Natural Herbal Extracts Research Articles

The potential influence and intervention measures of gut microbiota on sperm: it is time to focus on testis-gut microbiota axis.

As the global male infertility rate continues to rise, there is an urgent imperative to investigate the underlying causes of sustained deterioration in sperm quality. The gut microbiota emerges as a pivotal factor in host health regulation, with mounting evidence highlighting its dual influence on semen. This review underscores the interplay between the Testis-Gut microbiota axis and its consequential effects on sperm. Potential mechanisms driving the dual impact of gut microbiota on sperm encompass immune modulation, inflammatory responses mediated by endotoxins, oxidative stress, antioxidant defenses, gut microbiota-derived metabolites, epigenetic modifications, regulatory sex hormone signaling. Interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and Traditional natural herbal extracts are hypothesized to rectify dysbiosis, offering avenues to modulate gut microbiota and enhance Spermatogenesis and motility. Future investigations should delve into elucidating the mechanisms and foundational principles governing the interaction between gut microbiota and sperm within the Testis-Gut microbiota Axis. Understanding and modulating the Testis-Gut microbiota Axis may yield novel therapeutic strategies to enhance male fertility and combat the global decline in sperm quality.

Exploring the Bioactivity of Siddhalepa Asamodagam Spirit from Seeds of Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC.) H. Wolff

Objectives The water distillate derived from Trachyspermum roxburghianum seeds has been traditionally employed in medicine for treating stomach infections and gastric ulcers. However, no systematic study has been conducted to evaluate its efficacy. Therefore, the present study focused on evaluating the potential health benefits, including the chemical constituents of the distillate. This distillate was prepared and identified as Siddhalepa Asamodagam Spirit (Sid.AS). Methods The chemical constituents of Sid.AS were identified and quantified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The antioxidant potential of Sid.AS samples was assessed in vitro using DPPH and ABTS assays. Various concentrations of Sid.AS were subjected to antimicrobial, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and urease inhibition assays according to the standard methods specified by the Ayurvedic Department in Sri Lanka. Results Thymol was identified as the major compound in Sid.AS through GC-MS analysis. Sid.AS demonstrated significant anti-urease, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipase, and antioxidant activities, as evidenced by low IC50 values compared to the positive controls. This suggests its potential in controlling gastric-related disorders, scavenging free radicals, and managing obesity by inhibiting the breakdown and absorption of fats. Additionally, Sid.AS exhibited inhibitory effects against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes, indicating potential anti-diabetic activity by regulating blood sugar levels. Sid.AS displayed strong antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms, with higher zones of inhibition and lower MIC and MLC values, indicating its effectiveness in combating microbial infections. Findings from the anti-lipase assay demonstrated activity comparable to that of the positive control, Orlistat. Conclusion The findings of Sid.AS suggest its potential as a multi-functional bioactive herbal distillate with various pharmacological activities. Our results highlight that Sid.AS is a promising natural herbal extract with diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-urease, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and antimicrobial activities. Further research and development could explore its potential applications in various therapeutic areas.

Effect of oregano essential oil on intestinal immunoglobulin G in Holstein dairy bulls.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is important in mediating humoral immunity and in the maintenance of immune homeostasis in the intestinal mucosa. Oregano essential oil (OEO) is a natural herbal extract that possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. As the effects of OEO on intestinal mucosal immunity in Holstein dairy bulls remained unclear, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of OEO on IgG levels and IgG+ cells residing in the intestinal tract in Holstein dairy bulls. Twelve Holstein bulls in good health of approximately 10 months of age were selected for the experiment and randomly equally divided into two groups. The control (CK) group was fed a basal ration, and in the OEO group, the basal ration was supplemented with OEO (20 g/head/day). After 300 days of feeding, tissue samples of the jejunum, ileum, and colon of the bulls in each group were collected for histopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The jejunum, ileum, and colon of bulls in the CK group had obvious pathological damage, whereas the structure of each intestinal segment was clear and intact. In the OEO group, pathological damage was significantly reduced. IgG+ plasma cells were diffusely distributed in the lamina propria of the jejunum, ileum, and colon in the CK and OEO groups, with no significant difference between the groups. OEO supplementation significantly reduced the number of IgG+ plasma cells in each intestinal segment, with the highest decrease rate being noted for the ileum (22.87%), followed by the colon (19.45%) and jejunum (8.52%). ELISA test results and immunohistochemical results were mutually verified. The change in IgG content was consistent with the trend of change in the number of IgG+ plasma cells. Our findings suggest that OEO supplementation does not alter the diffuse spatial distribution of IgG+ plasma cells in the intestines of Holstein dairy bulls, but lowers immunoglobulin levels to normal levels, significantly reduces intestinal damage, and may enhance mucosal immune defence barrier function by inhibiting inflammatory reactions.

