A novel polyherbal formulation containing thymoquinone attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatorenal injury in a rat model

Objective:To evaluate a novel polyherbal formulation(BSVT)containing the standardized extracts from the leaves of Boerhavia diffusa,Solidago virgaurea,Vitex negundo,and thymoquinone in CCl4 induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats.Methods:A total of 36 rats were divided into six groups including normal control,CCl4(2 mL/kg,i.p.),CCl4(2 mL/kg,i.p.)+Cystone?(750 mg/kg p.o.),CCl4(2 mL/kg,i.p.)+BSVT(25 mg/kg,p.o.),CCl4(2 mL/kg,i.p.)+BSVT(50 mg/kg,p.o.),and CCl4(2 mL/kg,i.p.)+BSVT(100 mg/kg,p.o.).All treatments were given for four weeks.Serum levels of aspartate transaminase,alanine transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,cholesterol,total protein,serum urea,blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were assessed.Superoxide dismutase,malondialdehyde,and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated in tissue homogenate.The histopathological study of liver and kidney tissues was also done.Results:Aspartate transaminase,alanine transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,cholesterol,serum urea,blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were significantly elevated(P<0.001)while total protein was considerably reduced in the CCl4 group as compared to the normal control(P<0.001),which indicated hepatorenal toxicity.In addition,superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly decreased(P<0.001)while malondialdehyde levels were increased markedly(P<0.001).Treatment with BSVT formulation recovered these parameters towards a normal level in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions:BSVT formulation ameliorates the hepatorenal toxicity in a dose-dependent manner.Furthermore,clinical studies are required to confirm its efficacy.

Prospective of extracellular matrix and drug correlations in disease management

The extracellular matrix(ECM)comprises of many structural molecules that constitute the extracellular environment.ECM molecules are characterized by specific features like diversity,complexity and signaling,which are also results of improvement or development of disease mediated by some physiological changes.Several drugs have also been used to manage diseases and they have been reported to modulate ECM assembly,including physiological changes,beyond their primary targets and ECM metabolism.This review highlights the alteration of ECM environment for diseases and effect of different classes of drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,immune suppressant drug,steroids on ECM or its components.Thus,it is summarized from previously conducted researches that diseases can be managed by targeting specific components of ECM which are involved in the pathophysiology of diseases.Moreover,the drug delivery focused on targeting the ECM components also has the potential for the discovery of targeted and site specific release of drugs.Therefore,ECM or its components could be future targets for the development of new drugs for controlling various disease conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and cancers.