Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 283 in total

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  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. Probing 3CL protease: Rationally designed chemical moieties for COVID-19
    Sharma M, Prasher P, Mehta M, Zacconi FC, Singh Y, Kapoor DN, et al.
    Drug Dev Res, 2020 Jul 30.
    PMID: 32729640 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21724
  4. Fulltext Induction of Caspase-Mediated Apoptosis in HepG2 Liver Carcinoma Cells Using Mutagen-Antioxidant Conjugated Self-Assembled Novel Carbazole Nanoparticles and In Silico Modeling Studies
    Anand K, Abdul NS, Ghazi T, Ramesh M, Gupta G, Tambuwala MM, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2021 Jan 12;6(1):265-277.
    PMID: 33458478 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04461
    In this study, novel self-assembled carbazole-thiooctanoic acid nanoparticles (CTNs) were synthesized from amino carbazole (a mutagen) and thiooctanoic acid (an antioxidant). The nanoparticles were characterized using hyperspectral techniques. Then, the antiproliferative potential of CTNs was determined in HepG2 liver carcinoma cells. This study employed a solvent-antisolvent interaction method to synthesize a spherical CTN of size less than 50 nm. Moreover, CT was subsequently capped to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the additional comparative studies. The CT derivative was synthesized from carbazole and lipoic acid by the amide bond formation reaction using a coupling agent. Furthermore, it was characterized using infrared (IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The CT-capped gold nanoparticles (CTAuNPs) were prepared from CT, chloroauric acid, and NaBH4. The CTAuNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible, high-resolution TEM, DLS, and Fourier transform IR techniques. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing ability of both nanoparticles were determined in HepG2 cells. The results demonstrate that CTNs exhibit antiproliferative activity in the cancerous HepG2 cells. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies were conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of CT against human EGFR suppressor protein to gain more insights into the binding mode of the CT, which may show a significant role in anticancer therapy.
  5. Evaluation of the sub-acute toxicity of Acacia catechu Willd seed extract in a Wistar albino rat model
    Thangavelu L, Balusamy SR, Shanmugam R, Sivanesan S, Devaraj E, Rajagopalan V, et al.
    Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 2020 Jun;113:104640.
    PMID: 32169672 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104640
    Acacia catechu (A. catechu) or Khair (Hindi) is used in several herbal preparations in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. Traditionally, this drug is beneficial against several gastrointestinal and stomach related ailments, and leprosy. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the sub-acute oral toxicity of the ethanolic extract of A. catechu seeds in Wistar albino rats. Results obtained from the quantitative chemical analysis of A. catechu seed extract were compared with commercially available standards. A. catechu seed extract was administered orally at the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. daily for 28 days. General behavior, bodyweight and mortality were examined during the entire study period. At the end of 28 days, hematological and biochemical parameters along with the relative organ weights were determined. It was observed that the extract did not induce death or any significant changes in the body weight, relative weight of vital organs and in hematological parameters for up to a dose of 1000 mg/kg. The oral administration of the plant extract did not produce any significant changes in the levels of glucose. In addition, there were no significant changes in the activity of both hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic marker enzymes in the serum. Oral administration of A. catechu also did not produce any significant changes in the levels of oxidative markers. Furthermore, the findings from the biochemical studies were, well corroborated with the histological findings.
  6. Genus Blepharis (Acanthaceae): A review of ethnomedicinally used species, and their phytochemistry and pharmacological activities
    Dirar AI, Adhikari-Devkota A, Kunwar RM, Paudel KR, Belwal T, Gupta G, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2021 Jan 30;265:113255.
    PMID: 32798615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113255
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Blepharis is an Afro-Asiatic genus belonging to the family Acanthaceae. It comprises about 126 species that occur in arid and semi-arid habitats. Some species of Blepharis are used in traditional medicines in different countries mainly for their anti-inflammatory, wound healing activities along with treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and bone fractures.

    AIM OF THE REVIEW: The present review aims to collate and analyze the available data and information on distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Blepharis.

    METHODS: Scientific information of genus Blepharis was retrieved from the online bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science and Google Scholar and secondary resources including books and proceedings.

