Quality by Design for Optimizing a Novel Liposomal Jojoba Oil-Based Emulgel to Ameliorate the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Brucine

Revealing the diversity of Jojoba-associated fungi using amplicon metagenome approach and assessing the in vitro biocontrol activity of its cultivable community

Jojoba shrubs are wild plants cultivated in arid and semiarid lands and characterized by tolerance to drought, salinity, and high temperatures. Fungi associated with such plants may be attributed to the tolerance of host plants against biotic stress in addition to the promotion of plant growth. Previous studies showed the importance of jojoba as jojoba oil in the agricultural field; however, no prior study discussed the role of jojoba-associated fungi (JAF) in reflecting plant health and the possibility of using JAF in biocontrol. Here, the culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches were performed to study the diversity of the jojoba-associated fungi. Then, the cultivable fungi were evaluated for in-vitro antagonistic activity and in vitro plant growth promotion assays. The metagenome analysis revealed the existence of four fungal phyla: Ascomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. The phylum Ascomycota was the most common and had the highest relative abundance in soil, root, branch, and fruit samples (59.7%, 50.7%, 49.8%, and 52.4%, respectively). Alternaria was the most abundant genus in aboveground tissues: branch (43.7%) and fruit (32.1%), while the genus Discosia had the highest abundance in the underground samples: soil (24%) and root (30.7%). For the culture-dependent method, a total of 14 fungi were isolated, identified, and screened for their chitinolytic and antagonist activity against three phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata and Rhizoctonia solani) as well as their in vitro plant growth promotion (PGP) activity. Based on ITS sequence analysis, the selected potent isolates were identified as Aspergillus stellatusEJ-JFF3, Aspergillus flavus EJ-JFF4, Stilbocrea sp. EJ-JLF1, Fusarium solani EJ-JRF3, and Amesia atrobrunneaEJ-JSF4. The endophyte strain A. flavus EJ-JFF4 exhibited the highest chitinolytic activity (9 Enzyme Index) and antagonistic potential against Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, and Rhizoctonia solani phytopathogens with inhibitory percentages of 72, 70, and 80 respectively. Also, A. flavus EJ-JFF4 had significant multiple PGP properties, including siderophore production (69.3%), phosphate solubilization (95.4 µg ml-1). The greatest production of Indol-3-Acetic Acid was belonged to A. atrobrunnea EJ-JSF4 (114.5 µg ml-1). The analysis of FUNGuild revealed the abundance of symbiotrophs over other trophic modes, and the guild of endophytes was commonly assigned in all samples. For the first time, this study uncovered fungal diversity associated with jojoba plants using a culture-independent approach and in-vitro assessed the roles of cultivable fungal strains in promoting plant growth and biocontrol. The present study indicated the significance of jojoba shrubs as a potential source of diverse fungi with high biocontrol and PGP activities.

Brucine alleviates fibroblast-like synoviocytes dysfunction and inflammation by regulating YY1 during rheumatoid arthritis

Brucine is a weak alkaline indole alkaloid with wide pharmacological activities and has been identified to protect against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) process. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are also reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Here, we aimed to probe the role and mechanism of Brucine and circ_0139658 in RA progression. The fibroblast-like synoviocytes of RA (RA-FLSs) were isolated for functional analysis. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, as well as inflammatory response were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, EdU assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and ELISA analysis, respectively. qRT-PCR and western blotting analyses were utilized to measure the levels of genes and proteins. The binding between miR-653-5p and circ_0139658 or Yin Yang 1 (YY1), was verified using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. Brucine suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of RA-FLSs, and alleviated inflammation by reducing the release of pro-inflammatory factors and macrophage M1 polarization. RA-FLSs showed increased circ_0139658 and YY1 levels and decreased miR-653-5p levels. Circ_0139658 is directly bound to miR-653-5p to regulate YY1 expression. Brucine treatment suppressed circ_0139658 and YY1 expression but increased YY1 expression in RA-FLSs. Functionally, circ_0139658 overexpression reversed the suppressing effects of Brucine on RA-FLS dysfunction and inflammation. Moreover, circ_0139658 silencing alleviated the dysfunction and inflammation in RA-FLSs, which were reverted by YY1 overexpression. Brucine suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation in RA-FLSs by decreasing YY1 via circ_0139658/miR-653-5p axis.

