Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products
Volume:18 Issue: 2, May 2023

Biosurfactants are derived from microbes, plants, and animals. Acinetobacter junii B6 is a lipopeptide biosurfactant producer previously investigated for its structure, physicochemical, and product aggregation properties.

In this study, we investigated and optimized the bioencapsulation of A. junii B6 in calcium alginate hydrogel.

A. junii B6 was encapsulated using calcium alginate hydrogel. The formulation of the hydrogel was optimized using a full factorial approach. Sodium alginate concentration, calcium chloride concentration, and hardening time were selected as the main factors, and surface tension was the response measure. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study the bead’s morphology.

Scanning electron microscope image showed rounded and smooth beads. The most biosurfactant production and reduced surface tension (35.98 mN/m) were observed at concentrations of 1% calcium chloride, (1%) sodium alginate, and 15 minutes of hardening time. A. junii B6 can be encapsulated in alginate hydrogels producing biosurfactant at optimum experimental design.

This represents a practical method for optimizing the bioencapsulation of A. junii B6 to produce biosurfactants.

Cleome brachycarpa, magical species full of phytochemicals, has magical medicinal properties and should be evaluated extensively.

We evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Cleome brachycarpa and the effect of its extract on various hematological parameters, cholesterol levels, and liver enzymes to ensure the safe use of this natural product.

Cleome brachycarpa was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at 200 mg/kg compared to diclofenic sodium and morphine, respectively. For anti-inflammatory activity, Wistar strain albino rats were pooled and divided into four groups: Negative control (normal saline), positive control (2% acetic acid), standard (Diclofenic sodium 10 mg/kg), and test (Cleome brachycarpa extract orally) groups for 10 days. For analgesic evaluation, mice were divided into control (normal saline), standard (morphine 10 mg/kg), and test (Cleome brachycarpa extract 200 mg/kg) groups and analyzed by the tail-flick method from zero to six hours. An assortment of blood parameters was evaluated, including white cells, red cells, hemoglobin level, hematocrit value, mean corpuscular volume, andmeancorpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Besides, wecomputed the number of platelets, cholesterol, and enzyme (liver) level to ensure the safe use of this natural product. For this purpose, 60 rabbits were collected and divided into groups: Group A (control group) of 30 rabbits pooled without any treatment and Group B (treated group) of 30 rabbits receiving 200 mg/kg of Cleome brachycarpa. After 30 days, 4 mL blood sample was obtained by cardiac puncture.

Plethysmometer evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects showedmaximuminflammatory inhibition of 29.42% at the sixth hour. Moreover, tail flick analysis showed maximum pain inhibition of 55.10% at the sixth hour, comparable to the standard drug. Furthermore, hematological data were analyzed statistically and showed insignificant results (P  0.05), indicating no prominent changes in hematological parameters, except for SGPT, a liver enzyme that increased after 30 days of treatment (P  0.05). Elevated levels of SGPT are usually reported with several drug administrations like NSAIDs and anti-TB drugs, but still, it should be further investigated.

Cleome brachycarpashowedpromising anti-inflammatoryandanalgesic effects without producing any potent change in enzymes except SGPT, which would be evaluated further.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a deadly gynecological cancer among women worldwide. Ministering ovarian cancer with classic chemotherapy medications can cause various side effects. Thus, in recent years, the anticancer potential of medicinal plants has been noticed in complementary cancer treatment due to their high efficacy and low toxicity. The anti-proliferative potential of Xanthium strumarium leaf and seed extract against several cancer cell lines was reported; however, there is no report on the effect of its root so far.

In this study, the antitumor effect of X. strumarium root extract was evaluated on the SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cell line, and metabolic alterations were identified.

Cancer cells were cultured and ministered with different concentrations of ethanolic root extract. The antitumor effect of the root extract was determined byMTT assay, and cell metaboliteswas extracted. Finally, the metabolome profile was characterized and analyzed by 1H NMR-based metabolomics.

The IC50 value of the root extract of X. Strumarium was 30g/mL after 48 hours, which exhibited anticancer activity against SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and biotin metabolism were the most affected metabolic pathways involved in the growth inhibition of cancer cells.

In the current study, the ethanolic root extract of X. Strumarium reveals antitumor activity against SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells and could affect vital metabolic pathways.

