Focus on Phytochemical Screening, Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Effects and Medical Uses of Gummi myrrha

Gummi myrrha is the air-dried gum resin taken from the branches and stems of Commiphora molmol Engler (Burseraceae). The other names include myrrh, myrrhe, myrrha. Commiphora species are shrubs with 3 m high. It has rounded tops, thick trunks, dark brown bark, and large, sharply pointed thorns on the stem. It has many asymmetrical stunted and spiny. The leaves are unequal and alternate. The flowers are small, yellow-red fascicled, and arranged in terminal panicles. Gummi myrrha contains resins (25-40%), essential oil (3-8%), and a water-soluble gum (30-60%). The Gummi myrrha contains 20% proteins and 65% carbohydrates (galactose, 4-O-methylglucuronic acid, and arabinose). The major constituents of the Gummi myrrha essential oil are furanosesquiterpenes, and the monoterpenes α-, β- and γ-bisabolene. Gummi myrrha is used for mild inflammations treatment. It is used to treat aphthous ulcers, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, common cold, and gingivitis. Gummi myrrha is used as an emmenagogue, expectorant, and antidote for toxins and to stop blood coagulation. It treats menopausal symptoms, arthritic pain, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, jaundice, and indigestion. The pharmacology activity of Gummi myrrha includes experimental pharmacology and clinical pharmacology. Experimental pharmacology includes cardio-protective, analgesic, antipyretic, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, antimicrobial, and antileishmanial activities. Clinical pharmacology includes anti-obesity, antidiarrheal, and wound healing activities. The ointment of Gummi myrrha essential oil was non-irritating, non-sensitizing, and non-photo toxic to the human skin. The dose of myrrh tincture =1:5 g/ml, Gummi myrrha tincture applied to the affected area 2 or 3 times/ day; Gummi myrrha mouth solution= 5-10 drops of the tincture in a glass of water.

An Overview on Chemical Constituents, Medicinal Applications, Pharmacological Activity, Toxicology, Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics of Strobilus lupuli

Strobilus lupuli is the dried strobiles (inflorescences) of Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae). Other names of Strobilus lupuli include European hops, hoblon, hop vine, hopfen, and hops. Humulus lupulus L. is an important plant that contains metabolites used in the brewing and pharmaceutical fields. Strobilus lupuli is cultivated in Europe, Asia, and North America, occurring in the world's temperate areas. The analysis of Strobilus lupuli through chromatography analysis showed the presence of bitter substances and xanthohumol. The bitter substances in the resins are the major constituents of Strobilus lupuli, where these substances represent 15-25% of Strobilus lupuli constituents. Strobilus lupuli is applied as a sedative agent for the treatment of nervous tension and insomnia. Strobilus lupuli is applied in the treatment of dyspepsia and lack of appetite. Strobilus lupuli is applied to treat anemia, bacterial infections, abdominal cramps, dysmenorrhoea, leukorrhoea, dermatitis, diarrhea, migraine, and edema. The pharmacology activity of Strobilus lupuli includes experimental and clinical pharmacology. Experimental pharmacology includes antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, central nervous system depressant, estrogenic and miscellaneous activities. The oral median lethal dose of ethanol extract of Strobilus lupuli in mice was found to be 500 mg/kg, while the oral median lethal dose of Strobilus lupuli in rats was 2700 mg/kg. No information is available on general precautions or on precautions concerning drug and laboratory test interactions. There is no teratogenic effect in pregnancy, or nursing mothers, or pediatric use of Strobilus lupuli. Strobilus lupuli powder dose = one dose of 0.5 g. Infusion or decoction dose = 0.5 g/ 150 ml water. Strobilus lupuli extract dose = 0.06-0.08g.

Cardiotoxicity with antihypertensive drugs (literature review) Part 1. Calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers

The effect of hypotensive drugs overdose on cardiovascular system is poorly studied; it should undergo clinical, experimental pharmacology and toxicology together with cardiology. There is too little information about cardiotoxicity of beta-blockers (β-blockers) and calcium channel blockers (CCB) in existing research literature. Intoxication from these groups of drugs causes similar severe hemodynamic abnormalities and myocardial insufficiency, however pathophysiological mechanisms of these abnormalities are not thoroughly studied. The review highlights how difficult it is to identify toxic level and distinctive features of clinical evidence of intoxication. Methods of diagnosis as well as β-blockers and CCB overdose treatment are discussed.

Integrating Network Pharmacology and RT-qPCR Analysis to Investigate the Mechanisms Underlying ZeXie Decoction-Mediated Treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

ZeXie Decoction (ZXD) is a traditional Chinese medicine composed of Alisma orientalis (Sam.) Juzep. and Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. ZXD has been widely used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The mechanistic basis for the pharmacological activity of ZXD, however, remains poorly understood. In this study, we used a network pharmacology approach and investigated the association between ZXD and NAFLD. We identified the active ingredients of ZXD and screened the potential targets of these ingredients, after which a database of relevant NAFLD-related targets were constructed and several enrichment analyses were performed. Furthermore, the ethanol and aqueous extracts of ZXD were prepared and experimental pharmacology validation was conducted using RT-qPCR of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. As a result, a herb-compound-target-pathway network model was developed, and HMGCR, SREBP-2, MAPK1, and NF-κBp65 targets were validated. The gene expression results of these four targets were consistent with those of the network pharmacology prediction. Using an integration strategy, we revealed that ZXD could treat NAFLD by targeting HMGCR, SREBP-2, MAPK1, and NF-κBp65.