Trends and Prospects of Nano-delivered Phytopharmaceuticals for disease of Public health importance: A Review

A significant amount of effective medicine can be found in phytochemicals thatare found in natural products or herb extracts. These natural drugs can be used in the treatment of public health diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, malaria, HIV, COVID-19, gastrointestinal disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. There are significant therapeutic limitations when phytomedicines are administered in conventional pharmaceutical dosage forms like powders,tablets, solutions, brews, and balms. These include low aqueous solubility, poor permeability, degradation, and instability. As a result, there is low production yield, poor absorption and bioavailability, poor potency and efficacy, and toxicity in the body. As a result, phytomedicines are not as effective as they could be. Polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, sterosomes, and metallic nanoparticles are novel drug delivery systems that circumvent the problems of conventional drug delivery systems. These nanocarriers can enhance phytomedicine's solubility, stability, and control, prolong the release of herbal medicine, and target specific sites within the body. As a result, herbal medicine can achieve maximum potency and efficacy with significantly fewer adverse effects. The use of phytopharmaceuticals as treatments for diseases that affect public health is extensively covered in this paper, as is the topic of nano-derived phytopharmaceuticals.

Assessing the quality of healthy apple jam products fortified with natural herbal extracts

Assessing the quality of healthy apple jam products fortified with natural herbal extracts

A Study on the Effectiveness and Safety of Herbal Extract Combination Compared to 3% Minoxidil Solution for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Trial

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) affects both men and women. Standard treatments include topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, which can cause undesirable side effects. Therefore, a natural herbal extract is required for an alternative treatment. Objectives This study aims to assess both the efficacy and safety profiles of an herbal extract comprising a combination of dihydroquercetin glucoside, epigallocatechin gallate glucoside, zinc, and glycine, compared to the minoxidil solution for the treatment of AGA. Methods About 30 males and 30 females were recruited. The males and females were divided equally into two groups (n=30), randomly receiving either a minoxidil solution or herbal extraction twice a day for 24 weeks. Clinical efficacy, total hair count, and hair mass index (HMI) were evaluated. Results A total of 30 males and 30 females completed the study. The total hair counts (hairs/cm2) at baseline in the herbal group and minoxidil group were 334.8±108.8 and 368.3±178.4, respectively, and the total hair counts at 24 weeks in the herbal group and minoxidil group were 345.0±119.2 and 391.5±183.1 (p<0.001, p<0.001), respectively. The HMI in the herbal and minoxidil groups significantly increased by 25.83±17.18 and 33.70±15.17 (p=0.001, p<0.001) at 24 weeks. However, there was no significant difference in total hair count and HMI between the two groups at 24 weeks (p= 0.250, p=0.065). No local adverse effects were observed in both groups. Conclusions The non-significant difference in efficacy and safety to minoxidil solution suggests that the herbal extraction could be an alternative treatment for AGA. Clinical Trial Registration Number TCTR20220927001.

Development and Process Optimization of a Steamed Fish Paste Cake Prototype for Room Temperature Distribution

Surimi-based products typically demand cold storage and a cold chain distribution system, which not only affects their physical properties and flavor but also escalates production costs. In this study, we introduced a novel high-temperature and high-pressure retort processing method to enable room temperature storage and distribution of a surimi-based product, a fish paste cake. Our optimization efforts focused on refining the processing conditions for the fish paste cake. This included incorporating transglutaminase, sugar additives, natural herbal or seaweed extracts, and optimizing retort processing conditions to enhance textural properties, minimize browning and off flavor, and extend the shelf-life of the product. Our results demonstrated that the addition of 0.3% ACTIVA TG-K, 1.0% trehalose, and 0.5% sea tangle extract during the production process significantly enhanced the gel strength, minimized browning, and improved the overall flavor of the fish paste cake prototype. Importantly, the developed prototype exhibited favorable biochemical, textual, nutritional, and sensory properties, extending the shelf-life up to 160 days without compromising physical, chemical, or sensory attributes. In addition, the developed prototype exhibited improved elasticity, compared to control groups. The innovative process not only facilitates room temperature storage and distribution of surimi-based products but also holds potential for generating additional profits.

