General Tonic Research Articles

Study the Effect of Drakshasava on Dopamine, Serotonin and Cortisol Levels and Behavioural Changes in Acute and Chronic Stress Model in Wistar Rats

Drakshasava is a formulation used as a general tonic also for anxiety, anaemia in the Ayurveda. Our previous study reports for antidepressant property were very promising. This study aims to elucidate the antidepressant mechanisms of Drakshasava by examining its effects on key neurotransmitters and stress hormones, as well as observing related behavioral changes in Wistar rats under stress models. Methods: Wistar rats weighing 150-200 gms were divided into six groups consisting of 6 rats in each group. Two animal models, acute stress (AS) and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) were used. Drug treatment was given as per groups orally, Drakshasava in the dose of 2ml & 4ml/kg and Fluoxetine standard comparator 10mg/kg for next 7 days for AS. In UCMS group stress was given for 15 days and drug treatment was given along with the stress from day 15-21. Sucrose preference test (SPT) done on day 0 & 8 in AS and on day 0, 15, 22 in UCMS model rats and at the end Forced Swim test (FST) was performed. Blood withdrawal done for estimation of serum Dopamine, Serotonin and cortisol levels with ELISA kit on day 8 in AS & 22 in UCMS. Data obtained analysed with Graph Pad Prism 6. Result: Decrease in Dopamine (p<0.05) and Serotonin (p<0.01) while increase (p<0.01) in cortisol levels was seen in (depressed) disease control group rats in comparison with control group. Both doses of Drakshasava showed significant reduction in immobility time in FST and improved sucrose preference and was found to be effective in both the models of depression. Increase in serum serotonin (p<0.01) and dopamine (p<0.05) levels was evident while at the same time, (p<0.05) cortisol level reduction was seen in all drug treated rats. Findings observed in the FST and SPT were correlated with the biochemical findings. Effects seen with Drakshasava were comparable with that of Fluoxetine. Conclusion: Drakshasava increased serum serotonin and dopamine levels while decreasing cortisol levels in both acute and chronic animal models of depression. These effects were comparable to those observed with the standard antidepressant drug, Fluoxetine.

Light-Regulated Growth, Anatomical, Metabolites Biosynthesis and Transcriptional Changes in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is an alpine medicinal plant that has been widely used as a general blood tonic and gynecological indications over 2000 years, which depend on the bioactive metabolites (e.g., volatile oils, organic acids, and flavonoids). Although the accumulation of these metabolites is significantly affected by the environmental factors (e.g., altitude, temperature, and sunshine) as found in previous studies, the regulatory mechanism of different lights has not been clearly revealed. Here, growth parameters, contents of bioactive metabolites, and expression levels of related genes were examined when A. sinensis was exposed to different white-light (WL) and UV-B radiation treatments. The results showed that the differences in growth parameters (e.g., plant height, root length, and plant biomass) and leaf tissue characteristics (e.g., leaf thickness, stomatal density and shape, and chloroplast density) were observed under different light treatments. The contents of Z-ligustilide and ferulic acid elevated with the increase of WL (50 to 150 µmol·m2/s) and maximized under the combination of WL-100 and UV-B (107 µW/m2, UV-107) radiation, while the total flavonoids and polysaccharides contents, as well as in vitro antioxidant capacity, elevated with the increasing of WL and UV-B. mRNA transcripts encoding for the biosynthesis of volatile oils, ferulic acid, flavonoids, and polysaccharides were found to be differentially regulated under the different WL and UV-B treatments. These morphological, anatomical, and transcriptional changes are consistent with the elevated bioactive metabolites in A. sinensis under the combination of WL and UV-B. These findings will provide useful references for improving bioactive metabolite production via the cultivation and bioengineering of A. sinensis.

