Autophagy is a preserved cytoplasmic self‐degradation process and endorses recycling of intracellular constituents into bioenergetics for the controlling of cellular homeostasis. Functional autophagy process is essential in eliminating cytoplasmic waste components and helps in the recycling of some of its constituents. Studies have revealed that neurodegenerative disorders may be caused by mutations in autophagy‐related genes and alterations of autophagic flux. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irrevocable deleterious neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the hippocampus and cortex. In the central nervous system of healthy people, there is no accretion of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides due to the balance between generation and degradation of Aβ. However, for AD patients, the generation of Aβ peptides is higher than lysis that causes accretion of Aβ. Likewise, the maturation of autophagolysosomes and inhibition of their retrograde transport creates favorable conditions for Aβ accumulation. Furthermore, increasing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling raises tau levels as well as phosphorylation. Alteration of mTOR activity occurs in the early stage of AD. In addition, copious evidence links autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction in AD. Compromised mitophagy is also accountable for dysfunctional mitochondria that raises Alzheimer’s pathology. Therefore, autophagic dysfunction might lead to the deposit of atypical proteins in the AD brain and manipulation of autophagy could be considered as an emerging therapeutic target. This review highlights the critical linkage of autophagy in the pathogenesis of AD, and avows a new insight to search for therapeutic target for blocking Alzheimer’s pathogenesis.

Background: In Bangladesh, the tree Xylocarpus mekongensis (Lamk.) M. Roem. is used as the traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of ailments. Objectives: The present study was undertaken for antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity study of the methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform extract of X. mekongensis bark. Materials and methods: Antimicrobial activity has been investigated against Vibrio cholera, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi and Staphylococcus aureus by disc diffusion and broth macrodilution assay. For cytotoxicity test, methanol, acetate and chloroform extract of bark of X. mekongensis were subjected to brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Results: The zone of inhibition has been observed with almost all bacteria with some exceptions. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were found to be significant. The LC 50 values of these three extracts were found to be 1280, 320 and 320 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusions: Findings of the study justify the use of the plant in traditional medicine and suggests further investigation.

The present study was designed to investigate the antidiarrhoeal activity and determine the total tannin content of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Codiaeum variegatum (Family- Euphorbiaceae). The antidiarrhoeal activity was evaluated in castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice and the total tannin content was determined by using the Folin-Coicalteu phenol reagent. The ethanolic extract of leaves of C. variegatum showed a positive effect on castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. In the antidiarrhoeal assay the extract inhibited the mean number of defecation by 40.81% and 59.18% (p<0.01 & p<0.001) at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The latent period for the extract treated group was (p<0.01 & p<0.001) increased as compared to control group. The total tannin content was quite significant and high in ethanolic extract (241.41 mg/g of tannic acid equivalent). Phytochemical screenings of the leaf extract indicated the presence of carbohydrate (reducing sugars), gums, steroids, alkaloids and tannins. Therefore, the results of the present study provide the scientific basis for the traditional uses of this plant as remedy for diarrhea.Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 14(1): 87-90, 2015 (June)

The aim of our study was to find out the preliminary cytotoxic and thrombolytic effect of the seven selected medicinal plant leaves extract. In cytotoxic activity, out of the seven leaves extract three of them exhibited stronger brine shrimp lethality with LC 50 122.548 (Uncaria acida), 170.861 (Leea indica) and 175.469 (Piper porphyrophyllum) μg /mL respectively, and on MCF-7 cell line, they also exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity with different concentration of the extract of the same plant leaves such as,Uncaria acida (72.31, 56.22, 38.12 and 9.24%), Leea indica (67.31, 58.22, 43.12 and 15.24%), Piper porphyrophyllum (65.88, 48.12, 40.12 and 21.34%). In thrombolytic assessments, all the leaves extract showed moderate (considering > 20% moderate; **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05) clot lysis activity, but among the extracts, Uncaria cordata (27.36 ± 0.10%) showed the highest and Stachytarpheta indica the lowest (6.14 ± 0.20%) percent clot lysis as compared with the standard streptokinase (65.15 ± 0.16%). This study was conducted to legalize the folkloric use of seven medicinal plant leaves.