Formulation, Evaluation and Optimization of Antimicrobial Potential of Herbal Cream Containing Allium sativum, Moringa oleifera Extracts and Thymus vulgaris Oil.

Herbal preparations can be formed by combining several plant classes. One possible explanation for the effectiveness of combined medications is that the various mixtures with different mechanisms may add up to produce a more comprehensive therapeutic effect. This study aims to investigate the synergistic antibiotic potential of a cream containing three natural herbal extracts: Allium sativum, Moringa oleifera, and Thymus vulgaris. The efficacy of combining these plant extracts was compared to that of a standard antibiotic formulation (Polyfax). The herbal cream was formulated by using aqueous extracts of garlic (Allium sativum), moringa (Moringa oleifera) and essential oil of thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of these extracts against bacteria. P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. pneumonia are commonly found in fresh wounds. The results showed that garlic extract (5%) had the highest zone of inhibition, 14.26 ± 0.05 mm, and a combination of garlic (5%) and thyme (2%) exhibited a significant synergistic effect, with a 23.5 ± 0.05 mm zone of inhibition. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of allicin, quercetin and thymol as potential therapeutic phytoconstituents. The formulated herbal cream had a soft texture, was easily spreadable, and had better stability and absorption than the standard polyfax. The topical application of the cream did not cause any skin reaction or allergy in mice. The in vivo wound healing effect of the herbal cream was investigated on an abrasion model of albino mice, and the results showed that the treatment group (46 ± 16.31%) had significant wound healing potential compared to the standard (64 ± 17.49%) and control groups (18 ± 3.74%). The formulated herbal cream was a better alternative to standard therapy, exhibiting promising healing and antimicrobial effects with significant compatibility and safety profile.

Determination of the Efficacy of Thymol, Eucalyptus and Oxalic Acid in the Control of Varroosis in Honey Bees

Objective: The subject of our study is to determine the efficacy and safety of non-chemical compounds thyme, eucalyptus, and oxalic acid against Varroa destructor ectoparasite, which is widely observed in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies both in our country and in the world. Materials and Methods: The study was designed of five groups and these groups were designed as group 1 (oxalic acid), group 2 (thymol), group 3 (eucalyptus), group 4 (positive control), group 5 (negative control). Seven honey bee colonies were included in each group. The first, second, and third groups were designed to form the treatment groups, and the last two groups to form the positive and negative control groups. Each group consisted of 7 hives. In the treatment groups, oxalic acid was dissolved in glycerin, thyme and eucalyptus were dissolved in ethyl alcohol, and they were absorbed into special towels. Two pieces per beehive were placed on the frames in the beehives. The treatments were applied weekly for 3 wk during the September. Treatment efficiencies were calculated with the Henderson-Tilton formula and the statistical difference between the oxalic acid, thyme, and eucalyptus treatment groups was determined by the General Linear Model procedure. Results: Treatment efficiencies were determined as 91.74%, 82.25%, and 79.2% in oxalic acid, thyme, and eucalyptus treatment groups, respectively. Conclusion: The findings revealed that completely natural herbal extracts and organic acids can be used instead of chemical drugs against Varroosis. Toxication and unnatural deaths were not observed in honey bees throughout the trials. 
 Keywords: Varroosis, Oxalic acid, Thyme, Eucalyptus.

Enhanced immune responses in dexamethasone immunosuppressed male rats supplemented with herbal extracts, chitosan nanoparticles, and their conjugates

