Prof. Poonam Sharma

One of the most abundant metal in our environment is aluminium (Al). Occupational exposure of humans to Al takes
place during its extractions, processing and fabrications of articles of daily use. Al in drinking water and as well as its
use in packaging & storage of food is also a potential source of exposure. Acute exposure of higher concentration
or chronic exposure of low concentration of Al leads to its aggregation in various parts of the body, resulting in
system toxicity. Brain is highly susceptible to Al accumulation toxicity. In humans, exposure of Al is a risk factor
for the starting of Alzheimer Disease. The adverse effect of Al exposure on nervous system results in memory loss,
balance problems and impairment of coordination. High level of Al in brain increases lipid peroxidation and oxidative
stress and reduces antioxidant enzymes level. It also causes aggregation of amyloid beta proteins and formation
of Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFTs) of tau proteins which finally leads to death of neuronal cell and neurotoxicity.
Metabolism and excretion of heavy metals including Al is very difficult and its leads to accumulation. The chelation therapy
has been proposed where the organic molecules like EDTA, Chlorogenic acid and GSH binds with the heavy metals and
facilitates for their excretion from body. However, non-specific binding of these chelators is another major safety concern.
Medicinal plants and their phytochemicals with multiple mechanism of action have been proposed as a very good
alternative for ameliorating heavy metal induced toxicity. In addition to mild chelating activities, the phytochemicals have
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytokine modulatory and other specific actions for proving holistic neuro-protection on
heavy metal exposure.

Aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus is the second most common pulmonary disease after tuberculosis and recognized as threat to public health in last 2-3 decades. Immunosuppressive action and toxicity of currently available antifungals has necessitated search for new molecules with better efficacy, especially from medicinal plants. In this paper, we screened 1099 phytochemicals from 12 anti-Aspergillus medicinal plants by molecular docking against CYP51 and one best docked molecule from each plant having docking score better than voriconazole was further analysed for ADME/T properties. The best 03 molecules 2, 3 and 5 from Solanum xanthocarpum, Ocimum sanctum and Argemone Mexicana respectively showed better docking score, lowest blood-brain barrier permeability, high percentage of human oral absorption, good octanol-water partition coefficient and high rate of bioavailability in comparison with other molecules and voriconazole. These molecules may be considered as the best drug leads from this study. The study indicated that the selected molecules may be synthesized and further analyzed for in vitro/in vivo anti-Aspergillus activity to develop effective and safer antifungal drug.

