Polyherbal Drug Research Articles

ANTI CANCER EFFECT OF THE SIDDHA POLYHERBAL FORMULATION ASWATHY CHOORANAM AGAINST BRCA 1 GENE USING IN SILICO MODEL

India is one among the countries with enormous antiquity of health care practices. Siddha system is the pride of South India with alchemy and enormous spiritual insight in its root. Traditional medicines support primary health care needs of about 70% of Indian population. Cancer is the leading non communicable diseases with high mortality rates in which the abnormal cells divide uncontrollably with a potential to invade other parts of the body. Aswathy chooranam is a polyherbal drug with a potency to cure a wide range of diseases. The constituents are of hot potency and hence can be an effective choice to mitigate Kapha humour which is the main cause for formation of vippuruthi (tumour). The present study is performed in silico to evaluate the anti-cancerous potential of Siddha herbal formulation Aswathy chooranam through inhibition of BRCA 1 genes. Withaferin A, Glycyrrhizin, Gingerenone- A, Piperic acid, Piperine, Grandisin, Myristicin, Picroside I, β-caryophyllene and Vitexin in the formulation are found to have remarkable action against BRCA 1 genes. Compounds such as Withaferin A and Glycyrrhizin are well known for inducing apoptosis of cancer in vitro and in vivo and also in management of post chemotherapy management. Myristicin has potent inhibitory activities on cytokines, chemokines and nitric oxide. Piperine and piperic acid have been reported to have effective chemo preventive activities. The computational analysis shows effective binding against target Breast Cancer gene BRCA1. Hence Aswathy chooranam can be a promising choice for management and treatment of Breast Cancer.

Formulation and Evaluation of Diuretic Activity of Polyherbal Drug in Rats

An attempt was made in this study to investigate the diuretic activity of an ethanolic extract of a polyherbal formulation containing four drugs: seeds of Coriandrum sativum, buds of Syzigiumaromaticum, leaves of Ocimum sanctum, and curcumin (Curcuma longa), as well as leaves of Syzigiumaromaticum. According to the findings of this investigation, the extract of a polyherbal formulation (including seeds of Coriandrum sativum, buds and leaves of Syzigiumaromaticum& leaves of Ocimum sanctum, and Curcuma longa) possessed substantial activity. Various quantities of Polyherbal formulations (200 and 400 mg/kg), furosemide (10 mg/kg), and vehicle were given orally to rats (n = 6 animals per group), and the urine output was collected after 24 hours. All concentrations of Polyherbal formulation exhibited a dose-dependent relationship when compared to the control animals in the study. According to the findings of this study, the Polyherbal formulations have significant diuretic effect in rats when tested in the above-mentioned experimental model. That polyherbal formulation extract has such potent effect may be due to their ability to stimulate the excretion of Na+, K+, and Cl- concentrations in urine while also increasing the amount of urine excreted by the body. As diuretics, medicinal herbs are a key source of supply. When it comes to diuretics, both mono- and poly-herbal formulations have been employed successfully

The Importance of Pharmacovigilance in the Polyherbal Sector: Challenges and Future Potential

Pharmacovigilance is crucial in ensuring the safety and potency of polyherbal products, as many have not been extensively evaluated for their pharmacology and toxicity. With the increasing popularity of polyherbal medications, there has been a rise in complaints of probable toxicity and adverse outcomes. This study investigates the importance of pharmacovigilance in the polyherbal sector and examines its challenges and future potential. Data was collected from various databases from 2000-2024. Pharmacovigilance has become a key domain in medicine and public health, with a significant portion of India’s population relying on Indian medical systems. The study highlights the importance of implementing pharmacovigilance procedures for polyherbal medications, promoting rational use and appropriate treatment methods. Polyherbal drugs may have negative interactions with other medications, foods, biologicals, and compounds, leading to decreased therapeutic efficacy, undesirable side effects, and severe complications. Systematic pharmacovigilance is necessary to collect accurate data and develop guidelines for safe and effective use.

