Context: Euphorbia hierosolymitana is a member of Euphorbia species having a restricted use in traditional medicine in eastern Mediterranean countries. Aims: To phytochemically analyze different extracts of Euphorbia hierosolymitana and to investigate their anti-cancer activity against a panel of different cancer cell lines. Methods: The aerial parts of the plant were extracted by n-butanol and ethyl acetate. Each extract was subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the bioactive compounds. Additionally, the anti-cancer activity of each extract compared to positive control doxorubicin was evaluated against a panel of different cancer and normal cell lines by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the different extracts revealed different compounds of alkane hydrocarbons, fatty acids, sterols, phenols, glycosides, alkaloids, indol alkaloids, terpenoids, pyridine derivatives, and desulphosinigrin. Regarding anti-cancer activity, the n-butanol extract exhibited a significant selective concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in the colon cancer cell line (Caco-2) compared to other normal and cancer cell lines. This selective differential was comparable to the positive control, doxorubicin. The ethyl acetate extract, however, showed a significant cytotoxic activity among all the tested cell lines compared to the positive control. This cytotoxicity was in a concentration-dependent manner and weak to normal cell line (Wi38). Conclusions: The selective differential in anti-cancer activity between different types of extracts is attractive and holds significant promise for the development of new cancer therapies.

The interaction between meloxicam and sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene was investigated to improve the meloxicam solubility and its dissolution performance. Solubility behavior was investigated in distilled water (DW) and at different pH conditions. Besides, solid systems were prepared in a 1:1 molar ratio using coevaporate, kneading, and simple physical mixture techniques. Further, they were characterized by PXRD, FT-IR, DCS, and TGA. In vitro dissolution rate for coevaporate, kneaded, and physical mixture powders were also investigated. Solubility study revealed that meloxicam solubility significantly increased about 23.99 folds at phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 in the presence of sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene. The solubility phase diagram was classified as AL type, indicating the formation of 1:1 stoichiometric inclusion complex. PXRD, FT-IR, DCS, and TGA pointed out the formation of an inclusion complex between meloxicam and sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene solid powders prepared using coevaporate technique. In addition, in vitro meloxicam dissolution studies revealed an improvement of the drug dissolution rate. Furthermore, a significantly higher drug release (p ≤ 0.05) and a complete dissolution was achieved during the first 10 min compared with the other solid powders and commercial meloxicam product. The coevaporate product has the highest increasing dissolution fold and RDR10 in the investigated media, with average values ranging from 5.4–65.28 folds and 7.3–90.7, respectively. In conclusion, sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene is a promising host carrier for enhancing the solubility and dissolution performance of meloxicam with an anticipated enhanced bioavailability and fast action for acute and chronic pain disorders.

The study aims to assess the interaction between fluconazole and sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene towards enhancing its dissolution performance and antimycotic activity. A solubility study was carried out at different pH conditions, and the results revealed the formation of a 1:1 molar ratio fluconazole-sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene inclusion complex with an AL type phase solubility diagrams. The solid powder systems of fluconazole-sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene were prepared using kneaded and co-evaporation techniques and physical mixtures. DCS, PXRD, TGA-DTG, FT-IR, and in vitro dissolution performance characterize the prepared systems. According to physicochemical characterization, the co-evaporation approach produces an amorphous inclusion complex of the drug inside the cavity of sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene. The co-evaporate product significantly increased the drug dissolution rate up to 93 ± 1.77% within 10 min, unlike other prepared solid powders. The antimycotic activity showed an increase substantially (p ≤ 0.05, t-test) antimycotic activity of fluconazole co-evaporate mixture with sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene compared with fluconazole alone against clinical strains of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. In conclusion, sulfonatocalix[4]naphthalene could be considered an efficient complexing agent for fluconazole to enhance its aqueous solubility, dissolution performance, and antimycotic activity.

Azo dyes account for 70% of dye chemistry, and their importance may grow in the future. Empagliflozin is a sodiumglucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. SGLT2 transporters are primarily responsible for glucose reabsorption in the kidney. In 2014, empagliflozin was approved for medical use in the United States and the European Union. With over 4 million prescriptions in 2019, it was the 146th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States in 2019. The spectrophotometric determination of empagliflozin is described using coupling agents such as 3-chloro-4nitroaniline or sulfanilamide. These methods are straightforward and are based on the reaction of empagliflozin with diazotized products of 3-chloro-4-nitroaniline or sulfanilamide to produce colored azo dyes with absorption maxima at 470 and 480 nm. Empagliflozin was linear from 1.2 to 26.6 µgml −1 or 0.8 to 20.4 µgml −1 when combined with diazotized 3-chloro-4-nitroaniline or sulfanilamide, respectively. Empagliflozin's molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity to 3-chloro-4-nitroaniline or sulfanilamide azo dyes were 3.179 × 10 4 l mol −1 cm −1 or 4.367 × 10 4 l mol −1 cm −1 and 1.149 × 10 −2 µgcm −2 or 8.368 × 10 −3 µgcm −2 , respectively. The formed colored azo dyes are stable for more than 12 hours. The optimal reaction conditions and other analytical parameters are assessed. Foreign organic compound interference has been studied. The method has been successfully used to determine empagliflozin in pharmaceutical samples.