Technological Innovation in Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6

Plant-based medicinal products have been acknowledged since ancient times. Several medicinal plants and their products have been used to control diabetes in the traditional therapeutic systems of many cultures worldwide. The plants provide a potential source of hypoglycemic drugs because many plants and plant-derived compounds have been used to treat diabetes. Several synthetic oral hypoglycemic agents are the primary forms of treatment for diabetes. However, prominent side-effects of such drugs are the main reason for an increasing number of people seeking alternative therapies that may have less severe or no side effects. Still, little toxicological information exists concerning traditional antidiabetic plants. The present paper attempts to list the plants with antidiabetic and related beneficial effects originating from different parts of the world and Polyherbal formulations. History has shown that medicinal plants have been used in traditional healing worldwide for a long time to treat diabetes. Such herbal plants have hypoglycemic properties and other beneficial properties, as reported in scientific literature. This book chapter portray, the importance of herbal plants and polyherbal formulations in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The effects of these plants may delay the development of diabetes and its complications due to their chemical constituents.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of most common female endocrine disorder that affects 6-15% of the female population. Women with PCOS have a hormonal imbalance and metabolism problems that may affect their overall health and appearance. Androgen excess and insulin resistance are currently recognized to be responsible for much of the phenotypic presentation, though insulin resistance is far from universally present. It is characterized by irregular menstrual cycle, acne and also associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Efficient management of PCOS provides a prospective window of opportunity to avoid the risk of associated complications. Treatment is broadly aimed at tackling (IR), effects of hyperandrogenism, irregular menstruation, and infertility. This review article mainly deals with the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare various herbal cosmetic brands to find their popularity ranking.

Methodology: The method used is a survey-based questionnaire.

Results: According to the above survey conducted in Kanpur regarding herbal products, we came across the following result that Himalaya was the most popular brand as compared to other brands like Patanjali and Joves and other similar brands.

Conclusion: There is not at all shortage in the demand for herbal products in the market. The consumers concern toward health risk and harmful effect of chemical products forcing them to switch over to natural products. There is high favorability of Himalaya products among its users.

The aim of the present study is to develop and evaluate natural biodegradable microcapsules of zidovudine by using olibanum resin as microencapsulating agent, which after oral administration could improve the bioavailability of the drug, in order to provide the sustained release to minimize the dose dependent side effects as well as to improve patient compliance. An industrially feasible emulsification-solvent evaporation method was used for preparation of different batches of microcapsules. The proposed system was evaluated in vitro for particle morphology, microencapsulation efficiency, production yield, micromeritic properties, release profile and release kinetics etc. Physico-chemical characteristics of zidovudine and zidovudine loaded microcapsules were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The resin coated microcapsules were found to be spherical, discrete and free flowing. Microencapsulation efficiency was in a narrow range (81-88%) suggesting an identical distribution of drug in different batches. The thermohram and X-ray diffractogram results showed a partial modification in zidovudine’s solid state. Zidovudine release from optimized batches of resin coated microcapsules was slow and over 24 hours depending on the core: coat ratio. Drug release was found to be following Fickian diffusion mechanism. The resin coated microcapsules exhibited good controlled release characteristics and were found to be suitable for once a day oral controlled release product.

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa. called “Bael” is an indigenous, scared, endangered medicinal tree in India. The leaves possess extensive medicinal properties which are used in traditional systems of medicine. Authentication of a medicinal plant sample can be achieved by pharmacognostic studies. The pharmacognostic evaluation of Aegle marmelos leaves revealed stomatal index of 70.83% with paracytic stomata. Transverse section of mature leaves showed secondary growth in vascular bundle. The pericycle represented by patches of sclerenchymatous fibres were evident. Large resin canals were evident beneath the epidermis. The phytochemical analysis of aqueous extract revealed the presence of phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, gums, resins, steroids, saponins and glycosides .The fluorescent analysis revealed flourescent green emission when treated with sodium hydroxide which indicates the presence of flavonoid. The powder analysis showed absence of trichome; resin globules and fibers were evident.

Antibacterial activity of the bioactive compound 2H-Furo[2,3-H]-1-benzopyran-2-one against five human bacterial species viz., Klebsiella pneumonia, Vibrio cholera, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella typhi were tested at 100-1000ppm concentration. Among the five bacterial species tested, K. pneumonia recorded 32.0mm inhibition at 700mm concentration (MIC 700ppm). V. cholera showed 25.0mm inhibition at 600ppm concentration(MIC 600ppm), E. coli  recorded 30.0mm inhibition at 900ppm concentration(MIC 900ppm), S. dysenteriae  recorded 30.0mm in 600ppm concentration(MIC 600ppm. S. typhi recorded 30.0mm inhibition at 800ppm concentration(MIC 800ppm). All the result was compared to standard synthetic antibiotics Gentamycin and Tetracycline at 25mg concentration. From the observation made, a further investigation is needed to isolate other bioactive compounds for different biological assays.

