Aim: To fabricate and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of glycyrrhizic acid (GA)-loaded pH-sensitive nanoformulations that specifically target and combat mucosal inflammation of the colon. Methods: GA-loaded Eudragit® S100/poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles were developed through modified double-emulsion evaporation coupled with solvent evaporation coating techniques and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics, surface chemistry, release kinetics, site-retention and therapeutic effectiveness. Results: Nanoparticles have a particle size of approximately 200 nm, high encapsulation efficiency, desired surface chemistry with pH-dependent and sustained drug release behavior following the Gompertz kinetic model. In vivo retention and therapeutic effectiveness in the inflamed colon tissues were confirmed by macroscopic and microscopic indices, cytokine analysis and antioxidant assays. Conclusion: GA-loaded Eudragit S100/poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles could efficiently deliver GA to the colon and ameliorate the mucosal inflammation for a prolonged duration.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that miltefosine (MTF)-polyphenol co-loaded second-generation nano-transfersomes (SGNTs) can be an effective approach for the topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Methods: The co-loaded SGNTs with various MTF-polyphenol combinations were developed, evaluated and compared for the entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, deformability index, ex-vivo permeation, cytotoxicity, and anti-leishmanial potential, using both in-vitro and in-vivo models. Results: The co-loaded SGNTs were spherical in shape, with an average size of 119 ± 1.5 nm and a high entrapment efficiency of 73.7 ± 3.7%. The ex-vivo study displayed a 3.2-fold higher permeation of MTF when entrapped in co-loaded SGNTs, whereas cytotoxicity potential of co-loaded SGNTs was 43.2% higher than the MTF solution. A synergistic interaction was observed between MTF and apigenin (APG) among all polyphenols and an 8.0-fold lower IC₅₀ was found against amastigotes of DsRed Leishmania mexicana, compared with the plain MTF solution. Moreover, the in-vivo studies displayed a 9.5-fold reduced parasitic burden in the L. mexicana infected BALB/c mice treated with MTF-APG co-loaded SGNTs gel. Conclusions: The potential of MTF-APG co-loaded SGNTs topical formulation is established for the first time as an effective drug delivery strategy against CL.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder manifested by decline in memory and mild cognitive impairment leading to dementia. Despite global occurrence of AD, the severity and hence onset of dementia vary among different regions, which was correlated with the customary use of medicinal herbs and exposure level to the causatives. In spite of execution of versatile therapeutic strategies to combat AD and other neurodegenerative diseases, success is only limited to symptomatic treatment. The role of natural remedies remained primitive and irreplaceable in all ages. In some examples, the extracted drugs failed to show comparable results due to lack of micro ingredients. Micro ingredients impart a peerless value to natural remedies which are difficult to isolate and/or determine their precise role during treatment. A variety of plants have been used for memory enhancement and other dementia-related complications since ages. Acetyl choline esterase inhibition, antioxidant potential, neuroprotection, mitochondrial energy restoration, and/or precipitated protein clearance put a vast taxonomic variety into a single group of anti-AD plants. Secondary metabolites derived from these medicinal plants have the potential to treat AD and other brain diseases of common pathology. This review summarizes the potential of taxonomically diverse medicinal plants in the treatment of AD serving as a guide to further exploration.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of the Cornus macrophylla. C. macrophylla belongs to the family Cornaceae. It is locally known as khadang and is used for the treatment of different diseases such as analgesic, tonic, diuretic, malaria, inflammation, allergy, infections, cancer, diabetes, and lipid peroxidative. The crude extract and different fractions of C. macrophyll were evaluated by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), which identified the most potent bioactive phytochemicals. The antioxidant ability of C. macrophylla was studied by 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1 diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) methods. The crude and subsequent fractions of the C. macrophylla were also tested against anti-inflammatory enzymes using COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2) and 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase) assays. The molecular docking was carried out using molecular operating environment (MOE) software. The GC-MS study of C. macrophylla confirmed forty-eight compounds in ethyl acetate (Et.AC) fraction and revealed that the Et.AC fraction was the most active fraction. The antioxidant ability of the Et.AC fraction showed an IC₅₀ values of 09.54 μg/mL and 7.8 μg/mL against ABTS and DPPH assay respectively. Among all the fractions of C. macrophylla, Et.AC showed excellent activity against COX-2 and 5-LOX enzyme. The observed IC₅₀ values were 93.35 μg/mL against COX-2 and 75.64 μg/mL for 5-LOX respectively. Molecular docking studies supported these in vitro results and confirmed the anti-inflammatory potential of C. macrophylla. C. macrophylla has promising potential as a source for the development of new drugs against inflammation in the future.