Tract Ailments Research Articles

The Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 and Serum Metabolic Parameters in Women with Gallstone Disease: A Case-Control Study.

One of the most prevalent gastrointestinal tract ailments is gallstone disease (GD). Diet has been acknowledged as a modifiable GD risk factor. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) is a scale for evaluating the quality of diets; therefore, this study aimed to determine whether the HEI-2015 score was associated with serum metabolic parameters in women with GD. This case-control study was conducted on a sample of 75 women diagnosed with GD and 75 healthy women at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Clinic of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science in Tehran, Iran. Standard laboratory methods were employed to measure the biochemical parameters. The participants' habitual dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The HEI-2015 score was computed for all participants. The study employed multivariate logistic regression to identify the optimal predictor of GD. The Pearson Correlation was employed to determine the correlation between the HEI-2015 and serum metabolic parameters. The study found a significant negative association between the risk of GD and serum HDL-c (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76-0.95, P=0.008). Moreover, a significant positive association was detected between HOMAIR (OR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.16-9.19, P=0.025), and the risk of GD. The study did not find a statistically significant correlation between the HEI-2015 and serum parameters. While an association was discovered between certain serum metabolic parameters and the risk of GD, the results do not provide a significant association between serum metabolic parameters and HEI-2015 score.

Human Sputum Proteomics: Advancing Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Respiratory Diseases with Enhanced Biomarker Analysis Methods

Many ailments can be diagnosed while they are asymptomatic, meaning that the patient has no signs or symptoms of a progressing disease. If caught in their initial stage of formation, these disorders can be effectively treated, leading to successful outcomes; curative therapies can halt illnesses from advancing, thus improving the quality of life and long-term survival of the patient. Still, cutting-edge upgrades in precision technologies are necessary for early, reliable, affordable, and rapid disease detection, but also vital for the well-being of people and the future of global public health. The emerging role and utility of non-invasive and repeatable diagnostic test approaches for the detection of health conditions have been exemplified by liquid biopsies based on genomic biomarkers. As such, biological fluids permit any measurable molecular indicator or signature (e.g., proteins) to provide valuable information on an individual’s wellness and/or disease. Among the bodily secretions used for non-invasive diagnostics is sputum, a complex viscous gel-like biopolymeric network that has gained growing recognition as a rich source of biomarkers of airway infections and pulmonary diseases, and serves as a determinant to reveal other illnesses. As per the World Health Organization, the burden of respiratory conditions is exacerbated by factors ranging from considerable subjection to air pollution and occupational contaminants to tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke, in addition to poor socio-economic status. Due to the likely increase in these determinants, respiratory tract ailments are on the rise, affecting the health of many individuals, in addition to putting stress on healthcare facilities and services worldwide. The aim of this study was to perform a narrative review of sputum constituents with an emphasis on proteins and glycoproteins assessed as possible biomarkers of lung and other organ diseases. A search was conducted using mucus, sputum proteomics, sputum biomarkers, and point-of-care testing as keywords employing Google, PubMed (MEDLINE), and Web of Science, selecting the most referenced and related papers of the last decade. We, therefore, highlight the need to use expectorated or induced sputum specimens as a routine sample source for testing valuable protein biomarkers to diagnose these chronic disorders, predict inflammation and disease progression, as well as monitor the effectiveness of treatments. Further, we discuss the urgent need for fast and reliable point-of-care methods to detect and quantify crucial protein biomarkers in sputum specimens, and the limitations faced when dealing with their complex matrices.

Current use of medicinal plants for children's diseases among mothers in Southern Romania.

