Evaluation of the gastric antiulcerogenic effect of large cardamom (fruits of Amomum subulatum Roxb)

Impact of nanoemulsion of Ajwain-cardamom essential oils on Mortadella sausage quality during chilling (4°C) storage

Essential oils application as natural preservatives is challenging owning to low solubility and stability to harsh conditions, while incorporation of essential oils into nanoemulsion systems can effectively improve these issues. Therefore, the nanoemulsion of ajwain (C. copticum) and cardamom essential oils were fabricated through self-emulsification technique and evaluated their size, ζ-potential, antioxidative and antibacterial activities. The effect of double nanomulsion on the textural and sensorial properties of Mortadella sausage was also examined under chilling temperature (4 °C). Our goal was to improve the chilling storage of Mortadella sausage by using ajwain and cardamom nanoemulsion as natural preservative. By increasing the ajwain essential oil in the nanoemulsion, the protein and moisture of sausage increased, while the fat content decreased (17 %). Furthermore, nanoemulsion of ajwain and cardamom essential oils showed particle size less than 100 nm and PDI<0.5 revealing the stability of nanoemulsions. Moreover, double nanoemulsions exhibited higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus and IC50 DPPH value (107 ppm). The nanoemulsion had a greater effect on the textural properties of Mortadella, reduction in hardness (∼5300 g), and chewiness (∼2500 g mm). Ajwain/cardamom nanoemulsion also increased the sensory properties, particularly taste and acceptance of the Mortadella. Consequently, Ajwain/cardamom nanoemulsion not only improve the storage of mortadella sausage at chilling temperature due to their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, but also has a positive effect on the red color and textural properties created a special herbal aroma, taste and odor in the Mortadella samples, which ultimately contributed to the customer-friendly product. The appropriate dose of these nanoemulsion can develop meat products at lowest amount of nitrite in Mortadella sausage formulations, although, further research should be conducted on the mechanism of action AEO/CEO nanoemulsion concerning appearance and nitrite reduction in the meat products.

Study of medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary medical system in riverine areas of Punjab, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

The use of medicinal plants to treat various veterinary illnesses has been practiced for millennia in many civilizations. Punjab is home to a diverse ethnic community, the majority of whom work in dairy farming, agriculture, and allied professions and have indigenous practices of treating animal illnesses using native flora. This study was designed to (1) document and preserve information about the applications of medicinal plant species in ethnoveterinary remedies among inhabitants of Punjab, Pakistan, and (2) identify popular plants for disease treatment by quantitative analysis of the obtained data and to assess the pharmacological relevance of these species.

METHODS

To collect data from informants (N = 279), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used. The ethnoveterinary data were analyzed using principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority.

RESULTS

A total of 114 plant species utilized in the ethnoveterinary medicinal system were found, which were divided into 56 families and used to treat 16 different illnesses. The Poaceae family, with 16 species, was the most common in the region. The most commonly employed growth form in herbal preparation was herb (49%). The most used part in ethnoveterinary remedies was leaves (35%), while powder was the most commonly used way for preparing ethnoveterinary remedies (51 applications). According to principal component analysis, the most typically used species in the research region were grasses. Five grasses (Arundo donax, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eleusine indica, Hordeum vulgare, and Pennisetum glaucum) showed a 100% FL value when used to treat diuretics, helminthiasis, digestive problems, fever, cough, worm infestation, indigestion, galactagogue, oral infections, and genital prolapse. The maximum value of disease cured level (DCL%) was recorded at 87.6% for endo- and ecto-parasitic ailments in the study area.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that medicinal plants play an important part in satisfying farmers' animal healthcare demands, making it a feasible practice. The study also provides a wealth of knowledge regarding ethnoveterinary methods for further planning and application, providing an option for farmers who cannot afford allopathic therapy.

Unveiling the potential mechanisms of Amomi fructus against gastric ulcers via integrating network pharmacology and in vivo experiments

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, Amomi fructus (A. fructus) (Sharen) has been used therapeutically to treat gastrointestinal illnesses, including gastric ulcer (GU). The mechanism underlying this impact is still not fully known, though.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the hidden mechanism by which A. fructus influences the pathogenesis of GU, we employed network pharmacology approaches and in vivo validated studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multiple public databases were used to compile information on bioactive compounds, potential targets of A. fructus, and associated genes of GU. Then, the STRING database's protein-protein interaction (PPI) data of the drug-disease overlapping gene targets was obtained, and the core targets for A. fructus against GU were discovered. Additionally, molecular docking was done to examine the binding capabilities of the active substances and core targets. Then, the pathways of A. fructus that target GU were examined using the Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID)'s Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway studies. In a mouse model of acute stomach mucosal damage brought on by absolute ethanol, the findings of network pharmacology were finally validated.