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an increasing public health problem caused by a range of uropathogens. UTI is a major health concern among tribal women due to lack of adequate health facilities at regional public health centers and district hospitals. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from urine samples of tribal women suffering from UTI. Urine samples were collected from 550 tribal women who visited the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the District Hospital of Anuppur, Mad-hya Pradesh, India. Methods: The samples were cultured on different selective and differential media and identified by colony morphology, Gram staining and biochemical tests. Results: Out of 550 urine samples, 360 (65.45%) were culture-positive and 190 (34.55%) were culture-negative. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli & Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been identified as major uropathogens. K. pneumoniae is the most prevalent bacteria followed by P. mirabilis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The drug sensitivity analysis of bacterial uropathogens was performed against different antibiotics. The antibiotic susceptibility profiling showed that most of the isolates of K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis and E. coli were resistant against penicillin (86.67-100%) and rifampicin (72.73-97.67%). Conclusions: Gentamycin, kanamycin and streptomycin were the most active antibiotics against the isolates of P. aeruginosa (76, 80 and 76%), P. mirabilis (76.62, 66.23 and 75.32%), K. pneumoniae (55.81, 20.93 and 44.19%) and E. coli (50.48, 37.14 and 62.86%), respectively, and may be the drug of choice for treatment of UTI in this region at present.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (MTB) continues to be one of the most significant
causes of death in the developing countries. Development of
Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) and Extremely Drug Resistance
(XDR) strains of MTB has been recognised as a major threat.
Rapid diagnosis along with drug sensitivity analysis is the
prerequisite for effective treatment of TB, especially in rural and
remote location settings.
Aim: The goal of this study was to investigate the Rifampicin
Resistance (RR) using GeneXpert MTB/Rifampicin (RIF) in tribal
patients suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in District
Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Materials and Methods: Sputum samples were obtained
from 413 patients with symptoms of PTB, who visited District
Hospital, Anuppur from April 2017- April 2018. Based on clinical
symptoms and chest X-ray, GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay was
performed for the confirmation of TB and detection of RR. The
data was analysed and expressed in percentage.
Results: Out of 413 samples, 104 (25.18%) were diagnosed
with PTB. RR was detected in 07(6.73%) out of the 104 TB
positive samples. The most common mutations conferring RR
were located in the region of Probe B (71.42%), followed by
Probe C (14.28%) and Probe E (14.28%), while no mutations
were found in the region of Probe A and Probe D.
Conclusion: Possibly, this is the first report of RR and probe
mutational analysis from this tribal region of India. High
rate of mutation at Probe B locus may be the chief reason
for RR development. Gene sequencing may be carried for
understanding the higher rates of mutations at probe B locus.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (MTB) continues to be one of the most significant
causes of death in the developing countries. Development of
Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) and Extremely Drug Resistance
(XDR) strains of MTB has been recognised as a major threat.
Rapid diagnosis along with drug sensitivity analysis is the
prerequisite for effective treatment of TB, especially in rural and
remote location settings.
Aim: The goal of this study was to investigate the Rifampicin
Resistance (RR) using GeneXpert MTB/Rifampicin (RIF) in tribal
patients suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in District
Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Materials and Methods: Sputum samples were obtained
from 413 patients with symptoms of PTB, who visited District
Hospital, Anuppur from April 2017- April 2018. Based on clinical
symptoms and chest X-ray, GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay was
performed for the confirmation of TB and detection of RR. The
data was analysed and expressed in percentage.
Results: Out of 413 samples, 104 (25.18%) were diagnosed
with PTB. RR was detected in 07(6.73%) out of the 104 TB
positive samples. The most common mutations conferring RR
were located in the region of Probe B (71.42%), followed by
Probe C (14.28%) and Probe E (14.28%), while no mutations
were found in the region of Probe A and Probe D.
Conclusion: Possibly, this is the first report of RR and probe
mutational analysis from this tribal region of India. High
rate of mutation at Probe B locus may be the chief reason
for RR development. Gene sequencing may be carried for
understanding the higher rates of mutations at probe B locus.

Cassia tora Linn. is a small shrub of significant medicinal importance. The fresh leaves and pods of this plant have been used as vegetable curry by tribal people in Amarkantak region, district Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh. The local tribal healers use the plant for mitigation of neurotoxicity and treatment of malaria. The present study was planned to identify the major phytochemicals of this plant and correlate them with reported pharmacological activity. The major components of methanol extract of fresh leaves of C. tora were identified by GCMS-NIST library. The details of major phytochemicals were searched and matched with available database on Pubchem. The pharmacological activities of the major components were searched from literature. 20 major compounds from the methanolic extract of C. tora leaves have been identified using GCMS-NIST library. The available data showed neuroprotective, anti-malarial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antiasthmatic, anticancer, antituberculosis, antirheumatic and cholesterol-lowering activities of the identified compounds. Laminitol, the most abundant phytoconstituent has been reported to possess antimalarial activity. The presence of major components with neuroprotective, anti-malarial, antioxidant activity as per literature, justifies the ethnopharmacological use of C. tora in this region.

Management  of  diabetes  mellitus  is  a  challenge  for  clinicians.  Uncontrolled  hyperglycemia  increases  the  risk  of  microvascular  and
macrovascular  complications,  damaging  the  body  systems.  Although  a  number  of  antidiabetic  drugs  are  available  for  therapeutic
intervention, toxicity, loss of efficacy in chronic use and high cost of treatment have necessitated the search for new molecules to manage
diabetes. Safety and cost are the main prerequisite for the new antidiabetic molecules. Medicinal plants and their purified phytochemicals
have shown promising antidiabetic potential in the past few years. The current review summarizes  the  antidiabetic activity of alkaloids,
phenols, flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, terpenoids, glycosides and xanthones isolated from medicinal plants.