Cartap Poisoning with Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report

Cartap, a nereistoxin derivative from the marine annelid Lumbriconeresis heteropoda, is widely used as a pesticide, targeting pests like caterpillars. While the WHO classifies it as moderately hazardous, with a recommended daily intake of 0.05 mg/kg, human toxicity reports are limited. A 34-year-old female was admitted after consuming an unknown poison. She reported epigastric pain, burning sensations, sweating, vomiting, dyspnea, palpitations, and restlessness, compounded by alcohol intake. Initially treated for organophosphate poisoning, her cholinesterase level was 8.91. It was later confirmed she ingested 100 ml of 50% concentration cartap. Treatment included amiodarone for supraventricular tachycardia and intravenous N-acetylcysteine, magnesium sulfate, and midazolam for general tonic clonic seizure. Cartap, toxic through ingestion and skin contact, can cause symptoms such as vomiting, convulsions, and cardiac issues like supraventricular tachycardia. Supportive care is crucial, and awareness of its risks is necessary.

Green synthesis of ultrafine gold nanoparticles from sweet flag (Acorus calamus) for effective anti-leukemic, anti-urolithiatic and in silico docking studies

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are emerging effective biomaterials which play a vital role in the biodiversity research area due to their biocompatibility, and less toxic nature. The AuNPs of various sizes and shapes have vibrant optical features that can be utilized for a variety of imaging and therapeutic applications. Acorus calamus (A. calamus) has been used in traditional medical systems as a general tonic for centuries. It is thought to have potential benefits in the treatment of digestive disorders and respiratory problems. In Kerala, newborns were given a nanogram of (A. calamus) rhizome paste to increase oral cleanliness and improve their health and immunity. This prompted us to produce AuNPs by A. calamus and to explore their concealed pharmacological properties. In this work, we used a simple sonication method to synthesise blue-coloured AuNPs using sweet flag (A. calamus) extract, which acted as a stabilising and reducing agent at ambient temperature. The formation and morphology of the AC-AuNPs was confirmed by XRD, TEM, EDX, FT-IR and UV–vis spectral techniques. Anti-leukemic and anti-urolithiatic activities of the AC-AuNPs were also investigated. The anti-leukemic results revealed cytomorphological changes like cancer cell membrane lyses and coiling in Human myelogenous leukemia cells (K562) and exhibited IC50 at a concentration of 41.45 µg/mL. Furthermore, in vitro DNA binding assay of AC-AuNPs with calf-thymus were conducted. The anti-urolithiatic activity of AC-AuNPs suggests a dose-dependent suppression of calcium oxalate method (COM) crystals nucleation and aggregation. These results suggest that AC-AuNPs have potent antileukemic and anti-urolithiatic activities. In silico docking results revealed that eugenol, α-asarone and calamenene possess good binding scores with myeloid cell surface antigen (CD33) and estrogen receptors, respectively. In vitro anticancer and DNA binding studies have endorsed the capping nature of AC-AuNPs by these phytoconstituents, which is validated by docking analysis.

Derivatisation mechanistic-guided identification of phytoconstituents of different extracts of Cissus quadrangularis by TLC and standardization by HPTLC

BackgroundCissus quadrangularis is an indigenous medicinal herb which belongs to the family Vitaceae & commonly found in tropical and subtropical xeric wood. This plant is prescribed in the ancient Ayurvedic literature as a general tonic with excellent bone fracture healing properties. Different analytical approaches must be used to characterise the extracts to ascertain the therapeutic efficacy of different solvent-based plant extracts. AimDifferent extracts of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) were screened by TLC, antioxidant activity and HPTLC. MethodsIn the present study, the preliminary phytoconstituents’ analysis of sequential extracts of CQ; Petroleum ether extract (PECQ), Chloroform extract (ChCQ), Ethanol extract (EtCQ) and Water extract (WCQ) has been done by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Additionally, the usage of derivative reagents and the reaction mechanism between derivative reagents and phytoconstituents were used to confirm the kind of phytoconstituents. The extracts were also evaluated by antioxidant activity that was accessed by the DPPH assay. The extract with the highest antioxidant activity was standardised by HPTLC. ResultsTerpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, coumarin, steroidal (phytoestrogen) and other phenolic/polyphenolic phytoconstituents were found to be present in extracts of Cissus quadrangularis. EtCQ showed the highest radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 31.71±0.30 µg/ml which was significantly higher than PECQ, ChCQ and WCQ extract with an IC50 of 84.82±0.35 µg/ml, 79.16±0.35 µg/ml and 215.06±0.25 µg/ml respectively. EtCQ was standardized by HPTLC to quantify the marker constituent. ConclusionThis publication is the first to describe the in-depth analysis of Cissus quadrangularis extracts using thin-layer chromatography, as well as potential detection pathways using different reagents. TLC profiling also justifies the antioxidant behaviour of different extracts.

