Updated review on venomous snakebites, therapeutic uses and future prospects of Indian traditional medicine

Herbal medicines can make therapeutic drugs and are an essential part of the worldwide healthcare system. Plants have always been an essential part of many indigenous peoples' life. Snakebite is a typical tropical condition that goes unnoticed. Snakebite is still a significant public health issue in many parts of the world, particularly in India, where the disease is particularly prevalent. Morbidity and mortality rates among rural and indigenous populations in the country are among the highest in the world. The problem is made worse by people delaying or refusing to seek medical care because they believe in traditional healers. People worldwide use plants to treat poisonous snakebites as folk medicine. Five hundred twenty-three plant species belonging to the 122 families are recognized as a source of drugs/compounds recognized as a possible cure for snakebite. However, this assessment is limited to a small number of essential plants used in snakebite poisoning in India. The most important groups from which various plants are employed include Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fab Lamiaceae and Moraceae. In this investigation, phytocompounds with anti-venom action were discovered in 29 plants belonging to 22 families used as a traditional medicine to treat poisonous snakebites.

Synthesis, Physicochemical and Biological Study of Gallium-68- and Lutetium-177-Labeled VEGF-A165/NRP-1 Complex Inhibitors Based on Peptide A7R and Branched Peptidomimetic

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a surface receptor found on many types of cancer cells. The overexpression of NRP-1 and its interaction with vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (VEGF165) are associated with tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, compounds that block the VEGF165/NRP-1 interaction represent a promising strategy to image and treat NRP-1-related pathologies. The aim of the presented work was to design and synthesize radioconjugates of two known peptide-type inhibitors of the VEGF165/NRP-1 complex: A7R peptide and its shorter analog, the branched peptidomimetic Lys(hArg)-Dab-Pro-Arg. Both peptide-type inhibitors were coupled to a radionuclide chelator (DOTA) via a linker (Ahx) and so radiolabeled with Ga-68 and Lu-177 radionuclides, for diagnostic and therapeutic uses, respectively. The synthesized radioconjugates were tested for their possible use as theranostic-like radiopharmaceuticals for the imaging and therapy of cancers that overexpress NRP-1. The obtained results indicate good efficiency of the radiolabeling reaction and satisfactory stability, at least 3t1/2 for the 68Ga- and 1t1/2 for the 177Lu-radiocompounds, in solutions mimicking human body fluids. However, enzymatic degradation of both the studied inhibitors caused insufficient stability of the radiocompounds in human serum, indicating that further modifications are needed to sufficiently stabilize the peptidomimetics with inhibitory properties against VEGF165/NRP-1 complex formation.

Prapration of Tablet from Pencil Cactus for Treatment of Piles by Direct Compression method

The intention of current review is to make available upto-date information on morphology, ecological biodiversity, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities on different parts of Euphorbia tirucalli (E. tirucalli). This plant has a number of medicinal uses. Latex of E. tirucalli is vesicant and rubefacient which is used for rheumatism, warts, cough, asthma, ear-ache, tooth-ache and neuralgia. It acts as a purgative in small doses while in big doses it is bitter irritant and emetic. Milky juice is alexiteric, carminative and purgative. It is useful in whooping cough is used in treatment of piles. gonorrhea, asthma, leprosy, dropsy, dyspepsia, enlargement of spleen, colic, jaundice and stone in bladder. The fresh milky juice is good alternative in syphilis and a good application in neuralgia. A decoction of branches is used in gastralgia and colic. Bark is used in treatment of fractures. Poultices prepared from the stem are useful to repair the broken bones. Boiled root liquid acts as an emetic in cases of snake-bite and for infertility in women. The wood is used for rafters, toys and veneering purposes. It is also useful against leprosy and foot paralysis subsequent to childbirth. E. tirucalli is reported to have euphol, β-sitosterol, euphorbol hexacosonate, cycloeuphordenol, cyclotirucanenol, tirucalicine, tri-methyl ellagic acid, gallic acids, terpenic alcohol. genotoxic/mutagenic, hepatoprotective, insect repellants, immunomodulatory, larvicidal, molluscicidal/ovicidal/piscicidal, myelopoiesis, proteolytic/chitinolytics pharmacological activities. There is a need to isolate dynamic constituents, their biological trial, molecular mechanisms, experimental protection and legalization of therapeutic uses of E. tirucalli. The collected information will be helpful to locate up study protocol for expansion in curative and treat a variety used in treatment of piles., isoeuphorol, taraxasterol, tirucallol, euphorone, euphorcinol, euphorbins, 12-deoxy4βhydroxyphorbol-13-phenyl acetate-20-acetate, 12, 20- dideoxyphorbol-13-isobutyrate, glut-5-en-3-β-ol, 3,3′- diO-methylellagic acid, euphorbin-A (polyphenol), tirucallin-A (7) (tannin), tirucallin-B (11), euphorbin-F (14) (dimers), cycloartenol, 24- methylenecycloartenol, ingenol triacetate, 12-deoxy-4β-hydroxyphorbol- 13- phenyl acetate-20-acetate, taraxerone, euphorginol, taraxerol, campesterol, stigmasterol, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, β-amyrin, etc. Active phytoconstituents. E. tirucalli have possessed activity in humanly mphocytes, analgesic, anthelmintics, antiarthritic, antibacterial/antifungal/antimicrobial Antihemerrhoids. Keywords: Euphorbia tirucalli Morphology Ecological biodiversity Medicinal uses Phytochemistry Anticance antihemerrhoids

