Jordan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on the structure of Pituitary Gland in adult Male Albino Rats

2024-10-02T11:21:43+03:00

Study objectives: It was to observe the effects on pituitary gland exposed to TiO₂-NPs in matured male albino rats.

Methodology: Forty-eight male albino rats were utilized. They were divided into three main groups. Group I (control) and was subdivided equally into three subgroups (negative control and vehicles controls). Group II (the treated group) subdivided into three equal subgroups. GII a: treated with TiO₂ solution (10 mg/kg/day orally) for 14 days. Group IIb: treated with TiO₂ solution (10 mg/kg/day) orally for 60 days. Group IIc (recovery): treated with TiO₂ 10 mg/kg/day for 60 days, then stopped treatment for 60 days. Group III was divided equally into two subgroups. GIII a: 6 rats treated with TiO₂ solution (100 mg/kg/day) orally for 14 days. GIII b (recovery): 6 rats treated with TiO₂ (100 mg/kg/day) for 14 days, then stopped treatment with TiO₂ for 14 days. Pituitary gland specimens were prepared and examined by light and electron microscopy. Data of morphometric study was documented.

Results: TiO₂treated groups showed structural disorganization in the pars distalis (enlarged basophil cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and pyknotic nuclei) associated with congested blood vessels and inflammatory cellular infiltration. A significant reduction of Periodic-Acid-Schiff reaction coupled with a substantial increase in area percentage of collagen fibres was observed upon TiO₂-NPs. The ultrastructural assessment confirmed these distortions. The recovery groups showed different degrees of improvement in previous histological changes.

Conclusions: TiO₂NPs cause time and dose-dependent structural changes in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary gland with various degrees of distortions.

Implementation of Quality by Design in Generic Drug Product Development: A Case Study Using Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release Tablets

2024-10-05T14:50:32+03:00

The current study aims to implement Quality by Design (QbD) principles in the development of generic products to establish a robust, consistent, and regulatory-compliant formulation. Diclofenac Sodium was selected as a model drug to develop a sustained-release tablet formulation. Voveran^® SR 100mg Tablets were used as the reference-listed drug (RLD), and the Quality Target Product Profile and Critical Quality Attributes were delineated. Key formulation variables affecting drug release and hardness were identified using initial risk assessment. A 2^5-1 fractional factorial design was employed for screening significant factors influencing the formulation attributes. The formulations were further optimized using a Central Composite Design to define a design space, ensuring steady drug release and hardness. The desirability approach was used to confirm the optimal conditions and make the point predictions. The actual values aligned very closely with the predictions made by the model. The optimized formulations demonstrated drug release of 80-100% after 12 hours and hardness between 70-130 newtons. The optimized formulation showed excellent similarity with RLD, with an F2 value of more than 50. This study underscores the efficacy of QbD in pharmaceutical development, demonstrating its role in achieving predefined quality standards and regulatory compliance while fostering continuous improvement.

Antihyperlipidemic, Hepatoprotective, and Nephroprotective Activity of Two Different Matricaria pubescens Methanolic Extracts in Rats

2024-09-30T11:34:54+03:00

Matricaria pubescens, an aromatic plant, is traditionally utilized for treating rheumatism, gout, and asthma. This work assessed the therapeutic potential of two methanolic extracts from M. pubescens (EMMP1 and EMMP2) against obesity symptoms like overweight and hyperlipidemia in male rats. These rats, after receiving a dose of Triton X-100, showed notable gains in body weight, leptin levels, and serum levels of LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and overall cholesterol, coupled with a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol. However, the administration of two extracts to hyperlipidemic rats ((Hyp + EMMP1) and (Hyp + EMMP2)) significantly reduced their body weights by 14% and 19%, and serum leptin levels were significantly reduced by 24% and 19%, respectively. These results indicate liver damage that happened after CCl4 exposure, resulting in a 64%, 29%, 65%, and 233% a rise in the serum concentrations of liver enzyme activity including ALAT, ASAT, LDH, and ALP. The study indicates that extracts from M. pubescens have notable effects in reducing obesity and managing fat levels, while also protecting the liver from damage and reducing oxidative stress. This suggests they could be valuable in treating conditions related to obesity.

