Improving Physicochemical Properties of Repaglinide Through Pharmaceutical Adduct Formation

Background: Many formulation strategies are presently in development in pharmaceutical industry. However, the formation of pharmaceutical adducts is considered to be the most appropriate technique for improving the drug solubility and dissolution as no chemical bond changes are involved in this technique.Purpose: This technique is highly used for compounds which are not able to give viable formulation products with standard techniques such as salt formation and polymorph generation. In the present study, this method is applied to repaglinide, which is an hypoglycemic agent, with compromised solubility. Methods: The adducts were prepared by slow evaporation method and characterized using DSC, FTIR and PXRD studies. The solubility and dissolution studies were carried out to determine the increased solubility of drug in adducts. The drug amount interacted with coformers has also been determined. Results: The present study demonstrates the improvement in solubility and thus dissolution of repaglinide in adducts.Conclusion: The adducts formed in the present study can be further exploited to prepare formulation of repaglinide adducts with better physicochemical characteristics.

Phytoalexins: Sources and Their Pharmacological Potential

Background: Plants are easily prone towards microbial infections on exposure to microorganisms and pathogens. In order to defense, plants produce low molecular weight secondary metabolites which were later known as “Phytoalexins”. These molecules have vast therapeutic potential also. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to explore the phytoalexins and their pharmacological effects.Methods: The data included from the articles were published from Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Embase by using relevant keywords including plants possessing phytoalexins and their specific biological applications.Results: The review insights the potential of phytoalexins in various diseases and to explore have phytoalexins applications in human health and disease control. Conclusions: On the basis of this review we may be conclude that phytoalexins have tremendous potential in the treatment and prevention of various life-threatening diseases like diabetes mellitus, cancer, brain damage, and heart attack.

Antioxidant Potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. roots: In-Vitro Evidences

Background: The study was aimed to determine the mechanism of antioxidant effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (GG) roots using in-vitro assays.Methods: The various extracts of GG roots were prepared and evaluated for DPPH scavenging, reducing effects and nitric oxide inhibiting activities. Prepared extracts were screened for the presence of various phytochemicals and quantified on the basis of phytochemical present therein.Results: The results showed that all the prepared extracts contained phenolic compounds. Also, extract showed appreciable antioxidant effects in all three assays employed. However, among prepared extracts, ethylacetate extract was found to have strong free radical inhibition, ferric reducing potential and nitric oxide inhibitory effects. The reason for high antioxidant activity in ethylacetate extract could be attributed to the significant amount phenol compounds present in it. Conclusion: Evidently, GG’s capacity to scavenge free radicals, reducing potential and inhibit nitric oxide contributes to its antioxidant effects and thus, could be a strong candidate for developing antioxidant based drug therapy.

Ranitidine Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Review

Background: Ranitidine (RAN) is one of the common drugs associated with idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions (IADRs) in humans. It was found to be associated with severe adverse drug reactions due to the presence of contaminants such as N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) which is claimed to be carcinogenic. As a consequence, on April 1, 2020, United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) had decided to call off all the RAN products from the market. The exact cause of RAN associated idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity is not clear yet. Purpose: To summarize and analyze the reason behind the withdrawal of RAN products from the market and whether ranitidine will be available again in future or will FDA withdraw approvals of ranitidine National Drug Authority (NDA) and an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA)? Methods: We performed a systematic PubMed/MEDLINE search of studies investigating the reason behind the withdrawal of RAN products and explored the possible mechanism associated with RAN induced hepatotoxicity.Conclusion: RAN induced liver injury is difficult to diagnose and study because of its relative rarity and unpredictive occurrence. Recent studies suggest that most of the RAN associated idiosyncratic reactions may lead to hepatocyte damage, followed by a series of events, such as activation of specific T- and B-cells, release of proinflammatory mediators like TNFα, interleukins, various cytokines and chemokines. The exact cause of RAN associated idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity is not clear yet. More studies must be carried out on this to know about the exact reason behind RAN associated hepatotoxicity.

Pharmaceutical Applications of Xanthan Gum in Ophthalmic

Introduction: Ophthalmic delivery system is one of the challenging domains of formulation and development due to tear dilutions, drug loss due to lacrimal drainage, limited volume and pre-corneal barriers. Several pharmaceutical technologies are exploited in order to counter the challenges posed by ocular route such as emulsions and suspensions. But all these technologies have stability issues which lead to their limited use.Background: Among polysaccharides, xanthan gum, a natural occurring biodegradable exopolysaccharide extracted from bacterium Xanthomonas campestris is widely accepted as one of the potential polysaccharide in ophthalmic.Review Results: Xanthan gum is commonly used as an additive to various ophthalmic formulations due to its mucoadhesive property and imparting stability to various novel pharmaceutical technologies for ophthalmic. Xanthan gum also allows chemical modifications with various ligands which consequently allow controlled release, modified dissolution rate and viscoelasticity. Conclusion: In this review we are providing an insight over potential of pharmaceutical applications of xanthan gum. Also, we have discussed the scope of chemical modifications in xanthan gum with modified physicochemical properties.

