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Novel metabolites from Trichoderma atroviride against human prostate cancer cells and their inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori and Shigella toxin producing Escherichia coli

Saravanakumar K, Mandava S, Chellia R, Jeevithan E, Babu Yelamanchi RS, Mandava D, et al.

Microb Pathog, 2018 Oct 10;126:19-26.
PMID: 30316006 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.10.011

The present study aimed to purify and identify the metabolites from T. atroviride using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR) followed by analyzing their toxicological, antibacterial and anticancer properties. This work identified two metabolites - TM1 and TM2. TM1 was in two forms: (i) 1, 3-dione-5, 5-dimethylcyclohexane; and, (ii) 2-enone-3hydroxy -5,5-dimethylcylohex, while TM2 was 4H-1,3-dioxin-4-one-2,3,6-trimethyl. These metabolites did not exhibit any irritant or allergic reaction as revealed by HET- CAM test. TM2 significantly inhibited the growth of H. pylori and Shigella toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) as evident by in vitro and microscopic observations of bacterial cell death. TM2 also induced the cell death and cytotoxicity, as revealed by cell viability test and western blot analysis. According to microscopic, flow cytometer and western blot analysis, TM2 treated cells displayed higher ROS, cell death, and apoptosis-related protein expression than TM1 and control. This study concluded that TM2 derived from T. atroviride was a potential therapeutic agent for anti-prostate cancer and antibiotic agent against MDR- H. pylori and STEC and it is also recommended to carry out further in vivo animal model experiments with improved stability of the metabolites for future pharmaceutical trails.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
From formulation of acrylamide-based hydrogels to their optimization for drug release using response surface methodology

Sabbagh F, Muhamad II, Nazari Z, Mobini P, Taraghdari SB

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 2018 Nov 01;92:20-25.
PMID: 30184743 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.06.022

This study conducted on the structure of modified acrylamide-based hydrogel by synthesizing the nano composites. The hydrogels employed in this study were provided through a combination of acrylamide monomers, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles by crosslinking polymerization. N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and ammonium persulfate as the initiator was applied in the structure of the polymer. Findings of the study considered the nano composites consisting of MgO have the highest swelling ratio compared to pure Aam hydrogels. Thus, MgO is an appropriate nanoparticle to be used in the nano composites. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD Design) was applied to optimize the preparation variables of a hydrogel consisted of MgO, NaCMC. With the swelling ratio for acrylamide-based hydrogel as the response, the effects of two variables, i.e. MgO and NaCMC were investigated. The effects of pH, temperature, MgO, and NaCMC on the drug release were investigated using the CCD design. The predicted appropriate drug release conditions for the hydrogel at the highest rate of temperature (37.50 °C) and pH: 4.10, is at its highest value, while the lower drug release is at temperature 38 °C and pH 3.50. With the desired value of MgO (0.01 g) and amount of NaCMC (0.1 g).

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations/metabolism; Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry*
Development and Validation of the Return and Disposal of Unused Medications Questionnaire (ReDiUM) in Malaysia

Sim SM, Lai PSM, Tan KM, Lee HG, Sulaiman CZ

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2018 11;30(8):737-749.
PMID: 30486652 DOI: 10.1177/1010539518811161

The aim of our study was to develop and validate the return and disposal of unused medications (ReDiUM), as there are currently no validated tools available (worldwide) to assess this. The ReDiUM was developed by an expert panel. It was then administered to community-dwelling adults, who could understand English, at baseline and 2 weeks later. A total of 338/354 participants agreed to participate (response rate = 95.4%). Flesch reading ease was 60. The overall Cronbach's α was 0.703 (range = 0.609-0.762). At test-retest, κ values ranged from 0.244 to 0.523. Median total knowledge score was 60% (interquartile range = 40% to 70%). The majority of participants (94.4%) knew that improper drug disposal has harmful effects on the environment. However, their knowledge was low (11.2%) regarding the disposal of pressurized metered-dose inhalers in the garbage. The ReDiUM was found to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice on the ReDiUM in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations*
Pharmaceuticals residues in selected tropical surface water bodies from Selangor (Malaysia): Occurrence and potential risk assessments

Praveena SM, Shaifuddin SNM, Sukiman S, Nasir FAM, Hanafi Z, Kamarudin N, et al.

