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The study provides a thorough examination of the rhizomes of Curcuma caesia Roxb., which is a medicinal substance sometimes referred to as black turmeric and has not been well studied. The study examines the pharmacognostical characteristics, GC-MS profiling, and elemental analysis of the substance to determine its potential for use in medicine. The presence of heavy metal contamination in herbal products is a significant issue, which necessitates the use of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry to quantitatively analyze eight elements. The investigation validates the existence of crucial trace elements while guaranteeing that the levels of heavy metals are within the toxicity limits set by the World Health Organization. This indicates that the rhizome is safe for medicinal purposes. The selection of a solvent has a substantial impact on the efficiency of extraction. Acetone has the highest extraction yield, followed by ethanol and ethyl acetate. The GC-MS analysis uncovers a wide range of phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, steroids, and proteins. Additionally, particular solvents exclusively detect specific molecules. Epicurzerenone and zederone are chemicals that show promise for use in reducing inflammation and fighting cancer. On the basis of results it can be concluded that rhizome's quality based on acceptable physicochemical characteristics and provides a strong basis for future pharmacological research. The research has potential for the development of novel organic drugs, utilizing the abundant phytochemical composition of C. caesia Roxb. rhizomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, consumers are increasingly attracted to nutraceuticals, an important part of food considered propitious for human health. Therefore, consumers are willingly switching to nutraceuticals and are ready to pay the premium price. This review aims to identify various factors that govern consumer purchasing of nutraceutical products. The outcomes presented in the review provide a closer understanding of consumer attitudes toward buying behavior and their impact on the growth of the global nutraceutical market. The nutraceutical market has been identified depending on the type of nutraceuticals, forms, and regions governing the nutraceutical market. Factors such as health consciousness, knowledge about a product, product availability, price, marketing strategies, and social factors influence consumers' actual buying behavior toward nutraceutical products. A mini survey in Mumbai city of India was conducted to add practical data to the review, and factors affecting consumers' willingness to buy nutraceutical products were identified. It was observed that the decision‐making toward buying nutraceutical products was affected by gender, age, education level, and acculturation. It was also identified that the legislation governing nutraceuticals needs to be harmonized throughout many parts of the world, which restricts the growth of this sector to some extent. The findings elucidate that nutraceutical industries should overcome the regulatory barriers and focus on developing innovative products, which will keep current consumers intact and help increase the consumer base and thus expand the nutraceutical market globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergent health threats have heightened human awareness of the need for health and wellness measures that promote resilience to disease. In addition to proper nutrition and exercise, health-conscious consumers are seeking natural-based modalities, e.g. botanical preparations, that positively impact the immune system. In Ayurvedic ethnomedicine, Tinospora cordifolia (T. cordifolia), a deciduous climbing shrub indigenous to India, has been used to historically to combat acute and chronic inflammation as well as to promote a balanced immune response. As a dietary supplement, T. cordifolia has been administered most often as a decoction either alone or in compositions containing other medicinal plant extracts of the Terminalia and Phyllanthus species. Extensive phytochemical characterization of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of different Tinospora species has identified over two hundred different phytochemicals from non-overlapping chemical classes with the most abundant being diterpenoids containing the clerodane-type skeleton. Numerous pharmacology studies have demonstrated that T. cordifolia modulates key signaling pathways related to cell proliferation, inflammation, and immunomodulation. However, rigorous dereplication studies to identify active constituents in various T. cordifolia extracts and their fractions are lacking. In this review, we will summarize the current information regarding T. cordifolia's ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and safety in order to highlight its potential as an immunomodulatory dietary supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical and social impact of being overweight, as well as the difficulty in making long-term changes in diet, physical activity, and pitfalls associated with allopathic management, lure obese individuals to over-the-counter weight-loss herbal products (WHPs). However, the safety of herbals is questionable, as reports from all over the world suggest adulteration with synthetic weight loss agents. Objective: The present study was carried out to develop a rapid and sensitive method to screen potential weight loss adulterants in WHPs. Methodology: We procured 33 licensed brands of WHPs that are available in Puducherry (India) and through web stores. Drug-free spiked herbal matrices were used for internal proficiency testing. Spiked herbal matrices and samples were extracted and centrifuged. The supernatant was collected and subjected to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Isocratic elution was carried out by the mobile phase of methanol: 0.1% v/v formic acid (70%:30% v/v) through a C18 column. Analytes were monitored in electrospray ionization positive and negative modes, and an multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan was used. Results: Run time was 12 min. Intra- and inter-day precision was < 15% and recoveries were in the range of 99% to 115%. Limit of quantification (LOQ) of the analytes were in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 ng/ml. Conclusion: We developed a sensitive and rapid validated method for the detection of potential adulterants in WHPs. None of the WHPs analyzed were found to contain adulterants. The proposed method will be useful for routine monitoring. WHPs analyzed in this study were not