The RAS (renin-angiotensin system) is the part of the endocrine system that plays a prime role in the control of essential hypertension. Since the discovery of brain RAS in the seventies, continuous efforts have been put by the scientific committee to explore it more. The brain has shown the presence of various components of brain RAS such as angiotensinogen (AGT), converting enzymes, angiotensin (Ang), and specific receptors (ATR). AGT acts as the precursor molecule for Ang peptides—I, II, III, and IV—while the enzymes such as prorenin, ACE, and aminopeptidases A and N synthesize it. AT1, AT2, AT4, and mitochondrial assembly receptor (MasR) are found to be plentiful in the brain. The brain RAS system exhibits pleiotropic properties such as neuroprotection and cognition along with regulation of blood pressure, CVS homeostasis, thirst and salt appetite, stress, depression, alcohol addiction, and pain modulation. The molecules acting through RAS predominantly ARBs and ACEI are found to be effective in various ongoing and completed clinical trials related to cognition, memory, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and pain. The review summarizes the recent advances in the brain RAS system highlighting its significance in pathophysiology and treatment of the central nervous system-related disorders.

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Pterostilbene (PTE) (3-5 dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-trans-stilbenes) is an analogue of resveratrol. It is extracted and isolated from a natural source of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., red grape skin, and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). Substantial evidence suggested that PTE displayed numerous preventive and therapeutic properties in many metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. Metabolic diseases result in Insulin resistance (IR) which advances to impaired sensitivity to insulin-mediated glucose disposal. The prominent role of SIRT (silent information regulator proteins) is now getting emphasized in metabolic disorders. SIRT1 represses Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) expressions which are further responsible for improving synthesis of ATP from glucose. This results in improving glucose utilization and insulin secretion, thus preventing IR. SIRT1 also exhibits prominent role in facilitating fatty acid mobilization thereby inhibiting adiposity. Metabolic disorders are therefore the consequences of SIRT1 downregulation. Pterostilbene, being a SIRT1 activator, increases insulin sensitivity reduces adiposity, therefore can prove to be beneficial in diabetes as well as obesity. The review summarizes therapeutic effects portrayed by Pterostilbene via the SIRT1 pathway in metabolic diseases.

Introduction and objective. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disorder that makes breathing difficult, characterized by chronic bronchitis, mucus hypersecretion, airway remodelling, and emphysema. Although caused by various factors, the leading cause is active or passive cigarette smoking (CS) is. The treatment available provides symptomatic relief and is associated with serious adverse effects, such as cardiovascular events and pneumonia; hence, there is an unmet need for research on drug treatment for COPD. This literature review provides an update on the various animal models of COPD that have been developed by the exposure of CS alone, or in combination with other inducing agents. Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge. The combination of SCS/MCS with LPS should be preferred to a single smoke component to induce COPD. It was observed that mouse models are extensively used, C57B1/6 and BALB/c females are more vulnerable to COPD, whereas, in rat models, male SD rats are mostly used. Guinea pigs, due to their anatomical similarity, are found to be a better model that can be used to develop COPD. Conclusions. Suitable animal models and validated apparatus are crucial for successful COPD animal model development.Conventionally authenticated research-grade cigarettes should be used for effortless distribution of a specific concentration of total suspended particles (TSP) or total particulate matter (TPM), including nicotine and carbon monoxide. There is also a need to focus on the various types of apparatus to be used for COPD induction in murine models considering optimum exposure, reliability as well as the sturdiness of the apparatus which would provide better execution of the protocol with minimum harm to the experimenter.