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Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease, and this review has summarized the current treatment scenario and its prospects. It also highlights alternative approaches used by research groups in India and around the world to develop cutting-edge and potent anti-leishmanial treatments. Even though numerous medications could be utilized to treat VL, the limitations of current treatments including their toxicity, cost, route of administration, and duration of doses, have contributed to the emergence of resistance. Combination therapy might be a better option due to its shorter duration, easier route of administration, and ability to extend the lifespan of individual drugs. However, there is a risk of not delivering both the drugs to the target site together, which can be overcome by the liposomal entrapment of those drugs and at a time knock an opportunity to reduce the dosage of amphotericin B if the combination drug provides a synergistic effect with it. Therefore, this review presents a novel strategy to fight against VL by introducing dual drug-loaded liposomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To observe the biochemical characters and antibiotic susceptibility of isolated Staphylococcus aureus (S. auerus) strains against some conventional and traditional antibiotics. Methods: Thirty post operative pathogenic isolated S. aureus strains were used in this study. Bacterial culture was done in Mueller-Hinton broth at 37 °C. Characters of these strains were determined by traditional biochemical tests such as hydrolysis test of gelatin, urea, galactose, starch and protein, and fermentation of lactose and sucrose. Antibiotic susceptibility were carried out by minimum inhibitory concentration test, minium bactericidal concentration test, disc agar diffusion test and brain heart infusion oxacillin screening agar. Results: From this study, it was observed that 100%S. aureus isolates showed positive results in gelatin, urea and galactose hydrolysis test, 50% isolates were positive in starch hydrolysis test, 35% in protein hydrolysis test, 100% isolates in lactose fermenting test, but no isolate was positive in sucrose fermenting test. Antibiotic susceptibility testing suggested that 20% of isolates were resistant to kanamycin and 46.67% were resistant to oxacillin. Conclusions: These findings show that all these isolates have gelatin, urea, galactose hydrolysis and lactose fermenting activity. 20% of these isolates were resistant to kanamycin and 46.67% were resistant to oxacillin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To test the survival of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) inside lymphocyte that contributes to the pathogenesis of infection and possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effect of nanoconjugated vancomycin against in vivo S. aureus infection in a dose and duration dependent manner. Methods: 5×106 CFU/mL vancomycin-sensitive S. aureus (VSSA) and vancomycin-resistive S. aureus (VRSA) were challenged in Swiss male mice for 3 days, 5 days, 10 days and 15 days, respectively. Bacteremia and inflammatory parameters were observed to evaluate the duration for development of VSSA and VRSA infection. 100 mg/kg bw/day and 500 mg/kg bw/day nanoconjugated vancomycin were administrated to VSSA and VRSA infected group for 5 days. Bacteremia, inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress related parameters were tested to observe the effective dose of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VSSA and VRSA infection. Nanoconjugated vancomycin was treated at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day and 500 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, to VSSA and VRSA infected group for successive 5 days, 10 days and 15 days. Bacteremia, inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress related parameters were observed to assess the effective duration of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VSSA and VRSA infection. Results: The result revealed that in vivo VSSA and VRSA infection developed after 5 days of challenge by elevating the NO generation in lymphocyte and serum inflammatory markers. Administration with nanoconjugated vancomycin to VSSA and VRSA infected group at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day and 500 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, for successive 10 days eliminated bacterimia, decreased NO generation in lymphocyte, serum inflammatory markers and increased antioxidant enzyme status. Conclusions: These findings suggest, in vivo challenge of VSSA and VRSA for 5 days can produce the highest degree of damage in lymphocyte which can be ameliorated by treatment with nanoconjugated vancomycin for 10 successive days. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the potency of carboxymethyl chitosan-2, 2′ ethylenedioxy bis-ethylamine-folate (CMC-EDBE-FA) on tissue injury, antioxidant status and glutathione system in tissue mitochondria and serum against nicotine–induced oxidative stress in mice. Methods: CMC-EDBE-FA was prepared on basis of carboxymethyl chitosan tagged with folic acid by covalently linkage through 2, 2′ ethylenedioxy bis-ethylamine. Animals were divided into four groups, i.e., control, nicotine (1 mg/kg bw/day), CMC-EDBE-FA (1 mg/kg bw/day) and nicotine (1 mg/kg bw/day) and CMC-EDBE-FA (1 mg/kg bw/day) for 7 days. Levels of lipid peroxidation, oxidized glutathione level, antioxidant enzyme status and DNA damage were observed and compared. Results: The significantly increase of lipid peroxidation, oxidized glutathione levels and DNA damage was observed in nicotine treated group as compared with control group; those were significantly reduced in CMC-EDBE-FA supplemented group. Moreover, significantly reduced antioxidant status in nicotine treated group was effectively ameliorated by the supplementation of CMC-EDBE-FA. Only CMC-EDBE-FA treated groups showed no significant change as compared with control group; rather than it repairs the tissue damage of nicotine treated group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CMC-EDBE-FA is non–toxic and ameliorates nicotine–induced toxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To test the in vitro protective role of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. (O. gratissimum) and ascorbic acid against nicotine-induced murine peritoneal macrophage. Methods: Peritoneal macrophages from mice were treated with nicotine (10 mM), nicotine (10 mM) with aqueous extract of O. gratissimum (1 to 25 μg/mL), and nicotine (10 mM) with ascorbic acid (0.01 mM) for 12 h in cell culture media, while the control group was treated with culture media. Levels of free radical generation, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, oxidized glutathione levels and DNA damage were observed and compared. Results: Phytochemical analysis of aqueous extract has shown high amount of phenolics and flavonoids compound present in it. The significantly increased free radical generation, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, oxidized glutathione levels and DNA damage were observed in nicotine-treated group as compared to the control group; those were significantly reduced in aqueous extract of O. gratissimum and ascorbic acid supplemented groups. Moreover, significantly reduced antioxidant status in nicotine exposed murine peritoneal macrophage was effectively ameliorated by these two products. Among the different concentration of aqueous extract of O. gratissimum, the maximum protective effect was observed at 10 μg/mL which does not produce any significant change in the normal cell. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential use and beneficial role of O. gratissimum as a modulator of nicotine-induced cellular damage in murine peritoneal macrophage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To evaluate phytopharmacologically eugenol and two extract products of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. ( O. gratissimum ) ( Labiaceae ) on free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity. Methods Aqueous and methanol extract of fresh aerial part of O. gratissimum were prepared and eugenol (1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzene) was isolated from fresh leaves and characterized by high performance liquid chromatography, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 h nuclear magnetic resonance. To establish the antioxidant potentiality of aqueous extract, methanol extract and eugenol, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide scavenging activity, antioxidant activity by ferric thiocyanate and reducing power were measured in chemical system in vitro . Results Significant ( P <0.05) concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity, antioxidant activity, and reducing power was observed by O. gratissimum products. Moreover, eugenol is more potent than the two extract products of O. gratissimum , but lower than potent antioxidant ascorbic acid. Conclusions Hence, O. gratissimum presents a potentially valuable source of natural antioxidant and bioactive material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]