Chemical constituents, pharmacological action, antitumor application, and toxicity of Strychnine Semen from Strychnons pierriana A.W.Hill.: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried and mature seeds of Strychnons pierriana A.W.Hill. have been called Strychnine Semen(S. Semen). It have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for nearly 400 years. In recent decades, scholars at home and abroad have widely used S. Semen in the treatment of tumor diseases, showing good anti-tumor effects. In this paper, the modern research achievements of S. Semen are reviewed, including traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In recent years, the research on S. Semen has increased gradually, especially the research on its anti-tumor. This paper not only reviewed the traditional uses, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of S. Semen, but also comprehensively listed the mechanisms of Strychnos in the treatment of different tumors, providing a review for further research and development of Strychnos resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review of the literature on Fuzi was performed using several resources, namely classic books on Chinese herbal medicine and various scientific databases, such as PubMed, the Web of Science, and the China Knowledge Resource Integrated databases.

RESULTS

The main constituents of S. Semen include alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, and their glycosides. Modern studies have proved that S. Semen has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory and analgesic, anti-thrombotic, myocardial cell protection, immune regulation, nerve excitation, and anti-tumor effects. Among them, the anti-tumor effect has been the focus of research in recent years. S. Semen have a certain therapeutic effect on many kinds of tumors, such as liver cancer, colon cancer, and stomach cancer in the digestive system, breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer in the reproductive system, myeloma and leukemia in the blood system, and those in the nervous system and the immune system.

CONCLUSION

Strychnine has an inhibitory effect on a variety of tumors. However, modern studies of strychnine are incomplete, and more in-depth studies are needed on its stronger bioactive constituents and potential pharmacological effects. The antitumor effect of Strychnine is worth further exploration.

The study of tryptophol containing emulgel on fungal reduction and skin irritation

Tryptophol (TOH), a fungal quorum-sensing molecule, that possesses anti-fungal activities for controlling the growth of human pathogenic fungi. In the present study, we developed TOH-containing emulgel formulations and examined the antifungal activities and potential use as topical treatments on the skin. The results showed that TOH-containing emulgel at 1000 μM has excellent physical characteristics as homogenous, stability, and inhibits the growth of 30 species of human pathogenic fungi in vitro. TOH-containing emulgel did not cause skin irritation in mouse model of irritation and in healthy human volunteers. Moreover, an increase in skin hydration and a decrease in trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) were observed after TOH-containing emulgel treatment on human skin. Our findings indicated that TOH-containing emulgel can be utilize as an antifungal agent for topical treatment against fungal infections on the skin.

Formulation optimization, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of niosomal nanocarriers for enhanced topical delivery of cetirizine

Cetirizine hydrochloride (CTZ), a second-generation anti-histaminic drug, has been recently explored for its effectiveness in the treatment of alopecia. Niosomes are surfactant-based nanovesicular systems that have promising applications in both topical and transdermal drug delivery. The aim of this study was to design topical CTZ niosomes for management of alopecia. Thin film hydration technique was implemented for the fabrication of CTZ niosomes. The niosomes were examined for vesicle size, surface charge, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized niosomal formulation was incorporated into a hydrogel base (HPMC) and explored for physical characteristics, ex vivo permeation, and in vivo dermato-kinetic study. The optimized CTZ-loaded niosomal formulation showed an average size of 403.4 ± 15.6 nm, zeta potential of - 12.9 ± 1.7 mV, and entrapment efficiency percentage of 52.8 ± 1.9%. Compared to plain drug solution, entrapment of CTZ within niosomes significantly prolonged in vitro drug release up to 12 h. Most importantly, ex-vivo skin deposition studies and in vivo dermato-kinetic studies verified superior skin deposition/retention of CTZ from CTZ-loaded niosomal gels, compared to plain CTZ gel. CTZ-loaded niosomal gel permitted higher drug deposition percentage (19.2 ± 1.9%) and skin retention (AUC0-10h 1124.5 ± 87.9 μg/mL.h) of CTZ, compared to 7.52 ± 0.7% and 646.2 ± 44.6 μg/mL.h for plain CTZ gel, respectively. Collectively, niosomes might represent a promising carrier for the cutaneous delivery of cetirizine for the topical management of alopecia.

