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Phthalate diesters are important pollutants and act as endocrine disruptors. While certain bacterial esterases have been identified for phthalate diesters degradation to monoesters, their structural and mechanistic characteristics remain largely unexplored. Here, we highlight the potential of the thermostable and pH-tolerant EstS1 esterase from Sulfobacillus acidophilus DSM10332 to degrade high molecular weight bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by combining biophysical and biochemical approaches along with high-resolution EstS1 crystal structures of the apo form and with bound substrates, products, and their analogs to elucidate its mechanism. The catalytic tunnel mediates entry and exit of the substrate and product, respectively. The centralized Ser-His-Asp triad performs catalysis by a bi-bi ping-pong mechanism, forming a tetrahedral intermediate. Mutagenesis analysis showed that the Met207Ala mutation abolished DEHP binding at the active site, confirming its essential role in supporting catalysis. These findings underscore EstS1 as a promising tool for advancing technologies aimed at phthalate diesters biodegradation., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disorder caused by genetic abnormalities, often accompanied by severe symptoms and complications. Conventional treatments offer limited relief but fail to halt disease progression. An Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol has been reported to be effective in treating various types of pancreatitis., Objectives: This observational clinical study is aimed at assessing the efficacy of a year long Ayurvedic treatment protocol (ATP) in mitigating attack frequency and intensity in Hereditary Pancreatitis patients., Materials & Methods: The study enrolled 151 patients across diverse age groups and genders, subjecting them to a comprehensive Ayurvedic treatment protocol at a specialized center. The protocol incorporated Metal-Based Ayurvedic Formulation (MBAF) named Amar, alongside supportive Ayurvedic compounds and dietary adjustments. Patients underwent pre- and post-treatment evaluations involving interviews, medical records, blood tests, radiological imaging, and symptom assessments. Notably, pancreatic enzyme use was discontinued prior to initiating Ayurvedic treatment., Results: Among 151 patients, 88 completed the year long ATP, resulting in significant enhancement of their quality of life. There was a marked 98.7% reduction in emergency hospitalizations and a notable 92.8% decrease in attack frequency (p < 0.0001). Radiological assessments indicated pancreatic health stabilization, while no adverse effects were reported, highlighting the intervention's safety and tolerability., Conclusion: The study furnishes promising evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of ATP, especially the MBAF, in managing Hereditary Pancreatitis. The observed decline in attack frequency, absence of adverse effects, and stabilization of pancreatic health underscore the potential of Ayurvedic medicine. Subsequent research, including randomized controlled trials, is warranted to substantiate these findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Authors declare no conflicts of competing interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, encapsulates comprehensive principles and formulations for disease prevention and treatment. A herbo-mineral Ayurvedic formulation, IMMBO, comprising Mandoor Bhasma and 18 herbs has shown promising results in treating allergic rhinitis in clinical studies., Objective: This discussed series of experimental studies were conducted to explore the immuno-modulatory potential of IMMBO., Methodology: A series of experimental studies were carried out in immunosuppressed rats to explore the immune-modulatory effects of IMMBO., Results: IMMBO was effective in reinstating neutrophil activation, stimulating cellular and humoral immunity, and counteracting immunosuppression at the molecular level. The modulation of key signalling molecules, including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κb), showcased the formulation's multifaceted impact. Additionally, its ability to block histamine release suggests potential in controlling allergic states, positioning it as a promising therapeutic candidate for immune-related disorders. However, the precise mode of action remains elusive, warranting further in-depth pharmacological studies., Conclusion: This research substantiates the ancient Ayurvedic wisdom using modern scientific parameters, endorsing IMMBO's potential as an immune-modulatory agent., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Prakash et al.)

