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Plumbagin is a naphthoquinone from the roots of the Plumbago species and exhibits anticancer activity. Translational usage of plumbagin in biomedical sciences is restricted due to its poor solubility and bioavailability. Therefore, pH-responsive plumbagin-loaded vaginal nanoformulations with polylactic acid (PLA)-chitosan polymeric coat were fabricated by inotropic gelation technique. Among the four (F1, F2, F3, F4) nanoformulations prepared, F3 exhibited good interaction of polymers with plumbagin as evidenced by FTIR, XRD, and thermal analysis. The positive zeta potential (48.4 ± 5.57 mV), optimal size (694 ± 65.76 nm), low PDI (0.157), and good encapsulation efficiency (77.8 ± 3.62%) of F3 were significant. The indirect method of drug loading (58.35 ± 5.00%) confirmed the drug content of about 495.44 ± 5.00 µg of plumbagin in 1 mg of F3. The drug loading pattern was confirmed by TEM analysis, and the spherical morphology of the nanocomposite was confirmed by SEM analysis. F3 formulation showed 46% and 25.2% of drug release in 24 h in simulated vaginal fluid at pH 4.5 and 7 respectively with sustained release and hydrolyses of lactic acid from PLA. Among all the nanoformulations evaluated, nanoformulation F3 with promising physicochemical properties showed good antifungal and antibacterial activity against various fungal and bacterial strains. F3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity with an IC50 of 3.6 ± 0.12 µg/ml for HeLa and an IC50 of 0.81 ± 0.01 µg/ml for SiHa cells. Altogether, the nanoformulation F3 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against vaginal infections and cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cell lines., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Scientists around the globe have done cutting-edge research to facilitate the delivery of poorly absorbed drugs via various routes of administration and different delivery systems. The vaginal route of administration has emerged as a promising mode of drug delivery, attributed to its anatomy and physiology. Novel drug delivery systems overcome the demerits of conventional systems via nanobiotechnology. This review will focus on the disorders associated with women that are currently targeted by vaginal drug delivery systems. In addition, it will provide insights into innovations in drug formulations for the general benefit of women., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), owing to the low cost and abundance of selenium. However, the toxicity of SeNP prompts the development of a selenium nanocomposite (SeNC) containing pectin, keratin, and ferulic acid to improve the bioactivity of Se[0]. Further, incorporating the SeNC in a suitable formulation for drug delivery as a transdermal patch was worth studying. Accordingly, various analytical techniques were used to characterize the SeNPs and the SeNC, confirming successful synthesis and encapsulation. The SeNC exhibited notable particle size of 448.2 ± 50.2 nm, high encapsulation efficiency (98.90 % ± 2.4 %), 28.1 ± 0.45 drug loading, and sustained drug release at pH 5.5. Zeta potential and XPS confirmed the zero-oxidation state. The supramolecular structure was evident from spectral analysis endorsing the semi-crystalline nature of the SeNC and SEM images showcasing flower-shaped structures. Further, the SeNC demonstrated sustained drug release (approx. 22 % at 48 h) and wound-healing potential in L929 fibroblast cells. Subsequently, the SeNC loaded into a gelling agent exhibited shear thinning properties and improved drug release by nearly 58 %. A 3D printed reservoir-type transdermal patch was developed utilizing the SeNC-loaded gel, surpassing commercially available patches in characteristics such as % moisture uptake, tensile strength, and hydrophobicity. The patch, evaluated through permeation studies and CAM assay, exhibited controlled drug release and angiogenic properties for enhanced wound healing. The study concludes that this patch can serve as a smart dressing with tailored functionality for different wound stages, offering a promising novel drug delivery system for wound healing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study identifies the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory potential of a fatty acid methyl ester segregated from the brown algae Turbinaria ornata and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry as methyl 6,12-dimethyltridecanoate (ET). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ET were studied on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory reaction in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, in silico docking studies of isolated ET with inflammatory markers TNFα, NFκB, and COX-2 showed potent binding scores suggesting anti-inflammatory potential. ET significantly reduced LPO and increased LPS-induced SOD, catalase, and GSH levels. Molecular docking results were further confirmed by checking mRNA levels of selected cytokines (IL6 and IL10), followed by protein expression of iNOS and NFκB in LPS-induced macrophages. ET significantly upregulated the expression of IL10 and downregulated the expression of IL6, iNOS, and NFκB, confirming the inhibition of LPS-induced inflammation via the iNOS/NFκB pathway., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Diabetes, the cause of colossal economic and disease burden, is a key area of research in drug discovery programs. Elevated blood glucose levels in diabetes lead to several adverse consequences due to the formation of advanced glycation end products and free radicals. Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant, protects the body's cells and tissues from oxidative damage and dysfunctions. Glucose is the precursor of Vitamin C synthesis in plants and some mammals. L-gulono lactone oxidase (GULO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in producing Vitamin C. However, it is not synthesized in bats, primates, humans, and guinea pigs because of the pseudogene. Several phytomolecules having antioxidant properties are hypothesized to be promising and selective activators of GULO. Therefore, the present study focused on screening agonists of GULO from phytomolecules as an effective augmentor for Vitamin C synthesis, thereby suppressing the sequela of diabetic events. The 3D structure of GULO was generated by the ab-initio method. Subsequently, molecular docking explored the possible binding patterns of GULO protein with different plant phenolic compounds, followed by supplementation of the potent phytomolecules to diabetic guinea pigs. It is noteworthy that Resveratrol and Hydroxytyrosol showed better binding affinity. The molecular simulation also confirmed that Resveratrol is an activator of the GULO enzyme. Interestingly, it was also established that Vitamin C levels were improved in diabetic guinea pigs supplemented with the phytomolecules and comparatively Resveratrol modulates the concentration of glucose and Vitamin C levels substantially, thereby alleviating hyperglycemia. However, further studies are warranted to study the mechanisms.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

