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Immunity has become an important aspect of concern, as the spread of corona virus, is on the rise. The strategies to boost and modulate the immunity have therefore become need of the hour. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Charak immunity Tablets (CIT) on innate and adaptive immune response in healthy individuals. It was a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory study. After obtaining Ethics Committee permission, 36 healthy individuals of either sex aged 18-35 years with prior consent were recruited in the study. They were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive either CIT or Placebo in 2:1 ratio. Both the interventions were given in a dose of 1 tab (500 mg) twice daily. The assessment variables were vitals [temperature, pulse, and blood pressure], respiratory health [respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and peak expiratory flow rate], questionnaire based assessment of immune status, perceived stress and quality of life along with objective assessment of immunity [CD4+, CD8+ counts, Interferon gamma (IFN γ), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 10 (IL-10)] as well as oxidative stress; [Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glutathione peroxidase], which were assessed at fixed time points. Of 36 recruited participants, only 18 participants completed the study. CIT treated individuals showed a statistically significant improvement in respiratory health, quality of life, perceived stress and subjective immune status. There was a decrease in the levels of serum IFN γ on day 60 compared to baseline. TNF-α and IL-10, both estimated from supernatant of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), showed a decrease and a significant increase respectively on day 60 compared to baseline in CIT group. Further, CIT significantly decreased MDA levels.The present study indicates that CIT is an effective and safe drug to boost immunity. However, our findings need to be confirmed in larger sample size using more specific immune parameters.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which an outcome of impaired insulin action and its secretion, is concomitantly associated with lipid abnormalities. The study was designed to evaluate the combinational effect of omega-3 fatty acids (flax and fish oil) and glibenclamide on abnormal lipid profiles, increased blood glucose, and impaired liver and kidney functions in a high fat diet with low streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, including its probable mechanism of action. The male Wistar rats (n = 48) were distributed into eight groups. All animal groups except the healthy received a high fat diet (HFD) for 90 days. Further, diabetes was developed by low dose STZ (35 mg/kg). Diabetic animals received, omega-3 fatty acids (500 mg/kg), along with glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg). Both flax and fish oil intervention decreased (p &le, 0.001) serum triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein and elevated (p &le, 0.001) high density lipoprotein levels in diabetic rats. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein level was decreased (p &le, 0.001) in fish oil-treated rats. However, it remained unaffected in the flax oil treatment group. Both flax and fish oil intervention downregulate the expression of fatty acid metabolism genes, transcription factors (sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c and nuclear factor-&kappa, &beta, ), and their regulatory genes i.e., acetyl-coA carboxylase alpha, fatty acid synthase, and tumor necrosis factors-&alpha, The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma gene expression was upregulated (p &le, 0.001) in the fish oil treatment group. Whereas, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and fatty acid binding protein gene expression were upregulated (p &le, 0.001) in both flax and fish oil intervention group.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by impaired insulin action and its secretion. The objectives of the present study were to establish an economical and efficient animal model, mimicking pathophysiology of human T2DM to understand probable molecular mechanisms in context with lipid metabolism. In the present study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Animals were fed with high fat diet (HFD) except healthy control (HC) for 12 weeks. After eight weeks, intra peritoneal glucose tolerance test was performed. After confirmation of glucose intolerance, diabetic control (DC) group was injected with streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg b.w., i.p.). HFD fed rats showed increase (p &le, 0.001) in glucose tolerance and HOMA-IR as compared to HC. Diabetes rats showed abnormal (p &le, 0.001) lipid profile as compared to HC. The hepatocyte expression of transcription factors SREBP-1c and NF&kappa, &beta, and their target genes were found to be upregulated, while PPAR-&gamma, CPT1A and FABP expressions were downregulated as compared to the HC. A number of animal models have been raised for studying T2DM, but the study has been restricted to only the biochemical level. The model is validated at biochemical, molecular and histopathological levels, which can be used for screening new therapeutics for the effective management of T2DM.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. F., and Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merrill, are herbaceous vines found all over India and are well known herbal medicines. Since, ancient time T. cordifolia , T. sinensis and Neem-giloe ( T. cordifolia growing on Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) individually have been used in the ayurvedic medicine system in the form of Guduchi satwa to treat liver disorders. In the present studies, hepatoprotective potential of satwa prepared from three Tinospora species against hepatotoxicity induced by repeated dosing of acetaminophen was assessed. Repeated acetaminophen dosing produced elevations in the level of liver marker enzymes and changes in the lipid profile status of the animals. T. cordifolia had a specific action on maintaining lipid profile with improvements in the levels of total cholesterol, HDL and LDL. T. sinensis exhibited a positive effect on SGPT and ALP activities apart from improvements in VLDL and triglyceride levels. Neem guduchi had specific beneficial effect on SGOT and bilirubin levels. The differential hepatoprotective effect of these three different satwa was also evident from liver histology. T. cordifolia exhibited normalization of periportal hepatocytes while T. sinensis showed prominent hepato-regenerative activity with increase in the normal hepatocytes in the treatment group. The Neem guduchi treated group showed strikingly normal liver histology without any anatomically detectable anomalies. The results reveal that these satwa have their actions at different physiological targets and hence exhibit differential hepatoprotective activity. Due to this differential hepatoprotective activity these three satwa may be used in combination as a liver tonic. It is also required that the effect of these satwa on the acute acetaminophen hepatotoxicity should be assessed.