RESULTS

In total, 610 targets derived from the 196 bioactive compounds in A. fructus, were discovered, and along with 115 A. fructus target genes for therapy of GU. Then, ten core targets associated with apoptosis and inflammation were determined based on node degree, and ALB, AKT1, TNF, EGFR, MAPK3, CASP3, MMP9, STAT3, SRC, and HRAS were identified as promising therapeutic targets of A. fructus against GU. The results of molecular docking also revealed that 65 active compounds had strong binding activity with the core targets, with volatile chemicals being the most significant active ingredients. So, for following in vivo tests, A. fructus volatile oils (AVO) were used. The KEGG analysis showed that the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway may be crucial for the therapeutic mechanism of GU. In experiments that were validated in vivo, AVO considerably decreased the ulcer area and enhanced the histological appearance of the gastric tissues. In addition, compared to the model group, up-regulated the expression of IGF-1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT and down-regulated the protein levels of TNF-α and Caspase 3 in the stomach tissues.

CONCLUSION

According to preliminary findings from this work, A. fructus may influence inflammatory response and apoptosis via regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and associated gene targets. Importantly, our research might offer a theoretical foundation for future research into the intricate anti-GU mechanism of A. fructus.

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic response of the seeds of Amomum subulatum roxb and Vitex negundo

Abstract The current study was designed to check the anthelmintic activities of some local plants. Seeds of Amomum (A.) subulatum and Vitex (V.) negundo in different solvents were subjected to in vitro (adult motility assay; AMA and egg hatch assay; EHA) and in vivo (faecal egg count reduction test; FECRT) anthelmintic activity testing protocols using Haemonchus (H.) contortus as an experimental model. The results of AMA, EHA, and FECRT were statistically analysed through linear regression and Duncan multiple range test. In AMA test, at 50 mg mL-1 concentration, the percent mortality of H. contortus was higher in A. subulatum than V. negundo, whereas, in EHA test, A. subulatum was proven better ovicidal (LC50=14.2 µg mL-1) than V. negundo (LC50= 65.7405 µg mL-1). The FECRT also indicated the better efficacy of A. subulatum than V. negundo against natural infection of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. The crude powder of plants used in this study showed 29.6% to 57.7% anthelmintic. The reduction rate was found higher for A. subulatum (3 g kg-1) as compared to V. negundo (7 g kg-1). Reagrding efficacy analysis of solvents used for plants extract, ethyl acetate and chloroform were found better in increasing ovicidal activity in adult worms (in vitro testing), whereas, the crude aqueous methanol was found better than the crude powders in in vivo testing. It will be beneficial to document the indigenous knowledge to standard scientific procedures for their validation. This study will help to motivate the farmers to make a better choice of cultivation of the indigenous plants because of their varying efficacies as an alternative preventive approach against the GI parasitic infections.

Exploring the Mechanism of Ionic Liquids to Improve the Extraction Efficiency of Essential Oils Based on Density Functional Theory and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Highlights

According to the design of the experiment (DoE), multivariate analysis models were used to optimize the critical process parameters combined with multi-objective optimization.

Based on the optimized operating conditions, the MILT-HD method not only enhances the extraction efficiency from Amomi fructus but also reduces energy demands and CO₂ emissions.

Based on the density functional theoretical (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the mechanisms for ionic liquids (ILs) to improve the extraction efficiency of essential oil was comprehensively revealed.

Abstract

In this paper, Amomi fructus (Latin) was used to explore the mechanism of ionic liquids (ILs) in improving the extraction efficiency of essential oils. Microwave assisted ionic liquid treatment followed by a hydro-distillation (MILT-HD) process for isolating Amomi fructus essential oil was optimized by multi-objective optimization. Under optimum operating conditions, the IL-assisted extraction method not only enhances extraction efficiency but also reduces energy demands and CO₂ emissions. Since the hydrogen bond structure network of cellulose in the cell wall is an important reason for hindering diffusion of essential oils, the mechanism of ILs was explored by density functional theoretical (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. According to DFT calculations, ILs can facilitate the cleavage of cellulose chains and have strong non-covalent interactions with cellulose. Based on the MD simulations, the degree of destruction of the cellulose hydrogen bond structure was explored. According to the DFT and MD simulations, the ILs can significantly destroy cellulose structure, thereby promoting essential oil release from the plant. These results were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This work is conducive to better understand the MILT-HD process for isolating essential oil and comprehensively understand the mechanism of ILs in the extraction process.

Chemical Profile, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton Essential Oils and Extracts

The aim of this work was to study the chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and cardamom seeds (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton). Using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), a total of 43 compounds were identified in ginger essential oil and 17 compounds in cardamom. The most abundant components, respectively, were zingiberene (22.18%) and 1.8-cinéol (43.47%). Essential oils, methanol, ethanol and chloroform extracts for both plants were tested against nine bacteria and yeast. The highest sensitivity was noticed against Staphylococcus aureus with a 25 mm inhibition zone. The antioxidant potency of both oils and extracts were measured using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) free radical scavenging and the ferric reducing power (FRP) method; the ethanolic extract of cardamom fruits exhibited the best results for both tests, with an IC 50 = 0.423 ± 0.015 mg/mL and 95.03 ± 0.076 FRP mg AAE/g.

Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) fruit extracts exhibit apoptotic activity against lung cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried fruits of Amomum subulatum Roxb. (A. subulatum) are widely used as a spice. It is a part of official ayurvedic formulations used in folklore medicine to treat cancer.A. subulatum has been used in ayurvedic formulations to treat various lung conditions such as cough, lung congestion, pulmonary tuberculosis. The present traditional knowledge highlights the effectiveness of A. subulatum in treating cancer and its lung-specific efficacy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic potential of A. subulatum on the phenomenal and mechanistic level of lung cancer cells and identify the presence of A. subulatum actives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The bioactivity of the extracts was tested using MTT assay, apoptotic assay, cell cycle analysis, superoxide production assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and western blot analysis. Firstly, five different extracts were prepared using sequential extraction, and then screening of cell lines was performed using MTT assay.

RESULTS

Lung cancer cells were selected as the most sensitive target, and dichloromethane extract (DE) was the most active extract. Annexin assay confirmed the mode of cell death as apoptosis. SubG₁ peak found in cell cycle analysis substantiated this finding. ROS generation and superoxide showed association with apoptotic death. The upregulation and overexpression of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) showed the failure of DNA repairing machinery contributes to apoptosis. LC-MS findings show the presence of cytotoxic actives cardamonin and alpinetin.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study shows the apoptosis-inducing potential of A. subulatum fruit extracts and confirms DNA damage as one of the causes of cell death. Further explorations using bio-fractionation and in-vivo studies are required to determine the most active constituents in A. subulatum.

Effectiveness of Nutritional Ingredients on Upper Gastrointestinal Conditions and Symptoms: A Narrative Review

Nutritional ingredients, including various fibers, herbs, and botanicals, have been historically used for various ailments. Their enduring appeal is predicated on the desire both for more natural approaches to health and to mitigate potential side effects of more mainstream treatments. Their use in individuals experiencing upper gastrointestinal (GI) complaints is of particular interest in the scientific space as well as the consumer market but requires review to better understand their potential effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to review the published scientific literature on nutritional ingredients for the management of upper GI complaints. We selected nutritional ingredients on the basis of mentions within the published literature and familiarity with recurrent components of consumer products currently marketed. A predefined literature search was conducted in Embase, Medline, Derwent drug file, ToXfile, and PubMed databases with specific nutritional ingredients and search terms related to upper GI health along with a manual search for each ingredient. Of our literature search, 16 human clinical studies including nine ingredients met our inclusion criteria and were assessed in this review. Products of interest within these studies subsumed the categories of botanicals, including fiber and combinations, and non-botanical extracts. Although there are a few ingredients with robust scientific evidence, such as ginger and a combination of peppermint and caraway oil, there are others, such as melatonin and marine alginate, with moderate evidence, and still others with limited scientific substantiation, such as galactomannan, fenugreek, and zinc-l-carnosine. Importantly, the paucity of high-quality data for the majority of the ingredients analyzed herein suggests ample opportunity for further study. In particular, trials with appropriate controls examining dose-response using standardized extracts and testing for specific benefits would yield precise and effective data to aid those with upper GI symptoms and conditions.

Application of Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy combined with GC in rapid and simultaneous determination of essential components in Amomum villosum

A method is described using rapid and sensitive Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy combined with Gas Chromatograpy internal standard method detection for the simultaneous identification and determination of three bioactive compounds in Amomum villosum samples. Partial least squares regression is selected as the analysis type and multiplicative scatter correction, second derivative, and SNV were adopted for the spectral pretreatment. The correlation coefficients (R) of the calibration models were above 0.95 and the root mean square error of predictions were under 0.8. The developed models were applied to unknown samples with satisfantory results. The established method was validated and can be applied to the intrinsic quality control of Amomum villosum.

Amomum subulatum Induces Apoptosis in Tumor Cells and Reduces Tumor Burden in Experimental Animals via Modulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

This study investigates the anticancer potential of methanolic extract of A. subulatum dry fruits (MEAS) in Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells in vitro and on DLA induced ascitic and solid tumor-bearing mice. MEAS induced apoptosis in DLA cells and MEAS administration effectively reduced tumor burden, and increased life span via modulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and regulating NF-κB pathway. MEAS seemed to be much safer than the standard drug cyclophosphamide, as the latter was associated with adverse effects such as body weight loss, depletion of hemoglobin level and hepatotoxicity, suggesting A. subulatum as a potential nutraceutical against cancer.