"Thamira parpam" (TP), a copper-based herbometallic oxide (copper (II) oxide) nanodrug has been used in Siddha medicine for centuries because of its anti-ulcerogenic property. However, the physicochemical properties and in vivo toxicity of TP still remain elusive. Rigorous clinical translation requires deciphering these vital properties. We have synthesized TP following a gold standard protocol in the traditional Siddha methodology. We assessed the size, phase, elemental constituents, and thermal stability of TP by SEM and TEM, XRD, EPR, and EDAX analyses, respectively. The results depicted the conversion of metallic copper into copper (II) oxide in the final stages of TP preparation and exhibited nanodimensions ranging between 10 and 50 nm. The XPS spectra revealed the presence of oxygen-deficient state and a carbonaceous coating was found on the surface of TP using TEM analysis. In vivo safety was studied in rat toxicity models by adopting OECD guidelines. Body weight changes, feed, and water intake were unaltered upon TP administration. Hematological, biochemical profiling, and histopathological findings also suggested its nontoxic nature with no abnormalities in major organs and its functions. Interestingly, we found that the metal toxicity could have been subdued because of the carbonaceous coating around the nanoparticle copper (II) oxide, confirming that the drug is safe at a low dose. Overall, our study has enlightened the safety of TP supporting the use of Siddha formulations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Royapuram Parthasarathy, Manikandamathavan, Chandronitha, Vasanthi, Mohan, Vijayakumar, Shanmugam, Sekaran, Unni Nair, Chamundeeswari and Thyagarajan.)

Background: Inflammation and oxidative stress are common pathologies in a wide range of chronic diseases. Polysaccharides are known to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential and are suggested to possess immunomodulatory potential., Purpose: Herein, the immunomodulatory activity of a sulfated polysaccharide (PS) separated from a brown marine algae Turbinaria ornata is studied in LPS instigated systemic inflammation in experimental rats., Study Design and Methods: Male SD rats are pretreated with different doses of PS (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg bw) for a week followed by inducing systemic inflammation using LPS (10 mg/kg i.p.). Blood withdrawn after 8 h of LPS injection is subjected to hematological analysis (WBC, HCT, and PLT). After 24 h of LPS induction, cardiac tissue was isolated and subjected to biochemical, molecular, and histopathological analysis. Effect of PS pre-treatment (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg bw) was checked by assessing serum parameters (AST, CK-MB, and γGT), antioxidant markers (LPO, GSH, SOD, Grx) and inflammatory markers (IL1β, IL6, IL10, NFκB), followed by analyzing the iNOS, PI3k and Akt to identify the probable mode of action., Results: Elevated levels of AST, CK-MB, and γGT in serum were significantly reduced on PS pretreatment. LPS significantly raised the LPO and Grx levels in heart tissue whereas, PS pre-treatment significantly reduced LPO and Grx levels. GSH and SOD levels were reduced upon LPS induction and were brought to near normal by HD of PS. PS also reduced the mRNA levels of IL6, Trx, and increased IL10 levels in the heart tissue substantiating its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potency. Further, IL1β, NFκB, iNOS, and pPI3k/pAkt expressions were significantly modulated by PS in the cardiac tissue substantiating the immunomodulatory effect. A trend of improvement in the inflammatory pathology was also observed in the heart tissue compared to LPS control, as confirmed by histopathology analysis., Conclusion: Altogether, this study concludes the immunomodulatory potential of PS from the marine macroalgae Turbinaria ornata significantly and prevents LPS induced systemic inflammation in the cardiac tissue presumably influenced by the glucopyranose and fucopyranose subunits in the polysaccharide., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

