Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 227 in total

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  1. Fulltext Recent Progress in Development of Dressings Used for Diabetic Wounds with Special Emphasis on Scaffolds
    Awasthi A, Gulati M, Kumar B, Kaur J, Vishwas S, Khursheed R, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2022;2022:1659338.
    PMID: 35832856 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1659338
    Diabetic wound (DW) is a secondary application of uncontrolled diabetes and affects about 42.2% of diabetics. If the disease is left untreated/uncontrolled, then it may further lead to amputation of organs. In recent years, huge research has been done in the area of wound dressing to have a better maintenance of DW. These include gauze, films, foams or, hydrocolloid-based dressings as well as polysaccharide- and polymer-based dressings. In recent years, scaffolds have played major role as biomaterial for wound dressing due to its tissue regeneration properties as well as fluid absorption capacity. These are three-dimensional polymeric structures formed from polymers that help in tissue rejuvenation. These offer a large surface area to volume ratio to allow cell adhesion and exudate absorbing capacity and antibacterial properties. They also offer a better retention as well as sustained release of drugs that are directly impregnated to the scaffolds or the ones that are loaded in nanocarriers that are impregnated onto scaffolds. The present review comprehensively describes the pathogenesis of DW, various dressings that are used so far for DW, the limitation of currently used wound dressings, role of scaffolds in topical delivery of drugs, materials used for scaffold fabrication, and application of various polymer-based scaffolds for treating DW.
  2. Agarwood oil nanoemulsion counteracts LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in RAW264.7 mouse macrophages
    Malik R, Paudel KR, Manandhar B, De Rubis G, Shen J, Mujwar S, et al.
    Pathol Res Pract, 2023 Nov;251:154895.
    PMID: 37879146 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154895
    PURPOSE: Oxidative stress and inflammation are key pathophysiological features of chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Agarwood oil obtained from Aquilaria trees has promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its clinical application is hampered by poor solubility. A viable approach to overcome this involves formulation of oily constituents into emulsions. Here, we have investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of an agarwood oil-based nanoemulsion (DE'RAAQSIN) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages in vitro.

    METHODS: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of DE'RAAQSIN was assessed by measuring the levels of ROS and nitric oxide (NO) produced, using the DCF-DA assay and the Griess reagent assay, respectively. The molecular pathways activated by DE'RAAQSIN were investigated via qPCR.

    RESULTS: LPS stimulation of RAW264.7 cells increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and ROS and resulted in the overexpression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene. Furthermore, LPS induced the upregulation of the expression of key proinflammatory genes (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and CXCL1) and of the antioxidant gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). DE'RAAQSIN demonstrated potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by significantly reducing the levels of ROS and of secreted NO, simultaneously counteracting the LPS-induced overexpression of iNOS, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and HO-1. These findings were corroborated by in silico activity prediction and physicochemical analysis of the main agarwood oil components.

    CONCLUSIONS: We propose DE'RAAQSIN as a promising alternative managing inflammatory disorders, opening the platform for further studies aimed at understanding the effectiveness of DE'RAAQSIN.

  3. Nutraceuticals: unlocking newer paradigms in the mitigation of inflammatory lung diseases
    Chan Y, Raju Allam VSR, Paudel KR, Singh SK, Gulati M, Dhanasekaran M, et al.
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2023;63(19):3302-3332.
    PMID: 34613853 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1986467
    Persistent respiratory tract inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of various chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis. These inflammatory respiratory diseases have been a major public health concern as they are the leading causes of worldwide mortality and morbidity, resulting in heavy burden on socioeconomic growth throughout these years. Although various therapeutic agents are currently available, the clinical applications of these agents are found to be futile due to their adverse effects, and most patients remained poorly controlled with a low quality of life. These drawbacks have necessitated the development of novel, alternative therapeutic agents that can effectively improve therapeutic outcomes. Recently, nutraceuticals such as probiotics, vitamins, and phytochemicals have gained increasing attention due to their nutritional properties and therapeutic potential in modulating the pathological mechanisms underlying inflammatory respiratory diseases, which could ultimately result in improved disease control and overall health outcomes. As such, nutraceuticals have been held in high regard as the possible alternatives to address the limitations of conventional therapeutics, where intensive research are being performed to identify novel nutraceuticals that can positively impact various inflammatory respiratory diseases. This review provides an insight into the utilization of nutraceuticals with respect to their molecular mechanisms targeting multiple signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory respiratory diseases.