Ayurvedic herbal formulations Haridra Khanda and Manjisthadi Kwath (brihat) in the management of allergic rhinitis: A pharmacological study

This study aims to pharmacologically validate Haridra Khanda (HK) and Manjishthadi Kwatham (brihat) (MMK) in allergy management using invivo and invitro studies to rationalize the prescription of these two ayurvedic polyherbal drug formulations, which are currently used in Indian government hospitals. Experimental animals received HK and MMK orally from day 0 to day 14 and histamine (1 mg/kg b.w/i.v) and 1 % evans blue (EB) (0.1 mL) via tail vein on day 14. The compound 48/80 (intracutaneous) challenged mice model followed the same technique. The former mimicked acute anaphylaxis and the latter mast cell degranulation. For both models, EB dye leakage was quantified spectrophotometrically to determine vascular permeability. Plasma histamine was measured in Compound 48/80-induced animals using LC-ESI-MS/MS. The guineapig received HK and MMK p.o. and 0.6 % histamine sprayed in a histamine chamber to simulate allergic rhinitis. Blood eosinophil count and sneeze rate were measured in histamine-challenged guineapigs. Goat R.B.C. membrane stability assay (mammalian cell membrane toxicity) and intracellular histamine-induced cytosolic Ca2+ release assay in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were performed in vitro. For both histamine and Compound 48/80 challenged animals, HK (22.81 % and 14.58 %) and MMK (19.71 % and 22.40 %) significantly reduced EB dye leakage (p < 0.05). Both formulations, HK and MMK considerably (p < 0.05) decreased plasma histamine (29.62 % and 25.37 % respectively) in mice and eosinophilic count (11.56 % and 9.94 % respectively) and sneeze rate (42.58 % and 29.03 % respectively) in guinea pigs. In membrane stability experiment, HK and MMK reduced RBC lysis. Both HK and MMK raw/dialysate blocked CHO cell cytosolic Ca2+ release. HK and MMK activities mimic mast cell stabilization with possible H1 receptor inactivation seen by decreased Ca2+ efflux and thus indicate potential for allergic rhinitis management. The combination of activities is usually related with curative and prophylactic therapy and might lead future clinical trials and therapies.

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL TO COMPARE THE EFFECT OF JATHYADI GHRITA WITH POVIDONE IODINE OINTMENT IN DUSHTAVRANA

Dushtavrana is a commonly encountered problem faced in surgical practice. The presence of Dushtavrana worsens the condition of the patient with different complications which may become fatal and life-threatening. Good wound healing with minimal scar formation and pain is the prime motto of every surgeon. Many formula-tions have been in use for centuries. One of these is a polyherbal drug, Jathyadi Ghrita. The present study com-pares the effect of Jathyadi Ghrita and Povidone Iodine ointment on relief in signs and symptoms of Dushtav-rana. Clinically diagnosed 34 Dushtavrana patients were divided into groups A and B. Group A (Trial group) managed with Jathyadi Ghrita. Group B (the control group) was managed using the Povidone Iodine ointment application. The study duration was 28 days in both groups, with 17 participants in each group. Assessment was done on 0th, 7th,14th ,21st and 28th day. The data obtained was statistically analysed and interpreted. The assess-ment was done on the 0th,7th,14th,21st and 28th day. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using appropriate statistical methods. Frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables, while mean and SD were calculated for quantitative variables. Nonparametric methods were employed to analyse the data. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess the significant effect before and after treatment within each group. The Mann Whitney U test was used to compare two groups based on before and after treatment values. P value less than 0.05 is statistically significant. All analyses were carried out with the help of the software SPSS 23.0. Statistically significant changes were noted in pain and itching sensation by management with Jathyadi Ghrita in Dushtavrana compared to Povidone Iodine ointment. Considering all observations, statistical analysis was done, and conclusions were drawn. The study results statistically reveal that Jathyadi Ghrita shows better results than Povidone Iodine ointment in managing pain, itching sensation, burning sensation, ulcer size, and discharge. Thus, the null hypothesis is rejected, and the alternate hypothesis is accepted.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a polyherbal drug: human health exposure-associated risk assessment study

