Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2015 in |
In the last few years, there has been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine and these drugs are gaining popularity both in developing and developed countries because of their natural origin and less side effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed 21,000 plants, which are used for medicinal purposes around the world. Among these 2500 species are in India, out of which 150 species are used commercially on a fairly large scale. India is the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is called as botanical garden of the world. In this study, we intend to do a systematic search to identify the most potent antidiabetic herbs that are available in India. Relevant medical databases and websites were searched. To qualify for inclusion, the herbs should have excellent antidiabetic potential confirmed with biomarker (reduction in HbA1c) and the herbs should also possess limited adverse effects if at all any. Eligible studies must also meet the following criteria: published in English and peer-reviewed journals. We also used...
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Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2015 in |
Polysaccharides obtained from gums and mucilages are extensively used natural materials for conventional and novel dosage forms. Many natural gums are studied for use in novel drug delivery systems out of which polysaccharides, resins and tannins are most extensively studied and used. Because of advances in drug delivery technology, natural polysaccharides are included in novel drug delivery to fulfil multitask functions and in some cases directly or indirectly control the extent or rate of drug release. Regular research is going on in the field of use of naturally occurring biocompatible polymeric material in designing of dosage forms for oral controlled release administration. The natural polysaccharides improve the national economy by providing inexpensive formulations to people, by using locally available materials. The present review covers almost all the areas of interest of some very important naturally based polysaccharides, natural gums and mucilages with their sources, chemical constituents, chemical structures, isolation, purification, standardization and characterization along with their uses in various pharmaceutical...
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Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2015 in |
Etoposide is an antineoplastic agent employed for healingvarious malignancies in human. It is a semi-synthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin and was introduced in 1971. The primary mode of action of etoposide is the inhibition of the function of the enzyme topoisomerase II. It stabilizes DNA-enzyme complex, and accumulation of this complex enhances the probability of double-stranded DNA breaks. However, etoposide can also causes DNA lesions in cancerous cells. This genotoxicity and antineoplastic activity of drug at the same time serve as the impetus for intensive research. Etoposide treatment causes permanent DNA breaks pertaining to its significant role in cell death and growth arrest in tumor cells. This review attempts to provide the deep knowledge of its possible biochemical pathways which are triggered in response to DNA breaks and leads to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest as well transcriptional activation of various death receptors. Molecular mechanism of drug efflux and activation of repairing proteins which can cause resistance in its action are also discussed. This current picture of known facts serve...
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Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2015 in |
The irreversible effects of modern therapies and increasing drug resistance have augmented our reliance on medicinal plants for herbal remedy against the deadly and infectious diseases. Hypericum perforatum or St. John’s wort (SJW) family Clusiaceae has been used to treat depression, mental disorders, wounds, peptic ulcers, malaria, gout and arthritis. Various compounds of the plant are known as sedative, diuretic and expectorant according to their effects. The flowers and the aerial parts are commonly used in the preparations of traditional medicines. Hypericum perforatum with identified active compounds like Hypericins, Hyperforins is being studied for its anti-depressant activity in both humans and animals. It is also used in the treatment of pulmonary complaints, bladder troubles in suppression of urine, dysentery, worms, diarrhoea, hysteria and other haemorrhages and jaundice. Most of its therapeutic effects with mechanism of action are critically reviewed in the present...
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Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2015 in |
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia is not a normal part of aging and worsens over time. The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information. Microscopic changes in the brain begin long before the first signs of memory loss. Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. Currently, there are five FDA-approved drugs that treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease — temporarily helping memory and thinking problems in about half of the people who take them. But these medications do not treat the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s. In contrast, many of the new drugs in development aim to modify the disease process itself, by impacting one or more of the many wide-ranging brain changes that Alzheimer’s causes. These changes offer potential “targets” for new drugs to stop or slow the progress of the disease. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and...
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