    RESULTS: Seven species of Blepharis were found to be reported frequently as useful in folklore in African and Asian countries. B. maderaspatensis was found to be widely used in Indian traditional medicines whereas the B. ciliaris and B. edulis were common in folklore of Egypt, Jordan, and Arabia. Active phytochemicals of Blepharis are flavonoids from B. ciliaris, alkaloids from B. sindica, phenolic acid derivatives, and phytosterols, and derivatives of hydroxamic acids from B. edulis resulted in possessing diverse biological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer.

    CONCLUSIONS: Various species of Blepharis were found to be used in traditional medicine systems in African and Asian countries. Few of these species were studied for their bioactive chemical constituents however the activity guided isolation studies are not performed. Similarly, detailed pharmacological studies in animal models to explore their mechanism of action are also not reported. Future studies should focus on these aspects related to the medicinally used species of Blepharis. The detailed and comprehensive comparative analysis presented here gives valuable information of the currently used Blepharis species and pave the way to investigate other useful species of Blepharis pertaining to ethnobotany, phytochemistry and discovery of new drugs.

  7. Emerging concepts and directed therapeutics for the management of asthma: regulating the regulators
    Shastri MD, Chong WC, Dua K, Peterson GM, Patel RP, Mahmood MQ, et al.
    Inflammopharmacology, 2021 Feb;29(1):15-33.
    PMID: 33152094 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-020-00770-y
    Asthma is a common, heterogeneous and serious disease, its prevalence has steadily risen in most parts of the world, and the condition is often inadequately controlled in many patients. Hence, there is a major need for new therapeutic approaches. Mild-to-moderate asthma is considered a T-helper cell type-2-mediated inflammatory disorder that develops due to abnormal immune responses to otherwise innocuous allergens. Prolonged exposure to allergens and persistent inflammation results in myofibroblast infiltration and airway remodelling with mucus hypersecretion, airway smooth muscle hypertrophy, and excess collagen deposition. The airways become hyper-responsive to provocation resulting in the characteristic wheezing and obstructed airflow experienced by patients. Extensive research has progressed the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the development of new treatments for the management of asthma. Here, we review the basis of the disease, covering new areas such as the role of vascularisation and microRNAs, as well as associated potential therapeutic interventions utilising reports from animal and human studies. We also cover novel drug delivery strategies that are being developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. Potential avenues to explore to improve the future of asthma management are highlighted.
  8. Emerging trends in the novel drug delivery approaches for the treatment of lung cancer
    Sharma P, Mehta M, Dhanjal DS, Kaur S, Gupta G, Singh H, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2019 Aug 25;309:108720.
    PMID: 31226287 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.06.033
    Cancer is one of the major diseases that cause a high number of deaths globally. Of the major types of cancers, lung cancer is known to be the most chronic form of cancer in the world. The conventional management of lung cancer includes different medical interventions like chemotherapy, surgical removal, and radiation therapy. However, this type of approach lacks specificity and also harms the adjacent normal cells. Lately, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising intervention in the management and treatment of lung cancers. Nanotechnology has revolutionized the existing modalities and focuses primarily on reducing toxicity and improving the bioavailability of anticancer drugs to the target tumor cells. Nanocarrier systems are being currently used extensively to exploit and to overcome the obstructions induced by cancers in the lungs. The nano-carrier-loaded therapeutic drug delivery methods have shown promising potential in treating lung cancer as its target is to control the growth of tumor cells. In this review, various modes of nano drug delivery options like liposomes, dendrimers, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and metallic nanoparticles have been discussed. Nano-carrier drug delivery systems emerge as a promising approach and thus is expected to provide newer and advanced avenues in cancer therapeutics.
  9. A contemporary biological pathway of islet amyloid polypeptide for the management of diabetic dementia
    Sah SK, Samuel VP, Dahiya S, Singh Y, Gilhotra RM, Gupta G, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2019 Jun 01;306:117-122.
