Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by aggregates of α-synuclein and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Current pharmaceutical therapies mainly alleviate symptoms without halting disease progression. Evidence suggests that traditional plant-based interventions may serve as supplementary therapies by targeting oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis. This review explores the neuroprotective properties of ten medicinal plants commonly used in traditional medicine: Bacopa monnieri, Curcuma longa, Mimosa pudica, Zingiber officinale, Ocimum sanctum, Emblica officinalis, Camellia sinensis, Cannabis sativa, Panax ginseng, and Withania somnifera. A systematic and comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified relevant in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. This study highlights the mechanisms by which plant-derived chemicals influence cellular pathways associated with PD, emphasising their therapeutic potential despite limited clinical validation. Studies have shown that bioactive compounds such as curcumin, bacoside, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), cannabidiol, ginsenosides, and withanolides exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective effects in PD models. Nanotechnology offers promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of herbal compounds, addressing challenges of poor solubility, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability, and restricted blood-brain barrier penetration. Nano-delivery systems including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and metal nanoparticles can improve stability, brain targeting, controlled release, and cellular uptake of these bioactives, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficiency while reducing systemic toxicity. Green-synthesized plant-based nanoparticles further provide synergistic neuroprotective benefits, positioning phyto-nanomedicine as a multi-target approach for PD therapy. However, extensive clinical studies are required to confirm safety and effectiveness. Parkinson’s disease leads to the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the buildup of α-synuclein. Plant-based compounds provide neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Key protective pathways include PI3K/Akt, Nrf2/ARE, MAPK, and NF-κB. Traditional medicinal plants show neuroprotective effects in Parkinson’s disease. Phytochemicals target oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Nanoformulations improve bioavailability and brain delivery of herbal compounds.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune condition that alters salivary composition due to metabolic disturbances. Saliva provides a non-invasive means of detecting systemic changes. This pilot study compared salivary pH, sialic acid concentration, antioxidant capacity, and oral health indicators between children with and without T1DM. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 40 children aged 6–15 years (20 with T1DM, 20 healthy controls). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and unstimulated saliva was analysed for pH, sialic acid, and antioxidant capacity. Oral examinations included salivary flow rate, plaque index, and gingival index. Statistical analyses were performed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. As several variables demonstrated non-normal distributions and subgroup sample sizes were small, non-parametric statistical methods were applied for between-group comparisons. Children with T1DM demonstrated significantly lower salivary pH (6.70 ± 0.93 vs. 7.65 ± 0.27) and flow rate (3.93 ± 0.99 ml vs. 6.03 ± 1.18 ml), and higher sialic acid levels (78.13 ± 49.67 µg/ml vs. 36.84 ± 17.33 µg/ml) than controls. Plaque and gingival indices were also elevated in T1DM (p < 0.01). Antioxidant capacity was slightly higher but not statistically significant. Age-based analysis showed younger diabetic children (8–10 years) had elevated sialic acid and lower antioxidants, whereas older children (11–15 years) exhibited reduced flow rates and higher plaque/gingival indices, suggesting progressive oral changes with age. T1DM significantly affects salivary composition and oral health in children, with age-specific variations. Salivary biomarkers, particularly sialic acid and pH, show potential as non-invasive tools for monitoring metabolic and periodontal changes in pediatric diabetes. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings.
With increasing life expectancy and multimorbidity, polypharmacy—commonly defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications—has become highly prevalent in older adults and poses substantial risks for oral health. This narrative review aimed to synthesize contemporary evidence on the epidemiology, pharmacological mechanisms, and oral manifestations of polypharmacy in geriatric populations, and to propose an interprofessional management framework for dental practitioners in 2025 care settings. Recent epidemiological data indicate that polypharmacy affects more than 30%–44% of older adults globally, with even higher rates among those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and multimorbidity. Medications with anticholinergic burden, as well as many antihypertensive and psychotropic agents, are strongly associated with salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia, which in turn contribute to rampant caries, oral candidiasis, mucosal lesions, dysgeusia, periodontal complications, and drug-induced gingival overgrowth. Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges are amplified by underreporting of symptoms, cognitive impairment, and fragmented medical–dental care pathways. Evidence supports a preventive and interdisciplinary approach that includes structured medication review and deprescribing in collaboration with physicians and pharmacists, optimization of salivary function using sialogogues and saliva substitutes, prescription of high-fluoride toothpastes, and tailored oral hygiene and dietary counseling with caregiver engagement. Dentists are strategically positioned to detect medication-related oral conditions, trigger timely medication optimization, and coordinate ongoing care. A structured, multidisciplinary model integrating dental, medical, and pharmacy services is essential to mitigate the oral and systemic consequences of polypharmacy and to preserve function and quality of life in aging populations.
Obesity is a global health crisis affecting developing nations, including India. The management of obesity continues to evolve with newer drugs, metabolic and bariatric surgery and endoscopic interventions, requiring family physicians and specialists to adapt their clinical practice accordingly. There is an urgent need for a standardized algorithm to diagnose, stage, and treat obesity. The Endocrine Society of India (ESI) and the Obesity Surgeons Society of India (OSSI) appointed a steering committee to develop an evidence-based algorithm for managing patients with obesity in India. This was put to vote by 80 specialists (38 from OSSI and 42 from ESI) in a physical meeting. A proposed stage-wise algorithm based on Edmonton Obesity Staging System, Asian definition of obesity, and resources in India, received 100
IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2), which caused primary COVID-19 infection in millions worldwide, raised significant concerns as viral mutations emerged, leading to reinfections among previously infected and vaccinated individuals. This phenomenon became particularly evident during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.MethodsThe current study observed the rates of reinfections due to SARS-CoV-2 and their relation to vaccination details by retrospectively analyzing the data of patients who had reinfections during the second and third waves of COVID-19.ResultsAmong the 458 study participants, 62/458 (13.54%) with primary infection had confirmed re-infection. Of the 458 people infected with COVID-19 for the first time, 60 (13%) were asymptomatic and 398 (87%) were symptomatic. The most frequently observed symptoms were fever during primary (70.3%) and re-infection (72.58%). A statistically significant association was observed between vomiting symptoms and infection status (p < 0.01).ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 is re-emerging with new variants and varied presentations, posing a challenge to clinicians regarding specific diagnoses. The symptoms of COVID-19 during primary and re-infection did not differ greatly. Although vaccination protects individuals against reinfections, the exact duration of protection remains unknown and may necessitate booster doses at frequent intervals.