ABSTRACT PAHs are pervasive pollutants known to bioaccumulate in environmental matrices, plants, and humans. Dr. Iguedo Goko Cleanser® is a polyherbal drug with unsubstantiated claims to treat various diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. PAHs were measured following EPA-16 PAHs guidelines using Gas Chromatography (Agilent-6890N, USA). The drug’s exposure-associated public health concerns was determined using suitable mathematical paradigms. PAHs present were acenaphthene (2.74 × 10−2), pyrene (2.7598 × 10−2), and chrysene (5.1277 × 10−2) ppm. Dietary intake of chrysene, acenaphthene and pyrene for adults, and children ranged from 2.466–4.615 × 10−3 and 1.215–2.308 × 10−3 ppm/mg/kg, respectively. B[α]Peq, EDB[α]Peq, and incremental lifetime cancer risk were determined to be 5.6777 × 10−4, 5.109912 × 10−5 and 5.3289 × 10−12, respectively. Our results suggest a high risk of non-carcinogenic adverse health effects, especially on chronic exposure among adolescents and adults, necessitating caution and/or avoidance of its chronic use. Therefore, policy formulation and implementation as regards the safety of plant-based remedies and allied products before their distribution among end-users must be ensured.

Simultaneously quantification of eight marker compounds by HPLC, and HPTLC analysis for the marker-based shelf-life kinetic study for the standardization of polyherbal drug AYUSH SG-5, medicinal properties and computational studies

The herbal or alternative medicines having their own significances in each country. The major problem behind the non-acceptance of the alternative medicines is the poor standardization and quality control. Maximum times, it’s impossible to quantify the complex matrix of polyherbal medicines. The pharmacopeial standards of these medicines are limited to physicochemical and pharmacognostic analysis only, which are insufficient for the proper quality control of ingredients used for the preparation of polyherbal formulations. Multi-markers-based analysis of alternative medicines and their polyherbal formulations by using the sophisticated analytical techniques like HPLC, and LC-MS is the demand of current scenario. In our recent report we have reported pharmaceutical standard operating procedure for a coded polyherbal formulation (CPF i.e. AYUSH-SG-5) which was prepared for the rheumatoid arthritis. The marker-based quantification and identification of major metabolites and shelf-life (marker-based) studies were not reported in that study. In this report we have quantified eight markers (6-Gingerol, 8-Gingerol, Guggulsterone-E, Guggulsterone-Z, Resveratrol, Salicin, Colchicine, and Caffeic acid) simultaneously by HPLC chromatography. To identify the phytochemicals in polyherbal formula (CPF), LC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis was performed, where 32 main phytochemicals were identified out of 80 peaks. In herbal industry, HPTLC is the main tool for drug quantification, so we have reported a HPTLC method for the real time shelf-life study. In HPTLC study, we have used three major markers (6-Gingerol, Guggulsterone-E, Guggulsterone-Z) that are reproducible in hydroalcoholic extract and not in aqueous and methanolic extracts of CPF. The kinetic study-based shelf-life of CPF formulation was performed, the observed shelf-life of CPF was more than 41 months. In addition, evaluation of antioxidant activity like total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC) and DPPH assays were performed, and results exhibited that hydroalcoholic extract having more values than aqueous and methanolic extracts of CPF. The phytochemicals observed in LC-QTOF-MS/MS studies were tested for in silico anti-inflammatory activity and anti-arthritic activities, which need to be explored after the detailed pharmacological and biological studies. Overall, analytical studies result of present study could use to standardize the CPF as well as the all relevant polyherbal formulations where these raw drugs have been used.

