Kiran Kumar

Background: Memory and cognitive decline represent hallmark manifestations of Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative conditions. Current pharmacological management relies predominantly on synthetic cognitive enhancers and cholinesterase inhibitors, whose long-term administration raises concerns regarding tolerability, systemic toxicity, and patient adherence. Consequently, attention has shifted toward plant-derived therapies — particularly those rich in neuroprotective and antioxidant constituents — as more sustainable and well-tolerated options for maintaining brain health. Annona reticulata, a member of the Annonaceae family, has attracted scientific interest owing to its phytochemical complexity and historically documented medicinal applications. Objective: The present investigation aimed to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing potential of the hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Annona reticulata in a scopolamine-induced murine model of cholinergic cognitive impairment. Methods: A total of thirty-six male Wistar mice were randomly allocated into six experimental groups, each comprising six animals. Group I served as the vehicle-treated normal control, while Group II received the reference nootropic, piracetam (400 mg/kg, per oral), administered daily for six consecutive days. Cholinergic cognitive impairment was established in Group III through intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg). Groups IV, V, and VI were co-administered scopolamine alongside graded doses of the hydroalcoholic fruit extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg orally, respectively. Spatial learning and memory were evaluated employing the Morris Water Maze paradigm over six days. Following behavioural assessment, hippocampal tissues were harvested and processed for histopathological examination. Data were statistically analysed using one-way and two-way ANOVA, and values were reported as mean ± SEM. Results: Hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Annona reticulata elicited a statistically significant and dose-related amelioration of spatial learning and memory deficits in scopolamine-challenged animals. Extract-treated groups exhibited progressive reductions in escape latency and augmented target quadrant occupancy across training days. At the highest tested dose (400 mg/kg), cognitive performance closely approached that observed in the piracetam reference group, underscoring the extract's potent nootropic efficacy. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings indicate that Annona reticulata fruit extract harbours appreciable cognitive-enhancing and neuroprotective capabilities. The extract warrants further mechanistic and translational investigation to delineate its precise mode of action and validate its therapeutic applicability in cognitive dysfunction disorders.

Poisonous plants may be a threat to the health and safety of people and animals. It makes crucial to have knowledge about surrounding poisonous plants. Information gathered by generating database of poisonous materials from any particular region may be life saving. Chemical analysis of these plants is another important aspect especially for forensic experts solving crime cases involving poisonous plants. Therefore this paper has also conducted Thin Layer Chromatographic separation of poisonous plants. A wide diversity of plants could be seen in and around Rohtak city of Haryana but literature survey didn’t reveal any significant information about the poisonous plants from this area. Therefore, the present study has inspected occurrence of some poisonous plants throughout Rohtak city and their chromatographic analysis. Importantly the results have been of great utility. Morphological examination identified ten poisonous plants vis. Thevetia peruviana, Nerium odoratum, Calotropis procera, Ricinus communis, Datura fastusa, Argemone mexicana, Ipomea marginate, Crinium asiaticum, Plumeria obtuse and Abrus precatorius from different localities of the selected area.  A new single solvent system chromatographically separating all these poisonous plant extracts has also been developed.

Single unit floating effervescent matrix tablets of Dipyridamole were successfully prepared with hydrophilic polymers like HPMC K4M , HPMC K15M and HPMC K100M with 10% NaHCO3 by Simple direct compression method with drug: polymer ratio of 1:1.5,1:2,1:2.5:1.3. FT-IR studies were conducted between drug, polymer and various excipients used in the formulations. Evaluation parameters of powder blend like Hausner’s ratio, Compressibility index, Angle of repose were carried out and results showed that the powder has good flow properties. Formulated tablets gave satisfactory results for various evaluation parameters like tablet hardness (5-6 Kg/cm2), weight variation (±10%), Friability (

An attempt was made to formulate and evaluate the Nebivolol HCl transdermal drug delivery system. The matrix type films were prepared by using solvent casting technique with polymers HPMC 15cps,PVP K-30,Eudragit RL100 and Methyl cellulose 15cps.Propylene glycol was used as plasticizer. The prepared films were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics such as thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, % moisture uptake and % moisture loss. The drug excipient compatibility was determined by Fourier Transform Infra red Spectroscopy. The results revealed that there were no interaction between drug and selected polymers. In vitro permeation studies were performed in Franz diffusion cell using commercial semi permeable membrane. Ex vivo studies were performed using skin of albino rats. Biological studies such as skin irritation test and % drug diffusion studies were carried out by using rabbits. Drug content varied from 73.72 ± 0.1to 95.4±0.15%. Moisture content and moisture uptake were increased for patches containing higher amount of HPMC due to its hydrophilic nature. The batch F4 (HPMC 1.5%, PVP 0.5%) had shown drug release for 24 h to the extent of 86.87% and drug release followed zero order release kinetics which was of non-Fickaian type of diffusion. The results of ex vivo and in vivo studies were well correlated with in vitro diffusion studies

Liver plays a major role in detoxification. Any injury to it or impairment of its function may lead to many implications on one’s health. Management of liver diseases is still a challenge to modern medicine. The allopathic medicine has little to offer for the alleviation of hepatic ailments whereas the most important representatives are of phytoconstituents. The work presented in this paper is on plant Limnanthemum indicum which is reported that the whole plant is traditionally used as hepatoprotective. The study was aimed at evaluation of the hepatoprotective activity of the whole plant of Limnanthemum indicum on the BRL3A (Rat, Liver cell line) cell line. The various solvent extracts were tested for its inhibitory effect on BRL3A (Rat, Liver cell line) cell line. The percentage viability of the cell line was carried out. The cytotoxicity of Limnanthemum indicum on rat liver cell was evaluated by the MTT assay [(3-(4,5 dimethylthiazole –2 yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay]. The principle involved is the cleavage of tetrazolium salt MTT into a blue coloured derivative by living cells which contains mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase However, the information available on the pharmacological activity of the plant is very limited. Hence, it was proposed to carry out a preliminary in vitro analysis of the hepato protective activity of the plant. Out of the various extracts evaluated, ethanolic extract of Limnanthemum indicum gave promising results.