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Review on Some Malaysian Traditional Medicinal Plants with Therapeutic Properties
Get PDFThere are many medicinal plants that have been used for thousands of years. These plants can now be found in herbal products and as part of the traditional Malaysian health care system because of their therapeutic efficacy. This paper discusses the use of ten medicinal plants in the traditional medicinal system of Malaysia and related scientific studies on their Pharmaceutical properties, which demonstrate their traditional uses. The plants viewed are Amaranthus spinosus L., Arundina graminifolia (D.Don) Hochr., Callicarpa arborea Roxb., Carica papaya L., Citrus grandis L., Coleus amboinicus Lour., Curcuma domestica Valeton., Psidium guajava L., Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T. Anders., and Zingiber officinale Rosc. All the plants mentioned in this paper have therapeutic properties, which explains and validates their uses in traditional medicine. 
Evaluation of Nutrients in Leaves and Seeds of Calotropis Procera (linn): A Multipurpose Plant
Get PDFCalotropis procera has been widely explored in ethnomedicine to cure several ailments such as leprosy, fever, elephantiasis, menorrhagia, and snakebite. It is also used as a purgative, anthelmintic, anticoagulant, anticancer, antipyretic, analgesic, and carminative. In addition to its traditional use as coagulants, the leaves and seeds of Calotropis procera could be used in food fortifications to combat nutrient deficiencies as reflected in its bioactive components. The increase in its use might be associated with the level of many bioactive components, which provide nutritional and health benefits. Thus, the leaves and seeds were analyzed for their bioactive components and characterized for nutrient values using the procedures of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists.
The chemical analyses results showed that the leaf and the seed contained (g/100 g dry weight) moisture (8.11g, 9.53g), crude protein (26.69g, 14.48g), crude fiber (7.54, 15.73), crude fat (21.70, 6.29), ash (5.32, 3.69) and carbohydrate (30.64, 50.29), respectively. The leaves and seeds contained zinc (1.20, 0.60 mg/100 g), potassium (33.60, 30.30 mg/100 g) and iron (36.90, 12.90 mg/100g), respectively. The fatty acids profile revealed that the leaves and the seed oils contained a low level of saturated palmitic acid (3.01, 7.70 g/100g) and a high level of monounsaturated oleic acid (10.31, 27.90 g/100g) and polyunsaturated acids (11.63, 18.53 g/100g), respectively.
It is established that the chemical compounds in the Calotropis procera seeds and leaves could be beneficial for therapeutic and dietary purposes. Thus, it can be accepted that the Calotropis procera plant may be used as medicine and food fortificants
The Role of Vitamin D in Preventing Colorectal Carcinogenesis: A Review of Molecular Mechanisms
Get PDFIntroduction: Colorectal carcinoma is one of the cancers with a high disease burden globally. Previous observational studies have found a connection between colorectal cancer incidence with sunlight exposure and vitamin D levels. Subsequent studies investigated this relationship further and found various anti-tumoral pathways regulated by vitamin D in colorectal tissue. This paper aims to elucidate the actions of those pathways in preventing the malignant transformation of the colorectal cell by reviewing relevant literature.
Methods: A search was conducted on several medical literature electronic databases for original research studying the effects of vitamin D treatment on colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer and its underlying anti-tumoral mechanism. A total of 122 studies were included for evaluation.
Results: Twenty-seven studies passed for analysis. These in vitro and in vivo study reveals that vitamin D treatment can suppress cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, maintain cellular differentiation, reduce the pro-inflammatory response, inhibit angiogenesis, and hinder metastatic progression in colorectal cancer and colorectal adenoma cells by regulating associated gene transcription or directly prevents activation of selected signalling pathways. Five studies have also shown that adding calcium to vitamin D treatment increases the anti-tumoral activity of vitamin D through cross-talk between both of their pathways.