Background: Allergic rhinitis is largely treated by using antihistamines and nasal sprays, either alone or in combination. However, these measures ease out the symptoms but do not address causative factors, and have their share of side effects and limitations. An Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation, IMMBO, has been reported to be effective in treating allergic rhinitis., Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation in comparison with a fixed-dose combination of levocetirizine and montelukast., Method: This was a randomized, comparative, clinical study carried out on 250 patients at a medical college in India. The patients were enrolled according to the eligibility criteria of the study and randomized into two groups, to receive either Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation, IMMBO, or a combination of levocetirizine and montelukast for 28 days. Total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) were calculated for evaluation of efficacy parameters.  Result: At the end of therapy both IMMBO and levocetirizine and montelukast combination showed significant improvement in TNSS in both treated population and per protocol population. The IMMBO group had a statistically higher reduction in TNSSs compared to the levocetirizine + montelukast group (-5.70 vs. -3.31; p<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in the reduction of IgE levels between the groups (-351.54 vs. -208.79; p<0.05).  Conclusion: The findings of this study establish prima facie evidence about the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic formulation. However, the said Ayurvedic formulation needs to be further developed scientifically., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Prakash et al.)

The case report presented here highlights the use of an Ayurvedic treatment protocol (ATP) in managing hereditary pancreatitis (HP) in a 14-year-old boy. HP is a rare form of pancreatitis caused by specific gene mutations that are inherited within families. It is known to be aggressive and can lead to pancreatic cancer in later stages. The boy, in this case, experienced multiple episodes of pancreatitis and required several hospitalizations despite following a conventional treatment approach, which included a dairy-free, protein and fat-restricted diet, and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. However, after starting the ATP in February 2022, which involved a modified diet and the use of herbo-mineral Ayurvedic formulations, the boy reported significant improvement in his general well-being and was able to lead a normal life without experiencing any discomfort. The ATP included a customized diet comprising dairy products with moderate amounts of fat and protein, along with specific herbo-mineral formulations and the withdrawal of pancreatic enzymes. The boy also received vitamin D3 supplementation. After approximately one year of following the ATP, the disease progression was arrested, as indicated by follow-up images and investigations. The size of the pancreatic duct decreased from 8 mm to 2.8 mm. This case report suggests that the ATP may have potential efficacy in managing hereditary pancreatitis and halting disease progression. However, it is important to note that this is a single case report, and further research and clinical studies are needed to validate the long-term benefits and understand the underlying mechanisms of Ayurvedic interventions in hereditary pancreatitis., Competing Interests: The patent has been applied for the herbo-mineral Ayurvedic formulation, Amar, via Indian Patent Application No.: 3373/DEL/2014., (Copyright © 2023, Prakash et al.)

Objectives: Anemia is a serious health problem in Indian school children. High prevalence of anemia has been reported in nonpregnant adolescent girls. An investigation was initiated to study the effect of two non-iron-containing Ayurvedic preparations-Sootshekhar Rasa plus Sitopaladi Churna-in improving nutritional anemia among adolescent students., Design: This was a single-blinded, randomized, controlled study., Setting: The study setting was Dehradun district, North India., Subjects: The subjects comprised a total of 1646 boys and girls, aged 11-18 years, attending school in Dehradun district., Intervention: As per World Health Organization guidelines, a total of 1322 adolescent anemic students were randomly divided into 5 groups. Students of group I (control) received starch. Group II, III, and IV students received Sootshekhar Rasa (SR) plus Sitopaladi Churna (SC) in various combinations, namely, SR 125 mg + SC 500 mg daily, SR 250 mg + SC 400 mg daily, and SR 250 mg + SC 400 mg weekly, respectively. Group V student were given iron and folic acid tablet. All the students received treatment for 90 days and were followed up for the next 180 days., Outcome Measure: The outcome measure was to evaluate the effect of Sootshekhar Rasa plus Sitopaladi Churna in improving nutritional anemia., Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 81.3%. At baseline, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 97.4 +/- 13.2 g/L and ranged from 96.4 +/- 0.8 g/L to 98.3 +/- 0.8 g/L in various groups. At end of follow-up (day 270), a significant increase in Hb levels from baseline was observed in all treatment groups; however, the Hb gain (6.9 +/- 0.6 g/L) in group III and group V (3.64 +/- 0.56 g/L) differed significantly from the control group. A total of 155 students dropped out of the study due to various reasons not related to treatment. No adverse side-effect of Ayurvedic medication was noted in any student., Conclusions: We conclude that a daily dose of Sootshekhar Rasa (250 mg) plus Sitopaladi Churna (400 mg) can produce sustainable improvement of nutritional anemia in adolescent students.