adulterated indicating that WHPs from licensed sources are reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rise in antimicrobial resistance means that alternative approaches for the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infection (UTIs) are required., Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a D-mannose-based dietary supplement (D-mannose, citric acid, prebiotic fibers, Astragalus, and dandelion; DAPAD complex) for the treatment of uncomplicated acute E. coli UTIs., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from April 2021 to October 2021 in Rajalakshmi Hospital and Research Centre (Bangalore, India). The participants were nonmenopausal women with an acute uncomplicated E. coli UTI. UTI was diagnosed according to the presence of at least one urinary symptom and bacteriuria (>100 000 CFU/ml)., Intervention: The DAPAD complex was administered twice a day for 5 d, with phenazopyridine and alkalizing agents as the standard of care (SOC). The control group received placebo with SOC., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Subjective (clinical resolution/response) and objective (midstream bacteriuria) outcomes were evaluated at the end of therapy (day 6) and at day 35 of follow-up. Adverse events were recorded. Categorical variables were analyzed using χ 2 and Fisher's exact tests; a p value <0.05 was considered significant., Results and Limitations: Seventy women were enrolled and equally randomized to the two groups. Clinical resolution was higher in the DAPAD group at 6 d (34.3% vs 0%; p < 0.0001) and 35 d from baseline (88.6% vs 20%, p < 0.0001). At day 35, no patients in the DAPAD group had moderate or severe symptoms, whereas 25.7% (nine/35) and 11.4% (four/35) of patients in the placebo group had moderate and severe symptoms, respectively. Bacteriological resolution was also higher in the DAPAD group at day 6 (85.7% vs 14.3%; p < 0.0001) and day 35 (100% vs 40%; p < 0.0001). Three mild adverse events (4.26%) unrelated to the investigated product were recorded, all of which were medically treated., Conclusions: The DAPAD complex dietary supplement is effective and safe for treatment of acute uncomplicated E. coli UTIs., Patient Summary: Our results show that for nonmenopausal women with an uncomplicated Escherichia coli urinary tract infection, those treated with a dietary supplement (containing D-mannose, citric acid, prebiotic fibers, Astragalus, and dandelion) had a higher rate of clinical resolution or response than women who received a placebo., (Copyright © 2022 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and statins are the common drugs used to correct dyslipidemia. Herein, we report a case where the subject was a nondiabetic, dyslipidemia patient on medication with Rosuvastatin. After the intake of Rosuvastatin, his triglycerides decreased to a minimum of 220 mg/dL. In order to augment the action of Rosuvastatin, he was advised to take 1.5 mg of Nichi Glucan food supplement, which is a 1,3-1,6 Beta Glucan derived from the black yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans, daily for 2 months. At the end of 2 months, his triglyceride levels decreased from 523 mg/dL (at start of the study) to 175 mg/dL. His VLDL levels, which were 104.6 mg/dL at the start of the study decreased to 35 mg/dL and the HDL cholesterol levels increased from 27 to 38 mg/dL. This is a first of its kind report on the effect of the black yeast derived 1,3-1,6 Beta Glucans on dyslipidemia not associated with diabetes. Thus supplementation of Nichi Glucan, 1,3- 1,6 Beta Glucan derived from the black yeast along with the routine medications was beneficial to treat dyslipidemia and a larger trial is needed to confirm the effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with aberrations in the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid that result in development of secondary complications. Extensive studies have indicated that nutritional therapy plays a pivotal role in the controlling or postponing of development of these secondary complications. Several functional foods have been shown to possess hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Flax seed (FS) is a functional food that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants and is low in carbohydrates. In exploratory studies, FS was incorporated in recipes, which resulted in a reduction in the glycemic index of the food items. These observations prompted us to investigate the efficacy of FS supplementation in type 2 diabetics ( n == 29). Subjects were assigned to the experimental ( n == 18) or the control group ( n == 11) on the basis of their desire to participate in the study. The experimental group's diet was supplemented daily with 10 g of FS powder for a period of 1 month. The control group received no supplementation or placebo. During the study, diet and drug intake of the subjects remained unaltered. The efficacy of supplementation with FS was evaluated through a battery of clinico-biochemical parameters. Supplementation with FS reduced fasting blood glucose by 19.7%% and glycated hemoglobin by 15.6%%. A favorable reduction in total cholesterol (14.3%%), triglycerides (17.5%%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (21.8%%), and apolipoprotein B and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (11.9%%) were also noticed. These observations suggest the therapeutic potential of FS in the management of diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild edible fruits contribute significantly to the nutritional security of mankind across the globe. However, detailed analyses of health promoting bioactive compounds and antioxidants are lacking, especially in Himalayan wild edible fruits. Bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of 10 wild edible fruits reveal that Terminalia chebula, Phyllanthus emblica and Myrica esculenta are the richest source of total phenolics; Pyaracantha crenulata, Terminalia chebula and Berberis asiatica for flavonoids; Phyllanthus emblica, Morus alba and Ficus palmata for ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, and Morus alba for β-carotene. Phenolic compounds, i.e. Gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid varied among species and found the maximum in Terminalia chebula and Phyllanthus emblica. Antioxidant activity showed the significant relation with total phenolics, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Results indicated that these species should be promoted as a natural source of antioxidant/nutraceuticals so that these antioxidants can be used for supplementing dietary foods of mountain people., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)