Network Pharmacology of Plumbagin for the Treatment of Psoriasis

2024-09-29T13:04:38+03:00

Background: Psoriasis skin disease brings attention to pharmacology studies; many traditional medicines from plants are defined as promising candidates for this disease treatment. Plumbagin is one candidate that has been proven for several decades for these issues.

Methods: The potency of Plumbagin as an anti-psoriasis treatment was analyzed using WAY2DRUG PASS Prediction. Target proteins prediction was analyzed using Pass Protein Target, DIGEP-Pred, and Comparative Toxicogenomic Database. Targets related to Psoriasis were obtained from The Human Gene Database Genecards, Open Target, and PharmGKB. The JVENN tol was used to visualize the Venn Diagram. Protein-protein interaction was analyzed using STRING DB V.12 and the filtered by Cytoscape V.10.1. Functional annotation was analyzed using DAVID.

Results: Plumbagin can target proteins interacting with Psoriasis-related proteins such as TP53, CASP3, MAPK3, TNF, AKT1, STAT3, MAPK8, NFKB1, ESR1, and EP300.

Conclusions: Plumbagin has good potential as an anti-psoriasis agent.

Elemental Analysis of Olives’ Fruits Using Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Flu-orescence (XRF)

2024-09-12T09:32:50+03:00

Olive-trees (Olea europaea L.) are the dominant trees cultivated in the Mediterranean basin. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is one of the sensitive, rapid and simple analytical techniques to study the essential element content of medicinal plants. This project aimed to apply XRF in the determination of metallic elements content of olive fruits. Herein, the trace elements in O. europaea L. fruits have been analysed using XRF spectrometry. Samples were collected from four environmentally different areas and subjected to X-Ray fluorescence detection and mapping using a photon flux of 10⁸-10⁹ photons in the energy range between 3.65-14 keV. The results showed that the olive fruits are rich in nutritional elements like K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn. It can be concluded that XRF could be considered a valuable technique for detection and mapping the elemental contents of olive fruits.

Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antidiabetic Activities of Micromeria Myrtifolia

2024-09-29T11:09:37+03:00

Natural compounds have been extensively investigated for new drug discoveries. Micromeria genus is known to be rich in essential oils and bioactive constituents possessing significant biological activities. The current work aims to explore the phytochemical composition of M. myrtifolia liquid extracts and to evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activity in vitro. The LC-MS/MS detected various phenolic compounds, especially in the aqueous extract. The aqueous extract of M. myrtifolia positively inhibited α-amylase activity with an IC₅₀value of 174.44 ± 0.68 mg/mL, and showed the highest antioxidant activity as it scavenged the DPPH radicals from 23.25% to 63.72% with increasing concentration from ~ 0.04 to 0.15 mg/mL. On the other hand, ethyl acetate extract illustrated the lowest antioxidant activity as the % radical scavenging activity of 77% was achieved at the concentration of 7.5 mg/mL. Tested extracts were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria in a dose-dependent manner with logarithmic CFU reduction. Micromeria myrtifolia methanol extract exhibited potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis with an MICs value of 3.15 μg/μL and 25 μg/μL, respectively. In comparison, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts had antibacterial activity against Streptomyces epidermidis at MICs of 3.125 μg/μL and 12.5 μg/μL, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria were more challenging to eradicate; however, ethyl acetate, methanol and dichloromethane extracts were successful in reducing the number of Escherichia coli CFUs in a dose-dependent manner at MIC of 25 μg/μL for both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts and at MIC of 50 μg/μL for dichloromethane extract. While Pseudomonas aeruginosa only responded to hexane extract at MIC of 50 μg/μL. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic effects of M. myrtifolia extracts bear significant clinical and therapeutic implications. Furthermore, the potent antioxidant properties make M. myrtifolia extract promising candidates for developing nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals, particularly for conditions associated with oxidative stress.