Development and Optimization of Erythromycin Loaded Transethosomes Cinnamon Oil Based Emulgel for Antimicrobial Efficiency

Erythromycin (EM) is a macrolide antibiotic that is frequently used to treat skin bacterial infections. It has a short half-life (1-1.5 h), instability in stomach pH, and a low oral bioavailability. These foregoing factors limit its oral application; therefore, the development of topical formulations loaded with erythromycin is an essential point to maximize the drug's concentration at the skin. Accordingly, the current study's goal was to boost the antimicrobial activity of EM by utilizing the advantages of natural oils such as cinnamon oil. Erythromycin-loaded transethosomes (EM-TE) were generated and optimized using a Box-Behnken design employing, phospholipid concentration (A), surfactant concentration (B), and ethanol content (C) as independent variables. Their effects on entrapment efficiency, EE, (Y₁) and the total amount of erythromycin that penetrated the skin after 6 h, Q6h (Y₂), were assessed. The optimized transethosome showed a particle size of 256.2 nm, EE of 67.96 ± 0.59%, and Q6h of 665.96 ± 5.87 (µg/cm²) after 6 h. The TEM analysis revealed that, the vesicles are well-known packed structures with a spherical shape. The optimized transethosomes formulation was further transformed into a cinnamon oil-based emulgel system using HPMC as a gelling agent. The generated EM-TE-emulgel was characterized by its physical features, in vitro, ex vivo studies, and antimicrobial activities. The formulation showed sufficient characteristics for effective topical application, and demonstrated a great stability. Additionally, EM-TE-Emulgel had the highest transdermal flux (120.19 μg/cm²·h), and showed considerably (p < 0.05) greater antimicrobial activity, than EM-TE-gel and placebo TE-Emulgel. The action of EM was subsequently augmented with cinnamon oil, which eventually showed a notable effect against bacterial growth. Finally, these results demonstrate that the transethosomes-loaded cinnamon oil-based emulgel is an alternative way to deliver erythromycin for the treatment of topical bacterial infections.

Ginger Extract-Loaded Sesame Oil-Based Niosomal Emulgel: Quality by Design to Ameliorate Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Ginger, a natural plant belonging to the Zingeberaceae family, has been reported to have reasonable anti-inflammatory effects. The current study aimed to examine ginger extract transdermal delivery by generating niosomal vesicles as a promising nano-carrier incorporated into emulgel prepared with sesame oil. Particle size, viscosity, in vitro release, and ex vivo drug penetration experiments were performed on the produced formulations (ginger extract loaded gel, ginger extract loaded emulgel, ginger extract niosomal gel, and ginger extract niosomal emulgel). Carrageenan-induced edema in rat hind paw was employed to estimate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. The generated ginger extract formulations showed good viscosity and particle size. The in vitro release of ginger extract from niosomal formulation surpassed other formulations. In addition, the niosomal emulgel formulation showed improved transdermal flux and increased drug permeability through rabbit skin compared to other preparations. Most importantly, carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema test confirmed the potential anti-inflammatory efficacy of ginger extract niosomal emulgel, compared to other formulations, as manifested by a significant decrease in paw edema with a superior edema inhibition potency. Overall, our findings suggest that incorporating a niosomal formulation within sesame oil-based emulgel might represent a plausible strategy for effective transdermal delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs like ginger extract.

Development and Optimization of Nigella sativa Nanoemulsion Loaded with Pioglitazone for Hypoglycemic Effect

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder associated with an increased blood glucose level. The world health burden of DM has increased as a result of numerous causes that necessitates suitable treatment. Pioglitazone (PGZ) is a generally prescribed medication for managing type II diabetes. However, its low solubility creates complications for its formulation. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to incorporate PGZ into a nanoemulsion (NE) formulation prepared with Nigella sativa oil (NSO) to boost the action of PGZ. To our knowledge, no previous study has addressed the combination and synergistic effect of PGZ and NSO as a hypoglycemic NE formulation intended for oral administration. An experiment was designed to test several PGZ-loaded NE formulations, varying factors such as NSO, surfactant and co-surfactant concentrations. These factors were investigated for their influence on responses including particle size and in vitro release. An optimized PGZ-loaded NE was selected and examined for its morphology, kinetic activity and stability. Further, the anti-diabetic effect of the optimized formulation was evaluated using diabetically induced rats. The optimized formula exhibited a good particle size of 167.1 nm and in vitro release of 89.5%. A kinetic study revealed that the drug release followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas mechanism. Additionally, the PGZ-loaded NE formulation was found to be stable, showing non-significant variation in the evaluated parameters when stored at 4 and 25 °C for a period of 3 months. In vivo investigation of the PGZ-loaded NE formulation showed a significant reduction in blood glucose level, which appeared to be enhanced by the presence of NSO. In conclusion, NS-NE could be a promising nanocarrier for enhancing the hypoglycemic effect of PGZ.

Tea Tree Oil Nanoemulsion-Based Hydrogel Vehicle for Enhancing Topical Delivery of Neomycin

The present investigation aims to improve the antimicrobial influence of certain antibacterial drugs, namely, neomycin (NEO), exploiting the benefits of natural oils such as tea tree oil (TTO). Therefore, a distinctive nanolipid formulation, namely, a nanoemulsion (NE), was developed using a Central Composite Factorial Design (CCD) approach depending on the amount of TTO and tween 80 as surfactant. The optimized NEO-NE formula exhibiting minimum globular size and maximum in vitro release was selected. For efficient topical delivery, NEO-NE was incorporated into a pre-formulated hydrogel. The developed NEO-NE-hydrogel was characterized by its physical characteristics such as pH, viscosity, and spreadability. Next, it was tested for stability under different conditions for 3 months. Ultimately, an irritation test was conducted followed by an antibacterial examination. The preparation demonstrated acceptable properties to be successfully applied topically. It showed non-significant changes in stability in both conditions up to 3 months storage when compared to a fresh preparation. It exhibited no irritation when applied on hairless animal skin. Finally, TTO revealed a good inhibition for the bacterial growth that could improve the influence of NEO antibacterial activity, indicating the efficiency of NE containing NEO prepared with TTO to be a promising antibacterial nanocarrier.

Evaluating Antimicrobial Activity and Wound Healing Effect of Rod-Shaped Nanoparticles

Presently, the nanotechnology approach has gained a great concern in the media of drug delivery. Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) specially having a non-spherical structure, such as gold nanorods (GNR), are attracting much interest as antibacterial agent and many other medical fields. The aim of the current investigation was to characterize Au-NPs and investigate their antimicrobial and wound healing efficacy in diabetic animals. Material and methods: Au-NPs were characterized using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, estimating their particle size, polydispersity (PDI), and assessing their morphological characters. Further, Au-NPs were estimated for their antibacterial and antifungal behavior. Ultimately, in vivo activity of Au-NPs was evaluated against excision wound healing in STZ-induced diabetic animals. Results: Au-NPs were found to show maximum absorption at 520 nm. They exhibited a particle size of 82.57 nm with a PDI value of 0.323. Additionally, they exhibited good antimicrobial activity against different bacterial strains. Topical application of Au-NPs caused a significantly increased percentage of wound area reduction, lesser time needed for epithelialization, and augmented hydroxyproline, collagen, and hexosamine levels demonstrating enhanced healing processes. Furthermore, Au-NPs displayed a significant intensification in angiogenesis-related factors (HIF-1α, TGF-β1, and VEGF), and antioxidant enzymes activities (CAT, SOD, GPx) as well as mitigated inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB) and lipid peroxidation (MDA). Conclusion: Au-NPs exhibited proper particle size, and rod-shaped particles, with efficient antimicrobial behavior against different bacterial strains. Furthermore, Au-NPs demonstrated a promising wound healing activity in STZ-induced diabetic animals.

Hypolipidemic Activity of Olive Oil-Based Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Containing Atorvastatin

Currently, hyperlipidemia is a growing health issue that is considered a risk factor for obesity. Controlling body weight and modifying life style in most of cases are not adequate and the condition requires medical treatment. Statin drugs (mainly Atorvastatin (ATO)), have been used broadly and for long time as medications for handling higher levels of lipid, especially bad cholesterol, which accordingly controls the prevalence of obesity. Still, the obstacle that stands in front of any formulation is the poor solubility of the drug. Low solubility of ATO came up with poor absorption as well as poor bioavailability. This paved the way for the present study, which aimed to exploit nanotechnology and develop certain nanolipid carriers that could accommodate hydrophobic drugs, such as ATO. Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) containing ATO was fabricated using olive oil. Olive oil is natural plant oil possessing confirmed hypolipidemic activity that would help in improving the efficacy of the formulation. Via applying the Quality by Design (QbD) approach, one NLC formula was selected to be optimized based on appropriate size and higher entrapment. Optimized ATO-NLC was scrutinized for zeta potential, in vitro study and kinetic profile. Moreover, stability testing and in vivo hypolipidemic behavior was conducted. The optimized NLC formulation seemed to show particle size (254.23 nm) with neutral zeta potential (−1.77 mV) and entrapment efficiency (69.56%). The formulation could be prolonged for 12 h and provided higher % of release (97.17%). Stability testing confirmed the role of modifying the surface of the formulation with PEG-DSPE in providing a highly stable formulation that could withstand three months storage in two altered conditions. Ultimately, optimized ATO-NLC could successfully lower total cholesterol level in rats induced with obesity and fed a high-fat diet. Remarkably, ATO-NLC prepared with olive oil, in addition to shielding its surface, would provide a stable formulation that holds up the synergistic action between olive oil and ATO.

Response Surface Methodology for Optimization of Buspirone Hydrochloride-Loaded In Situ Gel for Pediatric Anxiety

The purpose of the current investigation was to formulate, assess, and optimize oral in situ gels of buspirone hydrochloride (BH) with the specific end goal of expanding the time the medication spends in the stomach, thereby ensuring an extended medication discharge. This would allow the use of a once-a-day dose of liquid BH formulations, which is ideal for the treatment of pediatric anxiety. In situ gels loaded with BH were prepared using various concentrations of sodium alginate (Na alg.), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K15M). The in situ gels exhibited the desired consistency, drug distribution, pH, ability to form gel, and prolonged drug release in vitro. The (3³) full factorial design was utilized for the revealing of the ideal figures for the selected independent variables, Na alg. (X₁), HPMC (X₂), and CaCl₂ (X₃) based on measurements of the viscosity (Y₁) and percentage drug release after 6 h (Y₂). A pharmacokinetic study of the optimum formulation on rabbits was also performed. The formulation containing 2% of Na alg., 0.9% of HPMC-K15M, and 0.1125% of CaCl₂ was selected as the ideal formulation, which gave the theoretical values of 269.2 cP and 44.9% for viscosity and percentage of drug released after 6 h, respectively. The pharmacokinetic study showed that the selected oral Na alg. in situ gel formulation displayed a prolonged release effect compared to BH solution and the marketed tablet (Buspar^®), which was confirmed by the low C_max and high T_max values. The optimum oral Na alg. in situ gel showed a 1.5-fold increment in bioavailability compared with the drug solution.

Shea Butter Potentiates the Anti-Bacterial Activity of Fusidic Acid Incorporated into Solid Lipid Nanoparticle

Fusidic acid (FA) is an efficient anti-bacterial drug proven to be efficient against a wide range of bacteria. Nevertheless, the main restriction in its formulation is the limited solubility. To avoid such an obstacle, the drug is incorporated into the lipid core of the nanolipid formulation. Consequently, the present study was an attempt to formulate nanolipid preparation, mainly, solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) integrating FA. FA-SLN was prepared using shea butter as a lipid phase owing to its reported anti-bacterial activity. Different FA-SLNs were fabricated using the central composite design (CCD) approach. The optimized formula was selected and integrated into a hydrogel base to be efficiently used topically. FA-SLN-hydrogel was evaluated for its character, morphology, in vitro release and stability. The formula was examined for irritation reaction and finally evaluated for its anti-bacterial performance. The optimized formula showed particle size 283.83 nm and entrapment 73.057%. The formulated FA-SLN-hydrogel displayed pH 6.2, viscosity 15,610 cP, spreadability 51.1 mm and in vitro release 64.6% following 180 min. FA-SLN-hydrogel showed good stability for three months at different conditions (room temperature and refrigerator). It exhibited no irritation reaction on the treated rats. Eventually, shea butter displayed a noteworthy effect against bacterial growth that improved the effect of FA. This would indicate prospective anti-bacterial activity of FA when combined with shea butter in SLN formulation as a promising nanocarrier.

Crisaborole Loaded Nanoemulsion Based Chitosan Gel: Formulation, Physicochemical Characterization and Wound Healing Studies

The development of an effective gel capable of treating eczema remains a challenge in medicine. Because of its greater retention in the affected area, good absorption of wound exudates, and induction of cell growth, nanogel is widely investigated as a topical preparation. Chitosan gel based on nanoemulsions has received much attention for its use in wound healing. In this study, four formulae (CRB-NE1-CRB-NE4) of crisaborole-loaded nanoemulsions (CRB-NEs) were developed using lauroglycol 90 as an oil, Tween-80 as a surfactant, and transcutol-HP (THP) as a co-surfactant. The prepared NEs (CRB-NE1-CRB-NE4) were evaluated for their physicochemical properties. Based on vesicle size (64.5 ± 5.3 nm), polydispersity index (PDI) (0.202 ± 0.06), zeta potential (ZP, −36.3 ± 4.16 mV), refractive index (RI, 1.332 ± 0.03), and percent transmittance (% T, 99.8 ± 0.12) was optimized and further incorporated into chitosan (2%, w/w) polymeric gels. The CRB-NE1-loaded chitosan gel was then evaluated for its drug content, spreadability, in-vitro release, flux, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory studies. The CRB-NE1-loaded chitosan gel exhibited a flux of 0.211 mg/cm²/h, a drug release of 74.45 ± 5.4% CRB released in 24 h with a Korsmeyer-Peppas mechanism release behavior. The CRB-NE1-loaded gel exhibited promising wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities.

Paclitaxel and Myrrh oil Combination Therapy for Enhancement of Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer; QbD Approach

Paclitaxel (PX), plant alkaloid, is a chemotherapeutic agent intended for treating a wide variety of cancers. The objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate the anticancer activity of PX loaded into a nanocarrier, mainly PEGylated nanoemulsion (NE) fabricated with myrrh essential oil. Myrrh essential oil has been estimated previously to show respectable anticancer activity. Surface modification of the formulation with PEG-DSPE would help in avoiding phagocytosis and prolong the residence time in blood circulation. Various NE formulations were developed after operating (22) factorial design, characterized for their particle size, in vitro release, and hemolytic activity. The optimized formula was selected and compared to its naked counterpart in respect to several characterizations. Quantitative amount of protein absorbed on the formulation surfaces and in vitro release with and without serum incubation were evaluated. Ultimately, MTT assay was conducted to distinguish the anti-proliferative activity. PEGylated PX-NE showed particle size 170 nm, viscosity 2.91 cP, in vitro release 57.5%, and hemolysis 3.44%, which were suitable for intravenous administration. A lower amount of serum protein adsorbed on PEGylated PX-NE surface (16.57 µg/µmol) compared to naked counterpart (45.73 µg/µmol). In vitro release from PEGylated NE following serum incubation was not greatly affected (63.3%), in contrast to the naked counterpart (78.8%). Eventually, anti-proliferative effect was obtained for PEGylated PX-NE achieving IC50 38.66 µg/mL. The results obtained recommend PEGylated NE of myrrh essential oil as a candidate nanocarrier for passive targeting of PX.

Development, Characterization and Optimization of the Anti-Inflammatory Influence of Meloxicam Loaded into a Eucalyptus Oil-Based Nanoemulgel

The purpose of the present study was to explore the influence of a certain natural essential oil, namely eucalyptus oil, as an anti-inflammatory agent in addition to its prospective role in enhancing the action of meloxicam in reducing inflammation. As far as we know, this has been the first integration of meloxicam and eucalyptus essential oil into a nanoemulgel formulation intended for topical use. Primarily, eucalyptus oil was utilized in developing a nanoemulsion formulation incorporating meloxicam. A 22 factorial design was constructed using two independent variables (oil concentration and surfactant concentration) with two responses (particle size and % of in vitro release). One optimized formula was selected depending on the desirability function and subjected to a stability study. The optimized nanoemulsion was mixed with HPMC as a gelling agent to produce a meloxicam-loaded nanoemulgel, which was examined for its properties, stability, in vitro release and ex vivo permeation. Eventually, the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated and compared with a placebo and corresponding gel formulation. The developed nanoemulgel revealed acceptable physical characteristics to be applied topically. Studying of the in vitro release was conducted successfully for 6 h. The ex vivo permeation from the nanoemulgel formulations was prompted, showing an appropriate value of the steady-state transdermal flux (SSTF). As a final point, the anti-inflammatory activity of the developed nanoemulgel revealed a valued anti-inflammatory influence. Additionally, the concurrence of eucalyptus essential oil and meloxicam was assured, and their potential in combating and lowering inflammation was supported.

Novel Formulation of Fusidic Acid Incorporated into a Myrrh-Oil-Based Nanoemulgel for the Enhancement of Skin Bacterial Infection Treatment

Fusidic acid (FA) is renowned as an effective bacteriostatic agent obtained from the fungus Fusidium coccineum, used for treating various eye and skin disorders. The objective of the present study was to develop, characterize, and evaluate the antibacterial activity of a novel FA nanoemulgel for topical skin application. Primarily, various fusidic acid nanoemulsion formulations were fabricated using different concentrations of myrrh essential oil, Tween 80 as a surfactant, and Transcutol® P as a co-surfactant. A Box−Behnken design was employed to select the optimized FA nanoemulsion formulation, based on the evaluated particle size and % of in vitro release as dependent variables. The optimized formula was incorporated within a hydrogel to obtain an FA nanoemulgel (FA-NEG) preparation. The formulated FA-NEG was evaluated for its visual appearance, pH, viscosity, and spreadability, compared to its corresponding prepared fusidic acid gel. In vitro release, kinetic study, and ex vivo drug permeation were implemented, followed by formulation stability testing. The FA-NEG exhibited a smooth and homogeneous appearance, pH value (6.61), viscosity (25,265 cP), and spreadability (33.6 mm), which were all good characteristics for appropriate topical application. A total of 59.3% of FA was released from the FA-NEG after 3 h. The ex vivo skin permeability of the FA-NEG was significantly enhanced by 3.10 ± 0.13-fold, showing SSTF of 111.2 ± 4.5 µg/cm2·h when compared to other formulations under investigation (p < 0.05). No irritation was observed upon applying the FA-NEG to animal skin. Eventually, it was revealed that the FA-NEG displayed improved antibacterial activity against a wide variety of bacteria when compared to its corresponding FA gel and marketed cream, indicating the prospective antibacterial effect of myrrh essential oil. In conclusion, the recommended formulation offers a promising antibacterial approach for skin infections.

Experimental Design and Optimization of Nano-Transfersomal Gel to Enhance the Hypoglycemic Activity of Silymarin

Current advancements in the research investigations focused at using natural products to generate novel dosage forms with a potential therapeutic impact. Silymarin is a natural product obtained from the herb Silybum marianum that has been shown to have remarkable hypoglycemic activity. Owing to the low enteral absorption, instability in stomach secretion, and poor solubility of Silymarin, it was better to be produced as a topical dosage form. A three-factor, three-level Box Behnken (3³ BB) design was constructed to develop 15 formulations using three independent variables (phospholipid concentration, surfactant concentration, and sonication time) and two dependent variables (encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release). The optimized formula was added to HPMC gel and the resulting transfersomal gel was investigated for its characteristics, in vitro, ex vivo and hypoglycemic behaviors. The pH of the Silymarin-loaded transfersomal gel was 7.05, the spreadability was 55.35 mm, and the viscosity was 6.27 Pa. Furthermore, Silymarin loaded transfersomal gel had the greatest transdermal flux (92.41 µg/cm²·h), which was much greater than all other formulations. In vivo observations revealed that Silymarin loaded transfersomal gel significantly reduced blood glucose levels, compared to either Silymarin gel or oral Silymarin suspension. The findings show that the developed transfersomal gel could be an effective carrier for Silymarin transdermal delivery.

Enhancement of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Optimized Niosomal Colchicine Loaded into Jojoba Oil-Based Emulgel Using Response Surface Methodology

Recent progression in investigational studies aiming to integrate natural products and plant oils in developing new dosage forms that would provide optimal therapeutic effect. Therefore, the aim of the present exploration was to inspect the influence of jojoba oil in boosting the anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine natural product. To our knowledge, there is no formulation comprising colchicine and jojoba oil together to form a niosomal emulgel preparation anticipated for topical application. Colchicine is a natural product extracted from Colchicum autumnale that has been evidenced to show respectable anti-inflammatory activity. Owing to its drawbacks and low therapeutic index, it was preferable to be formulated into topical dosage form. The current study inspected colchicine transdermal delivery by developing niosomal preparation as a potential nanocarrier included into emulgel prepared with jojoba oil. Box Behnken design was constructed to develop 17 niosomal emulgel formulations. The optimized colchicine niosomal emulgel was evaluated for its physical characteristics and in vitro release studies. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was estimated via carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema method. The developed colchicine niosomal preparation revealed particle size of 220.7 nm with PDI value 0.22, entrapment efficiency 65.3%. The formulation was found to be stable showing no significant difference in particle size and entrapment efficiency up on storage at 4 °C and 25 °C for 3 months. The optimized colchicine niosomal emulgel exhibited a pH value 6.73, viscosity 4598 cP, and spreadability 38.3 mm. In vitro release study of colchicine from niosomal emulgel formulation was around 52.4% over 6 h. Apparently, the proficient anti-inflammatory activity of colchicine niosomal emulgel was confirmed via carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema test. Overall, the results recommend the combination of niosomal preparation with jojoba oil-based emulgel that might signify a favorable delivery of anti-inflammatory drug such as colchicine.