Evaluation of Plant-Based Silver Nanoparticles for Antioxidant Activity and Promising Wound-Healing Applications.

The current research focuses on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a polar extract of taro corms and the evaluation of its antioxidant properties and wound-healing applications. Taro corm extract (100 mL) was treated with a 5 mM AgNO3 solution (100 mL) at room temperature for the formation of AgNPs, and a color change was observed. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks in their UV-visible spectra appeared at a range of 438-445 nm. Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction were used for the characterization of the taro corms extract-mediated AgNPs (TCE-AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were crystalline and spherical, with an average size of 244.9-272.2 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.530 and zeta potential of -18.8 mV, respectively. The antibacterial potential of TCE-AgNPs was tested, and the inhibition zones detected against Cronobacter sakazakii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis were 28, 26, 18, and 13 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of TCE-AgNPs showed significant radical-scavenging activity compared to the standard used. Collagen content data collected from regenerated tissue and higher collagen content indicated rapid wound healing compared to others, which was seen in a group treated with TCE-AgNP film bandages.

A novel pH-responsive hydrogel system based on Prunus armeniaca gum and acrylic acid: Preparation and evaluation as a potential candidate for controlled drug delivery.

pH-responsive hydrogels have become effective and attractive materials for the controlled release of drugs at pre-determined destinations. In the present study, a novel hydrogel system based on Prunus armeniaca gum (PAG) and acrylic acid (AA) was prepared by a free radical mechanism using N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker and potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. A series of hydrogels varying PAG, AA, and MBA concentration was developed to determine the impact of these components. Formulated hydrogels were characterized for pH-responsive swelling, drug release, gel content, and porosity. Structural analysis was performed by FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis. TGA study was applied to assess thermal stability. Oral acute toxicity and in vivo drug release were performed in rabbits. Hydrogels exhibited pH-dependent swelling and drug release. Swelling, drug loading and release, and porosity increased by increasing PAG and AA concentration while decreased by increasing MBA. The gel content of formulations was increased by increasing all three components. FTIR studies confirmed the development of copolymeric networks and the loading of drug. XRD studies revealed that hydrogels were amorphous, and the crystalline drug was changed into an amorphous form during loading. TGA results indicated that hydrogels were stable up to 600 °C. Acute oral toxicity results confirm that hydrogels were nontoxic up to a dose of 2 g/kg body weight in rabbits. The pharmacokinetic evaluation revealed that hydrogels prolonged the availability of the drug and the peak plasma concentration of the drug was obtained in 6 h as compared to the oral solution of the drug. Tramadol hydrochloride (THC) was used as a model drug. Hence, pH-responsive swelling and release, nontoxic nature and improved pharmacokinetics support that PAG-based hydrogels may be considered as potential controlled-release polymeric carriers.

Maximizing the extraction yield of plant gum exudate using response surface methodology and artificial neural networking and pharmacological characterization.

Prunus armeniaca gum is used as food additive and ethno medicinal purpose. Two empirical models response surface methodology and artificial neural network were used to search for optimized extraction parameters for gum extraction. A four-factor design was implemented for optimization of extraction process for maximum yield which was obtained under the optimized extraction parameter (temperature, pH, extraction time, and gum/water ratio). Micro and macro-elemental composition of gum was determined by using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. Gum was evaluated for toxicological effect and pharmacological properties. The maximum predicted yield obtained by response surface methodology and artificial neural network was 30.44 and 30.70% which was very close to maximum experimental yield 30.23%. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopic spectra confirmed the presence Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Lithium, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen. Acute oral toxicity study showed that gum is non-toxic up to 2000 mg/Kg body weight in rabbits, accompanied by high cytotoxic effects of gum against HepG2 and MCF-7cells by MTT assay. Overall, Aqueous solution of gum showed various pharmacological activities with significant value of antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-nociceptive, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic activities. Thus, optimization of parameters using mathematical models cans offer better prediction and estimations with enhanced pharmacological properties of extracted components.

Formulation, Statistical Optimization, and In Vivo Pharmacodynamics of Cydonia oblonga Mucilage/Alginate Mucoadhesive Microspheres for the Delivery of Metformin HCl.

In recent years, attention has shifted toward the utilization of natural polymers for encapsulation and sustained release of health-hazardous drugs. The purpose of this work is to define and assess the sustained delivery potential and mucoadhesive potential of a Cydonia oblonga mucilage (COM) and sodium alginate (Na-Alg)-constituting polymeric delivery carrier of antidiabetic drugs with a specific end goal to retain metformin HCl in the stomach while expanding the drug's bioavailability. Metformin HCl was encapsulated in mucoadhesive microspheres by an ionic gelation method. Polymers with different combinations were tried, and the resulting mucoadhesive COM/Na-Alg microspheres were assessed for particle size (mm) PS/Y1, drug encapsulation efficiency DEE (%)/Y2, and in vitro percentage cumulative drug release R12h/Y3 using Drug Design Expert software version 10. The response surface methodology by a 32-central composite design predicted optimal synthesis parameters for the microspheres to be 295 mg for COM and 219 mg for Na-Alg. An optimized formulation was prepared under these conditions and used to evaluate the micrometric properties, morphology and structural characteristics, swelling behavior, in vitro drug release, and kinetics. Acute toxicity studies were carried out on blank COM/Na-Alg microspheres to deem them safe for in vivo studies. The DEE (%) was calculated to be 85.8 ± 1.67, whereas scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a coarse surface with characteristic wrinkles and cracks with an optical microscopic particle size of 0.96 ± 2.45. The ex vivo tests showed great mucoadhesive properties and good swelling behavior with pH-responsive drug release and a significant reduction in in vivo blood glucose levels. The results advocated the use of optimized microspheres to enhance the bioactivity with a possible dose reduction, making it less symptomatic, reducing the expense of the treatment, and subsequently facilitating better patient compliance.