Comparative study and quality evaluation regarding morphology characters, volatile constituents, and triglycerides in seeds of five species used in traditional Chinese medicine

Volatile compounds (VCs) and triglycerides (TGs) are the primary groups of constituents in the fruits of five well-known species used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), viz. Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. (AO), Alpinia katsumadai Hayata (AK), Amomum villosum Lour. (FAL), Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen (FALX), and Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu (FALO). The fruits of these species are morphologically similar and commonly used in both foods and TCM. Each species is purportedly endowed with different medicinal properties. Efficient and environmentally friendly methods are desirable for the quality control of these species. The current study attempted to establish both comprehensive profiles and quality standards for the five TCM species. External morphology characters were provided to distinguish 18 fruit samples belonging to the five species, which were collected from different geographical regions of China. The VCs of each sample were analyzed by SPME GC/Q-ToF. The identification of marker compounds from each species allowed for the differentiation of the fruits from the five plants. Characterization and quantification of 21 TGs were achieved using SFC/MS with an analysis time of less than 15 min. The complex TGs were unambiguously identified using the MS detection with correct attribution of the acyl group to the sn-2 position. Moreover, the quantification of TGs was improved by using reference standards whenever possible or a single standard strategy to determine multiple TGs. The validity of the proposed SFC/MS method was assessed by analyzing fatty acids from the hydrolysis and transesterification products of the same sample set using GC/MS. The quantification results from both TGs and fatty acids were consistent, and were further substantiated by chemometric analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study utilizing the morphology, VCs, and TGs for quality evaluation purpose of these five TCM species.

Antioxidant, DNA damage protective, antibacterial activities and nitrite scavenging ability of essential oil of Amomum kravanh from China

Chemical composition, in vitro antioxidant, DNA damage protective, nitrite scavenging activities, as well as antibacterial activity of Amomum kravanh fruits essential oil against several foodborne pathogens, were investigated. Results showed that the 1,8-cineole (58.53%) was found as the main component, followed by α-pinene (8.32%), α-terpinyl acetate (4.68%), α-terpinolene (4.12%), α-terpinene (3.55%), β-pinene (3.49%). The essential oil had significant antioxidant activity, the protective effect against DNA damage, and nitrite scavenging activity. These biological activities were dose-dependent, increasing with the higher dosage in a certain concentration range. The essential oil exhibited antibacterial activity against four foodborne pathogens with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5-10 mg/mL and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) of 10-20 mg/mL. The antibacterial effects of essential oil were greater against Gram-positive bacteria as compared to Gram-negative bacteria. These results suggested that essential oil could be available as a significant natural agent for prevention of food oxidation and spoilage.

Selenium Nanoparticles-Embedded Chitosan Microspheres and Their Effects Upon Alcohol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats: Rapid Preparation, Oral Delivery, and Gastroprotective Potential of Selenium Nanoparticles

Background

Selenium (Se) is an indispensable trace element required for animals and human beings, whereas Se-deficiency can accelerate the development of acute gastric injury induced by over-consumption of alcohol. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), as a special Se-supplement with favorable properties and unique bioactivities, are expected to play a passive role in gastroprotection. To the best of our knowledge, the gastroprotective potential of SeNPs is unknown and also, a rapid preparation of orally stable SeNPs available for prospective commercial application in the clinic is needed. Thus, SeNPs-embedded chitosan microspheres (SeNPs-CM) were developed to deliver SeNPs, and their gastroprotective potential was evaluated.

Results

Herein, a rapid, eco-friendly and economic preparation process, composed of synthesis of SeNPs decorated by chitosan (CS), purification of CS-SeNPs by ultra-filtration (UF) and spray-drying of the purified CS-SeNPs, was introduced to prepare SeNPs-CM. The uniformly distributed SeNPs with a nanosize range of 60 nm were loaded into CS-microspheres, and they could be released from the microspheres in gastric conditions. In addition, SeNPs-CM were safer than selenite in terms of Se dose, with a LD₅₀ of around 8-fold of that of selenite, and it could efficiently enhance the Se retention in Se-deficient Wistar rats. Furthermore, SeNPs-CM pre-treatment might significantly attenuate the ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, based on histological evaluation. It might be partly attributed to the systematic antioxidant activities of SeNPs-CM, reflected by the reduction in lipid peroxidation, the augmentation in antioxidant enzymatic activity as well as decreasing aggressive nitric oxides (NO).

Conclusion

SeNPs-CM could be taken into consideration as a prospective Se-supplement for the oral delivery of SeNPs, with prominent gastroprotective effect against ethanol-induced mucosal injury.

Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of cardamom [Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton] - A critical review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Small cardamom [Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton. (Family: Zingiberaceae)] capsules (fruits) have been used for traditional medicine applications including for the control of asthma, teeth and gum infections, cataracts, nausea, diarrhea, as well as cardiac, digestive and kidney disorders. The versatile use of cardamom capsules has several other beneficial health effects that are relevant in light of traditional and modern pharmaceutical perspectives.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive evaluation of the traditional and current medical uses of E. cardamomum, and compare these applications with modern research studies. This critical review also discusses the botanical distribution, phytochemical constituents and biological activities of cardamom capsule extracts and essential oil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online survey was conducted of the traditional uses, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological applications of cardamom essential oil (CEO) and extracts. Pertinent data were obtained from several electronic scientific databases (Science Direct, Elsevier, Web of Science, PubMed, Springer, ACS publications, Taylor and Francis, Wiley On-line Library and Google Scholar), and additional information was obtained from textbooks and local prints and scripts.