A sedentary lifestyle combined with the intake of high-calorie diet has been the paramount cause of metabolic syndrome (MS) which is now a serious concern of public health worldwide as it involves the coexistence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, glucose intolerance, and obesity. Hence, identifying a suitable strategy to overcome the worldwide menace of MS is imperative. Macrotyloma uniflorum a lesser known legume is highly nutritious and notable for its ethano-medicinal potential. Herein, the influence of M. uniflorum in high-fat dietinduced metabolic changes in a rodent model of metabolic syndrome was evaluated. Serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-c, and bodyweight were decreased, whereas HDL-c was increased in M. uniflorum-treated MS rats. The protein expression (AMPK-α, PPAR-α, and PPAR-γ) and gene expression (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, UCP2, NF-κB, and IL-6) results are impressive to highlight that M. uniflorum modulates the pathological conditions of MS and proves to be cardioprotective. Furthermore, the histopathological analysis confirmed the pathological changes and substantiates the influence of M. uniflorum to overcome MS. The HPLC and GC (MS) profiling reveals the presence of an array of polyphenols such as rutin (694.61 μg/g), catechin (500.12 μg/g), epicatechin (158.10 μg/g), gallic acid (17.98 μg/g), ferulic acid (10.911 μg/g), daidzein (6.51 μg/g), and PUFA, respectively, which probably exhibits the therapeutic effect on MS and associated complications by modulating lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Metabolic disorders like CVD and diabetes are leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. With emerging issues on adverse effects of modern drugs, the emphasis on "Food is Medicine and Medicine as Food" has taken dramatic dimensions in the healthcare sector. Therefore, nutraceuticals are in great demand in the developed world off late. Legumes, are potent elements in a balanced diet next to cereals. Exploring the medicinal properties of legumes could bring a revolution in public health and nutraceutical industries. This study scientifically validated the phytochemicals in M. uniflorum for its functional potential in the management of Metabolic Syndrome (MS). This study would help the nutraceutical industries to develop functional foods using M. uniflorum seeds to make porridges and soups or nutraceutical supplements with the bioflavonoids isolated from M. uniflorum for the management of metabolic disorders by mitigating hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The article has been retracted by the Editorial office of the journal Current Pharmaceutical Design, due to some inconsistencies in the article [1]. The article appeared to be copied verbatim from published papers. Upon checking these facts, we have established that considerable portions of this review are made up of text copied verbatim from other published material. The Publisher has retracted this article in accordance with good ethical practices. REFERENCE [1] Vasanthi HR, Parameswari RP and Das DK. Tocotrienols and its Role in Cardiovascular Health- a Lead for Drug Design. Curr Pharm Des 2011; 17(21): 2170-5. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Retraction can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php. Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The article "Potential health benefits of broccoli- a chemico-biological overview, published in Mini-Rev Med Chem 2009 Jun;9(6):749-59. By Hannah R. Vasanthi, Subhendu Mukherjee and Dipak K. Das" has been retracted by the Editorial office of the journal Mini-reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, as the text in this review article are from sources which have been retracted or under investigation on the basis of data fabrication and falsification, authorship misconduct, duplicate publication, unethical research practices, text recycling/self-plagiarism, and unresolved concerns about data integrity and research conduct. The authors were informed of this complaint and were requested to give justification on the matter in their defense [1]. Some sources that have been retracted are as follows: 1) Agarwal et al. Dynamic Action of Carotenoids in Cardioprotection and Maintenance of Cardiac Health, Molecules 2012, 17, 4755-4769. http: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24896014/ 2) Nagendran Balasundram, KalyanaSundram, SamirSamman. Phenolic compounds in plants and agri-industrial byproducts: Antioxidant activity, occurrence, and potential uses. Food Chemistry 2006, 99(1), 191-203. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814605006242 Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Retraction can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php. REFERENCES [1] Hannah R Vasanthi, Subhendu Mukherjee, Dipak K Das. Potential health benefits of broccoli- a chemico-biological overview. Mini Rev Med Chem., 2009, 9(6), 749-759. doi: 10.2174/138955709788452685. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19519500/ Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Marine macroalgae known for its polysaccharides exhibit potent biomedical properties and its potential as an anti-inflammatory agent has increased in the recent past as inflammation is a major pathology noted in many chronic diseases., Purpose: The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory potential of a sulfated polysaccharide (PS) isolated from the marine algae Turbinaria ornata collected from the Indian waters on LPS induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages., Study Design and Methods: PS isolated from the macroalgae was characterized using ESI(MS) and was screened for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in RAW 264.7 cells by assessing markers of oxidative stress, and inflammation., Results: LPS significantly increased the levels of LPO and LDH in RAW 264.7 cells which were significantly reduced in PS pre-treatment groups. Pretreatment significantly increased the antioxidants GSH and SOD and significantly reduced mRNA levels of IL6 and TNFα in vitro confirming its anti-inflammatory potential. NFκB and iNOS were significantly modulated by PS confirming the probable mode of action., Conclusion: Altogether, it can be concluded that PS isolated from Turbinaria ornata collected from the Southeast Coast of India exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential probably mediated by the sulfated polysaccharide containing glucopyranose and fucopyranose moieties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cholest-4-ene-3,6-dione (KS) is a cholesterol oxidation product which exhibits anti-proliferative activity. However, its precise mechanism of action remains unknown. In this study, the effects of KS on AKR1C3 inhibition and anti-proliferative activities were investigated in the hormone-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We identified that KS arrested the enzymatic conversion of estrone to 17-β estradiol, by inhibiting AKR1C3 in intact MCF-7 cells. The anti-proliferative effects of KS were evaluated by MTT assay, acridine orange and ethidium bromide dual staining, cell cycle analysis and Western blotting. KS arrested the cell cycle progression in the G1 phase with a concomitant increase of the Sub-G0 population to increase in concentration and time. It also enhanced the p53 and NFkB expression and induced caspase-12, 9 and 3 processing and down-regulated the Bcl-2 expression. Molecular docking studies performed to understand the inhibition mechanism of KS on AKR1C3 revealed that KS occupied the binding region of AKR1C3 with almost similar orientation as indomethacin (IM), thereby acting as an antagonistic agent for AKR1C3. Based on the results it is identified that KS induces inhibition of AKR1C3 and cell death in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that KS can be used as a molecular scaffold for further development of novel small-molecules with better specificity towards AKR1C3., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the notorious diabetes associated complications. Despite many therapeutic strategies available, metabolic control of DN continues to poses a challenge. In this study, the interactions of mangiferin with selected oral hypoglycemic drugs, metformin and gliclazide to effectively alleviate the symptoms of renal injury in DN are evaluated. Male Sprague Dawley rats were used as experimental model and type II diabetes was induced by administration of high fat diet and low dose streptozotocin. Oral intervention of mangiferin with metformin and gliclazide for a period of 28 days was given to diabetic rats. At the end of the treatment period, biochemical parameters, kidney function markers, anti-oxidant enzymes levels, oxidative stress mediated gene expression and histology were analysed. Significant reduction in the serum biochemical markers (glucose, urea and creatinine) were observed in the groups treated with combination drugs. Marked improvement in the combination treated groups in terms of inflammation and oxidative damage in the gene (TNFα, NFκB, TGFβ, VEGF, PKC) and protein expression (NFκB, VEGF) were noted in the kidney tissue alleviating the symptoms of DN. These results were further corroborated with histopathological results. Scientific data in the present study reveals that the combinations of mangiferin with the oral hypoglycemic drugs have been favorable in alleviating renal injury. Hence, a combination therapy to alleviate the vascular complication, diabetic nephropathy may be considered as a possible therapeutic strategy by including natural phytocompounds as an add on therapy to conventional oral hypoglycemic drugs.

The publisher made a mistake in the published version of this article.

This study investigates the mode of action of Neophytadiene (MT), a molecule isolated from a marine algae Turbinaria ornata in LPS-induced inflammation in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Neophytadiene (25, 50, 100 μM/mL) was treated to LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages cells to identify its anti-inflammatory potential by measuring the level of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nitric oxide (NO) using Griess reagent. The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL-6 and IL-10), and the protein expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were quantified by Western blot analysis. Subsequently, Neophytadiene (12, 25, 50 mg/kg b.wt/p.o) was pre-treated for 7 days to the experimental animals followed by LPS (10 mg/kg) injection interaperitonially. After LPS induction, blood was collected and the haematological parameters were analysed followed by isolation of heart tissue for biochemical molecular and histopathological analysis Neophytadiene significantly inhibited the NO production and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 both in in vitro and in vivo conditions. Further, the expression of TNF-α, IL1β, NF-κB, iNOS, PI3k/Akt and MAPK in the heart tissue was modulated by Neophytadiene significantly confirming the anti-inflammatory potential. Thus, the effect of Neophytadiene on LPS-induced cardiac injury can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory antioxidant and cardioprotective properties.