Multidrug-resistant Bacillus species isolated from hospital soil environment is controlled by nanobiotics incorporated nanoformulation

Multidrug resistance is a serious hazard to the environment, it claims a large number of lives every year. Lack of drug options and easy transmission of these organisms remain the biggest threat in treating the relative infections whose causative systems have evolved and become stronger in due course of time. Hospitals serve as one of the largest breeding grounds for harbouring these organisms. This study aims to isolate and characterize multidrug-resistant microorganisms from soil samples collected from hospital waste dumping premises. Polyherbal nanoformulation was synthesized from ethno-medicinal source Triphala (three berries) and characterized using various physico-chemical characterization techniques. The antibacterial efficacy of the polyherbal nanoformulation was evaluated by employing various assays to determine MIC, MBC, and biofilm inhibition potential in isolated strains. Bacterial colonies were isolated and the DNA was sequenced. The isolated organisms were identified as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus pumilus and they were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility by using various antibiotics. It was found that all the microorganisms were multidrug-resistant and possessed resistance to various classes of antibiotics. The various antibacterial assays showed that the polyherbal nanoformulation was highly effective in controlling growth and biofilm formation even at lower concentrations when compared with commercial antibiotics. The novelty of this research work lies in combining the beneficial effects of silver and polyherbal drugs into a single Polyherbal nanoformulation. This is the first novel report to utilize polyherbal nanoformulation to control the multidrug-resistant microorganisms thriving in hospital waste dumping sites. Hence, this nanobiotics incorporated polyherbal nanoformulation can be developed into a commercial product to treat the hospital waste material before dumping it into the environment.

Phytoconstituents profiling of indigenous herbal drugs and its in vitro microbial, in silico biological examination against Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Background: Habb-E-Shifa, Hamdard Sualin, and Hamdard Joshanda traditional herbal medicines may promote host resistance against infection by bacteria, viruses, and fungi which are easily accessible at inexpensive with no complexity. These herbal medicines are used to cure sore throat, cough, fever, lung cancer, and asthma patients in developing South Asian countries. These traditional herbal medicines acted a crucial role in the prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aims and Objectives: This research article aimed at conducting phytochemistry, antimicrobial activity, COVID-19 docking and some spectroscopic (Infrared, Ultraviolet, 13C-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C-NMR), 1H-NMR, and Mass Spectra) characterizations of the polyherbal drugs were carried out. Additionally, In-vitro and In-silico analyses were performed to measure activity against COVID-19. High Performance - Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), antimicrobial, and docking studies were carried out. The preliminary phytochemical assay and bioactive compounds were screened using HPLC and GC-MS. The study is an attempt to assess the promising effects of selected polyherbal indigenous drugs such as Habb-E-Shifa, Hamdard Sualin, and Hamdard Joshanda phytoconstituents against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Materials and Methods: The extract of the selected polyherbal formulations showed high-to-moderate preventive effects on the growth inhibition in the pathogenic bacterium, namely Streptococcus oralis, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris, and three fungal Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus,and Aspergillus niger. Further docking study evaluates the pharmacological activity of bioactive chemical compounds with SARS-CoV-2 NSP5 (PDB ID: 7nxh) and SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike protein with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) (PDB ID: 7wk6). Results: In this study, for the first time, we attempted to examine some spectroscopic characterization of selected herbals. The total phenol content (1.66, 1.55, and 1.13 mg/mL) and total flavonoid content (4.92, 0.49, and 0.50 mg/mL) were present in the extracted samples of Habb-E-Shifa (H), Hamdard Joshanda (J), and Hamdard Sualin (S). Studies on COVID-19 docking infer the affinity of the herb's chemical components toward COVID-19 protease and ACE-2 receptor by establishing excellent binding capacity in complex formation. The results confirmed that polyherbal drugs harbor biological activities and thereby highlight that these extracts can serve as a remedy for antimicrobial and COVID-19. Conclusions: The research article confirms the remarkable potential in exhibiting antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. These herbal medicines such as Habb-E-Shifa (H), Hamdard Joshanda (J), and Hamdard Sualin (S) showed a vital role against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike protein with human ACE2 (7wk6) and amino acids of SARS-CoV-2 NSP5 (7nxh). Our study provides obvious evidence supporting dietary therapy and herbal medicine as potentially effective against SARS-CoV-2. Based on present studies, these herbal products can be introduced as preventive and therapeutic agents fight against coronavirus.

