Black cumin seeds possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity comparable to indomethacin.

IN VIVO EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITIES OF NIGELLA SATIVA SEED DURING GERMINATION

MOHAMMAD HAYATUL ISLAM, IFFAT ZAREEN AHMAD AND MOHAMMAD TARIQ SALMAN

Objective: The medicinal values of Nigella sativa have been mentioned in ancient literature as useful in disorders of inflammation. The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of methanol extract of Nigella sativa seed during different phases of its germination on Wistar rats. Methods: Seeds of N. sativa were grown in vitro in glass petri plates using multiple folds of damp filter paper. Complete plantlet with two leaves was obtained in 11 days. The acute anti-inflammatory activity of N. sativa extracts during different phases of germination was measured plethysmographically using kaolin as inflammatory agent, analgesic activity was measured by hot plate method, keeping indomethacin (10mg/kg b.w) as reference standard in both tests.
Results: All tested extracts of N. sativa (1gm/kg b.w) during different phases of germination showed significant reduction in paw oedema in comparison to control (P<0 .001="" 5th="" all="" among="" analgesic="" and="" anti-inflammatory="" day="" during="" effect="" extract="" extracts.="" germination="" hot="" in="" increased="" of="" on="" p="" plate="" reaction="" showed="" significant="" test.="" test="" tested="" the="" time="">
Conclusion: It may be concluded that extracts of N. sativa possess enhanced anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities during germination as compared to seed extract. High metabolic activity and higher contents of secondary metabolites expressed during germination might be responsible for this activity.

For full text, drop a request in comment.

New screening method for Anticancer drugs

Many researchers believe tumour growth is driven by cancerous stem cells that, for reasons not yet understood, are highly resistant to standard treatments. Chemotherapeutic agents may kill off 99 percent of the cells in a tumor, but the stem cells that remain can make the cancer recur or spread to other tissues in the body to cause new cancers.

Stem cells, unlike mature cells, can constantly renew themselves and are thought to be the source of cancers when, through mutations in their DNA, they throw off their natural restraints.
a team at the Broad Institute devised a way of screening for drugs that attack cancer stem cells but leave ordinary cells unharmed.

Cancer stem cells are hard to maintain in sufficient numbers, but the Broad Institute team devised a genetic manipulation to keep breast cancer stem cells trapped in the stem cell state.

The team, led by Piyush B. Gupta, screened some 16,000 chemicals, including all known chemotherapeutic agents approved by the FDA. The team reported in the Cell that 32 of the chemicals selectively went after cancer stem cells. The screening system proves for the first time that it is possible to single out cancer stem cells with drugs that leave ordinary cells alone. Only one of the 32 chemicals is approved as a drug for cancer.

Another approach to concentrating on cancer stem cells, based on the use of antibodies, was reported this month by OncoMed Pharmaceuticals.

The cancer stem cell theory has been thrust into the spotlight in the last five years with the discovery of stem cells in many types of solid tumors, including those of the breast, brain, prostate, colon, bladder and pancreas.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/health/research/14cancer.html?_r=1&8au&emc=au

Steps of New drug discovery & development

 1. Search for the Active Site/ Target (Biological Development Phase)

   * Identifying appropriate drug "targets," such as single genes or proteins.
   * The targets are rigorously "validated," meaning proven to be involved in the disease state.
2. Search and Optimization of Active Compound (Chemical Research Phase)
    # Identification of hit molecules (hits)
discovering or inventing compounds that can alter the disease-causing mechanism, whether a single protein or a complex pathway of proteins, to bring it back into line with normal function.
* Random screening (e.g. Cyclosporine)
* Serendipity (e.g. Methotrexate)
* Molecular modification of known drug (e.g. Cephalosporins)
* Rational drug designing (e.g. ACE Inhibitors)
* Designing of a Prodrug or Active metabolite (e.g. Levodopa)
    #Identification of lead series (leads)
      set of related molecules that share common structural features and have some variation of activity if structure    is modified
      -- Optimize Lead Compound
Compounds are altered in ways that
* increase their potential efficacy
* minimize any potential side effects
3. Testing of the Active Compound (Pre-clinical Phase)
* Pharmacological testing (screening)
* Preliminary toxicilogical testing
* Pharmacokinetic testing
* Chemical and Pharmaceutical development
4. Clinical Trials
5. Approval Process

Screening Methods for Androgens Part 1b

*The whole animal (in vivo),
*A combination of the whole animal and isolated organ(s) (ex vivo),
*Isolated and cultured whole or sections/minced organs, i.e., testis (in vitro),
*Isolated and cultured cells from the testis (in vitro), and
*Cell lines (in vitro).