) of 0.998. The methanolic extract was found to contain highest amount of luteolin and among various techniques employed for extraction and isolation of luteolin, reflux technique was observed to be the most efficient.@*CONCLUSION@#Based on the HPLC results, it can be concluded that reflux technique using methanol is better than the other extraction techniques and should be preferred for the extraction and isolation of luteolin from V. negundo leaves extract in research labs or industries.
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Objective: To perform phytochemical screening, estimate total phenolics, flavonoids and to evaluate antioxidant potential of Moringa peregrina (M. peregrina) leaves. Methods: The dried powdered leaves of M. peregrina (150 g) were extracted exhaustively by Soxhlet with ethanol and then fractionated into hexane, chloroform, ethy alacetate and methanol. All the prepared extracts were also analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and characterize the chemical compounds present in the crude extracts. Folin- Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods were used to estimate total phenolic and flavonoid content of extracts. Hydrogen peroxide and 1,1 diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl were used to determine in vitro antioxidant activity. Results: Phytochemical analysis of ethanol extract showed presence of major classes of phytochemicals. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results revealed presence of 19 phytoconstituents in hexane extract, 6 in ethyl acetate and 7 compounds in methanolic extract. Methanol extract was found to contain the highest phenolic content and flavonoids. In vitro antioxidant activities of all crude extracts were significant and comparable with the standard ascorbic acid. Conclusions: Results of this study show that the leaves of M. peregrina are the rich source of phenolic compounds that can play an important role in preventing the progression of many diseases.
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Objective: To find out the ideal organic solvent and extraction technique for the isolation of luteolin from the leaves of Vitex negundo Linn. (V. negundo) by quantitative estimation of luteolin through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Methods: The leaves of V. negundo were identified by a botanist, cleaned, dried under shade and powdered. Maceration, reflux, Soxhlet and ultrasound assisted extraction techniques were used for the extraction of luteolin from the leaves by using four different solvents of varying polarity such as methanol, ethanol, chloroform, and dichloromethane. A simple HPLC method was used to determine the quantity of luteolin in each sample extract. Results: The calibration plot of standard luteolin showed a linear relationship in the concentration range of 100-500 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient, r
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Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) is a rare benign vascular lesion of soft tissue and bone, characterized by endothelial cells with epithelioid or histiocytoid appearance. Though tubular bones, flat bones, vertebra and short bones are common sites for this lesion, the epiphyseal involvement is extremely rare. We present an unusual case of EH of the distal femur in a young boy. Case report: A 12-year-old boy who had congenital talipes equinovarus of the right foot presented with progressively increasing pain in the right lower thigh for six months. Physical examination revealed muscular atrophy of the right lower limb and a moderately tender swelling in the medial aspect of the right knee without restriction of knee movement. An X-ray revealed an osteolytic lesion, which appeared iso- and hypointense on T1W and hyperintense on T2W MRI images in the distal epiphysis and adjacent metaphysis of the right femur. A radiological diagnosis of chondroblastoma was entertained. The patient was treated with curettage and bone grafting. Histopathology showed a tumor composed of thin-walled arteriolar capillaries lined by large, polyhedral epithelioid endothelial cells with vesicular nuclei, finely distributed nuclear chromatin, and moderate amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. The endothelial cells were strongly immunopositive for CD34. Mitotic activity was low and the Ki-67 proliferative rate was <2%. A diagnosis of EH was made. EH is a benign lesion and it should be differentiated from its histologically similar malignant counterparts such as epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and epithelioid angiosarcoma as the lesion can be successfully treated with curettage or resection.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present our experience in treatment of difficult ununited long bone fractures with locking plate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective evaluation of locking plate fixation in 10 difficult nonunions of long bone fractures was done. Fixation was done with locking plate for femoral shaft fracture (3 patients), supracondylar fracture of femur (gap nonunion), fracture of clavicle, fracture of both forearm bones (radius and ulna) fracture of ulna, fracture of shaft of humerus, fracture of tibial diaphysis and supracondylar fracture of humerus (one patient each). Five fractures had more than one previous failed internal fixation. One patient had infected nonunion which was managed by debridement with cast immobilization followed by fixation with locking plate at six weeks. Seven fractures were atrophic, two were oligotrophic, and one was hypertrophic. Fibular autograft was used in 2 cases and iliac crest cancellous bone graft used in all the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Minimum follow-up was 6 months (range, 6 months to 2.5 years). Average time for union was 3.4 months (range 2.5 to 6 months). None of the patients had plate-related complications or postoperative wound infections.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Along with achieving stability with locking compression plate, meticulous soft tissue dissection, acceptable reduction, good fixation technique and bone grafting can help achieve union in difficult nonunion cases. Though locking plate does not by itself ensure bony union, we have found it to be another useful addition to our armamentarium for treating difficult fracture nonunions.</p>
