Phytochemistry and Diverse Pharmacology of Genus Mimosa: A Review

The genus Mimosa belongs to the Fabaceae family and comprises almost 400 species of herbs, shrubs and ornamental trees. The genus Mimosa is found all over the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa, South America, North America and Australia. Traditionally, this genus has been popular for the treatment of jaundice, diarrhea, fever, toothache, wound healing, asthma, leprosy, vaginal and urinary complaints, skin diseases, piles, gastrointestinal disorders, small pox, hepatitis, tumor, HIV, ulcers and ringworm. The review covered literature available from 1959 to 2020 collected from books, scientific journals and electronic searches, such as Science Direct, Web of Science and Google scholar. Various keywords, such as Mimosa, secondary metabolites, medicines, phytochemicals and pharmacological values, were used for the data search. The Mimosa species are acknowledged to be an essential source of secondary metabolites with a wide-ranging biological functions, and up until now, 145 compounds have been isolated from this genus. Pharmacological studies showed that isolated compounds possess significant potential, such as antiprotozoal, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and antiproliferative as well as cytotoxic activities. Alkaloids, chalcones, flavonoids, indoles, terpenes, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, amino acids, glycosides, flavanols, phenols, lignoids, polysaccharides, lignins, salts and fatty esters have been isolated from this genus. This review focused on the medicinal aspects of the Mimosa species and may provide a comprehensive understanding of the prospective of this genus as a foundation of medicine, supplement and nourishment. The plants of this genus could be a potential source of medicines in the near future.

Phytochemistry of Ziziphus Mauritiana; its Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Potential

Current studies were performed to overview the phytochemistry, nutritional and medicinal value of Ziziphus mauritiana (commonly known as Ber in Pakistan). The leaves of Z. mauritiana are comprised of proteins, amino acids, alkaloids, terpenoids, fibers, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and phenolic compounds. The leave majorly demonstrate the presence of α-linolenic acid, plamitic acid and methyl stearate in n-hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts. The seed contains the highest content of carbohydrate (63.24%) and calorific value (411.61 kJ) while its fruit shows the highest quantity of moisture. Its fruit is slightly acidic (pH around 4.77) and rich in nutrients including proteins, carbohydrates vitamin C and minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Na, K, Ca, P). The fruit provides energy of 1516-1575 kJ per its 100 g. Z. mauritiana displays antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Its leaves are used for treating tuberculosis, small pox, burning sensations, dysentary asthma, fever, liver issues, infections and blood relating diseases. Root bark of this plant shows good effectiveness as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent. The plant displays strong antioxidant potential and excellent H2O2 scavenging activities.

Role of Anti-Viral Drugs in Combating SARS-CoV-2

Viruses are the eventual assertion of parasitism, they not only take nutriments from the host cell, apart from that they direct its metabolic machinery to amalgamate novel virus particle and to diminish the ability of flu viruses to reproduce in an individual antiviral drugs are used. When used as directed, antiviral drugs may help to lessen the duration of flu symptoms and may reduce the severity of common flu symptoms. Antiviral drugs are the class of drugs which comes under the antimicrobials, and that also accommodates the larger group i.e. of antibiotics. They are broad-spectrum in nature and can be effective against a wide range of viruses. They can be used as a single drug as well as in combination of drugs. Antiviral drugs are dissimilar from the antibiotics, they do not demolish their target pathogen ideally they obstruct development of pathogen. To the greatest extent antiviral drugs currently accessible are delineate to deal with herpes viruses, covid-19, HIV, the hepatitis b and c viruses herpes simplex, small pox, picornavirus and influenza a and b viruses etc. Scientists are searching to drag out the range of antiviral to the other families of pathogens. They mainly act by inhibiting the attachment of viruses on cells, prevent genetic reproduction of virus, prevent viral protein production and vital for production of virus. The emanation of antiviral is generally the outcome about an appreciably expanded skills or proficiency of the generative, microscopic and atomic activity of organisms, allowing biomedical analyst to acknowledge the structure, mechanism of action and activity of viruses, significant progress within the procedure for come across the current drugs. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19) is highly infectious disease triggered by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus 2 causing nearly 2.9 million deaths worldwide. With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the repurposing of antiviral drugs has come into picture.