There is a limited number of studies focusing on ethnomedical practices in children, particularly in Eastern Europe. Romania has a rich history of using medicinal plants in ethnopediatric care, and our objective was to identify the medicinal plants currently employed in treating childhood illnesses in the southern region of the country. Material and methods Our investigation used structured interviews, focusing on respondent demographics, local names of therapeutically employed herbs, the specific plant part(s) utilized, methods of preparation and administration, and local folk indications of taxa. A total of 326 mothers with children aged 0 to 18, hospitalized in the "Grigore Alexandrescu" Children Emergency Hospital Bucharest and residing in Southern Romania, were enrolled in the study. Use Value Citation Index (UVc), Informant Consensus Factor (Fic), and Fidelity Level (FL) were calculated. Results Twenty-five plants were identified for treating children's diseases in Southern Romania. The majority of informants resided in urban areas, and mothers primarily acquired knowledge from family members and healthcare professionals. The herbs most frequently employed were Mentha spp. (UV = 0.509) for diarrhea, Matricaria spp. (UV = 0.301) for skin infections (Fic = 0.99) and digestive diseases (Fic = 0.98), and Calendula officinalis L. (UV = 0.365) for skin diseases (Fic = 0.99). Less utilized were Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin in respiratory diseases, Prunus avium (L.) L. stalks in urinary tract ailments, Helianthus annuus L. in ear infections, Allium sativum L. in intestinal parasitosis, Viola tricolor L. in hives, Triticum aestivum L. in dermatitis and Allium ursinum L. as a tonic. In 184 cases herbal treatment was used in conjunction with conventional medications. Education level correlated with the number of employed plants and the variety of treated ailments, while residency (rural vs. urban) did not. Both residency and education influenced plant procurement methods: rural background and, surprisingly, higher education were linked to a preference for harvesting rather than purchasing plants. Conclusion Botanical remedies are still commonly used in the treatment of pediatric diseases in Southern Romania, although the variety of taxa seems reduced compared to the past. Further exploration is essential to unlock the maximum benefits of ethnopediatric practices.

CG‐Net: A novel CNN framework for gastrointestinal tract diseases classification

AbstractThe classification of medical images has had a significant influence on the diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions. Conventional disease diagnosis procedures require a substantial amount of time and effort to accurately diagnose. Based on global statistics, gastrointestinal cancer has been recognized as a major contributor to cancer‐related deaths. The complexities involved in resolving gastrointestinal tract (GIT) ailments arise from the need for elaborate methods to precisely identify the exact location of the problem. Therefore, doctors frequently use wireless capsule endoscopy to diagnose and treat GIT problems. This research aims to develop a robust framework using deep learning techniques to effectively classify GIT diseases for therapeutic purposes. A CNN based framework, in conjunction with the feature selection method, has been proposed to improve the classification rate. The proposed framework has been evaluated using various performance measures, including accuracy, recall, precision, F1 measure, mean absolute error, and mean squared error.

Heterogeneity of transport and metabolism of Tormentillae rhizoma constituents across human intestinal epithelium cellular model

Tormentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch is a widespread plant in Europe and Western Asia. Its rhizomes (Tormentilae rhizoma) are the main ingredient of herbal alcoholic beverages and can be used as a natural preservative in beer production. Apart from its unique taste qualities, therapeutic properties in gastrointestinal tract ailments are attributed to the tincture obtained from Tormentillae rhizoma. The presented research aimed to determine the mutual relationship between the components of Tormentillae tincture, present in popular alcoholic beverages, and intestinal epithelium (Caco-2 cell monolayers). A comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of the tincture was performed, including the determination of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins as well as triterpenoids (UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS). Incubation of the tincture with Caco-2 monolayers has shown that only triterpenes pass through the monolayer, while condensed tannins are mainly bound to the monolayer surface. Ellagic acid derivatives were the only components of the Tormentillae tinctura being metabolized by cell monolayers to the compounds not previously described in the literature, which may be crucial in the treatment of intestinal diseases with inflammatory background.

Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of the genus Sarcophyte: a review.