Prunus armeniaca Gum-Alginate Polymeric Microspheres to Enhance the Bioavailability of Tramadol Hydrochloride: Formulation and Evaluation.

Combinations of polymers can improve the functional properties of microspheres to achieve desired therapeutic goals. Hence, the present study aimed to formulate Prunus armeniaca gum (PAG) and sodium alginate microsphere for sustained drug release. Blended and coated microspheres were prepared using the ionotropic gelation technique. The effect of polymer concentration variation was studied on the structural and functional properties of formulated microspheres. FTIR, XRD, and thermal analysis were performed to characterize the microspheres. All the formulations were well-formed spherical beads having an average diameter from 579.23 ± 07.09 to 657.67 ± 08.74 µm. Microspheres entrapped drugs within the range 65.86 ± 0.26-83.74 ± 0.79%. The pH-dependent swelling index of coated formulations was higher than blended. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of characteristic peaks of entrapped Tramadol hydrochloride showing no drug-polymer interaction. In vitro drug release profile showed sustained release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model with an R2 value of 0.9803-0.9966. An acute toxicology study employing the oral route in Swiss albino mice showed no signs of toxicity. It can be inferred from these results that blending PAG with sodium alginate can enhance the stability of alginate microspheres and improve its drug release profile by prolonging the release time.

pH Responsive Abelmoschus esculentus Mucilage and Administration of Methotrexate: In-Vitro Antitumor and In-Vivo Toxicity Evaluation.

The rapid progression in biomaterial nanotechnology apprehends the potential of non-toxic and potent polysaccharide delivery modules to overcome oral chemotherapeutic challenges. The present study is aimed to design, fabricate and characterize polysaccharide nanoparticles for methotrexate (MTX) delivery. The nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by Abelmoschus esculentus mucilage (AEM) and chitosan (CS) by the modified coacervation method, followed by ultra-sonification. The NPs showed much better pharmaceutical properties with a spherical shape and smooth surface of 213.4-254.2 nm with PDI ranging between 0.279-0.485 size with entrapment efficiency varying from 42.08 ± 1.2 to 72.23 ± 2.0. The results revealed NPs to possess positive zeta potential and a low polydispersity index (PDI). The in-vitro drug release showed a sustained release of the drug up to 32 h with pH-dependence. Blank AEM -CS NPs showed no in-vivo toxicity for a time duration of 14 days, accompanied by high cytotoxic effects of optimized MTX loaded NPs against MCF-7 and MD-MBA231 cells by MTT assay. In conclusion, the findings advocated the therapeutic potential of AEM/CS NPs as an efficacious tool, offering a new perspective for pH-responsive routing of anticancer drugs with tumor cells as a target.

Terminalia arjuna gum/alginate in situ gel system with prolonged retention time for ophthalmic drug delivery.

Poor availability is the major barrier to accept the new smart gel system as a preferred ophthalmic solution for various eye problems. Smart gel system especially derived from natural source allows the rapid transition of ocular solution into gel form upon contact to tear solution. The present experimental scheme was intended to prepare and characterize a pH triggered in situ gelling system using moxifloxacin HCl (MOX-HCl). Gum was extracted from Terminalia arjuna bark resin and used as gelling agent in blend with sodium alginate. Sterilized formulations were developed and characterized for their physicochemical attributes. These were further investigated for microbiological testing and eye irritation studies. Drug loaded in situ gel was appeared as clear sol that converted into gel phase in presence of tear solution. Optimized formulation was stable, therapeutically efficacious, non-irritant and has a sustained release of the drug for twelve hours period. Instillation of MOX-HCl loaded in situ gel did not cause any type of irritation symptoms like redness, inflammation and excessive tear production in rabbits as compared to control. MOX-HCl loaded in situ gel can be appraised as a substitute for conventional eye drops for extended precorneal retention, improved corneal permeability along with better ocular bioavailability.

The genus Cuscuta (Convolvolaceac): An updated review on indigenous uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology.

Cuscuta, commonly known as dodder, is a genus of family convolvolaceace. Approximately 170 species of Cuscuta are extensively distributed in temperate and subtropical areas of the world. Species of this genus are widely used as essential constituents in functional foods and traditional medicinal systems. Various parts of many members of Cuscuta have been found efficacious against a variety of diseases. Phytochemical investigations have confirmed presence of biologically active moieties such as flavonoids, alkaloids, lignans, saponines, phenolics, tannins, and fatty acids. Pharmacological studies and traditional uses of these plants have proved that they are effective antibacterial, antioxidant, antiostioporotic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antipyretic, antihypertensive, analgesic, anti hair fall, and antisteriogenic agents.