The study was designed to assess the effect of different strawberry extracts on glucose levels, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress in nicotinamide-streptozotocin (NIC-STZ) induced diabetic rats. The associated changes were evaluated through biochemical, molecular, and histological assays. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ to albino Wistar rats after treatment with nicotinamide. Aqueous, hydroalcoholic, and alcoholic strawberry extracts were administrated orally to diabetic rats. Treatment of strawberry extracts improved lipid profile, liver function, and serum creatinine and led to a significant increase in antioxidant status in diabetic rats. Real-time PCR expression analysis of genes from the liver of animals treated with strawberry extracts exhibited downregulation of several fatty acid synthesis genes, transcription factors, such as Sterol regulatory Element Binding Transcription factor (SREBP) and Nuclear Factor-κβ (NF-κβ), and inflammatory markers, like Interleukin 6 (IL6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). Strawberry extracts also upregulated liver Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Histological examination confirmed the nephroprotective and β-cell regeneration/protection effects of strawberry extracts. The present study demonstrates several beneficial effects of strawberry extracts along with its probable mechanism of action.

Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth) Arn. or Indian licorice is considered to be a substitute for Glycyrrhiza glabra L. owing to an equivalent content of glycyrrhizic acid (GA). GA recognized as the main active ingredient of T. cuneifolia, GA imparts several medicinal properties to these plants. However, research on this plant is scanty with no published record on tissue culture studies. Present study demonstrates a method for (1) induction and successful development of somatic embryos from the root culture, (2) regeneration of plants, and (3) GA production by root cultures of T. cuneifolia. Shoot initiation frequency of cultured roots ranged from 52.57% to 97.71%. Plant regeneration frequency (germination) from somatic embryos was 88.66% in 1/4-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, as against 68% in half 1/2-strength MS containing 2% sucrose. Glycyrrhizic acid of 1.32 mg/gm of dry weight was obtained in full-strength MS medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, through high-performance thin layer chromatography analysis with standard GA in root cultures. The present study provides an efficient method for the mass production of plants from a single mother plant as well as the potential root culture system to study the GA production pathways in T. cuneifolia.

Dyslipidemia is a significant morbidity associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. The present study was undertaken to assess the lipid profile of type 2 diabetic and age-gender matched healthy subjects and its association, if any, with fasting plasma glucose. Clinically diagnosed diabetic subjects were recruited for the study. The fasting plasma glucose and lipid profiles were analyzed for 99 diabetic and 101 healthy volunteers. The blood samples were analyzed for fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Correlation analysis of lipid profile with fasting plasma glucose and calculation of risk ratio was done. The levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were found to be significantly low in diabetics and subjects with lower low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were on statins. Inspite of lower lipid values, the risk ratio for diabetics was significantly higher. The correlation analysis indicated significant difference in relationship between fasting plasma glucose, lipid parameters and risk ratios in the two groups. Diabetics with lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and higher total cholesterol present with a higher risk ratio pointing to need of non-statin high density lipoprotein-raising medications decreasing their predisposition to cardiovascular disorders. The study highlights the altered pattern of correlation of lipid profile with fasting plasma glucose in diabetics and their increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. The dyslipidemia in the form of triglyceridemia and significantly low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in diabetics point towards the need of non-statin high density lipoprotein-raising medications.

Background: Copeptin , a neurohormone, has been identified lately as a biomarker for prediction of metabolic syndrome in recent few years. In this pilot study, we evaluated levels of Copeptin in patients of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus ( n =41). Materials and methods: The study was carried out on Type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients ( n =41) of either sex. The copeptin levels were estimated using Human C- Reactive protein ELISA Kit, For serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants and urine (Sigma Aldrich Co, LLC)Human Copeptin ELISA Kit (Mybiosource, Antibody. Protein. ELISA Kit). Results: We found that the levels of Copeptin ranged from 0.488 to 9.36 (median 1.18; mean 1.82) pmol/l in our cohort. There was no significant difference observed between Copeptin levels of patients with normal Body Mass Index (BMI) and those with higher than normal BMI. Conclusion: The present study reports for first time the values of Copeptin in Indian patients. However, there is need to estimate the levels in larger sample size to establish its utility and importance in Indian patients with metabolic syndrome.