DNA sequence variations [copy number variations, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and microsatellite repeats] play an important role in susceptibility/resistance to tuberculosis and other infectious diseases like malaria and HIV. Different population exhibit variable associations with tuberculosis susceptibility and severity because of DNA sequence variations in both host and parasite. A number of genes and their polymorphisms have been identified that appear to be important in tuberculosis. In this article, several case–control studies of tuberculosis including a number of genes in different population have been explored. Furthermore, this review summarizes the current studies of host polymorphisms and their association with tuberculosis in different population. We have computationally predicted 275 SNPs which occur in transcription factor binding sites for transcription factors in 19 genes involved in pathogenesis of tuberculosis. Some common SNPs are rs1327474, rs755622, rs1801274, rs396991, rs5030737, rs1800451, rs1800450, rs3763313 rs3763313, rs9268494 and rs9268492 that have been found to play a role in disease. Presence of non‐synonimous polymorphisms in coding region might affect the structure of protein, whereas polymorphisms in promoter region affect the level of gene products, consequently altering the susceptibility/resistance to disease. Based on this prediction, we hypothesize that these genes play an important role in susceptibility to tuberculosis through an altered expression of gene product via the modification of transcriptional regulation of gene.

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Foeniculum vulgare .Mill. commonly known as Fennel belonging to the family Apiaceae, is a small, erect and aromatic herb. A number of chemical constituents and various therapeutic effects of this herb have been reported by different workers. Extensive investigations have been carried out on different parts of herb and as a consequence, varied classes of compounds fatty acids, hydrocarbons and sterols, Furocoumarins; (imperatorin, psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin and isopimpinellin), Flavonoids; (isorhamnetin 3-O-α-rhamnoside, quercetin and kaempferol) and quercetin; (3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside and quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside) have been isolated. So, it has been used in ethnomedicine to exploit its medicinal properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. The presented review summarizes the information about the ethnopharmacology, toxicity, phytochemistry and biological activity of F. vulgare.

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacognostic, phytochemical, biological and spectroscopic analyses of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark.Methods: Plant material (root and stem bark) was collected, authenticated, shade-dried and extracted by maceration using methanol as a solvent separately. Powder microscopy was performed using a binocular microscope. Fluorescence, physico-chemical analysis and phytochemical screening for the presence of secondary metabolites were performed using standard methods. Brine shrimp lethalitybioassay was carried out using Artemia salina bioassay, while enzymatic modulatory study was performed by α-amylase inhibition assay. Microscopic analysis was carried out with scanning electron microscopy. Spectroscopic analysis was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).Results: Powder microscopy showed the presence of different cellular structures. Various colors were observed under ultraviolet (UV) and ordinary light when treated with different reagents. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids but phenol and cardiac glycosides were absent from both extracts. The root bark of the plant showed significant brine shrimp lethality activity.Conclusion: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew root and stem bark contain a variety of bioactive compounds that have medicinal and therapeutic potentials. Therefore, further investigations are required to elucidate their pharmacological properties. Keywords: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew, Phytochemical, Spectroscopy, α-Amylase