Conclusion: Vitamin D could potentially impede colorectal cancer transformation and growth through interaction with various signalling pathways and regulating gene transcription. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm whether vitamin D can be used as the basis of targeted colorectal cancer therapy using its inherent anti-tumoral properties
Seroprevalence of Avian H9N2 Influenza Virus in a Population of Iranian Domestic Dogs
No full textThe prevalence of H9N2 influenza virus in dogs was first time observed in Fars province of Iran. A total of 182 dogs were selected from the clinical cases at the Small Animal Clinic of Veterinary Medicine School, Shiraz University. After obtaining history, physical examination was performed and blood samples were obtained for serological examination (Eliza and HI assay) for the detection of H9N2-specific antibodies. Associated factors (age, breed, diet, place, presence of other dogs, general symptoms, respiratory and gastrointestinal signs) were also evaluated. The positive results showed that 81.7 % of ELISA positive cases had titer ? 32 for H9N2 influenza in HI test. Although positive result were found more in dogs with general or respiratory signs, no significant differences were observed in the evaluated factors and seropositivity. This research showed high seroprevalence of Ab against H9N2 in dogs and made this hypothesis that H9N2 may be important in dogs in virus persistence. Additional research is needed for detection of epidemiologic role of dogs in transmission and pathogenesis of H9N2 in dogs and humans
Pilot Plant Study to Utilize Waste Brine Generated by Salt Industries
Get PDFSince early 80s, people of Pakistan have been enjoying good quality of salt known as refined salt. Mechanical salt washing is used in many countries to upgrade salt quality. The counter current washing at multiple stages and dewatering by centrifuge improves salt quality. During this process almost 10 to 15% of salt is converted into saturated brine solution containing high amount of sodium chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulphate. In the current practice most of the salt processers, this brine waste solution is drained. In the present study, a method is modified to utilize this waste brine solution. Brine was treated with calcium oxide and iron chloride to remove some soluble and insoluble impurities. The treated brine is evaporated in a specially constructed jacketed crystallizer connected with a hot water geyser. Heat is transferred through bottom by counter current flow. The temperature is maintained between 55 to 65oC at pH 3-4. The applied study yield the well shaped pyramidal crystals of salt known as Fluer de sel (flower of salt), that are world famous and used in gourmet foods with a growing market. Fleur de Sel has unique morphology, lower bulk density, large surface area, improved taste and rapid dissolution as compared to the common cubic sal
Modeling and Simulation in Cancer Nanomedicine
Get PDFThere is a certain function of ion channels in cancer cell progression and proliferation. The mutation of ion channels is proved to have a clear influence on the same. The progress of nanomedicine research needs the proper concept of the exact role of ion channels in cancer and the cause of the disease. In this work, an ion channel protein residing in our stomach with PDB id 3ux4 is analyzed to get an idea about its structure-function relationship. The disordered region and mutation sensitivity of the channel causing cancer are analyzed in different ways. Eight disordered regions of the protein are found in the study. The pocket in the active site is found along with the position of the miss-sense mutation. The maximum mutation region is also found for a sample disordered region. The engineered ion channel is simulated in the environment of water and ions. The potential energy of the water-ion model of the protein calculated by molecular dynamics simulation is 20,412 kcal/mol after simulating the system for 1,00000 steps
Effect of Digoxin on the Color Vision Disorder, A Case-Control Study
Get PDFBackground and Aim: Digoxin is a drug commonly used in order to treat cardiac failure but its use has got different complications including color vision disorder .Regarding the high prevalence of cardiac failure and the role of taking this drug by patients, it was decided to study color vision disorder in patients who take digoxin.
Materials and Methods: The present case-control study was conducted during 2008-2009 in Valli-e-asr hospital in Birjand.The case group consisted of 59 patients having cardiac failure who, at least, had taken oral digoxin for one year. The controls were non-cardiac patients referring to the hospital or were patients’ attendants who did not take digoxin. The controls were matched with the cases with respect to age and sex. Both groups were examined regarding whether they had color vision disorder or not by means of Ishiharatest. Venous blood was derived from all the cases to assess serum digoxin level.
Then, the obtained data was an encoded and statistically analysed by means of SPSS software at the significant level α=0.05.
Findings:In this survey, 59 patients with Heart failure who took digoxin and 59 controls were studied. Relative frequency of color vision disorder in the cases was estimated at 6.8%, but in the controls it was estimated at 1.7%; hence the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.36).Frequency of color vision disorder did not reveal a significant difference regarding age and sex. Serum digoxin level was abnormal in 5.1% of the patients. A significant difference was not found between mean serum digoxin and color vision disorder.
