Current Drug Therapy - Volume 20, Issue 2, 2025

Over 10 million people worldwide are affected by the chronic neurodegenerative condition of Parkinson's disease. Dopaminergic neurons in the Substantia Nigra area of the brain are gradually lost as a result. Herbal medicine, which have its roots in ancient cultures, uses medicinal herbs to treat illnesses and advance general health. There is considerable interest in researching the possibilities of herbal medicine for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease because they are thought to be safer than synthetic medications.

The objective of this article is to investigate the potential of herbal medications as a treatment option for Parkinsonism, and to provide a clear understanding of the current state of research on this topic.

This review focuses on herbal treatments and components that have demonstrated promise in Parkinson's disease in vitro and animal models. This information can be used to identify prospective traditional medicine prescription therapies. New therapeutic treatments for Parkinson's disease may result from further study of pharmaceutical components with well-established therapeutic potential.

Lozenges are one of the more well-liked and inventive oral confectionery products in the market. The lozenges also act as solid medications that are flavored, sweetened, and meant to be sucked into the mouth/pharynx or held over that cavity. Garlic contains anti-microbial agents which help to reduce the impact of cough and reduce it.

The goal of the current research is to formulate and investigate herbal lozenges by using garlic tinctures with their antimicrobial action to cure the infection caused by microbes.

Hard lozenges were prepared by Heating and congealing techniques and statistical analysis was done by using one sample chi-square test (IBM SPSS version 20).

Hard lozenges were formulated by using garlic tinctures with minimum excipients. According to ICH recommendations, stability experiments were conducted. According to the stability investigations, there were no major changes noticed during the period after the one-month stability test. The antimicrobial activity was studied under different time intervals after 8-72 hours. The inhibition zone value for the test sample was found to be 0.1-0.5 mm and for the standard sample was noticed from 0.5-0.8 mm, respectively. The statistical test outcome revealed, no remarkable difference shown between the prepared and the marketed formulation (p>0.05).

From the present work, it was concluded that the prepared lozenges have similar result with minimum ingredients as compared to the marketed formulation (Tulsi-ginger lozenges). Hence, the formulation, testing, and antimicrobial activity for oral use in garlic lozenges were effective.

Breast cancer ranks as the second-most prevalent cause of death among women worldwide, with particularly elevated mortality rates in India. Breast cancer’s origin involves biochemical pathway alterations influenced by tumor-inducing proteins. Research has highlighted glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) as a crucial protein that regulates the expression of various genes in the cell cycle. Mutations in this protein have a significant impact on cellular development. As a consequence, it triggers aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, such as triple-negative breast cancer. So, the primary aim of this study is to identify novel chemicals targeting GSK-3β using machine learning methods, molecular modeling, and dynamic techniques.

To achieve the study's objective, small molecules were screened using a Machine Learning (ML) approach, and subsequently, molecular docking and dynamic modelling investigations were conducted to explore interactions between drugs and GSK-3β.

The research findings highlighted a specific compound, piperidine, 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-[4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl) phenyl], which exhibited a superior docking score of -9.6 kcal/mol. Piperidine also formed conventional hydrogen bonds with the target protein. Furthermore, the calculated binding free energy of -12.46 kcal/mol suggested that this compound exhibited greater stability compared to commercially available drugs.

These promising findings highlight the potential of piperidine and similar small molecules as promising candidates for targeting the tumor-inducing protein GSK-3β. Subsequent investigations, both in vitro and in vivo, will be essential to assess their effectiveness in combating breast cancer.

The aim of this research work was to investigate the potential ability of cilnidipine-loaded-Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS) to improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of cilnidipine.

The therapeutic value of drugs is constrained by the low oral bioavailability of BCS class II drugs. In order to improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, SEDDS are frequently utilised.

To develop the cilnidipine-loaded-SEDDS formulation, Canola oil as the oil phase, tween 80 as the surfactant, and PEG 300 as the co-surfactant were used. The SEDDS formulation was evaluated based on stability study per ICH guidelines, drug precipitation during in-vitro lipolysis study under fasted and fed state, and in vivo pharmacodynamic study in Wistar rats. The content of the drug was determined by assay of SEDDS formulation using the official method of cilnidipine.

