Cuminum cyminum and Carum carvi are the sources of cumin and caraway seeds respectively, which have been used since antiquity for the treatment of various indications in traditional healing systems in wide geographical areas. Cumin and caraway seeds are rich sources of essential oils and have been actively researched for their chemical composition and biological activities. In recent times (especially during the last 3 years) considerable progress has been made regarding validation of their acclaimed medicinal attributes by extensive experimental studies. In this attempt many novel bioactivities have been revealed. This review highlights the significance of cumin and caraway as potential source of diverse natural products and their medicinal applications.

The effect of piperine on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of propranolol and theophylline has been examined in a crossover study. Six subjects in each group received a single oral dose of propranolol 40 mg or theophylline (150 mg) alone or in combination with piperine 20 mg daily for 7 days. An earlier tmax and a higher Cmax and AUC were observed in the subjects who received piperine and propranolol. It produced a higher Cmax, longer elimination half-life and a higher AUC with theophylline. In clinical practice, the enhanced systemic availability of oral propranolol and theophylline could be exploited to achieve better therapeutic control and improved patient compliance.

Hydroxychavicol isolated from the chloroform extraction of aqueous extract of Piper betle leaves showed inhibitory activity against oral cavity pathogens. It exhibited an inhibitory effect on all of the oral cavity pathogens tested (MICs of 62.5 to 500 g/ml) with a minimal bactericidal concentration that was twofold greater than the inhibitory concentration. Hydroxychavicol exhibited concentration-dependent killing of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 up to 4؋ MIC and also prevented the formation of water-insoluble glucan. Interestingly, hydroxychavicol exhibited an extended postantibiotic effect of 6 to 7 h and prevented the emergence of mutants of S. mutans ATCC 25175 and Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 at 2؋ MIC. Furthermore, it also inhibited the growth of biofilms generated by S. mutans and A. viscosus and reduced the preformed biofilms by these bacteria. Increased uptake of propidium iodide by hydroxychavicol-treated cells of S. mutans and A. viscosus indicated that hydroxychavicol probably works through the disruption of the permeability barrier of microbial membrane structures. Hydroxychavicol also exhibited potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This was evident from its concentration-dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation and significant suppression of tumor necrosis factor alpha expression in human neutrophils. Its efficacy against adherent cells of S. mutans in water-insoluble glucan in the presence of sucrose suggests that hydroxychavicol would be a useful compound for the development of antibacterial agents against oral pathogens and that it has great potential for use in mouthwash for preventing and treating oral infections.Diverse microorganisms inhabit the human oral cavity, and there is always a risk of infection with bacterial pathogens associated with the oral cavity. Streptococcus constitutes 60 to 90% of the remaining bacteria that colonize the teeth within the first 4 h after professional cleaning (17). Other early colonizers include Actinomyces spp., Eikenella spp., Haemophilus spp., Prevotella spp., Propionibacterium spp., and Veillonella spp. Many of the physical interactions that occur between the organisms of this community are known. Streptococcus is the only genus of oral cavity bacteria that demonstrates extensive and intergenic coaggregation (12, 13). The ability of this genus to bind to other early colonizers and to host oral matrices may confer an opportunity to viridians streptococci in establishing early dental plaque (17). Streptococcus mutans can colonize the tooth surface and initiate plaque formation by its ability to synthesize extracellular polysaccharides, mainly water-insoluble glucan from sucrose, using its glucosyltransferase (11).The current research targeting microbial biofilm inhibition has attracted a great deal of attention, and the search for effective antimicrobial agents against these oral pathogens could lead to identification of new agents for the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases arising out of dental plaque formation (23...

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Terminalia chebula Gertn. (Combetraceae) is an important herbal drug in Ayurvedic pharmacopea. In the present study, a 95% ethanolic extract of T. chebula (fruit) (TC extract), which was chemically characterized on the basis of chebuloside II as a marker, was investigated for hepatoprotective activity against anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drug-induced toxicity. TC extract was found to prevent the hepatotoxicity caused by the administration of rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH) and pyrazinamide (PZA) (in combination) in a sub-chronic mode (12 weeks). The hepatoprotective effect of TC extract could be attributed to its prominent anti-oxidative and membrane stabilizing activities. The changes in biochemical observations were supported by histological profile.

Peppers are common food ingredients used worldwide. They are also added in traditional antidiarrhoeal formulations of different herbs. Piperine (1) is an alkaloidal constituent of black and long peppers recently established as a bioavailability enhancer of drugs and other substances. As a part of efforts to study its effects on the gastrointestinal tract, the experiments were performed to determine the rationale, if any, for its use in traditional antidiarrhoeal formulations. Antidiarrhoeal activity of 1 against castor oil, MgSO4 and arachidonic acid was studied in mice. It significantly inhibited diarrhoea produced by these cathartics at 8 and 32 mg/kg p.o. dose. Inhibition of castor oil induced enteropooling by 1 suggests its inhibitory effect on prostaglandins. The results validate the rationale for its use in traditional antidiarrhoeal formulations.