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Background: Shankhpushpi is a well-known Ayurvedic memory enhancing medicine associated with controversy. Among the various varieties, Convolvulus pleuricaulis and Clitorea ternatia are widely used in commercial memory enhancing formulations under the name of Shankhpushpi. Convolvulus pleuricaulis is recognized as true shankhpushpi in North side of India, however in southern part of India, Clitorea ternatia is accepted as Shankhpushpi. Objectives: The present study aims to compare neuroprotective efficacy of C. pleuricaulis and C. ternatea by in vitro, in vivo methods and establish scientifically validated data to choose appropriate shankhpushpi variety for commercial use. Materials and Methods: Both herbs were extracted in the Soxhlet apparatus with 70% ethanol for 5 - 6 hours at 60 - 65° C. The presence of neuroprotective principles - taraxerol and scopoletin in extracts was confirmed by the Thin Layer Chromatography. The preliminary screening for neuroprotective efficacy of extracts was done by in vitro free radical scavenging, Acetyl cholinesterase enzyme inhibition and LOX enzyme level estimation. Invivo study of extracts included behavioral assessment of adult rats by Y maze, Morris water maze using scopolamine induced Alzheimer's disease like model. Result: Extracts of both C. pleuricaulis and C. ternatea significantly scavenged free radicals, inhibited acetyl cholinesterase and LOX enzyme in vitro. But in in-vivo study, significant retention of spatial and working memory was observed in rats administered with C. pleuricaulis as compared to C. ternatea. Conclusion: C. pleuricaulis more significantly shields against memory loss and dementia by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and memory impairment. Hence should be used in commericial neuroprotective formulation as chief source of Shankhpushpi instead of C. ternatea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethno-pharmacological relevance: The seeds of Sesamum indicum Linn. (Pedaliaceae) has been used traditionally for the treatment of wounds in Buldhana district of Maharashtra state. Sesamol is the main anti-oxidative constituent contained mainly in the processed sesame seed oil which has not been explored scientifically for its wound healing activity. Aim of the study: To investigate the influence of sesamol (SM) on wound repair, both in normal and dexamethasone (DM) delayed healing processes in albino rats. Materials and methods: Incision, excision and dead space wounds were inflicted on albino rats (180–220g) of either sex, under ketamine anaesthesia. Group I served as control, group II received SM 50mg/kg i.p., group III was treated with dexamethasone (DM) i.m. (0.17mg/kg) and SM+DM was given to group IV. The tensile strength, wound contraction, hydroxyproline, lysyl oxidase and total RNA and DNA levels (in granulation tissue) were measured. Results: The tensile strength significantly (p <0.05) increased with SM at 471.40±14.66g when compared to control at 300.60±9.16g in normal and DM suppressed healing. No significant change was observed in duration of wound contraction and lysyl oxidase when compared to control at 2.98±0.10mg. SM treated rats showed a significant (p <0.05) rise in hydroxyproline levels at 6.45±0.45mg when compared to control at 1.75±0.20mg. Conclusion: These results indicate that sesamol could be a promising drug in normal as well as delayed wound healing processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a debilitating collagen-metabolic disorder leading to submucosal fibrosis and trismus. Lysyl oxidase (LOX), a critical collagen biosynthetic enzyme, is up-regulated in OSF. Polymorphisms in the Lysyl oxidase gene have been associated with increased risk of OSF and might affect normal collagen synthesis, accumulation, or degradation, crucial in determining fibrosis severity., Methods: One hundred OSF cases and 100 controls were genotyped for LOX G473A(Arg158Gln) polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The expression of LOX was estimated both by quantitative mRNA analysis and western blot. Total soluble collagen was evaluated from mucosal tissue obtained from OSF cases. Immunohistochemical (IHC) localization of type 1 collagen was performed in mucosal tissue obtained from patients carrying various genotypes., Results: Heterozygous G473A genotype was significantly higher in OSF cases [2.063(95% CI =1.059-4.016)], among 26-40 years age-group [4.375(95% CI=1.323-14.267),p=0.029] and in male patients [2.38 (95% CI= 1.107-5.121), p= 0.042]. LOX expression was significantly higher in cases of the heterozygous or homozygous carrier (p <0.001). We found the total soluble collagen level significantly (p <0.001) higher among patients carrying GA or AA genotype. IHC revealed focal deposition of type1 collagen in the submucosal tissue; comparatively higher deposition was evident in mucosal tissue of OSF patients carrying AA genotype., Conclusions: These findings suggest LOX G473A polymorphism confers an increased risk of OSF and may affect collagen accumulation in OSF cases.