8th International Conference and Exhibition on Natural & Alternative Medicine September 25-27, 2016 Dubai, UAE

Biography:

Jeena N Janardhanan has completed her MD (Ay) from University of Kerala, India and presently doing her PhD at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune, India. She is presently the Associate Professor & HOD, Department of Head and Neck at VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, India (Kerala University of Health Sciences, India). She presented many papers in international conferences.

Abstract:

Raised intra-ocular pressure is seen in glaucoma which is very much prevalent all over the world. Controlling the IOP is a big task which presently involves some surgical measures. The prognosis of the disease is also not so good with the current treatment modalities. The aim of this study is to prove the efficacy of leech therapy in reducing the increased IOP. Even though the procedure is invasive, the risk and complications are minimal compared to other procedures. Open label clinical trial was conducted in 30 diagnosed patients of chronic open angle glaucoma with a raised IOP of more than 25 mm of Hcg. Leech therapy was done once in 3 days for a period of one month. Live healthy leeches of the family Hirudinae medicinalis were used for the study. IOP was assessed using indentation tonometer, before and after each sitting of the therapy. The data before starting the treatment and after one month were also compared.  An average reduction of 5mm of hg intra-ocular pressure was recorded. The data analyzed statistically and found significant.

Biography:

Eun-Tae Jo has completed his PhD from Daegu-Haany University and is a member of Korea Pain Dignosis Society and has studied on back pain. He will present a poster at 9^th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain in Singapore on 31^st October 2016. He is the Co-author of “Shoulder treatment ABC”.

Abstract:

Biomechanical acupuncture originated from the biomechanical approach of treating musculoskeletal pains by Myofascial concepts of Western medicine and Meridian concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). There have been various attempts to treat musculoskeletal pains with needle stimulations around the East and the West. But practical point of views, most practitioners agree upon the difficulties in choosing exact treatment points. In this paper, a new concept of Biomechanical acupuncture is proposed to solve the difficulties, which is simple and easy to apply to everyday practice but enough to integrate modern myofascial concepts and traditional meridian concepts. In the basis of Biomechanical acupuncture, Myofascial concepts don’t mean trigger points but biomechanical network of anatomical myofascia. And Acupuncture points in TCM related to 12 Meridian theories are to be used in the treatment of musculoskeletal pains. Owing to ceaseless connection of the whole myofascia, a disorder in one region may be expressed in the form of pain and limitation on certain movement in other part of body mainly in the same myofascial tension line by biomechanical dysfunction. As a result, a cause of biomechanical dysfunction gets to be enlarged. Repeated stresses transcending the limited range give rise to a local inflammation or a pain. Biomechanical acupuncture doesn’t cure and heal anything. All it does set body back to normal so that healing process begins.

Biography:

Pei-Chen Lo has completed her PhD in 1990 from University of Florida, Gainesvill, FL, USA, majoring in Biomedical Signal Research (particularly, electroencephalograph EEG). She was the Research Associate in EEG Lab, University of Utah Medical Center from 1990 to 1992. She became an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at National Chiao Tung University in 1992 and a Full Professor in 2001. She began practicing Zen meditation with Patriarch Wu Jue Miao Tian in 1994 and started the research on Zen-meditation EEG and cardiorespiratory functions in 1998. She published more than 30 papers with respect to Zen-meditation physiological and mental states.

Abstract:

Holistic Detox Association (HDA) is a nongovernmental organization which provides various types of support for drug rehab. HDA offers a series of programs beneficial for addicts to get their lives back in order. Zen-meditation practice, one of the core programs, is a healing scheme via brain-mind reformation rather than conventional medication or behavior control. While the program was underway, we collected the meridian energy data of the participants before and after a 20-minute practice of Zen meditation offered by the orthodox Zen Sect, supervised by patriarch Wu Jue Miao Tian. The basic practice includes abdominal breathing and Mailun (particular energy spot) concentration to activate enormous good potency beneficial to the body and mind. The participants may accordingly refuse the drug and its negative effect on their own. Totally sixty-three participants (56 males and 7 females, age 21–57 years) were recorded. The participation in the experiment was completely voluntary. All participants signed the agreement form at their own free will. All procedures are consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki and were approved by the Institutional Review Board of National Chiao Tung University. Based on the Twelve Meridian theory, meridian energy data were recorded from 24 laterally symmetric acupoints. Preliminary results indicate 1) WuXing (five-element theory) efficiency and autonomic nervous system balance improve after Zen meditation, 2) group average of each meridian energy increases in 16 out of 24 meridians, and 3) more than one-half participants have the overall meridian energies increase (mostly, the energy of lung and pericardial meridian).

Biography:

Hilda Zhang is a health care innovator with over 40 years of experience in health and finances. Drawing from her rich expertise in financial management and wellness practices, she has formulated an interdisciplinary approach to wellness that is accessible to consumers. Through decades of research and practice, Hilda Zhang has developed SWNWT, a practical approach to individual health that can keep pace with the rapidly developing research landscape. The crux of SWNWT is its ambition to cultivate full health within people. The asymptomatic individual is inadequate. Hilda Zhang travels the world, actively refining SWNWT through continued research and practice.

Abstract:

Contemporary health care practices propagate a vicious cycle of symptoms, medications, and side-effects. Side-effects stemming from medication accumulate into chronic symptoms, which are in turn aggressively medicated. Through a lifetime of research and practice, Hilda Zhang has compiled and organized a wellness philosophy that shifts the paradigm of health away from this obsolete cycle. The interdisciplinary SWNWT (Self Wealth Nurture Wellness Technique) approach provides a much needed upgrade to our understanding and implementation of wellness maintenance techniques. The tenets of the SWNWT approach emphasize contextualized and holistic prognosis, finance-integrated investment analyses and continuous education and re-education to unify the individual with their own wellness maintenance. No doubt, advancements and innovations in technology and science have revolutionized quality of care and standards of living across all walks of life. The philosophies that accompany these developments are long overdue for their own revolution. The SWNWT approach is the precursor to this revolution, whereby the script is flipped, and health care ceases to be a haphazard reaction to symptoms of poor lifestyle. The SWNWT approach bridges an important rift between consumer understanding and wellness autonomy, delivering clients the tools to master their own wellness futures.

