Background Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a widely used ingredient of traditional medicine for its broad-spectrum pharmacological actions, including analgesic, bronchial asthma, anti-inflammatory properties, and others. We sought to evaluate BC extracts' efficacy for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties using a comprehensive in vivo and in silico experimental setup. To investigate whether BC extract has anti-inflammatory and analgesic therapeutic potentials in vivo anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, analgesic activity by acetic acid-induced writhing test and ingenuity analysis of the BC extracts in inflammation control. Results The acetic acid-induced writhing test had shown a dose-dependent reduction of writhing number following BC administration. Rat paw edema test showed the dose-dependent reduction of paw edema volume following BC administration. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) suggested BC extracts containing ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol, and quercetin can inhibit inflammation. Conclusions This study suggests that bioactive compounds in BC extract act as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent by regulating several downstream and upstream inflammation pathways.

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Novel alpha-beta chimeric oligonucleotides bearing a propionic acid derivative of an anthraquinone-polyamine conjugate in the "linker" region sequence-specifically formed a substantially stable alternate-stranded triplex with dsDNA almost regardless of the stereochemistry of the derivative.

The interaction of metronidazole, an antiprotozoal agent and mebendazole, an important anthelmentic agent with Cu (II) and Cr(III) ions have been studied in aqueous systems at a fixed temperature of 37±0.5°C  and at different pH values. It has been found that metronidazole and mebendazole form stable 1:1 complexes with Cu(II), but a less stable complex with Cr(III) ion.  The studies were performed by electroanalytical and spectrophotometric methods. Spectral studies helped to detect initial complexation between the species. Conductometric titration indicated the nature of interaction and the stoichiometries of complexation. The conductometric study also indicated the formation of complexes of various molar ratios viz 1:2, 4:1, 3:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. etc. along with 1:1 complexes at various pH conditions. Similar types of complexation were observed by Job’s plots at various pH values. The Ardon’s spectroscopic method confirmed the 1:1 complexation and the values of stability constant were calculated using Ardon’s plot. Complexation at molar ratios 1:3 and 1:4 can not be ruled out. Keywords:  Metronidazole; Mebendazole; Cu(II); Cr(III); Ardon’s plot; Complexation. © 2012 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsr.v4i1.7599J. Sci. Res. 4 (1), 173-181 (2012)

Hygrophila erecta (Burm.f.) Hochr. belonging to the Acanthaceae family, is a moisture loving genera and a perennial herb whose seeds are used as a skin-regenerating product. The concentrated ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of this whole plant resulted in a mixture of 4-methoxybenzoic acid and 4-methoxycinnamic acid, another mixture of two ester derivatives: methyl linoleate and methyl stearate, lupeol, β-Sitosterol and Stigmasterol. The crude methanolic extract of the whole plant was partitioned to petroleum ether soluble fraction, chloroform soluble fraction, ethyl acetate soluble fraction and aqueous soluble fraction for the purpose of investigations of different biological activities. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction expressed the highest antioxidant property in DPPH free radical scavanging method, whilst the different extractives exhibited moderate to strong cytotoxicity in brine shrimp lethality test and the highest activity was shown by pet ether soluble fraction. Furthermore, the pet ether soluble fraction also demonstrated highest thrombolytic activity compared to the standard streptokinase, while the other fractions showed moderate to lower activity. However, no antimicrobial activity was observed for any of the fractions investigated using standard tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. The methanolic extract further produced statistically significant peripheral analgesic and antidiarrheal activity at both 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses.Although, it expressed blood glucose lowering activity, but it was not statistically significant.