Enhancing oral bioavailability of andrographolide using solubilizing agents and bioenhancer: comparative pharmacokinetics of Andrographis paniculata formulations in beagle dogs.

CONTEXT: The therapeutic potential of andrographolide is hindered by its poor oral bioavailability and unpredictable pharmacokinetics, primarily due to its limited water solubility. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to enhance the solubility and pharmacokinetics of andrographolide, a bioactive compound in Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae), using solubilizing agents and a bioenhancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of beagles were compared: (1) A. paniculata powder alone (control), (2) A. paniculata powder with 50% weight/weight (w/w) ß-cyclodextrin solubilizer, (3) A. paniculata powder with 1% w/w sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solubilizer, and (4) A. paniculata powder co-administered with 1% w/w SDS solubilizer and 10% piperine bioenhancer. All groups received a consistent oral dose of 3 mg/kg of andrographolide, administered both as a single dose and multiple doses over seven consecutive days. RESULTS: Thirteen chemical compounds were identified in A. paniculata powder, including 7 diterpenoids, 5 flavonoids, and 1 phenolic compound. A. paniculata co-administration with either 50% w/w ß-cyclodextrin or 1% w/w SDS, alone or in combination with 10% w/w piperine, significantly increased systemic andrographolide exposure by enhancing bioavailability (131.01% to 196.05%) following single and multiple oral co-administration. Glucuronidation is one possible biotransformation pathway for andrographolide, as evidenced by the excretion of glucuronide conjugates in urine and feces. CONCLUSION: The combination of solubilizing agents and a bioenhancer improved the oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of andrographolide, indicating potential implications for A. paniculata formulations and clinical therapeutic benefits. Further investigation in clinical studies is warranted.

Absolute oral bioavailability and possible metabolic pathway of panduratin A from Boesenbergia rotunda extract in beagle dogs.

CONTEXT: Attempts are ongoing to develop medications to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our previous study revealed the in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of fingerroot [Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. (Zingiberaceae)] and its phytochemical, panduratin A. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of panduratin A as a pure compound and in a fingerroot extract formulation in beagle dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 12 healthy dogs were randomly divided into three groups, a single dose of 1 mg/kg panduratin A by intravenous and multiple doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg panduratin A fingerroot extract formulation by oral administration for seven consecutive days. The plasma concentration of panduratin A was determined by LCMS. RESULTS: The peak concentrations of a single dose of 5 and 10 mg/kg panduratin A fingerroot extract formulation were 12,416 ± 2,326 and 26,319 ± 8,221 µg/L, respectively. Increasing the oral dose of fingerroot extract formulation, equivalent to panduratin A 5-10 mg/kg, showed dose proportionality, with an approximately 2-fold increase in Cmax and AUC. The absolute oral bioavailability of panduratin A in the fingerroot extract formulation was approximately 7-9%. The majority of panduratin A was biotransformed into several products via oxidation and glucuronidation, and predominantly excreted via the faecal route. CONCLUSION: The oral formulation of fingerroot extract was safe in beagle dogs, and increasing dose showed dose proportionality in terms of the systemic exposure of panduratin A. This information will support the phytopharmaceutical product development of fingerroot extract against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elucidation of crude siderophore extracts from supernatants of Pseudomonas sp. ZnCd2003 cultivated in nutrient broth supplemented with Zn, Cd, and Zn plus Cd.