Biography:

Xiaofeng Zhao has completed her MD at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese medicine. She is the Chief Doctor of the VIP ward of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Professor and the Supervisor of Post-graduate of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has been researching on the therapeutic mechanism of stroke and hypertension by acupuncture for decades and published over 50 papers in reputed Chinese and English journals. She is the Director of the council of bloodletting and cupping of Chinese association of acupuncture and the member of the innovation research team of Chinese Ministry of Education.

Abstract:

Objective: The purpose of this work is using GRADE approach to rate the quality of evidence in systematic reviews which examined complementary therapies’ efficacy and safety for lowering blood pressure and evaluating the strength of recommendation in order to determine that should complementary therapies be used to lower blood pressure in adult hypertensive.

Method: Six electronic databases and the reference lists were searched for eligible systematic reviews. Characteristics of included reviews, results of meta-analysis, assessment of methodological quality and risk of bias of studies were collected and AMSTAR score were used for rating the methodological quality of included systematic reviews. GRADE approach was used for grading the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. Evidence used to evaluate the strength of recommendation was only collected from comparisons between complementary therapies and antihypertensive drugs.

Results: 9 interventions were included in the qualitative synthesis. Quality of evidence in all included systematic reviews, were assessed, and they were generally not high. Only systematic reviews of Qigong, massage and acupuncture were used to make recommendation. The rigorous assessment resulted in a high recommendation pertain to Qigong and a weak recommendation to massage, whether they were used alone or in cooperate with other therapies. Acupuncture used alone was recommended to only use in research and used in coordination with antihypertensive drug was given a weak recommendation.

Conclusion: We thought that Qigong could be used to lower blood pressure in clinic, but massage and acupuncture plus anti-hypertensive drug should be used with caution.

Biography:

Joanna B Strosznajder obtained her MD and specialization in Neurology from Medical University of Warsaw and PhD in Biochemistry from Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS). After PhD, she spent 2 years as Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cologne. She is an internationally recognized Neuro Scientist in the field of brain lipids, oxidative stress and signaling pathways in relation to cancer, brain ischemia, aging and neurodegeneration. She was the Head of Dept. of Cellular Signalling and the President of Scientific Council in Medical Research Centre PAS. She is training a large number of students and graduates. She organized many meetings and published 200 articles. She has received many awards.

Abstract:

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases(PARPs) and Sirtuins (Sirts) are NAD+ dependent ezymes involved in regulation of energy homeostasis, genomic stability. The interplay between PARPs and Sirts is crucial in brain ischemia, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders .Our recent study focused on the role of these enzymes in toxicity of amyloidogenic protein: amyloid beta (AB) and alpha synuclein (ASN) the key players in pathomechanism of AD. Our data indicated that inhibition of PARP-1-leads to activation of gene expression for Sirt1 and mitochondria Sirts (3,4,5) in PC12 cells. The inhibition of PARP-1 downregulated expression of beta secretase (BACE-1) the crucial enzyme in amyloidogenic metabolism of AB precursor protein (APP). This amyloidogenic pathway is activated by extracellular AB42 and ASN which upregulated expression of BACE-1 and also the subunits of secretase gamma. AB and ASN oligomers decreased the signaling pathways regulated by sphingosine kinase-1 and Akt kinase leading to apoptosis. Concomitantly, inhibition of Sirt1 and activation of genes for mitochondria Sirts and DNA bound PARPs occurred. Resveratrol and quercetin protect small population of cells against AB toxicity therefore it is a big request for the novel phytochemicals. We hope that PARPs and Sirts are very promising targets for novel therapeutic strategy of neurodegenerative disease.

Biography:

Giulio Maria Pasinetti is The Saunders Family Chair and Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Geriatrics and Adult Development at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also the Program Director of the NIH funded P50 Center on Molecular Integrative Neuroresilience focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology that may be at the basis of stress-induced mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, and other neuropsychiatric disorders and their influence on cognitive dysfunction. He is the recipient of several academic awards, including the prestigious Zenith and Temple awards and the Foundation Queen Sofia of Spain Research Center Award on Alzheimer’s disease. Most recently, he received The Faculty Council Award for academic excellence at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and The Charles Dana Alliance for Brain Research Award from the Dana Foundation, recognizing productivity and worldwide leadership in his field of expertise. He is the recipient of more than 30 NIH federal, industry and non-profit organization research grants and has published over 300 groundbreaking manuscripts.

Abstract:

Background: There is increasing evidence supporting a protective role of intestinal microbiota against diverse medical conditions, including neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by modulation, in part, of metabolic and immune responses. For example, gut bacteria metabolize soluble dietary fiber into biologically available short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that may help modulate immune responses in the periphery and in the brain. Gut bacteria are also known for their role in converting dietary polyphenols into biologically available phenolic acids with anti-oxidant activities. However, there is little information on the potential role of SCFAs
and phenolic acids in Alzheimer’s disease. The present study is designed to investigate effects of these SCFAs and phenolic acids in beta-amyloid (Aβ)-mediated pathologic processes that play key roles in AD pathogenesis.

Methods: In in vitro studies using multiple complementary assays, we investigated individual SCFA and phenolic acid that are generated by GI microbial metabolism of dietary fiber and polyphenols for their dose-responsive effects in interfering with the assembly of Aβ peptides into neurotoxic soluble Aβ aggregates. We also investigated in vitro effects of isolated human GI bacteria in converting dietary fibers and select polyphenol products into biologically available SCFAs and phenolic acids that are effective in inhibiting Aβ aggregation.

Results: We found several phenolic acids that potently inhibited Aβ aggregation. We also found significant differences among GI microbiota from different healthy human donors in converting dietary polyphenols into these bioactive phenolic acids and in further metabolic degradation of these phenolic acids. Ongoing studies are investigating effects of individual SCFAs in Aβ aggregation and the efficacy of GI microbiota from different human donors in the generation (and degradation) of these SCFAs.

Conclusions: Intestinal microbiota may help protect AD, in part, by supporting the generation of phenolic acids and SCFAs that interferes with the formation of toxic soluble Aβ aggregates. Presence of interpersonal differences in the human gut microbiota may lead to interpersonal variation to benefit from the protective effects of dietary fiber and polyphenols in AD. Outcomes provide critical information for developing probiotics to help prevent and/or treat AD.

Learning Objective:
Demonstrate important mechanisms by which intestinal microbiota may help protect against AD.

Biography:

Bert Little, Ph.D., Professor of Health Management and Systems Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville has an extensive educational background in analytics (mathematics, statistics, databases and probability theory) and population health (human biology, genetics, medicine, public health), and is a formally trained physical/biological anthropologist with extensive experience working with populations outside the US.

