Evaluation of antioxidant activities, toxicity studies and the DNA damage protective effect of various solvent extracts of Litsea cubeba fruits.

Litsea cubeba is devoured by the ethnic individuals of Arunachal Pradesh in India as food and has been traditionally used for curing different ailments. The purpose of present study was to investigate the antioxidant activities of fruits of L. cubeba using different solvent extracts, quantification of phenolics, toxicity studies and DNA damage protective activities. The antioxidant activities of fruits using five different solvent extracts completed utilizing different in vitro examines. The quantitation of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds in the methanol extract of the fruits was carried out by HPLC. The in vitro haemolytic examination of plant concentrates were completed on rat erythrocytes. Appraisal of cytotoxicity of eatable fruits was assessed by MTT measure. The genotoxicity of the contemplated plant was tried by the single-cell gel electrophoresis comet measure. The DNA defensive impacts of the aqueous extracts of fruits on rodent lymphocyte DNA lesions were likewise assessed with the comet test. The extract obtained by methanol exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The HPLC examination of the methanol concentrate of the plant demonstrated the occurrence of different phenolic acids and flavonoids like caffeic acid (145.96µg/100mg DE), syringic acid (125.85 µg/100mg DE), ferulic acid (155.89 µg/100mg DE), apigenin (28.43 µg/100mg DE), kaempferol (53.41 µg/100mg DE) etc. in various amounts. The consequences of haemolytic lethality, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fluid concentrates of the edible plant ensure the security at cell and genomic level. The fluid concentrate of the plant fundamentally repressed DNA harm and these information recommend that the watery concentrate of L. cubeba can forestall oxidative DNA harm to rodent lymphocytes, which is likely because of antioxidant constituents in the concentrate. These outcomes demonstrate that L. cubeba can be utilized in dietary applications with a possibility to diminish oxidative pressure.

Transdermal co-delivery of glucosamine sulfate and diacerein for the induction of chondroprotection in experimental osteoarthritis.

The aim of this work was to develop a transdermal delivery system consisting of a glucosamine sulfate-laden xanthan hydrogel containing a nanoemulsion-loaded diacerein. The system was intended to prevent cartilage degradation typical of osteoarthritis. The nanoemulsion, made of soybean oil as the oil phase; soybean lecithin, Tween 80, and poloxamer 407 as surfactants; and propylene glycol as cosurfactant, was formed within the hydrogel. The hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoemulsion globules was 81.95 ± 0.256 nm with 0.285 ± 0.036 of PDI value and the zeta potential value of the formulation was 39.33 ± 0.812 mV. CryoSEM and TEM studies revealed the uniform morphology of the vehicle. A rheological study exposed the nanoemulsion-loaded hydrogel as a thixotropic system. Satisfactory storage stability under ICH conditions was established by the zeta potential and rheological studies. Furthermore, skin biocompatibility of the hydrogel was ascertained on the basis of skin irritation study. Additionally, the diffusion of the drugs across rat skin followed a controlled non-Fickian anomalous steady mechanism. Following in vivo administration in experimental osteoarthritis, the transdermal hydrogel showed a reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, high mobility group box protein, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Finally, histopathological analysis of the animals showed satisfactory chondroprotection in the in vivo study. In conclusion, the developed transdermal systems showed a potential against the progression of experimental osteoarthritis.

Prevention of alcohol-induced DNA damage by a proprietary glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol product: A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over human study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the ability of a proprietary combination of glycyrrhizin and D-mannitol to protect against oxidative damage to DNA associated with acute alcohol consumption by human subjects in a randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over designed study. Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with numerous diseases. Alcohol has been shown to generate reactive oxygen species that can result in DNA damage, leading to genetic and epigenetic changes. METHODS: A total of 25 subjects (13 male and 12 female) were enrolled. Alcohol intake in the form of vodka (40% ethanol) was adjusted based on 1.275 g of 100% ethanol/kg body weight for men and 1.020 g/kg body weight for women, which was consumed with and without the study product. Blood samples were drawn at 2 h after alcohol consumption, lymphocytes were isolated, and were subjected to DNA comet electrophoresis on a blinded basis. RESULTS: Acute alcohol consumption increased lymphocyte DNA damage by approximately 8.36%. Co-consumption of the glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol study product with alcohol reduced DNA damage to baseline levels. No adverse effects were associated with use of the study product, and no differences were observed in blood alcohol concentrations in the presence or absence of the study product in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Acute alcohol ingestion resulted in measurable increases in DNA damage, which were prevented by the addition of the proprietary glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol (NTX®) study product to the alcohol, suggesting that the tissue-damaging effects of alcohol consumption can be ameliorated.

