K. S. Chandrashekar’s research while affiliated with Manipal Academy of Higher Education and other places

Objective: Syzygium caryophyllatum, a traditional medicinal plant from the Myrtaceae family, is rich in potential phytoconstituents. Based on its ethnobotanical uses and documented pharmacological activities, present work was conducted to evaluate the probable mechanism of action of S. caryophyllatum to manage colon cancer by integrating network pharmacology and computational studies. Methods: The plant extract was prepared by Soxhlet extraction method and in vitro screening was performed using Sulforhodamine (SRB) Assay on HT 29 cancer cell lines. We have used super-PRED database, Cytoscape network analyser tool, string database and CytoHubba for performing network analysis for the extract compounds reported in GC-MS analysis. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and DAVID databases were used for gene set enrichment analysis. We have used Schrödinger suite Version 11.4's to perform computational studies. Results: The extract has demonstrated significant in vitro cytotoxic activity (IC50 value is 49.01 µg/ml) and the GC-MS analysis identified seventy-six distinct compounds. The Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG demonstrated that the shared targets were strongly associated with key processes involved in colon cancer. The current study has identified Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ESR1), Heat Shock Protein 90 Alpha Family Class A Member 1 (HSP90AA1), Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAP3K), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) proteins as essential targets and 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-undecyl-4H-chromen-4-one, 7a,12-Dihydroindolo[2,3-a] quinolizine, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-8-(3-methylbutyl) chromen-4-one as key compounds. Docking studies of the compounds with core proteins completely supplemented their binding affinity and suggested strong interactions at the binding site. Conclusion: These outcomes highlight the multi-target, multi-compound, and multi-pathway approaches of S. caryophyllatum against colon cancer.

Background Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, a plant belonging to the Hypoxidaceae family, is well-known for its traditional uses of all plant parts. This plant is commonly known as golden eye grass, black musli, Kali musli, or Kali Musali. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is commonly observed in older adults. It is caused by a variety of mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, which results in the loss of dopamine release when triggered and causes motor symptoms. Methods Ethanolic extract was prepared by shade-drying the leaves, making them into a coarse powder, and the extract was prepared by maceration technique with the help of ethanol. GCMS analysis and Haloperidol-induced Parkinsonism study were carried out to evaluate the antiParkinson activity in albino Wistar rats. Ethanolic extract of Curculigo orchioides was subjected to GCMS analysis. The National Institute of Standards and Technology database was used to interpret the mass spectrum of the GC-MS. The screening models were catalepsy, rotarod and a few in vitro models, namely the estimation of catalase acetylcholinesterase levels. The animals were divided into 6 groups, namely control, disease, standard (levodopa), low dose (100 mg/kg p.o.), medium dose (200 mg/kg p.o.), high dose (400 mg/kg p.o.) groups having 6 animals each were used for rotarod and catalepsy models for 14 days Results The results obtained showed a dose-dependent increase in the anti-Parkinson activity. The evaluation of neuromuscular movements of the ethanolic leaf extract of Curculigo orchioides showed that the pre-treatment with different ranges of dose (100 mg/ml, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg) suggested a dose-dependent significant increase in fall-off time when compared with both standard and disease groups GCMS analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, Vitamin and fatty acid esters. Conclusion The anti-Parkinson activity of Flavonoids has been reported previously. Hence, the activity may be attributed to kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide.

In folk medicine, Black pepper (Piper nigrum) has found its role as a hepato protective agent, diaphoretic, stomachic and for its aromatic properties. Ayurvedic medicine uses pepper extensively as bio-enhancer. It is known to have antioxidant, antiulcer activity and gastro protective effects. Helicobacter pylori is identified as gastric carcinogen and known to cause gastric cancer through injecting CagA, avirulent toxin, followed by its translocation intoVacA. The present study was designedfor development as well as evaluation of Pepper extract floating tablets for the management of peptic ulcers due by H. pylori. In the current experiment, we have developed gastro-retentive floating tablets of standardized pepper extract. Directly compressed were subjected to evaluation for various in vitro parameters. Floating tabletscontaining ingredients viz Pepper extract, HPMC K100Mhydrophilic polymer, colophony as hydrophobic polymer were used. Sodium bicarbonate was used to generate gas. Lubricants such as Talc and Magnesium stearate were used and to improve compressibility, Lactose was utilized. Directly compressed tablets were then subjected to evaluation. Formulations were optimized based on buoyancy time and considering drug release in vitro.The formulation 3 with the ingredients viz, pepper extract, lactose, HPMC K100M, sodium carbonate, talc, magnesium stearate and colophonyshowed good floating behavior along with improved controlled drug release in comparison with other formulations.We conclude that, the developed formulations can be effectively used to treat ulcers and in the prevention of gastric carcinogenesis.

Pharmacovigilance is important for generating accurate safety of herbal medications information. The present methods were designed for synthetic medications and will need to be modified to account for the unique characteristics of medicinal plants. The objective of pharmacovigilance is to identify, measure, and explain adverse effects or other potential drug-related issues associated with herbal, traditional, and complementary therapies, as well as to avoid them. Required data for pharmcovigilance of herbal drugs and formulation were obtained from electronic sources (google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science), several textbooks. The keywords used to search for various journal publishers such as Willey Online Library, Springer, Wolters Kluwer and Elsevier were closely monitored. This review article covers all the relevant information on issues and challenges in pharmacovigilance of formulation covering Herbal drugs.