Abstract:

Jamaican Maroons are isolated populations founded by descendants of West Africans who escaped slavery and established free communities in Jamaican mountains. Maroon communities were established before 1655. Moore Town is the largest Maroon settlement, approximately 240 households and 1200 individuals. Anecdotally, Maroon migrants have a high rate of T2D in Kingston. A pilot study of T2D was done in March-April 2016 to establish baseline data, collecting information about T2D. Female heads of household were assessed and asked whether T2D had been diagnosed in the interviewee or any family member. Analysis of the odds of having T2D indicated that first degree relative with T2D odds ratio (OR) was 1.11 (0.33-3.76, p=0.88), diastolic blood pressure>90 OR=4.20 (1.41-12.55, p<0.01), and waist-hip ratio >0.85 (Fisher’s exact p<0.0001). Age at menarche was lower among T2D women (mean=14.0, 95% CI: 13.6-14.3) vs. non-T2D women (mean=14.8, 95% CI: 14.4-15.2). Logistic regression analysis indicated T2D individuals had: high diastolic blood pressure (OR=29.3, 95% CI: 1.79-480.04, p<0.02), high (>75 BPM) heart rate (OR=25.0, 95% CI: 18.7-158.9, p<0.001), age (OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.25, p<0.001), and earlier age at menarche (OR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.09-0.57, p<0.002). Thus, women with T2D tended to be older, reach menarche earlier, and have: high waist:hip ratios, high heart rates, and elevated diastolic blood pressures compared to non-T2D. These findings are consistent with previously reported data except for earlier sexual maturation.

Biography:

Armenia Nazar is currently working as Professor at Department of Pharmacy, University of Andalas, Indonesia. She has completed her Doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology at University of Science, Malaysia. She gave her presentations in many international conferences. She is the Vice Dean for the Cooperation and Students Affairs.

Abstract:

A blood pressure lowering effect of scopoletin on anesthetized oxidative stress associated hypertensive rats has been studied. Scopoletin (10 mg/kg BW) was given to the prednison-NaCl (PN) and prednison-NaCl-L-NAME (PNL) induced rats. As comparisons, other groups of the same rats were treated with Tempol (17.2mg/kgBW) and saline.  The direct animal carotid artery SBP, DBP, MAP and HR were measured (Biopac Acquisition System MP150) before and every half an hour for two hours after drug commencement. Plasma NO was measured before and at the end of the experiment.  Data of BPs and HR were analyzed using three-way ANOVA, while plasma NO was analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD-test (significance was taken at p<0.05).  Results showed that the animals SBP, DBP, and the MAP were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by scopoletin and tempol without any significant changed (p>0.1) in the animal HR.  The response of PNL hypertensive animals to scopoletin was greater and so the effect of scopoletin compare to tempol. Plasma NO of scopoletin and tempol treated rats also increased, but there was no significant different of average plasma NO between both hypertensive types. These indicated that scopoletin at the given dose is effective as blood pressure lowering agent, especially on the stress oxidative associated   hypertensive rats.

Biography:

Che Noriah Othman is a Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Pharmacy UiTM Pulau Pinang and has involved in many research activities involving herbal, social and behavioral pharmacy. Her main interest is in Herbal Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Malay Medicine. She has almost completed her PhD study in Clinical Pharmacy and will secure more research grants related to her field. She is presently collaborated with Universiti Sains Malaysia to conduct cancer related research and is supervising a few Master’s and undergraduate students. She is currently a coordinator of Research and Final Year Project presentation for the Faculty of Pharmacy. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member and reviewer of many conferences and journals around the world.

Abstract:

Introduction: Chemoprevention is a new approach to suppress, delay or reverse the process of carcinogenesis instead of current treatment that causes many side effects and also possibility of recurrence of cancer. In South East Asia, Clinacanthus nutans Lindau (CN) has been used traditionally as herbal medicine to treat various diseases including cancer. However, the therapeutic potential of CN has not been explored for cancer prevention and treatment.

 

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the chemo-preventive property of CN extract on cervical cancer and to identify the compound in CN extract that has anti-proliferative potential using human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line.

 

Methodology: 500 gram of dried powdered CN was immersed in ethanol for 3 days. After filtration, the extract was concentrated in vacuo to give crude ethanol extract of CN (EECN). EECN with concentrations of 0.72-1.44mg/ml were treated on HeLa cells to get the IC50 value. The phytochemical contained in the crude extract of EECN were identified using GC-MS.

 

Result: Results shows that EECN inhibit the growth of cancer cells at IC50 value of 1.08 mg/ml. GCMS analysis of EECN showed that Lupeol, lup-20(29)-en-3-one, β-Amyrin, Linoleic Acid ethyl ester and Squalene were among the identified components of EECN. Lupeol is suggested as the main active compound that might contribute to the chemopreventive property of CN.

 

Conclusion: These results suggest that EECN exhibits anti-proliferative effect on HeLa cells and potential candidate to be a chemoprevention agent in anticancer drug discovery.

Biography:

Nitsa Mirsky completed her PhD studies at the Technion, Israel, and her Postdoctoral studies at Stanford university. Through her long academic career she investigated anti diabetic natural compounds activity both in vivo and in vitro. She was the founder and president of Natural Compounds Ltd, a company that developed anti diabetic agents from natural sources. Dr. Mirsky has been a member of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the university of Haifa, where she served also as the head of the department of biology. She supervised dozens of M.Sc and Ph.D students and published many articles in the field of diabetes.

Abstract:

The Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) is a dietary agent extracted from brewer's yeast.

GTF reversed glucose intolerance in diabetic animals and humans. We found that oral treatment with GTF decreased blood glucose and lipids and potentiated insulin action in type 1 & 2 diabetic animals. GTF also decreased lipid peroxidation in blood and organs of the treated animals. We also found that addition of GTF to diabetic rats immediately with the induction of diabetes, inhibited the development of nephropathy and retinopathy in these animals. In vitro studies showed that GTF increased glucose transport into adipocytes and myocytes, in insulin-like mode. When a combination of GTF and insulin was supplemented to the cells, a synergy between GTF and insulin was detected

Treatment of 3T3-L1 and L-6 cells with GTF increased the phosphorylation of key proteins along insulin signaling pathway, in a time and dose-dependent manner. Whereas GTF increased tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and stimulated the activation of Akt and p44/42 MAPK, it did not affect tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR). We treated CHO cells over expressing insulin receptor (CHO-IR) with either insulin or GTF. Whereas a remarkable elevation in phosphorylation of IR was detected when these cells were treated with insulin, any phosphorylation above control values was not detected when CHO-IR cells were treated with GTF.