This research aimed to study siderophores secreted from Pseudomonas sp. PDMZnCd2003, a Zn/Cd tolerant bacterium. The effects of Zn and/or Cd stress were examined in nutrient broth to achieve the actual environmental conditions. Acid and alkali supernatants and liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and butanol were carried out to obtain crude extracts containing different amounts of the metals. The bacterial growth, UV-visible spectra of the supernatants and siderophore production indicated that the production of siderophores tended to be linked to primary metabolites. Pyocyanin was produced in all treatments, while pyoverdine was induced by stress from the metals, especially Cd. FT-IR spectra showed C=O groups and sulfur functional groups that were involved in binding with the metals. LC-MS revealed that pyocyanin, 1-hydroxy phenazine, pyoverdine, and pyochelin were present in the crude extracts. S K-edge XANES spectra showed that the main sulfur species in the extracts were the reduced forms of sulfide, thiol, and disulfide, and their oxidation states were affected by coordination with Zn and/or Cd. In addition, Zn K-edge EXAFS spectra and Cd K-edge EXAFS spectra presented Zn-O and Cd-O as coordination in the first shell, in case the extracts contained less metal. Although the mix O/S ligands had chelation bonding with Zn and Cd in the other extracts. For the role of S groups in pyochelin binding with the metals, this was the first report. The results of these experiments could be extended to Pseudomonas that respond to metal contaminated environments.

Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Puerarin Alone and in Pueraria mirifica Extract in Female Cynomolgus Monkeys.

Pueraria mirifica is an endemic Thai plant that has been used for rejuvenation and in the relief of various aging diseases. Puerarin is one of the major isoflavones found in this plant and shows several pharmacological activities in relation to the Thai traditional use of P. mirifica. Therefore, comparative pharmacokinetics of pure puerarin alone and that in a P. mirifica extract in cynomolgus monkeys were conducted in order to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of the 2 preparations. To this end, puerarin and P. mirifica extract, at an equivalent dose of 10 mg/kg of puerarin, were orally dosed to adult female monkeys for 7 consecutive days. A single intravenous injection of puerarin at a dose of 1 mg/kg was also peformed. Serial blood samples and excreta were collected from 0 - 24 h and 0 - 48 h after dosing. Determination of the puerarin levels and its metabolites in biological samples was conducted by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine fluctuated in the normal range, with no abnormal physical signs in the animal. The absolute oral bioavailability of puerarin was approximately 1% in both preparations. Accumulation of puerarin was found after oral dosing for 7 consecutive days in both groups. Major metabolites of puerarin found in monkeys were hydroxylation and deglycosylation products. A negligible amount of unchanged puerarin was detected in urine and feces. Pharmacokinetic profiles obtained from this study could help to design the prescribed remedy of puerarin and P. mirifica extract phytopharmaceutical products for human use.

Characterization of Metabolites in Plasma, Urine and Feces of Healthy Participants after Taking Brahmi Essence for Twelve Weeks Using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS Metabolomic Approach.

Brahmi essence, developed from Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. standardized extract and mulberry juice, was proven to improve the memory speed of healthy participants aged 55-80 years old, following a 12-week dietary program. However, the metabolites have not yet been reported. Our objective was to characterize the altered metabolites in the plasma, urine, and feces of healthy volunteers after consumption of Brahmi essence for 12 weeks, using the LC-MS metabolomics approach. The altered metabolites were selected from OPLS-DA S-plots; 15 metabolites in the plasma, 7 in the urine, and 17 in the feces samples were tentatively identified by comparison with an online database and literature. The metabolites in the plasma samples were in the classes of amino acids, acylcarnitine, and phospholipids. Benzeneactamide-4-O-sulphate and 3-hydroxyhippuric acid were found in urine samples. The metabolites in the class of amino acids, together with jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin, were identified in the fecal samples. The aminoacyl-tRNA, aromatic amino acids, and branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic pathways were mainly related to the identified metabolites in all three samples. It could be implied that those metabolites and their pathways might be linked with the effect of Brahmi essence on memory speed.