The article entitled "Phytochemicals from Plants to Combat Cardiovascular Disease", by Hannah R. Vasan-thi, Nitin ShriShri Mal, Dilip Kumar Das, published in Curr. Med. Chem. 2012; 19(14): 224251. https://www.eurekaselect.com/97287/article has been retracted on a complaint of plagiarism with a previously pub-lished article entitled "Resveratrol in cardiovascular health and disease" in the journal Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences as Ann N Y Acad Sci . 2011 Jan;1215:22-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05843.x The authors were informed of this complaint and were requested to give justification on the matter, in their de-fence. However, no reply was received from them in this regard. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Inflammation and pain, mainly induced by the prostaglandins synthesized by the cyclooxygenase enzymes, may cause distress. To overcome this unpleasant stress in a safer manner, numerous natural molecules are proven for modulating the COX enzymes. Epicatechin and daidzein are two bioactive natural compounds present in horsegram, a legume known for its medicinal properties., Objective: The present study aims at evaluating the potential of horsegram, and some of its bioactive molecules, to be used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent mediated by the inhibition of COX enzymes, which can be recommended as a substitute for chemically synthesized NSAIDs., Methods: The present work involved the quantification of epicatechin and daidzein present in horsegram seeds. The COX enzyme inhibitory nature of epicatechin and daidzein was tested using in silico docking analysis with Autodock software and was further confirmed by in vitro COX inhibitory biochemical assays. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the horsegram seeds were evaluated in animal experiments., Results: Horsegram seeds contain 158.1 microgram/g and 6.51 microgram/g of epicatechin and daidzein respectively. The docking studies reveal that both the bioactive molecules exhibit better binding efficiency with COX-2 protein as compared to COX-1. Hence, in vitro COX-2 inhibitory assay was performed for epicatechin, daidzein and compared with known analgesic agent diclofenac which revealed a pronounced dose dependent inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of horsegram in experimental animals exhibited a dose dependent effect which might be due to the presence of the bioactive compounds such as epicatechin and daidzein., Conclusion: The results suggest that epicatechin and daidzein present in horsegram are potent cyclooxygenase inhibitors and thus would be helpful in the management of inflammation and pain., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) is a spice and also an herbal medicine used worldwide for managing GI tract disturbances. However, its role in gastric cancer is sparingly known. This study ensures the standardization of gastric cancer by the induction of N -nitroso N -methyl Urea (MNU) and to determine the role of the aqueous extract of ginger (AGE) in MNU-induced gastric cancer in albino Wistar rats. Accordingly, the anticancer potential of AGE and its possible mode of action were assessed on rats exposed to MNU, by various biochemical and molecular assays. As evidenced by the extent of lipid peroxidation, gastrin levels and histopathological sections in MNU-induced cancerous lesions at 8 wk which was stabilized at 16 wk confirming the induction of gastric carcinoma by the chemical carcinogen. Further, results revealed that AGE alleviated the oxidative stress as evidenced by the stomach antioxidant enzymes (SOD, catalase, GPx, and GR), markers of oxidative stress (TRx, GRx) and Gastrin, a specific marker for gastric cancer and a decreased level of pro-inflammatory markers (NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6, PGE 2 ) which was further confirmed by histopathological analysis. AGE is responsible to mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation related to gastric cancer and could be used as a potential dietary intervention in gastric cancer therapy.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Spermacoce hispida (S.hispida), a potential medicinal plant has been traditionally used as an antibacterial, antieczemic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic agent. Although, this plant has been claimed to protect against oxidative injury and inflammatory conditions in recent studies, its cardioprotective effect and the active constituents responsible for its bioactivity is sparsely studied. Hence this work is undertaken to study the active biomolecule responsible for modulating the cardiomyocytes on hypoxic injury relevant to its ethanopharmacology., Aim of the Study: The current study is to isolate and characterize a bioactive molecule from S.hispida, which exhibits protection against hypoxic injury in an in vitro hypoxic model of cultured H9c2 cardiomyocytes., Materials and Methods: The methanolic extract of S.hispida plant was fractionated with various solvents sequentially. The ethyl acetate fraction that was concentrated and chromatographed over silica gel column eluted 18 fractions, which yielded 5 compounds, which were characterized using spectral data. The isolated new compound was further tested for its protective effect against hypoxic injury, wherein cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) was used to induce hypoxia in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. To evaluate the protective effect of the isolated compound, the markers of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell death were checked by endogenous levels of antioxidants, [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH)], lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and immunoblot (HIF-α, Bcl2, Bax, procaspase and cleaved caspase-3)., Results: Among the five compounds isolated and characterized from S. hispida methanolic extract, β-sitosterol, ursolic acid, quercetin and rutin were known phytochemicals, while the new isoflavone was identified as dalspinin-7-0-β-D-galactopyranoside (DBG). Among the isolated compounds, the antioxidant potential of DBG confirmed by DPPH free radical scavenging and ORAC assays was superior. CoCl 2 -induced hypoxic condition significantly decreased cell viability, SOD activity, GSH concentration and increased the level of MDA and LDH activity. Western blot studies revealed an upregulation of HIF-1α, Bax and caspase and down regulation of Bcl-2 expression. The oxidative abnormalities were ameliorated by DBG pretreatment, as deduced by the reduced CoCl 2 -induced cytotoxicity, MDA concentration, LDH activity and the expression of HIF-1α, Bax and caspase and the enhanced levels of SOD, GSH and Bcl2 expression in a dose-dependent manner., Conclusion: DBG protects H9c2 cells from CoCl 2 -induced hypoxic damage by mitigating oxidative stress and preserving cell viability. The overall findings highlight the protective action of DBG, a potential source of antioxidant of natural origin against hypoxic injury and may help in mitigating the progress of oxidative stress in cardiac cell death., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Diabetes mellitus poses serious threat to the global population due to the alarming diabetic complications it leads to. The current therapeutic options available can be improved for better efficiency and maximum benefits. Combination therapy has been commonly used to improve the efficacy and to minimize the side effects of drugs in current clinical use., Purpose: The present study aims to assess the interaction between a natural molecule mangiferin with the commercially available oral hypoglycemic drugs metformin and gliclazide in diabetic rats., Methods: In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity and glucose uptake studies were performed in HepG2 cells. Based on experimental data, the combination index of the hypoglycemic drugs like metformin and gliclazide in combination with different doses of mangiferin was determined using COMPUSYN software. Further, in vivo studies were performed in HFD + STZ induced diabetic male Sprague Dawley rats. Serum parameters, enzyme markers, hepatic oxidative stress markers, gene and protein expression studies and histopathological analyses were performed in rat liver to identify the mode of action of the combination drug administration., Results: The in vitro studies on HepG2 cells suggest a positive interaction of mangiferin with both metformin and gliclazide at specific concentrations as evidenced by glucose uptake. The hepatic enzymes, oxidative stress markers, carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, gene (AMPK, Akt, ACC β and Glut-2) and protein (PPARα, PPARγ) expression confirmed the results of the in vitro studies. Both the combinations of mangiferin with metformin and mangiferin with gliclazide exhibited potent antidiabetic effect. The combination of mangiferin with metformin was insulin dependent (Akt pathway) whereas the combination of mangiferin and gliclazide was insulin independent (AMPK pathway)., Conclusion: The overall results suggest that combination of mangiferin with both metformin and gliclazide alleviates diabetic conditions potentially at specific doses and modulates the adverse effect of high dose of commonly used OHD's. This combination therapy can be translated for its clinical use as a diabetes management strategy., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Correction for 'Protective role of air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) of yam family in myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury' by Hannah Rachel Vasanthi et al., Food Funct., 2010, 1, 278-283.

