A novel polyherbal formulation containing thymoquinone attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatorenal injury in a rat model

Objective: To evaluate a novel polyherbal formulation (BSVT) containing the standardized extracts from the leaves of Boerhavia diffusa, Solidago virgaurea, Vitex negundo, and thymoquinone in CCl

Phytochemistry and potential therapeutic actions of Boswellic acids: A mini-review

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.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a mutual prodrug of norfloxacin and fenbufen

Objectives: The study aimed to synthesize a mutual prodrug of norfloxacin and fenbufen with an objective of obtaining an effective and safer anti-inflammatory drug with useful antimicrobial actions

Methods: An amide-based mutual prodrug [NF-FN] was prepared following a single-step synthesis by condensing norfloxacin with fenbufen under appropriate laboratory conditions. Its structure was established on the basis of IR, NMR, Mass spectral data and elemental analysis. The prodrug [NF-FN] was evaluated for in-vitro antibacterial activity against two grampositive [Staphylococcus aureusand Bacillus subtilis] and two gram negative bacterial strains [Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia]. The in-vivo antiinflammatory activity and ulcerogenicity of the synthesized prodrug were investigated in Wistar albino rats at the doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg body weight, respectively

Results: The synthesized prodrug [NF-FN] showed very good activity against S. aureus and E. coli with MIC-6.25 mg/ mL, and good activity against B. subtilis and K. pneumonia with MIC-12.5 mg/mL. Its anti-inflammatory activity was found to be better than that of the parent drug fenbufen. It was also observed to less severe on gastric mucosa in comparison to reference drug, fenbufen

Conclusion: The prodrug showed promising results as anti-inflammatory agent however, its antibacterial action was found to be slightly weaker than the other parent drug norfloxacin

Quantification of total phenol, flavonoid content and pharmacognostical evaluation including HPTLC fingerprinting for the standardization of Piper nigrum Linn fruits

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.

Physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with HPTLC fingerprintingof Nigella sativa L. seeds

This study was designed to perform the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with HPTLC fingerprinting of Nigella sativa seeds in order to establish the standard pharmacognostical parameters of this miracle herb

Different parameters like extractive values; total ash value, acid insoluble ash value and water soluble ash value, moisture content, loss on drying, pH values of Nigella sativa seeds were performed. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done to detect different phytoconstituents by using the Harborne's phytochemical methods

Quantification of phenolic and flavonoid contents, determination of pesticides residues, aflatoxin and heavy metals were also carried out. HPTLC fingerprinting of methanolic extract was performed using CAMAG-HPTLC system connected with win CAT software. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts in different solvent revealed the presence of carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, saponins, lipids, sterols and tannins. Total flavonoid and phenolic contents in methanolic extract was found to be 1.4 mg/gm and 9.8 mg/gm extract respectively. Concentrations of heavy metals were found within acceptable limits. Pesticides residues and aflatoxins were not detected

The physicochemical and phytochemical standards along with HPTLC fingerprint profile .established as an outcome of this research may be utilized as substantial data for identification, purification and standardization of Nigella sativa seeds

A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb

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.

Temozolomide for relapsed primary CNS lymphoma

Primary CNS lymphoma [PCNSL] is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that accounts for 3% of all primary brain tumours. No clear risk factors for PCNSL in immunocompetent patients are known. The disease is more common in men and in elderly persons. Patients with AIDS who have low CD4+ counts are at the greatest risk for PCNSL. Virtually all PCNSLs in patients with AIDS express an Epstein-Barr virus [EBV]-related genome. PCNSL is less frequently associated with EBV in patients without AIDS. A 42 years old gentleman diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma with negative serological test for human immunodeficiency virus was initially treated with Modified De Angelis protocol relapsed after treatment. He underwent gamma knife stereotactic surgery which lead to further deterioration clinically and progression of disease on imaging. Later, he was treated with salvage high dose methotrexate, but after completion of six cycles there was a radiological progression of disease. Relapsed disease was further treated with a single agent temozolomide and the disease went in remission