At-line LC-QTOF-MS micro-fractionation of Derris scandens (Roxb.) Benth, coupled to radioassay for the early identification of PDE5A1 inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION: Chromatographic techniques coupled with bioassays are popularly used for the detection of bioactive compounds in natural products. In this study phytochemicals responsible for showing Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitory activity in Derris scandens were studied using at-line method. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop an at-line liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) micro-fractionation method for rapid separation and identification of PDE5A1 inhibitors in 95% ethanolic extract of D. scandens. METHODOLOGY: Initially, the correlation between LC-MS and PDE5A1 inhibitory activity was studied using three concentrations of 1:1 mixture of sildenafil and derrisisoflavone A; PDE5A1 inhibitors. The mixture was separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column and the eluent was split into two flows in the ratio of 1:9. The major part was collected in a 96-well plate, in each well consecutively every 30 s. The minor part was fed into an electrospray ionisation (ESI)-QTOF-MS system. After subsequent solvent removal, the collected micro-fractions were subjected to radioassay to determine PDE5A1 inhibition. RESULTS: The result showed, PDE5A1 inhibitory activities of the micro-fractions were observed in a dose response manner and found to be in agreement with an off-line study. Similarly, 95% ethanolic extract of D. scandens was subjected to the at-line LC-QTOF-MS micro-fractionation developed, resulting in separation and tentative identification of 25 compounds with PDE5A1 inhibitory activity. Most of the compounds contained prenylated isoflavone skeleton. Additionally, the active micro-fractions also showed selectivity on PDE5A1 over PDE6 and PDE1B. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the at-line coupled LC-QTOF-MS micro-fractionation with PDE5A1 inhibitory assay is a valuable tool for identifying PDE5A1 inhibitors from complex extracts.

Anti-Cancer Effect of 3-Hydroxy-ß-Ionone Identified from Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaf on Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma 15 Cell Line.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of head and neck cancer worldwide. Radiation and chemotherapy are general treatments for patients; however, these remedies can have adverse side effects and tumours develop drug resistance. Effective treatments still require improvement for cancer patients. Here, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of Moringa oleifera (MO) Lam. leaf extracts and their fractions, 3-hydroxy-ß-ionone on SCC15 cell line. SCC15 were treated with and without MO leaf extracts and their fractions. MTT assay was used to determine cell viability on SCC15. Cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated by the Muse™ Cell Analyser. Colony formation and wound closure analysis of SCC15 were performed in 6-well plates. Apoptosis markers were evaluated by immunoblotting. We found that Moringa extracts and 3-HBI significantly inhibited proliferation of SCC15. Moreover, they induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in SCC15 compared to the untreated control. MO extracts and 3-HBI also inhibited colony formation and cell migration of SCC15. Furthermore, we observed the upregulation of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax with downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, indicating the induction of cancer cell apoptosis. Our results revealed that MO extracts and 3-HBI provided anti-cancer properties by inhibiting progression and inducing apoptosis of SCC15.

Bioactive Compounds in Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves Inhibit the Pro-Inflammatory Mediators in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages.

Moringa oleifera (MO) is an important plant for traditional medicine. The present study aimed to identify the MO active phytochemical compounds for their ability against inflamed macrophages. An ethyl acetate extract fraction of MO was fractionation by flash column chromatography. Human macrophages were stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide and then treated with fractions of MO to examine their anti-inflammatory activity and cellular mechanism. The active fractions were analyzed by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS). MO treated cells showed a decreased production of pro-inflammatory mediator in response to lipopolysaccharide. This was evident at both mRNA and protein levels. The study revealed that MO suppressed mRNA expression of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, PTGS2, NF-κB (P50), and RelA. Furthermore, the extract effectively inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, and cyclooxygenase-2. Interestingly, the effect of MO inhibited phosphorylation of IκB-α and the ability to reduce expression of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, suppressing its nuclear translocation. Moreover, LC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis of the MO active fraction revealed seven compounds, namely 3,4-Methyleneazelaic acid, (2S)-2-phenylmethoxybutane-1,4-diol, (2R)-2-phenylmethoxybutane-1, 4-diol, γ-Diosphenol, 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-6-(1-oxobutyl)-1,3,5-cyclohexanetrione, 3-Hydroxy-ß-ionone, and Tuberonic acid. Our findings highlight the ability of MO compounds to inhibit inflammation through regulation of the NF-κB pathway.