Although medicinal plants have been used by ethnic communities since ancient times to prevent and treat various diseases, only a few have been scientifically documented. Therefore, due to their rare availability and lack of comprehensive scientific information, we reviewed the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of plants within the genus Sarcophyte. To do this, we used specific search terms and phrases to retrieve relevant information from online sources published in English from 2000 to July 2023. The results showed that there are only two plants in the genus Sarcophyte (Sarcophyte sanguinea Sparrm. and Sarcophyte piriei Hutch.), which are traditionally used to treat a wide range of diseases, especially cancer, and skin, gastrointestinal, and urinogenital tract ailments in humans, and to cure animals in ethnoveterinary practices. It was noted that 13 secondary metabolites have been isolated from the two plants, the most prominent of which are flavonoids (diinsininol, diinsinin, and naringenin). The antioxidant activity of S. piriei is reported based on the scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50: 4.26 ± 0.22μg/mL) and 2 -2'-Azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate (ABTS) radicals (IC50: 4.62 ± 0.14μg/mL), chelating iron (IC50: 1.82 ± 0.01μg/mL, 3.50 ± 0.09μg/mL), and nitric oxide (IC50: 9.97 ± 0.88μg/mL, 9.09 ± 0.11μg/mL). The methanolic stem extracts of S. piriei possess antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio fluvialis, and Enterococcus avium, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.16 to 0.625mg/mL, and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1.25 to 5mg/mL. Cytotoxic effects of the extracts from the two plant species were also demonstrated. Sarcophyte piriei possesses therapeutic potential as evidenced by the inhibitory effects of the aqueous rhizome extract on edema (1,000mg/kg) and prostaglandin synthesis (IC50 = 0.2mg/mL). In addition, diinsininol and diinsinin were isolated from S. sanguinea inhibited prostaglandin synthesis (IC50: 9.20µM, 13.14µM) and platelet-activating factor-induced exocytosis. Therefore, based on this review, further scientific research is needed to demystify the links between traditional medicinal uses, various secondary metabolites, and the pharmacology of the two plants.

Ethnobotanical Review of Selected Medicinal Plants in Guam for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Ailments and Their Pharmacological Properties

The Chamorro healers of Guam have more than a thousand years of history of using herbs and medicinal plants for the treatment of common ailments. The objective of this study is to review the bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties of medicinal plants which are used for urinary tract health by local healers. Literature searches were performed using Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and SpringerLink, by using several keywords, including “medicinal plants in Guam”, “traditional uses”, “bioactive compounds”, “pharmacological properties”, and “urinary tract infections”. This review highlights the traditional uses, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological properties of five medicinal plant species, namely Euphorbia hirta, Phyllanthus amarus, Premna serratifolia, Psidium guajava, and Urena lobata. Phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids, essential oils, and polypeptides are the leading secondary metabolites reported in different plant extracts, which have been found to have significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. The therapeutic claims made about medicinal plants in Guam are well supported by the literature, having similar applications and pharmacological properties in other regions of the world. These medicinal plants have a lot of unexplored potential that might be utilized to develop more potent drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases, as well as food and herbal supplements.

Ethnopharmacological Study, Phytochemical Quality and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oils of Chenopodium ambrosioides, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Origanum majorana from Taounate Region (Morocco)

This study aims to collect the traditional uses of three medicinal plants, Chenopodium ambrosioïdes, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Origanum majorana, in Taounate region of Morocco and to evaluate the phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity of their essential oils. The ethnobotanical survey showed that Eucalyptus camaldulensis is used to treat respiratory ailments (27%), followed by osteo-articular troubles (24%), neurological diseases (22%), genitourinary and also digestive tract ailments (11% for each), while only 2% use it against dermatological problems. Origanum majorana was recommended for cardiovascular diseases (31%), neurological diseases (25%), digestive tract diseases (25%) and genitourinary infections (14%), as well as metabolic troubles (5%). While Chenopodium ambrosioides is mainly consumed to treat neurological diseases (37%), digestive diseases (35%) and skin conditions (20%). After hydrodistillation, the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass-spectrometry (GC/MS). The main component of Chenopodium ambrosioides essential oil is α-terpinene (80.74%). For Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oil, 1,8-cineole (34.16%) and (-)-spathulenol (21.21%) are the main compounds. As for Origanum majorana essential oil, terpinene-4-ol (39.80%), α-phellandrene (15.15%) and carene (12.06%) represent the major components. The antibacterial activity of these essential oils indicates a stronger inhibitory effect on Gram-positive strains than Gram-negative strains; with minimum inhibitory concentrations varying between 5-40 μL/mL.

