Nutraceuticals: Pharmacologically Active Potent Dietary Supplements.

A growing demand exists for nutraceuticals, which seem to reside in the grey area between pharmaceuticals and food. Nutraceuticals, up today, do not have a specific definition distinct from those of other food-derived categories, e.g., food supplements, herbal products, functional foods, and fortified foods. They have, however, a pharmacological beneficial effect on health. Many studies have been recently addressed to assess their safety, efficacy, and regulation. The object of writing this review article is that we need to pay more attention to natural and organic foods. The bases of nutraceutical components (food supplements) are known for potent and powerful clinical evidence effects on the treatment of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Paving Luteolin Therapeutic Potentialities and Agro-Food-Pharma Applications: Emphasis on In Vivo Pharmacological Effects and Bioavailability Traits.

Luteolin is a naturally occurring secondary metabolite belonging to the class of flavones. As many other natural flavonoids, it is often found in combination with glycosides in many fruits, vegetables, and plants, contributing to their biological and pharmacological value. Many preclinical studies report that luteolin present excellent antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects, and as a consequence, various clinical trials have been designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of luteolin in humans. However, luteolin has a very limited bioavailability, which consequently affects its biological properties and efficacy. Several drug delivery strategies have been developed to raise its bioavailability, with nanoformulations and lipid carriers, such as liposomes, being the most intensively explored. Pharmacological potential of luteolin in various disorders has also been underlined, but to some of them, the exact mechanism is still poorly understood. Given the great potential of this natural antioxidant in health, this review is aimed at providing an extensive overview on the in vivo pharmacological action of luteolin and at stressing the main features related to its bioavailability, absorption, and metabolism, while essential steps determine its absolute health benefits and safety profiles. In addition, despite the scarcity of studies on luteolin bioavailability, the different drug delivery formulations developed to increase its bioavailability are also listed here.

Antibacterial activity and phytochemical characterisation of Saussurea gossypiphora D. Don.

The study demonstrates that S. gossypiphora contain number of secondary metabolites such as steroids, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, saponins, and amino acids. Methanolic extract (MESG) of the plant contained highest quantity of phenolics, flavonoids and has greater antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity in comparison to other extracts. Moreover, acute toxicity studies revealed that none of the extracts produced any toxic symptoms and mortality when administered orally to mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg b. w. Furthermore, in MESG, the SG-4 fraction exhibited the highest antibacterial activity than other isolated fractions against all tested bacterial strains in a dose-dependent manner. SG-4 fraction showed significant anti-inflammatory effect (60.91%) as evident by maximum inhibition of Carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rat model. The HPTLC analysis confirmed the presence of apigenin and luteolin in the SG-4 fraction of methanolic extract. A noticeable number of mineral elements were also found to be present in S. gossypiphora. Conclusively, our study reveals that Saussurea gossypiphora contains plethora of bioactive compounds that contributes to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. Apigenin and luteolin possibly being one of them. Besides, the presence of ample minerals hints is utilisation as nutritionally valuable herb.

Cordyceps spp.: A Review on Its Immune-Stimulatory and Other Biological Potentials.

In recent decades, interest in the Cordyceps genus has amplified due to its immunostimulatory potential. Cordyceps species, its extracts, and bioactive constituents have been related with cytokine production such as interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, phagocytosis stimulation of immune cells, nitric oxide production by increasing inducible nitric oxide synthase activity, and stimulation of inflammatory response via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Other pharmacological activities like antioxidant, anti-cancer, antihyperlipidemic, anti-diabetic, anti-fatigue, anti-aging, hypocholesterolemic, hypotensive, vasorelaxation, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, and kidney protection, has been reported in pre-clinical studies. These biological activities are correlated with the bioactive compounds present in Cordyceps including nucleosides, sterols, flavonoids, cyclic peptides, phenolic, bioxanthracenes, polyketides, and alkaloids, being the cyclic peptides compounds the most studied. An organized review of the existing literature was executed by surveying several databanks like PubMed, Scopus, etc. using keywords like Cordyceps, cordycepin, immune system, immunostimulation, immunomodulatory, pharmacology, anti-cancer, anti-viral, clinical trials, ethnomedicine, pharmacology, phytochemical analysis, and different species names. This review collects and analyzes state-of-the-art about the properties of Cordyceps species along with ethnopharmacological properties, application in food, chemical compounds, extraction of bioactive compounds, and various pharmacological properties with a special focus on the stimulatory properties of immunity.

