There is a myriad of diseases that plague the world ranging from infectious, cancer and other chronic diseases with varying interventions. However, the dynamism of causative agents of infectious diseases and incessant mutations accompanying other forms of chronic diseases like cancer, have worsened the treatment outcomes. These factors often lead to treatment failure via different drug resistance mechanisms. More so, the cost of developing newer drugs is huge. This underscores the need for a paradigm shift in the drug delivery approach in order to achieve desired treatment outcomes. There is intensified research in nanomedicine, which has shown promises in improving the therapeutic outcome of drugs at preclinical stages with increased efficacy and reduced toxicity. Regardless of the huge benefits of nanotechnology in drug delivery, challenges such as regulatory approval, scalability, cost implication and potential toxicity must be addressed via streamlining of regulatory hurdles and increased research funding. In conclusion, the idea of nanotechnology in drug delivery holds immense promise for optimizing therapeutic outcomes. This work presents opportunities to revolutionize treatment strategies, providing expert opinions on translating the huge amount of research in nanomedicine into clinical benefits for patients with resistant infections and cancer.

Malaria burden has severe impact on the world. Several arsenals, including the use of antimalarials, are in place to curb the malaria burden. However, the application of these antimalarials has two extremes, limited access to drug and drug pressure, which may have similar impact on malaria control, leading to treatment failure through divergent mechanisms. Limited access to drugs ensures that patients do not get the right doses of the antimalarials in order to have an effective plasma concentration to kill the malaria parasites, which leads to treatment failure and overall reduction in malaria control via increased transmission rate. On the other hand, drug pressure can lead to the selection of drug resistance phenotypes in a subpopulation of the malaria parasites as they mutate in order to adapt. This also leads to a reduction in malaria control. Addressing these extremes in antimalarial application can be essential in maintaining the relevance of the conventional antimalarials in winning the war against malaria.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) burden compromises liver function due to its complicated pathophysiology. Zingerone (ZG), is a phenolic compound in ginger rhizome with pharmacological potential against chemo toxin mediated hepatic damage. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Zingerone against DMN in the liver METHODOLOGY: Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into groups of 6 rats each. Group A (control), Group B (given 10mg/kg DMN for 4 weeks). Group C, D, E, F (Pre-treated with oral doses of 25mg/kg, 50mg/kg, 75mg/kg body weight of ZG and 50mg/kg of silymarin respectively for 4weeks followed thereafter with 10mg of DMN for 4weeks). At the end of experiment, the animals (fasted) were sacrificed; blood samples obtained for assay of Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) activity, Total bilirubin concentration (Tbil) and the liver harvested for histological and histochemical evaluations. Data obtained were analysed using graph pad prism, 8.0 and Image J for quantifying staining intensity. RESULTS: ZG pre-treated rats showed significantly (p<0.05) decreased GGT activity and Tbil concentration compared to DMN-alone exposed rats. Furthermore, necrotic changes with inflammatory cell infiltrations, vascular ulceration, pyknotic hepatocytes with sinusoidal distortions in the histology of DMN alone treated rats were minimal in ZG pre-administered rats. Despite fasting, DMN-alone exposed rats still showed strong PAS reaction, associated with impaired glycogenolysis and unregulated glycogenesis. However, moderate intrahepatic glycogen store depicted by mild PAS reaction were seen in ZG pre-treated rats. These were particularly visible at 75mg/kg, comparing favorably to control and silymarin pre-treated rats. CONCLUSION: Zingerone is a promising hepatoprotective agent against DMN hepatic injury.