The current study was designed to investigate the feasibility of incorporating the water-insoluble lipophilic drug Alprazolam (Alp) into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to offer the combined benefits of the quick onset of action along with the sustained release of the drug. Therefore, compritol-based alprazolam-loaded SLNs (Alp-SLNs) would provide early relief from anxiety and sleep disturbances and long-lasting control of symptoms in patients with depression, thereby enhancing patient compliance. The optimized Alp-SLNs analyzed by DLS and SEM showed consistent particle size of 92.9 nm with PI values and standard deviation of the measurements calculated at <0.3 and negative surface charge. These characteristic values demonstrate the desired level of homogeneity and good physical stability of Alp-SLNs. The SLNs had a good entrapment efficiency (89.4%) and high drug-loading capacity (77.9%). SEM analysis revealed the smooth spherical morphology of the SLNs. The physical condition of alprazolam and absence of interaction among formulation components in Alp-SLNs was confirmed by FTIR and DSC analyses. XRD analysis demonstrated the molecular dispersion of crystalline alprazolam in Alp-SLNs. The in vitro release study implied that the release of Alp from the optimized Alp-SLN formulation was sustained as compared to the Alp drug solution because Alp-SLNs exhibited sustained release of alprazolam over 24 h. Alp-SLNs are a promising candidate to achieve sustained release of the short-acting drug Alp, thereby reducing its dosing frequency and enhancing patient compliance.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the chemical characterisation, and biological and in silico potential of Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth, an important halophyte commonly used in traditional medicine. The research focuses on the roots and aerial parts of the plant and extracts them using two solvents: methanol and dichloromethane. Chemical characterisation of the extracts was carried out using total phenolic contents quantification, GC-MS analysis, and LC-MS screening. The results exhibited that the aerial parts of the plant have significantly higher total phenolic content than the roots. The GC-MS and LC-MS analysis of the plant extracts revealed the identification of 18 bioactive compounds in each. The biological evaluation was performed using antioxidant, antibacterial, and in vitro antidiabetic assays. The results exhibited that the aerial parts of the plant have higher antioxidant and in vitro antidiabetic activity than the roots. Additionally, the aerial parts of the plant were most effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Molecular docking was done to evaluate the binding affinity (BA) of the bioactive compounds characterised by GC-MS with diabetic enzymes used in the in vitro assay. The results showed that the BA of γ-sitosterol was better than that of acarbose, which is used as a standard in the in vitro assay. Overall, this study suggests that the extract from aerial parts of H. stocksii using methanol as a solvent have better potential as a new medicinal plant and can provide a new aspect to develop more potent medications. The research findings contribute to the scientific data of the medicinal properties of Haloxylon stocksii and provide a basis for further evaluation of its potential as a natural remedy.

Plants have always been the prime focus in medicine industries due to their enormous ethnobotanical uses and multitude of biological and therapeutic properties. In the current study, preliminary phytochemical composition, Total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) with the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extract and n-hexane, chloroform and n-butanol fractions of five selected medicinal plants [Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., Lavandula stoechas L., Aesculus indica (Wall. ex Cambess.) Hook, Iris ensata Thunb., and Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers.] from Pakistan, have been evaluated. TPC and TFC were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu’s and AlCl₃ methods respectively. The antioxidant activity was performed by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC while the antibacterial potential of these plants was determined by agar well diffusion assay. K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers. exhibited the highest TPC (695 ± 13.2 mg.GA.Eq.g^-1DE ± SD) in n-butanol fraction and the highest TFC in its chloroform faction (615 ± 6.31 mg Q.Eq.g⁻¹ DE ± SD). The n-butanol fraction and hydroalcoholic extract of I. ensata Thunb. exhibited strong antioxidant potential by DPPH and CUPRAC assays respectively, whereas K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers. n-butanol fraction exhibited the strongest reducing potential. The hydroalcoholic extract of all tested plants exhibited significant antibacterial activity against tested bacterial strains with ZI (12–18 mm). Conclusively, K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers. (Family: Crassulaceae) and I. ensataThunb. (Family: Iridaceae) exhibited the highest antioxidant and antibacterial potential. They can be explored for the isolation of phytoconstituents responsible for this potential and serve as a lead for the production of new natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents that can be used to cure various diseases.