RESULTS

Cardamom fruits (capsules) are used widely as a spice and flavoring ingredient in foods, and are often recognized for their beneficial health properties. They are also used in fragrances. Phytochemical analyses have described important chemical constituents of cardamom including carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, lipids, essential oils, flavonoids, terpenoids and carotenoids. CEO has several biological roles including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anticancer, gastro-protective and insecticidal activities.

CONCLUSION

The widespread availability and recommendation of synthetic compounds for addressing human health have several side effects besides higher costs. Hence, examining natural bioactive compounds is imperative. This review investigates and presents the pertinent information on cardamom and its traditional uses, as well as potential pharmacological properties of CEO and extracts. Additional research studies are needed to understand the mechanism of action of bioactive constituents.

Efficacy of Jianpi Liqi therapy for functional dyspepsia: A meta-analysis of randomized, positive medicine-controlled trials

BACKGROUND

We performed this meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of Jianpi Liqi therapy (JLT), a traditional Chinese medicine therapy, in treating functional dyspepsia (FD).

METHODS

We systematically searched 13 databases from their inception to 15th, May 2019. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared JLT medicine with conventional pharmacotherapy (CP) in treating patients with FD. Cochrane Collaboration tool, Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 11.0, GRADE profiler 3.6 were used for evaluating risk of bias, analyzing, and assessing quality of evidence respectively.

RESULTS

After exclusions, 15 RCTs including a total of 1451 participants were included for analysis. We found evidence that JLT had better efficacy than CP (domperidone, omeprazole, esomeprazole, mosapride, lansoprazole, compound digestive enzymes, lactasin tablets) for FD (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.26, 0.45; P < .00001). Moreover, JLT had more improvement on symptoms including abdominal pain, abdominal distention, early satiety, belching, poor appetite, and fatigue compared with CP. In addition, serious adverse events were not observed in treatment courses.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggested that JLT appears to have better efficacy in treating FD compared with CP. It may be an effective and safe therapy option for patients with FD. Though, more large-sample and strictly designed RCTs are needed to confirm our findings.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019133241.

Phytochemicals, pharmacology, clinical application, patents, and products of Amomi fructus

Amomi fructus (A. fructus) (Sharen) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine widely used to treat gastrointestinal diseases. It has high medical and economic values, which have been confirmed both in vitro and in vivo studies. This review highlights the phytochemicals, pharmacology, clinical application, patents, and products of A. fructus. More than 100 phytochemicals have been isolated and identified from A. fructus, mainly including volatile oils, saponins, flavonoids, organic acids, inorganic ingredients, and polysaccharides. The main pharmacology of gastrointestinal protection, anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic activity, antidiarrheal activity, antibacterial activity, anti-microbial activity and hypoglycemic activity have been confirmed. The main clinical applications include functional digestion disorder, gastritis, helicobacter pylori infection in children and treatment of mastitis. There are 23 patents and 405 different drug products of A. fructus.

Carvedilol can attenuate histamine-induced paw edema and formaldehyde-induced arthritis in rats without risk of gastric irritation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment aims to control joint damage and any associated complications such as cardiovascular disease. Most anti-inflammatory drugs have a high tendency to cause gastro-intestinal irritation. The present study is designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of carvedilol and to study its effect on gastric mucosa.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Lornoxicam (1.3mg/kg) or carvedilol (10mg/kg) was administrated orally 1h before histamine injection into animals of a histamine-induced paw edema model and orally daily for 11days into animals of a formaldehyde-induced arthritis model. Tumor necrosis factor-α and prostaglandin E₂ were measured in animals of the formaldehyde-induced arthritis model. The effect of lornoxicam and carvedilol on gastric mucosa was assessed in normal rats and after induction of cold stress ulcer.

RESULTS

Carvedilol succeeded in reducing hind paw edema in both histamine-induced paw edema and formaldehyde-induced arthritis and in reducing the elevated level of tumor necrosis factor-α and prostaglandin E₂ nearly with near equal efficacy compared with lornoxicam. Carvedilol did not show any ulcerative effect on the gastric mucosa of normal rats, and its use was associated with an improvement of both the gross and histopathological pictures of gastric ulcers in animals of the cold stress ulcer model compared with lornoxicam treated rats.

CONCLUSION

The current findings support the use of carvedilol both in the management of inflammation as well as the prevention of cardiovascular complications in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The use of carvedilol was not associated with any gastro-intestinal tract irritation.

The modified Yi qi decoction protects cardiac ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rats

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effects and involved mechanisms of the modified Yi Qi decoction (MYQ) in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced injury.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 30-min coronary arterial occlusion followed by reperfusion, low or high dose decoction of MYQ was administrated orally for 1 week or 1 month.

