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ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SUITABILITY EVALUATION OF FRITILLARIA CIRRHOSA D. DON BASED ON MAXENT MODEL
Get PDFBackground: As a rare and endangered medicinal plant growing in plateaus, Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don is a scant resource in terms of quantity and planting regions. However, there is limited knowledge on predicting the potential ecological suitability of regions for the species with the climate factors. This paper evaluates the ecological suitability of F. cirrhosa D. Don on a global scale using Maxent.
Materials and Methods: The ecologically suitable regions for F. cirrhosa D. Don around the world were evaluated using the maximum entropy model (Maxent), based on 127 known occurrence records and specific environmental predictor variables.
Results: The Maxent model was highly accurate, with a statistically significant Area Under the Receiving Operator Curve (AUC) value of 0.993, and the most suitable areas and the suitable areas for F. cirrhosa D. Don were approximately 450,000 and 700,000 sq. km., respectively, including China, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. A quantitative study of the climatic characteristics of F. cirrhosa D. Don indicated that the period from May to October was critical for plant growth and development. Thus, the stable precipitation-temperature ratios (0.59 to 2.42) during this period could serve as a feature indicator for the geographical distribution of the plant.
Conclusion: This work should be beneficial for the introduction and resource protection of F. cirrhosa D. Don, meanwhile, the analytical method could be expanded to predict the potential distribution of other medicinal plants
WITHAFERIN A INDUCES APOPTOSIS IN RAT C6 GLIOMA CELLS THROUGH REGULATING NF- ΚB NUCLEAR TRANSLOCATION AND ACTIVATION OF CASPASE CASCADE
Get PDFBackground: The demand for the chemopreventive drug from the plant source is increasing in recent times, owing to
its various biological activities without any adverse effect. The intention of this current study was to examine the antiglioma
effect of Withaferin A (WFA) on C6 glioma cell line model.
Materials and Methods: C6 glioma cells were administrated with different concentration of WFA (50, 100, 200 and
500 μg/mL) and DMSO (control) group to examine its anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activities.
Results: Treatment with WFA showed a significant decline in the glioma cell count in a dose-dependent manner and
thus proving its anti-proliferative effect. Similarly, inflammatory markers were also substantially lowered upon
treatment with different concentration of WFA. However, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic markers like Caspase-3
and 9 were concomitantly enhanced after co-cultured with different concentration of WFA and thus exhibiting its
cytotoxicity efficacy. Furthermore, the protein expression of Bcl2 and Bax were markedly downregulated and
upregulated respectively; upon treatment with WFA on C6 glioma cells.
Conclusion: The outcome of this study evidently demonstrates that C6 glioma cells co-cultured with increased
concentration of WFA, showed an anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic effect in a dose-dependent
fashion
PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF VANILLIC ACID ON OVARIECTOMY-INDUCED OSTEOPOROSIS IN RATS
Get PDFBackground: The need for an anti-osteoporotic agent is in high demand since osteoporosis contributes to high rates of
disability or impairment (high osteoporotic fracture), morbidity and mortality. Hence, the present study is designed to
evaluate the protective effects of vanillic acid (VA) against bilateral ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in female
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.
Materials and Methods: Forty healthy female adult SD rats were separated in to four groups with sham-operated
control with bilateral laprotomy (Sham; n = 10), bilateral overiectomy (OVX; n = 10) group, OVX rats were orallay
administrated with 50 mg/kg b.wt of VA (OVX + 50 VA; n = 10) or 100 mg/kg b.wt of VA (OVX + 100 VA; n = 10)
for 12 weeks (post-treatment) after 4 weeks of OVX.
Results: A significant change in the body weight gain was noted in OVX group, while treatment with VA substantially
reverted to normalcy. Meanwhile, the bone mineral density and content (BMD and BMC) were substantially improved
on supplementation with VA. Also, the bone turnover markers like calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), osteocalcin (OC),
alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) levels
were markedly attenuated in VA-treated rats. Moreover, the biomechanical stability was greatly ameliorated with VA
administration. Both the dose of VA showed potent anti-osteoporotic activity, but VA 100 mg showed highest
protective effects as compared with 50 mg of VA.