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of joints. Exact etiology of the disease is not understood yet; but histopathological examination of vital organs like liver, kidney, ovary and knee joint can anticipate immune mediated damage. In this study, Lactobacillus acidophilus was administered orally by both prophylactic and curative protocol in freund’s complete adjuvant induced arthritic rats. Indomethacin was used as standard anti-arthritic drug. Histopathology of liver, kidney, ovary and right hind knee joint were done. Cytokine concentrations were determined by using ELISA. Effects shown by L. acidophilus were comparable with indomethacin. Histopathological analysis of liver, kidney, ovaries and knee joints of L. acidophilus fed groups revealed significantly less damage as compared with other counterparts. Lactobacillus treatment has down-regulated pro-inflammatory level and up-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines level in serum samples. L. acidophilus managed organs damage associated with arthritis. It has significantly down regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Trichlorfon is an organophosphate insecticide used to control cockroaches, crickets, silverfish, bedbugs, fleas, cattle grubs, flies, ticks, leaf miners, and leaf-hoppers. It is also used to treat domestic animals for control of internal parasites. Trans-2-hydroxycinnamic acid (T2HCA) is a hydroxyl derivative of cinnamic acid. The present study highlights trichlorofon-induced toxicity and the protective role of T2HCA in the liver, kidney, and brain of female Wistar rats. The rats were given a single dose of trichlorofon (150 mg / kg bw) and pre- and post-treatment T2HCA (50 mg / kg bw) for seven days. Trichlorofon enhanced oxidative stress in liver, kidney, and brain of the rats, which was evident from the elevation of lipid peroxidation (LPO). The reduced level of non-enzymatic antioxidant glutathione (GSH) also indicated the presence of an oxidative insult. The activity of enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly decreased on trichlorfon administration. Pre and post treatment with T2HCA decreased the LPO level and increased SOD, CAT, GST, GR, GPx, and GSH in the brain, liver, and kidney. Trichlorfon-induced reduction in acelylcholinestrase was also ameliorated with T2HCA treatment. In conclusion, trichlorfon-mediated induction in the reactive oxygen species and disturbance in the antioxidant enzymes' defense system was moderately ameliorated by antioxidant trans-2-hydroxycinnamic acid.

Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl) Miers. (Bignoniaceae), has been traditionally used as a remedy for treating white patches and infections on the skin (leukoderma, vitiligo).To investigate wound healing and antimicrobial activity of flower extract of Pyrostegia venusta, including in vivo antioxidant activity.Methanolic extracts of Pyrostegia venusta flowers were studied for wound healing efficiency along with its effect on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was assessed using excision and incision model of wound repair in Wistar rats. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, tensile strength, breaking strength, hydroxyproline and hexosamine content. Antimicrobial activity of the flower extract against twelve microorganisms was also assessed. In vivo antioxidant activity was performed to understand the mechanism of wound healing potency.The results indicated that Pyrostegia venusta extract has potent wound healing capacity as evident from the wound contraction and increased tensile strength. Hydroxyproline and hexosamine expression were also correlative with the healing pattern observed. Pyrostegia venusta extract exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against the organisms: Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Candida tropicana. During early wound healing phase TNF-α and IL-6 level were found to be up regulated by Pyrostegia venusta treatment.Increased wound contraction and tensile strength, augmented hydroxyproline and hexosamine content along with antioxidative activity and moderate antimicrobial activity support the early wound healing exhibited by Pyrostegia venusta flower extract. Induction in cytokine production may be one of the mechanisms involved in accelerating the wound healing by Pyrostegia venusta extract. Results suggest that Pyrostegia venusta may be useful in the tropical management of wound healing.

Lindane, an organochlorine pesticide, is recognized as a major public health concern because of its potential toxic effects on human health. Its persistence in the body fluids may lead to continuous blood circulation, liver exposure and hepatotoxicity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible protective role of curcumin on lindane-induced hepatotoxicity. Forty-two healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of six rats each. Group I was given dimethylsulfoxide. A single dose of lindane (60 mg/kg bw) was given to group II. Lindane (30 mg/kg bw) was given daily to group III for 14 days. Treatment with curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) was given to groups IV and V before (pretreatment) and to groups VI and VII after (post-treatment) 14 days exposure of lindane. Oxidative stress parameters and antioxidative enzymes were investigated in the liver of exposed and treated rats. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation, and decrease in glutathione level, Superoxide dismutase catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and NADPH quinine reductase activities was observed in liver of rats exposed to lindane. Curcumin (Pre- and post-treatment) nearly normalized all these parameters. Histological alterations were also observed in the liver tissue after lindane exposure. Treatment with curcumin significantly prevented the lindane-induced histological alterations. In conclusion, curcumin has protective effect over lindane-induced oxidative damage in rat liver.