Prevalence and Predictors of Antibiotic Self-Medication in Sudan: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is one of the common factors which precipitate antimicrobial resistance, yet if effective implementations are amended it can be effortlessly controlled. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and predictors of SMA in Sudan. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design conducted in all Sudan states between June and December 2021. Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Binary logistic regression was computed to investigate the possible factors which associated with SMA. Out of 1492 participants surveyed, 71.3% utilize antibiotics as self-medication. The derived reasons for SMA were convenience (63.3%) and cost-saving (34.8%). Tonsillitis was the most common ailment behind SMA (55.5%). Log-binominal regression revealed that non-insured and low level of education participants were more likely to predict SMA. Regarding the practice, 40% changed the dose and/or antibiotics mainly owing to improvement (53.7%) or worsening of the condition (37.9%). The most commonly used antibiotic was amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (32.5%). Two out of three individuals in Sudan practice SMA mainly to manage upper respiratory tract ailments. Thus, the necessity of implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program throughout the country, as well as implementing effective legislation to prohibit dispensing antibiotics without prescription is urgently required.

Environmental and clinical mould spore risk thresholds

Escalating environmental pollution and urbanization is associated with a rise in fungal contamination, which contributes to a variety of health concerns, particularly respiratory tract ailments such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, and sick building syndrome. Spore trap testing serves as a straightforward method for evaluating the number of spores/m³ in the air. Multiple studies indicate that 1000 spores/m³ represents the upper threshold for normal levels of mould exposure, with levels above this linked to adverse health effects, thereby establishing the environmental threshold. According to the literature, the clinical threshold is 3000 spores/m³ for Cladosporium and 100 spores/m³ for Alternaria. This mini review provides an overview of the existing environmental and clinical thresholds for fungal contamination to assess risk. We examine fungal threshold levels in both outdoor and indoor settings, encompassing residential homes, libraries, buildings, workplaces, and hospitals. In conclusion, environmental scientists, microbiologists/mycologists, occupational hygienists, insurance assessors, the real estate sector, clinical healthcare staff, and others must use and apply both environmental and clinical threshold levels to assess fungal contamination risk in indoor environments to protect public health. And finally, this mini review highlights the need for increased focus and research to ensure that appropriate guidelines and industry standards are developed, applied, and enforced that incorporate objective spore thresholds to quantify risk from fungal mediated adverse health in various indoor environments.

A Robust Deep Model for Classification of Peptic Ulcer and Other Digestive Tract Disorders Using Endoscopic Images.

Accurate patient disease classification and detection through deep-learning (DL) models are increasingly contributing to the area of biomedical imaging. The most frequent gastrointestinal (GI) tract ailments are peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. Conventional endoscopy is a painful and hectic procedure for the patient while Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a useful technology for diagnosing GI problems and doing painless gut imaging. However, there is still a challenge to investigate thousands of images captured during the WCE procedure accurately and efficiently because existing deep models are not scored with significant accuracy on WCE image analysis. So, to prevent emergency conditions among patients, we need an efficient and accurate DL model for real-time analysis. In this study, we propose a reliable and efficient approach for classifying GI tract abnormalities using WCE images by applying a deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). For this purpose, we propose a custom CNN architecture named GI Disease-Detection Network (GIDD-Net) that is designed from scratch with relatively few parameters to detect GI tract disorders more accurately and efficiently at a low computational cost. Moreover, our model successfully distinguishes GI disorders by visualizing class activation patterns in the stomach bowls as a heat map. The Kvasir-Capsule image dataset has a significant class imbalance problem, we exploited a synthetic oversampling technique BORDERLINE SMOTE (BL-SMOTE) to evenly distribute the image among the classes to prevent the problem of class imbalance. The proposed model is evaluated against various metrics and achieved the following values for evaluation metrics: 98.9%, 99.8%, 98.9%, 98.9%, 98.8%, and 0.0474 for accuracy, AUC, F1-score, precision, recall, and loss, respectively. From the simulation results, it is noted that the proposed model outperforms other state-of-the-art models in all the evaluation metrics.