Hepatoprotective Effects of a Proprietary Glycyrrhizin Product during Alcohol Consumption: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.

Traditionally, licorice has been used to treat liver problems. Glycyrrhizin, the primary active compound, has been shown to suppress elevations in liver enzymes that occur when the liver becomes diseased or damaged. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of a proprietary glycyrrhizin product during alcohol consumption. Twelve healthy individuals (six male and six female subjects) in a clinic setting consumed vodka nightly for 12 days with the glycyrrhizin product or placebo (blank control), achieving a blood alcohol level of 0.12%. Liver function enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase and serum reduced glutathione were measured at overnight visits 1, 6, and 12. In the alcohol only group, AST, ALT, and GGT significantly increased from baseline (overnight visit 1) to overnight visit 12. In the active group, no statistically significant increases were observed for AST, ALT, and GGT, while alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased and plasma glutathione decreased relative to the alcohol control group. These results suggest that consumption of the proprietary glycyrrhizin study product during alcohol consumption may support improved liver health compared with drinking alcohol alone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Accentuated transdermal application of glucosamine sulphate attenuates experimental osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease causing pain and disability. Glucosamine sulphate is a well known oral supplement for its treatment. The present pioneering study provides an overview of the accentuated transdermal delivery of glucosamine sulphate through the optimized gel formulation with guar gum and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC). Response surface methodology based on the three-level three-factor central composite design provided the optimum concentration of guar gum, Na-CMC and glycerol for a maximum flux. The transdermal characterization, ex vivo permeation study and in vivo study were performed with optimized gel formulation. The factorial design predicted the optimum values of guar gum, Na-CMC and glycerol which were 418.53 mg, 444.97 mg and 2322.4 mg respectively for 25 g of the gel. This optimized gel demonstrated the maximum flux, i.e., 1047.46 µg cm-2 h-1. The optimized gel showed satisfactory results with respect to drug uniformity, pH, stability, rheological properties, zeta potential, drug-excipient compatibility and skin irritation. The release of the drug from the optimized transdermal gel followed the controlled first order Fickian (non-steady) release pattern. The in vivo study was carried out in a rat model of osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate damaging the tibial plateau. In this study the optimized formulation effectively reduced the symptoms like reduction in swelling of the knee joint, gross changes in digitized radio images and morphological and histopathological alterations. Additionally the changes in the release pattern of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α illustrated the efficacy of the transdermal gel for the treatment of experimental osteoarthritis. Thus the optimized gel was found to be a unique potential vehicle for transdermal application of glucosamine sulphate which effectively attenuates the experimental osteoarthritis.

Effects of Indian herbal formulation Body Revival on human platelet aggregation and myocardial ischemia in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Body Revival (BR), a compound traditional Indian herbal medicine, on human platelet aggregation and isoproterenol (IS)-induced myocardial ischemia (MI) damage in male Wistar rats. METHODS: BR suspension 10, 20 and 30 µg was mixed with platelet-rich plasma and incubated at 37 degrees centigrade for 30 min, respectively. Then, adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 20 mmol/L) or collagen (2 µg) was added in the mixture and the aggregation was observed against platelet-poor plasma mixed with equal volume of suspension of the same test samples. Wistar rats divided into 4 groups were used to investigate BR's effects on IS-induced MI. Levels of serum creatinine kinase (CK), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were estimated by standard commercial biological kits. Serum nitric oxide (NOx) was also measured. The lipid peroxides (LPO) and protein concentrations in heart tissues were measured. RESULTS: BR could inhibit ADP- or collagen-induced human platelet aggregation dose-dependently. Moreover, it could protect MI caused by IS in rats. BR reduced the levels of serum CK, AST, ALT and NOx dose-dependently and also lowered LPO in heart tissues in comparison with the MI control (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: BR can inhibit human platelet aggregation and protect MI caused by IS in rats.

Effects of Indian herbal formulation Body Revival on human platelet aggregation and myocardial ischemia in rats / 中西医结合学报

To study the effect of Body Revival (BR), a compound traditional Indian herbal medicine, on human platelet aggregation and isoproterenol (IS)-induced myocardial ischemia (MI) damage in male Wistar rats.