Sci Total Environ, 2018 Nov 15;642:230-240.
PMID: 29902621 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.058

This study investigated the occurrence of nine pharmaceuticals (amoxicillin, caffeine, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone, diclofenac, nitrofurazone, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan) and to evaluate potential risks (human health and ecotoxicological) in Lui, Gombak and Selangor (Malaysia) rivers using commercial competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit assays. Physicochemical properties of these rivers showed the surface samples belong to Class II of Malaysian National Water Quality Standards which requires conventional treatment before consumption. All the pharmaceuticals were detected in all three rivers except for triclosan, dexamethasone and diclofenac which were not detected in few of sampling locations in these three rivers. Highest pharmaceutical concentrations were detected in Gombak river in line of being as one of the most polluted rivers in Malaysia. Ciprofloxacin concentrations were detected in all the sampling locations with the highest at 299.88 ng/L. While triclosan, dexamethasone and diclofenac concentrations were not detected in a few of sampling locations in these three rivers. All these nine pharmaceuticals were within the levels reported previously in literature. Pharmaceutical production, wastewater treatment technologies and treated sewage effluent were found as the potential sources which can be related with pharmaceuticals occurrence in surface water samples. Potential human risk assessment showed low health risk except for ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone. Instead, ecotoxicological risk assessment indicated moderate risks were present for these rivers. Nevertheless, results confirmation using instrumental techniques is needed for higher degree of specificity. It is crucial to continuously monitor the surface water bodies for pharmaceuticals using a cost-effective prioritisation approach to assess sensitive sub-populations risk.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations/analysis*
Bank accounts for public primary health care facilities: Reflections on implementation from three districts in Tanzania

Kuwawenaruwa A, Remme M, Mtei G, Makawia S, Maluka S, Kapologwe N, et al.

Int J Health Plann Manage, 2018 Nov 20.
PMID: 30461049 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2702

Health care financing reforms are gaining popularity in a number of African countries to increase financial resources and promote financial autonomy, particularly at peripheral health care facilities. The paper explores the establishment of facility bank accounts at public primary facilities in Tanzania, with the intention of informing other countries embarking on such reform of the lessons learned from its implementation process. A case study approach was used, in which three district councils were purposively sampled. A total of 34 focus group discussions and 14 in-depth interviews were conducted. Thematic content analysis was used during analysis. The study revealed that the main use of bank account revenue was for the purchase of drugs, medical supplies, and minor facility needs. To ensure accountability for funds, health care facilities had to submit monthly reports of expenditures incurred. District managers also undertook quality control of facility infrastructure, which had been renovated using facility resources and purchases of facility needs. Facility autonomy in the use of revenue retained in their accounts would improve the availability of drugs and service delivery. The experienced process of opening facility bank accounts, managing, and using the funds highlights the need to strengthen the capacity of staff and health-governing committees.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Enterotoxigenicity, distribution of enterotoxigenic genes and antibiotic resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from traditional sweet

Ghazavi N, Rahimi E, Esfandiari Z, Shakerian A

Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):880-892.
PMID: 33601838

Resistant and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains are considered to be one of the major causes of foodborne diseases due to the consumption of sweet. The present research was done to study the distribution of enterotoxin types, enterotoxigenic genes and antibiotic resistance pattern of S. aureus strains isolated from traditional sweet samples. Eight-hundred and fifteen sweet samples were cultured and S. aureus strains were identified. Antibiotic resistance, enterotoxigenicity and enterotoxigenic gene profile were studied using disk diffusion, Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay and PCR, respectively. One-hundred and seven out of 815 (13.12%) sweet samples were positive for S. aureus. Prevalence of S. aureus in dried and semi-dried sweet samples were 15.08% and 11.13%, respectively (P <0.05). Forty-six out of 107 S. aureus strains (42.99%) were determined as enterotoxigenic. A (41.30%) and C (17.39%) were the most commonly detected enterotoxin types. Sea (20.56%), sec (14.95%) and seb (11.21%) were the most commonly detected enterotoxigenic genes. There were no positive sample for the sej enterotoxin gene. S. aureus strains harbored the highest prevalence of resistance against penicillin (88.78%), tetracycline (83.17%), ceftaroline (75.70%) and doxycycline (71.02%). Simultaneous presence of enterotoxins and enterotoxigenic genes in multi-drug resistant S. aureus strains indicates important public health issue regarding the consumption of contaminated traditional sweet samples.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Phenotypic evaluation of ESBL- and carbapenemaseproducing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from a teaching hospital in the Philippines

