Herbal drugs and natural bioactive products as potential therapeutics: A review on pro-cognitives and brain boosters perspectives

Memory, one of the most vital aspects of the human brain, is necessary for the effective survival of an individual. ‘Memory’ can be defined in various ways but in an overall view, memory is the retention of the information that the brain grasps. Different factors are responsible for the disbalance in the brain’s hippocampus region and the acetylcholine level, which masters the memory and cognitive functions. Plants are a source of pharmacologically potent drug molecules of high efficacy. Recently herbal medicine has evolved rapidly, gaining great acceptance worldwide due to their natural origin and fewer side effects. In this review, the authors have discussed the mechanisms and pharmacological action of herbal bioactive compounds to boost memory. Moreover, this review presents an update of different herbs and natural products that could act as memory enhancers and how they can be potentially utilized in the near future for the treatment of severe brain disorders. In addition, the authors also discuss the differences in biological activity of the same herb and emphasize the requirement for a higher standardization in cultivation methods and plant processing. The demand for further studies evaluating the interactions of herbal drugs is mentioned.     

Surface features of the monogenean gill parasites <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudodactylogyrus bini</Emphasis> from the European eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla anguilla</Emphasis> in Egypt

In the present study, scanning electron microscopy is used to demonstrate the surface features of Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae Yin and Sproston (1948) Gussev, 1965 and Pseudodactylogyrus bini Kikuchi (1929) Gussev, 1965 from the European eel Anguilla anguilla. Specimens of the eel A. anguilla were collected from the River Nile, near Mansoura, Dakahlia Province, Egypt. Morphologically, P. anguillae could be distinguished from P. bini based on the total length, the shape and size of the haptor, and the constriction between the haptor and body proper. The general body tegument and the haptoral tegument of both species are microvillous. Possible functions of the microvilli associated with the tegument covering the anterior adhesive areas are discussed. The region of the body proper just anterior to the haptor of P. anguillae, appears to be highly folded and provided with many projections forming scale-like structures. Many surface ciliary sensilla presumed to be sensory structures are found on the tegument of the anterior adhesive area of P. anguillae. Secretory bodies and mucus-like substances are recorded on the tegument covering the anterior adhesive areas of P. anguillae and the haptor of P. bini. The possible role of these secretions in the attachment of the anterior adhesive areas and the posterior attachment haptor to the host tissues are also discussed.     

Quality of life: subjective descriptions of challenges to patients with end stage renal disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this qualitative study was to describe how persons with end stage renal disease (ESRD) experience and manage the quality of their daily lives. DESIGN: Naturalistic inquiry methods guided the collection of interview data and the use of content analysis and constant comparison techniques to inductively identify themes and categories of meaning. SAMPLE/SETTING: Participants were 80 adults recruited from an outpatient hemodialysis center. FINDINGS: The three emergent conceptual categories that describe the quality of everyday life among the study group were: 1) Life Restricted with sub-themes "tied down," "left out," and "doing without;" 2) Staying Alive with sub-themes "love from others," "accept it as part of life," and "trust in God;" and 3) Feeling Good with sub-themes "personal satisfaction" and "being happy." CONCLUSION: The insights shared by this study group can assist providers with planning and implementing educational and support programs for patients and families.     

Propionyl-L-carnitine as protector against adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy.

Propionyl- l -carnitine (PLC) is a naturally occurring compound that has been considered for the treatment of many forms of cardiomyopathies. In this study, the possible mechanisms whereby PLC could protect against adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy were carried out. Administration of ADR (3 mg kg(-1)i.p., every other day over a period of 2 weeks) resulted in a significant two-fold increase in serum levels of creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, whereas daily administration of PLC (250 mg kg(-1), i.p. for 2 weeks) induced non-significant change. Daily administration of PLC to ADR-treated rats resulted in complete reversal of ADR-induced increase in cardiac enzymes except lactate dehydrogenase which was only reversed by 66%. In cardiac tissue homogenate, ADR caused a significant 53% increase in malonedialdehyde (MDA) and a significant 50% decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, whereas PLC induced a significant 33% decrease in MDA and a significant 41% increase in GSH levels. Daily administration of PLC to ADR-treated rats completely reversed the increase in MDA and the decrease in GSH induced by ADR to the normal levels. In rat heart mitochondria isolated 24 h after the last dose, ADR induced a significant 48% and 42% decrease in(14)CO(2)released from the oxidation of [1-(14)C]palmitoyl-CoA and [1-(14)C]palmitoylcarnitine, respectively, whereas PLC resulted in a significant 66% and 54% increase in the oxidation of both substrates, respectively. Interestingly, administration of PLC to ADR-treated rats resulted in complete recovery of the ADR-induced decrease in the oxidation of both substrates. In addition, in rat heart mitochondria, the oxidation of [1-(14)C]pyruvate, [1-(14)C]pyruvate and [1-(14)C]octanoate were not affected by ADR and/or PLC treatment. Moreover, ADR caused severe histopathological lesions manifested as toxic myocarditis which is protected by PLC. Worth mentioning is that PLC had no effect on the antitumour activity of ADR in solid Ehrlich carcinoma. Results from this study suggest that: (1) in the heart, PLC therapy completely protects against ADR-induced inhibition of mitochondrial beta -oxidation of long-chain fatty acids; (2) PLC has and/or induces a powerful antioxidant defense mechanism against ADR-induced lipid peroxidation of cardiac membranes; and finally (3) PLC has no effect on the antitumour activity of ADR.     

Correlation between diffusion tensor imaging measures and the reading and cognitive performance of Arabic readers: dyslexic children perspective

Neuroradiology - To investigate the correlation between the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures and the reading, spelling, writing, rapid naming, memory, and motor abilities in Arabic dyslexic...     

On some ultrastructural features of the reproductive system of the monogenean parasite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrogyrodactylus congolensis</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus</Emphasis> inhabiting the River Nile in Egypt

Some organs of the reproductive system of the protogynous monogenean skin parasite Macrogyrodactylus congolensis (Prudhoe, 1957) Yamaguti, 1963 have been studied using transmission electron microscopy. The vesicula seminalis is enclosed by a prominent layer of circular muscle fibres and has inner syncytial protrusions. The penis bulb is a highly muscular organ with prominent radial and circular muscle fibres, a gutter-shaped large spine and 16 small spines. Two syncytial male accessory glands, and a single reservoir for male accessory secretion were identified. The secretory bodies in the male accessory glands and male accessory reservoir have a unique structure. A large oocyte is situated in a chamber, previously referred to as the “ootype” or “egg-cell-forming region” (ECFR), which also contains one or two small undifferentiated cells and vacuolated tissue. Mature spermatozoa were abundant in the receptaculum seminis and dispersed in the vacuolated tissue in the ECFR and appeared to be attached to the membrane of the large oocyte. Mature spermatozoa were also seen in the parenchymal tissue near the chamber containing embryos and even in the tissues of the embryo.     

Neurosyphilis: a series of 178 cases at the 3rd-level hospital of Marrakesh (Morocco)

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - Neurosyphilis (NS) is an infection of the central nervous system (CNS), caused by Treponema pallidum. Up to 4–10% of...     

Successful combination of transrectal electroejaculation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the treatment of anejaculation

We describe the case of a couple whose infertility was causedby the absence of seminal emission following retroperitonealsurgery for testicular cancer. Ejaculate could be retrievedfrom the husband by rectal probe electroejaculation (RPE) butsperm quality was so poor that conventional in-vitro fertilizationwas impossible. With intracytoplasmic sperm injection of spermatozoaretrieved by RPE — a combination not reported previously— we were able to induce a pregnancy with successful outcome.