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Investigation on antidiarrhoeal activity of Aristolochia indica Linn. Root extracts in mice

Dharmalingam SR, Madhappan R, Ramamurthy S, Chidambaram K, Srikanth MV, Shanmugham S, et al.

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med, 2014;11(2):292-4.
PMID: 25435611

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed at investigating the effect of ethanolic extract (EtAI), and aqueous extract (AqAI) of Aristolochia indica Linn roots on castor oil-induced diarrhoea and study on small intestinal transit. Phytochemical analysis of extracts was performed as per standard procedure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The oral toxicity study using Swiss albino mice was performed in accordance with OECD guidelines. The EtAI and AqAI extracts of Aristolochia indica Linn were studied for antidiarrhoeal property using castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model and charcoal-induced gastrointestinal motility test in Swiss albino mice.
RESULTS: Among the tested doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, the extracts reduced the frequency and severity of diarrhoea in test animals throughout the study period. At the same doses, the extract delayed the intestinal transit of charcoal meal in test animals as compared to the control and the results were statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Experimental findings showed that ethanol extract of Aristolochia indica Linn root possess significant antidiarrheal activity and may be a potent source of anti-diarrhoeal drug in future.
Fulltext Mode of delivery, order of birth, parental age gap and autism spectrum disorder among Malaysian children: A case-control study

Andoy Galvan JA, Ramalingam PN, Patil SS, Bin Shobri MAS, Chinna K, Sahrir MS, et al.

Heliyon, 2020 Oct;6(10):e05068.
PMID: 33083595 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05068

Rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the last decades has led research to focus on the diagnosis and identification of factors associated with ASD. This paper sought for possible factors that put children at risk for ASD. In this study, we investigated the association between ASD and parental ages, parental age gaps, birth order and birth delivery method in Malaysian population. In this school-based case control study, 465 children with ASD 464 controls participated. Questionnaires were distributed to the parents of the selected children through the respective principals. Among the tested variables, Caesarean section (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.20, 2.20), earlier order of birth in the family (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.59, 0.77) and increasing gap in parental ages (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.001, 1.07) were significantly associated with ASD. This study concludes that Caesarean section, earlier order of birth in the family and increasing gap in parental age are independent risk factors for developing autism among Malaysian children.
Multilayered nanofibrous scaffold of Polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin/poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) enriched with hemostatic/antibacterial agents for rapid acute hemostatic wound healing

Pandey G, Pandey P, Arya DK, Kanaujiya S, Deepak Kapoor D, Gupta RK, et al.

Int J Pharm, 2023 Apr 07;638:122918.
PMID: 37030638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122918

Electrospun nanofibers scaffolds show promising potential in wound healing applications. This work aims to fabricate nanofibrous wound dressing as a novel approach for a topical drug delivery system. Herein, the electrospinning technique is used to design and fabricate bioabsorbable nanofibrous scaffolds of Polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin/poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) enriched with thrombin (TMB) as hemostatic agent and vancomycin (VCM) as anti-bacterial agent for a multifunctional platform to control excessive blood loss, inhibit bacterial growth and enhance wound healing. SEM, FTIR, XRD, in vitro drug release, antimicrobial studies, biofilm, cell viability assay, and in vivo study in a rat model were used to assess nanofiber's structural, mechanical, and biological aspects. SEM images confirms the diameter of nanofibers which falls within the range from 150 to 300 nm for all the batches. Excellent swelling index data makes it suitable to absorb wound exudates. In-vitro drug release data shows sustained release behavior of nanofiber. Nanofibers scaffolds showed biomimetic behavior and excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, scaffolds exhibited excellent antimicrobial and biofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Nanofibrous scaffolds showed less bleeding time, rapid blood coagulation, and excellent wound closure in a rat model. ELISA study demonstrated the decreasing level of inflammatory markers, such as TNF-α, IL1β, and IL-6, making formulation promising for hemostatic wound healing applications. Finally, the study concludes that nanofibrous scaffolds loaded with TMB and VCM have promising potential as a dressing material for hemostatic wound healing applications.
Fulltext ECM Mimicking Biodegradable Nanofibrous Scaffold Enriched with Curcumin/ZnO to Accelerate Diabetic Wound Healing via Multifunctional Bioactivity

Yadav S, Arya DK, Pandey P, Anand S, Gautam AK, Ranjan S, et al.

