A number of medicinal plant extracts are being used against various diseases in different systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha, but only a few of them have been scientifically explored. The objective of the present study was to explore the dose-dependent in vitro anticancer effects of the extracts of Pandanus odoratissimus whose scientific documentation as an anticancer agent is lacking despite being used traditionally. The dried parts of roots and leaves were extracted with methanol (MEPO) and water (AEPO). The extracts were then subjected to in vitro cytotoxic and antimitotic screening by brine shrimp lethality assay and onion root tip method, respectively. Further, the behavior of the extracts on calu-6 (non-small cell lung cancer cell lines), PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and WI (lung fibroblast cell lines) was studied using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay followed by flow cytometric analysis on calu-6 cell lines. AEPO showed significant cytotoxic and antimitotic activities. It showed 100% lethality of brine shrimps at 80 μg/ml and an LC50 of 33.33 μg/ml, which was eightfold higher than that of synthetic standard podophyllotoxin (4.16 μg/ml). AEPO at 10 mg/ml concentration showed significant antimitotic activity by showing 3% mitotic index. which was more than that of standard cyclophosphamide with 4% mitotic index in comparison to control. There was a significant reduction in cell proliferation of calu-6 cells, ranging from 56 to 35%, after 24-48 h of treatment with 200 μg/ml (P < 0.001) of AEPO, while AEPO remained unaffected on PBMC and WI-38 cel lines. Cell cycle analysis revealed that AEPO at 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml significantly increased the number of cells in sub G0–G1 phase, indicating the cells entering in to apoptotic phase. These results suggest that aqueous extract of P. odoratissimus possesses better anticancer activity. The plant has the potential to be used in anticancer therapy, and this study scientifically validated the folklore use of this plant.

Background: India is a rich source of medicinal plants and number of plant extracts are used against diseases in various systems of medicine such as ayurveda, unani and siddha where only a few of them were scientifically explored. Objective: The objective of the present study was undertaken to perform dose dependent anti-cancer effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of P. odoratissimus roots and leaves whose scientific documentation for anti-tumor agent is lacking despite using traditionally. Materials and Methods: The anti-cancer activity of methanolic extract of P. odoratissimus (MEPO) and aqueous extract of P. odoratissimus (AEPO) were tested against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma induced liquid tumors in swiss albino mice. The degree of protection was determined by change in body weight (gm), tumour volume (ml), packed cell volume (ml), cell viability (%), hematological parameters (R.B.C, W.B.C and hemoglobin content), mean survival time (MST), % increase in lifespan (% ILS) and histopathological observation of part of peritoneal layer. Results: The treatment with AEPO 400mg/kg, p.o. in EAC treated mice reduced tumor volume, packed cell volume, body weight, cell viability and improved all hematological parameters, mean survival time and life span. Histopathological changes showed degenerative changes of tumor cells in peritoneal layer. The anti-cancer effects of AEPO 400mg/kg, p.o. are equally more with that of the standard drug cisplatin. Conclusion:The results suggested that aqueous extract of roots and leaves of P. odoratissimus possess in vivo anti-cancer activity comparable to cisplatin and this study scientifically validated the traditional use of this plant. Keywords INTRODUCTIONThere is a growing interest in the pharmacological evaluation of various plants used in indian traditional systems of medicine. Pandanus odoratissimus (Pandanaceae) is one of such plants, distributed commonly throughout india. In ayurveda, unani and siddha the leaves are used for treating back ache, rheumatic diseases, epilepsy, wound healing, nervous disorders, loss of appetite, indigestion, constipation, diabetes, infertility, skin diseases, urinary disorders and fever.[1] The plant is known to possess a broad spectrum of medicinal, pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Tribals believe that this herb is an effective remedy for wide range of illnesses.[2]Leaves of Pandanus plants contain alkaloids such as pandanamine, pandamerilactones with pyrroline derived structures as major chemical constituent [3] and was found to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. [4][5][6] In ayurveda paste of P. odoratissimus with sugar is used for treating cancers.[7] Active principles of methanolic extract of whole plant are 3-(4-(dimethylamino)cinnamoyyl)-4-hydroxycomarin, 3,3'-methylenebis (4-hydroxycomarin), erythro-9,10-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid, octadecanedioic acid and dihydroagathic acid. [8] Recently, the acute and subacute toxicological studies on methanolic extract of P. odoratissimus did no...

COVID-19 is a serious infectious disease caused by the novel corona virus, SARS-CoV2, threatening the public health with high transmission rate of infection causing more deaths across the globe in elderly population, immunocompromised individuals and in patients with comorbid conditions. At this point of uncertainty, understanding the pandemic challenges is most essential. As very few literature are becoming available in detailing the different perspectives of the disease, this paper presents the readers with current clinical spectrum of infection like details on epidemiology, pathogenesis, manifestations, diagnostic criteria, treatments and preventive measures of this new type of coronavirus.