Therapeutic Potential of Cornus Genus: Navigating Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Clinical Studies, and Advanced Delivery Approaches

The genus Cornus (Cornaceae) plants are widely distributed in Europe, southwest Asia, North America, and the mountains of Central America, South America, and East Africa. Cornus plants exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidative, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activities. These plants are exploited to possess various phytoconstituents such as triterpenoids, iridoids, anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids. Pharmacological research and clinical investigations on various Cornus species have advanced significantly in recent years. Over the past few decades, a significant amount of focus has also been made into developing new delivery systems for Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis. This review focuses on the morphological traits, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and clinical studies on extracts and active constituents from plants of Cornus genus. The review also highlights recent novel delivery systems for Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis extracts to promote sustained and targeted delivery in diverse disorders. The overwhelming body of research supports the idea that plants from the genus Cornus have therapeutic potential and can be investigated in the future for treatingseveral ailments.

The triggering pathway, the metabolic amplifying pathway, and cellular transduction in regulation of glucose-dependent biphasic insulin secretion

Introduction: Insulin secretion is a highly regulated process critical for maintaining glucose homeostasis. This abstract explores the intricate interplay between three essential pathways: The Triggering Pathway, The Metabolic Amplifying Pathway, and Cellular Transduction, in orchestrating glucose-dependent biphasic insulin secretion.Mechanism: During the triggering pathway, glucose metabolism in pancreatic beta-cells leads to ATP production, closing ATP-sensitive potassium channels and initiating insulin exocytosis. The metabolic amplifying pathway enhances insulin secretion via key metabolites like NADH and glutamate, enhancing calcium influx and insulin granule exocytosis. Additionally, the cellular transduction pathway involves G-protein coupled receptors and cyclic AMP, modulating insulin secretion.Result and Conclusion: These interconnected pathways ensure a dynamic insulin response to fluctuating glucose levels, with the initial rapid phase and the subsequent sustained phase. Understanding these pathways' complexities provides crucial insights into insulin dysregulation in diabetes and highlights potential therapeutic targets to restore glucose-dependent insulin secretion.

Brain augmentation and neuroscience technologies: current applications, challenges, ethics and future prospects

Ever since the dawn of antiquity, people have strived to improve their cognitive abilities. From the advent of the wheel to the development of artificial intelligence, technology has had a profound leverage on civilization. Cognitive enhancement or augmentation of brain functions has become a trending topic both in academic and public debates in improving physical and mental abilities. The last years have seen a plethora of suggestions for boosting cognitive functions and biochemical, physical, and behavioral strategies are being explored in the field of cognitive enhancement. Despite expansion of behavioral and biochemical approaches, various physical strategies are known to boost mental abilities in diseased and healthy individuals. Clinical applications of neuroscience technologies offer alternatives to pharmaceutical approaches and devices for diseases that have been fatal, so far. Importantly, the distinctive aspect of these technologies, which shapes their existing and anticipated participation in brain augmentations, is used to compare and contrast them. As a preview of the next two decades of progress in brain augmentation, this article presents a plausible estimation of the many neuroscience technologies, their virtues, demerits, and applications. The review also focuses on the ethical implications and challenges linked to modern neuroscientific technology. There are times when it looks as if ethics discussions are more concerned with the hypothetical than with the factual. We conclude by providing recommendations for potential future studies and development areas, taking into account future advancements in neuroscience innovation for brain enhancement, analyzing historical patterns, considering neuroethics and looking at other related forecasts.

Evaluation of Anti Estrogenic Activity and Anti-Osteoporotic Activity of Extracted Quercetin from Bambusa arundinacea Leaves on Ovariectomized Rats

Phytoestrogens has now become a emerging era of interest for the researchers. The mimicking effects of phytoestrogens had lead to its wide use in reproductive system. In this study it was aimed to study the estrogenic activity and anti-osteoporotic activity of isolated quercetin female Wistar rats. The estrogenic effect was analyzed by uterotropic assay, vaginal cytology and measurement of vaginal opening in female Wistar rats. The administration of isolated quercetin in ovariectomized immature and mature female Wistar rats in a dose of 30 mg/kg b.w. resulted in significant increase in the uterine wet weight when compared with ovariectomized control rats. The treated rats, showing only Cornified epithelial cells was an indication of the presence of the estrogen and also showed 100% vaginal opening. Thirty six female albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=6). After 60 days of Ovariectomy, animals were treated with of isolated quercetin for the next 45 days. Finally femur bone length, weight, bone ash calcium level, and bone mineral density (BMD) were estimated. The levels of serum alkaline phosphates (ALP), calcium, and phosphorous, and bone histopathology were also evaluated. OVX-induced increased serum ALP, calcium, and phosphorous levels were impaired in of isolated quercetin treated rats. The isolated quercetin which was evident by uterotropic assay, measurement of vaginal opening, and histopathological changes. It also exhibited a significant anti-osteoporotic effect in the experimental model of OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats, indicating advantageous effect in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Thus it concludes the Anti Estrogenic activity and Anti-Osteoporotic activity of extracted Quercetin from Bambusa arundinacea leaves on ovariectomized rats.