Tiongco RE, Arceo E, Dizon D, Navarro A, Rivera N, Salita C, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1064-1074.
PMID: 33601853

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide public health concern. Rise in the number of antimicrobial resistant organisms, such as extended spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, continue to burden millions of people worldwide. E. coli and K. pneumoniae were isolated and collected for four months from a teaching hospital in the Philippines. All isolates were subjected to ESBL and carbapenemase testing using the double disk synergy test and modified Hodge test, respectively. Their pattern of resistance among different classes of antimicrobial agents was also investigated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. Among the 32 clinical isolates tested, 28.1% were positive for ESBL production and 6.3% were positive for carbapenemase production. Species-specific classification showed that E. coli (44.4%) has the highest rate of ESBL production whereas both E. coli (5.6%) and K. pneumoniae (7.1%) showed almost similar rates of carbapenemase production. Antimicrobial resistance pattern of drug resistant isolates showed that all organisms were resistant to ampicillin, and majority showed resistance towards ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. ESBL production is seen highest among E. coli isolates while similar rates of carbapenemase production was observed to both E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. Overall, antimicrobial resistance continues to rise and poses a huge threat in public health worldwide. Efforts should be made in developing rapid tests for antimicrobial resistance and to search for effective treatment from infections caused by multidrug resistant organisms.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Episodic positive selection in the Cam734 haplotype and low prevalence of the A144F mutation in Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter gene among Thai isolates

Buppan P, Seethamchai S, Kuamsab N, Jongwutiwes S, Putaporntip C

Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):861-871.
PMID: 33601836

Chloroquine resistance transporter of Plasmodium falciparum (PfCRT) is a food vacuolar transmembrane protein that mediates susceptibility of the parasite to chloroquine. A mutation at K76T of the Pfcrt gene is a key determinant for chloroquine resistance phenotype. In the absence of drug pressure, in vitro growth rate of chloroquine-resistance parasites was outcompeted by wild-type parasites unless intragenic compensatory mutations occurred. Chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum bearing the Cam734 haplotype known to circulate in endemic areas of Cambodia bordering Thailand contains 9 mutations in Pfcrt and exhibits both chloroquine resistance and comparable growth rate to the chloroquine-sensitive 3D7 strain. To analyze the evolution of the Cam734 haplotype, codon-based analysis was performed by using the mixed effects model of evolution (MEME), branch-site random effects likelihood (BR-REL) and other related methods. Results revealed that the Cam734 haplotype has evolved distinctively from other known mutant haplotypes including the most common Dd2 haplotype in Southeast Asia. Evidence of episodic positive selection was detected at codon 144, characterized by c.[430G>T; 431C>T] (p.A144F), known to be indispensable for both chloroquine resistance and restoration of growth rate of the parasites. To survey the prevalence of mutations at codons 76 and 144 in Pfcrt among Thai isolates, restriction fragment analysis of 548 P. falciparum isolates collected from six endemic provinces of Thailand during 1991 and 2016 was performed. The 144F Pfcrt mutant was detected in 7 (1.28%) isolates. All Thai isolates analyzed herein harbored a mutation at codon 76 whilst the wild-type parasite was not found. The low prevalence of isolates bearing the mutation 144F in PfCRT could imply little or lack of survival advantage of this mutant in endemic areas of Thailand where the wild-type parasites seem to be absent or extremely rare.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Comment on "A novel approach of using educational pharmaceutical pictogram for improving inhaler techniques in patients with asthma"