Our data demonstrates that GTF acts through insulin-signaling pathway, but probably not via insulin receptor. Our findings present GTF as a novel oral "insulin-like" material for future treatment of diabetes.

Biography:

Vandana Sankar has completed her PhD in Life Science from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. She obtained her Post-doctoral studies at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), India. She is presently working as DST Young Scientist at Agro-processing and Natural Products Division of CSIR-NIIST.  She has published 18 papers in reputed journals and has received Kerala State Young Scientist Award in 2014 for her contributions to research. She has also presented papers in national and international conferences. Her major research area includes cardiovascular disease biology, natural products, green synthesized nanoparticles, etc.

Abstract:

According to WHO, among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in the world. Hypertension ranks among the first risk factors for CVD. The sustained hemodynamic load imposed by hypertension on the heart leads to cardiac remodeling and ultimately heart failure. Remodeling includes hypertrophy, fibrosis and functional changes. Pharmacological intervention in hypertension should be directed towards prevention of remodeling also. Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine. Despite clinical efficacy, lack of scientific validation has limited the use of Ayurvedic drugs. An Ayurvedic drug composed of crude powders of 6 medicinal plants was formulated by Nagarjuna Herbal Concentrates Ltd., Kerala.  The aim of the study was to scientifically characterize the cardiovascular response to the drug and delineate the mode of action. The drug was able to reduce blood pressure in SHR, which was supported by the finding of vasorelaxation in isolated aortae. Vasorelaxation was associated with calcium antagonistic action, thereby enhancing endothelium-derived relaxing factor availability. ERK and calcineurin signaling pathways were involved in vasorelaxation by the drug. The drug attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis in SHR through downregulation of ERK and PKCε pathways, possibly mediated by the antioxidant property of the drug. Reduced expression of 3-nitrotyrosine in treated SHR was also demonstrated. Cardiac output in treated SHR was improved, and ECG alterations were relatively lower. Moreover, toxicity was not observed. The study is the first of its kind to extensively and systematically evaluate an Ayurvedic antihypertensive, and this will go a long way in their popularization and better acceptance.

Biography:

Jane Namukobe has completed her PhD in 2015 from Makerere University Kampala. She is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry Makerere University where she undertakes Teaching and Research. She has published 9 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

The study was done to document medicinal plants used in the treatment of various diseases by the people in the Northern sector of Kibale National Park in western Uganda. The required information was obtained using open interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions and transects walks. Different medicinal plants (131 species) distributed over 55 families were observed to be used by the local communities around the Northern sector of Kibale National Park. The plants are used to treat 43 physical illnesses/diseases. The most used parts of the plants are the leaves. It was observed that the people in the study area have a rich heritage of traditional plants that are used in the health care system to treat diseases. These medicinal plants have contributed significantly to several disease therapies.  Phytochemical investigation on the stem bark of this plant led to the isolation of one new diterpenoid;  neoboutomacroin (1) in addition to the four known compounds which included, a phenanthrene; 3,6-dihyroxy-1,7-dimethyl-9-methoxyphenanthrene (2), asterol; 3-O-Acetyloleuritolicacid(3) and two diterpenoids; simplexin (4) and montanin (5).  Their chemical structures were established mainly through a combination of spectroscopic techniques.   The isolated compounds were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-resistant FcB1/Colombia strain of Plasmodium falciparum and some compounds showed good activity against Plasmodium falciparum parasite.

Biography:

Pierluigi Pompei is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Sport Nutrition in the Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Public Health - University of Camerino. He is the author of over 50 international publications on peer-reviewed journals, several chapters of scientific books, has 1 international patent and attended hundreds of conferences and meetings.

Abstract:

Adverse reactions to food could result either in toxic or non toxic reactions, the latter being immunological and/or non immunological based. The immunological based reactions could yield in food allergies, IgE-mediated and via T lymphocytes, whereas the non-immunological ones are defined food intolerances. Ulcer colitis and Crohn disease show a chronic intestinal wall inflammation with altered pro-inflammatory cytokines balance. A higher incidence of both diseases occurs in North Europe, North America and Australia with onset between 30 and 40 years old. Common symptoms are diarrhea, meteorism, colitis, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia. Colostrum is the milk produced 24-36 hours after partum. It shows a protective action, due to macrophages, leukocytes and secretory IgE and IgA and a nutritive function, due to the high content in proteins and minerals and a baseline content of lipids, glycids and calories (67 kcal/100ml). Seven female subjects, mean age between 40 and 53 (2 with ulcer colitis, 5 with irritable colon) were selected as case reports, undergoing Bioimpedance body analysis via Akern BIA, ALCAT test for food intolerance and subsequent appropriate diet. Noni Colostrum was then administered to them for six months. Diet following ALCAT test and Noni Colostrum administration showed a general evidence-based medicine disappearance of the gastrointestinal distress and symptomathology, perhaps due to an increased immunological tolerance threshold in subjects with food intolerance. Moreover, xeronines, contained in Noni Colostrum may strongly contribute to a natural boost of the immune system that may have reverted the clinical symptoms.

Biography:

Seonghyung Cho graduated from the College of Medicine, Chosun University for MD in 1999 and then graduated from the College of Oriental Medicine, Daejun University for OMD. Currently, he has active clinical practice as pain specialist in Joint & Spine Clinic Center, Gwangju, Korea with specialty in the use of manipulative therapy and biomechanical acupuncture for musculoskeletal problems. He has published 5 books about musculoskeletal pain and delivered numerous seminars introducing the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain. He devised his concepts; Functional Orthopedic Stimulation Therapy (FOST) including Joint Energy Technique (JET), Shoulder Capsular Approach, Biomechanical Neural Mobilization, Biomechanical Acupuncture, etc.

Abstract:

Introduction: Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is a significant cause of low back pain (LBP). SIJD is presumed to be due to biomechanical disorders and often presents with pelvic asymmetry causing pain and dysfunction. Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is utilized to correct pelvic asymmetry, inhibit pain, and improve disability in SIJD. But sometimes the patient in SIJD is in too much pain to contract a muscle or may be unable to cooperate with instructions or positioning. Moreover there are patients unable to be cooperative due to age, intellectual capacity during sacral MET. Thus this study introduces the new treatment of Joint Energy Technique (JET) to easily apply for SIJD relatively regardless of a patient's condition. A new concept of JET in SIJD is proposed to solve the difficulties, which is simple and easy to apply to practice.

