Momentum of Ajwa Dates towards Cardiovascular Diseases Momentum of Ajwa Dates towards Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the top most cause of morality around the world.  It is predicted that the number casualties from CVDs will increase to more than 24 million till 2030 people. Medicinal plants provide the major raw materials for medicine preparations. They are gaining high consideration due to their effectiveness and increasing cost of modern medicines. Many successful drugs are plant based, including aspirin from the willow bark, morphine from opium poppy, quinine from the cinchona bark, and digoxin from the foxglove. According to World Health Organization (WTO), ~70% to 80% of people around the world rely on herbal sources for the treatment of their disease. Plant sources are endorsed due to the fact that they contain an optimal amount of  antioxidants and phytochemicals that help to avoid and treat many diseases. Phoenix dactylifera L. Particularly Ajwa variety, is the most rich in phytonutrientsthat can benefit to control many cardiovascular diseases. It contains6 vitamins (vitamin A, C, B1, B2, B3 &riboflavin), high amount of fibers, Potassium, Magnesium and 23 amino acids which play a healthy role towards hypertension, muscular contractions, and blood pressure control. It has been studied that Niacin (B3) helps to control cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels (LDL), as high cholesterol is the one of the main cause of cardiovascular diseases so, Ajwa could be a vital regulatory source. According to the findings of Sabbah M. Et al, Ajwa extracts significantly improved the DNA integrity and also reduced the cardiomyocytes congestion, edema and the cellular stress wielded on cardiac muscles resulting the restoration of cardiomyocytes architecture in Doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Research done by Alqarni et al, proves that Ajwa extracts has successfully decreased the LDL‐C, VLDL‐C, and triglycerides concentration. Additionally, treatment with ajwa pulp also improved the HDL‐C level and antioxidant enzymes activity. In another invivo study, Ajwa preparation has successfullydecreased the diclofenac-induced pulmonary and hepatic instabilities. Vitamin-K play important role in blood coagulation, and in case of anticoagulant therapy, activity of vitamin-K controlled by drugs (warfarin) that sometimes causes serious side effects. According to the reported data, Salicylic acid is the vitamin-K antagonist and has capability to block the action of vitamin K during the coagulation pathway. Dates contain ~3.75 to 4.50 mg/100 g of salicylic acid. Thus, providing anticoagulation effect too. So, the limelight of the reported data provides an enough reason that plants can be used as primary source of drug designing for the cardiovascular disease. They hold true momentum to address the increasing healthdiseases, which cannot be lost to distraction or apathy. Fight against the burden of CDVs, is affecting all countries and specially, under developing and the poor countries.

Evaluation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Learning and Memory Using Mouse Model of Alzheimer’S Disease

Background: Aluminum (Al) is known to be associated with etiology of different neurodegenerative disorders especially of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is known to produce AD like symptoms. It is widely reported that Al affects muscarinic acetylcholine receptors but limited data is available for its effects on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The aim of this study was to determine that how Al affects hippocampus, amygdala and cortex dependent learning and memory functions and expression of nAChRs and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) genes. Effect of Al on cholinergic biomarkers i.e. free choline and acetylcholine (Ach) level were also investigated. Moreover acute effects of Al on nAChRs-mediated modulation of persistent gamma oscillations in hippocampus was also studied. Methods: In order to develop the AD mouse model, AlCl3.6H2O (250 mg/kg) was administered to mice in drinking water 42 days. After completion of Al treatment the learning and memory deficits were assessed via different behavior tests. nAChRs gene expression was determined via RT-PCR in cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to measure Al accumulation in brain. To determine how Al affects gamma oscillations, field potential recordings were performed in CA3 area of acute hippocampal slices. Results: The results of this study demonstrate that oral Al ingestion caused high accumulation of Al in brain leading to neuropathological changes that suppressed expression of nAChR genes and caused neurodegeneration. Longer in-vitro Al exposure caused permanent changes in hippocampal oscillogenic circuitry and changed its sensitivity to nAChR-modulation, leading to deficits in memory and learning in AD mouse model. Moreover in spite of normal free choline availability Abstract xix Ach synthesis was reduced as a result of oral Al exposure. The reduced Ach synthesis is caused by impaired recycling of Ach due to lower expression of ChAT gene. The reduced Ach level causes deficits in cholinergic neurotransmission which leads to memory and cognitive deficits. Moreover, hippocampus is the most affected brain part after Al intoxication. This study suggests that interference with cholinergic neurotransmission can be the underlying mechanism through which Al causes memory and learning deficits and contributes to neuropathological changes leading to AD.