  4. Fulltext Nutraceuticals and mitochondrial oxidative stress: bridging the gap in the management of bronchial asthma
    Allam VSRR, Paudel KR, Gupta G, Singh SK, Vishwas S, Gulati M, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Sep;29(42):62733-62754.
    PMID: 35796922 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21454-w
    Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily characterized by inflammation and reversible bronchoconstriction. It is currently one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Oxidative stress further complicates the pathology of the disease. The current treatment strategies for asthma mainly involve the use of anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. However, long-term usage of such medications is associated with severe adverse effects and complications. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop newer, novel, and safe treatment modalities for the management of asthma. This has therefore prompted further investigations and detailed research to identify and develop novel therapeutic interventions from potent untapped resources. This review focuses on the significance of oxidative stressors that are primarily derived from both mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial sources in initiating the clinical features of asthma. The review also discusses the biological scavenging system of the body and factors that may lead to its malfunction which could result in altered states. Furthermore, the review provides a detailed insight into the therapeutic role of nutraceuticals as an effective strategy to attenuate the deleterious effects of oxidative stress and may be used in the mitigation of the cardinal features of bronchial asthma.
  5. Fulltext Hypoglycaemic Molecules for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus from Marine Sources
    Chellappan DK, Chellian J, Rahmah NSN, Gan WJ, Banerjee P, Sanyal S, et al.
    Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes, 2023;16:2187-2223.
    PMID: 37521747 DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S390741
    Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder recognized as a major health problem globally. A defective insulin activity contributes to the prevalence and expansion of DM. Treatment of DM is often hampered by limited options of conventional therapies and adverse effects associated with existing procedures. This has led to a spike in the exploration for potential therapeutic agents from various natural resources for clinical applications. The marine environment is a huge store of unexplored diversity of chemicals produced by a multitude of organisms. To date, marine microorganisms, microalgae, macroalgae, corals, sponges, and fishes have been evaluated for their anti-diabetic properties. The structural diversity of bioactive metabolites discovered has shown promising hypoglycaemic potential through in vitro and in vivo screenings via various mechanisms of action, such as PTP1B, α-glucosidase, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, and aldose reductase inhibition as well as PPAR alpha/gamma dual agonists activities. On the other hand, hypoglycaemic effect is also shown to be exerted through the balance of antioxidants and free radicals. This review highlights marine-derived chemicals with hypoglycaemic effects and their respective mechanisms of action in the management of DM in humans.
  6. Fulltext Berberine-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles inhibit non-small cell lung cancer proliferation and migration in vitro
    Paudel KR, Mehta M, Yin GHS, Yen LL, Malyla V, Patel VK, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Jul;29(31):46830-46847.
    PMID: 35171422 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19158-2
    Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reported to have a high incidence rate and is one of the most prevalent types of cancer contributing towards 85% of all incidences of lung cancer. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid which offers a broad range of therapeutical and pharmacological actions against cancer. However, extremely low water solubility and poor oral bioavailability have largely restricted its therapeutic applications. To overcome these limitations, we formulated berberine-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) and investigated their in vitro antiproliferative and antimigratory activity in human lung epithelial cancer cell line (A549). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), trypan blue staining, and colony forming assays were used to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity, while scratch wound healing assay and a modified Boyden chamber assay were carried out to determine the anti-migratory activity. We also investigated major proteins associated with lung cancer progression. The developed nanoparticles were found to have an average particle size of 181.3 nm with spherical shape, high entrapment efficiency (75.35%) and have shown sustained release behaviour. The most remarkable findings reported with berberine-loaded LCNs were significant suppression of proliferation, inhibition of colony formation, inhibition of invasion or migration via epithelial mesenchymal transition, and proliferation related proteins associated with cancer progression. Our findings suggest that anti-cancer compounds with the problem of poor solubility and bioavailability can be overcome by formulating them into nanotechnology-based delivery systems for better efficacy. Further in-depth investigations into anti-cancer mechanistic research will expand and strengthen the current findings of berberine-LCNs as a potential NSCLC treatment option.
  7. Emerging applications and prospects of NFκB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides in managing respiratory diseases
    Datsyuk JK, Paudel KR, Rajput R, Kokkinis S, El Sherkawi T, Singh SK, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2023 Nov 01;385:110737.
