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What We Learn from the History of Ayurveda
Published in D. Suresh Kumar, Ayurveda in the New Millennium, 2020
N.K.M. Ikbal, D. Induchoodan, D. Suresh Kumar
Animals are also known to eat medicinal plants to cure diseases or to prevent their appearance. For example, Phillips-Conroy (1986) suggested that the leaves and nutritious and tasty berries of Balanites aegyptiaca were eaten by the baboon, Papio hamadryas, as a prophylactic agent against schistosomiasis. This plant was observed to be a regular part of their diet along the Awash River in Ethiopia, where schistosomiasis was very much prevalent. Similarly, chimpanzees around the Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks, Tanzania swallow Aspilia mossambicensis and Aspilia pluriseta slowly and without chewing (Wrangham and Nishida 1983; Huffman and Wrangham 1994). A report of a chemical analysis of the plant (Rodriguez et al. 1985) and another report on the plant Lippia plicata eaten in a similar manner at Mahale confirmed the hypothesis of Wrangham and Nishida (1983).
Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts
Published in Richard L. K. Glover, Daniel Nyanganyura, Rofhiwa Bridget Mulaudzi, Maluta Steven Mufamadi, Green Synthesis in Nanomedicine and Human Health, 2021
Rofhiwa Bridget Mulaudzi, Mahwahwatse Johanna Bapela, Thilivhali Emmanuel Tshikalange
Antidiabetic plant extracts and their bioactive compounds target the liver, pancreas, intestine, adipose tissue and muscle, where they exert their respective modes of action. Some factors negatively affect the bioavailability of plant-based products in living systems (Samadder and Khuda-Bukhsh, 2014; Furman et al., 2020). Crude plant extracts from several plant species belonging to varied plant families, including Aegle marmelos L. (Rutaceae), Balanites aegyptiaca L., Del. (Zygophyllaceae), Boerhavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae), Camellia sinensis L. (Theaceae), Helicteres isora Linn. (Sterculiaceae), Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. (Meliaceae), Tamarindus indica L. (Fabaceae), Mitragyna inermis (Willd) O Ktze. (Rubiaceae) and Vaccinium myrtillus L. (Ericaceae), have exhibited significant hypoglycaemic activity (Funke and Melzing, 2006; Ayodhya et al., 2010; Moradi et al., 2018; Hamza et al., 2019). Numerous antidiabetic compounds such as beta-pyrazol-1-ylalanine, epigallocatechin gallate, roseoside, cinchonain Ib, glycyrrhetinic acid, leucocyandin 3-O-beta-d-galactosyl cellobioside, dehydrotrametenolic acid, leucopelargonidin-3-O-alpha-l-rhamnoside, strictinin, pedunculagin and isostrictinin and epicatechin, demonstrated significant insulin-mimetic and antidiabetic activity with varied modes of action and some with greater efficacy than conventional hypoglycaemic agents (Saxena and Vikram, 2004; Bnouham et al., 2006; Ko et al., 2007; Qa’dan et al., 2009; Ayodhya et al., 2010; Chauhan et al., 2010; Frankish et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2020).
Anti-Hyperglycemic Property Of Medicinal Plants
Published in Amit Baran Sharangi, K. V. Peter, Medicinal Plants, 2023
Karanpreet Singh Bhatia, Arpita Roy, Navneeta Bhardavaj
There are many problems and undesirable effects associated with conventional drugs used in the treatment of hyperglycemia such as in case of sulfonylureas (Glibenclamide) weight gain, stomach problems, skin irritations and severe hypoglycemia has been reported (Derosa et al., 2014), biguanides (Metformin) has been associated with renal failures, parageusia, stomach problems and lethargy (Scheen et al., 2013), thus a hyperglycemic treatment with lesser or nil side effects is desired. As medicinal plants do not have such undesirable effects, drug formulations from these plants can be a major game changer in diabetes treatment. Some plants which are in clinical trials include Nigella sativa (Oil at 2 gm daily dosage), Cichorium intybus (with other plants formulations as herbal tea), Balanites aegyptiaca, Melissa officinalis, etc. In Ghana, bark, and root of Momordica charantia (Ooi et al., 2012), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Altschuler et al., 2007) aqueous extract of Allium sepa, Allium sativum, Guiera senegalensis (Gaber et al., 2013) Zingiber officinale (Hass, 2015), bulb, and, capsule extract of Allium sativum (Shoshi and Akter, 2017) are some medicinal plants which are in clinical trials against hyperglycemia. Goh et al. (2014) used resveratrol from Polygonum cuspidatum, in patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus. They found that resveratrol increased skeletal muscle SIRT1 and AMPK expression and prevents diabetes. Rahimi et al. (2016) performed a clinical trial in T2DM patients for a period of 3 months where they evaluated curcumin nanomicelles (80 mg/ day) for anti-hyperglycemic activity and found significant reduction in HbA1c level as well as TAG, TC, and BMI. Giuseppe et al. (2017) evaluates efficacy and safety of Berberis aristata and Silybummarianum against 143 patients for 3 months and found reduction of lipid profile, decrease of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Rashad et al. (2017) used Balanites aegyptiaca, which was incorporated in hard gelatin capsules (400 mg/day) and given to 30 type 2 diabetes patients (Egyptian) for 8 weeks. It was found that there was considerable reduction in total cholesterol, plasma triglyceride, and LDL and enhancement in HDL. Asadi et al. (2018) did clinical assessment of hydroalcoholic extract of M. officinalis in type 2 diabetic patient for its potential antidiabetic properties.
