A pharmacological perspectives of Musa sapientum peels against lung cancer: An in vitro and in silico study

CONTEXT

The essential role of medicinal plants is studied over 5000 years against the life-threatening diseases such as cancer in developing countries. The more cognizance on molecular mechanism will engender trend to use them efficaciously.

AIMS

To analyze the pharmacological activity of banana peel against lung cancer.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Banana fruit is a nutritious victuals with proven medicinal properties. The underlying molecular mechanism of phytochemicals present in the banana peel was studied using in vitro and in silico methods to explore an efficacious anticancer drug against lung cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The petroleum ether extract of Musa sapientum peel is analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in vitro studies using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and lipid peroxidase assay, and the in silico studies by molecular docking.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Microsoft Excel 2010 is used to calculate the mean and standard deviation for the ABTS and lipid peroxidation assay.

RESULTS

The antioxidant activity was found to be 20 µg/ml concentration in ABTS assay and 10 µg/ml concentration in lipid peroxidation assay. The in vitro anticancer activity was inspected using A549 cell lines by MTT assay. Tri cyclo [5,1,0,0 (2, 4) oct 5-ene 5 proponoic acid] 3,3,8,8 tetramethyl was selected as best lead against epidermal growth factor receptor of human based on the energy score calculated using the Auto-dock software.

CONCLUSIONS

This study strongly supports that unexploited banana peels could be used to harvest promising lead molecules against non-small cell lung cancer.

Knowledge and attitude of dental students toward hepatitis B virus and its vaccination - A cross-sectional study

Objectives:

To estimate the awareness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and coverage of hepatitis B vaccination among dental students enrolled in dental colleges located in Andhra Pradesh.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a prestructured questionnaire to find out the awareness of HBV and coverage of hepatitis B vaccine among dental students.

Results:

A total of 2780 dental students were approached to participate in the study but only 2701 (97.1%) students (M = 900, F = 1801) gave response. Out of the total 2701 students, 79.45% were aware of HBV infection and only 51.50% of the participants received hepatitis B vaccine. 20.5% have come across HBV infected patients and 59.5% are unaware of postexposure protocol. Of all, 63.9%, 21.5% and 42% felt the mode of transmission is blood, sexual contact and oral fluids, respectively. 49.12% recommended for awareness programs on risks in HBV; 56.46% suggested mandatory Hepatitis B vaccination programs in dental colleges.

Conclusions:

Despite the availability and accessibility of a cost-effective hepatitis B vaccine, the vaccination coverage among dental students was low. Health education needs to be improved for all health care students especially for dental students.

Argemone mexicana: A Boon to Medicinal and Pharmacological Approaches in Current Scenario

Nature is God's gift to human beings. Natural products are a source of new chemical diversity and are the choice of today's world. Nature itself gives remedy to all our health problems. The sources of natural product are plants, animals and microorganisms. Among them plant and its products are more reliable for its renewability and therefore, considered as fortunate thing for human welfare. Our traditional system of medicine which has been followed by our ancestors has its own impact on human life. Due to the inadequate knowledge many plant derived products (drugs) has not yet been explored to the society. We are having many side effects and long term complications in synthetic drugs. Our aim is to mine the precious data about the plant Argemone mexicana. Now-a-days people prefer a drug which has no side effects. For that, the plant Argemone mexicana is a boon to the human being as it has a number of miraculous compounds to cure a various types of diseases. Single plant has a lot of uncountable benefits in drug discovery and which gives a base for new drug discovery. This plant is a weed, easily available and it does not require any special care which forms the base to develop a drug in socio economic form so that it could be made available to all people. This chapter provides an insight into various interesting pharmacological properties viz., Antidiabetic activity , Anti-Cancer activity, Anti-HIV activity, CNS related activities, Wound recovering action, Anti microbial activity, Antioxidant activity, Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity, Hepatoprotective activity, Anti-fertility activity, Antiallergic activity, Nematicidal activity, Allelopathic effect, Antihelmintic activity, Larvicidal activity, Antifeedant action etc., which has been reviewed from different literatures in scientific journals. This present review would kindle many of the young minds to turn towards the nature i.e., plant based novel drug discovery with in-depth and extensive studies in all relevant aspects. Hence the paramount importance of this review about Argemone mexicana will be very much useful to the society.