Muneswarao J, Hassali MA, Verma AK

Respir Med, 2018 12;145:241-242.
PMID: 30266530 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.09.012
Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations*
New developments and clinical transition of hyaluronic acid-based nanotherapeutics for treatment of cancer: reversing multidrug resistance, tumour-specific targetability and improved anticancer efficacy

Safdar MH, Hussain Z, Abourehab MAS, Hasan H, Afzal S, Thu HE

Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol, 2018 Dec;46(8):1967-1980.
PMID: 29082766 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2017.1397001

This review aims to overview and critically analyses recent developments in achieving tumour-specific delivery of anticancer agents, maximizing anticancer efficacy, and mitigating tumour progression and off-target effects. Stemming from critical needs to develop target-specific delivery vehicles in cancer therapy, various hyaluronic acid (HA)-conjugated nanomedicines have been fabricated owing to their biocompatibility, safety, tumour-specific targetability of drugs and genes, and proficient interaction with cluster-determinant-44 (CD44) receptors over-expressed on the surface of tumour cells. HA-based conjugation or surface modulation of anticancer drugs encapsulated nanocarriers have shown promising efficacy against the various types of carcinomas of liver, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, skin, ovarian, cervical, head and neck and gastric. The success of this emerging platform is assessed in achieving the rapid internalization of anticancer payloads into the tumour cells, impeding cancer cells division and proliferation, induction of cancer-specific apoptosis and prevention of metastasis (tumour progression). This review extends detailed insight into the engineering of HA-based nanomedicines, characterization, utilization for the diagnosis or treatment of CD44 over-expressing cancer subtypes and emphasizing the transition of nanomedicines to clinical cancer therapy.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Hybrid membrane filtration-advanced oxidation processes for removal of pharmaceutical residue

Rosman N, Salleh WNW, Mohamed MA, Jaafar J, Ismail AF, Harun Z

J Colloid Interface Sci, 2018 Dec 15;532:236-260.
PMID: 30092507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.07.118

Reports of pharmaceuticals exist in surface water and drinking water around the world, indicate they are ineffectively remove from water and wastewater using conventional treatment technologies. The potential of adverse effect of these pharmaceuticals on public health and aquatic life, also their continuos accumulation have raised the development of water treatment technologies. Hybrid treatment processes like membrane filtration and advance oxidation processes (AOPs) are likely to give rise to efficient simultaneous degradation and separation mechanisms. Conventional membrane filtration techniques can remove the majority of contaminants, but the smallest, undegraded, and stabilized pharmaceutical wastes persist in the treated water. After some 20 years, researchers have recognized the important role of AOPs in the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater because these technologies are capable of oxidizing recalcitrant, toxic, and non-biodigradable compounds into numerous by-products and finally, inert end-products via the intermediacy of hydroxyl and other radicals. Evidently, membranes are subjected to the fouling phenomenon by the contaminants in wastewater, hence resulting in a reduction of clean water flux and increase in energy demand. In such situations, these membrane hybrid AOPs exert a complementary effect in the elimination of membrane fouling, thus enhancing the performance of the membrane. Therefore, in this review, we describe the basic aspects of the removal and transformation of certain pharmaceuticals via membranes and AOPs. In addition, information and evidences on membrane hybrid AOPs in the field of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment is also presented.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations/isolation & purification*
Fulltext Microwave synthesis, crystal structure, antioxidant, and antimicrobial study of new 6-heptyl-5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline compound

Hasan HA, Abdulmalek E, Rahman MBA, Shaari KB, Yamin BM, Chan KW

Chem Cent J, 2018 Dec 20;12(1):145.
PMID: 30570683 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-018-0509-z