The Perpetual Impact of COVID-19 on the Geriatric Population's Quality of Life and Potential Preventive and Therapeutic Measures in Unani Medicine: An Evidence-based Review

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has affected the elderly population more severely than many other patient groups. Due to their constitutional weakness and co-morbidities, geriatric populations are more prone to complications and adverse outcomes, especially with a high viral load. The Unani system of medicine encompasses several guidelines for the prevention and treatment of epidemics, which are stratified for different types of people with respect to age, geography, and health status, among others. Objective: Since Unani drugs are both safe and efficient, it has been found that demand for them has surged since COVID. This paper aims to discuss the various immunomodulatory, longevity-promoting agents, and organ-specific tonics specified in Unani medicine for the care of the elderly, which may be helpful during epidemics, and also, to present the scientific evidence of their efficacy. Methods: A thorough assessment of the available literature was carried out utilizing several electronic databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Wiley Online, Google Scholar, and Springer Link, using the terms "Geriatrics," "Elderly," "SARS-CoV-2," "Unani," and many others, up until October 2022. A total of 61 pertinent reviews were included. To gather information on epidemics and their specific response in geriatrics, monographs in Urdu, Arabic, and English were explored in addition to classic Unani texts such Al-Qanun fit Tibb (The Canon of Medicine), Kamil-us-Sana'at (Liber Regius), Kitab al-Hawi fit Tibb (Liber Continence), and others. Plant names were confirmed by “The Plant List” (www.theplantlist.org). Results: During pandemics, Unani medicine aims to promote and preserve the health of the elderly by regulating six important factors (Asbāb Sitta Ḍarūriyya), which include adopting a specific diet, regimen and drugs as effective prophylactic strategies. However, the role of Unani medicine in immunological regulation relies on major organ protection, viz., general body tonic, nervine tonic, heart tonic, and liver tonic. Several Unani single drugs, such as Sibr (Aloe barbadensis Mill.), Zafran (Crocus sativus L.), and Mur (Commiphora myrrh Nees.), and formulations, such as Khameera Marwareed, Tiryaq-i- Arba, and Habb-i- Jadawar have also been found to be very effective in validated scientific preclinical and clinical studies. Furthermore, Unani drugs have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and tonic actions, contributing to their holistic efficacy. Conclusion: It is observed in this review that Unani medicine employs a holistic approach to the health protection of the elderly. There are various dietary recommendations, lifestyle modifications, regimental therapy, and pharmacotherapy prescribed as per the individual’s requirements and needs to reduce geriatric mortality in times of epidemics. Modern pharmacological studies have discovered many bioactive compounds in health-protective drugs prescribed in Unani medicine, such as Vitis vinifera L., Ziziphus jujube Mill., and many others, further substantiating the literature.