Evaluating therapeutic potential of AYUSH-64 constituents against omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 using ensemble docking and simulations

The COVID-19 pandemic in the later phase showed the presence of the B.1.1.529 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 designated as Omicron. AYUSH-64 a poly herbal drug developed by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has been recommended by Ministry of Ayush in asymptomatic, mild to moderate COVID-19 patients. One of the earlier, in-silico study has shown the binding of the constituents of AYUSH-64 to the main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2. This study enlisted four phytochemicals of AYUSH-64, which were found to have significant binding with the Mpro. In continuation to the same, the current study proposes to understand the binding of these four phytochemicals to main protease (Mpro) and receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein of the Omicron variant. An enhanced molecular docking methodology, namely, ensemble docking has been used to find the most efficiently binding phytochemical. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and clustering approach it was observed that the Mpro and RBD Spike of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in complex with human ACE2 tends to attain 4 and 8 conformational respectively. Based on the docking studies, the best binding phytochemical of the AYUSH-64, akummicine N-oxide was selected for MD simulations. MD simulations of akummicine N-oxide bound to omicron variant of Mpro and RBD Spike-ACE complex was performed. The conformational, interaction and binding energy analysis suggested that the akummicine N-oxide binds well with Mpro and RBD Spike-ACE2 complex. The interaction between RBD Spike and ACE2 was observed to weaken in the presence of akummicine N-oxide. Hence, it can be inferred that, these phytochemicals from AYUSH-64 formulation may have the potential to act against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties of the polyherbal drug, MAT20, in MCF-7 cells

Breast cancer remains a serious health issue with approximately 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Standard treatment approaches include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, these treatments have side effects such as drug resistance, metastasis, and relapse. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate alternative therapy approaches that may mitigate the adverse effects of standard therapies. The emerging field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) presents an intriguing possibility of using natural products as therapeutics. The main objective of this study was assessing the anticancer efficacy of MAT20, a polyherbal formulation with extracts of moringa, amla, and tulsi. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory properties of MAT20, along with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Specifically, we assessed the expression of the COX2 gene, a key marker of inflammation. We hypothesized that the addition of MAT20, targeting COX2 downregulation, may have a dual impact by not only reducing inflammation but also regulating programmed cell death pathways by apoptotic gene expression studies. Our results demonstrated that MAT20 decreased the PMA-induced COX2 expression in MCF-7 cells. MAT20 treatment in MCF-7 cells showed upregulation of BAX and BAD (pro-apoptotic genes) and downregulation of BCL2 and BCL2L1 (anti-apoptotic genes) in MCF-7 cells. Overall, our results showed that MAT20 may have anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic effects on MCF-7 cells.

Toxicity assessment of a polyherbal drug on haematological parameters, brain and spleen histoarchitecture in exposed Wistar rats

Toxicity assessment of a polyherbal drug on haematological parameters, brain and spleen histoarchitecture in exposed Wistar rats

Exploration and Evaluation of In-vitro Antioxidant Activity of ABANA: A Polyherbal Formulation

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity of Abana® (a poly-ingredient formulation with natural constituents). Methods: Extensive ethanol extraction of polyherbal formulations was followed by fractionation into petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts. Various fractions were further analyzed using this conventional method for phytochemical composition and concentration dependent antioxidant activity. Due to the presence of phenolic compounds in the formulation, extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and in- vitro antioxidant activity. Antioxidant capacity was determined using total reducing potential, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-ethyl-benzothiozoline-sulphonic acid diammonium salt (ABTS) and nitric oxide inhibition assays. Results: Primitive phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins which were confirmed using thin-layer chromatography. The antioxidant activity of Abana tablet extracts decreased in the order ethyl acetate &gt; ethanolic &gt; chloroform &gt; petroleum ether comparable to that of ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene. Conclusion: The current investigation suggests that the ethanolic extract and fractions of Abana polyherbal formulations exhibit significant antioxidant activity. Our results strongly imply that polyherbal compounds are a potential source of antioxidants capable of scavenging free radicals. The strong positive connection between antiradical scavenging activity and overall polyphenolic concentration in polyherbal drugs demonstrates that polyphenols are significant components capable of scavenging free radicals. Additional research is required to isolate and characterize the active moiety responsible for biological activity and treat it under various stress conditions.