A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Potential of Benzimidazole: A Miracle Scaffold

Background: Benzimidazole is a category of heterocyclic aromatic compounds formed from the fusion of six membered benzene with five membered imidazolering. The moiety possesses diverse biological and clinical applications. A number of studies have shown that a varied substituent around the benzimidazole nucleus results in pharmacologically active compounds of therapeutic interest. Purpose: Owing to its number of pharmacological properties, this moiety is of choice of interest in designing and synthesis of new therapeutic compounds. The existence of the benzimidazole core in numerous groups of biological agents like antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antihypertensive, anticancer, CNS stimulant as well as depressants has made important scaffold for development of many newer therapeutic agents. There is utmost need to understand the synthesis and associated role of benzimidazole derived compounds in different diseases. Therefore, in the present review, we attempt to discuss various derivatives of benzimidazole nucleus with different pharmacological activities. Conclusion: Benzimidazoles have played a great role in discovery of drug and development. Huge attempt has been made towards benzimidazole heterocyclic-based organic compounds with great excellence that resulted in drugs with enormous biological activity. Therapeutic drugs containing benzimidazole nucleus are used in building drugs that serve to be an active area of research. This article becomes a source that will lead to discovery of new opportunities for all researchers interested in benzimidazole-based heterocyclic medicinal chemistry.

Gastroprotective Effect of Symplocos Racemosa Whole Plant Methanolic Extract Against Experimentally Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rat

Peptic ulcer is a condition which results from an imbalance between offensive and defensive factors of gastrointestinal system. The investigation was designed to evaluate the antiulcer activity of Symplocos racemosa whole plant methanol extract (MESR) in rat model of indomethacininduced gastric ulceration. The total acidity, gastric volume, pH and free acidity were measured to determine the anti-ulcer activity of MESR. Pretreatment with MESR (125-500 mg/kg) markedly reduced the indomethacin-induced increase in gastric ulcer index and score. These results revealed that antisecretory effects MESR were responsible for antiulcer activity of MESR.

Role of Protein Kinase C in Diabetic Complications

Diabetes is the most common and systemic disorder associated with hyperglycemia which is the significant factor in the development of micro- and macrovascular changes. Many mechanistic approaches i.e. activation of Protein kinase C, glycation end products production, hexosamine pathway and polyol pathway induce cellular damage and lead to the development of diabetic complications like nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and myopathy. One of the adverse effects of long-lasting hyperglycemia is activation of PKC (intracellular signaling enzyme) and has become a field of great research interest. Hence, in this review special emphasis is placed on microvascular complications which are due to activation of PKC. Clinical trials have also been conducted using selective PKC inhibitors and have shown positive results against hyperglycemia.

Inhibition of Formalin Induced Paw Edema in Rats by Various Fractions/Extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum

Traditionally, Bryophyllum pinnatum is used in the management of arthritis and inflammatory diseases. However, B. pinnatum has not been analysed previously for anti-inflammatory activity. Hence, this study is designed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of various fractions of B. pinnatum leaf extract using rat model of formalin-induced paw edema. Treatment with various fractions showed marked decrease in formalin-induced paw volume and edema in rats. The results of BPAAF treatment were comparable to standard drug, diclofenac. These results indicate that B. pinnatum could be developed as ant-inflammatory drug after further studies.

Insights of Breast Cancer & Barriers to its Therapy

Breast cancer is the most common cancer across the globe occurring commonly in women population, and it is one of the main causes of mortality in women. In 2018, 1,62,468 new cases and 87,090 death cases of breast cancer were registered in India. In these recent years, lots of studies were conducted in breast cancer related to treatment and management, but in spite of getting so much advancement in the treatment of breast cancer still, the mortality rate of women is increasing day by day. Numerous factors are acting as barriers or challenges in breast cancer preventive therapy. It includes lack of knowledge regarding the treatment of cancer and patient getting insecure about treatment, fear of having side effects, cost of treatment and the efficacy of the drugs being prescribed. The study intended to determine the perceived insights and barriers to treatment of breast cancer.