Comparative hepatoprotective activity of detoxified roots of Plumbago zeylanica L. and Plumbago rosea L. in Wistar rats

Ayurveda Detoxification Process Reduces Plumbagin from the Roots of Plumbago zeylanica L. - A RP-UFLC Analysis

Ayurveda describes purification process of certain herbal drugs to reduce the toxicity and make them suitable for therapeutic purpose. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of detoxification process on plumbagin (PG) from the Plumbago zeylanica L. roots in marketed samples. It involved procurement of market samples from five states of India viz. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The roots were purified in lime water (LW) as mentioned in Ayurveda. Reverse Phase Ultra-Flow Liquid Chromatography method was validated for identification of PG in unprocessed and processed roots and in the media (LW) used for purification after processing. The data was statistically analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and tested for significance by the Dunnett multiple comparison test. Results were expressed as mean ± SD mg/g dry weight of extract. The study indicated that the PG was reduced quantitatively after processing, while the amount of PG found in the LW was observed to be increased, indicating the leaching of PG during the purification process. In conclusion, the detoxification process eliminates PG from its roots and discloses the leaching effect in the media for the first time.

Chemical Basis of the Traditional Ayurvedic Detoxification Process of the Toxic Medicinal Plant Plumbago zeylanica

Certain medicinal plants utilized in the traditional ayurvedic system are poisonous when used raw, but are used following a detoxification process. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) provides details about these detoxification (known as "sodhana") processes as per traditional procedures. This research endeavor aimed to uncover the fundamental principles underlying the detoxification approach applied to Plumbago zeylanica, commonly referred to as "swet chitrak", in which plumbagin is the primary toxic constituent. Both unprocessed and processed (detoxified) extracts as well as the detoxification media were subjected to analysis for secondary metabolites using different analytical techniques. This investigation revealed a reduction in plumbagin content, its conversion to epoxyplumbagin and zeylanone and a noteworthy decrease in cis- and trans-isoshinanolone during detoxification. Furthermore, it was confirmed that pure plumbagin when subjected to the same detoxification conditions, is partially converted into epoxyplumbagin, and that cis and trans-isoshinanolone showed interconversion. The current work establishes the chemical basis of the age-old traditional ayurvedic process of detoxification of P. zeylanica.

A Case Report on Management of Liver Cirrhosis Using Ayurveda and Integrative Approach of Treatment

Background: Liver cirrhosis is an advanced stage of abnormal fibrogenesis of tissues that causes liver injuries. Though cirrhosis can be managed by etiological parameters, its long-term reversal is still a question. Ayurveda system of medicine diagnoses liver disease under "Kamala" and "Udara" with promising outcomes of treatment. This case series discusses three cases of liver cirrhosis where internal Ayurvedic medications and external therapies including "Panchakarma" (a treatment approach of detoxifying and rejuvenating) resulted in effective management of the disease. Case Presentation: Three cases of decompensated liver cirrhosis were treated at an Ayurveda hospital. Relevant examinations and investigations were done, and patients were monitored at regular intervals. Patients were treated with Ayurvedic therapies and were monitored for changes using standardized tools of assessment. Conclusion: In all three patients, there was an improvement in quality of life and a reduction in symptoms such as abdominal pain, transpyloric diameter, pedal oedema, and fatigue, as well as a significant reduction in liver function test parameters. Decompensated liver cirrhosis can be managed with an Ayurvedic treatment regimen that includes Ayurvedic medications, Panchakarma, along with a proper diet regimen with salt and fluid restrictions. This case series concludes that while cirrhosis is not completely reversible, fibrosis could be reversed. The support of modern medicine for monitoring and emergency care remains paramount. Furthermore, proper documentation of all the observations can help in assessing the outcomes of Ayurveda therapies and aid in developing integrative protocols for the management of liver cirrhosis in the future.

In silico analysis and experimental validation to exhibit anti-nasopharyngeal carcinoma effects of plumbagin, an anti-cancer compound

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is publicly known as a malignant tumor. Our previous study reported that plumbagin exhibits potent anti-cancer actions. Nevertheless, more mechanical details of plumbagin against NPC remain unknown. The present study aimed to unmask the core targets/genes and anti-NPC mechanisms involved in the signaling pathways of plumbagin prior to biochemical validation.

METHODS

A network pharmacology approach was employed to respective identification of mutual and core targets/genes in plumbagin and/treating NPC. Molecular docking determination was used to identify core target proteins for biochemical validation using human and cell line samples.

RESULTS

In total, 60 anti-NPC genes of plumbagin were screened out, and then nine core target genes of plumbagin against NPC were identified accordingly. The enrichment findings revealed detailed biological functions and pharmacological pathways of plumbagin against NPC. Moreover, in silico analysis using molecular docking had determined the core targets for further experimental validation, comprising protein kinase B (AKT1) and sarcoma gene (SRC). In human sample validation, clinical NPC sections showed increased positive expression of AKT1 and SRC. Additionally, plumbagin-treated NPC cells resulted in inactivated protein expression of AKT1 and SRC.

CONCLUSION

The re-identified core targets/genes in the molecular docking report may function as plumbagin-related pharmacological targets for treating NPC via experimental validation. Furthermore, additional anti-NPC molecular mechanisms of plumbagin action were disclosed on the basis of enrichment findings. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of Targeted Post-operative Nursing Outcome in 1246 Patients with Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage

Jaundice is a detection index in many disease conditions commonly characterized by yellowish staining of the skin and mucous membranes. This work studies the postoperative care outcome in 1,246 patients (669 males and 577 females) with obstructive jaundice who underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). These patients were admitted to the interventional vascular surgery department of our hospital from February 2017 to February 2022. From the results, frequent wound re-dressing and maintenance of the drainage tube had significant positive influence on wound healing and patient recovery. The data also showed strict adherence by patients to the doctor’s recommendation advising them to visit the interventional specialist care clinic in time for wound dressing change and drainage tube maintenance. As a result, there was no significant difference in wound allergy, exudation, redness and loosening among patients. A cross-sectional analysis of the effect of age on recovery revealed variations in the healing pattern (wound loosening and the redness) between patients of different ages although the relationship is not very clear due to the limited sample size. Efficient drainage tube maintenance promoted recovery and prevented the occurrence of related complications such as PTBD tube blockage and biliary tract infection. The establishment of the interventional specialist care clinic used in this study additionally ensures patients’ safety, and the incidence of complications have been reduced drastically. These achievements are attributable to the implementation of regular dressing change, drainage tube maintenance and health education for patients with PTBD tube. These practices have also improved on the level of specialty in nursing practice, increased the professional value of nurses and better recognition by the society.