Int J Nanomedicine, 2022;17:6843-6859.
PMID: 36605559 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S388264

INTRODUCTION: Foot ulceration is one of the most severe and debilitating complications of diabetes, which leads to the cause of non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation in 15-24% of affected individuals. The healing of diabetic foot (DF) is a significant therapeutic problem due to complications from the multifactorial healing process. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffold loaded with various wound dressing materials has excellent wound healing properties due to its multifunctional action.
PURPOSE: This work aimed to develop and characterize chitosan (CS)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blended electrospun multifunctional nanofiber loaded with curcumin (CUR) and zinc oxide (ZnO) to accelerate diabetic wound healing in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
RESULTS: In-vitro characterization results revealed that nanofiber was fabricated successfully using the electrospinning technique. SEM results confirmed the smooth surface with web-like fiber nanostructure diameter ranging from 200 - 250 nm. An in-vitro release study confirmed the sustained release of CUR and ZnO for a prolonged time. In-vitro cell-line studies demonstrated significantly low cytotoxicity of nanofiber in HaCaT cells. Anti-bacterial studies demonstrated good anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities of nanofiber. In-vivo animal studies demonstrated an excellent wound-healing efficiency of the nanofibers in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Furthermore, the ELISA assay revealed that the optimized nanofiber membrane terminated the inflammatory phases successfully by downregulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, MMP-2, and MMP-9) in wound healing. In-vitro and in-vivo studies conclude that the developed nanofiber loaded with bioactive material can promote diabetic wound healing efficiently via multifunction action such as the sustained release of bioactive molecules for a prolonged time of duration, proving anti-bacterial/anti-biofilm properties and acceleration of cell migration and proliferation process during the wound healing.
DISCUSSION: CUR-ZnO electrospun nanofibers could be a promising drug delivery platform with the potential to be scaled up to treat diabetic foot ulcers effectively.
Fulltext Tilianin: A Potential Natural Lead Molecule for New Drug Design and Development for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders

Khattulanuar FS, Sekar M, Fuloria S, Gan SH, Rani NNIM, Ravi S, et al.

Molecules, 2022 Jan 20;27(3).
PMID: 35163934 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030673

Cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) are the leading risk factor for death worldwide, and research into the processes and treatment regimens has received a lot of attention. Tilianin is a flavonoid glycoside that can be found in a wide range of medicinal plants and is most commonly obtained from Dracocephalum moldavica. Due to its extensive range of biological actions, it has become a well-known molecule in recent years. In particular, numerous studies have shown that tilianin has cardioprotective properties against CVDs. Hence, this review summarises tilianin's preclinical research in CVDs, as well as its mechanism of action and opportunities in future drug development. The physicochemical and drug-likeness properties, as well as the toxicity profile, were also highlighted. Tilianin can be a natural lead molecule in the therapy of CVDs such as coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, hypertension, and myocardial ischemia, according to scientific evidence. Free radical scavenging, inflammation control, mitochondrial function regulation, and related signalling pathways are all thought to play a role in tilianin's cardioprotective actions. Finally, we discuss tilianin-derived compounds, as well as the limitations and opportunities of using tilianin as a lead molecule in drug development for CVDs. Overall, the scientific evidence presented in this review supports that tilianin and its derivatives could be used as a lead molecule in CVD drug development initiatives.
Fulltext Baicalein prevents stress-induced anxiety behaviors in zebrafish model

Selvaraj LK, Jeyabalan S, Wong LS, Sekar M, Logeshwari B, Umamaheswari S, et al.

Front Pharmacol, 2022;13:990799.
PMID: 36386131 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.990799

Baicalein is a flavonoid mainly obtained from plants with wide range of biological activities, including neuroprotection. An acute and unexpected chronic stress (UCS) protocol has recently been adapted to zebrafish, a popular vertebrate model in brain research. The present study was aimed to evaluate baicalein's anti-anxiety potential in a zebrafish model by induction, which included neuropharmacological evaluation to determine behavioural parameters in the novel tank diving test (NTDT) and light-dark preference test (LDPT). The toxicity was also assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay, and the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was determined. The animals were then stressed for 7 days before being treated with different doses of baicalein (1 and 2 mg/L) for another 7 days in UCS condition. Due to acute stress and UCS, the frequency of entries and time spent in the 1) top region and 2) light area of the novel tank reduced significantly, indicating the existence of elevated anxiety levels. The biological activity of baicalein was demonstrated by its high LC50 values (1,000 μg/ml). Additionally, baicalein administration increased the frequency of entries and duration spent in the light region, indicating a significant decrease in anxiety levels. Overall, the present results showed that baicalein has a therapeutic advantage in reversing the detrimental consequences of UCS and acute stress, making it is a promising lead molecule for new drug design, development, and therapy for stress.
Fulltext Chemistry, Biosynthesis and Pharmacology of Streptonigrin: An Old Molecule with Future Prospects for New Drug Design, Development and Therapy

Nabihah Nasir N, Sekar M, Ravi S, Wong LS, Sisinthy SP, Gan SH, et al.