Isolation and Characterization of Quercetin from Bambusa arundinacea

Flavonoids are natural antioxidants that are formed from plants and found in meals such as fruits and vegetables. They have the capacity to bind to free radicals. Because of its abundant prevalence in foods, Quercetin, which belongs to the flavonol subclass of flavonoids, has gotten a lot of attention. Quercetin is also found in Bambusa arundinacea. The plant was obtained and authenticated. Further the isolation procedure was done and was analyzed via TLC, FT-IR, and UV, 1 H NMR, Mass and XRD Analysis. The results obtained from the above parameters showed the resemblance with standard quercetin. Thus it was concluded for the presence of quercetin from Bambusa arundinacea.

Treatment effect of l-Norvaline on the sexual performance of male rats with streptozotocin induced diabetes

Sexual impairment is an established risk factor in diabetes mellitus affecting about 75% of male diabetic population. In diabetes overexpression of arginase leads to decreased production of NO and diminished erectile response. Inhibition of arginase enzyme can lead to improvement in diabetes induced sexual dysfunction. In the present study diabetes mellitus was induced in adult male rats by intraperitoneal injection of single dose of streptozotocin (65mg/kg) in 0.1M Citrate buffer pH 4.5 and after 72h fasting serum glucose level was checked by glucose oxidase-peroxidase method and those animals showing FSG above 250mg/dl were selected. Diabetic animals were divided into four groups comprising six animals in each. l-Norvaline, potent arginase inhibitor was administered at a dose of 10mg/kg ip to the different groups of diabetic animals for a period of 30 days. Sildenafil at a dose of 5mg/kg orally was used as a standard drug. Mating behavior tests were performed at 0, 15th and 30th days. After 30 days, various biochemical and hormonal parameters (nitrates, LDH, urea, testosterone), testicular parameters (total protein, nitrates, LDH, total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, VLDL, HDL) were evaluated to find out the effect of l-Norvaline in sexual impairment. Sperm analysis was also carried out for the treated rats. l-Norvaline showed significant improvement in serum nitrates, urea, LDH, testosterone and testicular protein level as compared with diabetic group. It also improved sperm motility, count and viability in diabetic rats. Sildenafil showed no improvement in above parameters except restoration in serum nitrates level.

Resistance training to counteract the catabolism of a low-protein diet in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. A randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic renal insufficiency leads to muscle wasting, which may be exacerbated by low-protein diets prescribed to delay disease progression. Resistance training increases protein utilization and muscle mass.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of resistance training in improving protein utilization and muscle mass in patients with chronic renal insufficiency treated with a low-protein diet.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.

PATIENTS

26 older patients with moderate renal insufficiency (17 men, 9 women) who had achieved stabilization on a low-protein diet.

INTERVENTION

During a run-in period of 2 to 8 weeks, patients were instructed and their adherence to the low-protein diet (0.6 g/kg of body weight per day) was evaluated. They were randomly assigned to a low-protein diet plus resistance training (n = 14) or a low-protein diet alone (n = 12) for 12 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS

Total body potassium, mid-thigh muscle area, type I and II muscle-fiber cross-sectional area, and protein turnover.

RESULTS

Mean protein intake was 0.64 +/- 0.07 g/kg per day after stabilization. Total body potassium and type I and II muscle-fiber cross-sectional areas increased in patients who performed resistance training by a mean (+/-SD) of 4% +/- 8%, 24% +/- 31%, and 22% +/- 29%, respectively, compared with those who did not. Leucine oxidation and serum prealbumin levels also improved significantly. Patients assigned to resistance training maintained body weight compared with those who were not. Improvement in muscle strength was significantly greater with resistance training (32% +/- 14%) than without (-13% +/- 20%) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

By improving muscle mass, nutritional status, and function, resistance training seems to be effective against the catabolism of a low-protein diet and uremia in patients with renal failure.