Amit Kumar Dixit

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are pivotal in both cancer progression and the acquisition of drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in modulating CSC properties and are being explored as potential targets for therapeutic interventions. MiR-3163 is primarily known for its tumor suppressive properties in various human malignancies, with lower expression reported across different cancer types. However, its role in regulating the ovarian CSC phenotype and the underlying mechanism remain largely unknown. Here, we report a remarkable downregulation of miR-3163 in ovarian cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs). Enforced expression of miR-3163 in ovarian adherent and CSLCs, significantly disrupts the stemness phenotype. Moreover, downregulation of miR3163 expression in ovarian cancer cells (OV2008 and OVCAR-3) inhibits the stem-like cells characterized by CD44+CD117+ expression. Sphere formation assay results reveal that overexpression of miR-3163 in ovarian cancer cells significantly inhibits spheroid formation ability, confirming the regulatory properties of miR-3163 on ovarian CSLCs. Mechanistic investigation reveals that miR-3163 depletes ovarian CSLCs via targeting SOX2. Furthermore, we establish SOX-2 as a direct target of miR-3163 through dual-luciferase assay. Taken together, our study demonstrates that overexpression of miR-3163 could be a promising strategy for efficiently eradicating the CSC population to prevent chemoresistance and tumor relapse in ovarian cancer patients.

Infectious diseases are responsible for largest burden of premature deaths globally and frequent pandemics which threaten the existence of entire population. The current rise of drug resistance and the side-effects associated with antibiotics and synthetic drugs have posed a new challenge to the modern healthcare system. Ayurveda is one of the most ancient and traditional medical systems where poly-herbal compounds and crude plant extracts are tested and applied in many types of microbial and infectious diseases, e.g., Triphala churna, Neem extracts, etc. This study focuses on the scope and applicability of Ayurveda for management of infectious diseases. The reviews have followed the PRISMA model and guidelines and Ayurevdic classical literature along with electronic databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Google, Google scholar, Researchgate, and SciFinder were searched for this study. India is a rich source of biodiversity and lots of plants and plant products are still unexplored. Review suggests that Ayurveda can develop not only therapeutic compounds but also prophylactic compounds which can be helpful for preventing the microbial diseases, especially the viral ones. From ancient times, home remedies like honey, turmeric has been used as preferred and safer option for treatment of many diseases. Herbs like Tulsi, Neem and their extracts have medicinal value. Both single and poly-herbal compounds have various ranges of bioactive molecules. Fine powders or Churna like Triphala Churna, Ajmodadi Churna, and Dasamoola Churna have been found to act against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria. The scope of Ayurveda can involve research on medicinal plants available in the country and can be proved a safer, cheaper, and sustained alternative to the antibiotics and synthetic drugs.

BACKGROUND: Diospyros exsculpta Buch.-Ham. (DE) belongs to the genus Diospyros, is an underutilized plant and needs to explore its phytochemical and biological activities. OBJECTIVES: The Present study aimed to compare phytochemical and biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and protein-binding assay of twig and stem bark of DE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biological and phytochemical properties of three solvents extracts of twig or branches and stem bark were analyzed. Quantitatively, minerals, antioxidant qualities, total phenolic and flavonoid content, and protein binding were analyzed. Antimicrobial activities were assessed against four bacterial and three fungal strains. RESULTS: It was observed that stem bark and twig of DE showed a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Good concentration of Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, P, and Zn has been observed. Comparatively, stem bark and twig have almost the same amount of nutrients (P ≤ 0.05). Value of total phenolic content (TPC) samples varied from 6.27 to 8.74 mg g^-1 dry weight in methanol extracts, 18.48–24.09 mg g^-1 DW in acetone extracts and 1.41-2.31 mg/g DW in petroleum ether extracts, which is called as gallic acid equivalents (GAEs). Total flavonoid content varied from 87.52 to 197.2 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g DW of sample for methanol extracts, 70.12–86.25 mg QE/g DW for acetone extracts, and 2.55–3.75 mg QE/g DW for petroleum ether extracts. CONCLUSION: It was observed that all three extracts of twig and stem bark of DE have significant variation for antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activities were variable from assay to assay as well as extract to extract. Overall, in antioxidant activities, polar extracts have shown the most effective results. All three extracts have shown a significant protein-binding assay, which was almost close to aspirin. Anti-inflammatory assay of various extracts has revealed potent anti-inflammatory activity. Significant linear correlation (P ≤ 0.05) of TPC with antioxidant activities favored its role in antioxidant activity. These comparative findings on phytochemical, biological activities of stem bark, and twig of DE provide compelling scientific evidence of its therapeutic usage.