BACKGROUND: Although the development of antibiotic and antioxidant manufacturing, the problem of bacterial resistance and food and/or cosmetics oxidation still needs more efforts to design new derivatives which can help to minimize these troubles. Benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines are nitrogen-rich heterocyclic compounds that possess many pharmaceutical properties such as antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, immunoenhancer, and anticancer.
RESULTS: A comparative study between two methods, (microwave-assisted and conventional heating approaches), was performed to synthesise a new quinazoline derivative from 2-(2-aminophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole and octanal to produce 6-heptyl-5,6-dihydrobenzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline (OCT). The compound was characterised using FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, DIMS, as well as X-ray crystallography. The most significant peak in the 13C NMR spectrum is C-7 at 65.5 ppm which confirms the cyclisation process. Crystal structure analysis revealed that the molecule grows in the monoclinic crystal system P21/n space group and stabilised by an intermolecular hydrogen bond between the N1-H1A…N3 atoms. The crystal packing analysis showed that the molecule adopts zig-zag one dimensional chains. Fluorescence study of OCT revealed that it produces blue light when expose to UV-light and its' quantum yield equal to 26%. Antioxidant activity, which included DPPH· and ABTS·+ assays was also performed and statistical analysis was achieved via a paired T-test using Minitab 16 software with P

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Recent Progress in Delivery of Therapeutic and Imaging Agents Utilizing Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanoparticles

Haque ST, Chowdhury EH

Curr Drug Deliv, 2018;15(4):485-496.
PMID: 29165073 DOI: 10.2174/1567201814666171120114034

BACKGROUND: Delivery of conventional small molecule drugs and currently evolving nucleic acid-based therapeutics, such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and genes, and contrast agents for high resolution imaging, to the target site of action is highly demanding to increase the therapeutic and imaging efficacy while minimizing the off-target effects of the delivered molecules, as well as develop novel therapeutic and imaging approaches.
METHODS: We have undertaken a structured search for peer-reviewed research and review articles predominantly indexed in PubMed focusing on the organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles with evidence of their potent roles in intracellular delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents in different animal models.
RESULTS: Organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles offer a number of advantages by combining the unique properties of the organic and inorganic counterparts, thus improving the pharmacokinetic behavior and targetability of drugs and contrast agents, and conferring the exclusive optical and magnetic properties for both therapeutic and imaging purposes. Different polymers, lipids, dendrimers, peptides, cell membranes, and small organic molecules are attached via covalent or non-covalent interactions with diverse inorganic nanoparticles of gold, mesoporous silica, magnetic iron oxide, carbon nanotubes and quantum dots for efficient drug delivery and imaging purposes.
CONCLUSION: We have thus highlighted here the progress made so far in utilizing different organicinorganic hybrid nanoparticles for in vivo delivery of anti-cancer drugs, siRNA, genes and imaging agents.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage*
Fulltext Pharmacist role in global health: a review of literature

Allayla, Tuqa Haitham, Nouri, Ahmed Ibrahim, Hassal, Mohamed Azmi

Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 2018;16(1):45-54.
MyJurnal

Emergence of various global health problems has widened the pharmacist’s job scope. An accessible resource for health and medication information as the pharmacist strengthen the existing public health system. Achievement of optimal patient outcomes involves community and clinical pharmacist safe and effective medication use. However, the public is still unaware of the pharmacist’s role in public and global health. This essay aims to identify pharmacist’s role in overcoming global health problems with a literature review. Pharmacists’ role change from public care provider to public care profession. The roles of pharmacists in health care team as primary care practitioners can be seen in their management of tropical and chronic diseases. With their evaluation skills and extensive knowledge of drugs. Pharmacists can provide the best medical advice to the patients besides promoting selftreatment on minor ailments. Furthermore, they also help in reducing the medical costs and optimising medications for the patients. The faith of the public in pharmacists on vaccination proves that they accept the involvement of pharmacists in healthcare provision. However, the public awareness towards pharmacists’ role should be improved.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Fulltext Dispensary separation: perceptions of the public visiting primary care clinics in Malaysia

Kamal Kenny, Madhavan, Priya

Malaysian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 2018;16(1):23-35.
MyJurnal