Conclusion: Based on the outcome, we concluded that VA 100 showed better anti-osteoporotic activity by improving
BMD and BMC as well as biomechanical stability and therefore used as an alternative therapy for treating
postmenopausal osteoporosis
APOPTOSIS INDUCTION OF EPIFRIEDELINOL ON HUMAN CERVICAL CANCER CELL LINE
Get PDFBackground: Present investigation evaluates the antitumor activity of epifriedelinol for the management of cervical cancer
by inducing process of apoptosis.
Methods: Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line, C33A and HeLa were selected for study and treated with epifriedelinol at a
concentration of (50-1000 μg/ml). Cytotoxicity of epifriedelinol was estimated by MTT assay and induction of apoptosis
was assessed by estimating the activity of caspase 3, 8 and 9 enzyme, apoptosis assay and translocation of cytochrome c.
Moreover an expression of several proteins that plays role in the apoptosis process was estimated by western blot method.
Results: Result of the study suggested that treatment with epifriedelinol significantly decrease the viability count of
cancerous cell in a dose perndent manner and also enhances the formation of oligonucleosome in both the cell lines.
However activity of caspase enzymes and translocation of cytochrome c were enhanced after treatment with epifriedelinol.
It was also observed that epifriedelinol treatment alters the ratio of pro-apoptotic to anti-apoptotic proteins and enhances the
expressions of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP).
Conclusion: Result of our study proves the anticancer activity of epifriedelinol in cervical cancer by inducing apoptosis as
treatment with it enhances the production of oligonucleosomes, translocation of cytochrome c and activity caspase
enzymes
ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF 5, 7-DIMETHOXYFLAVONE AGAINST LIVER CANCER CELL LINE HEPG2 INVOLVES APOPTOSIS, ROS GENERATION AND CELL CYCLE ARREST
Get PDFBackground: Flavonoids are considered potential anticancer agents owing to their properties to interact with a diversity of cellular entities. Among flavonoids, methylated flavones are more efficient anticancer agents due to their higher stability in vivo. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to evaluate the anticancer effect of methylated natural flavonoid 5, 7-dimethoxyflavone (5, 7-DMF)
Materials and methods: MTT assay was used to determine the anticancer activity and IC50 of
5, -DMF). Cell viability, cell cycle distribution, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were carried out by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was studied by DAPI staining.
Results: MTT assay revealed that the molecule reduced the cell viability of HepG2 cancer cells. The IC50 of 5, 7-DMF was found to be 25 µM. Our result indicated that 5, 7-DMF triggered production of ROS and significantly reduced ΔΨm. It also leads to arrest of HepG2 cells in Sub-G1 stage of cell cycle, and ultimately induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, as indicated by DAPI staging. Additionally, 5, 7-DMF also reduced the colony forming potential of the HepG2 cells concentration dependently.
Conclusion: Taken together, we conclude that 5, 7-DMF induces cell death via ROS generation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and, therefore, may prove beneficial in the treatment of liver cancer
CHINESE HERBAL DECOCTION AS A COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY FOR ATROPHIC GASTRITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Get PDFBackground: Chinese herbal decoction (CHD) has been extensively used in the treatment of atrophic gastritis (AG) in China and other Far Eastern countries. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy and safety of CHD in AG.
Materials and Methods: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane central register of controlled trials (central), VIP, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Sinomed, Wanfang data were searched (up to December 2015). Randomized controlled trials recruiting patients with AG comparing CHD (alone or with western medicine (WM)) with WM were eligible. Dichotomous data were pooled to obtain relative risk (RR), with a 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: Forty-two articles including 3,874 patients were identified. CHD, used alone or with WM, had beneficial effect over WM in the improvement of clinical manifestations (RR=1.28; 95% CI 1.22-1.34) and pathological change (RR=1.42; 95% CI 1.30-1.54) for AG patients. However, the H. pylori eradication effect of CHD was not supported by the existing clinical evidence, because of the significant study heterogeneity (I2>50%) and inconsistency between the primary results and sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions: CHD, if prescribed as a complementary therapy to WM, may improve the clinical manifestations and pathological change for AG patients. But its monotherapy for H. pylori eradication is not supported by enough clinical evidence
DIVERSITY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AND ANTHROPOGENIC THREATS IN THE SAMBURU CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY OF KENYA
Get PDFBackground: Traditional herbal medicine has been a constant source of substances for curing and preventing a variety of
ailments. Biodiversity of medicinal plants and effects of human activities on availability of traditional herbal medicine have
continuously received just a cursory treatment. This study sought to determine the biodiversity of medicinal plants and
evaluate the effects of human activities on availability of traditional herbal medicine among the Samburu pastoral
community in Kenya.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was addressed to 195 randomly stratified household respondents in four
villages in Samburu Central Sub-county. Transect walks were carried out in the four villages to determine the diversity of
the medicinal plants. Voucher specimens of the medicinal plant species were deposited at Kenyatta University Herbarium.