Nowadays, the world is challenged with highly contagious diseases, one of their preliminary virulence mechanisms is the suppression of innate immunity. Therefore, promoting natural immunity is a good precautionary strategy. we investigated and compared the effects of several natural herbal extracts -Moringa oleifera, Ziziphus spina christi, and Saussurea costus, and chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs)- as well as conjugated extracts with CS NPs on the immunological parameters of dexamethasone immunosuppressed (IS) male rats. The plant extracts were assessed for total flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The CS NPs and their conjugates were characterized using particles size, zeta potentials, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The chemical analysis of the plant extracts, CS NPs, and their conjugates was performed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in human lung fibroblast (WI-38) and human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell lines. For in vivo evaluations, 72 adult male rats were divided into 9 groups: control, IS, three plant extracts, CS, and conjugates of the three plant extracts and CS NPs. Oral supplementation (day after day) lasted for 28 days. Liver, kidney, and spleen tissue samples were collected for histopathology and Ki-67 expression analyses. The results revealed that the plant extracts and CS improved the total leukocyte counts, complement 3, complement 4, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor levels at day 28. However, the plant extract-CS NPs conjugates faster and have higher immunostimulatory effects at day 14. Furthermore, the atrophied white pulp of the spleen induced by dexamethasone was alleviated, and Ki-67 expression was elevated in all the treated groups. Conclusively, the conjugates of Moringa oleifera, Ziziphus spina christi, and Saussurea costus extract with CS NPs demonstrated more potent and rapid immune responses at lower doses and concentrations compared to the plant extracts or CS NPs alone, without causing liver or kidney injuries. Thus, supplementation of these conjugated plant extracts at lower doses and concentrations is recommended to improve immunity while considering safety considerations.

Formulation Of Herbal Cream to Treat Dry Skin

The main aim of the present article is to reduce the adverse effect associated with synthetic dry skin cream by formulating an herbal dry skin cream for treatment of dry skin. Abnormally dry skin Can be occurring due to a dry weather, winter weather, acute deficiency of vitamin A, systemic illness, over exposure to sunlight, or medication. The skin loses moisture. It may crack and peel. Or it may become irritated, inflamed, and itch. Bathing repeatedly, especially with soaps, can contribute to dry skin. This research mainly based on the treatment of dry skin by using various herbs and making poly herbal formulation. Herbs such as cucumis sativus (main fruit juice) used as repair dry skin and damaged skin, moisturizer, azadirachta indica (neem leaves) used as skin moisturizer, rose water(rose water) used as cooling agent, flavouring agent, emollient, tulasi (tulasi leaves) used as antioxidant and skin texture improve, antimicrobial agent, amla (amla fruit) used as antioxidant and vitamin C help to brighten your skin, vitamin E used as moisturizer skin, lotus flower(lotus petals) used as anti-inflammatory and which help balance sebum production, improve the texture and elasticity of the skin, cool. Natural herbal extract in combination effectively utilized for the treatment of dry skin. Use of such product far better than the use of synthetic cream for the control of dry skin.

Preventive and therapeutic effects of natural products and herbal extracts on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition that is prevalent in patients who consume little or no alcohol, and is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver. The disease is becoming increasingly common with the rapid economic development of countries. Long-term accumulation of excess fat can lead to NAFLD, which represents a global health problem with no effective therapeutic approach. NAFLD is a complex, multifaceted pathological process that has been the subject of extensive research over the past few decades. Herbal medicines have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents to prevent and treat NAFLD due to their high efficacy and low risk of side effects. Our overview is based on a PubMed and Web of Science database search as of Dec 22 with the keywords: NAFLD/NASH Natural products and NAFLD/NASH Herbal extract. In this review, we evaluate the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of NAFLD. These natural resources have the potential to inform innovative drug research and the development of treatments for NAFLD in the future.

Cow urine based dermal defender: A review

It is indispensable to maintain a healthy skin from infectious microorganisms like Bacteria, Fungi, viruses and parasites. Most common biological agents Bacteria and Fungi plays a prominent role in worsening the skin infections. Antimicrobial and antifungal studies of various natural ( herbal extracts) and synthetic compounds are still going on to find out the best results against skin infection causing microbes. For the treatment of skin infections: soaps, creams, ointments and skin care lotions containing chemicals are available but due to certain limitations the people are frequently attracted towards herbal formulative products. Cow urine is profound to have a great therapeutic value. Across many parts of the world, cow urine therapy is highly used and recommended by medicinal practioners. Cow urine remove dark circles, black spots and pimples says Gujarat government’s Gauseva and Gauchar Vikas Board. Due to cow urine’s great impact, even branded cosmetic companies started formulating cosmetic commercial products using the cow urine as a constituent in skin care products. Since, numerous researches experimentally proved that cow urine acts as a wide defender of skin.