    PMID: 37774998 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110737
    Chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have been a burden to society for an extended period. Currently, there are only preventative treatments in the form of mono- or multiple-drug therapy available to patients who need to utilize it daily. Hence, throughout the years there has been a substantial amount of research in understanding what causes inflammation in the context of these diseases. For example, the transcription factor NFκB has a pivotal role in causing chronic inflammation. Subsequent research has been exploring ways to block the activation of NFκB as a potential therapeutic strategy for many inflammatory diseases. One of the possible ways through which this is probable is the utilisation of decoy oligodeoxynucleotides, which are synthetic, short, single-stranded DNA fragments that mimic the consensus binding site of a targeted transcription factor, thereby functionally inactivating it. However, limitations to the implementation of decoy oligodeoxynucleotides include their rapid degradation by intracellular nucleases and the lack of targeted tissue specificity. An advantageous approach to overcome these limitations involves using nanoparticles as a vessel for drug delivery. In this review, all of those key elements will be explored as to how they come together as an application to treat chronic inflammation in respiratory diseases.
  8. Fulltext Zerumbone-incorporated liquid crystalline nanoparticles inhibit proliferation and migration of non-small-cell lung cancer in vitro
    Manandhar B, Paudel KR, Clarence DD, De Rubis G, Madheswaran T, Panneerselvam J, et al.
    Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2024 Jan;397(1):343-356.
    PMID: 37439806 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02603-5
    Lung cancer is the second most prevalent type of cancer and is responsible for the highest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) makes up the majority of lung cancer cases. Zerumbone (ZER) is natural compound commonly found in the roots of Zingiber zerumbet which has recently demonstrated anti-cancer activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Despite their medical benefits, ZER has low aqueous solubility, poor GI absorption and oral bioavailability that hinders its effectiveness. Liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) are novel drug delivery carrier that have tuneable characteristics to enhance and ease the delivery of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to formulate ZER-loaded LCNs and investigate their effectiveness against NSCLC in vitro using A549 lung cancer cells. ZER-LCNs, prepared in the study, inhibited the proliferation and migration of A549 cells. These inhibitory effects were superior to the effects of ZER alone at a concentration 10 times lower than that of free ZER, demonstrating a potent anti-cancer activity of ZER-LCNs. The underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects by ZER-LCNs were associated with the transcriptional regulation of tumor suppressor genes P53 and PTEN, and metastasis-associated gene KRT18. The protein array data showed downregulation of several proliferation associated proteins such as AXL, HER1, PGRN, and BIRC5 and metastasis-associated proteins such as DKK1, CAPG, CTSS, CTSB, CTSD, and PLAU. This study provides evidence of potential for increasing the potency and effectiveness of ZER with LCN formulation and developing ZER-LCNs as a treatment strategy for mitigation and treatment of NSCLC.
  9. Chitosan modified 5-fluorouracil nanostructured lipid carriers for treatment of diabetic retinopathy in rats: A new dimension to an anticancer drug
    Sharma DS, Wadhwa S, Gulati M, Kumar B, Chitranshi N, Gupta VK, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Jan 01;224:810-830.
    PMID: 36302483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.168
    Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the chronic complications of diabetes. It includes retinal blood vessels' damage. If untreated, it leads to loss of vision. The existing treatment strategies for DR are expensive, invasive, and need expertise during administration. Hence, there is a need to develop a non-invasive topical formulation that can penetrate deep to the posterior segment of retina and treat the damaged retinal vessels. In addition, it should also provide sustained release. In recent years, novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) have been explored for treating DR and found successful. In this study, chitosan (CS) modified 5-Fluorouracil Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (CS-5-FU-NLCs) were prepared by modified melt emulsification-ultrasonication method and optimized by Box-Behnken Design. The size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency of CS-5-FU-NLCs were 163.2 ± 2.3 nm, 0.28 ± 1.52, 21.4 ± 0.5 mV and 85.0 ± 0.2 %, respectively. The in vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation study confirmed higher and sustained drug release in CS-5-FU-NLCs as compared to 5-FU solution. HET-CAM Model ensured the non-irritant nature of CS-5-FU-NLCs. In vivo ocular studies of CS-5-FU-NLCs confirmed antiangiogenic effect of 5-FU by CAM model and diabetic retinopathy induced rat model, indicating successful delivery of 5-FU to the retina.
