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Background: Asthma, the main inflammatory chronic condition affecting the respiratory system, is characterized by hyperresponsiveness and reversible airway obstruction, recruitment of inflammatory cells and excessive production of mucus. Cytokines as biochemical messengers of immune cells, play an important role in the regulation of allergic inflammatory and infectious airway processes. Essential oils of plant origin are complex mixtures of volatile and semi volatile organic compounds that determine the specific aroma of plants and are categorized by their biological activities.Purpose: We reviewed whether essential oils and their bioactive compounds of plant origin could modulate cytokines' immune responses and improve asthma therapy in experimental systems in vitro and in vivo.Methods: Electronic and manual search of articles in English available from inception up to November 2018 reporting the immunomodulatory activity of essential oils and their bioactive compounds for the management of asthma. We used PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science. Publications reporting preclinical experiments where cytokines were examined to evaluate the consequence of anti-asthmatic therapy were included.Results: 914 publications were identified and 13 were included in the systematic review.Four articles described the role of essential oils and their bioactive compounds on bronchial asthma using cell lines; nine in vivo studies evaluated the anti-inflammatory efficacy and immunomodulating effects of essential oil and their secondary metabolites on cytokines production and inflammatory responses. The most important immunopharmacological mechanisms reported were the regulation of cytokine

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck is extensively cultivated worldwide and one of the most consumed fruits in the world. We evaluated the therapeutic properties of the methanol extract from Citrus sinensis fruit peel (CSMe) in high-fat diet-fed streptozotocin-induced insulin-resistant diabetic rats. Body weight, food intake, and water consumption were analysed. Biochemical and molecular biologic indices, and the expression of insulin receptor-induced signalling molecules were assessed to identify possible mechanisms. In addition, we conducted histology of pancreatic and adipose tissues. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of 17 dietary phenolics at substantial concentrations. High-fat diet-fed streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats administered CSMe (50 and 100 mg/kg) had reduced fasting blood glucose (56.1% and 55.7%, respectively) and plasma insulin levels (22.9% and 32.7%, respectively) compared with untreated diabetic control rats. CSMe reversed the biochemical abnormalities in diabetic rats, showed cytoprotective activity, and increased the intensity of the positive immunoreactions for insulin in pancreatic islets. CSMe treatment increased the expression of PPARγ in the adipose tissue and signalling molecules GLUT4 and insulin receptor. Our data suggest that CSMe could optimize glucose uptake of adipose tissues through the insulin-dependent signalling cascade mechanism and it should be investigated in the management of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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ABSTARCTObjective: To evaluate the microscopical, physicochemical and phytochemical analysis of Gardenia jasminoides (Ellis). Methods:The leaves of Gardenia jasminoides (Ellis) was studied through macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical standards such as moisture content, ash values, extractive values and phytochemical analysis includes preliminary screening and quantification of important secondary metabolites were carried out as per the standard procedures are given in Indian Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia.Results: Microscopic studies of leaf showed the presence of epidermis, 4-5 layers of collenchymas cells, xylem, phloem and vascular bundles. The determination of physicochemical studies of leaves showed that it contains Total ash (6.98%), Water and Acid insoluble ash values and extractive values of 0.31% in Hexane, 0.87% in chloroform and 0.42% in Ethyl acetate. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Alkaloid, Flavonoid, Saponin, Tannin and phenol. Conclusion:The results obtained from the study provide information for proper identification and standardization of plant for its medicinal property, ensuring the quality of plant drug and also useful to distinguish it from its related species.

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Background Obesity, reached epidemic proportions globally is often associated with life threatening comorbidities. The unavailability of safe and effective long term medications for obesity in modern pharmacotherapy forces the scientific community to explore the potential of Ayurvedic traditional healers as they are considered safe and effective. Objective To explore the anti-obesity potential of aqueous extract of aerial parts of Achyranthes aspera L. (AEAA), a traditional healer in high fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats. Methods AEAA was prepared and subjected to in-vitro pancreatic lipase inhibition assay and in-vivo anti-obesity studies. For in-vivo studies, HFD fed obese prone Wistar albino rats were divided into five experimental groups (Group II to VI): animals fed with standard pellet chow served as normal control (Group I) while, animals continued with HFD alone served as obese control (Group II); Group III, IV and V were administered AEAA at a dose of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg b.w. respectively along with HFD; and animals administered orlistat (30 mg/kg bw) along with HFD served as standard control (Group VI). All the drugs were administered orally once a day for a period of 60 days. At the end of the experimental period various physical, biochemical and histopathological observations were made. Results In-vitro studies showed AEAA partially but not significantly inhibited the activity of pancreatic lipase. Data of in-vivo studies revealed, significant reduction in body weights, fat pad weights and organ weights upon AEAA treatment. Elevated levels of glucose, insulin, leptin, lipid profiles and antioxidant status were also brought back to normal. Conclusion The obtained results clearly suggested that AEAA possess pronounced anti-obesity potential.

ABSTARCTInflammation is defined as the local response of living mammalian tissues to injury due to any agent. It is a body defense reaction in order to eliminate or limit the spread of injurious agents as well as to remove the consequent necrosed cells and tissue and it is manifestation of the body's response to tissue damage and infection. Most currently used drugs for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases are the steroidal and nonsteroidal drugs. In addition, these drugs are known to have several adverse effects, and this has encouraged the use of medicinal plants with very little side effects to substitute for this chemical therapeutics. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the anti inflammatory potentials of poly herbal formulation on carrageenan induced paw enema in albino rats. The polyherbal formulation was prepared from Calendula officinalis L, Lantana camara L. and Desmodium gangeticum Linn. were selected under study and it can be used for the preparation of poly herbal formulation. The anti inflammatory activity was studied by using carrageenan induced paw edema model. The aqueous extracts of polyherbal formulation were administered orally at dose level of 100, 200 and 300mg/kg bw for 28 days. Indomethacin was used as a standard. After the experimental period, the blood and edematous tissue samples were collected for analysing antioxidant and biochemical parameters. The paw thickness, levels of lipid peroxide, interleukin -6, C -reactive protein, total and differential leucocytes count were significantly increased and the superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and total protein levels were decreased in the carrageenan induced animals. Administration of poly herbal formulation restored the levels of above parameters near to normal. The present study concludes that poly herbal formulation prepared from Calendula officinalis L, Lantana camara L. and Desmodium gangeticum Linn. has significant anti inflammatory activity against carrageenan induced paw edema in preclinical models.