Objectives: Metabolic agents such as trimetazidine offer a benefits role of cytoprotection in ischemic heart disease (IHD) through an inhibition of cardiac fatty acid oxidation and improving myocardial glucose utilization. Trimetazidine is a potentially lifesaving drug that acts via a unique mechanism of action, altering heart cell metabolism to utilize glucose instead of fat. To show the efficacy of trimetazidine in reducing the incidence of angina and improving exercise tolerance.

Methods: 50 diagnosed cases of chronic stable angina taking conventional treatment were subjected to stress test (treadmill) on day 0 to evaluate the parameters such as effort duration and ST-segment changes at the end of the exercise. After evaluation, the patients will be given trimetazidine for a period of 6-week at a dosage of 60 mg (in three divided doses) daily. After completion of the stipulated period, a second stress test evaluation was done.

Results: The present study consisted of 50 patients of chronic stable angina, out of which 35 were males and 15 were female patients. It was seen that trimetazidine intake brought about an increase in the mean exercise time from 7.086±0.96 to 8.3±0.75 and showed good symptomatic improvement (in 31 patients). 15 patients did not show any appreciable (>1 minute) increase in the effort duration. No severe symptoms were reported to warrant discontinuation of the drug.

Conclusion: Trimetazidine is an effective anti-anginal as monotherapy as well as an adjuvant to conventional anti-anginals as a cytoprotective agent.

Serum urea (sU) is synthesized in liver and serum creatinine (sCr) is a degradation product of muscle cells, both represents for the efficacy of glomerular filtration. Both sU and sCr have poor predictive accuracy for renal injury, particularly in the early stages of kidney diseases because they are evaluated when 60-70% nephrons were already damaged and then kidney diseases changed to irreversible required only dialysis or kidney transplantation. Therefore, patients undergo into multi disorder health problems towards death. So, it is now most urgent required for early diagnosis of kidney injury by analysis of direct kidney injury markers, renal tubule injury markers and proteomic genomic markers of kidney disorders from both urine and serum and alternative treatment strategies for management of kidney diseases using medicinal plants. There are four major classes of markers viz., tubular injury markers e.g, KIM-1, proteomic and genomic marker from proximal nephron is IL-18, kidney functional marker-cystatin C and oxidation stress marker- Malon di aldehyde (MDA), alpha Glutathione S Transferase (alpha GST). IL-18, KIM-1, cystatin C and GST are important mediators appear in urine when renal tubules are stressed and injured. The medicinal plant like Terminellia arjuna (TA) has been a part of ayurvedic medicinal system contains phytoconstituents like triterpenoids, tannins, flavonoids and others they have proved anti cardiovascular properties, anticancer, antimicrobial properties, and neproprotective. Aqueous bark extract of TA possess antiuremic properties was already established in our laboratory on dehydration induced uremic rats. Therefore, the manuscript was designed to investigate the kidney injury proteomic and genomic biomarkers from both serum and urine on acetaminophen induced kidney disorder rats and analysis of therapeutic efficacy of phytocompounds from the bark of Terminalia arjuna (TA).

Objective: There were main two objectives, first was the identification of best biomarkers for early screening of kidney diseases whether plasma urea and creatinine or novel urinary low molecular weight protein biomarkers Interlukin-18 (IL-18), Kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1), cystatin –C. Second, the therapeutic efficacy of methanol fraction of Terminalia arjuna (MFTA) on urinary novel biomarkers.

Methods: A total of 35 adult male rats were divided into three groups (n = 5), group 1 was fed normal food, group 2, normal food with administration of acetaminophen (APAP) for 5 days, 10 days and 15 days and group 3, normal food with administration of APAP and co-administration of MFTA for 5 days, 10 days and 15 days. All rats were sacrificed at 15^th day of experiment.

Results: Results showed 5 day, 10 day, 15 day administration of APAP increased novel urinary biomarkers as IL-18, KIM-1 near two folds and cystatin-C near six folds increased than old biomarkers plasma urea and plasma creatinine. Administration of APAP with co-administration of MFTA represented the protective effect by decreasing old and new novel biomarkers with Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase but Malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased. SDS-PAGE showed new low molecular weight urinary protein bands in APAP administration rats, protective effect of MFTA present no band in this molecular level as normal rats.

Conclusion: MFTA is the most potent nephroprotective agent and urinary low molecular proteins are the best diagnostic tools for early detection of kidney disease over common plasma urea and creatinine.