Nephroprotective Potential of a Standardized Extract of Bambusa arundinacea: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Bambusa arundinacea (RETZ.) Willd. is distributed in tropical regions of Pakistan, India, and China. It has been used for a long time as a folk remedy for cirrhosis, urinary tract ailments, and various other abdominal cavity disorders. It has antioxidant, free-radical-scavenging, and anti-inflammatory effects. The aims and objectives of this study were to validate the folkloric uses of Bambusa arundinacea and to evaluate its nephroprotective potential on scientific grounds. Gentamycin (G.M, 40 mg/kg) was used to induce nephrotoxicity in the animal model. Two doses of the methanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea (MEBA; 300 and 500 mg/kg) were utilized in addition to silymarin (200 mg/kg/d). Treatments were administered once daily for 14 days. After 14 days, the blood was collected and the kidneys were removed. The antioxidant potential of the standardized MEBA was evaluated using the total phenolic content, the total flavonoid content, and the DPPH scavenging activity. The plant extract was rich with flavonoid content. The DPPH scavenging activity was 65% as compared to butylated hydroxy toluene (96%), with IC50 values 31.65 and 7.80 μg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical analysis was performed using HPLC, and MEBA was found to contain various phytoconstituents such as quercetin, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cinnamic acid. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were assayed, and MEBA exhibited significantly improved CAT and SOD levels. The levels of renal function markers such as serum creatinine, serum urea, blood urea nitrogen, serum urea, and serum uric acid levels also evaluated, and a significant retrieval was found in a dose-dependent fashion. Good improvement was also made in various hematological parameters. Statistical analysis was done using analysis of variance to determine the significance of differences among the data. In conclusion, the standardized methanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea was able to alleviate gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity by enhancing the antioxidant defensive mechanisms of renal tubular cells.

LAUQ KHAYAR SHAMBAR: A POLYHERBAL UNANI FORMULATION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF COUGH

Cough is a physiological reflex, experienced by every human, is an important protective and defensive mechanism whose action secures the removal of foreign materials and secretions from the airways (larynx, trachea and bronchi). In various circumstances, such as respiratory tract inflammation, viral infections, allergic rhinitis, or inhalation of various irritants, it is unintentionally stimulated and a cough suppressant may be needed to relieve the cough. The currently available cough suppressants (opiates, dextromethorphan, etc.) limit their use in humans due to significant side effects such as constipation, respiratory depression, drowsiness. Lauq Khayar Shambar (LKS) is used as an antitussive in Unani medicine for centuries and is also used to treat various upper respiratory tract ailments such as asthma, dyspnoea, catarrh, productive and dry cough, pharyngitis and laryngitis. So, this review aims to explore the role of LKS in the management of cough.

Indigenous knowledge and quantitative ethnobotany of the Tanawal area, Lesser Western Himalayas, Pakistan.