Nutritional and Therapeutic Values of Cow Milk: A Comprehensive Review

Milk is the most necessary food for humans because it provides almost all nutrients such as the most nutritious protein, calcium, essential fatty acids, water-soluble vitamins, and other bioactive compounds responsible for maintaining health and other physiological functions. Milk has also been used effectively in the Unani system of medicine for centuries to improve complexion and to treat other ailments (especially dermatological disorders). For skin brightening, Unani physicians mentioned the use of the paste made up of powdered tukhm e kharpazah (seeds of musk melon), aarad e nakhud (powdered chickpea) each 2 parts, arad e baqla(powdered broad beans), aarad e jau (powdered barley) each 1 part, adas muqashshar (powdered lentil), nishasta (corn flour), kateera (tragacanth gum) each half part, tukhm e turb (radish seeds) 1/4th part, za’fran (saffron) a little and milk at night on the face and advice to wash the face with the decoction of banafsha (sweet violet) and post kharpaza (musk melon fruit epicarp) in the morning. Milk has several therapeutic actions too e.g. Musammin e Badan (adipogenous), Muhallil (anti-inflammatory), Mugharri (glutinous- Mugharri drug is a cold and dry substance with a small amount of viscid moisture that coats the surface and constricts pores. It moisturizes the skin and makes it appear lighter), Mohsin e laun (fairness activity), Ghassal (irrigator), Tiryaq (antidote), and Muqawwi (general tonic), etc. There are some scientific reports on the anti-hyperpigmentation effect of cow milk in which a paste of cow milk and powdered roasted red lentils was tested to enhance the complexion. They found significantly effective result on the Fitzpatrick scale, enhanced complexion, and reduced tanning as well as dullness. The main objective of this article is to present cow milk's nutritional and therapeutic activity. Keywords: Cow milk, Unani medicine, Nutrition, Skin Tanning, Skin Brightening.

Royal jelly and its hormonal effects in breast cancer: a literature review.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women which can be cured in most individuals with early-stage non-metastatic disease. Imbalance in estrogen signaling pathways and propagating levels of estrogens has important roles in breast cancer development. Targeting the estrogen receptor signaling pathway is linked to breast cancer treatment. Royal jelly is one of the bee products containing 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a structure similar to mammalian estrogen, allowing it to attach to estrogen receptors. It is considered as a general tonic and immunomodulator which may be helpful in reducing the side effects of cancer treatments. Currently, there are controversial data regarding the pros and cons of royal jelly in cancer. Here we provide an overview of the effects of royal jelly on sex hormones and its possible role in breast cancer. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched with the search terms royal jelly, cancer, and sexual hormones. All preclinical and clinical studies regarding the hormonal effects of royal jelly were included. According to the collected preclinical data, consumption of royal jelly at daily doses below 200mg/kg can be useful to decrease the risk of breast cancer since it reduces the serum level of estrogen; whereas increases progesterone, which subsequently decreases the expression of ERs on the ER-positive cells. Future clinical studies are essential to confirm the safe dose of royal jelly as an adjuvant therapy in breast cancer.

Biochemical, Molecular Characterization, Antioxidant, And Cytotoxicity Of Dicliptera Bupleuroides With Potential Drug Discovery: In Vitro And In Silico Analysis

AbstractDicliptera is a genus belonging to family Acanthaceae. Dicliptera bupleuroides is a small perennial herb commonly known as roxburg's foldwing. It is locally used in folkloric medicines for the treatment of different diseases and as a general tonic for wound healing. The current investigational study was to optimize solvent extraction protocol, to identify quantitative and qualitative biochemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of D. bupleuroides and to characterize the gene associated with biosynthesis of flavonol. The plant of D. bupleuroides was collected from district Abbottabad and separated into its four parts including leaf, stem, flower, and root. To extract the biochemical compounds, five different solvents were used such as methanol, acidified methanol, 80 % methanol, ethyl acetate, and n‐butanol. Total phenolic, flavonoids, flavonol, flavanol (catechin), and anthocyanin contents were determined and antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated using various antioxidant assays. The methanolic extracts of D. bupleuroides showed promising antioxidant potential towards DPPH, ABTS, H2O2, ferric, phosphomolybdate and hydroxyl radical scavenging capabilities.The extracts obtained from the solvents mentioned above were tested for cytotoxicity using the 3T3 cell line by using mouse fibroblast cells. The results indicated that none of the extracts demonstrated any toxic effects on the cells, suggesting that they are non‐toxic. The RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase enzyme. Degenerate primers for dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) gene were synthesized to amplify the desired product. The high quality of cDNA amplification showed the presence of the DFR gene in the Dicliptera bupleuroides leaf for the first time with a product size of 419 bp respectively. The DFR gene isolated from Dicliptera bupleuroides is involved in flavonol biosynthesis regulation. In addition, Glide molecular docking results proposed that the constituents within the n‐hexanic extract of Dicliptera bupleuroides not only furnish an updated approach to better understand the antioxidant potential of its various constituents to interact with an antioxidant target protein (PDB ID:3MNG) but also ensure promise in addressing these potential therapeutic modalities. The active compounds of D. bupleuroides could be suitable for pharmaceutical industries to develop stress related drugs.