Results: The species richness comprised of 19 medicinal plants, majority of which grew in the wild but were threatened by
human activities. 56% of the households reported that fire incidences highly affected availability of traditional herbal
medicine, 50% reported that grazing of livestock moderately affected availability of traditional herbal medicine, 46%
reported that building and construction activities moderately affected availability, while 43% and 40% reported that
firewood collection and growing of crops respectively lowly affected availability of traditional herbal medicine among the
Samburu people.
Conclusion: Most of the Samburu people use traditional herbal medicine. However, majority of the medicinal plants are
threatened by anthropogenic factors. This has led to the continued decline of traditional herbal medicine. There is, therefore
need to adopt management strategies that enhance the conservation of these valuable natural resources
PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CAMELLIA OLEIFERA ABEL. ON SILICA-INDUCED PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN RATS
Get PDFBackground: Camellia oleifera Abel. belongs to the family Theaceae and genus Camellia. It is commonly cultivated
in southern China. The seeds of C. oleifera have been reported to exhibit a diversity of pharmacological activities
which include, but are not limited to, antioxidant, anti-cancer and antimicrobial. Pulmonary fibrosis is one of lethal
causes of mortality across the globe and accretion of considerable amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lungs
have been implicated in the onset of this disease. Given the known antioxidant activity of C. oleifera seed extract
(CSE), the present study was designed to evaluate the influence of CSE on the silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat
models.
Materials and Methods: Protective effect of CSE was determined in silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat models.
Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyproline (HP) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD-2) activity were determined by
standard biochemical assays. Histopathological analysis was carried out by H and E staining. Phyto-constituents of
CSE were identified by LC/MS analysis.
Results: The results of this study indicated that CSE lowered the MDA and hydroxyproline content in silica-treated
rats. Additionally, CSE also caused a significant increase in the expression of SOD-2 leading to scavenging of ROS.
Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining of lung tissue sections revealed that CSE maintained the integrity of
parenchymatous cells of lungs and prevented the development of pulmonary fibrosis. To gain insights about the
phytochemical constituents of CSE, LC/MS analysis was carried out and several antioxidant phenolics and flavonoids
were tentatively identified.
Conclusion: Taken together, we conclude that CSE prevents development of pulmonary fibrosis and the protective
effect of CSE may be due to its ability to induce SOD-2 expression and due to the presence antioxidant phytoconstituent
A REVIEW OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY THE BASOTHO FOR TREATMENT OF SKIN DISORDERS: THEIR PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIMICROBIAL, AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL
Get PDFBackground: While the incidence of skin diseases is high in developing countries, they are not regarded as priority due to low
mortality rates, however, they are a major concern due to their co-occurrence with HIV/AIDS. Due to lack of accessibility to
healthcare facilities and unaffordability of conventional medicines, many people in rural areas resort to medicinal plants. The aim
of the study is to document the plants used for treating skin afflictions by the Basotho people residing in Lesotho and the Free
State Province of South Africa.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive survey of existing ethnobotanical literature including numerous books was carried
out. Electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect were also used to obtain information on the antiinflammatory,
antimicrobial, and phytochemical activities of the medicinal plants.
Results and discussion: 57 plant species are utilised for the treatment of various skin ailments with a majority of them used for
wounds (26 species) and venereal sores (19 species). The plants are distributed in 39 families with the Asteraceae being the most
represented with seven species, followed by Solanaceae and Asphodelaceae with four species each. 38 species have previously
been evaluated for their phytochemical properties, 40 for their anti-microbial potential, while 29 have been assessed for their antiinflammatory
activity. Of the 57, 13 species have not been evaluated for any of the three categories.
Conclusion: Many of the plants have been shown to have anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and phytochemical properties, which
then validates their traditional use