Tung-Ting Sham is pursuing PhD in Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research interest is to examine the effect of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in hyperlipidemias with modern scientific technology so as to unveil the mechanism and promote global application of TCM.

Piceatannol, a natural antioxidant and metabolite of resveratrol found in red wine and traditional herbal medicines, has been reported to have the prevention of development and progression of global prevalent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We primarily tried to investigate its underlying molecular protective mechanisms in supplement to high cholesterol diets (HCD) (one of the causes of CVDs) by combination of GC/MS and UPLC-QTOF/MS. HCD induced rats were either supplemented with piceatannol or simvastatin for 4 weeks. Serum lipid levels of randomized samples were measured by Keygen’s reagent. Serums were deproteinated for UPLC/MS analysis. Circulating free and esterified fatty acids were methylated and trans-esterified respectively prior to GC/MS analysis.The pooled quality control samples analyzed by UPLC/MS and standard fatty acid methyl esters by GC/MS were clustered together in the score plot of principle components, indicating high repeatability of the instrument. During the development of hypercholesterolemia, piceatannol supplementation significantly decreased the total cholesterols, LDL-C levels and the atherogenic index, similar to simvastatin (p<0.05) but only piceatannol lowered triglyceride level. Combined with multivariate statistics, GC/MS results indicated that piceatannol recovered the circulating esterified fatty acid profiles better than simvastatin. Also, over 20 biomarkers screened from UPLC/MS in positive and negative ionization mode showed that piceatannol interrupted the glycerophospholipid metabolism, and especially bile acid metabolism. Piceatannol might facilitate the cholesterol removal via bile acid biosynthesis. Such recovery of the abnormal metabolic state prevented the progression of atherosclerosis and lowered the risk of CVDs. Our study demonstrated the combination of GC/MS and LC/MS helps support the therapeutic effect of piceatannol to hyperlipidemia at the metabolomics levels.

Balamanohary Uthayanan completed Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS) University of Jaffna. He successfully completed Staff Induction Training Programme which consisted of Educational Technology University System, Ethics & Professionalism and Research Methodology conducted by The Medical Education Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya from 2012 to 2013. He successfully completed the certificate course on yoga at Sooriya Yoga, Yoga Therapy and Studies Centre. His research interests includes: Basic philosophy, social and preventive care of Siddha medicine, quality assessments of Siddha drugs and plants and clinical study.

Herb Cynodon dactylon (Linn) Pers commonly known as Arugu, belongs to Graminae family. It is the most sacred plant of Hindu religious next to Tulasi (Oscimum sanctum). It is a perennial creeping grass, rooting at every node, forming matted tufts. A number of chemical constituents and various therapeutic uses of C. dactylon have been reported by different researchers. The herb contains crude proteins, carbohydrates, and mineral constituents, oxides of magnesium, phosphorous, calcium, sodium and potassium. The whole plant affords β-sitosterol and β-carotoene. Other compounds like vitamin C, cartone, palmitic acid, triterpinoids, alkaloids, ergonovine and ergonovinine and other miscellaneous compounds have been isolated from this herb. Various phytochemical and biological evaluations have been reported in the literature for the effectiveness of the C. dactylon. Therefore it has been used in Traditional Medicine to utilize it medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti bacterial, antidiabetic, anti tumor, anti ulcer, anti oxidant or chemo preventive, anti-venom, Antipyretic and analgesic, diuretic and immunomodulatory activities. The presented review summarizes the information concerning the botany, phyto chemistry, pharmacology, biological activity and medicinal properties of C. dactylon herb. For the last few decades or so, extensive research works have been done to prove its biological activities and the pharmacology of its extracts. The aim of this review is to create database for further investigations of the discovered phytochemical and pharmacological properties of this plant to utilize the medicaments this will help in confirmation of its traditional use along with its value added utility, eventually leading to higher revenues from the plant.

Salma A. Hago, Master student, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University.

This study evaluated the antidiabetic effect of black mulberry (Morus nigra L) fruits extract growing in Egypt in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat’s model. The antihyperglycemic activity of M. nigra ethanolic extract was tested at two doses (500 and 250 mg/kg) over a period of 4 weeks. The results showed that mulberry fruits extract at the dose 250 mg/kg causes a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose level. Moreover, the parameters of liver and kidney functions have been significantly improved in the groups that treated with mulberry extract. A phytochemical analysis of mulberry fruits extract indicated that total phenolic content was 13.53 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of frozen fruits. In addition, the flavonoid content was estimated at 3.02 mg quercetin equivalent/g frozen matter. Furthermore, HPLC analysis of the ethanol extract showed the presence of two major constituents, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside with concentrationsof 0.276 and 0.269 mg/g respectively using HPLC/UV at wave length of 530 nm.