  10. Polysaccharide-fecal microbiota-based colon-targeted self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of curcumin for treating polycystic ovarian syndrome
    Corrie L, Singh H, Gulati M, Vishwas S, Chellappan DK, Gupta G, et al.
    Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2024 Mar 20.
    PMID: 38507103 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03029-3
    The gut microbiome is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Modulating the gut microbiome can lead to eubiosis and treatment of various metabolic conditions. However, there is no proper study assessing the delivery of microbial technology for the treatment of such conditions. The present study involves the development of guar gum-pectin-based solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) containing curcumin (CCM) and fecal microbiota extract (FME) for the treatment of PCOS. The optimized S-SNEDDS containing FME and CCM was prepared by dissolving CCM (25 mg) in an isotropic mixture consisting of Labrafil M 1944 CS, Transcutol P, and Tween-80 and solidified using lactose monohydrate, aerosil-200, guar gum, and pectin (colon-targeted CCM solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system [CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS]). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation was carried out on letrozole-induced female Wistar rats. The results of pharmacokinetic studies indicated about 13.11 and 23.48-fold increase in AUC of CCM-loaded colon-targeted S-SNEDDS without FME (CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS (WFME)) and CCM-loaded colon-targeted S-SNEDDS with FME [(CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS (FME)) as compared to unprocessed CCM. The pharmacodynamic study indicated excellent recovery/reversal in the rats treated with CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS low and high dose containing FME (group 13 and group 14) in a dose-dependent manner. The developed formulation showcasing its improved bioavailability, targeted action, and therapeutic activity in ameliorating PCOS can be utilized as an adjuvant therapy for developing a dosage form, scale-up, and technology transfer.
  11. Fulltext Zerumbone liquid crystalline nanoparticles protect against oxidative stress, inflammation and senescence induced by cigarette smoke extract in vitro
    Paudel KR, Clarence DD, Panth N, Manandhar B, De Rubis G, Devkota HP, et al.
    Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2024 Apr;397(4):2465-2483.
    PMID: 37851060 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02760-7
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of zerumbone-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (ZER-LCNs) in the protection of broncho-epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages against oxidative stress, inflammation and senescence induced by cigarette smoke extract in vitro. The effect of the treatment of ZER-LCNs on in vitro cell models of cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated mouse RAW264.7 and human BCi-NS1.1 basal epithelial cell lines was evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-senescence activities using colorimetric and fluorescence-based assays, fluorescence imaging, RT-qPCR and proteome profiler kit. The ZER-LCNs successfully reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory markers including Il-6, Il-1β and Tnf-α, as well as the production of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, ZER-LCNs successfully inhibited oxidative stress through reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and regulation of genes, namely GPX2 and GCLC in BCi-NS1.1 cells. Anti-senescence activity of ZER-LCNs was also observed in BCi-NS1.1 cells, with significant reductions in the expression of SIRT1, CDKN1A and CDKN2A. This study demonstrates strong in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anti-senescence activities of ZER-LCNs paving the path for this formulation to be translated into a promising therapeutic agent for chronic respiratory inflammatory conditions including COPD and asthma.
  12. Fulltext A global comparison of implementation and effectiveness of materiovigilance program: overview of regulations
    Joshi D, Sharma I, Gupta S, Singh TG, Dhiman S, Prashar A, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Nov;28(42):59608-59629.
    PMID: 34515931 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16345-5
    Medical devices, being life-saving tools, are considered to be a boon for healthcare system. However, in addition to their therapeutic effects, there are several ill consequences that are caused by these devices. An effective cohort vigilant system was needed to manage such adverse effects. This had led to the introduction of materiovigilance. Materiovigilance is the study and follow-up of occurrences that arise as a result from the usage of the medical equipment. It not only manages adverse events (AE) but also creates harmonization among countries. Keeping these objectives in focus, the principles, perspectives, and practices with regard to materiovigilance that are followed in the USA, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, and India are being compared. Such a comparison is essential, which will help us to understand the gaps in the current regulatory systems in the above-mentioned countries and furthermore will provide a comprehensive picture to the regulatory authorities to amend any existing laws if required. These amendments may ensure optimal patient safety by providing them a benign experience from the use of medical devices.
