Chebulinic Acid: An Incipient Anticancer Agent.

BACKGROUND: Terminalia chebula (T. chebula) comprising chebulinic acid as its principle active constituent is used to cure various diseases. T. chebula and chebulinic acid are used as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antimutagenic, radioprotective, cardioprotective, antiproliferative, antiarthritic, anticaries, and so on. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this current study is to give an overview of the recent literature and patents of T. chebula and chebulinic acid including methods of its isolation/extraction and their application in the prevention of various cancers and other diseases. METHODS: Present research and patents highlighting the anti-cancer potential of T. chebula and chebulinic acid have been studied and discussed keeping in view the scientific novelty and impact. RESULTS: Both T. chebula and chebulinic acid are currently being explored for their anticancer potential in vitro and in vivo. They are either incorporated alone or in combination with other plants or drugs to show their activity and many clinical trials are also going on various potentials of the plant and chebulinic acid. Novel extraction techniques are also explored and patented. Efforts are being made to improve the bioavailability by developing Novel herbal drug delivery systems of the plant extract or chebulinic acid itself. CONCLUSION: Anti-cancer potential of T. chebula and chebulinic acid may be well established by promising clinical trials and may open new interventions in various tumors. Clinical trials in conjunction with standard therapies are required to explore and validate the actual potential of T. chebula and chebulinic acid respectively.

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.

Nanotechnology a Boon for Colorectal Cancer Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most widely spread tumor among the human population. It is usually adenocarcinomatous and develops as a polyp on the inner wall of the colon or rectum which may become malignant with time. Though its treatment is limited, its early diagnosis and prevention play a better role, thereby decreasing mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: The molecular markers in CRC-affected tissues may play an important role to develop novel strategies to cure the disease. Nanotechnology consists of both an innovative diagnostic and therapeutic array of nanomaterials that may be used to target CRC like dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, nano-emulsions, etc. Methods: Current patents and research covering the nanotechnology used to target and diagnose CRC is included in the review. RESULTS: Nanotechnology is playing a wonderful role in both the treatment and diagnosis of CRC. CONCLUSION: The present review may cover the recent advancements in nanotechnology in the treatment and diagnosis of CRC.

Bourgeoning Cancer Targets.

Identifying cancer genomes has provided acuity into somatically altered genes athwart tumors, transformed our understanding of biology, and helped us design therapeutic strategies. Though the action of most cancer cells remains furtive yet many features of cancer surpass their genomes. Consequently, the characterization of tumor genome does not affect the treatment of many patients. Strategies to know the circuity and function of cancer genes provide corresponding methods to explicate both non-oncogene and oncogene deficiencies. The emerging techniques specify that the therapeutic targets produced by non-oncogene deficiencies are much grander than the mutated genes. In the present review, a framework of the long-drawn-out list of cancer targets viz. synthetic lethal targets, oncogene dependence, response to DNA damage, tumor suppressor rescue, metabolic susceptibility, protein-protein interaction, cell state or master regulators, targeting immune cells, fibroblasts, etc. giving innovative prospects for clinical translation, are discussed.

Eudragit, a Nifty Polymer for Anticancer Preparations: A Patent Review.

BACKGROUND: Polymers are the backbone of modern pharmaceutical formulations and drug delivery technologies. Polymers that may be natural, synthetic, or semisynthetic are used to control the release of drugs in a pre-programmed fashion. The drug delivery systems are mainly prepared to enhance the bioavailability, site-specific release, sustained release, controlled release, i.e., to modify the release of drug from dosage form may be a tablet, capsule, etc. Objectives: The objective of the present study is to overview the recent patents concerning the application of eudragit in the prevention of cancer and other ailments. Eudragit polymers are polymethacrylates and may be anionic, cationic, or non-ionic polymers of methacrylic acid, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylates, and methacrylic acid esters in varying ratios. Eudragit is available in various grades with solubilities at different pH, thus helping the formulators design the preparation to have a well-defined release pattern. METHODS: In this review, patent applications of eudragit in various drug delivery systems employed to cure mainly cancer are covered. RESULTS: Eudragit has proved its potential as a polymer to control the release of drugs as coating polymer and formation of the matrix in various delivery systems. It can increase the bioavailability of the drug by site-specific drug delivery and can reduce the side effects/toxicity associated with anticancer drugs. CONCLUSION: The potential of eudragit to carry the drug may unclutter novel ways for therapeutic intercessions in various tumors.