Greater efficiency of polyherbal drug encapsulated biosynthesized chitosan nano-biopolymer on diabetes and its complications

Diabetes is a highly complex disease that has an adverse impact on the lives of individuals, and the current medicines used to manage diabetes have obvious side effects. Medicinal plants, on the other hand, may serve as an alternate source of anti-diabetic drugs. A polyherbal combination has a higher and more extensive therapeutic potential than a single herb. Yet, due to deterioration during the absorption process, the usage of this drug still yields inadequate results. Encapsulation of polyherbal drug with chitosan nanoparticles is one of the key ways to solve this problem due to its biocombatibilty, slow and targeted drug delivery characteristics. In the present study, the chitosan was derived from prawn shell and the chitosan nanoparticles had been prepared by ionic-gelation method. The anti-diabetic polyherbal drug (Andrographis paniculata, Andrographis alata, Adhatoda zeylanica, Gymnema sylvestre, Syzygium cumini, and Justicia glabra) was encapsulated with a bio-derived chitosan biopolymer. The drug loading efficiency was about 85 %. The chemical and physical properties of the chitosan and drug-loaded chitosan nanoparticles had been analyzed by FT-IR absorption, XRD, SEM, TEM and EDAX analysis. The antidiabetic efficiency, hepatoprotective activity and antihyperlipedimic activity of the chitosan nanoparticles, polyherbal drug and polyherbal drug encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles were assessed in a group of rats. The polyherbal drug reduced the serum glucose level from 306.4 mg/dL to 134.47 mg/dL, while the polyherbal drug encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles reduced to 127.017 mg/dL. This was very close to the serum glucose level of non-diabetic rat (124.65 mg/dL). Further, it considerably increased the insulin level close to that of non-diabetic rat. Thus, the polyherbal drug encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles showed superior efficiency in antidiabetic and also diabetic complications.

The anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects of polyherbal drug AS20 on HeLa cells resistant to 5-Fluorouracil

Cancer treatment that involves chemotherapy often results in developed drug resistance which can be a major deterrent for the success of a treatment protocol. Increased inflammation, due to the drug's presence, contributes to disease progression and increased Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) expression (inflammatory marker). Integrative oncology is a field that focuses on combining natural herbal formulations with standard care to provide optimal clinical outcomes in a holistic manner, to minimize side effects, and to overcome drug resistance, including inflammation. 5-Flurouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic medication used to treat cancers. We studied drug resistance by deriving 5-FU-resistant HeLa cells (HeLa R) and evaluating the efficacy of AS20 in in vitro experiments. AS20 is an herbal formulation derived from the plant Amaranthus spinosus, an indigenous plant found in India. It contains different types of secondary metabolites such as saponins, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. We hypothesized that AS20 has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties on HeLa R. We investigated if AS20 could downregulate increased inflammatory markers such as COX2 in HeLa R. Also, we studied anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes in AS20 treated HeLa R cells. Our results demonstrated that the inhibitory concentration at 50% (IC50) values of HeLa wild type cells with AS20 treatment was significantly less than HeLa R cells. Also, AS20 brought down induced COX2 expression in HeLa R cells. AS20 treatment on HeLa R cells showed upregulation of BAX (pro-apoptotic) but no significant change in BAD (pro-apoptotic) and downregulation of BCL2 and BCL2L1 (anti-apoptotic genes) in HeLa R cells. Our results showed that AS20 has anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties when treated on HeLa R cells.

Apoptosis induction and anti-inflammatory activity of polyherbal drug AS20 on cervical cancer cell lines