Ethnobotanical field surveys were carried out in the Tanawal area of the Lesser Himalayan Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Province from April 2016 to October 2017. The area is located between 34.36 (34° 21’ 30 N) latitude and 73.07 (73° 4’ 0 E) longitude with an average elevation of 1374 meters above sea level. Ethnomedicinal data were collected through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and participants were selected through the snow-boll technique. Semi-structured, in-depth and open-ended interviews were conducted. The data were quantitatively evaluated using ethnomedicinal indices i.e. Relative frequency of citation (RFCs), Fidelity level (FL), and Use Value (UV). The ethnobotanical data were also comparatively analyzed through the Jaccard Index (JI). The study yielded 66 medicinal plants in 62 genera and 43 families. Asteraceae and Solanaceae were the most important families with five medicinal taxa each. Regarding medicinal plant part utilization, leaves (43.28%) were used predominantly, followed by whole plant (14.92%) and fruits (14.92%). Decoction was the main drug formulation applied to 21 species (31.15%) and the oral route was most common (56.1%) while 31.2% of medicinal plants were used for both oral and topical applications. Fifty health disorders were recorded and grouped in 15 categories. Maximum species were used to treat gastrointestinal disorders i.e. 13 species, dermal problems (12 species), and respiratory tract ailments (9). The calculated RFCs ranged between 81 to 31. The most important medicinal plants were Acacia modesta, Citrullus vulgaris, Tamarindus indica, and Momordica charantia with an RGFC of 81 each. The UV ranged between 0.58 and 3.6. Medicinal taxa with the highest UV were Dioscorea deltoidea (3.6), Withania coagulans (3.3), Momordica charantia (3.5), Silybum marianum and Pyrus pashia (3.2). FL values showed that 28 (41.79%) species had a FL value below 50 (74.62%) while 39 (58.20%) had higher FL values. Momordica charantia, Tamarindus indica, Acacia modesta and Citrullus vulgaris were 95.2 each. The Jaccard Index (JI) values ranged from16.77 to 0.98. The current study also reported 16 medicinal plants, commonly used around the globe, have been rarely documented for their medicinal values in the local ethnomedicinal literature i.e. Althaea officinalis, Plantanus orientalis, Jasminum sombac, Maytenus royleana, Cucurbita maxima, Phyllanthus emblica, Citrullus vulgaris. Polygonatum verticilliatum, Caseria tomentosa, Cistanche tubulosa, Bambusa arundinacea, Schinus molle, Tamarindus indica, Pongamia pinnata, Citrus limon and Catharanthus roseus. However, 48 medicinal plants had been reported in the literature but the current study reported their novel medicinal uses. Important taxa should be established in botanical gardens for in-situ conservation, chemical investigation and sustainable utilization. It would also be effective to improve the livelihoods of the local population.

Predominance of Inadequate Extent of Vitamin D Amid COVID 19 Patients and Related Threat in India

In 21 st century the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global health threat. There is no substantiate therapy alternatives accessible hence both the advanced and emerging nations are struggling the load equitably. Contemporary studies indicate the creditability of treatment of Vitamin D also protrusion for COVID-19, in ambience having insufficiency more predominant. Although estimation of Vitamin D isn’t conventional in India, the current analysis aims over the extent of Vitamin D amid coronavirus infection sufferers .
 Extent of Vitamin D perhaps appraised in order to diagnose COVID-19 sufferers also assist to alter therapy concordat, relevant pre-emptive intercession of Vitamin D can change seriousness also course course of COVID-19.2Vitamin D inadequacy is more predominance amid COVID-19 patients. Its vital function in COVID-19 sufferers are not obliged to be disesteemed and Vitamin D supplementation amid sufferers can put a stop to exacerbating seriousness of ailment.
 Predominance of insufficiency Vitamin D amid COVID-19 sufferers also to arbitrate in case an inadequate extent of Vitamin D is notable threat to COVID-19 has been employed by this cross-sectional study.
 Contemporary medicinal cases too revealed appurtenance Vitamin D could lessen the occurrence of short term pulmonary affliction also seriousness of pulmonary tract ailments in grown-up kids. In accordance with thesis exploration , there aren’t alike discovery of medicinal case that has released by 1/7/20, respecting appurtenance of Vitamin D in capability of anticipation ,therapy of coronavirus infection. Over the appraisal , it is sum up that crucial and capable function of Vitamin D metabolic function out of kidney in anticipation also therapy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, assisting to usher moderately nearer to executing that aim. The focusing points present over are: Vitamin D :may serve a role in forbidding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 affliction, evaluation of nephritic, metabolic processes outside kidney(extra nephritic) also synchronization, evaluation bimolecular procedure also multidimensional purposes afar skeletal stability, evaluation of confined modification of the immune response in human contagious ailments.