    PMID: 31004596 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.04.022
    Major challenges of dealing elder patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are the individualization of consideration in persons with various comorbid types of conditions. In spite of the fact that microvascular and macrovascular problems associated with DM are well documented, there is only a few numbers of reports viewing different conditions, for example, cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction is of specific significance due to its effect on self-care and quality of life. All in all, the etiology of cognitive dysfunction in the maturing populace is probably going to be the grouping of ischemic and degenerative pathology. It is likewise trusted that Hyperglycemia is engaged with the system of DM-related cognitive dysfunction. At present, it isn't certain in the case of enhancing glycemic control or utilizing therapeutic agents can enhance the risk of cognitive decay. Amylin was later characterized as an amyloidogenic peptide, confined from a beta cell tumor and called islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), and after that, amylin. Conversely, we investigate the beneficial role and hypothesizing the mechanism of amylin related expanding the level and activation of CGRP receptor to enhance the cognition declination amid diabetic dementia.
  10. Fulltext Oligonucleotide therapy: An emerging focus area for drug delivery in chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases
    Mehta M, Deeksha, Tewari D, Gupta G, Awasthi R, Singh H, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2019 Aug 01;308:206-215.
    PMID: 31136735 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.05.028
    Oligonucleotide-based therapies are advanced novel interventions used in the management of various respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). These agents primarily act by gene silencing or RNA interference. Better methodologies and techniques are the need of the hour that can deliver these agents to tissues and cells in a target specific manner by which their maximum potential can be reached in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases. Nanoparticles play an important role in the target-specific delivery of drugs. In addition, oligonucleotides also are extensively used for gene transfer in the form of polymeric, liposomal and inorganic carrier materials. Therefore, the current review focuses on various novel dosage forms like nanoparticles, liposomes that can be used efficiently for the delivery of various oligonucleotides such as siRNA and miRNA. We also discuss the future perspectives and targets for oligonucleotides in the management of respiratory diseases.
  11. Emerging therapeutic potential of the iridoid molecule, asperuloside: A snapshot of its underlying molecular mechanisms
    Chan Y, Ng SW, Xin Tan JZ, Gupta G, Tambuwala MM, Bakshi HA, et al.
    Chem Biol Interact, 2019 Nov 28;315:108911.
    PMID: 31786185 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108911
    Over the years, the attention of researchers in the field of modern drug discovery and development has become further intense on the identification of active compounds from plant sources and traditional remedies, as they exhibit higher therapeutic efficacies and improved toxicological profiles. Among the large diversity of plant extracts that have been discovered and explored for their potential therapeutic benefits, asperuloside, an iridoid glycoside, has been proven to provide promising effects as a therapeutic agent for several diseases. Although, this potent substance exists in several genera, it is primarily found in plants belonging to the genus Eucommia. Recent decades have seen a surge in the research on Asperuloside, making it one of the most studied natural products in the field of medicine and pharmacology. In this review, we have attempted to study the various reported mechanisms of asperuloside that form the basis of its wide spectrum of pharmacological activities.
  12. Nanocarriers for treatment of dermatological diseases: Principle, perspective and practices
    Ramanunny AK, Wadhwa S, Gulati M, Singh SK, Kapoor B, Dureja H, et al.
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2021 Jan 05;890:173691.
    PMID: 33129787 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173691
    Skin diseases are the fourth leading non-fatal skin conditions that act as a burden and affect the world economy globally. This condition affects the quality of a patient's life and has a pronounced impact on both their physical and mental state. Treatment of these skin conditions with conventional approaches shows a lack of efficacy, long treatment duration, recurrence of conditions, systemic side effects, etc., due to improper drug delivery. However, these pitfalls can be overcome with the applications of nanomedicine-based approaches that provide efficient site-specific drug delivery at the target site. These nanomedicine-based strategies are evolved as potential treatment opportunities in the form of nanocarriers such as polymeric and lipidic nanocarriers, nanoemulsions along with emerging others viz. carbon nanotubes for dermatological treatment. The current review focuses on challenges faced by the existing conventional treatments along with the topical therapeutic perspective of nanocarriers in treating various skin diseases. A total of 213 articles have been reviewed and the application of different nanocarriers in treating various skin diseases has been explained in detail through case studies of previously published research works. The toxicity related aspects of nanocarriers are also discussed.