Thevetia peruviana (T. peruviana; Family: Apocynaceae), commonly known as Lucky Nut, is a traditionally and medicinally important plant, and the barks of the plant are traditionally used as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and antibacterial remedies. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate bioactive phytochemicals and in-vitro biological activities from the bark of T. peruviana using methanolic (TPM) and dichloromethane (TPD) extracts. The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 54 and 39 bioactive compounds in TPM and TPD, respectively. The TPM extract has a higher level of total polyphenolic contents (TPC: 70.89 ± 1.08 and 51.07 ± 0.78 mg GAE/g extracts, while TFC: 56.89 ± 1.16 and 44.12 ± 1.76 Qu.E/g extracts for TPM and TPD, respectively). Herein, the results of antioxidant activities were also found in correlation with the total polyphenolic contents i.e., depicting the higher antioxidant potential of TPM compared to TPD. The significant inhibitory activities of extracts were observed against tyrosinase (TPM; 59.43 ± 2.87 %, TPD; 53.43 ± 2.65 %), lipoxygenase (TPM; 77.1 ± 1.2 %, TPD; 59.3 ± 0.1 %), and α-glucosidase (TPM; 71.32 ± 2.44 %, TPD; 67.86 ± 3.011 %). Furthermore, in comparison to co-amoxiclave, the antibacterial property against five bacterial strains was significant assayed. The compounds obtained through GC-MS analysis were subjected to in-silico molecular docking studies, and the phyto-constituents with maximum binding scores were then subjected to ADME analysis. The results of in-silico studies revealed that the binding affinity of several phyto-constituents was even greater than that of the standard inhibitory ligands. ADME analysis showed bioavailability radars of phyto-constituents having maximum docking scores in molecular docking. The results of this study indicated that T. peruviana has bioactive phytochemicals and therapeutic potential and may provide a basis for treating metabolic disorders (inflammatory diseases like rheumatism and diabetes), bacterial infections, and skin-related problems.

Roots of Rondeletia odorata are a rich source of phytochemicals with high antioxidant potential and thus may possess health benefits. This study used the LC-MS technique to identify phytoconstituents in R. odorata roots extract/fractions. Results revealed that n-butanol fraction and ethanolic extract contained total phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 155.64 ± 0.66 mgGAE/g DE and 194.94 ± 0.98 mgQE/g DE, respectively. Significant potential of antioxidants was observed by DPPH, CUPRAC and FRAP methods while the ABTS method showed moderate antioxidant potential. Maximum % inhibition for urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase was shown by ethanolic extract (73.39 ± 1.11%), n-butanol soluble fraction (80.26 ± 1.59%) and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (76.50 ± 0.67%) which were comparable with thiourea (standard) (98.07 ± 0.74%), kojic acid (standard) (98.59 ± 0.92%) and acetazolamide (standard) (95.51 ± 1.29%), respectively, while all other extract/fractions showed moderate inhibition activity against these three enzymes. Hemolytic activity was also observed to range from 18.80 ± 0.42 to 3.48 ± 0.69% using the standard (triton X-100) method. In total, 28 and 20 compounds were identified tentatively by LC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract and n-butanol soluble fraction, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking was undertaken for major compounds identified by LC-MS for determining binding affinity between enzymes (urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase) and ligands. It was concluded that active phytochemicals were present in roots of R. odorata with potential for multiple pharmacological applications and as a latent source of pharmaceutically important compounds. This should be further explored to isolate important constituents that could be used in treating different diseases.

Zaleya pentandra L. jaffery is the only species of the genus Zaleya that grows in the Cholistan desert, Pakistan. It is a Xero-halophyte plant with high phenolic and flavonoid content. The present research was designed to investigate the phytochemical composition, biological activities, and in silico molecular docking of the ethanolic extract of Z. pentandra. The phytochemical evaluation was done through preliminary phytochemical testing, estimation of total bioactive content, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis for the identification of volatile compounds. For the evaluation of biological activities, antioxidants, and enzyme inhibition (α-glucosidase, cholinesterase, and tyrosinase), antibacterial and antiviral assays were performed. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of 29 tentative volatile compounds. The ethanolic extract of Z. pentandra contains high phenolic content (119.6 ± 0.12 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid content (45.5 ± 0.19 mg QE/g extract), which correlates with the strong DPPH, FRAP, and enzyme inhibition results. The ethanolic extract of Z. pentandra also showed dose-dependent antibacterial activity. Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to be most susceptible, with 16 mm and 17 mm zone of inhibitions at a maximum dose of 20 mg/mL. Antiviral results showed that the ethanol extract has excellent activity against H9, IBV, and NDV viral strains. Additionally, in silico molecular docking was performed in order to determine the interaction and binding affinity between the enzymes and compounds identified by GC–MS. α-glucosidase, cholinesterase, and tyrosinase showed the highest binding affinity toward 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-n-(2-phenylethyl) benzamide, γ-sitosterol, and lactose. These findings can serve as a benchmark for anti-diabetic-, neuro-, and skin-protective uses of this plant and can be used for the isolation of pure bioactive compounds in the future.