The pharmacodynamic study demonstrated that cilnidipine-loaded SEDDS formulation significantly produced a rapid antihypertensive effect (within 2 h) that lasted for 24 h in comparison to drug suspension. During the in vitro lipolysis study, the concentration of the drug recovered from the aqueous phase under both fasted and fed state was more than 90% after 10 minutes, with a minute amount of drug involved in precipitation. At stability conditions of 30 ± 2°C/65 ± 5%RH for a duration of six months, the SEDDS formulation was found to be stable. The content of cilnidipine in the SEDDS formulation was found to be 98.4%.

A BCS class-II drug's oral bioavailability and dissolution might be improved using the self-emulsifying drug delivery method.

A herbal approach to Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), as an anti-inflammatory and wound healing agent is anticipated. Phyto-constituents Guggulusterone, Naringenin, and myrrhanol were reported for the anti-inflammatory activity of Guggulu. Studies suggests, that sesame oil (Sesamum indicum L.) and Ratanjot (Arnebia nobilis) also act as potent anti-inflammatory agents. A combination of all three of these gives a synergistic effect for anti-inflammatory and excisional wound healing activity.

A simple ointment base, BP and 5% Ratanjot, and Sesame oil were prepared. All the components, i.e., Guggulu, 5% Ratanjot Sesame oil, and simple ointment base, were added and triturated uni-directionally until a smooth, homogenous mixture was obtained. 25% w/w (F1) and 27% w/w (F2) Guggulu ointment were prepared. Four groups, each with three wistar rats, were studied for fourteen days. On the fourteenth day, rats were sacrificed, and tissues were collected for histopathological studies.

F1 was compared against the standard formulation (10% w/w betadine, Win-Medicare) for excisional wound healing and anti-inflammatory activity in rats. On the foutheenth day, the results for percentage wound contraction in groups 1 (Negative control, vaseline), 2 (Controlled, ointment base), 3 (F1), and 4 (positive control, standard) were found to be 12.01, 25.32, 96.14, and 81.23, respectively. Results of histopathological studies and H&E staining supported the action of F1, as skin sections showed the junction of normal skin and wound area. Sub-epithelial tissues showed low (-) to mild (+) inflammation. Mild oedema (+) was also noted.

The rat group treated with F1 showed maximum wound contraction, healing, and anti-inflammatory activity as per percentage wound contraction and histopathological studies.

Microspheres are naturally biodegradable, free-flowing powders with a particle size of less than 200 micrometres that are comprised of proteins or synthetic polymers. Using microspheres is a reliable strategy to ensure that the drug is accurately delivered to the target area and that the right concentration is kept there without having any unfavourable side effects.

The objective of the present study was to create a sustained-release cefixime trihydrate microsphere delivery system employing natural and synthetic polymers as a carrier and increase therapeutic effectiveness.

Due to the simplicity of processing, the solvent injection method was used to create microspheres. Microspheres were created with this technology using the sustained-release polymer, sodium alginate, and active material (drug). The compatibility of components with the drug was evaluated using XRD and FT-IR. In an in-vitro release research, the dissolving medium was phosphate buffer at pH 6.8. For the kinetic analysis of the drug release mechanism, graphs for zero-order, first-order, Higuchi's, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixson-Crowell models were also created.

The best formulation was chosen from the batches, and in-vitro cefixime trihydrate release studies for various microspheres containing cefixime trihydrate in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) for 8 hours were performed. The dissolution profiles of formulations F4 and F8 showed that the formulation, including xanthan gum, F8, released 55.01% more medication in 8 hours than the formulation using HPMC, F4. X-ray diffraction, swelling index of drug-laden microspheres, and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to evaluate formulation F8. The graphs for zero-order, first-order, Higuchi's, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixson- Crowell models were plotted, and the optimised batch was discovered to match Higuchi's drug release kinetics with an R2 value of 0.990.

Cefixime trihydrate microspheres can be utilized as a new drug delivery technology to minimize dose frequency and, as a result, to promote patient compliance.