Purpose/Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the rotational direction of innominate altered after JET on sacral torsion problem in comparison with JET on neutral position and to confirm biomechanical recover of sacral torsion.

Methods: The 80 subjects in age group of 15-68 years with LPB were randomly assigned and confirmed as Left on left (LOL) sacral torsion with Seated flexion test and Stork test in right SIJ with ipsilateral foot pronation. The subjects were divided into two groups of 40 subjects. The first group (A) was given JET to recover LOL sacral torsion. In case of LOL sacral torsion, the sacral position is sidebent right, rotated left and right sacral base is anteriorly nutated. Thus the preparatory position of JET is the right lateral recumbent position with lumbar rotation to the left like MET. JET is performed by patient’s passive movement and practitioner’s active effort instead of patient’s isometric contraction such as MET. The second group(B) was given simply the preparatory posture of JET on neutral position for correction of LOL sacral torsion. Group (B) was not given the rotation correction by the practitioner’s force. After each JET, the subjects were confirmed with the change of Stork test in the right SIJ.

Results: This study revealed that there was statistically significant difference (P<0.001) in pre and post treatment of JET between both groups. The Stork test was changed from positive to negative in 37 subjects of group (A). In group (B), 6 subjects were changed from positive to negative.

Conclusion: A new concept of JET is simple and easy to apply to practice in the treatment of patients with SIJD. This trial is revealed that JET is significantly effective in correction of SIJD and sacral torsion. JET should be considered as an adjunctive intervention in SIJD treatment.

Biography:

Rosa Lelyana completed medical school in 1997 and graduated S2 is less than 2 years of research in the field of coffee. She is a member of the ACS (American Chemical Society) on request since 2014. In 2011 she received an award from the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and University lecturer Diponegoro as one of the best level textbook authors of university medical faculty level Diponegoro.

Abstract:

Many herbal medicinal plants from Indonesia are used to reduce Diabetes Mellius. Diabetes is a topic area included in Healthy People 2020. In America, there are 1.4 million people diagnosed every year with Diabetes Mellitus. One of the causes of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is obesity. The high cost of weight loss and side effects of synthetic chemical drugs cause most of the world community to switch to nutraceutical. The results of study prove that weight loss would improve by 10-15% risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Recent study indicates the role of herbal decrease of chronic disease incidence suffering. The weight loss of adipose tissue corrects response and minimizes diameter adipocyte abdominal size. Herbal one that has the ability for that is coffee. If we consume 2 cup of coffee daily could improve the immune response. Coffee is able to correct immune system (NO, IL-10 and adipose tissue). The other herbal plant medicine which could improve the immune response are curcumin; isoflavon; cathecin (tea-polifenol) etc. Herbal medicine could decrease the risk factor incidence of Diabetes Mellitus.

Biography:

Nitsa Mirsky completed her PhD studies at the Technion, Israel, and her Postdoctoral studies at Stanford university. Through her long academic career she investigated anti diabetic natural compounds activity both in vivo and in vitro. She was the founder and president of "Natural Compounds", a company that developed anti diabetic agents from natural sources. Dr. Mirsky has been a member of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the university of Haifa, where she served also as the head of the department of biology. She supervised dozens of M.Sc and Ph.D students and published many articles in the field of diabetes.

Abstract:

Cataract formation is one of severe diabetes complications. Hyperglycemia brings to increased polyol concentration in the lens, to glycation of lens proteins, and to elevated oxidative stress.

The Glucose Tolerance Factor is a yeast derived material that decreased hyperglycemia and oxidative stress both in diabetic animals and humans.

We studied the protective effect of GTF on the eye lens both in vivo and in vitro.

Streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats received 15 oral doses of GTF. While diabetic untreated rats developed cataracts, the development of cataract was totally or partially prevented in GTF treated animals.

In vitro studies were done on bovine lenses incubated for 14 days. Half of the lenses were incubated in normal glucose conditions, and half in high glucose conditions. To one group of the normal or high glucose condition GTF was added. The optical quality of all the lenses was measured daily by an automated scanning laser system. The control lenses, whether with or without GTF addition, kept their optical quality. High glucose conditions induced optical damage to the lenses. Addition of GTF prevented this damage. High glucose conditions affected the activity of aldose reductase and Na/ K ATPase in lens epithelial cell. Addition of GTF decreased these destructive changes.      

The amount of soluble cortical lens proteins was decreased and structural changes were detected in lenses incubated in high glucose medium. These changes could be prevented when GTF was added to the high glucose medium.

Our findings demonstrate the anti cataractogenic potential of GTF

Biography:

Gustav Komlaga is a Senior lecturer and a researcher of Pharmacognosy in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a PhD degree in Pharmacognosy from KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, and another in Microbiology from Université Paris-Sud, France. He is interested in researches involving drug discovery with regards to identification and validation of medicinal plants traditionally used to treatment malaria and other infectious diseases, isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds form medicinal plants, standardization of medicinal plants and herbal products for the treatment of diseases. He has published more than 10 research papers in reputable peer review journals and is a reviewer for many scientific journals.

Abstract:

