Obliteration of H. pylori infection through the development of a novel thyme oil laden nanoporous gastric floating microsponge.

Thyme oil (TO) is a valuable essential oil believed to possess a variety of bioactivities, including antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. These attributes grant TO the excellent capability to treat a wide range of diseases, particularly the effective eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach. However, its practical use is limited by its low stability under atmospheric conditions. Our current research aims to encapsulate TO in eudragit (EGT) microsponges to enhance its stability and improve its effectiveness against H. pylori. The TO microsponges were prepared using EGT as a polymer, polysorbate 80 as a stabilizer, and dichloromethane (DCM) as a solvent via the quasi-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The product yield, particle size, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, drug-polymer interaction, in-vitro floating, and in-vitro drug release of the microsponges were evaluated. The most promising microsponge was tested against H. pylori ATCC 43504 strains. The results showed that the microsponges exhibited a high product yield (ranging from 41 % ± 0.75-81.27 % ± 1.13), excellent entrapment efficiency (ranging from 63.01 % ± 0.79-88.64 % ± 0.98), prolonged in-vitro floating time (more than 12 h) and sustained in-vitro drug release for 18 h (81.53 %). Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the microsponges were spherical in shape with a spongy surface. The average particle size of the selected microsponges was determined to be 49.79 ± 1.4 µm, and their average pore size was measured to be 0.81 ± 0.14 µm. DSC study results revealed that TO was physically entrapped in the microsponges. In-vitro anti-H. pylori activity studies demonstrated that TO in microsponge was more effective against H. pylori than pure TO. In conclusion, the developed microsponges containing thyme oil provide a promising alternative for the efficient targeting and eradication of H. Pylori infection.

Phytomedicine from Middle Eastern Countries: An Alternative Remedy to Modern Medicine against Candida spp Infection.

Candida spp are capable of infecting both normal and immunocompromised individuals. More recently, Candida infections have spread considerably in healthcare settings, especially in intensive care units, where it is the most frequently encountered pathogen. Candida albicans is the commonest species encountered, although infections by non-albicans species have also risen in the past few years. The pathogenicity of Candida is credited to its aptitude to change between yeast and hyphal modes of growth. Candida spp produce biofilms on synthetic materials that protect them and facilitate drug resistance and act as a source for chronic and recurrent infections. Primarily, azoles antifungal agents are utilized to treat Candida infection that targets the ergosterol synthesis pathway in the cell wall. The development of antifungal resistance in Candida species is a major reason for treatment failure, and hence, there is a need to develop newer antifungal molecules and/or modifications of existing antifungals to make them more effective and less toxic. This has led researchers to oversee the plants to discover newer antimicrobials. Middle Eastern countries are well known for their landscape ranging from dry and sandy deserts to snow-capped mountains. However, they comprise enormous plant diversity with over 20,000 different species showing various types of bioactivities, such as anticancer, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities. Especially, the antifungal potential of these phytoproducts could be exploited in the clinical setting for therapy. The present review examines some of the promising alternative natural compounds that have been tested and found effective in treating Candida infections in vitro in some Middle Eastern countries.

Biosurfactants: Potential applications as immunomodulator drugs.

Biosurfactants (BSs) molecules are classically branded as emulsifiers of hydrocarbon compounds and are extensively applied in several fields including pharmaceutics, food processing, biodegradation, bioremediation, cosmetics, and pest control management. Due to the amphiphilic and surface-active properties, BS interacts with lipid membranes of the cell and alters its physio-chemical nature. As a result, various biological functions of the target cells are lost. In recent times, several studies have shown antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer potentials of BS molecules. BS primarily destroy bacterial cells by directly disrupting the integrity of the plasma membrane or cell wall. Whereas, their antiviral action seems to be due to their physicochemical interaction with the virus lipid envelope. However, antiproliferative potency of BSs make them a potential anticancer agent. BS can induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and metastasis arrest in tumour cells with no influence on non-tumour cells. Interestingly, BS molecules also demonstrate immunomodulatory activities either by suppression or activation of immune system. The advantages of BS over their chemical counterparts are their biocompatibility, high biodegradability, high specificity and low toxicity. Moreover, chemical diversity, environmentally friendly nature and, suitability for large-scale production has bestowed BS many future applications. This review presents, in a systematic manner, the interference of BS of various classes including glycolipids, phospholipids and lipopeptides with the activities or mechanism of action of immune response. Also, we shed lights on how such biological activities of BSs make them a new class of therapeutic molecules for combating various immune disorders.

Virulence and biofilms as promising targets in developing antipathogenic drugs against candidiasis.

Candida albicans has remained the main etiological agent of candidiasis, challenges clinicians with high mortality and morbidity. The emergence of resistance to antifungal drugs, toxicity and lower efficacy have all contributed to an urgent need to develop alternative drugs aiming at novel targets in C. albicans. Targeting the production of virulence factors, which are essential processes for infectious agents, represents an attractive substitute for the development of newer anti-infectives. The present review highlights the recent developments made in the understanding of the pathogenicity of C. albicans. Production of hydrolytic enzymes, morphogenesis and biofilm formation, along with their molecular and metabolic regulation in Candida are discussed with regard to the development of novel antipathogenic drugs against candidiasis.