Self-assembled Gallic acid loaded lecithin-chitosan hybrid nanostructured gel as a potential tool against imiquimod-induced psoriasis.

Increased thickness of the skin and hyperproliferation of keratinocyte cell is the main obstacle in the treatment of psoriasis. Gallic Acid (GA) has shown efficacious results against the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes while lipid-polymer loaded hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNs) have an edge over lipidic and polymeric nanoparticles considering drug loading, controlled release, stability, and retention. The LPHNs were optimized using Box-Behnken method and was further characterized by FTIR, DSC and Zetasizer. The optimized preparation demonstrated a size of 170.5 ± 0.087 nm and a PDI of 0.19 ± 0.0015, respectively. The confocal study has suggested that the hybrid nanosystem enhanced the drug penetration into the deeper layer with a higher drug release of 79 ± 0.001% as compared to the gallic acid-loaded gel. In addition, the formulation significantly reduced PASI score and splenomegaly without causing any serious irritation. The morphological study of the spleen suggested that the prepared formulation has well controlled the disease compared to the marketed formulation while maintaining a normal level of immune cells after treatment. Hence GALPHN could be accepted as one of the excellent vehicles for the topical conveyance of GA (gallic acid) due to enhanced penetration, and good retention, along with fewer side effects and higher efficacy of the GALPHN gel against imiquimod (IMQ) induced psoriasis.

Rescue effect of curcumin against copper toxicity.

Turmeric has long been used not only as an indispensable part of Asian cuisine but as a medicinal herb for dressing wounds, bites, burns, treating eye infections and acne. Curcuminoids are the active substances and their synthetic derivatives (i.e. diacetylcurcumin (DAC) and metal-curcumin complexes) possess an incredibly wide range of medicinal properties that encompass chelation capacity for multiple heavy metals, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory properties, cytotoxicity against cancerous cells, antiviral and antibacterial effects, antihypertensive and insulin sensitizing role, and regulatory role on apoptosis. The aforementioned properties have put curcumin on spotlight as a potential treatment for ailments such as, hepatic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, auto-immune diseases, malignancies and conditions associated with metal overload. Copper is essential for major biological functions, however, an excess causes chronic ailments including neurodegenerative disorders. The fascinating approach of curcumin could alleviate such effect by forming a complex. Thus, this review aims to present available data on the effect of copper-curcumin interaction in various in vitro, ex-vivo in vivo, and clinical studies.

Repurposing pharmaceutical excipients as an antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2.

The limited time indorsed to face the COVID-19 emergency and large number of deaths across the globe, poses an unrelenting challenge to find apt therapeutic approaches. However, lead candidate selection to phase III trials of new chemical entity is a time-consuming procedure, and not feasible in pandemic, such as the one we are facing. Drug repositioning, an exploration of existing drug for new therapeutic use, could be an effective alternative as it allows fast-track estimation in phase II-III trials, or even forthright compassionate use. Although, drugs repurposed for COVID-19 pandemic are commercially available, yet the evaluation of their safety and efficacy is tiresome and painstaking. In absence of any specific treatment the easy alternatives such as over the counter products, phytotherapies and home remedies have been largely adopted for prophylaxis and therapy as well. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that several pharmaceutical excipients possess antiviral properties making them prospective candidates against SARS-CoV-2. This review highlights the mechanism of action of various antiviral excipients and their propensity to act against SARs-CoV2. Though, repurposing of pharmaceutical excipients against COVID-19 has the edge over therapeutic agents in terms of safety, cost and fast-track approval trial burdened, this hypothesis needs to be experimentally verified for COVID-19 patients.