Antineoplastic potential of the Vitex species: an overview / Potencial antineoplásico de la especie Vitex: una visión general

Irrespective of progressive treatments, cancer remains to have the utmost rate of treatment failure due to numerous reasons associated. In recent years, the use of traditional medicine in cancer research has established considerable interest. Natural products represent an amazing source for cancer therapy and combating associated side-effects. More than thousand plants have been found to possess significant anticancer properties. Vitex is the largest genus in the family Lamiaceae which comprises 250 species distributed throughout world and several species have been reported to have anticancer properties. Despite a long tradition of use of some species, the genus has not been explored properly in terms of its anticancer profile. Here we are reporting the updated knowledge of the antineoplastic profile of this genus available so far. In the concluding part, the future scope of Vitex species has been emphasized with a view to explore its multifarious antineoplastic activities and mode of action.

Independientemente de los tratamientos progresivos, el cáncer sigue teniendo la mayor tasa de fracaso del tratamiento debido a numerosas razones asociadas. En los últimos años, el uso de la medicina tradicional en la investigación del cáncer ha despertado un gran interés. Los productos naturales representan una fuente increíble para la terapia contra el cáncer y la lucha contra los efectos secundarios asociados. Se han encontrado más de mil plantas que poseen propiedades anticancerígenas significativas. Vitex es el género más grande de la familia Lamiaceae, que comprende 250 especies distribuidas en todo el mundo y se ha informado que varias especies tienen propiedades anticancerígenas. A pesar de una larga tradición de uso de algunas especies, el género no ha sido explorado adecuadamente en términos de su perfil contra el cáncer. Aquí presentamos el conocimiento actualizado del perfil antineoplásico de este género disponible hasta el momento. En la parte final, se ha enfatizado el alcance futuro de las especies de Vitex con el objetivo de explorar sus múltiples actividades antineoplásicas y su modo de acción.

Satyrium nepalense, a high altitude medicinal orchid of Indian Himalayan region: chemical profile and biological activities of tuber extracts.

The present study investigated antioxidant and antibacterial activities of 5 different extracts and derived fractions from the S. nepalense tubers. Identification of the most active fractions, their phytochemical characterization, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and biological activities were also evaluated. Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, water extracts and methanol fractions were screened for their antibacterial activity at 10, 50 and 100 mg/mL doses against ten Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains by disc diffusion method. Their total antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH and ABTS assays. Identification of the main compounds was performed by LC-MS/MS. Methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant (IC50= 30.79 µg/mL and 24.53 µg/mL for DPPH and ABTS, respectively) and antibacterial (MIC 71.5 to >100 µg/mL) activities in comparison with the other extracts. Levels of phenolics and flavonoids were also the highest in the same extract, i.e. 19.2 mg GAE/g and 11.20 mg QE/g, respectively. Phytochemical investigation of the active fractions of the methanol extract led to the isolation of gallic acid (19.04 mg/g) and quercetin (23.4 mg/g). Therefore, methanol extract showed an interesting potential for both antioxidant and antibacterial activities, thus deserving attention for future applications in the fields of medicinal plants and food supplements.

Antibacterial potential of Saussurea obvallata petroleum ether extract: A spiritually revered medicinal plant.