Pharmacokinetics of cucurbitacin B from Trichosanthes cucumerina L. in rats.

BACKGROUND: Cucurbitacin B is the major bioactive constituent in Trichosanthes cucumerina L. fruits, which the pharmacological properties have been studied for decades particularly an anti-tumor activity. The pharmacokinetic profile of this compound is still limited and investigation is needed for further phytopharmaceutical product development. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of cucurbitacin B after administering the compound at different doses and routes to rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n = 6) were treated by cucurbitacin B extracted from Trichosanthes cucumerina L. The cucurbitacin B was administered at 0.1 mg/kg intravenously or by oral gavage at 2-4 mg/kg. Blood samples and internal organs were collected serially within 24 h after administration. Urine and feces were collected from time 0 to 48 h. The level of cucurbitacin B in biological samples was determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The absolute oral bioavailability of cucurbitacin B was approximately 10%. The maximum concentration in plasma after normalization by dose ranged from 4.85-7.81 µg/L and the time to reach maximum value was approximately within 30 min after oral dosing. The level of cucurbitacin B in plasma increased proportionally to the given dose. After intravenous administration, cucurbitacin B had a large volume of distribution of about 51.65 L/kg and exhibited a high tissue to plasma concentration ratio, approximately 60 to 280-fold in several organs. Negligible amount of unchanged cucurbitacin B could be detected in urine and feces and accounted less than 1% of administered dose. CONCLUSION: Cucurbitacin B had low oral bioavailability, but could be distributed extensively into internal organs with a high volume of distribution and tissue to plasma ratio. Only negligible amounts of unchanged cucurbitacin B were excreted via urine and feces suggesting that the compound might be biotransformed before undergoing an excretion. Further studies of the metabolic pathway and tissue uptake mechanism are required to strategize the future development of cucurbitacin B into clinical studies.

Discovery of Lipid Peroxidation Inhibitors from Bacopa Species Prioritized through Multivariate Data Analysis and Multi-Informative Molecular Networking.

A major goal in the discovery of bioactive natural products is to rapidly identify active compound(s) and dereplicate known molecules from complex biological extracts. The conventional bioassay-guided fractionation process can be time consuming and often requires multi-step procedures. Herein, we apply a metabolomic strategy merging multivariate data analysis and multi-informative molecular maps to rapidly prioritize bioactive molecules directly from crude plant extracts. The strategy was applied to 59 extracts of three Bacopa species (B. monnieri, B. caroliniana and B. floribunda), which were profiled by UHPLC-HRMS2 and screened for anti-lipid peroxidation activity. Using this approach, six lipid peroxidation inhibitors 1‒6 of three Bacopa spp. were discovered, three of them being new compounds: monnieraside IV (4), monnieraside V (5) and monnieraside VI (6). The results demonstrate that this combined approach could efficiently guide the discovery of new bioactive natural products. Furthermore, the approach allowed to evidence that main semi-quantitative changes in composition linked to the anti-lipid peroxidation activity were also correlated to seasonal effects notably for B. monnieri.

Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors from Derris scandens.

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors have been used as a first-line medicine for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In the search for new phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors from natural sources, we found that the 95% ethanol extract of Derris scandens stem showed phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of about 7 µg/mL. Seven isoflavones and a coumarin constituent isolated from this plant were investigated for phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory activity. The results showed that osajin (8: ), 4',5,7-trihydroxybiprenylisoflavone (4: ), and derrisisoflavone A (2: ) had the ability to inhibit phosphodiesterase 5 with IC50 values of 4, 8, and 9 µM, respectively. These compounds exhibited selectivity on phosphodiesterase 5 over phosphodiesterase 1, however, the selectivity on phosphodiesterase 5 over phosphodiesterase 6 was low. In order to quantitatively determine these bioactive constituents in D. scandens extract, LC-QTOF-MS method has been developed and validated. The limit of quantitation values in the range of 0.1 - 5 µg/mL were obtained. The assay showed satisfactory precision and accuracy. The results from our method showed that the 95% ethanol extract of D. scandens stem was comprised of all eight compounds, with derrisisoflavone A (2: ) and lupalbigenin (3: ) presenting as the major constituents.

