Journal of International Research in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Anthelmintic Screening of Hylocereus polyrhizus Rind Extracts

Sinchu Yesudanam — 2024-08-09

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rind extract of Hylocereus polyrhizus's anthelmintic efficacy. Ethanol and water were utilized to extract the powdered rind of H. polyrhizus. The phytochemical screening of H. polyrhizus ethanol extract (HPEE) and water extract (HPAE) was done. The adult motility assay and resistance-modifying study were then used to screen for the plant's anthelmintic properties against Eudrilus eugeniae. Due to its morphological and physiological resemblance to the human intestinal roundworm, Eudrilus eugeniae was chosen in the investigation. On E. eugeniae, HPEE and HPAE demonstrated dose-dependent paralytic and fatal effects. The anthelminthic activity of albendazole was also assessed by HPEE and HPAE through resistance-modifying research and the adult worm (E. eugeniae) motility assay. The addition of different concentrations of HPEE and HPAE considerably (p < 0.05) increased the activity of albendazole against E. eugeniae. Against E. eugeniae, they exhibited dose-dependent anthelmintic action. When compared to HPEE, HPAE exhibits the strongest activity. Albendazole's lethality and paralytic action were considerably increased by HPEE and HPAE. HPEE and HPAE underwent phytochemical screening, which identified the presence of coumarins, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and saponins. The findings of this investigation demonstrate the anthelmintic activity of H. polyrhizus.

Phytochemical Characterization of Hylocereus polyrhizus Rind Extracts

Sinchu Yesudanam — 2024-09-24

The purpose of this study was to identify the phytochemical components of rind extracts from Hylocereus polyrhizus. Two distinct solvents were used in the maceration process to create the extracts. Following a preliminary phytochemical study of the extracts, the principal bioactive substances, including tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids, were quantitatively identified. Using LC-MS and HPTLC, the H. polyrhizus rind extracts are phytochemically characterized. Chemical profiling of the extracts, retention factor of the separated bands, and constituent percentage area were all determined using HPTLC. By using LC-MS, about 28 phytochemical components and compounds were examined. A sizable concentration of bioactive chemicals in H. polyrhizus suggests that the plant has pharmacological properties that include neurological, anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cardioprotective properties.

Evaluation of the Effects of a Neurotransmitter on the Action Potential Parameters in Lumbricus Terrestris

Rebecca Park — 2024-10-09

Background of the Study: Action potentials (APs) are crucial for transmitting electrical signals in neurons. They are influenced by the balance of ions across the membrane and the permeability of sodium and potassium channels. Acetylcholine (ACh) affects neural activity, but its specific impact on AP parameters needs to be understood, mainly when administered near the ventral nerve area.

Aim: This study investigated the effects of acetylcholine on action potential parameters in L. terrestris, focusing on changes in response time, peak point, valley point, and wave width of AP evoked by electrical stimulation.

Methodology: The L. terrestris were placed on electrode arrays of the data acquisition system to record APs in their ventral nerve under 90 mV electrical stimulation. Baseline recordings were taken, followed by the administration of ACh near the ventral nerve cord. The resulting changes in AP parameters were analyzed to assess the impact of these substances on neural conduction.

Conclusions: Acetylcholine increased the response time and peak amplitude of action potentials, while wave width and valley point were not dependent on the amount of Ach volume injected. Further clinical or in-vitro studies might be needed to improve our system understanding.

Investigating the Feasibility of Xylitol and Gelatin for Controlled Release System in Drug Delivery using Calcium Alginate

Sean Lee — 2024-10-09

Calcium Alginate-based beads have been recognized to have high potential for pharmaceutical applications thanks to their ease of use and biocompatibility. This study aims to investigate how xylitol and gelatin could be used for a controlled drug delivery system and how to manipulate such a delivery system. For the study, calcium alginate beads were synthesized using two different calcium compounds: calcium lactate (CL) and calcium chloride (CC). Varying concentrations of the calcium compounds in the beads were prepared to measure their effects on their characteristics, such as size, weight, strength, and, most importantly, the diffusion rate. The study attempted to manipulate the diffusion rates by incorporating xylitol and gelatin into the calcium alginate membrane. A comparative analysis revealed that CC and CL affected the beads differently. For instance, bead size increased with CC concentration up to 5%, after which it decreased, while CL showed a more consistent decrease in size as concentration increased. Weight generally decreased with higher concentrations of both CC and CL, but the reduction was more pronounced with CL. The popping force increased with CC concentration but had a non-linear relationship with CL, reaching around 7% concentration before decreasing. The study also examined the percentage change in weight after 48 hours of drying. For smaller beads (3mm), the weight change decreased with higher CC concentration, but for larger beads (7.05mm), the trend reversed, showing an increase in weight change at higher concentrations. Similar patterns were observed for CL, with weight change initially decreasing but increasing with higher concentrations. Our diffusion studies found that the xylitol concentration generally enhanced diffusion rates, with CL beads showing a greater initial diffusion than CC beads. In contrast, gelatin concentration has less predictable effects on diffusion rates. For CL beads, more gelatin results in less dye diffusion, suggesting that gelatin may impact the initial release of dye from the beads.

Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase: The Key to Pathogenesis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s and Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Olen R. Brown — 2024-10-04

Several neurodegenerative brain diseases (primarily Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS) have distinctive differences but they share similar, incurable pathologies with Alzheimer’s disease. These pathologies have mechanisms in common that involve oxidant stress. More than 20 years ago, research identified indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) as a significant site of oxygen toxicity resulting in convulsions. More recently, (IDO1), the rate-limiting enzyme of the kynurenine pathway in brain and some other tissues was identified as an eclectic, immunoregulatory agent including maternal T-cell tolerance. IDO1 is currently known to be a complex biomolecule with the catalytic activity of an enzyme and a coenzyme-like heme iron component that responds to changes in oxidant stress and equips it to function in a highly-regulated manner. Thus, IDO1 is known to perform non-enzyme functions that include reprogramming the expression profiles of immune cells with roles in autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, pregnancy, and cancer. I propose that brain IDO1, functioning as a highly-regulated enzyme of the kynurenine pathway, and as a sensor of and responder to oxidant stress, is deeply involved in the mechanisms leading to neurodegenerative brain diseases, and Alzheimer’s serves as a representative, basic, mechanistic example. Following this connection offers new hope for elucidating the mechanisms of neurodegenerative brain diseases and for discovering treatments and cures.