Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 8, Issue 4, 2022

Obesity is associated with many diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, fatty liver disease, cancer, osteoarthritis and many others. The prevalence of obesity is increasing every year among the global population. The persons being overweight or obese may consider traditional herbal medicines as a good strategy to manage chronic conditions due to various reasons. Nigella sativa (Black seeds) has been used to treat various conditions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, etc. Hence, the anti-obesity potential of N. sativa is analyzed in this review. The databases, including Medline/PMC/PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and reference lists, were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled clinical trials. Significant reduction of body weight, body mass index and waist circumference have been observed in many randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) by using N. sativa. Hence, the individuals willing to reduce their body weight can effectively use N. sativa along with lifestyle modifications.

Diabetes mellitus is a ubiquitous metabolic syndrome with increased rates of mortality from the past few decades. It is a biochemical disorder with a complex pathophysiology and has disturbed glucose homeostasis maintained by the insulin hormone. The current medications for diabetes mellitus have serious adverse effects after long treatments. Thus, Ayurveda based phytoconstitutents are a new and well-accepted path for the possible discovery of newer drugs for the better management of diabetes and associated complications. The plant phytoconstitutents are more affordable and clinically effective with less adverse effects than the modern allophatic medications. The literature has shown the efficacy and clinical safety of the traditional medicine system. These natural products act by inhibiting alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase enzymes, some act by regulating the insulin secretion and activation of PRARγ pathway for maintaining glucose concentration. These natural treatments were found to be remarkably potent and safe as no adverse effects have been clinically outlined during medical therapy. This review briefly describes the various secondary plant metabolites, their structures and proposed mechanism of action for treating diabetes mellitus and associated complications.

Background: The placenta maintains and regulates the growth of fetus and consists of various biologically active nutrients such as cytomedines, vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, peptides, growth factors, and other biologically active constituents. Introduction: The therapeutic effectiveness of the placenta can be well defined with respect to several biochemical mechanisms of various components present in it. The placental extract derived from biomedical wastes has also shown a great potential for treatment of various diseases. Methods: Placental therapy has been reported specifically to have potent action in the treatment of diseases and tissue regeneration. Results: Placental bioactive components and their multi-targeting identity prompted us to compile the précise information on placental extract products. However, some findings are needed to be explored by scientific community to prove their clinical potential with significant statistical validation. Conclusion: In the light of available information and the usefulness of the placental extract, it is necessary that the formulations of various desirable properties may be developed to meet the clinical requirements in several treatment paradigms. The potential effects of placental extract-based therapy are an interesting topic for investigation.

Background: Flavonoids are plant-derived chemicals found naturally in various parts of plants. They are an important component in a broad range of nutraceuticals because of their antimutagenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties. Tangeretin, an example of the flavone class of flavonoid compounds, is found in tangerine and other citrus fruit peels. It is a natural constituent with vast pharmacological activities and is extensively found in numerous fruits or fruit juices. Objective: The goal of the study was to gather information on tangeretin as well as its pharmacological characteristics. Methods: Electronic databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, and Web of Science were thoroughly searched for tangeretin, properties, and uses. Results: A total of 80 articles were reviewed in the present study covering current trends of research and development on tangeretin. Tangeretin's chemistry along with its source, extraction methods, and pharmaceutical importance, are exhaustively compiled here. Conclusion: On the basis of the literature survey, it can be concluded that tangeretin has a great potential to become an active drug molecule in various ailments.

Caffeine is well-known for its stimulant characteristics and is included in a wide variety of foods, drinks, and pharmaceutical formulations worldwide. However, the methods by which caffeine exerts its effects on the brain were unknown until the past decade, when the development of strong research tools enabled scientists to explore the drug's neuropharmacological and biochemical characteristics. Serotonin, especially in sensitive people, also tends to decrease anxiety. Most of their biological effects are caused by antagonising all kinds of adenosine receptors (ARs): A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. Serotonin is a key Central Nervous System (CNS) neurotransmitter. The deregulation of the transmission of serotonin in the CNS is known to be associated with many human mental illnesses, including impulsive aggressiveness, depression, and anxiety disorders.

Triticum aestivum Linn (commonly known as wheatgrass) is a perennial plant that belongs to the family Gramineae having various medicinal and nutritional applications. Generally, Triticum aestivum is utilized in southwest Asia as a curative agent to treat high blood pressure, cancers, obesity, diabetes, gastritis, ulcers, pancreas, liver problems, asthma, eczema, hemorrhoids, skin problems, etc. Numerous phytochemicals are present in this plant, including phenols, flavonoids, vitamins, proteins, minerals, etc. Rutin and gallic acid are the main active constituents isolated from Triticum aestivum and have been proven to possess notable anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-arthritic activity. Pharmacological in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that the extract possessed significant antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antiarthritic, antiulcer, cytotoxicity, and antidiabetic activities. Triticum aestivum has been summarized and discussed in a comprehensive and up-to-date review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, and traditional uses. This will facilitate further development of its therapeutic properties. To understand the relationship between traditional uses and bioactivity, more in-depth studies are needed in the future.

Depression is a complex neurological disorder. More than two hundred million people are affected by depression. Anti-depressant drugs prescribed to alleviate the symptoms associated with depression can interact with the neuroendocrine system and alter the level of neurotransmitters in the CNS. Dopamine, serotonin, testosterone, and other hormones influence human reproductive functions and sexual behavior. Anti-depressant drugs induce multiple hormonal and neurochemical changes throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. They were found to impair male sexual function by altering the concentration of androgenic hormones. Moreover, they were found to deteriorate semen parameters and adversely affect the integrity of sperm DNA. The paper describes the role of anti-depressants in inducing male infertility and the potential of traditionally used medicinal plants in restoring male fertility, which is compromised by anti-depressants. Medicinal plants have been reported to restore testosterone, FSH, and LH level in patients who consume antidepressants. Although the studies could not provide a specific mechanism, it has been reported that the plants showed the ability to upregulated anti-oxidant pathways and counter the oxidative stress induced by anti-oxidants which inhibit sperm DNA damage and improve semen parameters.