Cancer occurs when normal cells convert into tumor cells as a result of the interaction between a patient’s genes and physical, chemical, or biological carcinogens. There are more than 100 types of cancer and each type requires a specific treatment regimen. The traditional treatment regimen for most types of cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, treatment methods such as chemotherapy not only kill the cancer cells but also kill healthy cells that divide quickly. Chemotherapy induces widespread senescence, which contributes to local and systemic inflammation. To overcome these problems herbal drug treatments can be used as complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). We obtained the polyherbal drug AS20 using Amaranthus spinosus leaves and inflorescences, which contain phytochemicals such as saponins, polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids that are known to have anticancer and anti-oxidant activities. We hypothesized that AS20 would show anti-inflammation and induce DNA fragmentation, which is a hallmark of apoptosis in HeLa cells. Furthermore, this study explored the effects of AS20 on the expression of COX2, a marker of inflammation. We found that treatment with AS20 suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 5-flurouracil (5-FU) induction of COX2 expression. We also observed AS20 treated cells showed DNA fragmentation in HeLa cells. This research looks into AS20's possible anti-inflammatory effect on cervical cancer cell lines and its capacity to trigger apoptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism that can restrict cancer cell proliferation. These elements are examined in order to offer light on the therapeutic potential of AS20 and aiding the development of safer and more efficient cervical cancer treatment plans.

A Randomized Controlled Double Blind clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Vedanasthapana Mahakashaya as an anxiolytic and analgesic polyherbal drug in perioperative anorectal cases

Introduction: In surgery, pre-operatively anxiolytic drugs and analgesics are very essential for major or minor surgical procedures to better operative and post-operative outcomes. The Vedanasthapana mahakashaya, described by the Acharya Charaka, is a group of 10 herbs and those herbs are advocated as analgesic, and anxiolytic polyherbal composition by various text books of ayurveda. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the Vedanasthapana mahakashaya as an analgesic drug during post operative period and as an anxiolytic drug for pre operative anxiety. Metarials &amp; Methods: The study was a prospective, randomized, double blind, controlled trial. 80 patients of anorectal diseases who undergone for surgical intervention were randomly allocated in one of two groups. Group-1 received Vedanasthapana mahakashaya kwath (Decoction), 30ml orally in preoperative and postoperative period while group-2 was treated with Tab. Alprazolam 0.25mg pre-operatively and Tab. Paracetamol 500 mg postoperatively. Anxiety was assessed on the basis of Anxiety score of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) preoperatively and analgesia was assessed postoperatively by internationally validated Visual Analogue Scale. Inj. Diclofenac sodium 75mg IM was administered as a rescue analgesic. Results: Pain-baseline pain scores were not statistically differed in both groups. Both the groups showed statistically significant reduction in pain at the end of trial period. Both were found to be significantly similar (P 0.4856) but group-1 showed more reduction in pain 84.72% (P&lt;0.0001) than the group-2 which have 80.08% reduction in VAS score (P&lt;0.0001) Anxiety- The values of both the groups were showing statistically significant difference at different observational intervals but the reduction was significantly higher in group-2 (P&lt;0.0158). Conclusion: Administration of the Vedanasthapana mahakashaya decoction is effective for post operative pain relief but less effective for preoperative anxiety.

Bioactive composition and TLC profile data on PAX herbal health tea and PAX herbal diatea

Background: The phytoconstituents of herbal drugs are largely influenced by the quality control system used during and post-production processes including the handling of such products. Thin Layer Chromatography is one of such quality control parameters that demonstrate uniqueness and uniformity between various substances, serving as an identity for such substances. Pax Herbal Health tea (PHT) and Pax Herbal Diatea (PDT) are polyherbal drugs, PHT is used as a tonic for general wellness, while, PDT is used in the management and treatment of diabetes. This study evaluated the different phytoconstituents present and developed Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprint profiles for PHT and PDT to serve as quality control checks during the production for consistency and market uniqueness after production.Material and Methods: Qualitative phytochemical and chromatographic analyses were carried out using standard methods.Results: The phyto-screening revealed the presence of Alkaloid, Flavonoid, Tanin, Terpenoids, Reducing sugar, Steroid, and Cardiac glycoside in PHT while, Saponin, Tanin, Steroids, Reducing sugar, Flavonoid, and Terpenoids were observed in PDT. The TLC finger-print chromatograms of PHT after development with n-Hexane:Ethyl acetate (3:2) showed four distinct components under ultraviolet light at 365 nm, and three spots when sprayed with 20% methanolic sulphuric under visible light, while, PDT developed in n-Hexane:ethyl acetate:methanol (2.5:2:0.5) revealed three fluorescent components at 365 nm and four components after sulphuric acid treatment.Conclusion: From this present study, identity cards have been designed for PHT and PDT through bioactive composition and TLC profiles which can be used in accessing the quality and consistency of the herbal drugs. Â