RESULTS

Both in 1 week and 1 month IR rat groups, cardiac function indexes were significantly impaired compared with sham group rats, accompanied with higher ratio of infarct size to risk size, decreased expressions of sodium calcium exchanger (NCX1) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (Serca2a), and different expressions of autophagic proteins, Beclin-1 and LC3. Treatment with MYQ (low or high dose) for 1 week showed no marked beneficial effects on cardiac function and cardiac injury (ratio of infarct size to risk size), although expressions of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, NCX1 and Serca2a were increased. Treatment with MYQ (low or high dose) for 1 month showed significantly improved effects on cardiac function and cardiac injury (ratio of infarct size to risk size), accompanied with increase of Bcl-2, NCX1 and Serca2a expressions, and decrease of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein) and Beclin-1 expressions.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that MYQ have potential therapeutic effects on IR-induced cardiac injury, which may be through regulation of apoptotic proteins, cytosolic Ca2+ handling proteins and autophagic proteins signal pathways.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Cardamom (Elettaria repens (Sonn.) Baill) and its phytochemical analysis by 4D GCXGC TOF-MS

Elleteria repens is a large cardamom used in the culinary preparations. In the present study, we have evaluated in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities E. repens hexane extract (ERH) exhibited DPPH and metal chelating activity with IC₅₀ values of 464±28.3μg/ml, 199±7.2μg/ml whereas the reducing power and antioxidant activities are found to be 289±14.6 AAE/mg, 468±22.7 GAE/mg. The observed antioxidant activities could be correlated with metabolites such as polyphenol, flavonoid, and terpenoid group of compounds identified in hexane fraction of E. repens by 4D GCXGC TOF-MS. Further ERH was evaluated for its protective properties against macromolecules such as DNA, protein and lipid damage. The extract showed protection against H₂O₂ induced DNA damage and inhibited AAPH induced protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, ERH administration to rats at 50 and 100mg/kg inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema, and down-regulated cytokines such as COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α and inhibited i-NOS mediated NO generation. E. repens also exhibited antioxidant effects by restoring SOD, catalase, GSH levels and inhibited lipid peroxidation in carrageenan challenged rats. Overall, the results suggest that E. repens may be useful in combating inflammation and oxidative stress.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AMOMUM VILLOSUM: A SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION ON THREE DIFFERENT PRODUCTION MODES

Background:

Amomum Villosum (A. Villosum), called Chunsharen in Chinese, is widely used in treating gastrointestinal disease. Its clinical benefits have been confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Facing the shortage of wild A. Villosum, artificial cultivating and natural fostering have been practiced in recent years. Therefore, it would be wondered whether the three different types of A. Villosum are comparable or not, particularly the herbal qualities, technological challenges, ecological impacts and economic benefits.

Material and methods:

In this study, we combined quality research by using GC-MS, and field investigation to provide a systematic assessment about the three types of A. Villosum from these four aspects.

Results:

It found that the wild type had low output and was in an endangered situation. The artificial cultivation had larger agriculturing area with higher productivity, but faced the ecological challenges. Lastly, the natural fostering type generated the highest economic benefit and relatively low ecological impact. In addition, the natural fostering type had relatively better quality than the other types.

Conclusion:

Therefore, it suggests that natural fostering can be applied for long-term sustainable development of A. Villosum.

Nutritional and therapeutic potential of bael (Aegle marmelos Corr.) fruit juice: a review

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to summarize the scientific information of various qualities of bael fruit juice used in traditional system of medicine for variety of purposes. Utilization of bael fruit juice in day-to-day life has great nutritional, therapeutic, and commercial importance. Bael fruit contains nutrients like vitamins (riboflavin), minerals, trace elements, energy and phytochemicals, including flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidants, that have been shown to have varied health benefits. In past few decades, bael has been extensively studied for its medicinal properties by advanced scientific techniques, and a variety of bioactive compounds like marmelosin, tannins, alkaloids, coumarins, steroids, rutacine, y-sitosterol, psoralin, xanthotoxin, scopolotein, aegelemine, aegeline, marmeline, fragrine, dictamine, cinnamide and different derivatives of cinnamide have been isolated from its fruit juice.

Design/methodology/approach

– The medicinal value of bael fruit is very high when the harvests just begin to ripen. As a result, it has a high demand as alternative medicine for curing the diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, peptic ulcer, inflammation, diarrhea and dysentery, constipation, respiratory infection. Furthermore, the bael fruit juice has anticancer, cardio protective, antibacterial, antifungal, radio protective, antipyretic, analgesic, antioxidant, antiviral, anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, wound healing properties. The ripe fruit juice is aromatic, has cooling and laxative effects, and arrests secretion or bleeding.

Findings

– The unripe or half-ripe fruit juice is good for digestion, useful in preventing or curing scurvy, and it strengthens the stomach action. It helps in the healing of ulcerated intestinal surfaces and has appreciable activity against intestinal pathogenic organisms. The present review summarizes the scientific information of various qualities of bael fruit juice used in traditional system of medicine for a variety of purposes.

