The primary objective of this study was to develop and evaluate floating herbal tablets containing extracts of amla (Emblica officinalis) and ginger (Zingiber officinale). These herbal ingredients were selected for their well-documented health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and digestive properties. The aim was to enhance the gastric residence time of the tablets, thereby improving the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of the herbal extracts. Floating tablets were prepared using a combination of effervescent agents (sodium bicarbonate) and hydrophilic polymers (HPMC K100 and Sodium Alginate) to achieve the desired buoyancy and controlled release characteristics. Physical parameters like hardness, friability, and weight variation were measured for the prepared tablets. The floating lag time and total floating duration were measured in vitro buoyancy studies in simulated gastric fluid (0.1 N HCl) at 37°C. The release profile of active ingredients from the tablets was also measured in vitro release studies. The optimized formulation showed a floating lag time that was less than 20 seconds and a total floating duration exceeding 12 hours. The developed floating herbal tablets of amla and ginger extracts successfully achieved prolonged gastric retention and controlled release, which can potentially enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these herbal ingredients.
Shown that new inhibitors will likely need to be discovered in order to slow and eventually eradicate the pandemic. We attempted to provide a brief overview of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its control through the use of safe, natural active substances in order to enhance comprehension of the COVID-19 pathway. There is a dearth of information on the potential use of stable medication docking to viral illness management. There are currently no COVID-19 vaccinations or efficient medications on the market. Notwithstanding the significant rise in deaths at older ages among patients with diabetes and hypertension, scientists worldwide are still searching for a viable solution for COVID-19. Recently molecular docking was used to designing drugs and reduce the time and cost to give a result near from clinical trials on patients. It was widely known in the early stages of the pandemic that individuals with severe COVID-19 infections had marked immunological dysregulation, including lymphopenia and elevated expression of inflammatory mediators. T-cell activation is elevated in patients with severe acute COVID-19 infection, and T-cell fatigue follows. This significant and long-lasting decline in functional T-cells occurred after the acute infection. Numerous research have shown that reduced levels of antioxidants in the serum are linked to worse results, the majority of cases linked antioxidant deficiency to high inflammatory factors, high mortality, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac injury, acute kidney injury, thrombosis, and the need for mechanical ventilation (MV). It appears that patients with COVID-19 may benefit from higher antioxidant levels to stop the disease from progressing.
This research was carried out to evaluate the use of the inflorescence of Leptochloa fusca as a potential bio-indicator of air pollution. The presence and concentrations of heavy metals, specifically Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Uranium (U) and Zinc (Zn) in the inflorescence of Leptochloa fusca collected from two locations (high and low traffic) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). From the analysis, the concentration of heavy metals in the samples collected from high traffic roadside in their decreasing order are Zn(10.72), >Ni(6.19)> Cu (4.62), Mn (2.72)>Ba (2.02)> Cd(0.14)> Cr (0.12)>Pb (0.08)>Hg (0.03), U (0.02). The concentration of heavy metals in the samples collected from low traffic roadsides in their descending order are Zn (6.32), Mn (1.23)>Ni (1.19)> Cu (1.13),>Ba (0.19)>Cd (0.02)>Pb (0.01))> Hg (0.00)> Cr (0.00)> U (0.00). The concentration of the heavy metals in the inflorescence of L. fusca collected from high traffic locations was significantly higher than the samples collected from low traffic locations. From the study, it was concluded that high traffic roadsides are more prone to air pollution by vehicle exhaust and that the inflorescence of L. fusca is a potential bioindicator of air pollution. It is therefore recommended that proper monitoring and assessment of heavy metal pollutants should be carried out regularly to provide a better idea of the levels of pollution exposure at the roadside which can be absorbed by plants, humans, and other living organisms.
Averrhoa carambola is employed traditionally in Nigeria to treat diabetes, vomiting, cough, chickenpox, ringworm, aphthous stomatitis, high blood pressure, eczema, diarrhea, and kidney dysfunction.. This study investigated the bioactive compounds, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the stem bark of Averrhoa carambola using standard methods. The antioxidant properties were assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay and the metal chelating (MC) activity. The phytochemical analysis of the extract indicated the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and cardiac glycosides. The total phenolic and flavonoid content ranged from 4.46 ± 0.19 to 51.25 ± 0.52 mg of GAE/g and from 441.00 ± 5.98 to 2285.00 ± 11.13 mg of QE/g, respectively. Antioxidant study revealed IC50 range for DPPH (26.47 to 29.64 µg/mL), FRAP (26.51 to 51.30 µg/mL) and MC (69.53 to 60.66 µg/mL). The acute toxicity test of Averrhoa carambola stem bark extract showed a mean lethal dose (LD50) of 3872.98 mg/kg. The extract’s effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in rats, at doses of 155, 310 and 6200 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels (p < 0.05). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of ethyl acetate fraction indicated several compounds, including 5-(2-Amino-phenyl)-[1,3,4]thiadiazo-2-yl-p-tolyl-amine, 2-hydroxymethoxybenzaldehyde, tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether, phenol, 4-[2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-3-methyl-5-(1-propenyl)-2-benzofuranyl]-2-methoxy, thiazolo[3,2-a]2enzimidazole-3(2H)-one,2-(2-fflorobenzylideno)-7,8-dimethyl, squalene, phenol 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-, acetate, 2-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylphenyl) ethanamine, isoquinoline,1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-amino-2-methyl-4-phenyl-, phenol, 2,6-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)-. This research suggests that Averrhoa carambola stem bark possesses antioxidative activity and inhibits the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase in rats, probably due to the presence of its bioactive constituents.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is an enzyme responsible for degrading incretin hormones, which are key regulators of insulin secretion and blood glucose levels. Inhibition of DPP4 prolongs incretin activity, thereby enhancing glycemic control and offering therapeutic benefits in the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although synthetic DPP4 inhibitors are commonly used, plant-based compounds present a promising and potentially safer alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the DPP4 inhibitory potential of plant-derived compounds through in silico approaches, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis. Among the screened compounds, Apigenin 7-O-methylglucuronide, a bioactive molecule, exhibited a higher binding affinity to DPP4 (-9.1 kcal/mol) compared to sitagliptin (-8.43 kcal/mol), a standard DPP4 inhibitor. Furthermore, MD simulations over 100 ns demonstrated greater stability of the Apigenin 7-O-methylglucuronide–DPP4 complex relative to the sitagliptin–DPP4 complex. ADMET profiling revealed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high oral bioavailability and minimal inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes. These findings underscore the potential of Apigenin 7-O-methylglucuronide as a natural DPP4 inhibitor and support its further investigation as a candidate for alternative T2DM therapies.