Bioactive composition and TLC profile data on Pax Herbal Malatreat Tea

The biological/pharmacological activities of any herbal drug are determined by the bioactive components contained in the plant(s) used in its formulation, these substances are greatly affected by the quality control system adopted during and after production processes and handling of such product. Thin Layer Chromatography is one of such quality control parameters that demonstrate uniqueness and uniformity between various substances, thus serving as an identity for such products. Pax Herbal Malatreat tea is a polyherbal drug used in the management and treatment of malaria symptoms. This study evaluated the different phytoconstituents present and developed fingerprint profiles (TLC) for the drug (Pax Herbal Malatreat Tea) to serve as a quality control check during the production consistency and market uniqueness. Qualitative phytochemical and chromatographic analyses were carried out using standard methods. The qualitative test revealed the presence of Tannin, Flavonoid, Saponin, Steroids, Reducing sugar, and Terpenoids, and the finger-print chromatograms after development with chloroform-ethyl acetate (9.5:05) showed five distinct components at 365 nm and four spots when sprayed with 20% methanolic sulphuric acid and viewed under visible light. From this present report, an identity card has been developed for the drug (Pax Herbal Malatreat Tea) via bioactive composition and TLC profiles which can be used in accessing the quality and consistency of the product.

The interaction of alkaloids in Coptis chinensis Franch -Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Juss.) T.G. Hartley with hOCT1 and hOCT2

Ethnopharmacological relevanceZuojin Pill, a traditional poly-herbal drug, comprises Coptis chinensis Franch - Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Juss.) T.G. Hartley (6:1). The significant quantity of alkaloids found in the participating herbs is a key aspect of the Zuojin Pill. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), these numerous alkaloidal compounds within Zuojin Pill have various essential therapeutic effects. Aim of the studyThe alkaloids in Tetradium are mainly indole alkaloids, while the alkaloids in Coptis are mostly isoquinoline alkaloids with low bioavailability. Alkaloids and their metabolites are nitrogen-containing compounds or weakly alkaline substances that can be partially ionized under physiological pH conditions. Fortunately, organic cation transporters (OCTs) play a crucial role in the cellular uptake of weakly alkaline compounds. Therefore, we speculated that the alkaloidal compounds might interact with liver cation transporters hOCT1 and kidney cation transporters hOCT2 to alter cell drug disposal. In order to clarify our hypothesis, a series of alkaloids-OCTs interaction experiments were conducted. Materials and methodsHEK293 cells stably expressing hOCT1 and hOCT2 were modeled and evaluated. Afterward, high-content screening (HCS) was conducted to analyze whether the main alkaloids and their metabolites of Coptis - Tetradium were inhibitors of hOCT1 and hOCT2 transporters. Meanwhile, LC-MS/MS was used to investigate whether the alkaloidal compounds were substrates of hOCT1 and hOCT2 transporters. Finally, drug interactions at the cellular level were assessed by LC-MS/MS after co-administration of berberine and rutacorine. ResultsBerberine, jateorhizine, coptisine, epiberberine, columbamine, demethyleneberberine, and berberrubine could significantly inhibit hOCT1 and hOCT2 activity. Isoquinoline alkaloids, including berberine, jateorhizine, coptisine, epiberberine, columbamine, and palmatine, were substrates of hOCT1 and hOCT2, but not the indole alkaloids evodiamine and rutaecarpine. Furthermore, evodiamine at a concentration of 20 μmol/L had a trivial effect on berberine accumulation in HEK293-hOCT2 cells. ConclusionsThese results support the idea that alkaloidal compounds within Coptis and Tetradium have hOCT1 and hOCT2 inhibitory activity or be their substrates, and the increased oral bioavailability of berberine in vivo was closely related to the potential interactions of small molecules in Coptis- Tetradium. Overall, our study provides a framework for investigating the potential interactions of small molecules in Coptis- Tetradium.