Originality/value

– It is quite evident from this review that bael is an important medicinal herb and extensively used in Ayurveda, Siddha and other medicinal systems. Bael fruit juice is an excellent source of water and natural sugar and is important principally for containing vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, pigments, energy, organic acids, dietary fiber and other food components, which are the key factors in the medicinal value of this plant. Moreover, mechanisms of action of a few bioactive compounds have been identified so far.

Synergy Effects of Three Plant Extracts on Protection of Gastric Mucosa

The gastric mucosa protection effect of three natural plant extracts, Hericium erinaceus (HE), Centella asiatica (CA) and Amomum villosum (AV), were evaluated using the indomethacin damage model. Compared with a single extract, a combination of HE/CA/AV, especially with the ratios of 80:10:10, 45:45:10 and 45:10:45, showed significant synergistic effects for protection of the gastric mucosa with gastric ulcer inhibition rates of 97.8 ± 0.7%, 86.5 ± 2.8% and 86.1 ± 3.6%, respectively. Microscopic appearances of the gastric mucosa were carried out to help confirm the results.

Histological and ultrastructural studies on the toxic effect of pan masala and its amelioration by Elettaria cardamomum

AIM

To investigate the histological and ultrastructural changes observed in pan masala intoxicated mammalian testes under the effect of cardamom.

METHODS

Male Swiss mice were given pan masala orally at a dose of 2% of the feed and cardamom at a dose of 0.2% of the feed. They were divided into three groups, control (Group I), pan masala-treated (Group II), and a combination of pan masala and cardamom-treated group (Group III). Histologically, the testes of Group II mice displayed degeneration of tubular epithelium, disruption of spermatogenesis, and a marked reduction in germ cells.

RESULTS

When cardamom was given, damage was less with fewer distorted cells and also improvement with normal tubules and spermatid differentiation in Group III. Ultrastructurally, pan masala-treated testes showed cytoplasmic vacuolation, shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei of spermatogonia, and abnormal acrosomal granules.

CONCLUSION

When cardamom was given, the amelioration process was more evident showing a comparable morphology with control.

Analysis of the essential oil of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) growing in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh, India

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate variations in the chemical composition of the essential oil from seeds of large cardamom grown at different altitudes in Himachal Pradesh, India. The composition of the essential oil was determined by gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O).

RESULTS

The oil components showed qualitative and quantitative variations in the composition. GC and GC-MS analysis led to the identification of 55 compounds representing 98% of total oil. Major components in the oil were 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, DL-limonene, nerolidol, 4-terpineol, δ-terpineol, δ-3-carene, β-myrcene, germacrene D, α-terpinene and longifolenaldehyde. The oil yields obtained were 9.8-19.5 g kg(-1). Cardamom oil from Himachal Pradesh was found to contain new compounds, viz. 4-terpineol, δ-3-carene, trans-sabinene hydrate, 1-phellandrene, α-terpinene, bicyclo-germacrene, isopinocarveol and ledenoxid-II. α-Terpenyl acetate, the major constituent of small cardamom, was also detected in the oil of large cardamom grown in Himachal Pradesh. Application of aroma extract dilution analysis revealed 35 compounds having aroma impact with the flavour dilution factor ranging from 2 to 1024, and 34 of these compounds were identified. The five most intense aromatic components are dl-limonene, 1,8-cineole, β-myrcene, α-pinene, α-basabolol. This is the first time that the characterisation of odour-active compounds has been carried out on large cardamom.

CONCLUSION

The presence of 4-terpineol, δ-3-carene, trans-sabinene hydrate, 1-phellandrene, α-terpinene, 1-terpineol, bicyclogermacrene, isopinocarveol, ledenoxid-II, longifolenaldehyde and α-terpenyl acetate make the aroma of the oil different from large cardamom oil of Sikkim and could offer potential as a new food flavour.

Chemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Amomum subulatum Essential Oils from Nepal

The essential oils from the seed and rind of Amomum subulatum Roxb. (collected from Nepal) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 87 components were identified among the two essential oils accounting for 99.1%, and 99.0% of the oils, respectively. The two essential oils were dominated by the monoterpenoids 1,8-cineole (60.8% and 39.0%), α-pinene (6.4% and 4.8%), β-pinene (8.3% and 17.7%), and α-terpineol (9.8% and 12.3%). Allelopathic testing of the seed essential oil showed an inhibition of seed germination of Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne, with IC50 values of 1583 and 1674 μg/mL, respectively. The seed essential oil demonstrated a stronger seedling growth inhibition of L. perenne than of L. sativa. A. subulatum seed and rind oils also showed moderate brine shrimp lethality (LC50 = 28.1 ± 3.0 and 15.0 ± 9.0 μg/mL, respectively). The seed and rind oils were only marginally cytotoxic (20% and 30%% kill on MCF-7 cells at 100 μg/mL, respectively), and antibacterial (MIC ≥ 313 μg/mL), but A subulatum rind oil was appreciably active against the fungus Aspergillus niger (MIC = 19.5 μg/mL). The essential oils of A. subulatum were also screened for nematocidal activity against Caenorhabditis elegans and insecticidal activity against the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta × richteri). The seed oil was only marginally toxic to the fire ant (LC50 = 1500 μg/mL), but moderately toxic to the nematode and the fruit fly (LC50 = 341 and 441 μg/mL, respectively).