Drug Des Devel Ther, 2023;17:1065-1078.
PMID: 37064433 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S388490

Streptonigrin is an aminoquinone alkaloid isolated from Streptomyces flocculus and is gaining attention as a drug molecule owing to its potential antitumor and antibiotic effects. It was previously used as an anticancer drug but has been discontinued because of its toxic effects. However, according to the most recent studies, the toxicity of streptonigrin and its structurally modified derivatives has been reduced while maintaining their potential pharmacological action at lower concentrations. To date, many investigations have been conducted on this molecule and its derivatives to determine the most effective molecule with low toxicity to enable new drug discovery. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive review and to discuss the prospects for streptonigrin and its derived compounds, which may boost the molecule as a highly interesting target molecule for new drug design, development and therapy. To complete this review, relevant literature was collected from several scientific databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect. Following a complete screening, the obtained information is summarized in the present review to provide a good reference and accelerate the development and utilization of streptonigrin and its derivatives as pharmaceuticals.
Fulltext Celastrol: A Potential Natural Lead Molecule for New Drug Design, Development and Therapy for Memory Impairment

Amir Yusri MA, Sekar M, Wong LS, Gan SH, Ravi S, Subramaniyan V, et al.

Drug Des Devel Ther, 2023;17:1079-1096.
PMID: 37064431 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S389977

Celastrol is a naturally occurring chemical isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., root extracts widely known for their neuroprotective properties. In this review, we focus on the efficacy of celastrol in mitigating memory impairment (MI) in both in vivo and in vitro models. Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases were utilised to locate pertinent literatures that explore the effects of celastrol in the brain, including its pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, behavioral effects and some of the putative mechanisms of action on memory in many MI models. To date, preclinical studies strongly suggest that celastrol is highly effective in enhancing the cognitive performance of MI animal models, particularly in the memory domain, including spatial, recognition, retention and reference memories, via reduction in oxidative stress and attenuation of neuro-inflammation, among others. This review also emphasised the challenges and potential associated enhancement of medication delivery for MI treatment. Additionally, the potential structural alterations and derivatives of celastrol in enhancing its physicochemical and drug-likeness qualities are examined. The current review demonstrated that celastrol can improve cognitive performance and mitigate MI in several preclinical investigations, highlighting its potential as a natural lead molecule for the design and development of a novel neuroprotective medication.
Fulltext Synbiotic Effects of Fermented Rice on Human Health and Wellness: A Natural Beverage That Boosts Immunity

Fuloria S, Mehta J, Talukdar MP, Sekar M, Gan SH, Subramaniyan V, et al.

Front Microbiol, 2022;13:950913.
PMID: 35910609 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.950913

Fermented foods have been an important component of the human diet from the time immemorial. It contains a high amount of probiotics that have been associated to a wide range of health benefits, including improved digestion and immunity. This review focuses on the indigenously prepared prebiotic- and probiotic-containing functional fermented rice (named Xaj-pani) by the Ahom Community from Assam, in Northeast India, including all the beneficial and potential effects on human health. Literature was searched from scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. Glutinous rice (commonly known as bora rice of sali variety) is primarily employed to prepare beverages that are recovered through the filtration process. The beer is normally consumed during religious rites, festivals and ritual practices, as well as being used as a refreshing healthy drink. Traditionally, it is prepared by incorporating a variety of medicinal herbs into their starter culture (Xaj-pitha) inoculum which is rich in yeasts, molds and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and then incorporated in alcoholic beverage fermentation. The Ahom communities routinely consume this traditionally prepared alcoholic drink with no understanding of its quality and shelf life. Additionally, a finally produced dried cake, known as vekur pitha act as a source of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and can be stored for future use. Despite the rampant use in this community, the relationship between Xaj-pani's consumption, immunological response, infectious and inflammatory processes remains unknown in the presence of factors unrelated or indirectly connected to immune function. Overall, this review provides the guidelines to promote the development of prebiotic- and probiotic-containing functional fermented rice that could significantly have an impact on the health of the consumers.