The physicochemical properties, especially pH value of dental medicines, have significant influence on the health of oral cavity tissues. The pH of formulations should correspond to the value of saliva pH (5.5–8.0). For carbomer-based gels, the required pH value is obtained by neutralizing them with alkaline components, which leads to their structuring (thickening). This affects the physical properties of the gel, its residence time at the application site and the rate of release of active pharmaceutical ingredient. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to evaluate the rheological, textural, and biopharmaceutical properties of Carbomer Polacril^® 40P-based dental gel depending on the pH value. Evaluation of the rheological properties of gel preparations were performed by measuring the structural viscosity of the samples as a function of pH and temperature. The textural properties of the gel were evaluated by performing tests regarding back extrusion and spreadability. Carbomer Polacril^® 40P-based gels haven’t shown noticeable thixotropic behavior, and were characterized by plastic flow in the whole studied pH range. The structural viscosity at the selected average pH value hasn’t differed at storage (25 °C) and application (37 °C) temperature. Texture studies of dental gels have shown a strong correlation with rheoparameters. Their rheological behavior and textural properties haven’t changed significantly between the pH range of 5.5–6.6. The relatively narrow range of working pH values does not affect the change in the viscosity of the preparation significantly and, consequently, does not affect the release of APIs from the developed Carbomer Polacril^® 40P-based dental gel.

Background: Vaccinium myrtillus leaves are known to be rich in phenols and have been used in traditional medicine as an antidiabetic remedy. This study evaluated the powder extract of V. myrtillus leaves obtained with the use of L-arginine and myo-inositol for anti-obesity and lipid-lowering potential in hamsters. Methods: Standard phytochemical methods were used to determine the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the extract. The obesity condition was induced in Syrian hamsters by feeding them with highly palatable fat- and sugar-rich diet (40.3 kcal% fat) for 12 weeks. From the 10th week of diet feeding, the obese hamsters were treated with the powder extract of V. myrtillus leaves (15, 25 and 35 mg/kg/day, respectively) and “Styfimol” (6.2 mg/kg/day of hydroxycitric acid) as a positive control drug. At the end of the treatment period, the biochemical parameters as well as visceral fat mass were determined. Results: Vaccinium myrtillus leaves powder extract at 25 and 35 mg/kg/day caused a significant reduction in body weight gain and visceral fat mass in obese hamsters. Serum triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were also significantly lower. Besides, the hamsters treated with powder extract at 25 and 35 mg/kg/day had the closest intact value ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and LDL-C compared with positive control animals. Conclusions: The results showed that V. myrtillus leaves powder extract is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity and obesity-induced diseases.

Medicated chewing gums (MCGs) represent a beneficial platform for realizing drugs intended for dental prophylaxis and treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of compression force on the mechanical, textural, release, and chewing perception characteristics of compressible MCGs with the combination of lysozyme hydrochloride (LH) and ascorbic acid (AsA). Four batches of MCGs were obtained on a laboratory single-punch tablet machine applying different forces, i.e., 5, 7, 10, and 15 kN, and evaluated by their geometrical parameters, mechanical resistance, surface and internal structure characteristics, texture profile, release behavior, and perception attributes during mastication. It was found that increasing compression force slightly affected resistance to crushing and friability of MCGs, but resulted in surface smoothing and formation of a thicker layer with highly compacted particle arrangement. According to the texture analysis, increasing compression force led to harder and more adhesive gums, indicating possible difficulties in chewing and, therefore, impairment of their consumer properties. Lower compression forces were also found to be preferable in terms of better drug release from the obtained chewing gums. The volunteers’ assessment showed that an increase of compression force led to significantly raising the initial hardness and crumbliness as well as to decreasing the rate of the integral gum mass formation during mastication, which may negatively affect perceptive sensations when using MCGs. Based on the results obtained, the optimal compressing force was selected to be 7 kN, which allows obtaining MCGs with good organoleptic, mechanical, textural, and release properties.

The search for neuroprotective compounds in lavender is driven by its traditional use for brain health, with antioxidant activity serving as a key mechanism in reducing oxidative stress and supporting cognitive function. Lavender’s potential to protect neurons is based on its calming, anti-stress properties, which increase the brain’s resistance to neurodegeneration. Although lavender is not a traditional medicinal plant in Ukraine, it is increasingly recognised for its medicinal properties and is widely cultivated in the country. Lavender use in Ukraine is influenced by both global herbal practices and local medical traditions. The aim of this study was to optimise the preparation of lavender herb extracts, perform chemical profiling and evaluate their antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. The study focused on Lavandula angustifolia cultivated in Lviv, Ukraine. Modern analytical methods were used, including HPLC, spectrophotometry, molecular docking, lyophilisation and pharmacological testing. The selection of the optimal conditions for obtaining lavender herb extracts was determined on the basis of the results of the total yield of phenolic compounds in each extract, where it was found that the raw material–solvent ratio (1:10) in water and 50% ethanol gave the highest yield of substances; the preferred extraction time was 20 min, and the temperature was 60–70 °C, especially for water extraction. Further HPLC analysis identified marker compounds including rosmarinic acid (28.31 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (1.64 mg/g) and luteolin (0.23 mg/g) in the lyophilised ethanol extract, which were previously recognised as neuroprotective markers by molecular docking. The water extract showed higher antioxidant (total 50.85 mg/g) and neuroprotective activity, probably due to synergistic interactions among the components. Behavioural tests further demonstrated the neuroprotective potential of lavender herb. These results demonstrate the potential neuroprotective activity of lavender herb and open new possibilities for its use in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Increasing the solubility of drugs is one of the most important problems in pharmacy, because most manufactured pharmaceutical substances are sparingly soluble. Typically, such compounds represent Classes II and IV in the biopharmaceutical classification system, which is based on the classification of pharmaceutical substances by solubility and permeability. For poorly soluble substances, the limiting step of the absorption process is usually the degree and dissolution rate, so in the pharmaceutical development, much attention is paid to their improvement. To solve this problem, the technology of solid dispersions creation is used. The aim of the work was to optimize the composition of quercetin solid dispersion, whose therapeutic use is limited due to its degree of solubility in an aqueous medium. Objects of the study were samples of solid dispersions of quercetin with different carriers: polyethyleneoxide-6000, β-cyclodextrin and polyvinylpyrrolidone obtained in a ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 by liquid phase method, with and without the addition of a solvent. As a solvent, ethanol was used. To determine the optimal composition of solid dispersions, a mathematical planning method using the MathCad package and Excel software was used. In the work, a dispersion analysis was performed upon the results of the experimental studies. The ranked series of advantages of the carrier and solvent influence on solubility of solid dispersions samples are shown. To determine the amount of carrier in the solid dispersion, the theory of multi-vector optimization was applied. According to the results of the conducted studies, the optimal value of quercetin and PEO-6000 ratio is 1:2. The obtained results can be used in the development of the composition and technology of solid dispersions of active pharmaceutical ingredients insoluble in the aqueous medium.