Gastroprotective Effect of Rubia cordifolia Linn. on Aspirin Plus Pylorus-Ligated Ulcer

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Rubia cordifolia (Rubiaceae) against experimentally induced gastric ulcer and compare activity with its fractions by employing aspirin plus pylorus-ligated ulcer screening model in Wistar rats. Total acidity, volume of gastric acid secretion, total acid output, and pepsin activity show significant reduction, when compared with the control group. The present study confirmed that chloroform fraction showed the significant activity at lower doses compared to parent extract. The mechanism can be attributed to decrease in gastric acid secretary activity along with strengthening of mucosal defensive mechanism by prostaglandin synthesis and antioxidant potential.

Topical anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and antioxidant effects of the essential oil of Lippia sidoides Cham. leaves

Lippia sidoides in Northeastern Brazil is widely used in the social medicine program named "Live Pharmacies" run by the municipal governments of country towns, to help poor people with phytotherapy, performed with local plants that are inexpensive but very effective. This plant is mainly used as a general antiseptic due to its strong action against many microorganisms. In order to evaluate the action spectrum of this plant, pharmacological studies were performed on acute toxicity, topical inflammation and ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice, using the leaf essential oil (EO) of Lippia sidoides. The topical application of EO at doses of 1 and 10mg/ear, respectively, significantly reduced (P<0.05) in 45.93 and 35.26% the acute ear edema induced by 12-otetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The gastroprotective effect was demonstrated by oral pretreatment with EO at doses of 10, 50 and 100mg/kg, which, respectively, significantly inhibited (P<0.05) by 58.33, 45.83 and 41.66% the damage produced by ethanol, but altered neither the weight nor the protein gastric mucus induced by ethanol administration. This study confirmed the great potential of this plant for medicinal proposals.

Gastroprotective effect of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum Maton. fruits in rats

Cardamom, the fruits of Elettaria cardamomum Maton. (Zingiberaceae) commonly known as "Heel khurd" is used in Unani system of medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders. A crude methanolic extract (TM), essential oil (EO), petroleum ether soluble (PS) and insoluble (PI) fractions of methanolic extract, were studied in rats at doses of 100-500, 12.5-50, 12.5-150 and 450 mg/kg, respectively for their ability to inhibit the gastric lesions induced by aspirin, ethanol and pylorous ligature. In addition their effects on wall mucus and gastric acid output were recorded. All fractions (TM, EO, PS, PI) significantly inhibited gastric lesions induced by ethanol and aspirin but not those induced by pylorus ligation. TM proved to be active reducing lesions by about 70% in the EtOH-induced ulcer model at 500 mg/kg. The PS fraction reduced the lesions by 50% at 50 and 100mg/kg (no dose response was observed) with similar effect than the PI fraction at 450 mg/kg. In the aspirin-induced gastric ulcer, the best gastroprotective effect was found in the PS fraction, which inhibited lesions by nearly 100% at 12.5mg/kg. In our experimental conditions, the PS extract at doses >or=12.5mg/kg proved to be more active than ranitidine at 50mg/kg.

Characterisation of alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes involved in gastric emptying, gastric motility and gastric mucosal defence

The effect of clonidine on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, gastric emptying and gastric motility was compared. The clonidine-induced gastroprotective effect (0.03-0.09 micromol/kg, s.c.) was antagonised by yohimbine (5 micromol/kg, s.c.), prazosin (0.23 micromol/kg; alpha2B-adrenoceptor antagonist) and naloxone (1.3 micromol/kg, s.c.). Clonidine also inhibited the gastric emptying of liquid meal (0.75-3.75 micromol/kg, s.c.) and gastric motor activity (0.75 micromol/kg, i.v.) stimulated by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (300 mg/kg, i.v.). Inhibition of gastric emptying and motility was reversed by yohimbine (5 and 10 micromol/kg, s.c., respectively), but not by prazosin (0.23 micromol/kg, s.c.) or naloxone (1.3 micromol/kg, s.c.). Oxymetazoline-an alpha2A-adrenoceptor agonist-inhibited both gastric emptying (0.67-6.8 micromol/kg, s.c.) and motility (0.185-3.4 micromol/kg, i.v.), whereas it failed to affect gastric mucosal lesions. The results indicate that in contrast to the gastroprotective effect, which is mediated by alpha2B-adrenoceptor subtype, alpha2A-adrenoceptor subtype may be responsible for inhibition of gastric emptying and motility. However, the site of action (central, peripheral, both) remains to be established.