Green chemistry based benign approach for the synthesis of titanium oxide nanoparticles using extracts of AzadirachtaIndica

The colossal significance of nanostructured materials and their implications is a coherent incentive for the exploration of novel conventional techniques. This brings attention to the major problem in developing nanomaterials i.e. the hazardous nature of reactants used. The hazardous reactants are harmful to the environment. So here, biogenic synthesis of nanostructured materials utilizing natural herb extracts has enthralled prodigious implications owing to its rapid, clean, eco-friendly, non-toxic, cost-effective, and as a flipside pathway to several chemical and physiochemical approaches. Titanium oxide materials have been the cynosure for several propitious implications due to their low cost, availability, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Herein, we developed an efficient green chemistry method for the synthesis of titanium oxide nanoparticles utilizing neem (Azadirachta Indica) extracts. The X-ray diffraction studies revealed the polycrystalline titanium oxide (rutile) structure. The spherical shape of the nanoparticles was observed in TEM and SEM images and their size ranged from 10 to 20 nm. UV–vis studies showed an exciton emission peak at about 380 nm while the IR transmission spectrum revealed the characteristic stretching modes of TiO2. It is envisioned that this novel route for the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles could be more beneficial in comparison to other conventional approaches. As the greener approach is being carried out in this paper, therefore, the toxic byproduct is not being released.

The effect of Nigella sativa oil- and wheat germ oil-loaded metal organic frameworks on chronic murine toxoplasmosis

Treatment of chronic toxoplasmosis is challenging as the available drugs are effective only in the acute stage. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate Nigella sativa oil (NSO) and wheat germ oil (WGO) loaded on copper-benzene tricarboxylic acid metal organic framework (Cu-BTC MOF) for treating chronic toxoplasmosis in a murine model. Eighty mice were divided into 8 groups (G); uninfected untreated negative control (GI), infected untreated positive control (GII), infected and treated with: Spiramycin (GIII), Spiramycin@Cu-BTC (GIV), Cu-BTC (GV), WGO@Cu-BTC (GVI), NSO@Cu-BTC (GVII) and combined WGO+NSO@Cu-BTC (GVIII). The infected groups were orally inoculated with 10 Toxoplasma gondii Me49 strain cysts/mouse. All drugs were orally administered for 14 consecutive days starting 8 weeks post-infection (wpi). The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by parasitological (survival rate of mice and brain cyst burden) and histopathological (brain, liver, kidney, eye) parameters. At the end of 2-weeks therapy, the highest therapeutic outcome was achieved with GVII and GVIII exhibiting 100% survival, 64.3% and 51.4% reduction of brain cysts, and an apparent amendment of pathological insults. In the next place was GVI with 90% survival, 49.5% reduction of cysts and marked amelioration of pathological lesions. Meanwhile, GIII and GIV showed 80% survival, 42.4% and 41.8% reduction of cysts as well as minimal to moderate alleviation of tissue damage. The lowest effect was obtained with GV resulting in 70% survival and 24.4% reduction of cysts. The current results support the assertion that the new metal-based nanocomposites can be promising remedies of chronic toxoplasmosis particularly if conjugated with natural herbal extracts as NSO and WGO.

Natural and Biological Dietary Herbal Extracts Supplement on Productive and Physiological Parameters, Cecal Fermentation, and Meat Characteristics of Growing Rabbits

Natural and Biological Dietary Herbal Extracts Supplement on Productive and Physiological Parameters, Cecal Fermentation, and Meat Characteristics of Growing Rabbits

Evaluation and comparison of antibacterial effects of a licorice gel and chlorhexidine gel on Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetamcomitans, and Tannerella forsythia – An in vitro study

INTRODUCTION: Periodontitis is known to cause inflammation and progressive breakdown of tooth-supporting structures. The treatment for periodontitis includes scaling and root planing that effectively removes the disease causing plaque and antimicrobial agents such as chlorhexidine (CHX) used as an adjunct to maintain the healthy state of tissues. However, these antimicrobial agents have unpleasant side effects that have led researchers toward discovering, isolating, and developing natural herbal plant extracts as effective antimicrobial agents. Hence, the purpose of the study was to assess and compare the antimicrobial activity of the one such herbal plant extract Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) gel and CHX gel on periopathogens.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hydroalcoholic root extract of G. glabra (licorice) was prepared through maceration, evaporation, and lyophilization to obtain dried crude extract. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the G. glabra extract against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans, and Tannerella forsythia were determined using broth dilution method and streaking on blood agar plates. The gel was then prepared accordingly using Carbopol 940. The antibacterial activity of the prepared G. glabra gel was tested and compared to CHX gel using the agar well diffusion assay.RESULTS: The MIC of G. glabra extract was found to be 15 mg against A. actinomycetamcomitans and T. forsythia and 7.5 mg against P. gingivalis. The MBC of the G. glabra extract was 30 mg for all three organisms. The antibacterial effects of the prepared licorice gel were assessed using agar well diffusion assay, and it showed that 100 μl of prepared licorice gel had a greater effect on A. actinomycetamcomitans and T. forsythia but not P. gingivalis.CONCLUSION: Licorice extract showed inhibitory activity against P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetamcomitans, and T. forsythia.