Results:Using color vision disorder, as a diagnostic measure of Digoxin toxicity, is of no use
Inhibition of Isorhamnetin on β-Catenin/Tcf Signaling and β-Catenin-Activated Melanogenesis
Get PDFActivated β-catenin/T-cell factor (Tcf) signaling plays various roles in human cell mechanisms. We identified the inhibitory effect of isorhamnetin against β-catenin/Tcf signaling in β-catenin activated cells. Isorhamnetin inhibited the transcriptional activity of β-catenin/Tcf in HEK293 cells transiently transfected with a constitutively active mutant β-catenin gene. Also, isorhamnetin inhibited theβ-catenin-activated melanogenesis in B16F1 cells. Regarding the inhibitory mechanism, the shift assay showed that the binding of Tcf complexes with its specific DNA-binding sites was suppressed byisorhamnetin. Western blot analysis showed a decreased level of β-catenin in nucleus caused by isorhamnetin. These results suggest that the isorhamnetin acts as a negative regulator of β-catenin/Tcf signaling and its inhibitory mechanism is related to the decreased binding of β-catenin/Tcf complexes to consensus DNA
Effect of Electronic Cigarettes on Oral Microbial Flora
Get PDFBackground: Despite well-documented adverse effects of tobacco consumption, cigarettes use is still rising and part of this increase is related to the popularization of alternative electronic nicotine delivery devices, such as electronic cigarettes (ECs). The aim of the performed research was to assess the effect of electronic cigarettes aerosol on the oral microbiota, using culture methods.
Methodology: 30 ten-week-old WAG rats (female 76-81 g and male 86-94 g) were randomly distributed in two groups, as follows: Group 1 – control animals (n = 10); Group 2 – EC aerosol exposed (n = 20). EC aerosol exposures were carried out by using the Boyarchuck chamber. During the study, the rat oral microbiota were collected four times: at the beginning of the experiment, on the 30th, 60th and 90th days. Microorganisms were identified using standard microbiological techniques.
Results: EC exposure to Group 2 rats resulted in a depletion of colonies commensal microbes and a greater incidence of atypical species such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Candida albicans compared to Group 1 on day 90. The test of independence between frequency distibution of opportunistic microbes and duration of EC exposure showed a significance for Klebsiella pneumoniae – χ2= 8.017, p=0.0456, Acinetobacter lwoffii – χ2= 36.772, p=0.0001, and Candida albicans – χ2=8.689, p=0.0337.
Conclusions: The impact of electronic cigarettes facilitated colonization of the oral cavity by opportunistic bacteria and yeast
Semi-Refined Carrageenan Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Cell Membrane Alterations in Leukocytes
Get PDFAim: To assess the effects of semi-refined carrageenan (E407a) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and LPS-mediated cell membrane alterations in leukocytes.
Methods: Blood samples collected from 8 intact rats were incubated with E407a (10 mg/ml), E407a (50 mg/ml), LPS (1 µg/ml), E407a (10 mg/ml) + LPS (1 µg/ml), E407a (50 mg/ml) + LPS (1 µg/ml) and without those compounds (controls) for 2 h in RPMI 1640 medium enriched with 5% fetal bovine serum. ROS generation in PBMCs obtained from the incubated samples was estimated by flow cytometry using 2\u27,7\u27-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) staining. The impact of E407a, LPS and their mixture on leukocyte cell membranes was evaluated spectrofluorimetrically using the fluorescent probe 2-(2¢-hydroxy-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazole.
Results: Expectedly, incubation with LPS induced ROS generation in PBMCs and decreased the lipid order of cell membranes in leukocytes. E407a alone was found to alter neither ROS production in PBMCs, nor membrane lipid order in leukocytes. Semi-refined carrageenan partially reduced LPS-mediated ROS overproduction in PBMCs and cell membrane alterations in leukocytes.
Conclusion: E407a attenuates LPS-induced alterations of redox homeostasis in rat PBMCs and LPS-mediated modifications of cell membrane lipid order in leukocytes