Correction: Enhancing chronic wound healing with Thai indigenous rice variety, Kaab Dum: Exploring ER stress and senescence inhibition in HaCaT keratinocyte cell line.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302662.].

Enhancing chronic wound healing with Thai indigenous rice variety, Kaab Dum: Exploring ER stress and senescence inhibition in HaCaT keratinocyte cell line.

Kaab Dum, a prominent indigenous rice variety cultivated in the Pak Phanang Basin of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, is the focus of our study. We investigate the therapeutic potential of indigenous Kaab Dum rice extract in the context of chronic wounds. Our research encompasses an examination of the nutritional compositions and chemical profiles of Kaab Dum rice extract. Additionally, we assess how the extract affects chronic wounds in TGF-ß-induced HaCaT cells. Our evaluation methods include the detection of cellular oxidative stress, the examination of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, wound healing assays, analysis of cell cycle arrest and the study of cellular senescence through senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) staining. Our research findings demonstrate that TGF-ß induces oxidative stress in HaCaT cells, which subsequently triggers ER stress, confirmed by the expression of the PERK protein. This ER stress results in cell cycle arrest in HaCaT cells, characterized by an increase in p21 protein, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI). Ultimately, this leads to cellular senescence, as confirmed by SA-ß-gal staining. Importantly, our study reveals the effectiveness of Kaab Dum rice extract in promoting wound healing in the chronic wound model. The extract reduces ER stress and senescent cells. These beneficial effects are potentially linked to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the rice extract. The findings of our study have the potential to make significant contributions to the development of enhanced products for both the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds.

Relationship of phytochemicals and antioxidant activities in Gymnema inodorum leaf extracts.

Gynmena inodorum (GI) is a green leafy vegetable used in the Northern Thai cuisine which has antioxidant activities and may be applicable for preventing oxidative stress and aging-related disease. However, understanding the relationship between GI phytonutrients and their antioxidant properties has been unclear. The aims of this study were to identify the GI leaf phytochemicals and to study their antioxidant activities. A chromatogram of LC-ESI-MS/QTOF-MS showed that the GI leaves were potentially composed of phenolics, quinic acids, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins. This study was able to authenticate quercetin, kaempferol, and triterpenoid GIA1 in the samples. The GI materials with high contents of phenolics, flavonoids, quercetin, and kaempferol showed significant relation to antioxidation and protection in endothelial cell death suppressed by reactive nitrogen species. Meanwhile, triterpenoids had a low antioxidant impact. Ultimately, GI leaves with high phenolic compounds are a promising raw material to develop as an antioxidant functional food.

Secretome profiling of human epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract and their effect on human lung microvascular endothelial cells.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is one of the leading causes of pulmonary diseases and can induce lung secretome alteration. CS exposure-induced damages to human pulmonary epithelial cells and microvascular endothelial cells have been extensively demonstrated; however, the effects of the secretome of lung epithelial cells exposed to CS extracts (CSE) on lung microvascular endothelial cells are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the secretome of lung epithelial cells exposed to CSE on lung microvascular endothelial cells. Human lung epithelial cells, A549, were exposed to CSE, and the secretome was collected. Human lung microvascular endothelial cells, HULEC-5a, were used to evaluate the effect of the secretome of A549 exposed to CSE. Secretome profile, endothelial cell death, inflammation, and permeability markers were determined. CSE altered the secretome expression of A549 cells, and secretome derived from CSE-exposed A549 cells caused respiratory endothelial cell death, inflammation, and moderately enhanced endothelial permeability. This study demonstrates the potential role of cellular interaction between endothelial and epithelial cells during exposure to CSE and provides novel therapeutic targets or beneficial biomarkers using secretome analysis for CSE-related respiratory diseases.

