No abstract

Endogenous damage to mitochondrial DNA by free radicals is believed to be a major contributory factor to aging. The current study examined the effects of the extracts of two important anti-fatigue and rejuvenating medicinal herbs Ganoderma lucidum and Trichopus zeylanicus for their free-radical scavenging property and for their effects on liver mitochondrial antioxidant activity in aged mice. Both extracts were administrated orally to aged BALB/c mice at doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg body weight for 15 days. Super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation as equivalents of malondialdehyde (MDA) formed were determined. Groups of young mice and aged mice (more than 15 months old) were taken as controls. Both G. lucidum and T. zeylanicus extracts increased antioxidant status in liver mitochondria of aged mice compared with the aged control. Higher levels of GSH, increased activity of SOD and CAT, and decreased level of MDA in both treated groups compared with the controls were evident. Both extracts possessed significant 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), 2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities were higher in G. lucidum extract than in T. zeylanicus. G. lucidum extract also showed superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities. T. zeylanicus had significantly higher lipid peroxidation inhibiting activity than G. lucidum. Thus, we conclude that the antioxidative effect of the G. lucidum extract was higher than that of T. zeylanicus. Our findings suggest a potential therapeutic efficacy of G. lucidum extract to protect against aging and to a certain extent against age-related degenerative diseases.

Cholinesterase inhibitors have been used for years in treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tacrine is the first acetylcholinesterase inhibitor approved for treating AD by the regulatory agencies around the world. Unfortunately, a number of studies have shown tacrine to be associated with some severe side effects, including hepatotoxicity. These adverse effects may be attributed to its poor selectivity for acetylcholinesterase and have thus necessitated the research and development of more selective cholinesterase inhibitors with a greater specificity and higher potency. The heptylene-linked bis-tacrine analog (bis-THA) of Tacrine is a second-generation inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, which has a potency that is 1000 times more potent than Tacrine in inhibition of the rat brain acetylcholinesterase and 10,000 times more selective for acetylcholinesterase over butyrylcholinesterase. A series of investigations have thus been initiated to characterize the physicochemical properties (e.g., pKa, partition coefficient, and stability) of this bis-THA analog as compared to its parent molecule (Tacrine). For AD treatment, the cholinesterase inhibitors need to be taken daily for long periods of time. Use of controlled-release dosage forms to deliver drugs for chronic administration, by taking advantage of their rate-controlling drug delivery features, has gained increasing popularity in recent years. On the other hand, the nasal route, which has been used to deliver drugs for achieving a direct delivery to the brain (via the olfactory pathway), could offer the benefits of brain targeting to the delivery of Tacrine and bis-THA. To investigate this feasibility, the permeation of Tacrine and bis-THA across the nasal mucosa was evaluated (in comparison with other absorptive mucosae). Studies of their permeation kinetics across the various absorptive mucosae, which were freshly excised from the domestic pig, indicated that the nasal mucosa could present a viable pathway for the systemic delivery of bis-THA. Delipidization studies suggested that the lipophilic components in the absorptive mucosae could play an important role in the permeation of bis-THA. The bis-THA has a pKa of approximately 8 and its partition coefficient showed a sigmoidal pattern with solution pHs. It was found to be relatively stable at acidic pHs but subjected to a base-catalyzed degradation at the alkaline pHs (> or = 8) and at higher temperatures (> or = 50 degrees C).

Purpose: Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth, from the family, Apocynaceae, is an important medicinal plant due to the alkaloid content of its root. The purpose of this study was to obtain roots directly from leaf explant using growth regulators. Methods: The leaf explant was inoculated on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with single and combinations of growth regulators. Root growth was also observed on liquid MS medium and under dark conditions. The reserpine content of the roots obtained was determined by HPLC.Results: Two combinations of auxins namely, para-amino benzoic acid (PABA) + α-naphthalene acetic acid ( NAA), and 3-Indole butyric acid (IBA) + NAA, promoted better root growth compared to single auxin treatment. The highest number of roots and regeneration response was observed on leaf explant cultured on MS media supplemented with PABA (1 mg l -1 ) + NAA (4 mg l -1 ). Liquid MS media gave slower growth, reduced number of roots, shorter root length as well as absence of reserpine, using the same combination of growth regulators, compared to solid MS media. The culture incubated under dark conditions produced thin roots. HPLC analysis of the regenerated roots indicated low alkaloid (reserpine) content (0.01 -0.03). However, higher alkaloid content (0.03%) was observed in cultures with fewer numbers of roots. Conclusion: A simple and reliable protocol for direct induction of roots from leaf explant of R. serpentina using plant growth regulators has been developed.

Two different methods of in vitro multiplication of Rauwolfia serpentina from nodal explants were compared viz. multiplication via callus morphogenesis and that via shoot proliferation from axillary buds. The second method was found to be far better. The optimum shoot proliferation occurred on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 2 mg/L of benzyl aminopurine (BAP). The best rooting of shoots occurred on MS medium containing 4% sucrose and 1 mg/L of NAA. Solid and liquid MS media were found to be similar in supporting shoot proliferation. The plants produced were successfully hardened and established in soil. An easy, reliable and reproducible protocol was developed for in vitro micropropagation of Rauwolfia serpentina from nodal explants.

Dear Reader, Many of you would have noted the announcement of the establishment of a Centre by ICMR in New Delhi, in collaboration with a multinational pharmaceutical corporation to combat anti-microbial resistance (AMR). We see large full page advertisements with the words “AMR” in the front page of the daily news papers. These advertisements are the result of the efforts to draw the attention of all to the development of Anti-microbial resistance at a much faster pace than predicted. The action is noteworthy. However, it is difficult to comprehend how these advertisements will help to reduce AMR. While many more activities are being planned, it is hoped that the holistic approach being pursued will involve many more institutions and organizations. CDSCO has notified a separate schedule of drugs, Schedule H1 consisting of antibiotics, to ensure better prescription practices by medical professionals and the requirement that retailers maintain copies of the prescriptions served

Dear Reader, On the 22nd of February this year, INDIAN DRUGS celebrated its 55th Annual Day at the IIT Bombay campus in Powai. 55 years of publishing a Scientific Journal regularly every month is truly an accomplishment of which I am grateful to be able to contribute to. I sincerely appreciate all our Editorial Advisory Board and Editorial Board Members and the large number of reviewers who took time off and actively participated in the celebrations. The enthusiasm and support of all present at this grand event is an indication of the commitment to the cause of improving the quality of pharmaceutical research being conducted in India. The continued commitment of a large number of our Editorial Advisory Board and Editorial Board members has been a constant source of motivation for all of us in the Editorial Committee of INDIAN DRUGS to improve the publication.

Dear Reader, A wave of new innovative ideas utilizing the power of aggregation and information technologies, resulted in large disruptions across various industries with the creation of large virtual companies like Uber, Ola, Airbnb, Oyo etc. These companies,which were less capital intensive grew very fast globally, secured attractive valuations and looked certain to be the trend for new businesses for various other industries. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many of these businesses to a virtual standstill. Air travel, tourism and the hotel industry are some of the industries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The education industry which has also been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic has been quick to adopt digital technologies to overcome the adversity it was faced with.The entire spectrum of the education industry including schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning have adapted online technologies and started the academic year in June as it did every year. This thrust of technology on the education sector has resulted in the growth of companies providing education technology platforms such as Byjus, Educomp, Topper etc.The long-term socio-cultural impact of these new methodologies on the students are yet to be evaluated.