Investigating the Antibacterial Properties of Leech Saliva: Starvation and Dose-Dependent Effect of Crude Leech Saliva Extraction (CLSE) on Bacterial Strains

2024-10-23T09:10:51+03:00

The Asian buffalo leech, Hirudinaria manillensis, emerges as a prominent species utilized for medicinal purposes due to its physiological similarities to the European medicinal leech. Hirudotherapy is renowned for its diverse mechanisms of action, including the anticoagulant properties of hirudin found in leech saliva, which inhibit thrombin and prevent blood clotting. This study investigates the impact of feeding 60 leeches on their weight gain and protein concentration in their saliva over an 8-week starvation period, and the antibacterial efficacy of crude leech saliva extraction (CLSE) against E. coli, Klebsiella sp., and Salmonella sp. To the starved leech, the weight gain was highest in the 2nd week (55.06%), 38.82% in the 4th week and followed by a 50.68% increase in the 8th week. The protein concentrations, measured using the Bradford assay, were highest in the 4th week starvation and declined thereafter. The CLSE concentrations tested at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% showed increased inhibition zones for all bacterial strains, with Klebsiella sp. demonstrating the highest sensitivity on the 4^th week starved leeches. On the 4^th week starvation, the Salmonella sp. strains exhibited inhibition zones ranging from 15 mm to 35 mm, while Klebsiella sp. strains ranged from 25 mm to 45 mm. E. coli strains showed a less pronounced response. The positive control (Chloramphenicol) showed a 35 mm inhibition zone. These findings indicate that CLSE has a starvation time and dose-dependent antibacterial effect, particularly against Klebsiella sp. Further research is recommended to understand the factors affecting protein concentration in leech saliva and to optimize CLSE’s antibacterial properties.

Formulation, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluation of doxorubicin loaded niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing

2024-10-09T09:19:51+03:00

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the common anticancer agents used for treating various types of cancer. One limitation of DOX is the development of cancer cell resistance and its wide range of toxicity. Niosomes are type of nanoparticles that consist of non-surfactants and cholesterol in the form of a bilayer structure. The aim of the present study was to develop and optimize DOX-loaded niosomes using microfluidic mixing through buffer exchange strategy to overcome DOX limitations such as unwanted distribution and toxicity. Two niosome formulations (F1 and F2) were prepared using T85 as a non-ionic surfactant. F1 was composed of TW85: CHOL (40:60)/DOX, while F2 was composed of TW85: CHOL: DDAB (40:40:20)/DOX. F1 had an anionic surface charge of around -13 mV, while F2 had a cationic charge of around +20 mV. DOX was successfully entrapped in both formulations with entrapment efficiencies of approximately 11% for F1 and 79% for F2, respectively. Loading DOX into F1 resulted in a significant reduction in the IC50 value in both MCF7 and A549 cells. However, loading DOX into F2 resulted in a higher IC50 in both cell lines compared to the free DOX. In conclusion, the optimized DOX niosomes formulation F1 improved the anticancer activity of DOX compared to free DOX drug. These results demonstrate that optimized niosomes can be effective tools for delivering DOX to target breast and lung cancer cells.

Synthesis and Characterization of Pyrrole, Pyridine and Pyrazoline Derivatives: Biological Activity against Leishmania Tropica, Human Lymphocytes, and Molecular Docking Study

