A randomized and comparative study to assess safety and efficacy of supplemental treatment of a herbal formulation - Aayudh Advance comprising essential oils in patients with corona virus 2019 (COVID-19).

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of herbal formulation - Aayudh Advance on viral load as well as recovery duration in mild symptomatic patients diagnosed with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It also aimed to study the effect of Herbal formulation - Aayudh Advance in terms of clinical improvement of various sign and symptoms in mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients. METHOD: Once the patient suffice the requirement of inclusion, exclusion criteria of the study than as per the method of 'Covariate Adaptive Randomization' technique, patient was assigned in either Aayudh Advance arm (Test arm) or Control Arm. Here standard of Care treatment was given to all patients of both the arms. Treatment was given for the period of 14 days or till patient turned COVID-19 negative, which ever was earlier. Clinical signs and symptoms viz. body temperature, SpO 2, Scoring of Cough & Scoring of Shortness of breath were recorded on all 5 Clinical visits along with biochemical testing like RT-PCR (with CT value of E gene and RDRP gene), serum ferritin, CRP and NLR observed on weekly Visit. RESULT: Total 74 patients were enrolled in the present study. Out of which 60 patients (30 patients in each group) have completed study as per the protocol, whereas 14 patients have voluntarily withdrawn from the study due to getting early discharge from the hospital. All patients in Aayudh Advance treatment group recovered (100%) after 14 days. This observed recovery was 15.38% more as compared to Standard of Care treatment alone. Further, there was statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in viral load as indicated by significant increase in CT value of E-gene and RDRP gene. Further, no patients reported any Adverse Reaction as well as no drug to drug interaction was observed with supplemental treatment with Aayudh Advance. CONCLUSION: The Aayudh Advance was found safe as well as more effective in terms of reduction of viral load. % recovery was more in Treatment arm as compared to Control arm in mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Evaluation of polyherbal formulation (SJT-HT-03) for antihypertensive activity in albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an incurable pathological condition and lifelong therapy is required. Long term use of conventional synthetic anti-hypertensive drugs is associated with a spectrum of toxic effects. However, therapeutic interventions using herbal drugs for hypertension have gained considerable attention worldwide. AIM: To evaluate the anti-hypertensive activity of polyherbal formulation (SJT-HT-03). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The polyherbal formulation (SJT-HT-03) comprises of leaves of Aegle marmelos L., fruits of Benincasa hispida Thunb., Garcinia indica Thouars, and flowers of Musa paradiasica L., Rosa indica L., Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. Selected plants as mentioned above were collected, dried and extracted with different solvents. Formulation SJT-HT-03 (250 mg/kg, p.o.), was evaluated using two kidney one clip (2K1C) model and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertension model using the enalapril (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and hydrochlorothiazide (5 mg/kg, p.o.) as a reference standard drug in respective models. RESULTS: SJT-HT-03 significantly reduced (P < 0.001, one-way analysis of variance followed by Turkey's multiple comparison tests) systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure (BP) in 2K1C and DOCA-salt model. Further, SJT-HT-03 has shown a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in serum, clipped kidney as well as in lungs in 2K1C model, whereas significant reduction (P < 0.05) in serum Na(+) and increase in serum K(+) level in DOCA model. CONCLUSION: Polyherbal formulation SJT-HT-03 possess significant anti-hypertensive activity by producing direct depressant effect on heart, inhibition of ACE, aldosterone antagonistic as well as diuretic effect and thereby act on multiple targets to achieve optimal effect.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect of anti-platelet agent-clopidogrel in experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of antiplatelet agent, clopidogrel, in experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: TNBS induced Crohn's disease model and oxazolone induced ulcerative colitis model were used to evaluate the role of clopidogrel in IBD. Spargue Dawley female and Wistar male rats were used respectively. The colitis was induced by a single intra-colonic application of TNBS (0.25 ml, 120 mg/ml in 50% ethanol) and oxazolone (450 µl 5% oxazolone in 50% ethanol). Rats were divided into four groups (n=6) in each model namely normal control, sham control, test and standard group. Drug treatment was carried out for 21 days. After 21 days, animals were sacrificed and evaluated for weight change, colon mucosal damage index (CMDI), disease activity Index (DAI) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. RESULTS: Results showed that clopidogrel provided significant protection against mucosal damage in both the models of IBD. It significantly reduced (P<0.05) the decrease in body weight and CMDI, DAI and MPO scores. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that clopidogrel may be effective in treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Platelet inhibition may be one of the mechanism for effectiveness of clopidogrel in the treatment of IBD.

MicroRNAs as newer therapeutic targets: A big hope from a tiny player.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel group of universally present small noncoding endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression and protein coding by base pairing with the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs. So they have been associated with several physiological processes and play an important role in the manifestation of diverse diseases. miRNAs expression is associated with the normal and diverse pathophysiological state including cardiac hypertrophy, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and its complication, and cancer because individual miRNAs are associated with the regulation of the expression of multiple target genes. Modulating the expression of a single miRNA can influence an entire gene network and thereby modify complex disease phenotypes. From recent studies, it has been confirmed that miRNA has a potential physiological role in various body systems. But in some specialized condition over expression of miRNA within the cytoplasm also leads to some pathological condition in the body. Here, we summarize the roles of miRNAs in various pathological conditions and consider the advantages and potential challenges of miRNA-based therapeutic approaches compared to conventional drug-based therapies.

Gastroprotective effect of Benincasa hispida fruit extract.

OBJECTIVES: The antiulcer activity of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. fruit was evaluated in rats against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, pylorus ligated (PL) gastric ulcers, and cold restraint-stress (CRS)-induced gastric ulcer models. METHODS: Petroleum ether and methanol extracts were administrated orally at the dose of 300 mg/kg, and omeprazole (reference standard) at the dose of 20 mg/kg. Ulcer index was common parameter studied in all the models. Further, vascular permeability was evaluated in ethanol model, and effect on lipid peroxidation, viz. melondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were studied in CRS model. RESULTS: Both the extracts produced significant reduction in ulcer index (P < 0.05) in all the models and the results were comparable with that of omeprazole-treated group. Further, significant reduction in vascular permeability (P < 0.05) was observed. In CRS model, MDA content was significantly reduced along with increase in CAT levels as compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS: Petroleum ether and methanol extracts of B. hispida possess significant antiulcer as well as antioxidant property.