  13. The impact of formaldehyde exposure on lung inflammatory disorders: Insights into asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary fibrosis
    Bhat AA, Afzal M, Goyal A, Gupta G, Thapa R, Almalki WH, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2024 Apr 09;394:111002.
    PMID: 38604395 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111002
    Lung inflammatory disorders are a major global health burden, impacting millions of people and raising rates of morbidity and death across many demographic groups. An industrial chemical and common environmental contaminant, formaldehyde (FA) presents serious health concerns to the respiratory system, including the onset and aggravation of lung inflammatory disorders. Epidemiological studies have shown significant associations between FA exposure levels and the incidence and severity of several respiratory diseases. FA causes inflammation in the respiratory tract via immunological activation, oxidative stress, and airway remodelling, aggravating pre-existing pulmonary inflammation and compromising lung function. Additionally, FA functions as a respiratory sensitizer, causing allergic responses and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in sensitive people. Understanding the complicated processes behind formaldehyde-induced lung inflammation is critical for directing targeted strategies aimed at minimizing environmental exposures and alleviating the burden of formaldehyde-related lung illnesses on global respiratory health. This abstract explores the intricate relationship between FA exposure and lung inflammatory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, allergic inflammation, lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.
  14. Revolutionizing lung health: Exploring the latest breakthroughs and future prospects of synbiotic nanostructures in lung diseases
    Bani Saeid A, De Rubis G, Williams KA, Yeung S, Chellappan DK, Singh SK, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2024 Apr 17;395:111009.
    PMID: 38641145 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111009
    The escalating prevalence of lung diseases underscores the need for innovative therapies. Dysbiosis in human body microbiome has emerged as a significant factor in these diseases, indicating a potential role for synbiotics in restoring microbial equilibrium. However, effective delivery of synbiotics to the target site remains challenging. Here, we aim to explore suitable nanoparticles for encapsulating synbiotics tailored for applications in lung diseases. Nanoencapsulation has emerged as a prominent strategy to address the delivery challenges of synbiotics in this context. Through a comprehensive review, we assess the potential of nanoparticles in facilitating synbiotic delivery and their structural adaptability for this purpose. Our review reveals that nanoparticles such as nanocellulose, starch, and chitosan exhibit high potential for synbiotic encapsulation. These offer flexibility in structure design and synthesis, making them promising candidates for addressing delivery challenges in lung diseases. Furthermore, our analysis highlights that synbiotics, when compared to probiotics alone, demonstrate superior anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activities. This review underscores the promising role of nanoparticle-encapsulated synbiotics as a targeted and effective therapeutic approach for lung diseases, contributing valuable insights into the potential of nanomedicine in revolutionizing treatment strategies for respiratory conditions, ultimately paving the way for future advancements in this field.
  15. Identification of biomarkers and genetic approaches toward chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    Wadhwa R, Aggarwal T, Malyla V, Kumar N, Gupta G, Chellappan DK, et al.
    J Cell Physiol, 2019 08;234(10):16703-16723.
    PMID: 30912142 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28482
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease accounts as the leading cause of mortality worldwide prominently affected by genetic and environmental factors. The disease is characterized by persistent coughing, breathlessness airways inflammation followed by a decrease in forced expiratory volume1 and exacerbations, which affect the quality of life. Determination of genetic, epigenetic, and oxidant biomarkers to evaluate the progression of disease has proved complicated and challenging. Approaches including exome sequencing, genome-wide association studies, linkage studies, and inheritance and segregation studies played a crucial role in the identification of genes, their pathways and variation in genes. This review highlights multiple approaches for biomarker and gene identification, which can be used for differential diagnosis along with the genome editing tools to study genes associated with the development of disease and models their function. Further, we have discussed the approaches to rectify the abnormal gene functioning of respiratory tissues and various novel gene editing techniques like Zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), and clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9).
  16. Immunological axis of curcumin-loaded vesicular drug delivery systems
    Chellappan DK, Ng ZY, Wong JY, Hsu A, Wark P, Hansbro N, et al.
    Future Med Chem, 2018 04 01;10(8):839-844.
