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Background: Euphorbia helioscopia, commonly known as sun spurge, is one of the largest species of an annual herb in the family Euphorbiaceae, which is extensively distributed worldwide. In folk medicine, it is used to treat various ailments such as malaria, osteomyelitis, and gastrointestinal ailments. The anti-inflammatory potential of Euphorbia helioscopia extracts on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was investigated in this work. Results: The ethanol extract was found to markedly inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNFα) production compared to the aqueous extract treated cells. Moreover, extracts downregulated the nitric oxide levels. Finally, in this study, we have shown that Euphorbia helioscopia exerts a potent pharmacological effect on reducing the inflammatory response in macrophages. Conclusion: The results of the experiment revealed that the Euphorbia helioscopia extracts used in this study have anti-inflammatory characteristics, with the ethanolic extract having the most. The ethanolic extract had the strongest anti-inflammatory impact in terms of greatest reduction of proinflammatory indicators including IL-6, TNF-, and NO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Euphorbia helioscopia is of the family Euphorbiaceae, owning various pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory activity. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic-autoimmune systemic disease that can be characterized by cartilage degradation, synovial hyperplasia, inflammation, and joint damage. Objectives: To assess the anti-arthritic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Euphorbia helioscopia. Materials and Methods: Adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) method was followed for the evaluation. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was used to induce arthritis in female Wistar rats. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts (300, 150, and 75 mg/kg/day) of aerial parts of Euphorbia helioscopia were given orally to Wistar rats. Results: Both the extracts showed significant anti-arthritic activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, ethanolic extract (300mg/kg) of Euphorbia helioscopia showed potential anti-arthritic activity among the tested extracts. Conclusion: From the study, it can be concluded that Euphorbia helioscopia possesses marked anti-arthritic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bleomycin, a cytotoxic and antitumour drug, is safe and effective in the management of vascular anomalies prevalent in the head and neck region. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of intralesional bleomycin injection in vascular malformations (VMs), especially venous and lymphatic malformations present extracranially on the face, lips and intraorally. Subjects and Methods: This prospective clinical study was conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Government Dental College, Srinagar. The study included 30 patients with low-flow VMs (LFVMs) wherein the effectiveness of intralesional bleomycin sclerotherapy was evaluated. The recorded data was compiled and continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and categorical variables were summarised as frequency and percentages. Results: Complete resolution (cure) was observed in 11 patients (36.66%), marked improvement in 17 patients (56.66%) and mild improvement in two patients (6.66%). Local complications were superficial ulcerations in 14 patients (46.66%) and hyperpigmentation in one patient (3.33%). Systemic complications in the form of flu like symptoms, nausea or vomiting were not reported in any of the above-mentioned patients. Signs of pulmonary fibrosis and/or hypertension were also not reported in any of the above cases. Conclusion: Intralesional bleomycin injection is a potent and safe therapeutic alternative for the treatment of haemangiomas and LFVMs. Such patients can be managed on an outpatient basis without the need of any extensive surgery, expensive armamentarium and with only minor complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of freeze dried powdered probiotics on gingival status and plaque inhibition among 12-15-year-old schoolchildren. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 12-15-year-old schoolchildren in Jaipur. Commercially available freeze dried probiotics containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium lactis (Prowel, Alkem Laboratories), lactic acid bacillus only (Sporolac, Sangyo), and a placebo powder calcium carbonate 250 g (Calcium Sandoz, Novartis) were assigned to two intervention groups and a placebo group each comprising 11 schoolchildren. All subjects were instructed to mix the powder in 30 ml of water and swish once daily for 3 min, for 3 weeks. Periodontal clinical parameters were assessed by examining the subjects for Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman plaque index (PI) (Modification of Quigley-Hein PI) and gingival index at baseline, 7th day, 14th day, and 21st day. Results: For both the probiotic groups, a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) in gingival status and plaque inhibition was recorded up to 2nd week of probiotic ingestion. However, no significant difference was observed in the placebo group. Conclusion: The use of probiotic mouth rinses improves the oral health in children by significantly reducing the plaque and gingival scores. Further studies are warranted to prove or refute the long-term effects, means of administering probiotics and the dosages needed to achieve different preventive or therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractExperimental and theoretical investigations were made on the molecule 3,4-dichloro-1,2,5-thiadiazole abbreviated as DCTDA. Density functional theory (DFT) approach with B3LYP functional was employed for the theoretical calculations. Geometrical optimization is performed for the molecule under DFT’s B3LYP functional and MP2 method with basis set 6-311++ G (d, p) on which the entire computational study (Molecular Electrostatic Potential [MEP], Electron localization function [ELF], Natural bond orbital [NBO], Non-Linear optical [NLO], Temperature dependent DFT [TD-DFT] calculations) is made. Spectrochemical studies involved FT-IR and UV-Visible investigations. The molecule’s chemically reactive sites have been explained via MEP andFukui function analysis. NBO analysis was done to explain the acceptor-donor interactions interference energy, and hybridization of the bond generated. Reduced Density Gradient calculations were made to analyze the non-covalent interactions within the molecule. Optical utility along with hyperpolarizability and polarizability are studied with the help of NLO analysis. Vibrational analysis included the Potential Energy Distribution assignments made by the usage of VEDA program. Frontier molecular orbital interactions were studied using the TD-DFT calculations which predicted the probable transitions. Binding of different proteins to the ligand (titled molecule) was effectively done to obtain lowest binding scores (which is found to be −4.5 kcal/mol for DCTDA) indicating to strong receptor (protein)-ligand interactions and thus deduced the very probability of the molecule being biologically active. ELF was used to explain AIM (Atom in Molecule) theory and helps visualize the localization and delocalization of electrons within the molecule. UV-Visible spectroscopy employed using TD-DFT in various solvents to study the charge transfer and the impact of different solvents on the peak position in the spectra. Thermodynamic properties such as entropy, internal energy, enthalpy, Gibb’s free energy, specific heat capacity was calculated for a wide range of temperatures. Certain local descriptors including chemical softness, chemical hardness, chemical potential and electrophilicity index were deduced using the LUMO-HOMO energy gap. Drug likeness was also deduced for DCTDA and various other of its derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]