Application of Quality Risk Assessment and Design of Experiment in Optimizing Chromatographic Method for Estimation of Total Sarsasapogenin from the Roots of <i>Asparagus racemosus</i> Wild

The roots of the plant Asparagus racemosus (Wild) (family: Liliaceae) are used alone as a lactogenic and general tonic or incorporated as a major ingredient in many herbal and Ayurveda formulations. Shatavarin glycosides containing sarsasapogenin as aglycone were found bioactive, and present in predominantly higher amount. The experiments were planned to develop an analytical method for estimation of total sarsasapogenin from the extract using HPTLC, through a systematic approach after identifying the potential failure modes, termed as critical process parameters to achieve the analytical target profile. The associated risks were mitigated by studying the combined effect of the critical process parameters on area, Rf, and tailing factor corresponding to the sarsasapogenin peak, assigned as critical method attributes. The optimization studies were carried out through Design of Experiment approach and process parameters were finalized to achieve analytical target profile. The developed method could resolve the peak of sarsasapogenin from the hydrolyzed methanolic extract prepared from the root powder using silica gel-backed pre-coated aluminum plates. The optimized mobile phase was Hexane:Ethyl acetate:Formic acid (7.0:1.9:0.35, v/v/v); the plates were subjected to post-chromatographic derivatization using 5% v/v hydrochloric acid solution, and heating of the plats for 3 min at 110˚C. The chromatogram was recorded by scanning the plates in TLC scanner using fluorescence mode at 366 nm. The developed analytical method was found to yield linear response in the range of 40-280 ng/spot. The limit of quantification was determined to be 35.88 ng/spot. The method was found selective, accurate, and robust. The amount of sarsasapogenin was found to be determined using the developed method and found to be 2.31% w/w on dried weight basis from the dried root powder. This is the first report of a systematic approach in estimating sarsasapogenin from Asparagus sp.

In-silico Molecular Interaction Studies of Biologically Active Secondary Metabolites of Cissus quadrangularis L. as a Potential Anti-cancer Drug

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. is a succulent perennial plant of family Vitaceae also called as Asthisandhaanak or Hadjor in Hindi, has been traditionally described in Ayurveda and Siddha literature as general tonic and as a powerful analgesic, used as an anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective etc. It is a good source of biologically active secondary metabolites withvarious pharmacological activities implicated in a wide range of human diseases. Cancer is a major issue or concern in public health systems, especially in developing countries like India. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), Tyrosine kinase (TK) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are emerging as an important cancer target therapeutic proteins. Molecular docking studies provide a better insight into the biological activity of secondary metabolites like Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trans-trihydroxystilbene) and Piceatannol (3,3′,4,5′-transtrihydroxystilbene) from C. quadrangularis L., its possible mechanisms of action, binding modes and predicting it as a possible anti-cancer drug with and lesser or no side effects

A REVIEW ON THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF FENUGREEK

Fenugreek, a herb with a long history in medicine and nutritional value, is one of the most promising ones. Green leaves and seeds from this plant have several uses. Due to their high fiber content and capacity to alter the texture of food, 100 gm of seeds supply more than 65% of the daily need for dietary fiber (Murlidhar et al., 2012). This plant has a wide range of applications in traditional medicine due to its medicinal alkaloids, steroid compounds, and sapogenins. This plant has been used as a general tonic to boost metabolism as well as to ease childbirth and promote digestion. Trigonelline, which is highly helpful in treating diabetes and lowering blood cholesterol, is thought to be the most significant metabolite of fenugreek (Bahmani et al., 2016).