Phytochemical Screening, Chemical Constituents, Traditional Medicine Usage, Pharmacological Effect, Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics of Semen armeniacae

Semen armeniacae refers to the seeds of Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae). The Prunus armeniaca L. plant is spreading in the Korean peninsula, China, India, Japan, North Africa, and the United States of America. The Prunus armeniaca contains 3% amygdalin, titratable acidity, sugars (saccharose, fructose, and glucose), and organic acids (citric and malic acids) in addition to prunasin and mandelonitrile. Semen armeniacae is used for the treatment of asthma and cough (with expectoration and fever). It is used in constipation therapy. It is also used as eardrops for inflammation and tinnitus and the treatment of skin diseases. The pharmacological effect of Semen armeniacae includes experimental and clinical pharmacology. Experimental pharmacology includes anti-cholinesterase, neuroprotective, analgesic, antipyretic, antitumor, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antitussive activities. Decoction of Semen armeniacae to 2275 patients with COVID-19 improves clinical parameters such as lung state, clinical cure rate, number of cough reduction cases, symptom score of cough, viral nucleic acid testing, and inflammatory biomarkers. Oral intake of Semen armeniacae extract for 28 days did not cause any hematological, biochemical, or histological changes in rats. The Prunus armeniaca plant declines oxidative stress, inflammation, fat degeneration, and necrosis in alcohol-induced in-vivo and in-vitro liver injury models. There is no effect on fertility in rats after eating Semen armeniacae for 5 weeks. The average daily dose= 3-9 g of Semen armeniacae rinsing in boiling water then adding to a decoction. In conclusion, Semen armeniacae has anti-cholinesterase, neuroprotective, analgesic, antipyretic, antitumor, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antitussive activities.

Postgraduate pharmacology curriculum in current scenario and future prospects: an educational forum

In India Doctorate of Medicine (MD) pharmacology is primarily knowledge oriented based on teaching, seminars, lectures and research related activities including animals and paper-based experiments and day to day management of undergraduate classes. MD pharmacology student should be competent of both clinical and experimental pharmacology. So, the postgraduate pharmacology curriculum should be competent to meet all the job requirements. Therefore, medical council of India (MCI) has introduced new post graduate curriculum which is based on knowledge, practical, clinical skills, thesis skills, and attitudes including communication and training in research. In India demand for skilled clinical research professionals is increasing day by day for growing pharma industries and good academician. So, there is an urgent need for the experienced and skilled pharmacologist to fulfil the requirements. MD pharmacology students should get posting in different clinical departments and observatory posting in industry, clinical research organization (CRO), regulatory body and research organisations. The course of MD Pharmacology should be like that fulfil all the skills that a pharmacologist must have.

Patient Derived Colonoids as Drug Testing Platforms–Critical Importance of Oxygen Concentration

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is challenging, with a series of available drugs each helping only a fraction of patients. Patients may face time-consuming drug trials while the disease is active, thus there is an unmet need for biomarkers and assays to predict drug effect. It is well known that the intestinal epithelium is an important factor in disease pathogenesis, exhibiting physical, biochemical and immunologic driven barrier dysfunctions. One promising test system to study effects of existing or emerging IBD treatments targeting intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is intestinal organoids (“mini-guts”). However, the fact that healthy intestinal epithelium is in a physiologically hypoxic state has largely been neglected, and studies with intestinal organoids are mainly performed at oxygen concentration of 20%. We hypothesized that lowering the incubator oxygen level from 20% to 2% would recapitulate better the in vivo physiological environment of colonic epithelial cells and enhance the translational value of intestinal organoids as a drug testing platform. In the present study we examine the effects of the key IBD cytokines and drug targets TNF/IL17 on human colonic organoids (colonoids) under atmospheric (20%) or reduced (2%) O2. We show that colonoids derived from both healthy controls and IBD-patients are viable and responsive to IBD-relevant cytokines at 2% oxygen. Because chemokine release is one of the important immunoregulatory traits of the epithelium that may be fine-tuned by IBD-drugs, we also examined chemokine expression and release at different oxygen concentrations. We show that chemokine responses to TNF/IL17 in organoids display similarities to inflamed epithelium in IBD-patients. However, inflammation-associated genes induced by TNF/IL17 were attenuated at low oxygen concentration. We detected substantial oxygen-dependent differences in gene expression in untreated as well as TNF/IL17 treated colonoids in all donors. Further, for some of the IBD-relevant cytokines differences between colonoids from healthy controls and IBD patients were more pronounced in 2% O2 than 20% O2. Our results strongly indicate that an oxygen concentration similar to the in vivo epithelial cell environment is of essence in experimental pharmacology.