    PMID: 29620416 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0245
    Several vesicular systems loaded with curcumin have found their way in the therapeutic applications of several diseases, primarily acting through their immunological pathways. Such systems use particles at a nanoscale range, bringing about their intended use through a range of complex mechanisms. Apart from delivering drug substances into target tissues, these vesicular systems also effectively overcome problems like insolubility and unequal drug distribution. Several mechanisms are explored lately by different workers, and interest over vesicular curcumin has been renewed in the past decade. This commentary discusses several immunological targets in which curcumin is employed in a vesicular form.
  17. Combinational effect of angiotensin receptor blocker and folic acid therapy on uric acid and creatinine level in hyperhomocysteinemia-associated hypertension
    Singh Y, Samuel VP, Dahiya S, Gupta G, Gillhotra R, Mishra A, et al.
    Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2019 Sep;66(5):715-719.
    PMID: 31314127 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1799
    Homocysteine [HSCH2 CH2 CH(NH2 )COOH] (Hcy) is a sulfur-containing amino acid of 135.18 Da of molecular weight, generated during conversion of methionine to cysteine. If there is a higher accumulation of Hcy in the blood, that is usually above 15 µmol/L, it leads to a condition referred to as hyperhomocysteinemia. A meta-analysis of observational study suggested an elevated concentration of Hcy in blood, which is termed as the risk factors leading to ischemic heart disease and stroke. Further experimental studies stated that Hcy can lead to an increase in the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and functional impairment of endothelial cells. The analyses confirmed some of the predictors for Hcy presence, such as serum uric acid (UA), systolic blood pressure, and hematocrit. However, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) alone are inadequate for controlling UA and creatinine level, although the addition of folic acid may be beneficial in hypertensive patients who are known to have a high prevalence of elevated Hcy. We hypothesized that combination therapy with an ARB (olmesartan) and folic acid is a promising treatment for lowering the UA and creatinine level in hyperhomocysteinemia-associated hypertension.
  18. Applications of Nanocarriers as Drug Delivery Vehicles for Active Phytoconstituents
    Ng PQ, Ling LSC, Chellian J, Madheswaran T, Panneerselvam J, Kunnath AP, et al.
    Curr Pharm Des, 2020;26(36):4580-4590.
    PMID: 32520681 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200610111013
    Many plant-based bioactive compounds have been serving as the origin of drugs since long ago and many of them have been proven to have medicinal value against various chronic diseases, including, cancer, arthritis, hepatic diseases, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, their clinical applications have been limited due to their poor water solubility, stability, low bioavailability and extensive transformation due to the first-pass metabolism. The applications of nanocarriers have been proven to be able to improve the delivery of bioactive phytoconstituents, resulting in the enhancement of various pharmacokinetic properties and thereby increasing the therapeutic value of phytoconstituents. These biocompatible nanocarriers also exert low toxicity to healthy cells. This review focuses on the uses and applications of different types of nanocarriers to enhance the delivery of phytoconstituents for the treatment of various chronic diseases, along with comparisons related to bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of nano phytoconstituents with native phytoconstituents.
  19. Fulltext Interferon therapy for preventing COPD exacerbations
    Mehta M, Paudel KR, Shukla SD, Shastri MD, Singh SK, Gulati M, et al.
    EXCLI J, 2020;19:1477-1480.
    PMID: 33312108 DOI: 10.17179/excli2020-2997
  20. Fulltext Molecular modulators of celastrol as the keystones for its diverse pharmacological activities
    Ng SW, Chan Y, Chellappan DK, Madheswaran T, Zeeshan F, Chan YL, et al.
    Biomed Pharmacother, 2019 Jan;109:1785-1792.
    PMID: 30551432 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.051
    In the recent years, much attention has been focused on identifying bioactive compounds from medicinal plants that could be employed in therapeutics, which is attributed to their potent pharmacological actions and better toxicological profile. One such example that has come into the light with considerable interest is the pentacyclic triterpenoid, celastrol, which has been found to provide substantial therapeutic properties in a variety of diseases. In an effort to further accelerate its potential to be utilized in clinical practice in the future; along with advancing technologies in the field of drug discovery and development, different researchers have been investigating on the various mechanisms and immunological targets of celastrol that underlie its broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. In this review, we have collated the various research findings related to the molecular modulators responsible for different pharmacological activities shown by celastrol. Our review will be of interest to the herbal, biological, molecular scientist and by providing a quick snapshot about celastrol giving a new direction in the area of herbal drug discovery and development.
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