The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of a γ-Lactone Isolated from Ostrich Oil of Struthio camelus (Ratite) and Its Formulated Nano-Emulsion in Formalin-Induced Paw Edema.

The ostrich oil of Struthio camelus (Ratite) found uses in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory in eczema and contact dermatitis. The anti-inflammatory effect of a γ-lactone (5-hexyl-3H-furan-2-one) isolated from ostrich oil and its formulated nano-emulsion in formalin-induced paw edema was investigated in this study. Ostrich oil was saponified using a standard procedure; the aqueous residue was fractionated, purified, and characterized as γ-lactone (5-hexyl-3H-furan-2-one) through the interpretation of IR, NMR, and MS analyses. The γ-lactone was formulated as nano-emulsion using methylcellulose (MC) for oral solubilized form. The γ-lactone methylcellulose nanoparticles (γ-lactone-MC-NPs) were characterized for their size, shape, and encapsulation efficiency with a uniform size of 300 nm and 59.9% drug content. The γ-lactone was applied topically, while the formulated nanoparticles (NPs) were administered orally to rats. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac gel) was used as a reference drug for topical use and ibuprofen suspension for oral administration. Edema was measured using the plethysmograph method. Both γ-lactone and γ-lactone-MC-NPs showed reduction of formalin-induced paw edema in rats and proved to be better than the reference drugs; diclofenac gel and ibuprofen emulsion. Histological examination of the skin tissue revealed increased skin thickness with subepidermal edema and mixed inflammatory cellular infiltration, which were significantly reduced by the γ-lactone compared to the positive control (p-value = 0.00013). Diuretic and toxicity studies of oral γ-lactone-MC-NPs were performed. No diuretic activity was observed. However, lethargy, drowsiness, and refusal to feeding observed may limit its oral administration.

Phytochemical Profiling, In Vitro and In Silico Anti-Microbial and Anti-Cancer Activity Evaluations and Staph GyraseB and h-TOP-IIß Receptor-Docking Studies of Major Constituents of Zygophyllum coccineum L. Aqueous-Ethanolic Extract and Its Subsequent Fractions: An Approach to Validate Traditional Phytomedicinal Knowledge.

Zygophyllum coccineum, an edible halophytic plant, is part of the traditional medicine chest in the Mediterranean region for symptomatic relief of diabetes, hypertension, wound healing, burns, infections, and rheumatoid arthritis pain. The current study aimed to characterize Z. coccineum phytoconstituents, and the evaluations of the anti-microbial-biofilm, and anti-cancers bioactivities of the plant's mother liquor, i.e., aqueous-ethanolic extract, and its subsequent fractions. The in silico receptors interaction feasibility of Z. coccineum major constituents with Staph GyraseB, and human topoisomerase-IIß (h-TOP-IIß) were conducted to confirm the plant's anti-microbial and anti-cancer biological activities. Thirty-eight secondary metabolites of flavonoids, stilbene, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and coumarin classes identified by LC-ESI-TOF-MS spectrometric analysis, and tiliroside (kaempferol-3-O-(6''''-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, 19.8%), zygophyloside-F (12.78%), zygophyloside-G (9.67%), and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside (4.75%) were identified as the major constituents. A superior biofilm obliteration activity established the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) for the chloroform fraction at 3.9-15.63 µg/mL, as compared to the positive controls (15.63-31.25 µg/mL) against all the microbial strains that produced the biofilm under study, except the Aspergillus fumigatus. The aqueous-ethanolic extract showed cytotoxic effects with IC50 values at 3.47, 3.19, and 2.27 µg/mL against MCF-7, HCT-116, and HepG2 cell-lines, respectively, together with the inhibition of h-TOP-IIß with IC50 value at 45.05 ng/mL in comparison to its standard referral inhibitor (staurosporine, IC50, 135.33 ng/mL). This conclusively established the anti-cancer activity of the aqueous-ethanolic extract that also validated by in silico receptor-binding predicted energy levels and receptor-site docking feasibility of the major constituents of the plant's extract. The study helped to authenticate some of the traditional phytomedicinal properties of the anti-infectious nature of the plant.

5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one derivatives as lipophilic cyclic analogues of baclofen: design, synthesis, and neuropharmacological evaluation.

In trials to preserve the pharmacological profile and improve the bioavailability via lipophilicity increment of baclofen 1 and searching for more potent and less toxic muscle relaxants and analgesics, nine substituted cyclic analogues of 1 were designed and synthesized. The target derivatives 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one (11-19) were obtained through amide formation to the corresponding intermediates (2-10) followed by cyclization using acetic anhydride. The structures of the target compounds (11-19) were confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. The neuropharmacological activities of these lipophilic cyclic analogues (11-19) were assessed for their effects on motor activity, muscle relaxation, pain relief and impaired cognition, by intraperitoneal administration at a dose of 3mg/kg with reference to those of baclofen 1. Our results showed that compounds 11-14 are devoid of all of the tested pharmacological effects associated with 1. In all paradigms tested, undecyl, tridecyl, heptdec-8-enyl and benzyl substituted analogue derivatives (15, 16, 18, and 19) revealed a significant neurological activity being vividly favorable comparable with baclofen 1. 2-Benzyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one derivative 19 is the most active candidate with high significant neurological potencies, while 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(dec-8-enyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazepin-7(4H)-one derivative 17 displayed activity at relatively higher time interval. These results probe a new structurally distinct class incorporating 1,3-oxazepine nucleus as promising candidates as GABA(B) agonists for further investigations.