  13. Fulltext Effects of curcumin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles in MDA-MB231 human breast cancer cells
    Sharma A, Hawthorne S, Jha SK, Jha NK, Kumar D, Girgis S, et al.
    Nanomedicine (Lond), 2021 08;16(20):1763-1773.
    PMID: 34296625 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2021-0066
    Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the anticancer potential of curcumin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based nanoparticles (NPs) in MDA-MB231 human breast cancer cells. Methods: Curcumin-loaded PLGA NPs were developed using a modified solvent evaporation technique. Physical characterization was performed on the formulated NPs. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were conducted to study the biological activity of the curcumin-loaded NPs. Results: Curcumin-loaded PLGA NPs demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency and sustained payload release. Moreover, the NPs exhibited a significant reduction in cell viability, cell migration and cell invasion in the MDA-MB231 cells. Conclusion: The study revealed that the formulated curcumin-loaded PLGA NPs possessed significant anti-metastatic properties. The findings showcased the possible potential of curcumin-loaded NPs in the management of debilitating conditions such as cancer. In addition, this study could form the basis for further research and advancements in this area.
  14. Rutin-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles attenuate oxidative stress in bronchial epithelial cells: a PCR validation
    Mehta M, Paudel KR, Shukla SD, Shastri MD, Satija S, Singh SK, et al.
    Future Med Chem, 2021 03;13(6):543-549.
    PMID: 33538615 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2020-0297
    Aim: In the present study, the inhibitory potential of rutin-loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) on oxidative stress was determined in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) by analysing the expression levels of different antioxidant (NADPH quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1); γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase catalytic subunit (GCLC)) and pro-oxidant (NADPH oxidase (Nox)-4; Nox2B) genes. Results: Our findings revealed that the rutin-loaded LCNs inhibited the genes, namely Nox2B and Nox4, which caused oxidative stress. In addition, these nanoparticles demonstrated an upregulation in the expression of the antioxidant genes Gclc and Nqo-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The study indicates the promising potential of rutin-loaded LCNs as an effective treatment strategy in patients with high oxidant loads in various respiratory diseases.
  15. Opening eyes to therapeutic perspectives of bioactive polyphenols and their nanoformulations against diabetic neuropathy and related complications
    Khursheed R, Singh SK, Wadhwa S, Gulati M, Kapoor B, Awasthi A, et al.
    Expert Opin Drug Deliv, 2021 04;18(4):427-448.
    PMID: 33356647 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2021.1846517
    Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the major complications arising from hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients. In recent years polyphenols present in plants have gained attention to treat DN. The main advantages associated with them are their action via different molecular pathways to manage DN and their safety. However, they failed to gain clinical attention due to challenges associated with their formulation development such as lipophilicity,poor bioavailability, rapid systemic elimination, and enzymatic degradation.Area covered: This article includes different polyphenols that have shown their potential against DN in preclinical studies and the research carried out towards development of their nanoformulations in order to overcome aforementioned issues.Expert opinion: In this review various polyphenol based nanoformulations such as nanospheres, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems, niosomes, electrospun nanofibers, metallic nanoparticles explored exclusively to treat DN are discussed. However, the literature available related to polyphenol based nanoformulations to treat DN is limited. Moreover, these experiments are limited to preclinical studies. Hence, more focus is required towards  development of nanoformulations using simple and single step process as well as inexpensive and non-toxic excipients so that a stable, scalable, reproducible and non-toxic formulation could be achieved and clinical trials could be initiated.
  16. Beta-catenin non-canonical pathway: A potential target for inflammatory and hyperproliferative state via expression of transglutaminase 2 in psoriatic skin keratinocyte
    Gupta G, Singh Y, Tiwari J, Raizaday A, Alharbi KS, Al-Abbasi FA, et al.
    Dermatol Ther, 2020 11;33(6):e14209.