William chambers: British army surgeon (Toulon, 1793) and his vaccination institution (1803) in Brighton, England

Following Edward Jenner’s research into cowpox, a wave of vaccination services emerged across England. Despite some resistance, these began to promote population prevention where variolation had failed. Sussex’s first vaccine institution has long been considered to be that of Sir Matthew Tierney (1776–1845). Founded in 1804, Tierney’s “Royal Sussex Jennerian Society for the Extermination of the Small-pox” comprised sixteen stations, including one in Kent. This article presents an earlier example: the 1803 “Brighton Royal Jennerian Institution”, founded by a “Mr Chambers” to serve “the indigent poor”. Given that both held royal and military appointments in Brighton, Tierney must have been aware of Chambers’ efforts in vaccination. It is unclear why Tierney’s 1804 plan for the Sussex Vaccine Institution makes no mention of Chambers. In 1803 Chambers also directed the establishment of Brighton’s first military hospital and is noted as “surgeon extraordinary” to the Prince Regent. Chambers is identified as William Chambers of the 10th Royal Dragoons, who served at Toulon (1793) as a surgeon’s mate. He is also documented at Corsica in 1794 where he examined Nelson’s injured eye following the siege of Calvi. Mr Chambers’ origin and more details of his biography remain unknown.

Stem cell basis of a host driven transmission of antigen packed aerosols: a novel mechanism of natural vaccination for tuberculosis

ABSTRACTNatural vaccination against pathogens are known to be achieved by herd-immunity i.e. infected human host provide immunity to the community by spreading the pathogen. Whether, infected human hosts transmit vesicle packed aerosols of pathogen’s antigen for natural vaccination of the community has not yet been considered. We have explored a traditional healing method of aerosol-inoculation against small pox and tuberculosis in the Sualkuchi-Hajo cultural complex of Kamarupa, an ancient Indian region known for tantra-based healing and spirituality. In the aerosol-inoculation method against TB, selected persons with TB (later identified as smear negative TB subject) are encouraged to spread good nigudah in the community by Kirtan chanting; the good Nigudah are thought to be present within bad-nigudah or invisible krimis (tiny flesh eating living being mentioned in ancient India’s medicinal text Caraka Samhita and Atharva Veda). A 15-years of contact TB investigation study, as well as laboratory study of aerosol obtained from smear negative PTB (SN-PTB) subjects led to the identification of good Nigudah as extracellular vesicles (EVs) filled with Mtb-antigen ESAT-6. We then developed a mouse model of aerosol-inoculation using SN-PTB subject derived aerosol EVs, and identified Mtb infected mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of the lung as the putative source of the ESAT-6+ EVs. These Mtb infected MSCs reprogram to altruistic stem cell (ASC) phenotype, which then secrete ESAT-6+ EVs to the aerosols; healthy mice receiving the aerosol develop Mtb specific herd immunity. These results expedite our ongoing work on the innate defense mechanism of ASCs against pathogen, and provide a novel mechanism of natural vaccination, where the host extracts appropriate antigens from a pathogen, and then spread it in the community via aerosols.

Herbal Remedies Used to Treat Skin Disorders in Arasankulam Region of Thoothukudi District in Tamil Nadu, India

As lacking in attention given to the ethnomedicinal plants to be used for the treatment of skin diseases in many areas, an ethnomedicinal study was carried out to enumerate the traditional uses followed to treat skin diseases among the people living in Arasankulam and Kottarakurichi villages located in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. The medicinal uses of 24 species belonging to 20 families were reported from the study area. Euphorbiaceae was noted as largest families comprising of 3 species each. Herbs (50.0%) were found more in number than other life forms of plants. Leaves (50.0%) were the mostly used plant part to prepare the medicine and paste (61.54%) was the dominant mode to treat the skin ailments. By this research work, it was also noted that a total of 6 plants were used to heal wound, 4 plants for the treatment of cut, 3 plants each to cure boil and eczema, 2 plants to treat heel crack and 1 plant each for abrasion, chicken pox, dandruff, itch, leprosy, lip crack, scabies, skin allergy, small pox and tumor. Further studies on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of these plants will contribute new dimensions to these medicinal plants. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Skin diseases, Arasankulam region, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu.