Over the years, the rights of pharmacists as health care professionals have been a controversial topic in the medical field. Pharmacists worldwide have always been independent in being able to practice medicine in their own way and have been given exclusive dispensing rights to distribute drugs and medicines to patients. In Malaysia, however, this is not the case. The overwhelming opinion has been that pharmacists are losing their dispensing rights because doctors are earning more. The current study was carried out in view of recent debates regarding the implementation of a dispensary separation policy in Malaysia. The main objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the views of and challenges experienced by the public in regards to the implementation of this type of policy. The overall results of this study show that dispensing rights are still viewed with mixed feelings. Study subjects reported believing that pharmacists were capable of dispensing medication but that they lack the confidence to make changes within the existing system. When their conditions were not severe, respondents indicated that they preferred the old system where doctors prescribe them with medicine and they subsequently visit the pharmacy. In conclusion, the majority of interview participants were of the opinion that maintaining the current system would benefit them holistically. In this study, input from a total of 929 respondents was gathered via a structured survey conducted throughout Malaysia. The study findings were also supported by data obtained during interviews carried out with 350 informants regarding their views of the implementation of dispensary separation in Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Polymer Based Protein Therapeutics

Bhawani SA, Husaini A, Ahmad FB, Asaruddin MR

Curr Protein Pept Sci, 2018;19(10):972-982.
PMID: 28828988 DOI: 10.2174/1389203718666170821162823

Proteins have played a very important role in the drug industry for developing treatments of various diseases such as auto-immune diseases, cancer, diabetes, mental disorder, metabolic disease, and others. Therapeutic proteins have high activity and specificity but they have some limitations such as short half-life, poor stability, low solubility and immunogenicity, so they cannot prolong their therapeutic activity. These shortcomings have been rectified by using polymers for the conjugation with proteins. The conjugates of protein-polymer improves the half-lives, stability and makes them non-immunogenic. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), is widely used in the delivery of proteins because it is the current gold standard for stealth polymers in the emerging field of polymer-based delivery as compared to various biodegradable polymers. PEGylation enhances the retention of therapeutic proteins, effectively alters the pharmacokinetics and enhances the pharmaceutical value. Smart polymer have been used to cope with the pathophysiological environment of target site and have imposed less toxic effects.The contents of this article are challenges in formulation of therapeutic proteins, synthetic routes of conjugates, smart polymer-protein conjugates and also some advantages/disadvantages of polymers as a carrier system of proteins.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Fulltext The treatment of epileptic seizures: the potential of Malaysian medicinal plants

Choo, Brandon Kar Meng, Kumari, Yatinesh, Mun, Hue-Seow, Shaikh, Mohd. Farooq

Neuroscience Research Notes, 2018;1(3):35-53.
MyJurnal

Epileptic seizures result from excessive brain activity and may affect sensory, motor and autonomic function; as well as, emotional state, memory, cognition or behaviour. Effective anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are available but have tolerability issues due to their side effects. Medicinal plants are potential candidates for novel AEDs, as many are traditional epilepsy remedies. Malaysia is a megadiverse country, with many endemic plants serving as a large pool of potential candidates for the development of local herbal products. The large variety of flora makesMalaysia a prime location for the discovery of medicinal plants with anti-convulsive potential. This review lists 23 Malaysian medicinal plants, of which four are used traditionally to treat epilepsy, without any scientific evidence. A further eight plants have no known traditional anti-epileptic usebut have scientific evidence of its anti-epileptic activity. The remaining 11 plants possess both traditional use and scientific evidence. Thus, this review identified several potential candidates for the development of novel AEDs or enhancing current ones; as well as identified an imbalance between traditional use and scientific evidence. In addition, this review also identified several limitations in the reviewed studies and provided additional information to facilitate the design of future studies.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Fulltext Polyphenol compounds from pomegranate (Punica granatum) extracted via various methods and its application on meat and meat products: a review

Mohammad Rashedi Ismail-Fitry, Safiullah Jauhar, Chong, Gun Hean, Mahmud Ab Rashid NorKhaizura, Wan Zunairah Wan Ibadullah

Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 2018;12(1):1-12.
MyJurnal

Recently natural polyphenol compounds (PCs) of plants, gained wide consideration of
scientists, companies and public people because of its unique pharmaceutical and
preservative benefits in the physiological system. They can prevent mortal and serious
diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and Alzheimer. However, defining a suitable
source of PCs and their proper, economic and efficient extraction method are still a
challenge. The aim of this study was to review PCs as an important antioxidant, the
significance of pomegranate as a source of natural PCs and its application in meat and
meat product. This study also covers different types of PCs extraction methods such as
solid-liquid extraction (SLE) method as a conventional extraction which using Soxhlet
apparatus and several solvents and advanced methods such as microwave-assisted
extraction (MAE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), accelerated solvent extraction
(ASE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and high hydrostatic pressure extraction
(HHPE). Simple and developed analytical method of PCs is also reviewed in the study.
SLE method is an easy and simple method but, it uses lots of chemicals and is not
suitable for all kinds of PCs extraction. UAE is using for quick extraction PCs, SFE is green
extraction method uses less solvent and have a good result but it needs high
technology. ASE method is a proper alternative for Soxhlet extraction method for its
quick result. MAE method has high extraction result but is not suitable for some
thermolabile PCs. Several parts of pomegranate showed antioxidant and antimicrobial
traits for shelf life extension of meat and meat product. Pomegranate peel is the
strongest antioxidant followed by pomegranate juice and seed. Pomegranate peel
prolonged chilled chicken meat shelf live up to three weeks.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Fulltext Toxicological studies of Orthosiphon stamineus (Misai Kucing) standardized ethanol extract in combination with gemcitabine in athymic nude mice model

Yehya AHS, Asif M, Kaur G, Hassan LEA, Al-Suede FSR, Abdul Majid AMS, et al.

J Adv Res, 2019 Jan;15:59-68.
PMID: 30581613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2018.05.006

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate among cancers due to its aggressive biology and lack of effective treatment. Gemcitabine, the first line anticancer drug has reduced efficacy due to acquired resistance. The current study evaluates the toxicological effects of Orthosiphon stamineus (O.s) and its marker compound (rosmarinic acid) in combination with gemcitabine. O.s (200 or 400 mg/kg/day) and rosmarinic acid (32 mg/kg/day) were administered orally and gemcitabine (10 mg/kg/3 days) intraperitoneally either alone or in combination treatment for fourteen days. Parameters including blood serum biochemistry, hematology, myeloid-erythroid ratio, incident of lethality, and histopathological analysis of liver, kidney, and spleen tissues were studied. Neither, individual drugs/extract nor chemo-herbal combinations at tested doses induced any toxicity and damage to organs in nude mice when compared to control group. Toxicological data obtained from this study will help to select the best doses of chemo-herbal combination for future pancreatic xenograft tumor studies.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations
Fulltext Gold Nanoparticles Conjugation Enhances Antiacanthamoebic Properties of Nystatin, Fluconazole and Amphotericin B

Anwar A, Siddiqui R, Raza Shah M, Ahmed Khan N

J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2019 Jan 28;29(1):171-177.
PMID: 30415525 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.1805.05028

Parasitic infections have remained a significant burden on human and animal health. In part, this is due to lack of clinically-approved, novel antimicrobials and a lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach is to modify existing clinically-approved drugs for efficient delivery formulations to ensure minimum inhibitory concentration is achieved at the target site. Nanotechnology offers the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs through modification of nanoparticles with ligands. Amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole are clinically available drugs in the treatment of amoebal and fungal infections. These drugs were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. To characterize these gold-conjugated drug, atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. These drugs and their gold nanoconjugates were examined for antimicrobial activity against the protist pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Moreover, host cell cytotoxicity assays were accomplished. Cytotoxicity of these drugs and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles was also determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Gold nanoparticles conjugation resulted in enhanced bioactivity of all three drugs with amphotericin B producing the most significant effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii (p ＜ 0.05). In contrast, bare gold nanoparticles did not exhibit antimicrobial potency. Furthermore, amoebae treated with drugs-conjugated gold nanoparticles showed reduced cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. In this report, we demonstrated the use of nanotechnology to modify existing clinically-approved drugs and enhance their efficacy against pathogenic amoebae. Given the lack of development of novel drugs, this is a viable approach in the treatment of neglected diseases.

Matched MeSH terms: Pharmaceutical Preparations

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