Malaria is a major public health problem in Ghana where it is treated, among many other diseases, with medicinal plants and allopathic drugs. Due to the relief achieved from the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of the disease by clients of traditional medicine, a search for anti-plasmodial compounds from the plants was initiated as way to validate their use. An ethnobotanical survey conducted in two Districts of Ghana, inventoried, among other plant for the traditional treatment of malaria, Phyllanthus fraternus. This plant was employed by a high percentage of herbalists for the treatment of malaria in the surveyed areas. However, despite the high level usage for the treatment of malaria, it had not been extensively exploited for antiplasmodial compounds. It was therefore selected for screening for these compounds. The aqueous extract evaluated against chloroquine-susceptible 3D7 and chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of P. falciparum  displayed remarkable activity against 3D7 (IC₅₀: 4.07 ± 1.46) but was inactive against W2 (IC₅₀ >100 μg/mL). It also showed cytotoxicity against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with CC₅₀ value of 31.11 ± 3.31 μg/mL. It was, however, selective for the 3D7 P. falciparum with selectivity index (SI) of 7.6. The organic solvents fractions of the plant obtained by successive extraction with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol were also evaluated against 3D7 P. falciparum. These fractions exhibited impressive antiplasmodial activity against the 3D7 P. falciparum (0.44±0.08μg/mL ≤ IC50≤37.92±14.50 μg/mL) with the methanol fraction being the most active (IC₅₀: 0.44±0.08μg/mL).  A follow-up phytochemical studies of the methanol extract yielded the lignan, phyllanthin, and 5 securinega alkaloids namely bubbialine, epibubbialine, ent-norsecurinine, allo-norsecurinine, nirurine. These compounds displayed varied degrees of antiplasmodial activity against both 3D7 and W2 strains of P. falciparum with IC₅₀ ranging from 1.14 ± 0.32µM to 59.00±5.43 µM.  Ent-norsecurinine, which was for the first time isolated from a natural source, was the most active (IC₅₀=1.14±0.32 µM) against the P. falciparum W2 strain. Only nirurine and phyllanthin displayed cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ <100 μM) against HUVECs. Apart from phyllanthin and nirurine, the other 4 compounds displayed specific selectivity for the parasites (SI>3.6). The findings of this study validates the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of malaria and also point to the need to proceed with the screening of medicinal plants used to treat malaria in traditional medicine which may lead to identification of new and or lead compound(s) for antimalarial drugs.

Biography:

Bert Little, Ph.D., Professor of Health Management and Systems Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville has an extensive educational background in analytics (mathematics, statistics, databases and probability theory) and population health (human biology, genetics, medicine, public health), and is a formally trained physical/biological anthropologist with extensive experience working with populations outside the US.

Abstract:

Jamaican Maroons are isolated populations founded by descendants of West Africans who escaped slavery and established free communities in Jamaican mountains. Maroon communities were established before 1655. Moore Town is the largest Maroon settlement, approximately 240 households and 1200 individuals. Anecdotally, Maroon migrants have a high rate of T2D in Kingston. A pilot study of T2D was done in March-April 2016 to establish baseline data, collecting information about T2D. Female heads of household were assessed and asked whether T2D had been diagnosed in the interviewee or any family member. Analysis of the odds of having T2D indicated that first degree relative with T2D odds ratio (OR) was 1.11 (0.33-3.76, p=0.88), diastolic blood pressure>90 OR=4.20 (1.41-12.55, p<0.01), and waist-hip ratio >0.85 (Fisher’s exact p<0.0001). Age at menarche was lower among T2D women (mean=14.0, 95% CI: 13.6-14.3) vs. non-T2D women (mean=14.8, 95% CI: 14.4-15.2). Logistic regression analysis indicated T2D individuals had: high diastolic blood pressure (OR=29.3, 95% CI: 1.79-480.04, p<0.02), high (>75 BPM) heart rate (OR=25.0, 95% CI: 18.7-158.9, p<0.001), age (OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.06-1.25, p<0.001), and earlier age at menarche (OR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.09-0.57, p<0.002). Thus, women with T2D tended to be older, reach menarche earlier, and have: high waist:hip ratios, high heart rates, and elevated diastolic blood pressures compared to non-T2D. These findings are consistent with previously reported data except for earlier sexual maturation.

Biography:

Armenia Nazar is currently working as Professor at Department of Pharmacy, University of Andalas, Indonesia. She has completed her Doctorate in Physiology and Pharmacology at University of Science, Malaysia. She gave her presentations in many international conferences. She is the Vice Dean for the Cooperation and Students Affairs.

Abstract:

A blood pressure lowering effect of scopoletin on anesthetized oxidative stress associated hypertensive rats has been studied. Scopoletin (10 mg/kg BW) was given to the prednison-NaCl (PN) and prednison-NaCl-L-NAME (PNL) induced rats. As comparisons, other groups of the same rats were treated with Tempol (17.2mg/kgBW) and saline.  The direct animal carotid artery SBP, DBP, MAP and HR were measured (Biopac Acquisition System MP150) before and every half an hour for two hours after drug commencement. Plasma NO was measured before and at the end of the experiment.  Data of BPs and HR were analyzed using three-way ANOVA, while plasma NO was analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s HSD-test (significance was taken at p<0.05).  Results showed that the animals SBP, DBP, and the MAP were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by scopoletin and tempol without any significant changed (p>0.1) in the animal HR.  The response of PNL hypertensive animals to scopoletin was greater and so the effect of scopoletin compare to tempol. Plasma NO of scopoletin and tempol treated rats also increased, but there was no significant different of average plasma NO between both hypertensive types. These indicated that scopoletin at the given dose is effective as blood pressure lowering agent, especially on the stress oxidative associated   hypertensive rats.

Biography:

Che Noriah Othman is a Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Pharmacy UiTM Pulau Pinang and has involved in many research activities involving herbal, social and behavioral pharmacy. Her main interest is in Herbal Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Malay Medicine. She has almost completed her PhD study in Clinical Pharmacy and will secure more research grants related to her field. She is presently collaborated with Universiti Sains Malaysia to conduct cancer related research and is supervising a few Master’s and undergraduate students. She is currently a coordinator of Research and Final Year Project presentation for the Faculty of Pharmacy. She has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member and reviewer of many conferences and journals around the world.

Abstract:

Introduction: Chemoprevention is a new approach to suppress, delay or reverse the process of carcinogenesis instead of current treatment that causes many side effects and also possibility of recurrence of cancer. In South East Asia, Clinacanthus nutans Lindau (CN) has been used traditionally as herbal medicine to treat various diseases including cancer. However, the therapeutic potential of CN has not been explored for cancer prevention and treatment.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the chemo-preventive property of CN extract on cervical cancer and to identify the compound in CN extract that has anti-proliferative potential using human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line.

Methodology: 500 gram of dried powdered CN was immersed in ethanol for 3 days. After filtration, the extract was concentrated in vacuo to give crude ethanol extract of CN (EECN). EECN with concentrations of 0.72-1.44mg/ml were treated on HeLa cells to get the IC50 value. The phytochemical contained in the crude extract of EECN were identified using GC-MS.

Result: Results shows that EECN inhibit the growth of cancer cells at IC50 value of 1.08 mg/ml. GCMS analysis of EECN showed that Lupeol, lup-20(29)-en-3-one, β-Amyrin, Linoleic Acid ethyl ester and Squalene were among the identified components of EECN. Lupeol is suggested as the main active compound that might contribute to the chemopreventive property of CN.

