@article {1196, title = {Calotropin: Natural Phytomolecules for Cutting-edge Features}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2023}, month = {December 2023}, pages = {19-25}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {19}, abstract = {

Phytochemical is a collective term for plant chemicals with varied structure and function. The most common sources of phytochemicals are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and other plant foods. Calotropin is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from milkweed plants like Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantea, and Asclepias curassavica that belong to the Asclepiadaceae family which is used for medicinal purposes in many Asian countries. Calotropin is identified as a highly potent cardenolide that has a similar chemical structure to cardiac glycosides (such as digoxin and digitoxin). Among cardenolides, calotropin is identified as the most promising agent. Calotropin has cytotoxic and anti-tumor impacts, with cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and leukemia malignancies exhibiting the most significant effects. The effects of calotropin on cancer have been extensively studied in preclinical pharmacological studies in vitro using cancer cell lines and in vivo in experimental animal models that have targeted antitumor mechanisms and anticancer signaling pathways. During ancient times, calotropin was utilized in various techniques. A macerated bark extract is frequently utilized for de-hearing hides and tanning. Calotropin is a particularly effective abortifacient or interceptive agent in females. Cardenolide calotropin is poisonous. This critique focused on its chemistry and therapeutic activity in various cancer cells.

}, keywords = {Asclepias curassavica, Calotropin, Calotropis gigantea, Calotropis procera, Cardenolide.}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.1.3}, author = {Sourav Nag and Reshmi Paul and Sumanta Mondal and Naresh Panigrahi and Partha Roy} } @article {1148, title = {In Quest of the Mysterious Holistic Vedic Herb Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {June 2023}, pages = {410-454}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {410}, abstract = {

Throughout history, complementary and alternative therapies have been widely utilised. In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in the usage of herbal treatments all around the world. Various natural chemicals, such as those produced from plants, have been investigated as potential therapies for a myriad of ailments. The essence of this review was to methodically describe everything we know about Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, a mysterious holistic Vedic herb belonging to the Plantaginaceae family, a well-known nootropic and effective memory enhancer, which has recently emerged as one of the most important medical herbs, widely used therapeutically in the Orient and growing in popularity around the world. Literature was gathered from sources such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, and reviewed using the Prisma quality metacritic paradigm. It is now plainly obvious that current therapies fall short of meeting the demands of the vast majority of individuals with health problems, and traditional medicines are gaining appeal as a result of their reduced toxicity. Bacopa is a traditional herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat brain and nerve weariness, as well as in Siddha medicine to treat impaired memory. It{\textquoteright}s also used to cure brain and nerve exhaustion in Unani medicine. We improved Brahmi micropropagation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis by compiling pharmacobotanical and pharmacognostical descriptions, as well as ethnoarchaeological data and nanotechnology domination. This critique also highlights our contemporary information of pharmacological activity, preclinical and clinical investigations, significant bioactives, reported mechanisms of action, clinical effectiveness, safety, and the potential for herb-drug interactions. At the same time, the current incarnation of research at the plant is reviewed, as well as future research possibilities. Brahmi offers a lot of potential for treating a range of illnesses, including neuro-pharmacological, depression, inflammation, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and others. According to the presumptions of this review, further clinical trials and research are needed. While the impact of Brahmi as an anxiolytic and antidepressant has to be explored further, its potential as an anti-epileptic therapy and a treatment for antiepileptic drugs side effects is also being researched. Furthermore, Brahmi{\textquoteright}s antioxidant ability may explain, at least in part, the antistress, immunomodulatory, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging benefits documented in experimental animals and clinical circumstances, necessitating further study into its other therapeutic characteristics.

}, keywords = {Bacopa monnieri, Cheminformatics, Clinical trials, Herpestis monnieri, Pharmacological Testimony, Phytomolecules., Plantaginaceae}, doi = {10.5530/pres.15.3.045}, author = {Sumanta Mondal and Kausik Bhar and Prasenjit Mondal and Naresh Panigrahi and Suvendu Kumar Sahoo and Pydi Swetha and Subhadip Chakraborty and Nooka Yaswanth Teja and Neha Parveen} } @article {425, title = {Evaluation of Toxicological, Diuretic, and Laxative Properties of Ethanol Extract from Macrothelypteris Torresiana (Gaudich) Aerial Parts with In silico Docking Studies of Polyphenolic Compounds on Carbonic Anhydrase II: An Enzyme Target for Diuretic Acti}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, month = {October 2018}, pages = {408-416}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {408}, abstract = {

Background: Macrothelypteris torresiana (Gaudich) is a species of fern having a wide range of reputed medicinal properties for the treatment of inflammation, fever, renal failure, stomach problems, etc. Objective: The present investigation focused on the evaluation of toxicity profile and diuretic and laxative activities of ethanol extract from M. torresiana aerial parts (EEMTAP), with in silico docking studies of polyphenolic compounds on carbonic anhydrase (CA)-II, an enzyme target for diuretic activity. Materials and Methods: Acute and subacute toxicity was performed according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines. EEMTAP at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg, p.o., employed for the assessment of diuretic and laxative activities with loperamide-induced constipation in Wistar albino rats. Furosemide (10 mg/kg, p.o.), agar-agar (300 mg/kg, p.o.), and sodium picosulfate (5 mg/kg, p.o) were used as reference standards, respectively, for activity comparison. During saluretic activity study, total urine volume, body weight before and after the experiment, and urinary levels of Na+, K+ (by flame photometry), and Cl- (by titrimetry) were estimated. Polyphenolic compounds such as caffeic acid and quercetin were successfully detected through chromatographic method of EEMTAP, and to rationalize the results obtained in diuretic activities, we carried out docking studies of the natural phenolic compounds against CA-II enzyme co-complexed with furosemide (Protein Data Bank ID: 1Z9Y CA-II in complex with furosemide as sulfonamide inhibitor). Results: In acute toxicity study, no mortality was observed at 2000 mg/kg, p.o., and in subacute toxicity study, the extract-treated group did not show any significant changes in body weight and organ weights. The hematological and biochemical parameters did not show any significant changes in the sample-treated groups when compared with the control group animals. The laxative activity of the extract was found to be in a dose-dependent increase in fecal output of rats at selected dose levels; similarly, EEMTAP significantly increased the urinary output as well as urinary electrolyte concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The molecular docking studies of phenolic compounds (caffeic acid and quercetin) into the binding site of CA II enzyme reveals that these analogues are having more favourable interaction when compared to the furosemide with better docking scores and hydrogen bonding interactions. Conclusion: The result demonstrated that the EEMTAP possesses a reasonable safety profile and shows promising diuretic and laxative activities in a dose-dependent manner.

}, keywords = {Diuretic, in silico docking studies, Laxative, Macrothelypteris torresiana, Toxicity}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_16_18}, author = {Sumanta Mondal and Naresh Panigrahi and Purab Sancheti and Ruchi Tirkey and Prasenjit Mondal and Sara Almas and Venu Kola} }