In vitro antispasmodic effects of Mallotus oppositifolium leaves extracts

Mallotus oppositifolium is a plant traditionally used in many African countries to treat diarrhea and other gastrointestinal tract disorders. This study was undertaken to evaluate in vitro antispasmodic effects of decoction, hexane and methanolic leaves extracts of this plant. Antispasmodic activities of Mallotus oppositifolium leaves decoction, hexane and methanolic extracts were assessed on spontaneous contractions, on acetylcholine or potassium chloride (KCl) induced contractions of isolated rat duodenum strips. Mallotus oppositifolium decoction, hexane or methanolic extracts increasing cumulative concentrations relaxed duodenum strips and at 1 mg/mL, they respectively decreased contraction amplitudes by 77.84 ± 2.25, 55.81 ± 2.14, and 51.67 ± 0.95% compared to the initial values. Decoction, hexane, and methanolic extracts decreased contraction tensions respectively from 3.00 to 2.5 gF, 3.40 to 2.80 gF and from 3.10 to 2.50 gF. At 0.25 mg/mL, they significantly (p <0.05) decreased contraction tension. Emax were 186.89 ± 34.05, 116.30 ± 10.92 and 91.57 ± 4.70% respectively with decoction, methanolic, and hexane extracts with EC50 of 0.610 ± 0.184; 0.146 ± 0.011 and 0.237 ± 0.105 mg/mL (p <0.05). Acetylcholine increased contraction amplitudes. Cumulative administration of Mallotus oppositifolium decoction at 0.05 to 2.00 mg/mL significantly (p <0.05) decreased tension, from 4.00 to 2.60 g.F. At these concentrations, tension variation was concentration-dependent, it increased from 13.39 ± 1.72 to 77.59 ± 1.10%. EC50 and Emax were respectively 1.311 ± 0.340 mg/mL and 99.29 ± 24.80%. KCl produced only little variations of contractions amplitude. Emax was 0.65%. Cumulative administration of Mallotus oppositifolium decoction from 0.05 to 2.00 mg/mL significantly (p <0.05) decreased KCl induced contraction tension, from 3.70 to 2.30 gF (p <0.05). Emax was 133.30 ± 34.29% and EC50 = 2.140 ± 0.231 mg/mL. The antispasmodic effects of Mallotus oppositifolium extracts obtained in this study could therefore justify its traditional use against gastrointestinal tract ailments. Keywords: mallotus oppositifolium; acetylcholine; potassium chloride; antispasmodic effects; gastrointestinal tract disorders.

Iriflophenone-3-C-β-d Glucopyranoside from Dryopteris ramosa (Hope) C. Chr. with Promising Future as Natural Antibiotic for Gastrointestinal Tract Infections.

Ethnopharmacological approaches provide clues for the search of bioactive compounds. Dryopteris ramosa (Hope) C. Chr. (plant family: Dryopteridaceae) is an ethnomedicinal plant of the Galliyat region of Pakistan. The aqueous fraction (AqF) of D. ramosa is being used by inhabitants of the Galliyat region of Pakistan to treat their gastrointestinal tract ailments, especially those caused by bacteria. The aims of the present study were as follows: (i) to justify the ethnomedicinal uses of the AqF of D. ramosa; (ii) to isolate a bioactive compound from the AqF of D. ramosa; and (iii) to evaluate the antibacterial and cytotoxic potential of the isolated compound. Column chromatography (CC) techniques were used for the isolation studies. Spectroscopic techniques (UV–Vis, MS, 1&2D NMR) were used for structural elucidation. The agar-well diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial potential of “i3CβDGP” against five bacterial strains, and compare it with the known antibiotic “Cefixime”. The brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) was used for cytotoxic studies. The AqF of D. ramosa afforded “iriflophenone-3-C-β-D glucopyranoside (i3CβDGP)” when subjected to LH20 Sephadex, followed by MPLC silica gel60, and purified by preparative TLC. The “i3CβDGP” showed a strong potential (MIC = 31.1 ± 7.2, 62.5 ± 7.2, and 62.5 ± 7.2 µg/mL) against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, respectively. On the other hand, the least antibacterial potential was shown by “i3CβDGP” (MIC = 125 ± 7.2 µg/mL), against Bacillus subtilis, in comparison to Cefixime (MIC = 62.5 ± 7.2 µg/mL). The cytotoxicity of “i3CβDGP” was significantly low (LD50 = 10.037 ± 2.8 µg/mL) against Artemia salina nauplii. This study not only justified the ethnomedicinal use of D. ramosa, but also highlighted the importance of ethnomedicinal knowledge. Further studies on AqF and other fractions of D. ramosa are in progress.

