Lavender and metformin effectively propagate progesterone levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of lavender and metformin on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind clinical trial including 68 females aged 18 to 45, fulfilling the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. The patients were randomized to receive lavender (250 mg twice daily) or metformin (500 mg three times a day) for 90 days. The serum progesterone was measured at baseline and after 90 days, one week before their expected menstruation. Moreover, the length of the menstrual cycle was documented. RESULTS: Our results showed that lavender and metformin treatment notably increased the progesterone levels in PCOS patients (increasing from 0.35 (0.66) and 0.8 (0.69) to 2.5 (6.2) and 2.74 (6.27) ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.001). However, we found no significant differences between the increasing effects of both treatments on progesterone levels. In addition, all patients in the lavender or metformin groups had baseline progesterone levels <3 ng/mL, reaching 14 (45.2%) patients >3 ng/mL. Lavender and metformin remarkably attenuated the menstrual cycle length in PCOS patients (decreasing from 56.0 (20.0) and 60 (12.0) to 42.0 (5.0) and 50.0 (14.0) days, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the decreasing effects of lavender on the menstrual cycle length were greater than the metformin group; however, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Lavender effectively increased progesterone levels and regulated the menstrual cycles in PCOS patients, similar to metformin. Therefore, lavender may be a promising candidate for the treatment of PCOS.

Folated synperonic-cholesteryl hemisuccinate polymeric micelles for the targeted delivery of docetaxel in melanoma.

The objective of this study was the synthesis of folic acid- (FA-) targeted polymeric micelles of Synperonic PE/F 127-cholesteryl hemisuccinate (PF127-Chol) for specific delivery of docetaxel (DTX). Targeted or nontargeted micelles loaded with DTX were prepared via dialysis method. The effects of processing variables on the physicochemical properties of targeted micelles were evaluated using a full factorial design. After the optimization of the polymer/drug ratio, the organic solvent type used for the preparation of the micelles, and the temperature of dialyzing medium, the in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of the optimized micelles were studied on B16F10 melanoma cells by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. The anticancer efficacy of DTX-loaded FA-PF127-Chol was evaluated in mice bearing melanoma tumor. Optimized targeted micelles had the particle size of 171.3 nm, zeta potential of -7.8 mV, PDI of 0.325, and a high encapsulation efficiency that released the drug within 144 h. The MTT assay indicated that targeted micelles carrying DTX were significantly more cytotoxic, had higher cellular uptake, and reduced the tumor volume significantly more than the nontargeted micelles and the free drug. FA-PF127-Chol could be, therefore, a promising biomaterial for tumors overexpressing folate receptors.

Self-assembly micelles with lipid core of cholesterol for docetaxel delivery to B16F10 melanoma and HepG2 cells.

The objective of the present study was to prepare a micellar polymeric carrier for the delivery of Docetaxel (DTX) as a kind of polysorbate free preparation. Pluronic F127 (PF127) was conjugated to cholesterol (Chol) via succinyl linkage and characterized by FTIR and HNMR. DTX-loaded polymeric micelles were prepared via film hydration method. Physicochemical properties of micelles including particle size, zeta potential, drug loading and release efficiency were studied. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined using pyrene as a hydrophobic fluorescent probe. In vitro cytotoxicity of micelles was evaluated in B16F10 melanoma cells and HepG2 cell line. The FTIR and HNMR spectroscopy methods confirmed the conjugation of PF127 to cholesterol via succinyl linkage. The micelles were spherical under scanning electron microscope (SEM) with the mean particle size of 248.2 ± 8-278.8 ± 12.3 nm and zeta potential ranging from -17.2 ± 8.7 to -28.4 ± 12.7 mV. Drug loading efficiency was higher than 98%. The in vitro release study showed the sustained release behavior of DTX within 144 h. The CMC of the micelles was about 41.67 ± 0.17 µg/ml, which was significantly lower than the CMC of pure PF127 micelles. Compared with the free drug, DTX-loaded micelles showed higher cytotoxicity against B16F10 melanoma and HepG2 cell lines.