Conclusion: These results suggest that EECN exhibits anti-proliferative effect on HeLa cells and potential candidate to be a chemoprevention agent in anticancer drug discovery.

Biography:

Nitsa Mirsky completed her PhD studies at the Technion, Israel, and her Postdoctoral studies at Stanford university. Through her long academic career she investigated anti diabetic natural compounds activity both in vivo and in vitro. She was the founder and president of Natural Compounds Ltd, a company that developed anti diabetic agents from natural sources. Dr. Mirsky has been a member of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the university of Haifa, where she served also as the head of the department of biology. She supervised dozens of M.Sc and Ph.D students and published many articles in the field of diabetes.

Abstract:

The Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) is a dietary agent extracted from brewer's yeast.

GTF reversed glucose intolerance in diabetic animals and humans. We found that oral treatment with GTF decreased blood glucose and lipids and potentiated insulin action in type 1 & 2 diabetic animals. GTF also decreased lipid peroxidation in blood and organs of the treated animals. We also found that addition of GTF to diabetic rats immediately with the induction of diabetes, inhibited the development of nephropathy and retinopathy in these animals. In vitro studies showed that GTF increased glucose transport into adipocytes and myocytes, in insulin-like mode. When a combination of GTF and insulin was supplemented to the cells, a synergy between GTF and insulin was detected

Treatment of 3T3-L1 and L-6 cells with GTF increased the phosphorylation of key proteins along insulin signaling pathway, in a time and dose-dependent manner. Whereas GTF increased tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and stimulated the activation of Akt and p44/42 MAPK, it did not affect tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR). We treated CHO cells over expressing insulin receptor (CHO-IR) with either insulin or GTF. Whereas a remarkable elevation in phosphorylation of IR was detected when these cells were treated with insulin, any phosphorylation above control values was not detected when CHO-IR cells were treated with GTF.

Our data demonstrates that GTF acts through insulin-signaling pathway, but probably not via insulin receptor. Our findings present GTF as a novel oral "insulin-like" material for future treatment of diabetes.

Biography:

Vandana Sankar has completed her PhD in Life Science from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. She obtained her Post-doctoral studies at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), India. She is presently working as DST Young Scientist at Agro-processing and Natural Products Division of CSIR-NIIST.  She has published 18 papers in reputed journals and has received Kerala State Young Scientist Award in 2014 for her contributions to research. She has also presented papers in national and international conferences. Her major research area includes cardiovascular disease biology, natural products, green synthesized nanoparticles, etc.

Abstract:

According to WHO, among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in the world. Hypertension ranks among the first risk factors for CVD. The sustained hemodynamic load imposed by hypertension on the heart leads to cardiac remodeling and ultimately heart failure. Remodeling includes hypertrophy, fibrosis and functional changes. Pharmacological intervention in hypertension should be directed towards prevention of remodeling also. Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine. Despite clinical efficacy, lack of scientific validation has limited the use of Ayurvedic drugs. An Ayurvedic drug composed of crude powders of 6 medicinal plants was formulated by Nagarjuna Herbal Concentrates Ltd., Kerala.  The aim of the study was to scientifically characterize the cardiovascular response to the drug and delineate the mode of action. The drug was able to reduce blood pressure in SHR, which was supported by the finding of vasorelaxation in isolated aortae. Vasorelaxation was associated with calcium antagonistic action, thereby enhancing endothelium-derived relaxing factor availability. ERK and calcineurin signaling pathways were involved in vasorelaxation by the drug. The drug attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis in SHR through downregulation of ERK and PKCε pathways, possibly mediated by the antioxidant property of the drug. Reduced expression of 3-nitrotyrosine in treated SHR was also demonstrated. Cardiac output in treated SHR was improved, and ECG alterations were relatively lower. Moreover, toxicity was not observed. The study is the first of its kind to extensively and systematically evaluate an Ayurvedic antihypertensive, and this will go a long way in their popularization and better acceptance.

Biography:

Jane Namukobe has completed her PhD in 2015 from Makerere University Kampala. She is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry Makerere University where she undertakes Teaching and Research. She has published 9 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

The study was done to document medicinal plants used in the treatment of various diseases by the people in the Northern sector of Kibale National Park in western Uganda. The required information was obtained using open interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions and transects walks. Different medicinal plants (131 species) distributed over 55 families were observed to be used by the local communities around the Northern sector of Kibale National Park. The plants are used to treat 43 physical illnesses/diseases. The most used parts of the plants are the leaves. It was observed that the people in the study area have a rich heritage of traditional plants that are used in the health care system to treat diseases. These medicinal plants have contributed significantly to several disease therapies.  Phytochemical investigation on the stem bark of this plant led to the isolation of one new diterpenoid;  neoboutomacroin (1) in addition to the four known compounds which included, a phenanthrene; 3,6-dihyroxy-1,7-dimethyl-9-methoxyphenanthrene (2), asterol; 3-O-Acetyloleuritolicacid(3) and two diterpenoids; simplexin (4) and montanin (5).  Their chemical structures were established mainly through a combination of spectroscopic techniques.   The isolated compounds were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-resistant FcB1/Colombia strain of Plasmodium falciparum and some compounds showed good activity against Plasmodium falciparum parasite.

Biography:

Pierluigi Pompei is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Sport Nutrition in the Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Public Health - University of Camerino. He is the author of over 50 international publications on peer-reviewed journals, several chapters of scientific books, has 1 international patent and attended hundreds of conferences and meetings.

Abstract:

Adverse reactions to food could result either in toxic or non toxic reactions, the latter being immunological and/or non immunological based. The immunological based reactions could yield in food allergies, IgE-mediated and via T lymphocytes, whereas the non-immunological ones are defined food intolerances. Ulcer colitis and Crohn disease show a chronic intestinal wall inflammation with altered pro-inflammatory cytokines balance. A higher incidence of both diseases occurs in North Europe, North America and Australia with onset between 30 and 40 years old. Common symptoms are diarrhea, meteorism, colitis, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia. Colostrum is the milk produced 24-36 hours after partum. It shows a protective action, due to macrophages, leukocytes and secretory IgE and IgA and a nutritive function, due to the high content in proteins and minerals and a baseline content of lipids, glycids and calories (67 kcal/100ml). Seven female subjects, mean age between 40 and 53 (2 with ulcer colitis, 5 with irritable colon) were selected as case reports, undergoing Bioimpedance body analysis via Akern BIA, ALCAT test for food intolerance and subsequent appropriate diet. Noni Colostrum was then administered to them for six months. Diet following ALCAT test and Noni Colostrum administration showed a general evidence-based medicine disappearance of the gastrointestinal distress and symptomathology, perhaps due to an increased immunological tolerance threshold in subjects with food intolerance. Moreover, xeronines, contained in Noni Colostrum may strongly contribute to a natural boost of the immune system that may have reverted the clinical symptoms.

