Natural products: A safest approach for obesity

Obesity is recognized as a social problem,associated with serious health risks and increased mortality.Numerous trials have been conducted to find and develop new anti-obesity drugs through herbal sources to minimize adverse reactions associated with the present anti-obesity drugs.The use of natural products as medicine has been documented for hundreds of years in various traditional systems of medicines throughout the world.This review focuses on the medicinal plants such as Achyranthus aspera, Camellia sinensis,Emblica officinalis,Garcinia cambogia,Terminalia arjuna,etc.,being used traditionally in Ayurvedic,Unani,Siddha and Chinese,etc.,systems of medicine.The review also highlights recent reported phytochemicals such as escins,perennisosides,dioscin,gracillin,etc.,and the various extracts of the plants like Nelumbo nucifera,Panax japonicas,Cichorium intybus,Cyperus rotundus,Paeonia suffruticosa,etc.,which have been successfully identified for the treatment of obesity.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Plant Species From a Brazilian Hotspot for Conservation Priority

Serra do Cipó is part of a Brazilian bioma recently qualified as a “hotspot for conservation priority,” an area featuring exceptional concentrations of endemic species and experiencing exceptional loss of habitat. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of 20 plant species occurring in this habitat was evaluated against 4 bacteria and 2 fungal strains. About 75% of the species were active against at least one microorganism. None of the species inhibited the growing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisae. The activities of Lavoisiera cordata and Xyris pilosa extracts against Staphylococcus aureus were comparable to that of the pure antibiotic used as a positive control. The preliminary toxicity of the active extracts was evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality test and only three plants showed LD 50 values greater than 1000µg/ml, suggesting that they are relatively non-toxic. Some of the assayed plants are endangered species, presenting different degrees of extinction risk. According to our data, the plant activity against more than one microorganism seems to be advantageous to the evaluated species in protecting them against extinction.     

Indian Systems of Medicine: A Brief Profile

Medicinal plants based traditional systems of medicines are playing important role in providing health care to large section of population, especially in developing countries. Interest in them and utilization of herbal products produced based on them is increasing in developed countries also. To obtain optimum benefit and to understand the way these systems function, it is necessary to have minimum basic level information on their different aspects. Indian Systems of Medicine are among the well known global traditional systems of medicine. In this review, an attempt has been made to provide general information pertaining to different aspects of these systems. This is being done to enable the readers to appreciate the importance of the conceptual basis of these system in evolving the material medica. The aspects covered include information about historical background, conceptual basis, different disciplines studied in the systems, Research and Development aspects, Drug manufacturing aspects and impact of globalization on Ayurveda. In addition, basic information on Siddha and Unani systems has also been provided.     

巴基斯坦传统医药理论简述

笔者一行于2005年5月应巴基斯坦卡拉奇大学的邀请,对其传统医药开发进行了为期7天的考察与交流。巴基斯坦采用的传统医药体系是希腊阿拉伯体系,即Unani,也称为Tibb。Unani原本来源于欧洲,最早可追溯到古希腊时期(公元前400年前),也是最古老的传统医药体系之一,后又为阿拉伯、波     

Protective effects of Punica granatum in experimentally-induced gastric ulcers

In the present investigation standardized aqueous methanolic extract of Punica (AMP) was used for its possible ulcer protective activity in wistar rats against different experimental models. Preliminary phytochemical screening of AMP reveals the presence of saponin, tannins, and flavonoids, which may be responsible for its activity. HPTLC finger prints of AMP showed the presence of 12 spots at different (retention factor) rf values. Oral administration of AMP (490 and 980?mg/kg bw) significantly reduced the ulcer lesion index produced by alcohol, indomethacin, and aspirin, at both doses in rats. Further, in pylorus-ligated rats AMP significantly reduces the ulcer lesions, gastric volume, and total acidity. It prevents the ulceration by increasing the pH and mucus secretion in pylorus ligated rats. The present study shows the anti-ulcer activity of AMP in experimentally-induced gastric ulcers.     

Contribution of traditional medicine in the healthcare system of the Middle East

Unani medicine or Islamic medicine is one of the main healing systems in the world,which was set up by the Islamic physicians in the Middle East about a thousand years ago based on the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen.This medical system had been practiced widespread in the world including Europe until the 16th century and contributed greatly to the development of modern medicine.Despite the remarkable advancements in orthodox medicine,the traditional medicine has always been practiced in the Middle Ea...     

In vitro antilithiatic activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume bark on calcium oxalate crystallization