Herbal drugs were in use from ancient times by nearly all civilizations around the world. Premna herbacea belonging to the genus Premna and family Verbenaceae was one among them. The present chapter aimed to characterize morphological and microscopical characters of the plant were studied. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether, and aqueous extracts of these plants was done. The results showed a strong presence of triterpenoids and alkaloids with trace amounts of carbohydrates and flavonoids. The physiochemical parameters of the plant were within the limits. Root powder was treated with different reagents and observed for fluorescence under visible light and UV light of short and long wavelength. They exhibited fluorescence.TLC and HPTLC of various extracts of the plant also yielded satisfactory results. Further evaluation needs to be carried out on Premna herbacea to investigate the obscured areas and their practical clinical applications, which can be used for the welfare of mankind.

This study highlights the sensitivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from suspect tuberculosis patients to seromucous of snail and chitosan as an alternative to anti-tuberculosis drugs.

This research is based on the results of laboratory experiments.

The research stages include management specimen, freeze-drying of snail seromucous; formulation of dosage preparation; identification of MTB isolates; and drug susceptibility testing (DST)  of MTB isolates to snail seromucous, chitosan, and ATD (streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol). M. tuberculosis isolates used in the study was obtained from the results of the screening of sputum samples of suspect tuberculosis patients through microscopic smear examination and molecular rapid test (MRT) using Genexpert tools. M. tuberculosis isolates in patients who suspect tuberculosis are resistant against seromucous of snails and chitosan, that it is compared with SIRE. The dosage of snail seromucous is 8,000 mg/l, chitosan 2% is 800 mg/l, and streptomycin 800 mg/l, isoniazid 20 mg/l, rifampicin 8000 mg/l, ethambutol 200mg/l (SIRE). Data were analyzed using percentage of resistance of M. tuberculosis isolates against seromucous of snail, chitosan, and ATD.

The results showed that M. tuberculosis isolates in patients who suspect tuberculosis are resistant against seromucous of the snails, and chitosan, that it is compared with SIRE.

The effectiveness of a bactericidal or bacteriostatic drug against M. tuberculosis isolates can be influenced by the physiological bacterial cells as genetic factors related to the level of resistance or cell virulence and mutation process caused by mutagenic agents in physical chemistry from environmental factors. Therefore it is necessary to conduct further research related to the greater number of samples and the formulation of test preparations in combination with ATD.

A graph G is said to be domination subdivision stable (DSS) if g (G_sd uv) = g (G), for all u, v Î V (G), u adjacent to v. The main objective of this article is to develop an iterative procedure of generating a DSS graph from a graph that is not DSS in a finite sequence of iterations. To develop this iterative procedure we have used edge subdivision and edge contraction as a tool.

Objective: Chronic Rhinosinusitis is a very commonly occurring disease; adversely affecting the health of the population world over. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oral Unani formulation with inhalation of Kalonji in Iltehab Tajaweefe Anaf Muzmin (Chronic Rhinosinusitis) and to provide safe, effective, and economical treatment for Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Methods: A randomized single-blind, standard controlled study of forty patients of CRS was undertaken at ENT OPD, Majeedia Hospital and HAH Hospital, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. The clinically diagnosed patients were randomly allocated to two groups each consisting of 20 patients. In Group A, Unani oral formulation of Katan (Linum usitatissimum), Filfil siyah (Piper nigrum) & Honey was given 6gm BD with steam inhalation of Kalonji (Nigella sativa) and Tab Alaspan 1BD with Karvol Plus inhalation was given in Group B.

Results: Statistical analysis of the data was done using paired T-test by comparing the mean VAS score of all major and minor symptoms before and after treatment. The result is statistically highly significant in Group A (p <0.0001) and it is significant in group B (p<0.01).

Conclusion: It may be concluded that the Unani formulation with inhalation of Kalonji has a statistically highly significant effect on major and minor symptoms of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. A multicentric trial of the test drug on a larger sample size for a longer duration is required to establish the efficacy of the formulation on CRS.

Mussaenda erythrophylla (Rubiaceae) is a plant to western tropical Africa that is occasionally seen as an ornamental plant in Indian gardens and parks. The present study was conducted to evaluate the Hepatoprotective activity of ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of M. erythrophylla (ME) Stem against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver damage in Wistar albino rats. Ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of ME (100,200 mg/kg. per oral), were administered respectively, Silymarin (25 mg/kg. per oral.) was given as reference standard. In animals, the stem extracts were effective in preventing CCl₄-induced liver injury. This was evident from significant reduction in serum enzyme, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Total bilirubin (TB). In CCL₄-treated rats, pathological alterations such as centribular necrosis and vacuolization were identified, with significant protective activity in ME and silymarin-treated groups. According to the results of the study, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of ME have hepatoprotective efficacy against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.