Background: Cardiovascular disease and its related deaths are increasing in the modern world. Therefore, there is a need to identify a plant based nutraceutical supplement with potent activity., Hypothesis/purpose: Reportedly, the protective effect of the rutin in hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes is due to the activation of molecular networks related to programmed cell death., Study Design-Methods: Phytochemical methods and advanced analytical methods were employed to isolate natural products from Spermococe hispida their effects in cardiomyocyets., Results: We reports herein that CoCl 2 -induced hypoxic condition significantly decreased cell viability as evidenced by MTT assay and cell cycle analysis. Western blot studies revealed an up-regulation of HIF-1α, BAX and caspase and down-regulation of BCl-2 expression, followed by modulation of Akt, p-Akt, p38 and p-p38. The oxidative abnormalities were ameliorated by rutin pretreatment, as deduced by the reduced CoCl 2 -induced cytotoxicity, MDA concentration and LDH activity and the enhanced levels of GSH and SOD in a dose-dependent manner. Rutin protects H9c2 cells from CoCl 2 -induced hypoxic damage by mitigating oxidative stress and preserving cell viability by modulating the antiapoptotic proteins., Conclusion: The overall findings reinforce the cardioprotective action of rutin, a potential source of antioxidant of natural origin, which may help in mitigating the progress of oxidative stress in hypoxic conditions such as myocardial infarction and stroke., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a monocotyledonous herb, is widely used as an herbal medicine owing to the phytoconstituents it possesses. In the current study, the quantity of [6]-gingerol, the major phenolic ketone, in the fresh ginger and dried ginger rhizome was found to be 6.11 µg/mg and 0.407 µg/mg. Furthermore, [6]-gingerol was assessed for its antiapoptotic effects in human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells evidenced by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining technique and Annexin-V assay. An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation led to a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and subsequent induction of apoptosis. Results disclose that perturbations in MMP are associated with deregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio at protein level, which leads to upregulation of cytochrome-c triggering the caspase cascade. These enduringly suggest that [6]-gingerol can be effectively used for targeting the mitochondrial energy metabolism to manage gastric cancer cells., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

T. ornata a macroalgae rich in bioactive molecules possess various biological activities. Herein, the aim of the study is to evaluate the aqueous extract and the sulphated polysaccharide isolated from T. ornata for its anti-arthritic potential in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in rats. Anti-arthritic potential of aqueous T. ornata (ATO) and T. ornata sulphated polysaccharide (TSP) was evidenced by the significant reduction in paw volume and arthritic score. Inflammatory and antioxidant markers were found to be restored in the drug treated groups which was found to be in line with dexamethasone a standard anti-inflammatory drug. The histopathological and radiological examination adds on the support to the above findings confirming the anti-arthritic potential of ATO and TSP. It is interesting to note that the sulphated polysaccharide inhibits inflammation and bone damage at very low dose itself. Hence, TSP could be considered as a better candidate in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

In this chapter, we focus on the microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) that have been found in the mitochondrial compartment, and target either mitochondrial or nuclear encoded genes present in mitochondria, leading to an alteration of mitochondrial function. We term this subset of miRNAs as "MitomiRs".

Turbinaria ornata, a commonly found marine brown algae along the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory potential and the bioactive compound present in it was characterized. Cotton pellet induced granuloma model in rats was used to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous extract of Turbinaria ornata (ATO) (30, 100 and 300mg/kg, p.o) which was compared with dexamethasone (0.1mg/kg, p.o) a standard anti-inflammatory agent. Granuloma weight, haematological parameters and plasma markers (LDH, GPT, and CRP) were estimated. Further, the levels of oxidative stress markers (SOD, GPx, GSH, LPO, and Nitrite) and inflammatory markers (Cathepsin D and MPO) in the hepatic tissue were measured. ATO decreased the granuloma weight dose dependently. ATO significantly reversed the levels of biochemical and inflammatory markers in comparison to the vehicle treated rats. The active constituent, fucoidan (sulphated polysaccharide) from the aqueous extract was fractionated and characterized using GCMS. The sulphated polysaccharide (TSP) from ATO confirms the presence of sulphates and sugars. The present findings suggest ATO to be a potent inhibitor of both proliferative and exudative phases of inflammation possibly mediated by the sulphated polysaccharides which might inhibit the action of COX-2 enzyme analogous to dexamethasone., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. (Family - Nymphaeaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant used in the Indian ayurvedic system of medicine for treating diabetes. The seeds especially have been prescribed for diabetes. The hydroalcoholic extract of N. nouchali seeds has been demonstrated to possess anti-hyperglycemic effects in diabetic rats, but the functional mechanism remains unknown. The nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is noted to play an important role in glucose and lipid homeostasis. This study was hence focused in evaluating the effect of the extract on PPARγ activation, adipocyte differentiation, and glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 cells. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), followed by adipogenesis assay using Oil Red O technique. Glucose consumption of preadipocytes and adipocytes in the presence of the extract was also determined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the expression of genes involved in glucose consumption in the adipocytes. MTT assay confirmed the extract to be nontoxic, and Oil Red O staining confirmed enhanced adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The extract also increased the expression of PPARγ target gene, which in turn enhanced the expression of GLUT-4. The data, therefore, suggests that N. nouchali seed extract promotes adipocyte differentiation and glucose consumption by inducing PPARγ activation, which in turn increases mRNA GLUT-4 expression and subsequently enhances insulin-responsiveness in insulin target tissues.