Herbal remedies used for the management of urolithiasis in Abbottabad, Northern Pakistan

The current study was performed to evaluate the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants to treat and prevent kidney diseases, especially urolithiasis in the Abbottabad region, Northern Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted from 2014–2016 in various rural and tribally dwelled hilly areas like Ayubia National Park, Sherwan and Thandiani. Ethnobotanical information about the medicinal plants employed to treat urinary ailments was obtained from well-informed sources like local healers (hakims) and residents (men/women), who had vast knowledge of local plants uses. The questionnaire method was adopted to record the information and queries were made to verify the information. Informed consent was obtained from each informant before conducting the interview process. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices were calculated for each recorded species. Correlation analysis between the RFC, UV and FL% was tested by Pearson’s correlation, SPSS (ver. 16). A total of 38 plant species belonging to 27 families were being used in the study area to treat Urolithiasis or kidney stone diseases. Asteraceae was the most dominant family with 5 species. Local people used different methods of preparation for different plant parts; among them, decoction was the popular and dominant way of preparation (52.6%), followed by powder (18.4%), extracts (15.7%), juice (7.8%) and cooked (5.2%). The highest UV was recorded for Rumex acetosa L. (1.14) followed by Agrimonia eupatoria L. (1.1), Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. (1.05), Aerva lanata L. (1.04), Eclipta alba Hassak. (1.03). Moreover, twenty-three species were recoded with above 50% Fidelity level. It was found that most of the plant species (16 species) were explicitly used to remove kidney stones. All the obtained data about the ethnomedicinal uses of plants to treat urinary tract ailments are alphabetically categorized to their botanical name/family, local name, phytoconstituents, dosage and route of administration, along with quantitative indices value. All the collected ethnomedicinal plants require a thorough scientific investigation for isolation, identification, biochemical assays, toxicities and evaluation of pharmacological activities of the phytoconstituents, especially of the plants recorded with a high-fidelity level before their usage in clinics.

Current understanding of gut microbiota in tackling COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 is a global pandemic that mainly affects the respiratory system by binding to host cell transmembrane protease serine-2 (TMPRSS-2) and ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme) receptors on alveolar epithelial cells. The gut microflora plays an important role in maintaining human health and of greatest concern in covid affected individuals. Dysbiosis may be a consequence for lung infection that has been linked to the severity of SARS-CoV-2. Recent studies identified the presence of SARSCoV-2 RNA in the faeces of COVID-19 patients, which has been associated with several gastrointestinal tract ailments and multiorgan dysfunction. Diet, lifestyle, and genetics plays a vital role in determining the gut microbiota and immune compromise to the virus infection. COVID-19 is attributed to the variations in gut microbiota diversity which often decreases with age and, hence the lethality in elderly patients. Intestinal microbiota profile can be enhanced by improved diet and supplementation, which has been shown to increase immunity in elderly and immune-compromised patients. Diet has an incredible impact on the gut microbiome, allowing for a new state of homeostasis to be achieved through intake timing, frequency, and duration. This review article focuses on gut, lung microbiota, and immunomodulation. with an emphasis on gut microbiota-induced immune activation.

Glycyrrhiza glabra: An Insight to Nanomedicine.

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn (Fabaceae), commonly known as Licorice/Liquorice, Mulahatti; is an undershrub. The dried, peeled or unpeeled underground stems and roots are used for the treatment of upper respiratory tract ailments, immunodeficiency, endocrine disorders, skin, liver, joint and heart diseases. Medicinal properties of this plant are enormous and offer it as one of the greatest candidates in the field of Nanomedicine. The Nanomedicine has dedicated to safeguard and upgrade human health using the nanotechnology. Bioactive constituents of this plant perform versatile pharmacological actions and can be used as good Bioanalytical tools. Therefore, an updated overview on current knowledge of green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs), nanoformulations and surface modification using G. glabra is provided here in order to explore its therapeutic potential especially antifungal and antibacterial activities. In our lab, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using leaves and rhizome parts of G. glabra.