An injectable hydrogel-based drug delivery carrier has been developed for long-term drug release by assembling various generations of cyclodextrin (CD) followed by hydrophobic layers to control the drug release for effective cancer treatment. Three generations of CD are designed through urethane linkages using small spacers to create a large hydrophilic core, which is covered with hydrophobic layers of polyurethane through grafting to maintain the hydrophilic hydrophobic balance of the whole superstructure. Drug release becomes sustained from the intricate superstructure following the non-Fickian diffusion process, resulting in massive cancer cell killing as compared to the low killing rate from the pure drug/material arising from its burst release. The superstructure is found to be a good biomaterial, and its drug-loaded conjugate as a carrier is applied to albino mice to treat their tumors, generated through a melanoma cell line. A drug-embedded superstructure is inoculated in an injectable hydrogel and is placed subcutaneously, below the tumor site, which completely healed the melanoma. No side effect was observed, as opposed to the conventional/control system, due to a sustained drug release from the superstructure as evident from histopathological studies of sensitive body organs and biochemical parameters. Thus, a new design of the vehicle heals the melanoma tumor by enhancing the bioavailability of drug and specific interaction without having any side effects as opposed to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment.
Background and objective Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC. (Family—Asteraceae) is widely used for treating hemorrhoids by several ethnomedicinal practitioners and tribes in India. Thus, the main objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the potential of B. lacera leaf extract in the treatment of hemorrhoids using a croton oil-induced hemorrhoid rat model. Materials and Methods Ethanol extract of B. lacera (EBL) leaves was prepared using Soxhlet extraction, optimized using Box–Behnken design (BBD), and quantified using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, the vasoactive ions were estimated using ion-exchange chromatography. Hemorrhoids were induced in the recto-anal portion of experimental rats, followed by treatment with EBL (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg; par oral (p.o.)) and Pilex granules as a standard anti-hemorrhoid drug for 7 days. The anti-hemorrhoid potential was evaluated on the eighth day by assessing the severity of hemorrhoids, biochemical parameters, and histology of recto-anal tissue. Results Upon treatment with EBL and Pilex, there was a significant ( p < 0.05) reduction in the inflammatory severity index, concentration of Evans blue dye, recto-anal coefficient (RAC), elevated cytokines level, and restoration of altered antioxidant status. Furthermore, the histopathological results revealed a marked reduction in the inflammatory zones along with minimally dilated blood vessels. Conclusion The present study confirmed the traditional claims of the plant B. lacera in the treatment of hemorrhoids, which may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in EBL, where quercetin could be considered the main contributor.
Background: Increasing prevalence of microbial resistance and side effects of currently available drugs compels the researchers to look for alternate therapies and formulations to overcome this problem. Plant based formulations have been proved to be most reliable agents in recent times. Objective: In the current study, bio fabricated herbal silver nanoparticles (HSNPs) were prepared by reducing silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) solution with ethyl acetate fractions (EAF) of Blumea lacera extracts. These bios conjugated HSNPs were then assessed for potential anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities along with in vitro antioxidant effect. Methods and results: The synthesis was confirmed by absorbance peak at 441 nm due to surface plasmon resonance in UV-visible spectrophotometer. FTIR spectra of HSNPs indicated the phytochemicals having C-O bond responsible for reducing of Ag + to Ag o . Average size of HSNPs was found to be 59.21 nm which was in good agreement with TEM and SEM results. EDS analysis showed the existence of Silver, Nitrogen and Carbon in HSNPs. The antibacterial activity of HSNPs in terms of zone of inhibition (ZOI) via disc diffusion assay and against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was found to be 25.0±1.19 mm and 18.3±2.08 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of HSNPs was found to be 50 µg/ml and 60 µg/ml against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of the HSNPs was insignificant as compared to EAF but the results of anti-inflammatory activity was significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The overall result demonstrated better in-vitro pharmacological potential of HSNPs compared to neat extract/EAF.
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