ObjectiveThe study examines the effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume bark on crystallization of calcium oxalate.MethodsThe antilithiatic effect of various concentrations of the hydro-alcoholic extract of C. zeylanicum was investigated at various stages of stone formation, using Cystone as a standard reference drug. The effect on calcium oxalate crystallization was evaluated by measuring the change in turbidity over time, during crystal nucleation, growth and aggregation, in the metastable solution of calcium chloride and sodium oxalate. The slope from the change in turbidity over time was measured using a spectrophotometer at 620 and 214 nm in respective tests. The inhibition rate was estimated by comparing turbidity in the presence and absence of extract. Crystals formed under experimental conditions were observed under a light microscope, and number and shape of the crystals were assessed in a randomly selected field. Phytochemical analysis and high-performance thin-layer chromatography of the extract was also carried out.ResultsC. zeylanicum significantly reduced crystal nucleation at concentrations of 4, 8 and 10 mg/mL (P < 0.001). The inhibition percentage of crystal growth was between 28.30% and 92.46% in the presence of C. zeylanicum extract and from 20.76% to 64.15% with various concentrations of Cystone. The maximum inhibition of crystal growth was obtained from C. zeylanicum at 2 mg/mL (92.46%). Microscopic examination revealed a reduction in the number and size of crystals. In the aggregation assay, the inhibition percentage of C. zeylanicum was between 16.27% and 100%, while Cystone was from −214.68% to 100% at different concentrations. The highest (100%) inhibition of aggregation was found at 4 mg/mL of both the test and standard drugs.ConclusionWe found that C. zeylanicum hydro-alcoholic extract has notable inhibitory effects on various stages of crystallization, in terms of turbidity of solution, as well as the crystal size, number and morphology.     

Herbal drug patenting in India: IP potential

Ethnopharmacological Relevence

Herbal drugs are gaining worldwide prominence due to their distinct advantages. Developing countries have started exploring the ethnopharmacological approach of drug discovery and have begun to file patents on herbal drugs. The expansion of R&D in Indian herbal research organizations and presence of manufacturing units at non-Indian sites is an indication of the capability to develop new products and processes. The present study attempts to identify innovations in the Indian herbal drug sector by analyzing the patenting trends in India, US and EU.

Methodology

Based on key word and IPC based search at the IPO, USPTO, Esp@cenet and WIPO databases, patent applications and grant in herbal drugs by Indian applicants/assignees was collected for the last ten years (from 1st January 2001 to 31st October 2010). From this collection patents related to human therapeutic use only were selected. Analysis was performed to identify filing trends, major applicants/assignees, disease area and major plant species used for various treatments.

Result

There is a gradual increase in patent filing through the years. In India, individual inventors have maximum applications and grants. CSIR, among research organizations and Hindustan Unilever, Avesthagen, Piramal Life Science, Sahajanand Biotech and Indus Biotech among the companies have the maximum granted patents in India, US and EU respectively. Diabetes, cancer and inflammatory disorders are the major areas for patenting in India and abroad. Recent patents are on new herbal formulations for treatment of AIDS, hepatitis, skin disorders and gastrointestinal disorders.

Conclusion

A majority of the herbal patents applications and grants in India are with individual inventors. Claim analysis indicates that these patents include novel multi-herb compositions with synergistic action. Indian research organizations are more active than companies in filing for patents. CSIR has maximum numbers of applications not only in India but also in the US and EU. Patents by research organizations and herbal companies are on development of new processes for active compound isolation and standardization of such components in addition to new compositions for therapeutic use. Pharmaceutical companies such as Ranbaxy, Lupin and Panacea Biotec are increasingly patenting on herbal drugs. There is increased patenting activity related to diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and arthritis in India and abroad.     

Aamar-e-Advia (shelf-lives) of drugs in Unani system of medicine: A conceptual review

In an era of globalization and increased global demand for herbal medicines, it is essential to ensure the quality and consistency of drugs. Changes in the quality of an herbal product over time should be detectable. The assessments of chemical quality and therapeutic efficacy of herbal drugs are necessary to establish their shelf-lives. Thus, stability testing is needed to establish standards for herbal products. Unani medicine has its own conceptual framework for studying health and disease. The mode of treatment includes Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimental therapy), Ilaj bil Ghiza (dietotherapy), Ilaj bil Dawa (pharmacotherapy) and Ilaj bil Yad/Jarahat (surgery) as a final option. Ilaj bil Dawa is the most used mode of treatment. The drugs include either crude drugs prepared from plant, animal and mineral sources, called Mufrad (single) drugs or various formulations prepared from these crude drugs, called Murakkab (compound) drugs. To date, stability studies have been carried out on compound drugs, whereas only a few single drugs had had their stability tested. These studies are needed to understand how the quality of an herbal drug varies over the time when it is prepared and consumed. This may also help to standardize procedures for manufacturing compound formulations ab initio. The present study reviews the concept of Aamar-e-Advia (shelf-lives) described in the literature of the Unani system of medicine. Further, various factors that are considered important to assess the shelf-life of Unani drugs are discussed in the context of contemporary protocols for shelf-life assessment.     

Unani treatment and leech therapy saved the diabetic foot of a patient from amputation

Every 30 seconds, a lower limb amputation is carried out due to diabetes throughout the world. The mortality rate due to diabetic foot gangrene is just next to that of cancer. As tissue death cannot be reversed, surgical removal of the affected tissue (debridement) or amputation of the limb is the only treatment option left when gangrene has advanced. The present case study illustrates an option to treat poorly healing diabetic wounds with Unani medicine (blood purifier and deobstruent) besides hirudotherapy. The study was performed on a 60‐year‐old woman suffering from diabetic foot (on the left) grade 5 and facing the prospect of imminent amputation. The patient was having severe pain (80 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale) in the gangrenous foot and foul‐smelling with necrosed areas. Wound dressing was done with unripe papaya as it has a very good role in clearing necrotising area and hirudotherapy was also used in poorly healing wounds. The pain score decreased to 0–10 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale within 20 days and no further pain relieving medication was required. Over a time interval of nearly 3·5 months, necrotic areas disappeared and the wound was completely healed.