Acetaminophen (APAP), a common analgesic agent, is hepatotoxic in overdose. N-acetylcysteine (NAC), as an APAP antidote, shows anaphylactic reactions and has low efficacy in APAP poisoning in high doses.

This study was designed to examine the hepatoprotective effect of biochanin A (BA) in a mice model of acetaminopheninduced hepatotoxicity.

To evaluate APAP-induced oxidative stress, the liver tissue level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Histological analysis was performed.

APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was manifested by inflammation, acinar hepatic necrosis, and fatty degeneration, as well as an increase in the levels of ALP, ALT, AST, MDA, and a decrease in the SOD, catalase (CAT), and GSH. Pre-treatment with BA at low doses (10 and 20 mg/kg) reduced ALT, AST, and MDA levels and raised the SOD, GSH, and CAT levels. Moreover, it normalized the structure of liver tissue.

The results of this study indicated that BA protected the liver from APAP-induced injury. Protection may be due to the inhibition of oxidative stress, which reduces liver inflammation.

Several pharmacological effects have been attributed to thymol. However, limitations such as low solubility in water, low bioavailability, and high volatility have limited its use.

The present study aimed to prepare and characterize thymol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to improve the efficacy of thymol.

Thymol-loaded SLNs were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Cytotoxicity study and hemolysis assay were also performed.

The in vitro drug release showed a sustained manner. Also, SLNs loaded with thymol showed higher cytotoxicity than free thymol, and the hemolysis results indicated the blood biocompatibility of SLNs.

As nanocarriers, SLNs can open a new avenue for improving the efficacy of thymol in cancer treatment.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that globally affects the elderly, leading to pain and disability. Herbal medications and alternative therapies have demonstrated positive effects on arthritis management. Pistacia vera has traditionally been used for inflammatory conditions and has also shown antinociceptive effects.

Given the limited available scientific evidence, our randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the potential protective role of topical P. vera seed oil preparation in patients with knee OA.

A total of 89 patients with kneeOA(n = 89) were randomly allocated into three groups: Placebo, piroxicam, and P. vera. The topical formulations were administered twice daily over a period of three months. Pain level, patient health status, andperformance were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) andWestern Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

The application of P. vera ointment demonstrated pain reduction in patients, as indicated by VAS andWOMACassessments. Additionally, WOMAC scores showed that P. vera ointment alleviated motion stiffness and improved activity difficulties in patients (P < 0.001). In certain parameters, the topical application of P. vera showed greater effectiveness in treating knee OA than piroxicam (P < 0.05).

Pistacia vera ointment shows promise as a potential therapeutic option for osteoarthritis, effectively addressing the detrimental effects of the disease. Further experimental and clinical studies are warranted to elucidate its efficacy and safety profile.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are being utilized in various fields. With regard to their numerous applications, MWCNTinduced toxicity has not been extensively investigated. Thus, the present study sheds light on the protective effect of caffeic acid (CA) on mitochondrial toxicity in the kidney caused by MWCNTs in Wistar rats employing the MTT assay as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) indices, based on measuring glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and catalase (CAT) activity. According to the MTT assay, using MWCNTs could significantly diminish mitochondrial viability based on doses. Furthermore, the study findings suggested that MWCNTs could reduce GSH content and CAT activity and subsequently improve mitochondrial ROS formation and damage the mitochondrial membrane of the kidney. The findings also implied that CA could protect renal mitochondria against toxicity induced by MWCNTs by lowering oxidative stress.

 The Conocarpus extract possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which may prove to be beneficial in the healing of skin wounds.

 This study investigated the protective effects of Conocarpus leaf extract on HSF-PI 17 fibroblast cells against the harmful effects of UVB radiation.

 After culturing the cells, the MTT assay was employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the Conocarpus extract. The cells were divided into three groups: The control group, the group receiving radiation only, and the group receiving radiation along with the Conocarpus leaf extract. Trypan blue staining was utilized to quantify the count of viable cells. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined by measuring the intensity of fluorescence color. Real-time PCR was utilized to evaluate gene expression, while Western blotting was employed to determine protein expression.