2024-11-06T09:27:04+03:00

This study prepared seven compounds I1-7 containing pyrrole, pyridine, and pyrazoline rings. First, four chalcones I1-4 were prepared as precursors, and then three pyrazoline I5-7 cores were prepared from them. The chalcones compounds were synthesized by reacting with 4-ethoxy acetophenone or 3,4-(Methylenedioxy) acetophenone with Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde and 2-Pyridinecarboxaldehyde. The pyrazoline ring derivatives were obtained from reaction chalcones with hydrazine derivatives: (hydrazine,2-hydrazinobenzothiazole& phenyl hydrazine). All compounds were proven by FTIR, 1H& 13C NMR spectroscopies in addition to the physical properties. The biological activity of some compounds against Leishmania tropica and human lymphocytes was examined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Considering the Leishmania tropica test, the prepared compound I3 showed the highest inhibition of 80-81%, While compound I2 showed the highest toxicity against lymphocytes of 54-70% at (1 to 0.0625) mg/ml, which was confirmed by their molecular docking study with three different enzymes (DNA polymerase iota, HSP 90, Lysine-specific demethylase) has been measured and compared with the binding energy of the drug Amphotericin B, and Azithromycin where the docking energy appeared close to that of the drugs that were used, which nominates them as good anti-leishmania and lymphocytes in the future.

Medicated Lollipops: A New Drug Delivery System for Pediatric Patients

2024-10-06T08:33:45+03:00

A medicated lollipop is a kind of sugary treat that is typically made of hard candy and placed on a stick so that it may be licked or sucked on. There are many flavors and styles of lollipops available. Alternative names include sticky-pop, Lolly and sucker. There are various dosage forms available on the market; nevertheless, an additional dosage form that functions both locally and systematically may be required. The benefits of current research include longer dosage form retention in the oral hollow space, higher bioavailability, and a decrease in gastric inflammation through first metabolism. Lollipops are medicinal dose forms with flavors that are meant to be sucked and kept in the mouth or throat. The sweetened foundation of the lollipops typically contains one or more medications. The customary dosage for medications, tablets, and syrups.

Development of the Chemical Composition of Raspberry Shoot Extract Using Theoretical and Experimental Methods based on Ionization Theory

2024-10-29T07:31:33+03:00

The aim was to develop chemical composition of raspberry shoot extract using theoretical and experimental methods based on ionization theory. The quantification of phenolic compounds was accomplished through HPLC, the content of organic and phenolcarboxylic acids was determined by GC, molecular docking of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), phospholipase A2. nuclear factor kB (NF-kB), 5-lypoxygenase (5-LOX), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxydase enzymes was carried out using the AutoDockTools 1.5.6 software, the anti-inflammatory activity was studied with the carrageenan edema method. The 11 compounds were identified by the HPLC and 36 compounds were detected by GC. The epicatechin (882.00 mg/100 g), (+)-catechin (480.00 mg/100 g), ellagic acid and its derivatives (459.00 mg/100 g), citric acid (49.21 mg/100 g), vanillic acid (2.59 mg/100 g) and levulinic acid (64.67 mg/100 g) were dominated in the obtained extract of raspberry shoots. The free energy of (+)-catechin-anion, epicatechin-anion was higher than (+)-catechin and epicatechin for the active sites of COX-2. phospholipase A2. NF-kB, 5-LOX, NADPH oxidase, myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxidase enzymes. Treatment with arginine-ionized raspberry shoot extract at a dose of 6.5 and 13.0 mg/kg showed a significant reduction of paw edema after 1. 2. 3 and 4 hours by 89.6 and 53.3, 49.4 and 53.3, 40.6 and 45.7, 45.9 and 45.2% compared with the control group, respectively. It has been established that (+)-catechin anion and epicatechin anion have a higher level of affinity than non-ionized (+)-catechin and epicatechin for the active centers of enzymes. The ionized extract showed a significantly higher anti-inflammatory effect than the non-ionized extract. In addition, there was a matching of experimental and theoretical doses in the study of anti-inflammatory activity.

The Prevalence and Implications of Factor V rs6687813 Mutation among COVID-19 Patients on D-dimer Levels

2024-11-19T09:28:41+03:00

COVID-19 has invaded human community worldwide threatening public health and the world economy. The confounder data about the pathogenesis of the disease progression has aroused prognostic theories concerning the implications of demographic data and the genetic variability of the disease prognosis. A total of 120 participants; 68 males and 52 females, aged from 15 to 82 years, among them 90 COVID-19-infected patients, and 30 COVID-19-free participants were enrolled in the current study. Blood samples were drawn from 120 participants and then analyzed for D-dimer levels using fluorescence immunoassay. The 120 DNA extracted samples were amplified by PCR using Factor V-specific primers. The PCR products were sequenced and examined for putative mutations in the Factor V gene. A significantly high mutation rate in Factor V (rs6687813) 82%, p< 0.001 was demonstrated in the study population. The mutations were significantly correlated with extremely high D-dimer levels of 2975 ng/ml versus 986 ng/ml in the wild type (r=0.228, p<0.012). Hospitalized COVID-19 patients expressed significantly higher levels of D-dimer compared to non-hospitalized patients 3353 ng/ml vs 513 ng/ml p<0.001, respectively. The age had an odds rate of 1.12 on the acquisition of COVID-19 infection as the ages above 35 were more vulnerable to acquiring the infection than younger ages (r=0.21, p<0.022). In conclusion, the study provides robust evidence about the direct association between the FVL mutation and elevated levels of D-dimer in COVID-19 patients and the implementation of the FVL mutation test as a prognostic marker is recommended for COVID-19 patients.

Advanced Pharmacotherapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcer: An Overview

2024-11-06T09:35:54+03:00

"Diabetic foot ulcers are considered one of the major and serious complications of diabetes. The causes of diabetic foot ulcers vary, and include metabolic, vascular, neurological, and immunological causes. Diabetic foot ulcers can occur as a result of dryness, roughness, inflammation, microbial contamination, damage to foot tissues, and so on. This review discusses some of the important factors responsible for the development of diabetic wounds. Diabetic foot ulcers are a common complication of diabetes, with their annual incidence ranging between 9.1 and 26.1 million cases worldwide. In addition to medications such as insulin, metformin, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, and DPP-4 inhibitors, which lower blood sugar levels, these drugs have also demonstrated effectiveness in treating chronic wounds due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Oral antibiotics, such as clindamycin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, moxifloxacin, and cephalexin, are often prescribed to treat microbial infections. To accelerate wound healing, various auxiliary dressing materials are used, such as hydrocolloid, hydrogel, foam, alginate, iodine preparation, and silver-impregnated dressings. Emerging treatments include maggot therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factors (IGF1, IGF2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and stem cell therapy. These therapies are used to address impaired wound healing in diabetic patients."

Biological Evaluation and Synthesis of Benzothiazole- Piperazine Derivatives as Probable Cholinesterase Inhibitors to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease

2024-11-03T12:19:41+03:00

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent cause of progressive dementia among older adults. One of the main causes of the disease is deficiency of the cholinergic system. Nevertheless, some acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors have played a significant role in controlling disease progression.

Aim and objectives: In continuation of the development of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, benzothiazole-piperazine derivatives as probable inhibitors were synthesized and evaluated.

Materials and Methods: Acylation of benzothiazole-2- amine with chloroacetyl chloride yielded 2-chloro-N-(benzothiazole-2-yl) acetamide which undergoes a substitution reaction with piperazine to produce intermediate 3. Reaction of intermediate 3 with the appropriate acyl chlorides or alkyl chloride produced the final compounds. Enzyme inhibitory potency was assessed by Ellman's test. The inhibitory activity of compounds on acetyl cholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase enzymes was expressed as IC₅₀. Docking of the final derivatives in the active site of acetylcholinesterase (PDB ID: 1EVE) was performed.

Results: Unfortunately, the compounds failed to show inhibitory effects on cholinesterase enzymes with IC₅₀>100 µM values when compared with donepezil with IC₅₀values 0.014 ± 0.0012 and 14.4 ± 15 µM on acetyl cholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase enzymes respectively. Compound 4c with ΔG = -10.53 Kcal/mol was the best compound in docking studies.

Stability Assurance: RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation for Novel Dental Abscess Bulk Drugs Combinations

2024-11-18T10:05:10+03:00

Background: This research focused on developing and validating a stability-indicating and RP-HPLC (Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) method for the precise estimation of Metronidazole and Cefixime in bulk and formulation samples. The choice of Shim-pack C-18 column, with dimensions 250 X 4.6 mm then a particle size of 5 µm, was pivotal for achieving the desired chromatographic separation. The mobile phase used consisted of Methanol and Water in a ratio of 80:20 v/v.

Results: The chromatographic conditions yielded excellent results, with retention times of 3.127 minutes for Metronidazole and 2.096 minutes for Cefixime. The method demonstrated linearity across a concentration range of 5 to 30 µg/mL for both compounds. Furthermore, the Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification (LOQ) values were determined as 0.331/1.004 µg/mL for Metronidazole and 0.590/1.789 µg/mL for Cefixime, respectively.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the established RP-HPLC method underwent validation following ICH Q2 R1 guidelines to ascertain its accuracy, precision, and robustness. Its capacity to detect degradation products during stress testing, encompassing oxidation, photodegradation, acid, and base hydrolysis, validates it as a dependable stability-indicating technique. This method is suitable for the routine analysis of Metronidazole and Cefixime in pharmaceutical formulations, guaranteeing quality control and adherence to regulatory standards.

Neuroprotective Potential of Tinospora cordifolia in Attenuating Hippocampal CA3 Neuronal Damage in Pregnant Wistar Rats and their Neonates Exposed to Prenatal Vibration Stress and Maternal Separation

2024-11-14T11:06:37+03:00

Background: Prenatal stress detrimentally impacts cognition, behavior, and psychosocial traits. Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is known for its antistress and cognitive enhancement properties. However, its effectiveness against stress induced by maternal separation and vibration is not well-documented. The purpose of the study was to assess the neuroprotective effects of TC on neonatal rats who have experienced the prenatal vibration stress and also stress caused by maternal separation.

Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats in the stressed group experienced three hours of daily vibration stress from 7-16 days of gestation. The treatment group was given 6 mg/kg of TC extract before vibration stress. The neonates were separated from their mother and treated with TC postnatally. At the end treatment period, the rats were subjected to spatial learning task. Following this, animal brains were processed for Golgi cox staining to study the CA3 neuronal arborization.

Results and conclusion: TC-treated mothers showed significantly better spatial learning than those subjected to vibration stress alone. Neonates exposed to prenatal stress took longer time to find the target quadrant, indicating impaired spatial memory, which improved with TC treatment. Increased dendritic branching in CA3 neurons was observed in both TC-treated mothers and neonates. TC extract improves the spatial learning in rats by attenuating the hippocampal CA3 neural damage induced by prenatal vibration stress and maternal separation.

The Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Properties of Garcinia mangostana L. Peel Extracts and Their Alpha-Mangostin Content

2024-10-28T11:14:34+03:00

Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen) peel is widely used as a traditional medicine in Southeast Asia, known for its beneficial biological properties. This study assessed the optimal extraction solvent for a-mangostin from the peel of G. mangostana using 70 % ethanol, 70 % acetone, 80 % methanol, and water at room and boiling temperatures. Furthermore, the most optimal extract’s antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were studied. The 70% ethanol and 70% acetone solvents produced the highest a-mangostin recovery, but the 70% ethanol showed higher flavonoid and anthocyanin contents than 70% acetone. The ethanolic extract showed moderate antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The brine shrimp larvae toxicity assay showed that the organic solvents were toxic at 100 µg/mL. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that 400 μg/ml of 70 % ethanolic extract was toxic to the HepG2 cells. When challenged with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH)-induced oxidative stress, the ethanolic G. mangostana extract from concentrations 12.5 to 50 µg/mL showed protective effects against this oxidative stimulation. This study showed that the 70% ethanolic extract of G. mangostana peel showed optimal recovery of a-mangostin and other phytochemicals while showing protective effects against oxidative stimulations in HepG2 cells.

Impact of COVID-19 Disease on Male Infertility Patients: Literature Review

2024-12-01T12:29:47+03:00

COVID-19, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, affects multiple organs, including the respiratory tract, liver, kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and the male reproductive system. The male reproductive tract expresses the angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE-2), the primary viral entry receptor, in spermatogonia, Leydig, and Sertoli cells. While viral infections can damage male fertility via cytokine storms, the effects of COVID-19 on male fertility are still unclear. Therapeutic methods to prevent and treat COVID-19 patients must consider the possibility of multiorgan dysfunction. While male patients may have infertility, there is little information available about how to treat them. Various microbes, including bacteria and viruses, can harm the male reproductive function. This review aims to investigate the possibility of infertility or diminished fertility in COVID-19 patients and the pathogenic mechanisms that may be causing infertility during and after recovery from COVID-19. This review produced the impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health involving multiple mechanisms, including viral entry via ACE2 receptors, testicular inflammation, hormonal changes, and disruptions in RAS signaling. However, long COVID-19 does not include long-term detrimental consequences on male fertility potential since the observed alterations were reversible after 1-2 spermatogenesis cycles.

TLC Densitometry of Isoquercitrin Content in Kenikir Leaves (Cosmos caudatus Kunth.) and Tyrosinase Inhibitory and Anti-Propionibacterium acnes Bioactivity Assays

2024-11-14T11:43:48+03:00

Isoquercitrin is a 3-O-glucoside of quercetin identified in the TLC profiles of kenikir (Cosmos caudatus Knuth.) leaves extract and fractions. Quantification of isoquercitrin was effected by TLC-densitometry analysis with ethyl acetate/water/formic acid (10:1:1) mobile phase, developing with citroborate reagent and detecting at wavelength 366 nm. The linearity equation, y = 23.404x + 402.16, with a correlation coefficient value of 0.9925, indicated isoquercitrin levels of 15.7 and 24.6 mg/g in the total extract and ethanol fraction, respectively. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) for Propionibacterium acnes was determined using microdilution with the addition of iodonitrotetrazolium as a chromogenic agent. The antibacterial activity of the ethanol fraction against P. acnes was twice that of chloramphenicol, with MIC 0.625 mg/ml. Tyrosinase inhibition was evaluated by IC₅₀ spectrophotometrically. The ethanol fraction was more active in inhibiting tyrosinase enzyme than kojic acid, with IC₅₀ 6.803 µg/ml. C. caudatus ethanol fraction containing the flavonoid isoquercitrin has good tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-Propionibacterium acnes activity.

The Burden of Early Hospital Readmission and Drug-Related Factors Associated with Early Hospital Readmission in Jordan: an overview of the literature

2025-08-06T12:20:36+03:00

Background: Early hospital readmission imposes a significant economic burden on healthcare systems globally. It’s also a commonly used measure for quality of care. Several countries exerted substantial efforts to minimize the prevalence of early readmission by understanding the underlying factors and implementing programs to reduce it. This study aims to assess the current knowledge on early hospital readmission in Jordan, including risk factors associated with it, specifically those related to drugs.

Method: Literature searches in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and Google Scholar identified 57 studies, 14 of which focused on Jordan's healthcare. Two studies directly addressed early hospital readmission in Jordan; all other 12 studies assessed quality of care issues, including treatment-related problems, drug-related problems, and the importance of the clinical pharmacist's role in improving patients’ health outcomes.

Results: A 29% early readmission rate was reported in Jordan, 44% of which were deemed avoidable. Early readmissions were attributed to different factors, including behavioural factors, smoking, non-adherence to medication, discharge against advice, comorbidities, unclear follow-up, and poor discharge plans. Comorbidities were one of the leading factors to increased risk of readmission, accounting for 36% of all readmissions and 47% of avoidable readmissions reported. Moreover, it was found that the presence of certain diseases as pre-existing comorbidities increased the risk of avoidable early readmission substantially. Those comorbidities include digestive, respiratory, circulatory, genitourinary, and parasitic-infectious diseases.

Conclusion: Findings of this review reveal a compelling need for future studies to assess the true implications of early hospital readmission and drug-related factors associated with it.