Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by bone and joint degeneration. Existing anti-inflammatory chemotherapy drugs offer temporary relief but come with undesirable side effects. Herbal medications have shown positive effects on RA symptoms with minimal adverse reactions. In this study, we investigated the potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NAT) through in vitro and in silico research. Hydroethanolic extracts of harsingar were prepared using the reflux method, containing alkaloids, phenol, saponin, steroids, proteins, tannins, terpenoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, and flavonoids, which exhibited TPC (98.56 ± 0.46 mg GAE/g) and TFC (34.51 ± 0.45 mg CE/g). LC-MS/MS analyzes the active compounds in the extract. NAT exhibited the best scavenging capabilities at 1 mg/mL in anti-oxidant and anti-arthritic activity. Maximum splenocyte proliferation occurred at 250 µg/mL. In vitro cell splenocyte studies revealed the downregulation of TNF-α and the upregulation of IL-10. Additionally, an in silico study demonstrated that bioactive constituents and targets bind with favorable binding affinity. These findings demonstrate the potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis in exerting anti-arthritic effects, as supported by in vitro and in silico studies. Further mechanistic research is necessary to validate the therapeutic potential of all phytoconstituents in RA treatment.
Project description:BackgroundAn unceasing threat of drug resistance continuously poses demand for new antimalarial drugs. A scientific assessment of traditionally used antimalarial plants through reverse pharmacology is crucial for a fast track drug discovery. An Ayurvedic plant Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. - (Parijat) is being used in clinical practice and had shown antimalarial activity, with a parasite clearance in 76.6% of 120 patients, in an earlier clinical study.ObjectiveTo further explore antimalarial potential of the plant through additional objective markers.Materials and methodsAn open-labelled observational study was conducted at M.A. Podar Hospital - Ayurveda (MAPH-A) after ethics committee approval. Administration of a paste of 5 fresh leaves, thrice a day for a week was a standard practice for management of malaria at MAPH-A. Clinical activity of N. arbor-tristis was evaluated by monitoring pyrexia, parasitemia and morbidity score (MS) in twenty patients. In addition, immune and biochemical markers and organ functions were monitored for objective markers of response. Student's paired-'t' test was applied to assess statistical significance.ResultsTen out of 20 patients showed both fever and parasite clearance, which was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Remaining ten patients had persistent but decreasing parasitemia. Four of them needed chloroquine as a fail-safe procedure. Irrespective of the degree of parasitemia all the patients showed decrease in MS. There was also an increase in platelet count and normalization of plasma lactic acid. There was a good clinical tolerability and an improvement in organ function. The inflammatory cytokines showed a reduction; particularly in TNF-α within a day.ConclusionsAt the given dosage, N. arbor-tristis showed disease-modifying activity; early clinical recovery with a decline of TNF-α and a gradual parasite clearance. Further studies with a standardised formulation for dose-searching and optimizing the treatment schedule are needed in a larger sample size.Clinical trial registration noThe process of trial registration had not begun when the study was conducted in 2000.
Project description:Background and aim Orange colored tubular calyx of the flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis contains an apocarotenoid crocin as a major ingredient, which is originally detected to be major colouring principle of saffron stigma. Saffron stigma exhibits good wound healing activity owing to the presence of crocin. The present study is aimed at isolation of crocetin, from tubular calyx of N. arbortristis and improve stability through entrapping in vesicles followed by evaluation of wound healing activity of the topical formulation thereof. Experimental procedure Crocetin was isolated by treating ethanolic extract of tubular calyx of N. arbor-tristis with sodium bicarbonate followed by regeneration of crocetin using hydrochloric acid. The phytosomes were prepared by lipid film hydration technique. The gel containing phytosomes equivalent to crocetin 1% w/w, was then evaluated for wound healing activity through applications on incision and excision wounds inflicted in Wister albino rats. Results Stability of crocetin was found to be increased due to entrapment into phytosomes. The studies revealed that both types of wounds upon treatment with gel containing crocetin phytosomes, indicated good wound healing potential, as the epithelization period was significantly (P < 0.001)decreased as compared to the control group from 26 to 9 days, in excision wound model and significant (P < 0.001)increase in breaking strength of repaired skin, as compared to control from 328.8 to 857.0 gm in incision wound model. Conclusion Crocetin from tubular calyx of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis indicated to be potential wound healing phytoconstituent. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Significant (P < 0.01) increase in entrapment (71.4%) as compared to the crocin enriched extract (34.4%)• Improved stability with retention of crocetin content in the range of 97–98% w/w in accelerated stability studies• Significant (P < 0.001) reduction period of epithelization (18 days) of excision wound, as compared to control group (26 days).• Significant increase (P < 0.01) in hydroxyproline content in granulation tissue• Significant (P < 0.01) increase in the breaking load of the repaired skin, in case of incision wound• Accelerated healing of both the incision and excision wounds due to topical application of the gel