@article {1398, title = {Exploring the Role of Phytoconstituents for Endocrine Disorder: A Review}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {April 2025}, pages = {402-410}, type = {Review Article }, chapter = {402}, abstract = {

The endocrine system consists of various glands responsible for secreting hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction, and other physiological processes. Disruptions in this system, termed endocrine disorders, are linked to numerous health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndromes. Moreover, the significance of factors such as life stage, gender and dietary habits in influencing health risks associated with endocrine disruption cannot be overstated. Synthetic medications for these conditions often have adverse side effects like hypoglycemia and heart complications, highlighting the need for alternative treatments. Herbal and natural remedies have shown promise in managing these disorders due to their lower toxicity and minimal side effects. Phytochemicals and poly-herbal therapies are emerging as effective strategies for addressing endocrine and metabolic disorders, influencing molecular targets like AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and Nuclear factor erythroid-2- related factor (Nrf2). Specific disorders such as diabetes, Addison{\textquoteright}s disease, and hyperthyroidism are characterized by hormone imbalances, with molecular mechanisms involving insulin resistance, cortisol dysregulation, and thyroid dysfunction. Additionally, the role of factors such as life stage, gender, and dietary habits in modulating endocrine disruption-associated health risks is crucial. Natural products, including flavonoids, catechins, resveratrol, and terpenes, are being explored for their therapeutic potential in regulating hormone levels and improving metabolic health.

}, keywords = {AMPK, Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, Endocrine system, Herbal medicine, Hormone imbalance, Metabolic disorders, Natural Products, Obesity, Phytochemicals}, doi = {10.5530/pres.20252070}, author = {Shweta Bhandari and Rahul Trivedi and Vishal Garg and Ajay Saini and Manish Gupta and Ram Singh} } @article {1501, title = {Network Pharmacology Approach to Determine the Molecular Mechanism of Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica L.) in the Treatment of Obesity}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {August 2025}, pages = {1-7}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

Background: The state of excessive bodily fat buildup is known as obesity (Sthoulya). Anti-obesity drugs in the market might cause adverse effects, for safer and more effective anti-obesity medications from plant-based sources becomes a top focus. In Ayurveda, Chitraka moola (Plumbago zeylanica L.) is a commonly used herb, because of its therapeutic effect. Network pharmacology is an area of drug discovery and development research by creating an opportunity for the methodical study of conventional treatments. This study highlights key phytochemicals, targets and signalling pathways of Chitraka for the treatment of obesity. Materials and Methods: This study assessed through biological databases, GeneCard, HPA databases, PPI Network Construction, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, target-Compound-Pathway{\textquoteright} Network Construction and Molecular Docking Analysis. Results: Using the BindingDB and Uniprot databases, pinpointed 155 target genes with respect to these 28 active phytochemicals, Curated gene-disease data were extracted from the GeneCard and HPA databases based on the term obesity it was found that 26 out of the 28 drugs target exactly 137 disease targets linked to obesity, Using the String database, a PPI network was built. KEGG functional enrichment analysis to investigate the signalling pathways was carried out using SHINYGO database, Cytoscape was used to build the interaction relationship between 15 significantly enriched KEGG pathways, 137 intersecting targets and 26 core active ingredients, Molecular Docking visualises the binding pose with the highest docking score. Conclusion: This study emphasizes crucial mechanism, target and bioactive of Chitraka against obesity, indicating a strong pharmacological foundation for additional clinical research.

}, keywords = {Chitraka moola, Lupeol, Network pharmacology, Obesity, Plambago zeylanica, Sthoulya, β-sitosterol}, doi = {10.5530/pres.20252331}, author = {Prabhakar Basappa Hegade and Praveen Nagappa Bhirdi and Ajit Lingayat} } @article {1018, title = {Preliminary Assessment of Glycemic Control and Body Fat Reduction Effects of Terminalia chebula Retz. Extract on Pre-diabetic Subjects}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {14}, year = {2022}, month = {December 2021}, pages = {5-11}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {5}, abstract = {

Background: Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) is a medicinal herb using in traditional medicine worldwide and has hypoglycemic effects in animal models. Objectives: The present study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial designed to study the effect of T. chebula fruit water extract (TFWE) in pre-diabetic subjects. The efficacy of TFWE and placebo were compared in terms of reducing fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels, body mass indexes (BMI), body circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. Adverse events of TFWE intervention were also investigated. Materials and Methods: TFWE was phytochemically quantitated by HPLC analysis and its inhibitory action on alpha-glucosidase. In a clinical study, 80 pre-diabetic healthy subjects were classified according to BMI as normal weight and overweight and each group was further divided into 2 groups. The treatment group received 2 capsules of TFWE 500 mg, 2 times per day, before meals for 8 weeks and the control group received 2 placebo capsules, taken orally as the treatment group. Data was collected at week 0, 4 and 8 of the study. Results: For overweight participants receiving TFWE, the mean FBS levels were significantly lower than that of the placebo group (p = 0.026) at week 8. Visceral fat levels also showed a significant reduction (p = 0.039) compared to the placebo group. TFWE dispensation did not show serious adverse events. Conclusion: The administration of 2,000 mg TFWE per day was considered safe for the pre-diabetic healthy subjects with benefits in obesity management.

}, keywords = {Diabetes, Fasting blood sugar, Obesity, Terminalia, Visceral fat.}, doi = {10.5530/pres.14.1.2}, url = {https://phcogres.com/fulltext/v14i1/105530pres1412.html}, author = {Sansanee Sombattera and Bunleu Sungthong and Prasoborn Rinthong} } @article {391, title = {Ameliorative Effect of Curcumin on Olanzapine-induced Obesity in Sprague-Dawley Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {July 2017}, pages = {247-252}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {247}, abstract = {

Objective: To evaluate the effect of curcumin on olanzapine-induced obesity in rats. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used for experiments. The animals were divided into six groups, namely, normal control, olanzapine control, betahistine (10 mg/kg), and curcumin 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg treated groups. Except the normal control group, all other animals were administered with olanzapine 4 mg/kg intraperitoneally to induce obesity. The drugs were administered once daily, per oral for 28 days. During the experiment, body weight changes and behavior alterations were monitored at regular intervals. At the end of the experiment, blood sample was collected from all the experimental animals for biochemical analysis. Part of the liver and kidney tissues was harvested from the sacrificed animals and preserved in neutral formalin for histopathological studies. Results: Curcumin showed a significant reduction in olanzapine-induced body weight gain on the rats and improved the locomotor effects. The effect of curcumin on olanzapine-induced body weight gain is not comparable with that of betahistine. Conclusion: This study has shown metabolic alteration effect of curcumin on olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug, treated SD rats.

}, keywords = {Betahistine, Curcumin, Obesity, Olanzapine}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_8_17}, author = {Subramani Parasuraman and Khor Ming Zhen and Urmila Banik and Parayil Varghese Christapher} }