 Conocarpus extract had no toxic effects on HSF-PI 17 cells at doses ranging from 0.001 to 1 g/mL. Exposure to UVB radiation led to a notable rise in the production of ROS and a considerable decline in cell growth rate compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In the third group, the Conocarpus extract significantly moderated the reduction in growth and production of ROS compared to the second group (P < 0.05). TGF-β and SMAD2/3 gene expressions, as well as collagen protein levels, were significantly lower in the second group than in the control group (P < 0.05). TGF-β and SMAD2/3 gene expressions, as well as collagen protein expression, showed a significant increase in the third group compared to the second group (P < 0.05).

 Conocarpus leaf extract reduces the harmful effects of UVB radiation on HSF-PI 17 skin fibroblast cells.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy as a low-cost, non-invasive intervention for reducing exam anxiety in college students and improving their academic performance.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted among 270 pharmacy students from different academic years, who were divided into three distinct groups. Exam anxiety was assessed using the Sarason questionnaire at baseline and after 15 minutes of aromatherapy.

There was no significant difference in the severity of anxiety at baseline (P = 0.07). However, following orange aromatherapy, there was a significant decrease in baseline-exam anxiety score (mean difference 1.32, P < 0.001), while lavender aromatherapy did not show a significant effect (P = 0.27). Aromatherapy had a significant impact on academic performance, specifically in the bio-pharmacy exam.

Our study provides evidence that aromatherapy may have an effect on exam anxiety. Orange essential oil aromatherapy, without the adverse reactions associated with pharmacological therapies, was found to be an effective strategy for reducing exam anxiety and enhancing academic performance among pharmacy students. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Management of bleeding is among the major issues in medicine, particularly during surgery.

This study investigated the effects of Pomegranate peel and flower, Myrtle, Quercus fruit, and Rhus coriaria L extracts on bleeding control in rats.

In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats (weighing 200 - 250 g, 8-10-month-old) with free access to sufficient water and food, were randomly divided into four groups: (a) the topical application of the extracts on tail wounds (bleeding time (B.T.) measurement); (b) intraperitoneal injection of the extracts (measurement of prothrombin time (P.T.) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) in the blood taken from the heart); (c) control group 1 (B.T. measurement on tail wounds without the topical application of the extracts); and (d) control group 2 (no intraperitoneal injection of the extracts, P.T. and PTT measurement in blood drawnfrom the heart). The animals in all groups received the same care and were kept under standard laboratory conditions, 12:12 h light/dark cycles, and a temperature of 23 ± 2.0°C. The data were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests.

The mean of B.T. in the control group, 3.57 ± 0.20 s, was significantly higher than that in the intervention group (1.56 ± 0.13 s) (P < 0.001). The mean of P.T. in the control group was not significantly different from that in the intervention group (P = 0.499). The mean of PTT in the control group (18.2 ± 24.82 s) was significantly shorter than that in the intervention group (38.00 ± 14.49 s) (P = 0.006).

Considering the acceptable coagulant effects of the extracts of Pomegranate peel & flower, Myrtle, Quercus fruit, and Rhus coriaria L. compared to the control group, it can be concluded that these extracts can be suitable adjuvant drugs for controlling bleeding. Although the coagulant effects of these extracts have been mentioned in many traditional medicine texts, human tests are required to reject or confirm their clinical effects.

 Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that impairs plasma lipid levels and prone a person to cardiovascular diseases. Since standard therapies in diabetes control fail in many patients, using herbal medicines in these patients has been considered.

 The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seed powder on blood sugar and fat profile in type 2 diabetic patients.

 Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited and randomly assigned into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received a capsule containing Nigella sativa seed powder for two months, and the control group received a placebo. Blood glucose and lipid profile data were statistically analyzed at the end of two months. This study was conducted in diabetic clinic of Khomein City during the 2019 - 2020 year. The groups were compared using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.

 The mean age of patients was 53.82 in the experimental group and 55.12 in the control group. In comparison between the two measurements before and after the interventions, the variables glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol (Chol), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001). The interactive effect between the control and intervention groups before and after the interventions was statistically significant for the postprandial glucose (PPG) variable (P = 0.035).

 The results of our study showed that the consumption of NS seed in diabetic patients could change the fat profile and reduce hemoglobin HbA1c, which indicated that Nigella sativa seed had been effective in reducing blood sugar over time.