Neurodegenerative illnesses refer to the gradual, cumulative loss of neural activity.Neurological conditions are considered to be the second leading cause of mortality in the modern world and the two most prevalent ones are Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. The negative side effects of pharmaceutical use are a major global concern, despite the availability of many different treatments for therapy. We concentrated on different types of neurological problems and their influence on targets, in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods toward neurological disorders, as well as the molecular approaches influencing the same, in the first half of the review. The bulk of the second half of the review focuses on the many categories of treatment possibilities, including natural and artificial. Nevertheless, herbal treatment solutions are piquing scholarly attention due to their anti-oxidative properties and accessibility. However, more quality investigations and innovations are undoubtedly needed to back up these conclusions.

Abstract-Tridax procumbens is a common weed plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. The leaf juice has antiseptic, insecticidal and parasiticidal properties. The present work is based on developing a protocol for the callus induction in Tridax procumbens from various explants like leaf, internodes and shoot apical buds. The sterilized explants were inoculated in MS media containing various combination of auxins such as 2, 4, dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and cytokinins such as kinetin and 6 benzyl amino purine (BAP). Leaf and apical bud explants showed early and profuse callus induction whereas internodal explants showed comparatively delayed but profuse callus induction. Leaf and apical bud explants showed maximum response in terms of callus by using MS media with the combination 2, 4-D 0.5mg/lit and BAP 0.5mg/lit which was followed by 2, 4-D 0.5mg/lit and KIN 0.5mg/lit, 2, 4 -D 0.5mg/lit and BAP+KIN 0.5 mg/lit, NAA 0.5mg/lit and BAP 0.5mg/lit, NAA 2mg/lit and BAP 0.5mg/lit respectively. Whereas internodal explants showed maximum callus induction by using a hormonal concentration of 2mg/lit 2,4, D and 0.5mg/lit BAP. In vitro generated callus can be used as a source for the isolation of secondary metabolites from Tridax plant.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) drug resistance genotyping assay is a part of clinical management of HIV-1 positive individuals under treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Routine monitoring of drug resistance mutations in resource limited settings like India is not possible due to high cost of commercial drug resistance assays. In this study we developed an in-house, cost effective HIV-1 drug resistance genotyping assay for Indian patients and validated it against the US-FDA-approved ViroSeq HIV-1 drug resistance testing system. A reference panel of 20 clinical samples was used to develop and validate the assay against ViroSeq HIV-1 drug resistance testing system which was subsequently used to genotype a clinical panel of 225 samples. The Stanford HIV database was used to identify drug resistant mutations. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was 1000 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml of plasma sample while precision and reproducibility was 99.68±0.16% and 99.76±0.18% respectively. One hundred and one drug resistant mutations were detected by the in-house assay compared to 104 by ViroSeq system in the reference panel. The assay had 91.55% success rate in genotyping the clinical panel samples and was able to detect drug resistant mutations related to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) as well as protease inhibitor (PI) classes of antiretroviral drugs. It was found to be around 71.9% more cost effective compared to ViroSeq genotyping system. This evaluation of the assay on the clinical panel demonstrates its potential for monitoring clinical HIV-1 drug resistance mutations and population-based surveillance in resource limited settings like India.

BackgroundHepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and deaths due to the acute or chronic consequences worldwide. HBV is distributed into various genotypes based on nucleic acid sequence variation.ObjectivesTo develop a method of HBV genotyping and drug resistance interpretation using partial sequencing of polymerase gene.MethodsThis study was performed on 98 HBV infected patients' serum samples from Western India. A nested PCR protocol was designed for amplification of pol gene from HBV genome and Sanger's sequencing of the gene fragment. Sequences were aligned with HBV reference sequences for phylogenetic analysis and for characterization of genetic diversity. Drug resistance mutations were screened using HBVSeq program from Stanford University.ResultsDistribution of HBV genotypes showed predominance of genotype D, circulating in 76 (77.55%) patients (p < 0.05). Genotypes A and C were less prevalent and were identified in 4 (4.08%) and 18 (18.37%) patients, respectively. Anti-retroviral drug resistance mutations were not detected in any patient.ConclusionA method for determination of HBV genotypes using pol gene sequencing which simultaneously detects major drug resistance mutations has been established. HBV genetic diversity may play an important role in treatment decision.

A comprehensive account is presented of fern-allies and ferns known to occur in Kashmir Valley, Gurez (Kishenganga Valley) and Ladakh, which have recognized medicinal value. Out of the total number of 113 taxa (7 taxa of fern allies and 106 taxa of ferns) recorded from the area, a significant proportion (34%) is medicinally important. Amongst these, the genera Dryopteris (07) and Asplenium (06) have the highest number of medicinally important taxa. For each taxon included is provided the botanical name, family, common/vernacular name (wherever available), parts used, medicinal properties, chemical constituents etc.