Transdermal Drug Delivery: A Step towards Treatment of Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Transdermal drug delivery is an emerging and appealing alternative to oral and hypodermic drug delivery systems. With the new developments in skin penetration techniques, anticancer drugs ranging from hydrophilic macromolecules to lipophilic drugs can be administered via a transdermal route to treat cancer. OBJECTIVE: In the present review, various approaches to enhance the transdermal delivery of drugs are discussed, including micro and nanotechnology-based transdermal formulations like chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, phototherapy, vaccines, and medical devices. Limitations and advantages of various transdermal technologies are also elaborated. METHODS: In this review, patent applications and recent literature of transdermal drug delivery systems employed to cure mainly cancer are covered. RESULTS: Transdermal drug delivery systems have proved their potential to cure cancer. They increase the bioavailability of the drug by site-specific drug delivery and can reduce the side effects/- toxicity associated with anticancer drugs. CONCLUSION: The potential of transdermal drug delivery systems to carry the drug may unclutter novel ways for therapeutic intercessions in various tumors.

Chitosan - A Potential Polymer to Prepare Anticancer Drug Delivery Systems: Patent Review.

BACKGROUND: Polymers are used in drug delivery systems to encapsulate and release the drug. Natural polymers have the advantages of biodegradability, biocompatibility, and recognizable biological moieties that maintain cellular functions as compared to synthetic polymers. Chitosan is a natural polycationic linear polysaccharide that originates from chitin. Its easy modification, release rate of drug, ability to cross-link with other polymers, gelling ability, immunostimulation, bioadhesion, biocompatibility, and biodegradability has increased its application in various drug delivery systems. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study is to overview the recent patents of the application of chitosan in various drug delivery systems and their use in the prevention of cancer and other ailments. METHODS: In this review, the patent application of chitosan in various drug delivery systems employed to cure mainly cancer has been covered with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty. RESULTS: Chitosan has proved its potential as a polymer to control and target the drug at the site of action. CONCLUSION: The potential of chitosan and its derivatives to deliver and target the drug may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in different tumors.

Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Potential of Helenalin.

BACKGROUND: Arnica montana, containing helenalin as its principal active constituent, is the most widely used plant to treat various ailments. Recent studies indicate that Arnica and helenalin provide significant health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, immunomodulatory, and most important, anti-cancer properties. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study is to overview the recent patents of Arnica and its principal constituent helenalin, including new methods of isolation, and their use in the prevention of cancer and other ailments. METHODS: Current prose and patents emphasizing the anti-cancer potential of helenalin and Arnica, incorporated as anti-inflammary agents in anti-cancer preparations, have been identified and reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty. RESULTS: Helenalin has shown its anti-cancer potential to treat multiple types of tumors, both in vitro and in vivo. It has also portrayed synergistic effects when given in combination with other anti- cancer drugs or natural compounds. New purification/isolation techniques are also developing with novel helenalin formulations and its synthetic derivatives have been developed to increase its solubility and bioavailability. CONCLUSION: The promising anti-cancer potential of helenalin in various preclinical studies may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in different tumors. Thus clinical trials validating its tumor suppressing and chemopreventive activities, particularly in conjunction with standard therapies, are immediately required.

Novel Herbal Topical Patch Containing Curcumin and Arnica montana for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) ranks fifth among all forms of disability affecting 10% of the world population. Current treatments available are associated with multiple side effects and do not slow down the progression of the disease. Moreover, no such effective treatment is available to date in various systems of medicine to treat osteoarthritis. Curcumin and Arnica have shown evident clinical advances in the treatment of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to design, optimize and characterize novel herbal transdermal patches of curcumin and Arnica montana using factorial design. METHODS: A multiple factorial design was employed to investigate the effect of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and jojoba oil on elongation and drug release. Transdermal patches were evaluated by FTIR, DSC, FESEM, ex vivo drug permeation, anti osteoarthritic activity and analgesic activity. RESULTS: Independent variables exhibited a significant effect on the physicochemical properties of the prepared formulations. The higher values of drug release and elongation were observed with the higher concentration of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and jojoba oil. Anti osteoarthritic activity was assessed by complete Freund's adjuvant arthritis model; using rats and analgesic activity by Eddy's hot plate method, using mice. Combination patch exhibited good anti osteoarthritic and analgesic activity as compare to individual drug patches. CONCLUSION: The design results revealed that the combination patch exhibited good physicochemical, anti osteoarthritic and analgesic activity for the treatment of osteoarthritis in animals. More plants and their combinations should be explored to get reliable, safe and effective formulations that can compete with synthetic drugs.

Arnica montana L. - a plant of healing: review.

OBJECTIVES: Arnica montana is a widely used therapeutic plant used traditionally to treat various ailments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the botany, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology along with special emphasis given on pharmacological activity of plant A. montana. KEY FINDINGS: The plant extracts have been reported to possess antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and immunomodulatory activity. A wide range of chemical compounds including sesquiterpene lactones and their short-chain carbonic acid esters, flavonoids, carotenoids, essential oils, diterpenes, arnidiol, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, coumarins, phenolic acids, lignans and oligosaccharides, etc., are found in different parts of the plant. SUMMARY: It has been scrutinized that extensive research has been carried out to explore the therapeutic potential of flowers of the plant. Therefore, investigations should be carried out to explore the therapeutic potential of other parts of the plant for better therapeutic utilization.