    PMID: 32816372 DOI: 10.1111/dth.14209
    Psoriasis is a chronic, local as well as a systemic, inflammatory skin condition. Psoriasis influences the quality of life up to 3.8% of the population and occurs often between 15 and 30 years of age. Specific causes are linked to psoriasis, including the interleukin IL-23/IL-17 Axis, human antigen leucocyte (HLA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Secukinumab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds and neutralizes IL-17A required in the treatment of Psoriasis. The signaling pathways of Wnt govern multiple functions of cell-like fate specification, proliferation, polarity, migration, differentiation with their signaling controlled rigorously, given that dysregulation caused by various stimuli, can lead to alterations in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and human inflammatory disease. Current data has supported non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways in psoriasis development, particularly Wnt5a activated signaling cascades. These interconnected factors are significant in interactions between immune cells, keratinocytes, and inflammatory factors due to a higher degree of transglutaminase 2, mediated by activation of the keratinocyte hyperproliferation of the psoriatic patient's epidermis. This study discusses the pathology of Wnt5a signaling and its involvement in the epidermal inflammatory effects of psoriasis with other related pathways.
  17. Recent updates on animal models for understanding the etiopathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome
    Corrie L, Gulati M, Singh SK, Kapoor B, Khursheed R, Awasthi A, et al.
    Life Sci, 2021 Sep 01;280:119753.
    PMID: 34171379 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119753
    Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the primary cause of female infertility affecting several women worldwide. Changes in hormonal functions such as hyperandrogenism are considered a significant factor in developing PCOS in women. In addition, many molecular pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS in women. To have better insights about PCOS, it is data from clinical studies carried on women suffering from PCOS should be collected. However, this approach has several implications, including ethical considerations, cost involved and availability of subject. Moreover, during the early drug development process, it is always advisable to use non-human models mimicking human physiology as they are less expensive, readily available, have a shorter gestation period and less risk involved. Many animal models have been reported that resemble the PCOS pathways in human subjects. However, the models developed on rats and mice are more preferred over other rodent/non-rodent models due to their closer resemblance with human PCOS development mechanism. The most extensively reported PCOS models for rats and mice include those induced by using testosterone, letrozole and estradiol valerate. As the pathophysiology of PCOS is complex, none of the explored models completely surrogates the PCOS related conditions occurring in women. Hence, there is a need to develop an animal model that can resemble the pathophysiology of PCOS in women. The review focuses on various animal models explored to understand the pathophysiology of PCOS. The article also highlights some environmental and food-related models that have been used to induce PCOS.
  18. Versatility of liquid crystalline nanoparticles in inflammatory lung diseases
    Chan Y, Mehta M, Paudel KR, Madheswaran T, Panneerselvam J, Gupta G, et al.
    Nanomedicine (Lond), 2021 08;16(18):1545-1548.
    PMID: 34184917 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2021-0114
  19. Antiproliferative effects of boswellic acid-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on human lung cancer cell line A549
    Solanki N, Mehta M, Chellappan DK, Gupta G, Hansbro NG, Tambuwala MM, et al.
    Future Med Chem, 2020 11;12(22):2019-2034.
    PMID: 33124483 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2020-0083
    Aim: In the present study boswellic acids-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized using ionic gelation technique. The influence of independent variables were studied and optimized on dependent variables using central composite design. Methodology & results: The designed nanoparticles were observed spherical in shape with an average size of 67.5-187.2 nm and have also shown an excellent entrapment efficiency (80.06 ± 0.48). The cytotoxicity assay revealed enhanced cytotoxicity for drug-loaded nanoparticles in contrast to the free drug having an IC50 value of 17.29 and 29.59 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry confirmed that treatment of cells with 40 μg/ml had arrested 22.75 ± 0.3% at SubG0 phase of the cell cycle when compared with untreated A459 cells. The observed results justified the boswellic acids-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were effective due to greater cellular uptake, sustained intercellular drug retention and enhanced antiproliferative effect by inducing apoptosis.
  20. Fulltext Advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery in targeting PI3K signaling in respiratory diseases
    Chan Y, MacLoughlin R, Zacconi FC, Tambuwala MM, Pabari RM, Singh SK, et al.
    Nanomedicine (Lond), 2021 07;16(16):1351-1355.
    PMID: 33998829 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2021-0087
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