Revealing the Therapeutic Uses of Garlic (Allium sativum) and Its Potential for Drug Discovery

Background. Garlic is a common bulb vegetable that is used to flavor and flavor food. The plant contains biologically active components that contribute to its pharmacological properties. This paper attempts to examine the therapeutic uses and potential role in the drug development of garlic for various human diseases. Methods. To obtain crucial data and scientific knowledge about the therapeutic uses of garlic, systematic literature searches were conducted using key terms on well-known indexed platforms such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, and popular search engines. Results. Garlic, which is utilized as a spice and flavoring ingredient, is found to have fundamental nutritional components. Carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, water, and vitamins are all found in abundance in this plant. The plant also has a high medicinal value and is used to cure a variety of human diseases. It has anti-inflammatory, rheumatological, ulcer inhibiting, anticholinergic, analgesic, antimicrobial, antistress, antidiabetes, anticancer, liver protection, anthelmintics, antioxidants, antifungal, and wound healing properties, as well as properties that help with asthma, arthritis, chronic fever, tuberculosis, runny nose, malaria, leprosy, skin discoloration, and itching, indigestion, colic, enlarged spleen, hemorrhoids, fistula, bone fracture, gout, urinary tract disease, diabetes, kidney stones, anemia, jaundice, epilepsy, cataract, and night blindness. Conclusions. The nutritional content of the plant is significant, and it has incredible therapeutic potential. The findings of this study are needed to investigate the therapeutic potential, as it may be a promising option for drug development.

Diagnostic Characterization of Powdered Herbal Drugs for their Identification & Authentification in Classical Unani Formulations

Diagnostic characters of seven powdered herbal drugs namely Anab-us Salab (fruit), Bekh-e-Sausan (root), Kaifal (stem bark), Kalijiri (fruit), Nankhwah (fruit), Tukhm-e-Khurfa (seed) and Turbud (Root) have been discussed in detail for their identification and authentification in classical unani formulations. The investigation includes correct botanical and vernacular names, family name, organoleptic studies, therapeutic uses, unani formulations containing these drugs, besides their microscopical studies that includes identification of various cells/tissues/cell contents along with their measurements. All these studies will serve as a reference standard to the academicians, researchers, plant chemists, TM students, health professionals and plant base pharmaceutical industries. Keywords: Diagnostic characterization, identification, authentification, powdered herbal drugs.

In silico drug repurposing of anticancer drug 5-FU and analogues against SARS-CoV-2 main protease

The pressing need to find effective drugs against the current deadly COVID-19 disease has recently motivated numerous studies using different approaches to address the problem. One time-saving and less costly strategy is the drug repurposing, which consists in finding new therapeutic uses for approved drugs. Following the same trend, this study has investigated the potential inhibitory activity of 5-FU and its analogues against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease as well as their profile of druggability using molecular docking and ADMET methods. From the calculations performed, four candidates showed promising results with respect to the binding affinity to the target protease, 3CLpro, the therapeutic profile of druggability and safety. Further in-vitro and in-vivo investigations are needed that may clarify their possible mechanism of the pharmacological action to combat COVID-19.

In vitro Antioxidant activity and Phytochemical composition of Syringodium isoetifolium

Seagrass are the marine flowering plants found mainly in clear, shallow estuaries and coastal waters. In all temperate and trophical region seagrasses grow both internally and subtidally. One such seagrass namely Syringodium isoetifolium has many medicinal properities. This seagrass have most promising pharmacological activities which may include anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiarrheal, antihaemorrhoidal activities. This study is focussed on the phytochemical evaluation and in vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous, ethanol and hydroalcoholic extract of Syringodium isoetifolium. The qualitative analysis of Syringodium isoetifolium shows the presence of tannin, saponin, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinone, polyphenol and coumarin. In all the three extracts only ethanol shows the high concentration of phytocompounds. Emodins, glycoside and anthocyanin were found to be absent in all the three extracts. Quantitative analysis of total phenol, flavonoid, saponin and tannin were found to be 193.10 ±13.52, 106.11 ± 7.42, 52.96 ± 3.64 and 81.30 ± 5.69. Superoxide anion radical, Nitric oxide and Hydroxy radical scavenging assay showed that Syringodium isoetifolium was an excellent scavenger of these radicals. These results are an indication of the potent antioxidant property of the extract and may be responsible for some of the therapeutic uses of Syringodium isoetifolium.

Structural Analysis of Botulinum Neurotoxins Type B and E by Cryo-EM

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the causative agents of a potentially lethal paralytic disease targeting cholinergic nerve terminals. Multiple BoNT serotypes exist, with types A, B and E being the main cause of human botulism. Their extreme toxicity has been exploited for cosmetic and therapeutic uses to treat a wide range of neuromuscular disorders. Although naturally occurring BoNT types share a common end effect, their activity varies significantly based on the neuronal cell-surface receptors and intracellular SNARE substrates they target. These properties are the result of structural variations that have traditionally been studied using biophysical methods such as X-ray crystallography. Here, we determined the first structures of botulinum neurotoxins using single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy. The maps obtained at 3.6 and 3.7 Å for BoNT/B and /E, respectively, highlight the subtle structural dynamism between domains, and of the binding domain in particular. This study demonstrates how the recent advances made in the field of single-particle electron microscopy can be applied to bacterial toxins of clinical relevance and the botulinum neurotoxin family in particular.