Aconitum heterophyllum, a medicinal herb commonly used in Ayurveda, which belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and is known to have a number of therapeutic properties. Root tubers of this plant are commonly used in pediatric medicine for fever management. It has also been used as an antipyretic, antibacterial, anthelmintic, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal agent. The root tubers are rich sources of diterpene alkaloids, which may be one of the reasons for the medicinal properties. Required data on this plant were obtained from electronic sources (Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science), several classical textbooks on Ayurveda, and ethnopharmacology. This review article covers all the relevant information on its pharmacological and phytochemical aspects. In this study, we have critically reviewed recent advancements of Aconitum heterophyllum in order to validate its usage as a multipurpose therapeutic agent.

Rajanyadi churna (RC) is a polyherbal traditional formulation prescribed in Ayurveda for treating diarrhea, gastric disorders, asthma, fever, anemia and jaundice. In the current experiment, various in vitro models of antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activitity against Escherichia coli of Rajanyadi churna alcoholic extract (RCAL) and Rajanyadi churna aqueous extract (RCAQ) are presented. In vitro antioxidant potential was determined for both the extracts in various models like ABTS, Nitric Oxide, DPPH, Superoxide and Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of RC extracts against Escherichia coli, Gram negative bacteria were determined using the micro-dilution technique (ATCC 11775). Our study showed a remarkable improvement in the antioxidant activity of RCAL and RCAQ in all the in vitro models. The percentage of inhibition for RCAL and RCAQ were found to be 31% and 25% respectively against E. coli. From this experimental study, we conclude that Rajanyadi churna extracts showed good antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against E. coli.

There is a growing awareness of a disease at many levels, its treatment and treatment outcomes including side effects. Alternative therapy techniques, herbal medicines and formulations are extensively acknowledged and practiced in India and around the world. Herbal medicine is usually considered to be safe regardless of the absence of scientific evidence support its claims. Several issues concerning the methods in which herbal medications are labelled, evaluated, sourced, and used are connected to herbal medicine. Herbal therapeutics in the management and treatment of diabetes, rheumatism, hepatic disorders and other mild to chronic diseases and disorders are widely accepted. However, the adversities are difficult to recognize. The idea that nature is safe and may be taken without the prescription of a physician has resulted in widespread self-medication across the world, sometimes with disappointing results, side effects, or unpleasant after-effects. The existing pharmacovigilance paradigm and its accompanying tools were created in connection to synthetic medicines. Nevertheless, adopting these approaches to keep records of herbal medications’ safety poses a distinct challenge. This might be due to variations in the usage of non-traditional medicines, which can offer unique toxicological issues whether taken alone or in conjunction with other medications. The goal of pharmacovigilance is to identify, analyse, explain, and minimize adverse reactions and other drug-related complications associated with herbal, traditional, and complementary medications. Systematic pharmacovigilance is required to collect accurate data on the safety of herbal medications to create adequate guidelines for effective and safe usage.

Zingiber officinale, a medicinal herb commonly used in Ayurveda, which belongs to family Zingiberaceae and is reported to have various therapeutic properties. Roots as well as rhizomes of this plant are commonly used in the treatment of Digestive disorder. It has also been used as expectorant, spasmolytic, anti-tussive, anti-allergic, antihistaminic activity and inhibits coughing. The roots and rhizomes are rich sources of essential oil, which may be one of the reasons for the medicinal properties. Required data on this plant were obtained from electronic sources (google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science), several classical textbooks on Ayurveda, and ethnopharmacology. This review article covers all the relevant information on its pharmacological and phytochemical aspects. In this study, we have critically reviewed recent advancements of Zingiber officinale in an attempt to authenticate its use as a multipurpose therapeutic ingredient.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia among geriatrics. It is a progressive, degenerative neurologic disorder that causes memory and cognition loss. The accumulation of amyloid fibrils and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain of AD patients is a distinguishing feature of the disease. Therefore, most of the current therapeutic goals are targeting inhibition of beta-amyloid synthesis and aggregation as well as tau phosphorylation and aggregation. There is also a loss of the cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain and first-generation therapeutic agents were primarily focused on compensating for this loss of neurons. However, cholinesterase inhibitors can only alleviate cognitive symptoms of AD and cannot reduce the progression of the disease. Understanding the molecular and cellular changes associated with AD pathology has advanced significantly in recent decades. The etiology of AD is complex with a substantial portion of sporadic AD emerging from unknown reasons and a lesser proportion of early-onset familial AD (FAD) caused by mutation in several genes, such as the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2) genes. Hence, efforts are being made to discover novel strategies for these targets for the AD therapy. A new generation of AChE and BChE inhibitors is currently being explored and evaluated in human clinical trials for AD symptomatic treatment. Other approaches for slowing the progression of AD include serotonergic modulation, H3 receptor antagonism, phosphodiesterase, COX-2, and MAO-B inhibition. The present review provides an insight into the possible therapeutic strategies and their molecular mechanisms enlightening perception on classical and future treatment approaches.