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Koul, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Koul, V..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

GRAYU: Graph-based Database integrating Ayurvedic formulations, medicinal plants, phytochemicals and diseases

The translation of Indias extensive traditional knowledge on indigenous medicinal plants into modern therapeutic solutions is contingent upon a systematic framework. While traditional Indian medicine offers a rich source of therapeutic leads, this knowledge is often not structured for modern computational analysis, creating a barrier to systematic drug discovery. To this end, we present GRAYU, a curated and comprehensive online database that integrates data across multiple categories, connecting 1039 traditional formulations to 12,949 indigenous plants, 129,542 phytochemicals, and 13,480 indicated diseases. It also provides insights into 1,382,362 plant-phytochemical, 116,824 plant-disease, 2,405 plant-formulation, and 4,087 formulation-disease associations. Case studies on phytochemical analogs, sustainable plant substitution, and disease-network pharmacology showcased the potential of integrative graphs to decode shared molecular signatures and therapeutic networks across traditional Ayurvedic formulations. GRAYU represents a user-friendly resource for researchers to investigate complex bio-associations and formulate novel therapeutic hypotheses, with insights from traditional Indian medicine. GRAYU is available at https://caps.ncbs.res.in/GRAYU/.

bioinformatics↗

Preclinical efficacy of bacosides-lauric acid nano-herbal formulation incomparison to rivastigmine for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Despite decades of rigorous scientific endeavors for Alzheimers disease (AD) drug development, massive failures in clinical trials is continuously posing healthcare and societal burden. Currently recommended single targeted drugs including rivastigmine with limited bioavailability can alleviate AD symptoms only for a limited period of time but unable to reverse the disease progression. Recent evidences consider poly-pharmacological and multi-targeted agents aiming at amyloid and tau burden, neuroinflammation, neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement as potential treatment options. In this regard, bioactive herbal compounds with holistic action and minimal adversities have gained prominence, though lacunae in their scientific validation and limited bio-permeability to cross BBB represent major hurdles. Previously, we showed that lactoferrin conjugated PEG-S-S-PLA-PCL-OH efficaciously delivered herbal compounds to brain and such nano-herbal formulation of bacosides-lauric acid (BAN-LAN) attenuated neuronal damages induced by scopolamine in vitro. Here, we tested the preclinical potential of BAN-LAN in reversal of AD pathologies in 5XFAD transgenic mice. Our nano-herbal formulation substantially reduced amyloid burden by clearing A{beta} plaques in the hippocampus of 5XFAD mice and also attenuated a{beta}42 induced alterations in AD associated gene expression in hippocampal neurons in vitro. It showed neuroprotection by rescuing neuronal damage and promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus of AD transgenic mice. Anti-neuroinflammatory properties were also exhibited by the formulation as evident from inhibition of hippocampal astrocytic and microglial activation in 5XFAD mice. BAN-LAN showed cognitive efficacy by restoring memory impairment in AD transgenic mice and effects were more pronounced than unconjugated natural form and rivastigmine. These findings suggest that BAN-LAN may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for AD with better brain penetration and targeting multiple AD pathways.

pharmacology and toxicology↗