George Washington’s Recurrent Health Problems and Fatal Infection Re-examined

George Washington’s medical history has been recounted so many times and with such consistency that it seems that nothing new remains to be said about the panoply of disorders that plagued him during his life. The same can be said for the particular one that carried him off at age 67. We know that he had small pox, dysentery, recurrent attacks of malaria, and a host of other infections during his long and spectacularly productive career. His teeth were a source of unrelenting distress despite his assiduous attention to dental hygiene; and terminally, he developed a rapidly progressive upper respiratory infection, which killed him in little more than a day and a half despite the best medical care available.

Insights into an H1N1 Outbreak, Kumasi Ghana.

In the history of mankind, the black death, small pox and influenza pandemics have threatened our existence. The Spanish flu has been described as the greatest medical holocaust as it infected an estimated one third of the world’s population and caused approximately 50 million deaths globally. On the 30th November, 2017, an outbreak of an undiagnosed illness in a Senior High school in Asokore Mampong Municipality was reported. This was confirmed to be an influenza outbreak on the 7th of December when 12 out of 19 initial throat swabs tested positive for Influenza A H1N1 2009 strain. We need to address the possibility of epidemic outbreaks as a nation and put measures in place to prevent such occurrences or prepare adequately to control it as outlined.

Novel Bioactive Compound Production by Microbial Biota: Potential Antimicrobials

Man is always trying to make his life easier and accomplished. He has faced mass destruction in historydue to epidemics like small pox, malaria and plague. In order to combat diseases, exploration of man ledhim to search for causative agents and their control. A time reached when it was found that microbes arethemselves a source of potent metabolites which have proved to be effective as drugs and medicinesshowing great antibiotic activity. It is necessary to find out new sources for potential new antimicrobialcompounds. Several hundred important compounds have been isolated which have antibiotic activitiesand diverse chemical nature. But these compounds should have minimum toxicity to be useful clinically.Because of the increasing resistance of pathogens, there was a never ending desire and need to searchfor more. Bioactive Compounds have been extracted from microbes which are produced as secondarymetabolites. Day by day, new compounds are being discovered giving a hope of golden future of drugindustry. The current article emphasizes the importance and need to search for new bioactive compoundsto overcome infections caused by multiple drug resistant (MDR) and biofilm forming pathogensirrespective of the previously present knowledge.

COVID-19 Prophylaxis: The Desperate Need for Mankind

Emerging viral diseases are considered as major public health threat to humans and wildlife. Over the past several decades, scientists have been studying viruses to better understand the ways to prevent the rapid spread of diseases during an outbreak. Viruses are likely the most abundant organisms on the earth, and they are not absolutely alive. Viruses today are considered to be in the gray area between the living and non-living things and provoke our thoughts about these minute lifeforms as the precursors of life. Evolution of the global burden due to viral infections on the field medicine have been mostly transformed into a victory accompanied by unlocking the potential of knowledge and break-through technological advancements. Innovative contribution to immunization by Edward Jenner and subsequent eradication of small pox remains as the striking examples for the victory of mankind over the past epidemics and pandemics. These events not only inspire hope, but also remind us the plausibility of ending up historical pandemics and global threats. The current disastrous scenario and the real-world outbreak of Coronavirus poses complex challenges to the global public health, research and medical communities and ultimately to our existence. A successful prophylaxis is the need of the hour, yet the increasing prevalence and epidemiological reports have puzzled us with questions to be addressed instantly.