Diverse effects of a Cyperus rotundus extract on glucose uptake in myotubes and adipocytes and its suppression on adipocyte maturation.

Cyperus rotundus rhizomes have been used in longevity remedies in Thailand for nourishing good health, which led us to investigate the effect on energy homeostasis, especially glucose utilization in myotubes and adipocytes, and on inhibition of lipogenesis in adipocytes. The results showed that an ethyl acetate extract of C. rotundus rhizomes (ECR) containing 1.61%w/w piceatannol, with a half-maximal concentration of 17.76 ± 0.03 µg/mL in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, caused upregulation and cell-membrane translocation of glucose transporters GLUT4 and 1 in L6 myotubes but downregulation and cytoplasmic localization of GLUT4 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and was related to the p-Akt/Akt ratio in both cells, especially at 100 µg/mL. Moreover, ECR (25-100 µg/mL) significantly inhibited lipid accumulation via Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACC), and Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK) pathways. Its immunoblot showed increased expression of p-AMPKα/AMPKα and p-ACC/ACC but decreased expression of p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK3ß/GSK3ß in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Moreover, the decreased expression of the adipogenic effectors, perilipin1 and lipoprotein lipase, in ECR-incubated adipocytes (50 and 100 µg/mL) indicated reduced de novo lipogenesis. Our study elucidated mechanisms of C. rotundus that help attenuate glucose tolerance in skeletal muscle and inhibit lipid droplet accumulation in adipose tissue.

Chemical Profiles and In Vitro Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activities of the Flower Extracts of Cassia spectabilis.

Background: Cassia spectabilis is a flowering plant containing various metabolites that provide potential for pharmacological activities. The current study aimed to investigate the ethanolic and water extracts of C. spectabilis as cholinesterase inhibitor as one of the target treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The chemical composition of the extracts was also studied to determine which components are responsible for the bioactivity. Methods: The cholinesterase inhibitory activity assay was carried out by the modified Ellman's method against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). LC-MS/MS analysis was carried out to investigate the chemical profiles of the extracts, followed by a molecular networking study by GNPS. Results: Both extracts showed inhibition against AChE and BChE in a dose-dependent manner, with the higher potency exhibited by the ethanolic extract with IC50 values of 7.88 and 3.78 µg/mL. The chemical analysis and molecular networking study of the flower extracts revealed similarity between the ethanolic and water extracts. Piperidine alkaloids were identified in both extracts, while the sphingolipid compounds were found in the ethanolic extract. Conclusion: The water and ethanolic extracts of C. spectabilis flowers displayed potency for Alzheimer's disease treatment. The presence of piperidine alkaloids in the extract may be responsible for the cholinesterase inhibitory activity. The higher potency of the ethanolic extract compared to the water extract is possibly due to the higher amount of piperidine alkaloids in the ethanolic extract. Further study is needed to quantify the concentration of alkaloids in the extracts.

Copper and chromium removal from industrial sludge by a biosurfactant-based washing agent and subsequent recovery by iron oxide nanoparticles.

Industrial wastewater treatment generates sludge with high concentrations of metals and coagulants, which can cause environmental problems. This study developed a sequential sludge washing and metal recovery process for industrial sludge containing > 4500 mg/kg Cu and > 5000 mg/kg Cr. The washing agent was formulated by mixing glycolipid, lipopeptide, and phospholipid biosurfactants from Weissella cibaria PN3 and Brevibacterium casei NK8 with a chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). These biosurfactants contained various functional groups for capturing metals. The optimized formulation by the central composite design had low surface tension and contained relatively small micelles. Comparable Cu and Cr removal efficiencies of 37.8% and 38.4%, respectively, were obtained after washing the sludge by shaking with a sonication process at a 1:4 solid-to-liquid ratio. The zeta potential analysis indicated the bonding of metal ions on the surface of biosurfactant micelles. When 100 g/L iron oxide nanoparticles were applied to the washing agent without pH adjustment, 83% Cu and 100% Cr were recovered. In addition, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the nanoparticles showed the oxidation of nanoparticles, the reduction of Cr(V) to the less toxic Cr(III), and the absorption of Cu. The recovered metals could be further recycled, which will be beneficial for the circular economy.