Biography:

Rosa Lelyana completed medical school in 1997 and graduated S2 is less than 2 years of research in the field of coffee. She is a member of the ACS (American Chemical Society) on request since 2014. In 2011 she received an award from the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and University lecturer Diponegoro as one of the best level textbook authors of university medical faculty level Diponegoro.

Abstract:

Many herbal medicinal plants from Indonesia are used to reduce Diabetes Mellius. Diabetes is a topic area included in Healthy People 2020. In America, there are 1.4 million people diagnosed every year with Diabetes Mellitus. One of the causes of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is obesity. The high cost of weight loss and side effects of synthetic chemical drugs cause most of the world community to switch to nutraceutical. The results of study prove that weight loss would improve by 10-15% risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Recent study indicates the role of herbal decrease of chronic disease incidence suffering. The weight loss of adipose tissue corrects response and minimizes diameter adipocyte abdominal size. Herbal one that has the ability for that is coffee. If we consume 2 cup of coffee daily could improve the immune response. Coffee is able to correct immune system (NO, IL-10 and adipose tissue). The other herbal plant medicine which could improve the immune response are curcumin; isoflavon; cathecin (tea-polifenol) etc. Herbal medicine could decrease the risk factor incidence of Diabetes Mellitus.

Biography:

Nitsa Mirsky completed her PhD studies at the Technion, Israel, and her Postdoctoral studies at Stanford university. Through her long academic career she investigated anti diabetic natural compounds activity both in vivo and in vitro. She was the founder and president of "Natural Compounds", a company that developed anti diabetic agents from natural sources. Dr. Mirsky has been a member of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the university of Haifa, where she served also as the head of the department of biology. She supervised dozens of M.Sc and Ph.D students and published many articles in the field of diabetes.

Abstract:

Cataract formation is one of severe diabetes complications. Hyperglycemia brings to increased polyol concentration in the lens, to glycation of lens proteins, and to elevated oxidative stress. The Glucose Tolerance Factor is a yeast derived material that decreased hyperglycemia and oxidative stress both in diabetic animals and humans. We studied the protective effect of GTF on the eye lens both in vivo and in vitro. Streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats received 15 oral doses of GTF. While diabetic untreated rats developed cataracts, the development of cataract was totally or partially prevented in GTF treated animals.

In vitro studies were done on bovine lenses incubated for 14 days. Half of the lenses were incubated in normal glucose conditions, and half in high glucose conditions. To one group of the normal or high glucose condition GTF was added. The optical quality of all the lenses was measured daily by an automated scanning laser system. The control lenses, whether with or without GTF addition, kept their optical quality. High glucose conditions induced optical damage to the lenses. Addition of GTF prevented this damage. High glucose conditions affected the activity of aldose reductase and Na/ K ATPase in lens epithelial cell. Addition of GTF decreased these destructive changes. The amount of soluble cortical lens proteins was decreased and structural changes were detected in lenses incubated in high glucose medium. These changes could be prevented when GTF was added to the high glucose medium. our findings demonstrate the anti cataractogenic potential of GTF

Biography:

Gustav Komlaga is a Senior lecturer and a researcher of Pharmacognosy in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a PhD degree in Pharmacognosy from KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, and another in Microbiology from Université Paris-Sud, France. He is interested in researches involving drug discovery with regards to identification and validation of medicinal plants traditionally used to treatment malaria and other infectious diseases, isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds form medicinal plants, standardization of medicinal plants and herbal products for the treatment of diseases. He has published more than 10 research papers in reputable peer review journals and is a reviewer for many scientific journals.

Abstract:

Malaria is a major public health problem in Ghana where it is treated, among many other diseases, with medicinal plants and allopathic drugs. Due to the relief achieved from the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of the disease by clients of traditional medicine, a search for anti-plasmodial compounds from the plants was initiated as way to validate their use. An ethnobotanical survey conducted in two Districts of Ghana, inventoried, among other plant for the traditional treatment of malaria, Phyllanthus fraternus. This plant was employed by a high percentage of herbalists for the treatment of malaria in the surveyed areas. However, despite the high level usage for the treatment of malaria, it had not been extensively exploited for antiplasmodial compounds. It was therefore selected for screening for these compounds. The aqueous extract evaluated against chloroquine-susceptible 3D7 and chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of P. falciparum  displayed remarkable activity against 3D7 (IC₅₀: 4.07 ± 1.46) but was inactive against W2 (IC₅₀ >100 μg/mL). It also showed cytotoxicity against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with CC₅₀ value of 31.11 ± 3.31 μg/mL. It was, however, selective for the 3D7 P. falciparum with selectivity index (SI) of 7.6. The organic solvents fractions of the plant obtained by successive extraction with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol were also evaluated against 3D7 P. falciparum. These fractions exhibited impressive antiplasmodial activity against the 3D7 P. falciparum (0.44±0.08μg/mL ≤ IC50≤37.92±14.50 μg/mL) with the methanol fraction being the most active (IC₅₀: 0.44±0.08μg/mL).  A follow-up phytochemical studies of the methanol extract yielded the lignan, phyllanthin, and 5 securinega alkaloids namely bubbialine, epibubbialine, ent-norsecurinine, allo-norsecurinine, nirurine. These compounds displayed varied degrees of antiplasmodial activity against both 3D7 and W2 strains of P. falciparum with IC₅₀ ranging from 1.14 ± 0.32µM to 59.00±5.43 µM.  Ent-norsecurinine, which was for the first time isolated from a natural source, was the most active (IC₅₀=1.14±0.32 µM) against the P. falciparum W2 strain. Only nirurine and phyllanthin displayed cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ <100 μM) against HUVECs. Apart from phyllanthin and nirurine, the other 4 compounds displayed specific selectivity for the parasites (SI>3.6). The findings of this study validates the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of malaria and also point to the need to proceed with the screening of medicinal plants used to treat malaria in traditional medicine which may lead to identification of new and or lead compound(s) for antimalarial drugs.