Introduction: Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition affecting tooth supporting structures in which dysregulated immune response and oxidative stress mediate tissue destruction. Melatonin, the pineal gland hormone is a regulator of circadian rhythm, an antioxidant and an immunomodulator. Previous studies have shown lowered melatonin levels in saliva, plasma and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontal disease. Till date no study has assessed the melatonin levels in gingival tissues., Materials and Methods: Five healthy individuals and 15 chronic periodontitis patients were recruited for this pilot study. 5ml of whole saliva, 2 ml peripheral blood and gingival tissue samples were obtained from each individual at 8.00 am in fasting state. Melatonin assay was performed with a commercially available ELISA kit. Statistical analysis was done to assess the difference in mean melatonin levels among the groups., Results: No statistically significant difference was found in mean melatonin levels between healthy individuals and chronic periodontitis patients in saliva (p=.266) and plasma (p=.933) samples, whereas in gingival tissue samples (p=.015), the melatonin levels were significantly lowered in chronic periodontitis patients compared to healthy individuals., Conclusion: This study demonstrates the presence of melatonin in gingival tissue. Furthermore, melatonin levels are lowered in gingival tissues of chronic periodontitis patients.

Early detection of disease plays a crucial role for treatment planning and prognosis. Saliva has great potential as a diagnostic fluid and offers advantage over serum and other biological fluids by an economic and noninvasive collection method for monitoring of systemic health and disease progression. The plethora of components in this fluid can act as biomarkers for diagnosis of various systemic and local diseases. In this review paper, we have emphasized the role of salivary biomarkers as diagnostic tools.

It was proposed that resveratrol, a polyphenolic antioxidant and a calorie restriction mimetic could promote longevity but subsequent studies could not prove this. The original proposal was based on the fact that a grape-derived antioxidant could activate the antiaging gene Sirt1. Most studies agree that indeed grape activates Sirt1, but a question remains whether Sirt1 is the cause or consequence of resveratrol treatment. Subsequently, mitochondrial Sirt3 was found to be activated. The present study on ischemic reperfusion (I/R) in rat hearts demonstrates that Foxo3a is activated subsequent to Sirt3 activation, which then activates PINK1. PINK1 potentiates activation of PARKIN leading to the activation of mitochondrial fission and mitophagy. Confocal microscopy conclusively shows the coexistence of Sirt3 with Foxo3a and Foxo3a with PINK1 and PARKIN. Mitophagy was demonstrated both by confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Western blot analyses data are consistent with the results of confocal microscopy. It appears that the grape-derived antioxidant modifies the intracellular environment by changing the oxidizing milieu into a reducing milieu and upregulating intracellular glutathione, potentiates a signal transduction cascade consisting of Sirt1/Sirt3-Foxo3a-PINK1-PARKIN-mitochondrial fusion fission-mitophagy that leads to cardioprotection, and paves the way to an anti-aging environment.

Diosgenin a steroidal saponin found widely in nature is reported to contain several biological activities in recent years. The present work elaborates the modulation of the lipid and antioxidant profile by Diosgenin in diabetic condition. Type 2 diabetes was induced in experimental animals by feeding high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks followed by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (sub-diabetogenic dose; 35 mg/kg body weight). Diosgenin administered orally at two doses (40 and 80 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days reduced hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia (p<0.001). Oxidative stress a crucial marker of diabetes and obesity associated complications was analyzed and noteworthy changes were observed. Improved levels of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx and a minimized level of lipid peroxidation were also observed in Diosgenin treated rats. Further, analyzing the lipid accumulation by Oil Red O staining in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes confirmed its adipogenic activity which was influenced by PPAR γ and PPAR α. This was also substantiated through docking studies of Diosgenin with the PPARs. Altogether, Diosgenin a phytochemical of natural origin is found to mitigate diabetes induced oxidative stress and dyslipidemia which is crucial in cardio-metabolic risks by modulating the PPARs., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Longevinex, a nutraceutical formulation containing Resveratrol as the main component along with other polyphenolics exhibits diverse health benefits but systemic safety studies are lacking. Hence, to test the safety of Longevinex use for therapeutic purposes, 50 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10; 5M, 5F) wherein group I as vehicle treated control, group II and group III received 50 mg and 100 mg of plain Resveratrol respectively and group IV and group V received 50 mg and 100 mg of Longevinex respectively for a period of 28 days. All toxicological parameters were analyzed as per OECD-407 guidelines. Results showed treatment with Resveratrol and Longevinex did not result in any mortality of rats neither did they exhibit any clinical signs of toxicity. Hematological and biochemical analysis of serum enzymes and metabolites were not significantly altered between Longevinex and control rats. Likewise, histopathological analysis for various organs did not reveal significant changes in the vital organs of the treated rats. The study revealed that there were no significant treatment related adverse effects in rats exposed to Longevinex for 28 days and considered safe at the given dose where compared to plain Resveratrol., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Tinospora cordifolia is a well reported plant possessing numerous medicinal values including anti-diabetic property. Aim of the present study is to study the mechanism of action of Tinospora cordifolia and its active compound in differentiated myocytes, L6 cells. Key marker of diabetes in cells is the insulin dependent glucose transporter-4 (Glut-4) which also responds to exogenous chemicals, and is over expressed up to 5- and 4-fold, by Tinospora cordifolia and palmatine, respectively. Next to Glut-4, the predominant protein influencing glucose metabolism is PPARα and γ whose expressions were also positively modulated. Further, the inhibitors of insulin pathway prevented glucose uptake mediated by Tinospora cordifolia and palmatine which shows that the activity is majorly mediated through insulin pathway., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Oxidative stress has been considered universally and undeniably implicated in the pathogenesis of all major diseases, including those of the cardiovascular system. Oxidative stress activate transcriptional messengers, such as nuclear factor-κB, tangibly contributing to endothelial dysfunction, the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, irreversible damage after ischemic reperfusion, and even arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Evidence is rapidly accumulating to support the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) as intracellular signaling molecules. Despite this connection between oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD), there are currently no recognized therapeutic interventions to address this important unmet need. Antioxidants that provide a broad, "upstream" approach via ROS/RNS quenching or free radical chain breaking seem an appropriate therapeutic option based on epidemiologic, dietary, and in vivo animal model data. Short-term dietary intervention trials suggest that diets rich in fruit and vegetable intake lead to improvements in coronary risk factors and reduce cardiovascular mortality. Carotenoids are such abundant, plant-derived, fat-soluble pigments that functions as antioxidants. They are stored in the liver or adipose tissue, and are lipid soluble by becoming incorporated into plasma lipoprotein particles during transport. For these reasons, carotenoids may represent one plausible mechanism by which fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of chronic diseases as cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review paper outlines the role of carotenoids in maintaining cardiac health and cardioprotection mediated by several mechanisms including redox signaling.