Inhibitory efficiency of Andrographis paniculata extract on viral multiplication and nitric oxide production.

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees is a medicinal plant previously reported with broad-spectrum antivirals but the mode of inhibition remains elusive. The objective of this study was to identify the most active fraction from A. paniculata ethanol extract (APE, APE-2A, APE-2B and APE-2C) and dry powder extract (APSP) against influenza A (H3N2), representing RNA viruses, and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), representing DNA viruses. The results showed that the fractions APSP, APE, APE-2B, and APE-2C directly neutralized the HSV-1 and influenza A (H3N2) when incubated at room temperature for 60 min before infecting the cells. The results also showed that the additional APE-2A fraction also directly neutralized the influenza A (H3N2), but not the HSV-1. The APE, APE-2B and APE-2C inhibited the HSV-1 by more than 0.5 log when the fractions were introduced after infection. Similarly, the APSP and APE inhibited the influenza A (H3N2) more than 0.5 log after infection. Only 50 µg/mL APE-2C inhibited the viruses greater than 0.5 log. In addition, A. paniculata extracts were also evaluated for their interfering capacities against nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. As well, APE-2C potently inhibited NO production at the IC50 of 6.08 µg/mL. HPLC and LC-MS analysis indicated that the most actively antiviral fractions did not contain any andrographolide derivatives, whereas the andrographolide-rich fractions showed moderate activity.

Population pharmacokinetics of Artemether and dihydroartemisinin in pregnant women with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Malaria in pregnancy increases the risk of maternal anemia, abortion and low birth weight. Approximately 85.3 million pregnancies occur annually in areas with Plasmodium falciparum transmission. Pregnancy has been reported to alter the pharmacokinetic properties of many anti-malarial drugs. Reduced drug exposure increases the risk of treatment failure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the population pharmacokinetic properties of artemether and its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin in pregnant women with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Uganda. METHODS: Twenty-one women with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy received the fixed oral combination of 80 mg artemether and 480 mg lumefantrine twice daily for three days. Artemether and dihydroartemisinin plasma concentrations after the last dose administration were quantified using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass-spectroscopy. A simultaneous drug-metabolite population pharmacokinetic model for artemether and dihydroartemisinin was developed taking into account different disposition, absorption, error and covariate models. A separate modeling approach and a non-compartmental analysis (NCA) were also performed to enable a comparison with literature values and different modeling strategies. RESULTS: The treatment was well tolerated and there were no cases of recurrent malaria. A flexible absorption model with sequential zero-order and transit-compartment absorption followed by a simultaneous one-compartment disposition model for both artemether and dihydroartemisinin provided the best fit to the data. Artemether and dihydroartemisinin exposure was lower than that reported in non-pregnant populations. An approximately four-fold higher apparent volume of distribution for dihydroartemisinin was obtained by non-compartmental analysis and separate modeling compared to that from simultaneous modeling of the drug and metabolite. This highlights a potential pitfall when analyzing drug/metabolite data with traditional approaches. CONCLUSION: The population pharmacokinetic properties of artemether and dihydroartemisinin, in pregnant women with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Uganda, were described satisfactorily by a simultaneous drug-metabolite model without covariates. Concentrations of artemether and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin were relatively low in pregnancy compared to literature data. However, this should be interpreted with caution considered the limited literature available. Further studies in larger series are urgently needed for this vulnerable group.