Antidiabetic Properties of Plant Secondary Metabolites.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is one of the major medical problems that the modern world is currently facing. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus both result in early disability and death, as well as serious social and financial problems. In some cases, synthetic drugs can be quite effective in the treatment of diabetes, though they have side effects. Plant-derived pharmacological substances are of particular interest. This review aims to study the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites. Existing review and research articles on the investigation of the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites, the methods of their isolation, and their use in diabetes mellitus, as well as separate articles that confirm the relevance of the topic and expand the understanding of the properties and mechanisms of action of plant metabolites, were analyzed for this review. The structure and properties of plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, including plant antioxidants, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and insulin-like plant substances, as well as their antidiabetic properties and mechanisms for lowering blood sugar, are presented. The main advantages and disadvantages of using phytocomponents to treat diabetes are outlined. The types of complications of diabetes mellitus and the effects of medicinal plants and their phytocomponents on them are described. The effects of phytopreparations used to treat diabetes mellitus on the human gut microbiota are discussed. Plants with a general tonic effect, plants containing insulin-like substances, plants-purifiers, and plants rich in vitamins, organic acids, etc. have been shown to play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the prevention of its complications.

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Herbal medicines are the synthesis of therapeutic experiences of generations of practicing physicians of indigenous systems of medicine for over hundreds of years. Herbs have stood the test of time for their safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability and lesser side effects. Pterospermum acerifolium Linn is a medicinal herb commonly known as kanakchampa belongs to family Sterculiaceae, which has since long been used in traditional system of medicine for its magical effects to cure various diseases. Traditionally the plant is used as a general tonic, anti tumor agent, analgesic and for the treatment of diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, leprosy, blood troubles, bronchitis, cough, cephalic pain, migraine and inflammation, small pox and also haemostatic and antimicrobial agent etc. whereas the plant possess beneficial effects such as anti-oxidant, Antinociceptive, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound healing, Antimitotic and anticancer activity, Immunosuppressive activity, Anthelmintic activity, Antihyperlipidimic activity and osteogenic activity and many other medicinal properties. This activity of the plant possess due to the important phytochemical constituents like amino acids, sugars, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, triterpenoids, carbohydrates and flavonoids etc. This review article attempts to highlight the available literature on Pterospermum acerifolium with respect to its ethnomedicinal and traditional uses, chemical constituents and summary of its various pharmacologic activities and clinical effects which will helpful to create interest towards future research work and may be useful in developing new formulations with more therapeutic and economical value.

A systematic review of the pharmacological effects of Guda Shunthyadi syrup and Siddha Eranda Til Taila Matra Basti

Abstract Guda Shunthyadi syrup is a classical Ayurvedic formulation mentioned in Bhavprakash for the management of Vibandha (constipation). This syrup consists of Guda (Jaggery), Shunthi (Zingiber officinale), Haritiki (Terminalia chebula), Dadima (Punica granatum), and Pippali (Piper longum). In contrast, Siddha Eranda Til Taila Matra Basti is described in Ashtanga Hridya by Acharya Vagbhatta for the management of Vibandha. The components for the basti are Dashmoola, Devdaru (Cedrus deodara), Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Eranda Taila (Ricinus communis), and Til Taila (Sesamum indicum). Our objective is to study the pharmacological evidences of Guda Shunthyadi syrup and Siddha Eranda Til Taila Matra Basti with their components. Research literature published in online journals of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, DHARA, and Ayush Research Portal was searched extensively. The keywords used were pharmacological evidence or study of Guda Shunthyadi syrup, Guda (Jaggery), Shunthi (Z. officinale), Haritiki (T. chebula), Dadima (P. granatum), Pippali (P. longum), Dashmoola, Devdaru (C. deodara), Amalaki (P. emblica), and Eranda Taila (R. communis). Journals published online in last 20 years were considered. Ayurveda classical texts were also referred. As per the observations, the components of Guda Shunthyadi syrup and Siddha Eranda Til Taila Matra Basti show the several properties such as as anti-oxidant, anti-ulcer, laxative. anti-amoebic, antimicrobial, immunomodulator, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, stomachic, antitoxic, digestive, general tonic, antacid, and brain tonic. But, majorly, both of these drugs have their therapeutic results on Vibandha (constipation). The drug, Guda Shunthyadi syrup and Siddha Eranda Til Taila Matra Basti, has promising therapeutic potential. It can be used as a Rasayana drug, an anti-infective agent, and drug for Vibandha (constipation). The same needs to be further validated with larger, multicentric, standard controlled, and randomized clinical trials.

