Breast cancer is the most common in women worldwide, with some 5-10% of all cases due to inherited mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Obesity, hormone therapy and use of alcohol are possible causes and over-expression of leptin in adipose tissue may also play a role. Normally surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy allow a good prognosis where screening measures are in place. New hope in treatment measures include adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and introduction of mono-clonal antibodies and enzyme inhibitors.

Caesalpinia bonduc has been used in herbal medicines for the treatment of a wide range of diseases from decades. The present study has explored the remedial potential and underlying mechanism of polyphenol extract of Caesalpinia bonduc in alloxanized diabetic rats. HPLC/MS analysis confirmed the presence of phenolics in considerable concentrations in Caesalpinia bonduc extract. Administration of different doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) of CPP extract to hyperglycemic rats for 8 weeks restored blood and serum glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, leptin, amylin, and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes level towards normal compared to alloxanized diabetic group. The effect of CPP extract on various genes such as Pdx-1, Ins-1, ngn-3, GLUT-4, and IRS-1 in insulin signaling pathway and Traf-4, Traf-6, and Mapk-8 in MAPK downstream JNK cascade was examined through qRT-PCR to access the core molecular mechanism involved in CPP-induced recovery of diabetes. Results have revealed that CPP extract reduced oxidative stress in pancreatic β cells by restoring free radical scavenging potential, reducing the mRNA expression of Mapk-8, Traf-4, and Traf-6, and increasing the Pdx-1, Ins-1, ngn-3, GLUT-4, and IRS-1 expression ensuing regeneration of β cells and subsequent insulin release from pancreas. The results obtained in this study recommend that CPP extract may be a promising therapeutic restorative agent in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder having serious consequences on health and is becoming the 3 rd most fatal disease worldwide. The current study was designed to prepare and explore the antihyperglycemic potential of a polyherbal formulation comprising aqueous extracts of Momordica charantia, Syzygium cumini, Acacia nilotica, Elettaria cardamomum, Cicer arietinum L, Foeniculum vulgare and Gymnema sylvestre. Hyperglycemia was induced by alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg). After induction of diabetes, polyherbal formulation was administered in graded doses 200, 400 and 600mg/kg to treated groups I, II and III respectively. Polyherbal formulation was found to be rich in phytoconstituents on phytochemical analysis. Antihyperglycemic potential of polyherbal formulation was determined through biochemical and gene expression analysis. Results of the study revealed that polyherbal formulation significantly reversed the alloxan monohydrate induced hyperglycemia in rat models by improving the biochemical parameters in dose dependent manner. Highest dose of polyherbal formulation (600 mg/kg) significantly reduced the serum glucose (142.60±3.12 mg/dl), glycosylated hemoglobin (6.62±0.27%) and increased the serum insulin (16.87±1.53 U/L) levels in comparison to diabetic control group having serum glucose (375.20±8.98 mg/dl), glycosylated hemoglobin (13.92±0.70%) and insulin (6.26±1.13 U/L) levels respectively. Moreover, polyherbal formulation enhanced the performance of pancreatic β cells by upregulating the expression of PDX-1, INS-1 and INS-2 genes (insulin signaling cascade). Conclusively, the results of current study indicated the potent hypoglycemic properties of polyherbal formulation.

Context: Angelica sinensis L. (Umbelliferae) has medicinal properties. Objectives: The present study evaluates the haematopoietic effects of A. sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) against lisinopril-induced anaemia. Materials and methods: Thirty healthy adult male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (n ¼ 6). Group I was control group. Group II was treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI, 20 mg/kg/day) to induce anaemia. In group III, erythropoietin (EPO, 100 IU/kg/each) was administered in combination with ACEI. Group IV was treated with ASP (1 g/kg/day), extracted from A. sinensis root caps. In Group V, ASP (1 g/kg/day) was treated with ACEI. After 28 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for haematological and histopathological analysis, respectively. Results: The results showed that ACEI significantly reduced the haemoglobin (Hb, 10.0 g/dL), packed cell volume (PCV, 39.5%), red blood cells (RBCs, 6.2 million/mm 3 ), mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 53.5 fL) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH, 16.2 pg/cell) values. In the group treated with ASP, the Hb (13.7 g/dL) and RBCs (7.8 million/mm 3 ) increased significantly (p < 0.05). The combination of ASP and ACEI led to the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in Hb (10.7 g/dL), PCV (33.3%), RBCs (6.0 million/mm 3 ), MCV (54.42 fL) and MCH (16.44 pg/cell) values. While histopathological examination of the liver and kidney cells showed a mild degree of toxicity in the ASP-treated group. Conclusion: ASP has a potentiating effect on haematological parameters when given alone. However, when administered simultaneously with lisinopril, it showed an unfavourable effect with more complicated anaemia so it should not be used with ACEIs. ARTICLE HISTORY

<p class="Abstract">Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a main source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is characterized by erosions in mucosal linings of stomach and duodenum. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori are mainly responsible for peptic ulcer disease. Histamine receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors are most prominent therapies in the treatment of peptic ulcer. However, severe adverse effects of NSAIDs have been reported. Therefore, focus is now diverted towards herbal formulations of medicinal plants for the treatment of ulcer. Plants contain different phytoconstituents which are responsible for increasing defensive mechanisms of body against peptic ulcer. The current review focuses on the commonly used gastroprotective plants as antiulcer agents.</p><p> </p>

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As the prevalence of breast cancer has been increasing day by day in almost every part of the world, there is need to develop alternative therapeutic measures for breast cancer control. To fulfill this need, chemoprevention is a novel approach. Efforts have been made to identify synthetic or natural products that can prevent the pre-neoplastic events preceding the occurrence of detectable cancer. Berberine (quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of isoquinoline alkaloids) is one such compound. In this review in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities of berberine have been summarized. The mechanisms of action of berberine include; inhibition of tumorigenic microorganisms, regulation of oncogene, interaction with DNA and RNA, inhibition of carcinogenesis related enzymes and induction of apoptosis. Berbrine has synergistic activity of when given in combined medication while it is also responsible for reduction of multidrug resistance in breast cancer treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of death associated with cancer. Various molecular mechanisms are involved in HCC development. Alterations in these molecular mechanisms include chromosomal instability, gene mutations, and variations in protein expressions. A number of cell signaling pathways that are associated with the occurrence of apoptosis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis provide new prospects for the development of HCC treatments. Newly designed, potential therapeutic regimens target specific receptors, kinases, and vital proteins. Sorafenib is the only FDA-approved drug for HCC treatment, and it has been found that the complex genomic aberrations in HCC can be overcome using combination therapy. For example, therapeutic benefits have been gained using sorafenib with doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, cisplatin, and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, elumetinib, carbozantinib, and refametinib may be effective when used in combination with sorafenib. Drugs that target several signaling pathways have shown promising results in phase 3 clinical trials, and clinical studies using these drugs have changed the management strategy for HCC, particularly with the use of combination therapeutic regimens. Such research has improved the current standards of care and influenced clinical decision making.