Uttarakhand Himalayan region holds Asteraceae or Compositae as the largest family of flowering, medicinal and aromatic plants. Species belonging to this family rises from low altitude to the alpine region. Among Asteraceae, Saussurea obvallata (DC.) Edgew. is widely used in several indigenous systems of medicine. Flowers, leaves and rhizomes of S. obvallata are used for several traditional, religious, therapeutic and ornamental purposes. Aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and antibacterial efficacy of petroleum ether extract (PEE) of S. obvallata. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used for identifying phytochemicals present in the plant extract. Furthermore, the PEE was assessed for in-vitro antibacterial activity against selected Gram positive and negative strains. Structure of squalene and α-linolenic acid methyl ester were identified in PEE by GC-MS analysis, by comparing the results obtained with NIST library and literature reports. PEE exhibited significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis with IC50 value of 87.2 ± 1.6, 98.4 ± 1.1 and 90.2 ± 1.8 µg/ml, respectively. These results showed that squalene and α-linolenic acid derivative identified in S. obvallata may be responsible for the observed antibacterial activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report focused on the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of S. obvallata.

Comparative Evaluation of Polyphenol Contents and Antioxidant Activities between Ethanol Extracts of Vitex negundo and Vitex trifolia L. Leaves by Different Methods.

The in vitro antioxidant potential assay between ethanolic extracts of two species from the genus Vitex (Vitex negundo L. and Vitex trifolia L.) belonging to the Lamiaceae family were evaluated. The antioxidant properties of different extracts prepared from both plant species were evaluated by different methods. DPPH scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, and ß-carotene-linoleic acid and ferrous ion chelation methods were applied. The antioxidant activities of these two species were compared to standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid, and Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA). Both species of Vitex showed significant antioxidant activity in all of the tested methods. As compared to V. trifolia L. (60.87-89.99%; 40.0-226.7 µg/mL), V. negundo has been found to hold higher antioxidant activity (62.6-94.22%; IC50 = 23.5-208.3 µg/mL) in all assays. In accordance with antioxidant activity, total polyphenol contents in V. negundo possessed greater phenolic (89.71 mg GAE/g dry weight of extract) and flavonoid content (63.11 mg QE/g dry weight of extract) as compared to that of V. trifolia (77.20 mg GAE/g and 57.41 mg QE/g dry weight of extract respectively). Our study revealed the significant correlation between the antioxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of both plant species.

Formulation and evaluation of herbal antioxidant face cream of Nardostachys jatamansi collected from Indian Himalayan region

Objective:To prepare and evaluate a herbal antioxidant face cream which is made by the ethanol extract of Nardostachys jatamansi (Valerianceae). Methods: Antioxidant activity of ethanol extract was assessed by previously reported 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. By discovering different types of formulations, such as oil in water, we were able to create several face creams respectively classified from F1 to F6, by incorporating different concentrations of stearic acid and acetyl alcohol. The evaluation of all formulations (F1 to F6) has been done by the analysis of different parameters like pH, viscosity, spread ability and stability. Results: An ethanol fraction analyzed from a sample of Nardostachys jatamansi showed a significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 58.39 μg/mL while for ascorbic acid the IC50 value was 46.68 μg/mL. Among the six formulations (F1-F6) F5 and F6 showed good spread ability, good consistency, homogeneity, appearance, pH;there is no proof of a separation phase and ease of removal. Also the formulations F5 and F6 showed no redness or edema or erythema and irritation during irritancy studies. Conclusions:These formulations can be safely used on the skin. Hence, the study suggests that the composition of extract and the base of the cream F5 and F6 are more stable and safe, but it may produce synergistic action.

Synthesis of the impurities during the manufacture of bulk drug midazolam and separation of these impurities by HPLC.

During the manufacture of bulk drug midazolam various impurities arised that can be the related products or degradation products. Structures of eight impurities that can arise during the manufacture of bulk drug midazolam were proposed. In the present work, synthesis of these impurities and their characterization by different spectroscopic techniques have been done. HPLC method was developed for the separation of impurities from the bulk drug. The developed method separates midazolam from its eight impurities/degradation products within a run time of 45 min.