The article entitled “Phytochemicals from Plants to Combat Cardiovascular Disease”, by Hannah R. Vasan- thi, Nitin ShriShri Mal, Dilip Kumar Das, published in Curr. Med. Chem. 2012; 19(14): 224251. https://www.eurekaselect.com/97287/article has been retracted on a complaint of plagiarism with a previously pub- lished article entitled “Resveratrol in cardiovascular health and disease” in the journal Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences as Ann N Y Acad Sci . 2011 Jan;1215:22-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05843.x The authors were informed of this complaint and were requested to give justification on the matter, in their de- fence. However, no reply was received from them in this regard. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial- policies-main.php.

Controversy is common during efforts to define the role of nutrition in health, but few modern reflections of such controversy are as vivid as the debate over wine. There exists no query that chronic alcohol abuse, a leading worldwide problem, causes neuronal dysfunction and brain damage. However, various epidemiologic studies in recent years have indicated that in comparisons with abstainers or never drinkers, light/moderate alcohol/wine consumers have lower risks of age-dependent cognitive decline and/or dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) Neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and Parkinson's (PD) diseases are defined by a progressive neuronal dysfunction and an ensuing behavioral dysfunction. Epidemiologic studies from numerous disparate populations reveal that individuals with the habit of daily moderate wine consumption enjoy significant reductions in all-cause and particularly cardiovascular and neurodegenerative mortality when compared with individuals who abstain or who drink alcohol in excess. Apart from the alcohol present in the wine, other trace compounds and polyphenolic compounds such as resveratrol naturally present in wine and grapes also exert neuroprotective and cardioprotective activities.

Tocotrienols are a class of vitamin E which modulates several mechanisms associated with cardioprotection, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotection. Unlike other Vitamin E-like compounds, tocotrienols possess inimitable properties. Quite a lot of studies have determined the cardioprotective abilities of tocotrienols and have been shown to possess novel hypocholesterolemic effects together with an ability to reduce the atherogenic apolipoprotein and lipoprotein plasma levels. In addition, tocotrienol has been suggested to have an antioxidant, anti-thrombotic, and anti-tumor effect indicating that tocotrienol may serve as an effective agent in the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The bioactivity exhibited is due to the structural characteristics of tocotrienols. Rich sources of tocotrienols which include rice bran, palm oil, and other edible oils exhibit protective effect against cardiovascular disorders. The conclusions drawn from the early literature that vitamin E group of compounds provides an inevitable role in cardioprotection is sustained in many more recent studies.

Two new mixed ligand complexes of copper (II) containing an imidazolyl terpyridine ligand, [Cu(Itpy)(bpy)](ClO(4))(2)·(H(2)O), 1, and [Cu(Itpy)(phen) (ClO(4))](ClO(4))·(H(2)O), 2 have been synthesized and characterized. Complex 1 has been found to possess a distorted square pyramidal geometry whereas 2 exhibit a distorted octahedral geometry. Electronic spectral titrations suggest that 1 and 2 bind to DNA intercalatively with the binding constant, K(b) (4.12 ± 0.13) × 10(4) M(-1) (1) and (6.04 ± 0.15) × 10(4) M(-1) (2). Under physiological condition, in the absence of any external cofactor 2 has been found to bring about DNA cleavage via hydrolytic mechanism but 1 does not bring about any DNA cleavage. Both compounds show antitumor effects on the A549 lung adenocarcinoma cancer cell line., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Sirupeellai samoola kudineer (SK), a polyherbal decoction, has been used in Siddha system of medicine for the management of Urolithiasis. Since, there exists no documentation of preclinical toxicological evaluation of SK earlier, in the present study, acute and subacute toxicity of SK was assessed in Sprague Dawley rats as per OECD guideline 423 and 407, respectively. In the acute toxicity study, SK did not produce any toxic signs at a dose level of 50 ml/kg b.wt/p.o. Three doses of SK (4.5, 9.0, 18.0 ml/kg b.wt) were administered and observed for various behavioral, physiological, biochemical, and haematological changes for 28 days in the subacute toxicity study. Low and mid dose of SK (4.5 and 9.0 ml/kg b.wt) did not exhibit any significant physiological and haematological alterations. Whereas, high dose (18.0 ml/kg bw) treatment exhibited significant changes in creatinine, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and acid phosphatase (ACP) levels in serum. Further, histopathological examinations of brain, heart, liver, kidney and sex organs revealed normal architecture signifying no morphological changes upto a dose of 9.0 ml/kg. However, 18.0 ml/kg of SK administration showed few histopathological changes as compared to the control. Based on these results, it can be concluded that Sirupeellai samoola kudineer is safe and non-toxic upto 9.0 ml/kg for 28 days in experimental rats.