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Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Bone Plates , Fractures, Ununited , Therapeutics , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Nigella sativa (N. sativa) (Family Ranunculaceae) is a widely used medicinal plant throughout the world. It is very popular in various traditional systems of medicine like Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda and Siddha. Seeds and oil have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicines and food. The seeds of N. sativa have been widely used in the treatment of different diseases and ailments. In Islamic literature, it is considered as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine. It has been recommended for using on regular basis in Tibb-e-Nabwi (Prophetic Medicine). It has been widely used as antihypertensive, liver tonics, diuretics, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, analgesics, anti-bacterial and in skin disorders. Extensive studies on N. sativa have been carried out by various researchers and a wide spectrum of its pharmacological actions have been explored which may include antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulator, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, hepato-protective, renal protective, gastro-protective, antioxidant properties, etc. Due to its miraculous power of healing, N. sativa has got the place among the top ranked evidence based herbal medicines. This is also revealed that most of the therapeutic properties of this plant are due to the presence of thymoquinone which is major bioactive component of the essential oil. The present review is an effort to provide a detailed survey of the literature on scientific researches of pharmacognostical characteristics, chemical composition and pharmacological activities of the seeds of this plant.
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Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Nigella sativa , Chemistry , Plant Extracts , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Plants, Medicinal , Chemistry , Research , Seeds , ChemistryABSTRACT
Reactive arthritis or Reiter's syndrome characteristically affects the joint of the lower limb in an asymmetrical pattern. Usually it does not affect the axial skeleton or upper limbs. Although cases of atraumatic atlantoaxial subluxations have been reported, no case of spontaneous sternoclavicular dislocation in Reiter's syndrome has been reported. This paper describes a case of a 26 year old male patient who developed a spontaneous posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation. No attempt of reduction was made and the patient was managed conservatively with good results.
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Humans , Arm Injuries , Arthritis, Reactive , Joint Dislocations , Spinal Injuries , Sternoclavicular Joint , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes among pharmacists in Oman towards the specific use and knowledge of herbal drugs. The study was conducted on 100 pharmacists employed in Oman. The data was collected using two self- administered questionnaire containing 7 and 11 closed ended questions in each, respectively. The mean age of pharmacists was 32.6 [SD=5.6] years. The majority of pharmacists were interested in herbal information and their herbal information mainly comes from their previous classes during college. Most of them have belief on the effectiveness of herbal products. Pharmacists were more knowledgeable on specific therapeutic indications of herbal products rather than on other areas such as drug- herb interaction or side effects. In summary, Pharmacists need to be informed on the therapeutic indications, drug interactions, dose, active constituent and precautions of herbal products. Concerned bodies must also provide them with regular continuing education programs apart from putting their effects to incorporate relevant topics in herbal medicine in pharmacy curriculum
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Humans , Male , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Pharmacists , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Silybum marianum is a medicinal plant used widely for treating liver diseases. The silymarin, a mixture of three flavolignan isomers namely silybin [1], silydianin [2], and silychristin [3] is an active constituent of the plant. However, silybin containing 1, 4-dioxane ring is the most potent antihepatotoxic agent. In contrast, other isomers do not possess 1, 4- dioxane ring, and thus do not exhibit a significant activity. We, therefore, thought that 1, 4-dioxane ring plays an important role in displaying antihepatotoxic activity, and have prepared some chalcones containing 1, 4-dioxane ring. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for antihepatotoxic activity against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters like serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT], serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase [SGPT], alkaline phosphatase [ALKP], total protein [TP] and total albumin [TA]. The compounds namely 2-hydroxy- 4-methoxy-3', 4'-[2"- hydroxy methyl-1", 4" - dioxano] chalcone [9b] and 2-hydroxy- 4, 6 -dimethoxy-3', 4'-[2"- hydroxy methyl-1", 4"- dioxano] chalcone [9c] exhibited a potent activity in comparison to standard drug silybon-70. The other compounds also showed moderate activity
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Animals, Laboratory , Silybum marianum/toxicity , Chalcones , Dioxanes , Liver , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Successive petroleum ether, acetone and methanolic extracts of Silybum marianum seeds were tested for their antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. The methanolic fraction was found to be most effective against the tested micro-organisms