Balanitoside as a Natural Adjuvant to Gemcitabine in Lung Cancer Experimental Model
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2022
Elsayed I. Salim, Sara S. Aboueisha, Abeer A. Khamis
In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of balanitoside from an ethanolic extract of the medicinal plant, Balanites aegyptiaca (Balanitaceae), on murine lung cancer. This extract (B. aegyptiaca extract) is commonly used, and its health benefits are derived from folk medicine and anecdotal information. The edible fruit is known as desert dates (D.D.). The fruits are believed to exhibit antidiabetic and hypoglycemic activity in folk medicine in Egypt and Africa [12]. The plant is used as a cleanser of intestinal parasites with its roots, branches, bark, fruit, and kernel extracts. The roots and bark contain numerous steroidal saponins and yamogenin or diosgenin glycosides. The mesocarp of the fruit contains numerous chemicals including saponins, flavonoids, coumarins, pregnane glycosides, and 6-methyldiosgenin [13].
Recent advancements in nanoparticle based drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2018
Rahul Mittal, Amit P. Patel, Vasanti M. Jhaveri, Sae-In S. Kay, Luca H. Debs, James M. Parrish, Debbie R. Pan, Desiree Nguyen, Jeenu Mittal, Rahul Dev Jayant
In a recent study, brown macroalgae Cystoseira baccata (CB) extracts were used in obtaining gold NPs (Au@CB) [52]. The extract appears to act as a protective agent where the particles are embedded, keeping them separated, avoiding aggregation and coalescence. Au@CB was tested against two colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2) and the fibroblast cell line PCS-201-010, showing a strong cytotoxic activity, especially against HT-29 cells. At the same time, Au@CB exhibits excellent biocompatibility with the healthy cell line due to the selectivity of Au@CB for tumor cells. Results showed that Au@CB can induce apoptotic activation by the extrinsic and mitochondrial pathway. Overall, the results suggest that Au@CB has a significant potential for the treatment of colon rectal cancer [52]. In another study, researchers examined the anticancer activities of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit extract with its biogenic AgNPs against colon and liver cancer cells. Different aqueous extracts of B. aegyptiaca were fractionated using chromatography, and the fractions were tested against colonic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The various fractions altered the gene expression of both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, which is promising for the treatment of cancer [9].
Larvicidal and ovicidal activities of Artocarpus blancoi extracts against Aedes aegypti
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2019
Maria Ruth B. Pineda-Cortel, Rachel Joy R. Cabantog, Paulo M. Caasi, Charles Anson D. Ching, Joseph Benjamin S. Perez, Paulo Gabriel M. Godisan, Cheska Marie G. Latorre, Danielle R. Lucero, Reginald B. Salonga
The effectiveness of the phytochemical constituents of plants has been well documented for their larvicidal and ovicidal activity (Silva et al. 2004; Chapagain et al. 2008; Ghosh et al. 2012; Kumar et al. 2012; Arnason et al. 2017). Based on studies, all the plant constituents present in the ethyl acetate fraction of A. blancoi exhibit mosquitocidal properties. Sterols are proven to be toxic to some of the mosquito species thus its possible utilization in vector control (Ghosh et al. 2012). Terpene compounds exhibit larvicidal activity as well by the blockage of the sterol carrying protein (Kumar et al. 2012). Saponins act as a pest control agent because of their capability to cause increased mortality levels, lowered food intake, weight reduction, retardation, disturbances in the development, and decreased reproduction in pests. They make the food less attractive to eat, block sterol uptake by forming insoluble complexes, induce digestive problems, and cause molting defects to insects (Silva et al. 2012). Mosquitocidal activity has also been shown by saponins as demonstrated by the study by Chapagain et al. (2008) wherein saponins from a root-derived callus of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae) showed larvicidal activity against A. aegypti larvae. Glycosides, particularly cyanogenic glycosides, exhibit insecticidal properties through the production of hydrogen cyanide when metabolized which causes the inhibition of cytochrome oxidase and other respiratory enzymes (Yu 2015). Larvicidal, ovicidal and repellent activities are present in extracts of Calotropis gigantean (L.) W. T. Alton (Apocynaceae), which contain glycosides as one of the major phytochemical groups (Kumar et al. 2012). Tannins from the extract isolated from Magonia pubescens (Merrill) Figlar & Noot. (Sapindaceae) also showed larvicidal activity against A. aegypti larvae (Silva et al. 2004). These phytochemicals are responsible for the insecticidal efficacy of the ethyl acetate fraction of A. blancoi against A. aegypti larva and ova.