Isoproterenol is a synthetic catecholamine found to cause toxicity leading to severe stress in the myocardium of experimental animals. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Cymbopogon citratus, which is used as a culinary item and commonly known as lemon grass (LG), in isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity. Male Wistar albino rats were segregated into five different groups as follows. Groups I and II rats were treated with vehicle. Groups III and IV rats were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg b.wt. of LG. Group V with 100 mg/kg b.wt. of vitamin E. Myocardial necrosis was induced in Groups II, III, IV and V on 58(th) and 59(th) day using isoproterenol at a dose of 85 mg/kg twice at 24-hour interval. Animals were sacrificed on the 60( th) day. LG pretreatment exhibited cardioprotective activity as evidenced by decreased activity of cardiac markers in serum and increased the same in heart homogenate (p < 0.05). LG administration decreased the toxic events of lipid peroxidation (TBARS) in both serum and heart tissue, by increasing the level of enzymatic antioxidants and non-enzymatic antioxidants significantly in both heart homogenate and serum sample (p < 0.05). The histopathological observations also revealed that the cardioprotective effect of LG extract was observed at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt. The results of the present study reveal that LG is cardioprotective and antilipid peroxidative by increasing various antioxidants at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt., which is comparable with that of vitamin E.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting a vast number of people worldwide. Oxidative stress is the causative agent amplifying diabetic complications in various organs by generating noxious amount of free radicals. A huge interest always exists in exploring nutraceuticals from plant materials to replace synthetic drugs in order to overcome their adverse effects and also for economic reasons. The anti-diabetic efficiency of a medicinal plant, Tinospora cordifolia (TC) was studied in experimentally induced type 2 diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats. Diabetes was induced by a combination of high fat diet (HFD) for a period of 10 weeks followed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg of body weight). Oral treatment of TC (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days regulated blood glucose, provoked insulin secretion and also suppressed oxidative stress marker, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), formation and restored cellular defence anti-oxidant markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH), in liver. Treatment with TC (100 and 200 mg/kg) also inhibited glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-diphosphatase (p < 0.001); and restored glycogen content in liver (p < 0.005), which was also studied by histopathological staining with periodic acid-Schiff stain. In conclusion, the traditional plant Tinospora cordifolia mediates its anti-diabetic potential through mitigating oxidative stress, promoting insulin secretion and also by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, thereby regulating blood glucose.

Nerium oleander Linn. (NO), an evergreen shrub, is used in folklore medicine as a cardiotonic and exhibits a wide spectrum of bioactivities. Herein, the hypolipidemic potential of the ethanolic extract of flowers of Nerium oleander (ENO) in a minimal dose was assessed. A high fat diet (HFD) resulted in a significant increase in cardiac lipids and lipoproteins and an increase in body weight gain. Simultaneous treatment with ENO significantly lowered the increase in body weight gain, lipid and lipoprotein levels, with a concomitant increase in HDL in the plasma and heart when compared to HFD-fed rats. Likewise, the activities of lipolytic enzymes were also upheld by the ENO treatment in the heart compared to HFD-fed rats. The above findings highlight the possible mechanism of N. oleander as a hypolipidemic agent in its use in folklore medicine as a cardiotonic.

Nerium oleander Linn (NOL) an evergreen shrub belonging to the Apocynaceae family has been reported to have a wide spectrum of bioactivities. In in vitro study, the free radical scavenging potential of the hydroethanolic extract of N oleander Linn (ENO) flower and its fractions (glycosidic and nonglycosidic) were studied using 2, 2(')-azino-di [3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate] (ABTS(*+) ) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) scavenging assay. ENO exhibited better radical scavenging activities than its fractions. Furthermore, the cardioprotective role of ENO (10, 30, 100 mg/kg, per oral [po]) was tested against isoproterenol-induced myocardial toxicity (ISO, 120 mg/kg per day, subcutaneously [sc], for 2 days at 48 hours interval) in experimental rats when compared to propranolol (5 mg/kg, po) which was the standard. Pretreatment with ENO (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) and propranolol for 2 weeks followed by ISO challenge in rats prevented the elevation of marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK-MB and creatine phosphokinase [CPK]), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma. In addition, pretreatment with ENO and propranolol significantly attenuated the lipid peroxidation by maintaining the levels of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione and nitrite), which was also confirmed histologically. Taken together, the current study indicates that the hydroalcoholic extract of N oleander Linn flowers aid in cardioprotection probably by improving the antioxidant defense system during experimental myocardial necrosis.

Copper(II) complexes with substituted terpyridine ligands, namely [Cu(itpy)(dmp)](NO3)2 (1) and [Cu(ptpy)(dmp)](NO3)2 (2) have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of the complexes with CT-DNA has been explored using spectroscopic techniques and viscosity. Complexes 1 and 2 bind in the grooves of DNA, interestingly 1 in the minor and 2 in the major groove. Both the complexes have been found to promote DNA cleavage; complex 1 through hydrolytic and 2 oxidative. Complexes 1 and 2 have been found to be cytotoxic and bring about apoptosis of human lung cancer cell line A549., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The article has been retracted by the Editorial office of the journal Current Pharmaceutical Design, due to some inconsistencies in the article [1]. The article appeared to be copied verbatim from published papers. Upon checking these facts, we have established that considerable portions of this review are made up of text copied verbatim from other published material. The Publisher has retracted this article in accordance with good ethical practices., Reference: [1] Vasanthi HR, Parameswari RP and Das DK. Tocotrienols and its Role in Cardiovascular Health- a Lead for Drug Design. Curr Pharm Des 2011; 17(21): 2170-5. Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused. The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Retraction can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php., Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication.