Liposomes: An Emerging Strategy for the Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND

A Liposomal delivery system is a novel and distinguishing way of organized medicine administration. The advancements in liposomal technology allow for controlled drug distribution to treat rheumatoid arthritis effectively. Liposomes are microscopic lipid-based vesicles that have shown promise in transporting substances, such as superoxide dismutase, hemoglobin, erythrocyte interleukin-2, gamma interferon, and smaller compounds.

OBJECTIVE

Liposomes are biocompatible, nontoxic, biodegradable, non-immunogenic, and flexible, with sizes ranging from 0.025 to 2.5 micrometers. LDS is normally employed to distribute drugs through topical conduits, but fresh investigation has shown that it offers promise for oral, ocular, and parenteral administration. Our major objective is to gather information about liposomes, focusing on their applicability in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

METHODS

In the current review, we have tried to cover the preparation techniques, clinical trials, patents, marketed formulations, vesicle types, formulations used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments, and layered liposomal formulations with improved characteristics.

CONCLUSION

Research has established LDS as a biocompatible, sustainable, non-toxic, adaptable material. Researchers working on LDS technology in rheumatoid arthritis will find this review particularly useful as it may unclutter novel ways for therapeutic intercessions in treating the disease.

Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Effectiveness of Quercetin: A Dietary Supplement

Fruits and vegetables (like apples, citrus, grapes, onions, parsley, etc.) are the primary dietary sources of quercetin. In addition, isolated quercetin is also available on the market as a dietary supplement with a daily dose of up to 1000 mg/d. The objective of the present study is to explore the therapeutic potential and clinical efficacy of quercetin as a dietary supplement. The present paper highlights the safety parameters and clinical trial studies with several targets reviewed from the data available on PubMed, Science Direct, ClinicalTrails. gov, and from many reputed foundations. The results of the studies prove the unique position of quercetin in the treatment of various disorders and the possibility of using phytochemicals such as quercetin for an efficient cure. As evidenced by the numerous published reports on human interventions, it has been concluded that quercetin intake significantly improves disease conditions with minimal adverse effects.

Decoding Therapeutic Applications of Quercetin: Recent Advancements in Nanotechnological Strategies

For centuries, people have used herbal medicine to treat a diversity of health complications and as a natural substance, they have a favourable effect on our health. Herbal ingredients can be utilized as lead molecules in the innovation and development of a new drug. Flavonoids are a class of chemical compounds with diverse phenolic structures, and they are found in a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea, and wine. Quercetin is the most prevalent polyphenolic bioflavonoid or flavonoid. Quercetin is found in many food products and has demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological activities, including the treatment of allergies, ocular diseases, metabolic ailments, inflammatory illnesses, cardiovascular ailments and arthritis. Quercetin has attracted interest as an emerging pharmacophore with the potential to significantly advance research and the development of novel therapeutic medicines for a variety of diseases. Despite having a huge therapeutic potential, these flavonoids have unfavourable pharmacokinetic characteristics, low bioavailability, and poor solubility, limiting their application in therapeutics. The objective of the current study is to present a new update on the major therapeutic uses of quercetin and other types of nanocarriers that contain quercetin to treat various ailments.

Marine-Derived Compounds: A Powerful Platform for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating form of dementia that primarily affects cholinergic neurons in the brain, significantly reducing an individual's capacity for learning and creative skills and ultimately resulting in an inability to carry out even basic daily tasks. As the elderly population is exponentially increasing, the disease has become a significant concern for society. Therefore, neuroprotective substances have garnered considerable interest in addressing this universal issue. Studies have shown that oxidative damage to neurons contributes to the pathophysiological processes underlying AD progression. In AD, tau phosphorylation and glutamate excitotoxicity may play essential roles, but no permanent cure for AD is available. The existing therapies only manage the early symptoms of AD and often come with numerous side effects and toxicities. To address these challenges, researchers have turned to nature and explored various sources such as plants, animals, and marine organisms. Many historic holy books from different cultures emphasize that adding marine compounds to the regular diet enhances brain function and mitigates its decline. Consequently, researchers have devoted significant time to identifying potentially active neuroprotective substances from marine sources. Marine-derived compounds are gaining recognition due to their abundant supply of diverse chemical compounds with biological and pharmacological potential and unique mechanisms of action. Several studies have reported that plants exhibit multitarget potential in treating AD. In light of this, the current study focuses on marine-derived components with excellent potential for treating this neurodegenerative disease.

A Profound Insight into the Structure-activity Relationship of Ubiquitous Scaffold Piperazine: An Explicative Review

Despite extensive research in the field of drug discovery and development, still there is a need to develop novel molecular entities. Literature reveals a substantial heterocyclic nucleus named, piperazine, which shows an immense therapeutic voyage. For several decades, molecules having the piperazine nucleus have entered the market as a drug exhibiting biological potential. It was known to possess antipsychotic, antihistamine, antianginal, antidepressant, anticancer, antiviral, cardioprotective, and anti-inflammatory activity with a specific basis for structural activity relationship. Thus, it is regarded as a key structural feature in most of the already available therapeutic drugs in the market. Reports also suggest that the extensive utilization of these currently available drugs having a piperazine nucleus shows increasing tolerance significantly day by day. In addition to this, various other factors like solubility, low bioavailability, cost-effectiveness, and imbalance between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics profile limit their utilization. Focusing on that issues, various structural modification studies were performed on the piperazine moiety to develop new derivatives/analogs to overcome the problems associated with available marketed drugs. Thus, this review article aims to gain insight into the number of structural modifications at the N-1 and N-4 positions of the piperazine scaffold. This SAR approach may prove to be the best way to overcome the above-discussed drawbacks and lead to the design of drug molecules with better efficacy and affinity. Hence, there is an urgent need to focus on the structural features of this scaffold which paves further work for deeper exploration and may help medicinal chemists as well as pharmaceutical industries.

A Review on Novel Applications of Nanotechnology in the Management of Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer continues to be a serious danger to men's health, despite advances in the field of cancer nanotechnology. Although different types of cancer have been studied using nanomaterials and theranostic systems derived from nanomaterials, they have not yet reached their full potential for prostate cancer due to issues with in vivo biologic compatibility, immune reaction responses, accurate targetability, as well as a therapeutic outcome related to the nano-structured mechanism.

METHOD

The ultimate motive of this article is to understand the theranostic nanotechnology-based scheme for treating prostate cancer. The categorization of diverse nanomaterials in accordance with biofunctionalization tactics and biomolecule sources has been emphasized in this review so that they might potentially be used in clinical contexts and future advances. These opportunities can enhance the direct visualization of prostate tumors, early identification of prostate cancer-associated biomarkers at extremely low detection limits, and finally, the therapy for prostate cancer.

RESULT

In December 2022, a thorough examination of the scientific literature was carried out utilizing the Web of Science, PubMed, and Medline databases. The goal was to analyze novel applications of nanotechnology in the treatment of prostate cancer, together with their structural layouts and functionalities.

CONCLUSION

The various treatments and the reported revolutionary nanotechnology-based systems appear to be precise, safe, and generally successful; as a result, this might open up a new avenue for the detection and eradication of prostate cancer.

In silico docking based screening of constituents from Persian shallot as modulators of human glucokinase

Purpose

Small molecule glucokinase (GK) modulators not only decrease fasting and basal plasma sugar contents but also progress glucose tolerance. The hydro-ethanolic extract of the Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium Boiss.) decreased blood glucose, improved plasma insulin and amplified GK action. The present study was proposed to screen phytoconstituents from Persian shallot as human GK activators using in silico docking studies.

Methods

A total of 91 phytoconstituents reported in Persian shallot (A. hirtifolium Boiss.) were assessed in silico for the prediction of drug-like properties and molecular docking investigations were carried out with human GK using AutoDock vina with the aim of exploring the binding interactions between the phytoconstituents and GK enzyme followed by in silico prediction of toxicity.

Results

Almost all the phytoconstituents tested showed good pharmacokinetic parameters for oral bioavailability and drug-likeness. In the docking analysis, cinnamic acid, methyl 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoate, quercetin, kaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1- > 4)-glucopyranoside, 5-hydroxy-methyl furfural, ethyl N-(O-anisyl) formimidate, 2-pyridinethione and ascorbic acid showed appreciable hydrogen bond and hydrophobic type interactions with the allosteric site residues of the GK enzyme.

Conclusion

These screened phytoconstituents may serve as promising hit molecules for further development of clinically beneficial and safe allosteric activators of the human GK enzyme.

Development and Validation of Robust, Highly Sensitive and Stability-Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Estimation of Deferasirox and its Degradation Products

A rapid, simple and highly sensitive stability-indicating reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic technique, coupled with a photodiode array detector, was developed and validated for the estimation of Deferasirox (DFS). The chromatographic separation was achieved using a C-18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) stationary phase and a mobile phase composed of 0.1% orthophosphoric acid and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The detection was carried out at a wavelength of 245 nm with a constant injection volume of 10 μL throughout the analysis. With an R2 value of 0.9996, the calibration curve was determined to be linear over an appropriate concentration range of 50-500 ng/mL. According to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q1 (R2) guideline, DFS was evaluated under stress conditions that included hydrolytic (acid, alkali and neutral), oxidative and thermal degradation. The findings demonstrated that significant degradation was observed in acidic degradation conditions, whereas drug substance was found to be stable when exposed to neutral, basic, oxidative and thermal degradation. The developed method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The developed method was employed successfully to estimate the amount of DFS in bulk and pharmaceutical formulation.

Therapeutic and Health Promoting Potential of Bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia: A Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND

Bakuchiol, is a principal bioactive component present in seeds of Psoralea corylifolia. It is one of the important monoterpene phenols and has been reported to possess extensive pharmacological properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and hepatoprotective. Bakuchiol also plays a significant role in mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE

With an aim to explore the pharmacological potential of plant Psoralea corylifolia and its bioactive constituent, Bakuchiol; which may act as a lead to develop new molecular entities as drugs.

METHODS

A substantial literature survey was performed by scientific search engines like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, etc., and were reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty.

RESULTS

The study concludes that both Psoralea and bakuchiol possess innumerable pharmacological potentials to treat multiple disorders.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, the promising pharmacological activities of bakuchiol may open new probes for therapeutic invention in the management of numerous ailments. Thus, the present review gives the erudition of bakuchiol as a potential bioactive molecule which paves the way for further work in exploring its potential.

Bakuchiol: A Potential Anticancer Compound from Psoralea corylifolia Linn

BACKGROUND

Bakuchiol is a monoterpene phenol isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifoliaLinn. It is used traditionally in Indian and Chinese medicine and has been reported to possess extensive pharmacological potential against a variety of ailments. A recent study enumerates the anticancer potential of bakuchiol.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present review study is to explore the anticancer potential of bakuchiol which provides insight into the design and develop novel molecular entities against various disorders.

METHODS

Current prose and patents emphasizing the anticancer potential of bakuchiol have been identified and reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty. An extensive literature survey was performed and compiled via the search engine, PubMed, Science Direct, and from many reputed foundations..

RESULTS

The study's findings suggested and verified the anticancer potential that Psoralea and bakuchiol against a variety of cancer. Both Psoralea and bakuchiol also portrayed synergistic or potentiating effects when given in combination with other anticancer drugs or natural compounds.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, the promising anticancer potential of bakuchiol may open new probes for therapeutic invention in various types of tumors. Thus, the present review gives the erudition of bakuchiol and Psoralea as anticancer which paves the way for further work in exploring their potential.

Pulegone: An Emerging Oxygenated Cyclic Monoterpene Ketone Scaffold Delineating Synthesis, Chemical Reactivity, and Biological potential

Pulegone ((R)-5-Methyl-2-(1-methylethylidine) cyclohexanone) is a pharmacologically active, natural monoterpene ketone obtained from leaves and flowering tops of the mint family (Lamiaceae). The aim is to comprise the physicochemical and biological aspects of pulegone. All significant databases were collected via electronic search using Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct and were compiled. This review presents the occurrence, chemistry, and modifications of pulegone structure and its effect on the biological system. Pulegone represents various pharmacological properties, i.e., antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-feeding, antifungal, antiviral, and pesticide activities, and has a significant role as an abortifacient and emmenagogue. Thus, this present review concludes the knowledgeable erudition on pulegone that paves the way for further work.

Hesperidin: A Potential Therapeutic Agent against COVID-19

COVID-19, aka Coronavirus Disease 2019, triggered by new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 or SARS-CoV-2, is now a public health emergency due to its rapid spread, high transmission efficiency, and severe viral pandemic that is significantly increasing the number of patients and associated deaths. Currently, no specific treatment is available for this highly contagious virus. The unavailability of effective and specific treatments and the severity of this epidemic situation potentiate medicinal chemists' in supporting new prophylactic or therapeutic interventions against COVID-19. This study discusses the therapeutic potential of hesperidin, a traditionally used herbal medicine with an exceptional safety profile. Recent studies on hesperidin advocate its promising potential in the prevention and management of COVID-19. This paper also discusses the recent clinical studies based on the previously documented antiviral activity of hesperidin. Herein, we propose the detailed preclinical and clinical manifestations of hesperidin based on its multifaceted bioactivities to develop a novel anti-COVID-19 lead.

Hemorrhoid Disease: A Review on Treatment, Clinical Research and Patent Data

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhoid disease (HD) is an anal-rectal ailment that is commonly painful or may be painless and causes rectal bleeding with or without prolapsing anal tissue. It is generally associated with bleeding, prolapse, pruritus, and discomfort, which results in a diminished quality of life and well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the recent developments in terms of safety, clinical efficacy, and marketed formulation for the effective management of hemorrhoids.

METHOD

Reported literature available on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Clinicaltrails.gov, and from many reputed foundations has been studied to summarize the recent development and clinical studies for the management of hemorrhoids.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The high incidence of hemorrhoids obliges the development of new molecules; therefore, safe and efficient drugs to confer protection against hemorrhoids are urgently needed. This review article mainly focuses on the newer molecules to overcome hemorrhoids and also emphasizes various studies carried out in the past.

A Review of Clinical Studies Assessing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Escitalopram: A Step Towards Development

BACKGROUND

Major depression is a debilitating, sometimes fatal disorder, deteriorating the quality of life and well-being. Escitalopram showed highly selective and dose-dependent inhibitory activity on human serotonin transport. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line drugs to manage major depressive disorder (MDD).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to explore the therapeutic potential of escitalopram, a clinically approved drug to manage MDD and panic disorders.

METHODS

It emphasizes comparative and clinical trial studies with several pharmacological targets reviewed from the data available on PubMed, Science Direct, Clinicaltrails.gov, and from many reputed foundations.

RESULTS

To highlight the clinical efficacy, safety, recent development, and stable formulation of escitalopram with an increased bioavailability profile. Evidence-based on the available clinical and pharmacoeconomic data, escitalopram represents an effective first-line treatment option for MDD patients.

CONCLUSION

The present review highlights the placebo-controlled clinical studies and the recent development that can be helpful for further research perspectives.

Quercetin-based Nanoformulation: A Potential Approach for Cancer Treatment

Nanoformulations derived from natural products are gaining popularity as a treatment option for several human diseases, including cancer, as they offer a viable alternative to conventional cancer therapies, which are often associated with numerous side effects and complications. Quercetin (Que), a plant-derived phenolic molecule, has demonstrated potential as a chemotherapeutic agent for different types of cancer. However, Que's low water solubility, instability towards antioxidants, low bioavailability, and severe biotransformation constraints make it challenging to use in vivo. Nanoparticles have emerged as a promising technology for the precise targeting of tumor cells, leading to improved efficacy and specificity in cancer therapies. In this review, the impact of flavonoid nanoformulations on enhancing the safety, therapeutic potential, and bioavailability of Que in cancer treatment is highlighted. A variety of nanoparticle types have been developed, including polymeric micelles, liposomes, PLGA nanoparticles, coencapsulation, chitosan NPs, lipid carriers, silver and gold NPs, inorganic NPs, organic metal frameworks, and biomacromolecule- based NPs, all aimed at improving the antineoplastic efficacy of Que. These nanoparticles offer several advantages, including prolonged circulation time, tumor-specific biodistribution, high encapsulation efficiency, enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and controlled release. This review provides fresh insights into the arena of drug discovery for tumor therapies by focusing on the influence of flavonoid nanoformulations on the enhancement of their safety, therapeutic, and bioavailability characteristics.

1,3-thiazole Derivatives: A Scaffold with Considerable Potential in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

1,3-thiazoles, which contain nitrogen and a sulfur atom is an unsaturated five-membered heterocyclic ring, have achieved a unique significant place in drug design and development because of their versatile structure and a variety of pharmacological activities, viz. anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antidiabetic, etc. They have inspired researchers to design novel thiazole with different biological activities. The presence of the thiazole moiety has resulted in a large number of clinically useful drugs with a wide range of activities, such as Ritonavir (antiviral), Sulfathiazole (antimicrobial antibiotic), Abafungin, Ravuconazole (antifungal), Meloxicam (NSAID), etc., that further verify this statement. The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's is increasing at a rapid pace but existing treatments mainly provide symptomatic relief and are associated with undesired effects. Consequently, designing novel compounds with more effectiveness and reduced toxicity are required. 1,3-thiazole derivatives have emerged as excellent candidate in this regard and have an important role for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the current review, we have gathered all the appropriate literature which demonstrate the remarkable role of 1,3-thiazole and its derivatives in these diseases that may help design new compounds with more desired characteristics. The literature was assessed through worldwide scientific databases like GOOGLE, SCOPUS, and PUBMED using different keywords, and only relevant information published in English was evaluated.

An Update on Herbal Products for the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), is a continuously increasing healthcare problem mainly characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation. The common symptoms of UC and CD include inflammation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding, and weight loss. IBD is generally caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental or microbial factors that influence the body's immune response and is responsible for digestive disorders and inflammation of the intestinal tract. However, a complete understanding of the pathophysiology and work-up of IBD is necessary to ensure appropriate treatment for the management of this complex disease. This review enlightens herbal therapeutics and drug delivery systems for the management of IBD, and thus provides new insights into this field and facilitates access to new treatments.

Synergistic Effect of Piperine and its Derivatives: A Comprehensive Review

Piperine is a fascinating substance since it can be used as a biomarker in combination with other bioactive compounds or their analogues, as well as therapeutic molecules used for the healing of a variety of diseases. It displays a plentiful therapeutic potential and various health benefits when administered alone or in combination with several other drugs and/or phytochemicals. It has also been used to enhance the pharmacokinetic profile of many nutraceutical compounds like curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, beta-carotene, barbiturates, propranolol, metformin, theophylline etc. The present review discloses the synergistic effect of piperine and its derivatives, clinical studies, and patent studies of piperine.

Formulation Development and in-vitro Evaluation of Escitalopram Fast Dissolving Tablets

BACKGROUND

Escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), acts by increasing the serotonin level in the brain and is used widely for the management of depression and anxiety disorders. However, the poor dissolution rate of escitalopram due to less water solubility is a consequential problem confronting the pharmaceutical industry in developing pharmaceutical dosage forms for oral delivery systems.

OBJECTIVE

The present work aims to deliver a novel formulation for improving the dissolution profile and, thus, the bioavailability of escitalopram.

METHODS

Fast Dissolving Tablets (FDT) are expected to enable quick drug release, which will improve the drug's dissolving profile, allowing for the initial increase in plasma concentration mandatory in an acute depression attack. The use of co-processed excipients in tablets has been shown to increase the compressibility and disintegration properties of the tablets, resulting in improved in-vitro drug release and bioavailability. As co-processed excipients, a mixture of banana powder (a natural super disintegrant with nutritional value) and microcrystalline cellulose (a highly compressible substance with good wicking and absorption capacity) was used.

RESULTS

The tablets were made using a response surface, randomised central composite design and a direct compression technique. The manufactured tablets were found to be released more than 95% of the drug within 10 minutes and showed an improved drug release profile than the available marketed formulation.

CONCLUSION

As a result, after confirming in-vivo potential, the created fast release formulation exhibited impressive in-vitro findings and may prove to be a boon in treating acute depression attacks.

Imidazole: Multi-targeted Therapeutic Leads for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder coupled with an array of neuropathological mechanisms, including tau phosphorylation, Aβ aggregation, metal ion deregulation, and oxidative stress, along with neuro-inflammation. The clinically available drugs for the management of AD include four acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and one glutamatergic antagonist. These agents provide only temporary relief from the symptoms by altering the neurotransmitter level in the brain.

OBJECTIVE

Keeping in view the focus on research, the numerous pharmacological activities associated with the aromatic diazole heterocyclic nucleus, imidazole, triggered the medicinal chemist to develop a large number of novel anti-AD compounds targeting multiple pathological mechanisms associated with AD. These prepared analogs represent a higher potential against neurological disorders, including AD. This review article aims an ornately pronounce the therapeutic voyage of imidazole and its analogs as anti-AD.

METHOD

It emphasizes the synthesized imidazole derivatives as anti-AD with multiple targets reviewed from the data available on Pubmed.

RESULT

These compounds diminish the pathophysiological aspects of AD; still, further studies are required to prove the safety and efficacy of these compounds in humans.

CONCLUSION

The review aims to provide knowledge and highlight the status of this moiety in the design and development of novel drug candidates against Alzheimer's disease conditions. Thus, it paves the way for further work.

Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Evidence of Hesperidin as Neuroprotective Agent

BACKGROUND

Neuroprotection is preserving neural function in various neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. Hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside in citrus fruits such as sweet oranges and lemons, possesses many biological effects, including neuroprotection.

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to explore the neuropharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic potential of hesperidin in the management of neurodegenerative disorders.

METHODS

It emphasizes comparative and clinical trial studies with a number of targets reviewed from the data available on PubMed, Science Direct, Clinicaltrails.gov, and from many reputed foundations.

RESULTS

Escalating clinical evidence has established the inhibitory effect of hesperidin in the management of neurodegenerative disorders. Neuroprotective potential of hesperidin is characterized by endogenous antioxidant defence functions, improvement of neural growth factors, antineuroinflammatory activity, and apoptotic pathways.

CONCLUSION

The present study highlights the beneficial neuropharmacological potential of hesperidin, including anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, memory, and locomotor enhancing activities.

Natural products: A lead for drug discovery and development

Natural products are used since ancient times in folklore for the treatment of various ailments. Plant-derived products have been recognized for many years as a source of therapeutic agents and structural diversity. A literature survey has been carried out to determine the utility of natural molecules and their modified analogs or derivatives as pharmacological active entities. This review presents a study on the importance of natural products in terms of drug discovery and development. It describes how the natural components can be utilized after small modifications in new perspectives. Various new modifications in structure offer a unique opportunity to establish a new molecular entity with better pharmacological potential. It was concluded that in this current era, new attempts are taken to utilize the compounds derived from natural sources as novel drug candidates, with a focus to find and discover new effective molecules that were referred to as "new entities of natural product drug discovery."

Emerging role of terpenoids for the treatment of cancer: A review

AIM

Terpenes are natural compounds found in several organisms belonging to the animal and plant kingdom, therefore, constitute the largest class of natural products and were a rich reservoir of candidate compounds for drug discovery. The review aims to focus on that the extensive is still needed to explore the anti-cancer components from natural products may led to the development of variety of derived terpenoidal moieties.

METHOD

Literature survey has been carried out to determine the overwelhming potential of terpenoids.

RESULT

The present article provides an overview of development of isoprene unit and the generation of the various types of terpenes which exhibits pharmacological potential. The anti-cancer activity of terpenoids appears promising and will potentially open more opportunities for cancer therapy. However, current studies are restricted to descriptive findings and some of them lack mechanistic insights and systematic structure--activity relationship studies. Future efforts into the systematic identification of the targets of terpenoids are believed to increase chances of gaining breakthrough insights in the field.

CONCLUSION

There is still hope that new therapeutic options for the control of cancer and any other painful syndromes will be developed from terpenes, which were proved to be great candidates for cancer therapeutics.

Piperazine: A Promising Scaffold with Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Potential

Piperazine, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic has acquired an inimitable position in medicinal chemistry because of its versatile structure, which has fascinated researchers to design novel piperazine based molecules having various biological actions. The subsistence of various compounds possessing diverse pharmacological activities in the literature further confirms this fact. Currently available analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with side effects that limit their use. Moreover, the literature reveals the incredible anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of piperazine derivatives along with their method of synthesis, therefore; the present review has been designed to collate the development made in this area that will surely be advantageous in designing novel piperazine based candidates with enhanced efficacy and less toxicity. An extensive literature survey was carried by scrutinizing peer reviewed articles from worldwide scientific databases available on GOOGLE, SCOPUS, PUBMED, and only relevant studies published in English were considered.

Modification in the Natural Bioactive Molecule: Piperine; A Continuing Source for the Drug Development

Background:

Piperine, a bioactive alkaloid was a well-known component which was used traditionally to treat a variety of disorders.

Objective:

The present review is to discuss the modified piperine or piperic acid analogs or its derivatives to explore the potential of piperine. Piperine or piperic acid had potentials as antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, immunomodulatory and many more for drug development. So modification in natural molecule piperine generates numerous derivatives or analogues which may be found beneficial in drug development.

Methods:

A literature survey has been carried out to determine the real potential of piperine and its modified analogs.

Results:

It has been scrutinized that piperine and its derivatives possess valuable components with good therapeutic potential.

Conclusion:

Thus, this review aims to provide knowledge as well as to explore the excellent potential of piperine, piperic acid, piperine derived compounds/ analogs which may further, after performing toxicity studies, and other parameters, be helpful in the design and development of novel drug candidates against numerous disease conditions and thus it paves way for further work in exploring the potential to treat the patients with obesity and skin related disorders.

Synthesis and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies on Substituted Piperic Acid Derivatives as Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Gyrase

Background:

Piperine or piperic acid was isolated from fruits of Piper nigrum and had been reported as pharmacological valuable bioactive constituents. Keeping in view, a series of piperic acid-based N heterocyclic’s derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity. All these prepared ligands were docked to study the molecular interactions and binding affinities against the protein PDB ID: 5 CDP.

Objective:

To meet the real need of newer antibacterials, we designed and synthesized scaffolds with good antibacterial activity. The obtained antibacterials have been validated in terms of ligand-protein interaction and thus prove to build up as good drug candidates.

Methods:

Antibacterial activity of the compounds were carried out against bacterial strains; three Grampositive and three Gram-negative bacterial strains using agar well diffusion method. In silico molecular docking studies were carried out using Glide (grid-based ligand docking) program incorporated in the Schrödinger molecular modeling package by Maestro 11.0.

Results:

Compounds BC 28, BC 32, and BC 33 exhibits antibacterial activity along with Glide docking score of -8.580, -9.753 kcal/mol, and -8.813 kcal/mol, respectively. Docking studies explained hydrogen bonding, pi-pi, and hydrophobic interactions with amino acid residues which explain the binding affinity of the most docked ligand with protein.

Conclusion:

In the present study, substituted piperic acid was synthesized and evaluated as antibacterial compared with standard drug ciprofloxacin and results interpret that having nitrogen as heteroatom in the heterocyclic nucleus found to be more potent than the standard drug ciprofloxacin. On comparing, substitution with electron-donating groups generates excellent antibacterial potential against the bacterial strains. It was also proved that having substitution with electron-donating groups on meta and para position with triazoline ring system exhibits greater potential while compounds which have a meta- electron-donating substituent showed lesser activity with thiazole nucleus. In addition, structure-based activities of the prepared analogs were discussed under Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) section.

Imidazole: An Emerging Scaffold Showing its Therapeutic Voyage to Develop Valuable Molecular Entities

OBJECTIVE

Imidazole is a heterocyclic moiety having immense biological importance. Since ancient times, the imidazole nucleus is considered to be a promising moiety in the field of chemistry. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies have provided valuable scientific evidence for its use. Subsequently, imidazole constitutes a new class of compounds for new drug development as the presence of this nucleus in diverse therapeutic categories viz; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulator, antiviral etc. has made it an interesting moiety for the design and development of new pharmacological agents. Thus, this review aims to summarize the reported molecular entities which were synthesized by using conventional as well as microwave processes, chemistry and biological potential of imidazole containing heterocyclic molecules while identifying potential areas of further research on imidazole.

RESULTS

The review comprises literature pertaining to the evidence-based pharmacological or therapeutic potential of imidazole using published articles and worldwide databases. Various pharmacological experiments using different models exclusively proved the potential of imidazole.

SUMMARY

Focusing on the discovery and development of new imidazole nucleus based molecules at a faster rate, there is a need to search previous information available in the market in the field of medicinal chemistry. Therefore, the present review aims to elaborate the therapeutic worth of imidazole and its analogs.

Therapeutic Potential of N-heterocyclic Analogs as Anti-inflammatory Agents

BACKGROUND

Various mediators and anti-inflammatory drugs were used since from a long time but it is still a challenge for the medicinal chemists to treat or reduce the symptoms of inflammatory diseases. Most of the clinically used anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs, Coxibs and GCs are allied with considerable toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

The search of novel anti-inflammatory agent is not an ending process. Although the drug treatment has been improved steadily but yet, it is still there is a need to develop more potent therapeutic agents.

METHOD

Reported literature survey has been studied to summarize the nitrogen containing moieties which were utilized as potential therapeutic agents.

RESULTS

A variety of N-heterocyclic analogs are known to exhibit a wide range of interesting biological activities like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, cardioprotective, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, antitubercular, trypanocidal and anti-HIV. However, numerous approaches were used to overcome the toxicity level such as co-administration with suitable agent/substance which provides protection against toxicity as well to synthesise new potent and safe anti-inflammatory drug.

CONCLUSION

The present review summarizes the synthetic methodology and therapeutic potential of some N-heterocyclic analogs as potent anti-inflammatory agents.

Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation in Patients Exposed to Hepatitis B Virus: Analysis by Phase of Infection

BACKGROUND

In kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, immunosuppression may increase viral replication with increased risk for liver disease progression and HBV-related kidney diseases, factors that could adversely influence graft and patient outcomes. We aimed to analyze the impact of different phases of HBV infection on the outcomes in KTRs.

METHODS

Using the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database, we selected adult KTRs from 2001 to 2011 who received peri-operative antibody induction followed by calcineurin inhibitor/mycophenolate mofetil maintenance with/without steroid. The cohort was divided into 4 groups, based on the presence/absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibody (HBcAb) at the time of transplantation: group 1: HBsAg+/HBcAb- (acute infection); group 2: HBsAg+/HBcAb+ (developing immune response); group 3; HBsAg-/HBcAb+ (resolving infection); and group 4: HBsAg-/HBcAb- (HBV-naive). Graft and patient survivals were compared among the groups in a multivariate Cox model.

RESULTS

Adjusted overall graft (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-1.10; P = .58) and patient (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.83-1.09; P = .52) survival rates were similar between groups 1 and 2, with inferior death-censored graft survival in group 1 (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.98; P = .02). Adjusted over all graft (HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.90-1.00; P = .46) and patient (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90-1.10; P = .10) survival rates were similar between groups 3 and 4, and death-censored graft survival trended inferior in group 3 (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.90-1.00; P = .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis supports a practice of delaying kidney transplantation in HBV-infected patients until they develop an immune response and preferably until the infection is cleared.

Piperine and Its Various Physicochemical and Biological Aspects: A Review

Piper nigrumL. is examined as the king of species worldwide by virtue of its principle piperine. In Ayurveda, since from the ancient times, it is known as “Yogvahi”. It is one of the important alkaloids of Pepper fruits (Family Piperaceae) and has been found to have numerous medicinal properties such as antioxidant, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, antithyroid, antitumor, antiasthmatic activity and also have significant role as fertility enhancer. The present review discusses the biosynthetic pathway, extraction process, chemistry and various analytical methods of piperine. It also describes the structural modification of piperine and its various effects on biological system. The utility of piperine as a bioenhancer for certain antibacterial- antibiotics and a potent inhibitor of drug metabolism are also discussed. Thus, review provides knowledgeable erudition on the piperine which paves way for further work.

An update on Anti-inflammatory Compounds: A Review

Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process. Also, it has been reported to be associated with the onset of various cancers. An effective anti-inflammatory drug should be able to inhibit the development of inflammation without interfering in normal homeostasis. Current approaches to overcome the inflammation include the use of immune selective anti-inflammatory derivatives, selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist, resolvins and protectins and TNF inhibitors. A number of herbal drugs have been identified in the past that can target inflammatory cytokines. This review mainly focuses on the newer molecules to combat the inflammation and also emphasise on various studies carried out in the past. Thus, the high prevalence of inflammation obliges the development of new drugs; therefore, a safe and efficient drug molecule to confer protection against inflammation is urgently needed.

Kidney allograft survival after acute rejection, the value of follow-up biopsies

Kidney allografts are frequently lost due to alloimmunity. Still, the impact of early acute rejection (AR) on long-term graft survival is debated. We examined this relationship focusing on graft histology post-AR and assessing specific causes of graft loss. Included are 797 recipients without anti-donor antibodies (DSA) at transplant who had 1 year protocol biopsies. 15.2% of recipients had AR diagnosed by protocol or clinical biopsies. Compared to no-AR, all histologic types of AR led to abnormal histology in 1 and 2 years protocol biopsies, including more fibrosis + inflammation (6.3% vs. 21.9%), moderate/severe fibrosis (7.7% vs. 13.5%) and transplant glomerulopathy (1.4% vs. 8.3%, all p < 0.0001). AR were associated with reduced graft survival (HR = 3.07 (1.92-4.94), p < 0.0001). However, only those AR episodes followed by abnormal histology led to reduced graft survival. Early AR related to more late alloimmune-mediated graft losses, particularly transplant glomerulopathy (31% of losses). Related to this outcome, recipients with AR were more likely to have new DSA class II 1 year posttransplant (no-AR, 11.1%; AR, 21.2%, p = 0.039). In DSA negative recipients, early AR often leads to persistent graft inflammation and increases the risk of new DSA II production. Both of these post-AR events are associated with increased risk of graft loss.

Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguchi) - folklore to modern evidence: review

Psoralea corylifolia is an important medicinal plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. The plant extracts have been reported to possess antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and immunomodulatory activity. A wide range of chemical compounds including psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol, psoralidin, bakuchalcone, bavachinin, flavones, volatile oils, lipids etc. are found in different parts of the plant. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its botany, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology along with special emphasis given on pharmacological activities of plant P. corylifolia.

Structurally diverse peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists induce apoptosis in human uro-epithelial cells by a receptor-independent mechanism involving store-operated calcium channels

OBJECTIVES

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are implicated in epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, but investigation has been confounded by potential off-target effects of some synthetic PPAR ligands. Our aim was to determine mechanisms underlying the pro-apoptotic effect of synthetic PPAR agonists in normal human bladder uro-epithelial (urothelial) cells and to reconcile this with the role of PPARs in urothelial cytodifferentiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Normal human urothelial (NHU) cells were grown as non-immortal lines in vitro and exposed to structurally diverse agonists ciglitazone, troglitazone, rosiglitazone (PPARgamma), ragaglitazar (PPARalpha/gamma), fenofibrate (PPARalpha) and L165041 (PPARbeta/delta).

RESULTS

NHU cells underwent apoptosis following acute exposure to ciglitazone, troglitazone or ragaglitazar, but not fenofibrate, L165041 or rosiglitazone, and this was independent of ERK or p38 MAP-kinase activation. Pro-apoptotic agonists induced sustained increases in intracellular calcium, whereas removal of extracellular calcium altered the kinetics of ciglitazone-mediated calcium release from sustained to transient. Cell death was accompanied by plasma-membrane disruption, loss of mitochondrial membrane-potential and caspase-9/caspase-3 activation. PPARgamma-mediated apoptosis was unaffected following pre-treatment with PPARgamma antagonist T0070907 and was strongly attenuated by store-operated calcium channel (SOC) inhibitors 2-APB and SKF-96365.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide a mechanistic basis for the ability of some PPAR agonists to induce death in NHU cells and demonstrate that apoptosis is mediated via PPAR-independent mechanisms, involving intracellular calcium changes, activation of SOCs and induction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Nasal Wegener's and skin sarcoid--a rare combination of two granulomatous diseases

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and sarcoidosis are two distinct granulomatous diseases characterized by multisystem involvement. We report a patient who initially presented with symptoms of limited WG predominantly affecting the nose, followed by a facial rash, which was histologically proven to be due to sarcoidosis. The sequential development of these two diseases in one patient is very rare, and to our knowledge, only one such case has been reported in the last 50 years (Am J Kidney Dis 28:893-898, 1996).

Alterations in P2X and P2Y purinergic receptor expression in urinary bladder from normal cats and cats with interstitial cystitis

Purinergic mechanisms appear to be involved in motor as well as sensory functions in the urinary bladder. ATP released from efferent nerves excites bladder smooth muscle, whereas ATP released from urothelial cells can activate afferent nerves and urothelial cells. In the present study, we used immunohistochemical techniques to examine the distribution of purinoceptors in the urothelium, smooth muscle, and nerves of the normal cat urinary bladder as well as possible changes in the expression of these receptors in cats with a chronic painful bladder condition termed feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) in which ATP release from the urothelium is increased. In normal cats, a range of P2X (P2X1, P2X2, P2X3, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6, and P2X7) and P2Y (P2Y1, P2Y2, and P2Y4) receptor subtypes was expressed throughout the bladder urothelium. In FIC cats, there is a marked reduction in P2X1 and loss of P2Y2 receptor staining. Both P2X3 and P2Y4 are present in nerves in normal cat bladder, and no obvious differences in staining were detected in FIC. Smooth muscle in the normal bladder did not exhibit P2Y receptor staining but did exhibit P2X (P2X2, P2X1) staining. In the FIC bladder smooth muscle, there was a significant reduction in P2X1 expression. These findings raise the possibility that purinergic mechanisms in the urothelium and bladder smooth muscle are altered in FIC cats. Because the urothelial cells appear to have a sensory function in the bladder, it is possible that the plasticity in urothelial purinergic receptors is linked with the painful bladder symptoms in IC.

CSF beta-1 Globulin--a potential marker in differentiating multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: a preliminary study

The exact diagnosis of demyelinating diseases is an enigma even in the best neurological centres. In the present study, the potential role of differential CSF proteins has been critically evaluated in differentiating multiple sclerosis (MS) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was carried out on CSF and serum samples of 14 MS patients, 23 ADEM patients and 30 controls. There was no statistically significant difference between serum electrophoresis of controls and MS patients. However, in case of CSF electrophoresis there was a statistically significant decrease in beta-1 fraction in 92.2% of MS patients (p=0.01). A comparison between serum electrophoresis of controls and ADEM patients indicated a statistically significant decrease in serum albumin in 87% patients and an increase of alpha-2 globulin in 73.9%. There was no statistically significant difference between CSF electrophoresis of controls and ADEM patients except for the prealbumin fraction which was raised in 60.9% of patients. No statistically significant difference was seen between the serum electrophoresis of ADEM and MS patients. However, on comparing CSF electrophoresis, it was seen that beta-1 fraction was significantly higher in ADEM patients (p<0.05). The predictive value of beta-1 fraction in differentiating MS and ADEM was then evaluated. The negative predictive value was 100% indicating that all samples with a beta-1 fraction of>6.5% cannot be diagnosed as MS. The significant decrease in beta-1 fraction in MS patients may prove to be an early indicator in differentiating between MS and ADEM patients.

Cyclooxygenase-1 is a marker for a subpopulation of putative nociceptive neurons in rat dorsal root ganglia

Immunocytochemical and morphometric techniques were used to quantify the distribution of cyclooxygenase (cox)-containing neurons in rat L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Cox-1 immunolabelling was almost exclusively restricted to small diameter DRG neurons (< 1000 microm2), and was extensively colocalized with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and isolectin B4 (IB4). Cox-1 was present in 65% and 70% of CGRP- and IB4-labelled neurons, respectively. Cox-1 labelling was also found in neurons expressing the sensory neuron-specific (SNS) Na+ channel. Cox-2 labelling was absent in DRG from normal rats. In the Freund's adjuvant model of monoarthritis, the proportion of cox-1-positive DRG neurons was unchanged and no neurons were found to be labelled for cox-2. In primary tissue culture, cox-1 immunolabelling persisted in vitro for up to 9 days and was present in morphologically identical neurons. The selective expression of cox-1 in peripheral ganglia was confirmed by the small number of nodose ganglion neurons and superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons labelled for cox-1. These data suggest that cox-1 is a marker for a subpopulation of putative nociceptive neurons in vitro and in vivo, and suggests that the prostaglandins synthesized by these neurons may be important for nociceptor function. These data may have important implications for the mode and mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

[3H]MDL 105,519 binds with equal high affinity to both assembled and unassembled NR1 subunits of the NMDA receptor

[3H]MDL 105,519 (((E)-3-(2-phenyl-2-carboxyethenyl)-4,6-dichloro-1[3H]-indole-2-ca rboxylic acid) is a novel radioligand which binds with high affinity, Kd = 2.5 nM, to the glycine site of adult rodent forebrain, N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors. As with other glycine site antagonists, the major determinants for high-affinity binding of [3H]MDL 105,519 resides upon the NRI subunit, and not the NR2 subunits. [3H]MDL 105,519 binds with equal affinity, Kd = 3 nM, to both NR1-1a or NR1-4b splice variants, as well as the NRI-1a/NR2A receptor expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. One percent Triton X-100/1 M NaCl solubilises with a recovery of 15+/-3%, a mixed pool of assembled and unassembled forebrain NR1 subunit polypeptides. In this preparation, the recovery of [3H]MK801 ((+)-5-[3H]methyl-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[alpha,d]cyclohepten-5 ,10-imine binding activity (7+/-1%) reflects the amount of assembled NR1 subunits whereas [3H]MDL 105,519 binds quantitatively, with a recovery of 19+/-4% and Kd = 3 nM, to both assembled and unassembled NRI subunits. Therefore, [3H]MDL 105,519 should prove a useful ligand, in conjunction with immunopurification approaches, to address the question of NMDA receptor subunit stoichiometry.