Comparative evaluation of antifungal efficacy and potency of soft liners incorporated with powder extracts of Lawsonia inermis and Withania somnifera on the growth of Candida albicans – An in vitro study

CONTEXT: Denture relining materials are soft and resilient materials used in the treatment of patients with denture soreness. Studies have concluded that rugged surface of the liners allows the sticking of the Candida albicans and later gives rise to a condition called denture-induced stomatitis.AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the antifungal efficacy and potency of denture soft liners incorporated with powder extract of Lawsonia inermis and Withania somnifera on the growth of C. albicans.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 105 samples were taken in this in vitro study and was divided into three groups: To check for the antifungal activity with 35 samples each. L. inermis and W. somnifera powder extract were incorporated in soft liner at 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% concentration and the antifungal efficacy against C. albicans was tested by calculating the diameter of inhibition zone for 1, 7, and 14 days.Statistical analysis used: Subgroup analysis was carried out using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Pair-wise comparisons were carried out through Tukey's multiple post hoc procedures.RESULTS: When comparison of four subgroups (1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) was done with the mean zone of antifungal efficacy at 1st day, 7th day, and 14th day time points in both the groups by one-way ANOVA, statistically significant results were obtained with P of 0.0001.CONCLUSIONS: L. inermis and W. somnifera natural herb extracts have shown to have antifungal activity against C. albicans and can be used as an alternative for the synthetic antifungal drugs.

RieeF<sub>g</sub> - An Organic Shampoo

Hair Shampoos are cleaning formulations utilized for removal of dirt as well as for conferring gleam to hair and maintaining the sensibility and sleekness of hair. They are primarily composed of chemicals called surfactants that have the ability to surround oily materials on surfaces and allow them to be rinsed away by water. The main problem of using chemical based shampoo is the increase in hair fall instead of dropping it. In this perspective, the present study focused on the formulation and development of harmless organic shampoo from natural ingredients. An approach in reducing the chemical ingredients is by incorporating natu-ral herbal extracts whose functionality can be studied by comparing with chemical ingredients. The shampoo contained aqueous extracts of Fenugreek (seeds), Reetha seeds and Rice water. Small amounts of black pepper and honey was added to nourish the scalp, glycerine to adjust the pH, lecithin powder and essential oils to use as preservatives. The physicochemical parameters the prepared shampoo such as color, clarity, pH, dirt dispersion and, the percentage of solid content and foaming ability were carried out. It was found that the prepared organic shampoo was clear and dark to light brown in colour. The pH of the shampoo ranges from 5.20-5.50. It has good foaming ability and cleaning capacity. The percentage of solid content of prepared shampoo was found to be 22%.

Upper Airways Spray for Viral Infections Prevention.

Aim Several studies emphasized the antiviral properties of many natural compounds enclosed in nutraceuticals formulas and quite effective to prevent the respiratory infections. The rationale of our investigation has been to achieve protection from common cold viruses' infection of the upper airways pooling together and dispensing different active principles on a multistep defense basis. Material and Methods. 30 patients affected by sudden aspecific viral-induced sore throat rhinitis were divided in two groups: (1) the first group included 15 patients which were administered with our spray formula and (2) the second group included 15 patients with the commercial nasal lavage kit. The mucous smear was stained with May Grunwald-Giemsa to exclude eosinophilic infiltrate and confirm the prevalence of granulocytes and lympho-monocytes typical of viral seasonal inflammatory upper airways conditions. Results The symptomatic relieve is remarkedly evident in the treated group with our spray compared to the second group treated with commercial nasal lavage kit. Conclusions The open case-control retrospective observational study showed a definite benefit of the spray based on natural herbal extracts to take control of the upper airways respiratory distress due to viral infections.