Assessment of Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

Withania somnifera L. (Dunal), a member of the Solanaceae family, has been used by Ayurvedicpractitioners for thousands of years. The root of Withania somnifera contains flavonoids,alkaloids, steroids, and other useful functional components. It contains a high concentration ofbioreactors, or secondary metabolites, such as steroidal lactones, alkaloids, and flavonoids, all ofwhich have beneficial properties and are used in ninety Ayurvedic formulations. Ashwagandhahas long been recognized as a potent rejuvenator, general health tonic, and treatment for awide range of ailments. It is a sedative, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory herb that is well knownfor increasing energy and endurance while also acting as an adaptogen with high immunestimulatory and anti-stress properties. Ashwagandha is used to treat colds, cough, emaciation,diabetes, conjunctivitis, epilepsy, insomnia, senile dementia, leprosy, Parkinson’s disease,mental disorders, rheumatic, arthritis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, asthma, impotence, andalso used as HIV/AIDS suppressant. According to the Indian Herbal System, ashwagandha isone of the most important herbs and the best adaptogenic (Ayurveda). Withanolide is made upof steroidal molecules that are supposed to help with inflammation. Ashwagandha boosts theimmune system, reduces inflammation, improves cognition, and promotes overall health andwell-being. Ashwagandha is a shrub that promotes bone marrow and sperm production, as wellas acting as an anti-aging. By using the agar well diffusion method, the antibacterial activity ofdifferent solvent extracts of Withania somnifera stem was assessed against the gram-negativebacteria Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. When testedagainst several test microorganisms, all of the extracts showed strong antibacterial activity. E.coli was the investigation’s most vulnerable bacterium, and all of the plant extracts displayedzones of inhibition when used against it. The methanol extract of W. somnifera stem and leafhad the strongest antibacterial effect against E.coli, followed by S. aureus and Pseudomonas.All bacterial strains were least inhibited by DH2O extract. The MIC of the extracts that wererecorded ranged from 8 mm to 26 mm. In the current experiment, methanol extract had thelowest MIC value (8 mm) against S. aureus and Pseudomonas. Different phytochemicals werefound in different extracts of Withania according to qualitative phytochemical analysis. Severalstudies have found that Ashwagandha has anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. It has asignificantly greater steroidal than hydrocortisone, which is a typical cancer treatment.

Rapidly Progressive Dementia With Recurrent Seizures and Hyponatremia; A Case of LGI1 Limbic Encephalitis

Objective N/A. Background Leucine-Rich Glioma Inactivated Protein-1 (LGI1) autoimmune encephalitis was first described in 2001 as one of the syndromes caused antibodies against the voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC) until it was discovered in 2010 that antibodies were instead being directed towards the protein LGI1. This often presents in males in their 60's and is often associated with faciobrachial dystonic seizures, which have become path pneumonic for this disease process. Design/Methods N/A. Results 77-year-old female with history of hyponatremia, anxiety, hypertension, and lacunar infarct presented for a concern for seizures. She presented for multiple episodes of reported generalized tonic seizures and was eventually found to have right frontotemporal seizures with impaired awareness. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was repeated multiple times but were significantly degraded due to motion artifact and read as limited. Further discussion with husband was concerning for memory loss over the past 4 months, but patients children disputed this with several years of memory loss. After neuropsychological testing which demonstrated significant decline across multiple domains. MRI was revisited which was concerning for bilateral mesial temporal hyperintensities on Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR). Patient underwent lumbar puncture given unremarkable workup thus far. CSF and serum both demonstrated LGI1 autoantibodies for which the patient received a 5 days course of IV methylprednisolone, IV immunoglobulins, and was eventually transitioned to rituximab with complete recovery of long term memory. Conclusions This case demonstrates the complexity of evaluating a patient for reported rapidly progressive dementia and some of the pitfalls involved in the workup. This case demonstrates that when the initial workup is unremarkable, the patient should be evaluated for uncommon causes, such as autoimmune encephalitis. We diagnosed an atypical presentation of autoimmune encephalitis and documented the initial treatment and response to both first line and second line treatment with future plans to titrate the anti-epileptic drugs.

