Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2017 in |
Okra is a cultigen (a plant that has been altered by humans through a process of selective breeding). The exact origin of okra is unknown, but it is thought to have come from Africa, where it has been grown as a crop for centuries. Evidence suggests it was grown in Egypt as long ago as 2,000 BC. Today it is widely cultivated for its edible green fruits, which are harvested when immature (after 3 – 5 days of development), and are infamous for their slimy mucilage. It plays a vital role to preserve our health. In recent times, the use of herbal products has increased tremendously in the western world as well as developed countries. India is one of the most medico-culturally diverse countries in the world where the medicinal plant sector is part of a time-honoured tradition that is respected even today. Medicinal plants are believed to be safer and proved elixir in the treatment of various ailments. Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) is an important medicinal plant of tropical...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2017 in |
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the crucial factors, which plays an important role in host defense mechanisms. AMPs are ubiquitous and found in diverse organisms ranging from microorganisms to animals. Plants are the precious source of natural antimicrobial molecules including antimicrobial peptides known as plant antimicrobial peptides (PAMPs). PAMPs can be divided into different families based on their, molecular weight, activity against different microbes, structure, charge of molecules, content of disulphide bond and mechanism of action. Based on number of cysteine residues and disulfide bonds, PAMPs are categorized into six main families. These peptides may lead to degradation of nutrients that are specific or essential for microbes to grow, interfering with microbial membrane or by conflicting with their metabolism. PAMPs exert multiple antimicrobial activities which includes membrane permeabillization, interference with DNA, RNA and protein synthesis that might provide a suitable approach to prevent bacteria from developing resistance. This review provides an overview of all the major plant AMP families including their structure, function, mechanism of action and antimicrobial...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2017 in |
Cardiotoxicity associated with the clinically used drugs is a global concern of safety for healthcare professionals. Various animal models have been used to study the drug-induced cardiotoxicity but the exact molecular involvement of toxicity is not much clear. Despite the recurrent occurrence of toxicities, drugs such as doxorubicin, calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmics and immunomodulators are regularly used. Anticancer drugs mainly anthracyclines, 5- fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide exert prominent cardio-toxicity. Till date, there is only one drug approved for doxorubicin-related cardiotoxicity i.e. dexrazoxane. Few other drugs are used routinely by clinicians to reduce the severity of toxicity which includes ACE inhibitors, L-carnitine, probucol, CoQ10, N-acetylcysteine, Vitamin E and deferoxamine, whereas antidepressants drugs, specifically tricyclic antidepressants are potential candidates for cardiotoxicity. Calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmic and beta receptor antagonist aggravate cardiac heart failure (CHF) and left ventricular arrhythmia. Interferons, mainly interferon-α is also associated with prominent and dose-dependant toxicity. Some other drugs like zidovudine, chloroquine, cocaine, minoxidil, ketoconazole, prostaglandin E2 and anagrelide are also reported to have cardiotoxic effects. A complication associated...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2017 in |
Biophytum sensitivum DC. (Family – Oxalidaceae), commonly known as “Lajjalu” in Northern India, is an annual herb that grows at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is an indigenous medicine, used against “Madhumeha” (Diabetes mellitus) apart from being used as tonic, stimulant, and in the treatment of stomach ache, asthma, insomnia, convulsions, cramps, chest-complaints, inflammations, tumours and chronic skin diseases. It has been scientifically screened for various pharmacological activities such as anti-tumour, antipyretic, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antiulcer, radio-protective, larvicidal, antibacterial and antioxidant. Phytochemical investigations showed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds as the major constituents. The present work attempts to compile a review on macroscopic characteristics, chemical constituents, pharmacological reports, clinical studies, formulations and patents listed for this plant. The data has been collected from major databases like Chemical Abstracts, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts, PubMed, Scirus, Science Direct, and other online and electronic databases’ which has then been systematically collated for a holistic review about Biophytum...
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Posted by admin on Dec 31, 2017 in |
Endometrial thickness is one of the determinant factors in fertility success. This study was carried out to determine the effects of plants on increasing endometrial thickness and ultimately increasing fertility preservation. Key terms of “endometrium thickness” or “endometrial thickness” or “endometrial lining thickness” in combination with the words “Medicinal plant”, “Herb” and “Phyto” were searched on the ISI, PubMed and Scopus databases. Then, the abstracts of the articles, as well as information obtained from other sources about medicinal plants and their derivatives from which their effects directly on endometrial thickness and pregnancy were studied, were selected. Besides, only clinical trials and laboratory studies between 2007 and 2017 were included. The results from this study showed that plants such as Cimicifuga racemosa and Aspalathus lineararis and plant derivatives such as Klimadynon and Icariin and plant formulations such as Xiaoyao powder, Erzhi pill and Siwu decoction can increase fertility in humans or animals by increasing endometrial thickness. Medicinal plants and their derivatives affect the thickness of the endometrium, mainly due to...
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