Isoflavones, the most abundant phytoestrogens in Soy beans, are structurally similar to 17beta-estradiol. The antioxidant property of the soy isoflavones, namely, genistein and daidzein is well established in different experimental models and also in clinical studies. The compounds have been found effective in the management of diabetes by acting on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. It reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing the level of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. Soy isoflavones have the potential in the treatment of osteoporosis to act on osteoclasts further to inhibit tyrosine kinase. Among the soy isoflavones, genistein is the potential compound found effective in the treatment of cancer by acting on androgen receptor further to inhibit tyrosine kinases. In this article, various aspects of the diverse biological activities of soy isoflavones and their potential clinical implications with mechanism of action, especially in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, neuroprotection, and also future area of research on soy isoflavones are reviewed and discussed.

The objective of the present work is to study the dissolution behavior of olanzapine from its solid dispersions with mannitol. Solid dispersions were prepared by melt dispersion method and characterized by phase solubility studies, drug content and in vitro dissolution studies. The best releasing dispersions were selected from release data, dissolution parameters and their release profiles. Solid state characterization techniques like Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, near-infrared and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the drug in selected dispersions. The dispersions were also evaluated by wettability studies and permeation studies. The results of phase solubility studies and the thermodynamic parameters indicated the spontaneity and solubilization effect of the carrier. The release study results showed greater improvement of drug release from solid dispersions compared to pure drug, and the release was found to increase with an increase in carrier content. The possible mechanism for increased release rate from dispersions may be attributed to solubilization effect of the carrier, change in crystal quality, phase transition from crystalline to amorphous state, prevention of agglomeration or aggregation of drug particles, change in surface hydrophobicity of the drug, and increased wettability and dispersability of the drug in dissolution medium. The suggested reasons for increased release rate from dispersions were found to be well supported by results of solid state characterization, wettability and permeation studies. The absence of any interaction between the drug and the carrier was also proved by FT-IR analysis.Uniterms: Olanzapine. Mannitol. Solid dispersions.O objetivo do presente trabalho é estudar o comportamento de dissolução da olanzapina a partir de suas dispersões sólidas de manitol. As dispersões sólidas foram preparadas por dispersão por fusão e caracterizadas por estudos de solubilidade de fase, conteúdo de fármaco e dissolução in vitro. As melhores dispersões quanto à liberação foram selecionadas a partir dos dados de liberação, parâmetros de dissolução e perfis de liberação. Técnicas de caracterização de estado sólido como espectroscopia no infravermelho pela transformada de Fourier (FTIR), difratometria de raios X, calorimetria de varredura diferencial, infravermelho próximo e espectroscopia Raman foram utilizadas para caracterizar os fármacos a partir das dispersões selecionadas. As dispersões foram, também, avaliadas pelos estudos de capacidade de umedecimento e permeação. Os resultados dos estudos de solubilidade de fase e os parâmetros termodinâmicos indicaram a espontaneidade e o efeito de solubilização do transportador. Os resultados dos estudos de liberação mostraram maior aperfeiçoamento da liberação do fármaco das dispersões sólidas, comparativamente à do fármaco puro, e descobriu-se que a liberação aumenta com o aumento do conteúdo de transportador. O mecanismo possível para o aumento da taxa de libera...

Background: Cholera, an acute watery diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 and O139 across the continents. Replacing the existing WHO licensed killed multiple-dose oral cholera vaccines that demand 'cold chain supply' at 2-8°C with a live, single-dose and cold chain-free vaccine would relieve the significant bottlenecks and cost determinants in cholera vaccination campaigns. In this direction, a prototype cold chain-free live attenuated cholera vaccine formulation (LACV) was developed against the toxigenic wild-type (WT) V. cholerae O139 serogroup. LACV was found stable and retained its viability (5 × 10 6 CFU/mL), purity and potency at room temperature (25°C ± 2°C, and 60% ± 5% relative humidity) for 140 days in contrast to all the existing WHO licensed cold-chain supply (2-8°C) dependent killed oral cholera vaccines. Results: The LACV was evaluated for its colonization potential, reactogenicity, immunogenicity and protective efficacy in animal models after its storage at room temperature for 140 days. In suckling mice colonization assay, the LACV recorded the highest recovery of (7.2 × 10 7 CFU/mL) compared to those of unformulated VCUSM14P (5.6 × 10 7 CFU/mL) and the WT O139 strain (3.5 × 10 7 CFU/mL). The LACV showed no reactogenicity even at an inoculation dose of 10 4-10 6 CFU/mL in a rabbit ileal loop model. The rabbits vaccinated with the LACV or unformulated VCUSM14P survived a challenge with WT O139 and showed no signs of diarrhoea or death in the reversible intestinal tie adult rabbit diarrhoea (RITARD) model. Vaccinated rabbits recorded a 275-fold increase in anti-CT IgG and a 15-fold increase in anti-CT IgA antibodies compared to those of rabbits vaccinated with unformulated VCUSM14P. Vibriocidal antibodies were increased by 31-fold with the LACV and 14-fold with unformulated VCUSM14P. Conclusion: The vaccine formulation mimics a natural infection, is non-reactogenic and highly immunogenic in vivo and protects animals from lethal wild-type V. cholerae O139 challenge. The single dose LACV formulation was found to be stable at room temperature (25 ± 2°C) for 140 days and it would result in significant cost savings during mass cholera vaccination campaigns.

: About 95% of earth living space lies deep below the ocean’s surface and it harbours extraordinary diversity of marine organisms. Marine biodiversity is an exceptional reservoir of natural products, bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals and other potential compounds of commercial value. Timeline for development of the drug from a plant, synthetic and other alternative sources is too lengthy. Exploration of the marine environment for potential bioactive compounds has gained focus and huge opportunity lies ahead for exploration of such vast resources in the ocean. Further, the evolution of superbugs with increasing resistance to the currently available drugs is alarming and it needs coordinated efforts to resolve them. World Health Organization recommends the need and necessity to develop effective bioactive compounds to combat problems associated with antimicrobial resistance. Based on these factors, it is imperative to shift the focus towards marine environment for potential bioactive compounds that could be utilized to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Current research trends also indicate the huge strides in research involving marine environment for drug discovery. The objective of this review article is to provide an overview of marine resources, recently reported research from marine resources, challenges, future research prospects in the marine environment.

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