Thyroid disorders have been one among the most challenging and most common endocrine disorders that we confront worldwide. Major thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter/iodine deficiency, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer. Among these, hypothyroidism is arguably the most challenging as its multifarious clinical presentation often goes unnoticed. Hypothyroidism can be attributed to the deficiency of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), in the body. Mild or subclinical hypothyroidism refers to the condition where peripheral thyroid hormone levels are within normal range, but serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are mildly elevated. Data to date are scarce that include direct experimental, pharmacological, or preclinical types of evidence of treating hypothyroidism with Ayurvedic and herbal drugs. The scope of this manuscript covers the utility of conventional Ayurveda or herbal drugs in ameliorating the pathophysiological symptoms of hypothyroidism. Treatment strategies have been evolving since the early and mid-twentieth century, starting from using the whole thyroid extract to the modern-day thyroxine monotherapy by L-thyroxine. Despite these advances, there remains a considerably large population who endure the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Various assortments of formulations are available for such conditions in Ayurveda system of medicine since the very early days of civilization. In Ayurveda, though there are not any direct reference of thyroid, Galaganda and Gandamala, which possess symptomatic similarities with thyroid disorders, have been mentioned frequently in the texts. With the present data available, it is concluded that natural resources around can be utilized for the prevention and amelioration of hypothyroidism in mammals.

Background: Dyslipidemia is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus. Early detection and treatment of dyslipidemia in type-2 diabetes mellitus can prevent risk for atherogenic cardiovascular disorder. The rationale of this study was to detect the lipid abnormality in diabetic patients.Methods: Necessary data was collected from the medical archives of 150 patients (73 female and 77 male) with diabetes mellitus registered in Department of pathology and biochemistry of a Ayurveda hospital established at Kolkata, India.Results: The mean ages of female and male subjects were 51.8 ± 10.8 and 53.2 ± 11.3 years respectively. The range and mean value of FBS in females were 113–342 mg/dl and 157.7 ± 6.3 mg/dl, while the range and mean value of PPBS in females were 135–560 mg/dl and 275.5 ± 12.3 mg/dl respectively. Results showed that range and mean value of FBS in males were 111–462 mg/dl and 160.8 ± 7.4 mg/dl, while the range and mean value of PPBS in males were 136–598 mg/dl and 302.1 ± 12.6 mg/dl respectively. Results of serum lipids showed that the mean values for total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in female patients were 202.2 ± 5.9 mg/dl, 168.3 ± 8.2 mg/dl, 44.9 ± 1.3 mg/dl, 123.6 ± 5.2 mg/dl and 33.7 ± 1.7 mg/dl respectively. The mean values for TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C in male patients were 182.5 ± 4.8 mg/dl, 128.1 ± 10.8 mg/dl, 40.8 ± 1.2 mg/dl, 105.4 ± 4.8 mg/dl and 36.2 ± 2.2 respectively. FBS showed significant positive correlation with PPBS, cholesterol, TG, and VLDL-C. PPBS also demonstrated direct and significant correlations with TG and VLDL-C.Conclusions: The study showed common lipid abnormalities during diabetes induced dyslipidemia i.e., hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and elevated LDL-C. This study suggests the dominance of hyperlipidemia over increased prevalence of dyslipidemia.

Lipid Profile of Patients with Thyroid Dysfunction in Ayurveda Hospital