Cissus quandragularis Linn and Bone Health: A Comprehensive Review

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. (CQL) is a fleshy plant found in major parts of the world, especially in Asia, Africa, and a few other warm tropical regions. It is one of the common food items in India. Apart from other pharmacological activities of CQL has been used by common folk in India for promoting the fracture healing process. It was prescribed in the ancient Ayurvedic texts as a general tonic and analgesic, with specific bone fracture healing properties. Hence, herein we aimed to document on traditional medicinal uses of CQL and its role and mechanism of action with special reference to one healing process. In conclusion, CQL is a climbing herb commonly known as Hadjod and Asthisamadhani in India and traditionally used in the management of many illnesses. The major pharmacological activities of the plant include bone healing, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, antiinflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, cardiovascular and hepatoprotective. Therefore, Cissus quadrangularis appears worthy of pharmacological investigations for new drug formulations especially in bone and joint health formulations.

Phytochemical evaluation of the marketed drakshasava formulation by spectroscopic & chromatographic methods

Background: Drakshasava is a general health tonic, carminative and blood purifier. It is used in the treatment of anemia, digestive & cardiac disorders. A review of the literature suggested that modern analytical methods are not reported for the phytochemical evaluation of drakshasava. Objective: To report phytochemical evaluation of Drakshasava Formulation by Spectroscopic & Chromatographic Methods. Materials and methods: Total phenolic, flavonoid, sugar and reducing sugar content in marketed drakshasava formulations were estimated by a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The markers and extract of drakshasava formulations I & II were scanned by FTIR spectrophotometer individually to find the common bands of the vibrational spectra of markers and formulations. The markers and extract of drakshasava formulations I & II were subjected to HPLC analysis. Results: UV-Vis spectrophotometer analysis revealed that total phenolic, flavonoid, total sugar, & total reducing sugar of marketed drakshasava formulations were within the limit of ayurvedic pharmacopeia. The gradient mobile phase solvent A (HPLC grade water containing 0.85% w/v ortho phosphoric acid) and solvent B (acetonitrile) were optimized by considering the resolution, peak shape, and symmetry. Conclusion: The evaluation parameters reported in this article could be used as a standard reference for quality management of marketed drakshasava formulations.

An Overview on Phyto-chemistry, Traditional and Pharmacological aspects of Pyrostegia Venusta

The importance of medicinal plants and traditional health systems in solving the world's health-care problems is increasingly being focused. Worldwide maximum population has a belief in natural resources (i.e. plants) for disease treatment, either due to diseases of drug resistance or synthetic drug side effects. To plant products in current research lines of phytochemical analysis, pharmacological screening and clinical trials, ethano-medicinal studies have thus been recognised in recent years. This analysis offers details about the botanical definition, common uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Pyrostegia venusta, one such essential herb. Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers, a native of the Brazilian Cerrado and popularly known as "cipó-de-são-joão," Bignoniaceae. In Brazilian herbal medicine, the flowers of P. venusta are used as a general tonic and a treatment for diarrhea, vitiligo, cough, and common illnesses and inflammatory disorders of the respiratory system. The current review could provide a sound basis for further research into the potential discovery of new natural bioactive compounds, and could provide preliminary information for future research.