Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - Volume 18, Issue 14, 2017

Background: In the present study, the potential of methanolic leaf extract of Taraxacum officinale plant as a function of bio-inspired green synthesis for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been explored. Methods: The bio-reduction of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution was confirmed by visually detecting the color change from pale yellow to blackish-brown. Maximum absorbance was observed at 420 nm du Read More

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of most serious threats to human beings, however, the treatment is hindered by blood-brain barrier and poor intra-brain cell selectivity. Methods: In this study, we developed a novel dual targeting drug delivery system by modification of NL4 peptide and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) onto dendrimer particles that may efficiently deliver siRNA into neuron cells to down-regulate BACE1 and Read More

Background: Ethanolic extract of G. procumbens leaves has been previously shown to possess antihyperlipidemic effects. Objective: This study was designed to prepare caffeoylquinic acids rich and poor fractions of the ethanolic extract using resin column technology and compare their antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant potentials. Results: Among the treatment groups, caffeoylquinic acids rich fraction (F2) and chlorogen Read More

Background: Drug-induced myopathy is a serious side effect that often requires removal of a medication from a drug regimen. For most drugs, the underlying mechanism of drug-induced myopathy remains unclear. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) mediate L-lactic acid transport, and inhibition of MCTs may potentially lead to perturbation of L-lactic acid accumulation and muscular disorders. Therefore, we hypothesized Read More

Background: Drug transporters function as gatekeepers and modulate drug access into body and various tissues. Thus, a thorough and precise understanding of transporter liability for compound uptake and efflux is critical during drug development. Methods: In the present study, we assessed the apparent permeability (Papp) and compared efflux ratio of various compounds in stably transfected Madin-Darby Canine Ki Read More

Background: Expression vector is an important component in the production of therapeutic recombinant proteins. Most of the commercialized expression vectors apply antibiotic-based selection system. Meanwhile, World Health Organization highly recommends for the alternative system due to its potentials to cause spreading of resistance gene and hypersensitivity to some people. Methods: In current work, we developed Read More

Background: The aim of this work was to compare water and organic extracts, infusions and tinctures from flowers and leaves of Calendula officinalis in terms of their biological activity and composition. The purpose of work was investigation whether the leaves and stems are really the waste or they contain interesting substances which could be utilized. Antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activiti Read More

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption damages the intestine and liver cells directly as well as through unbalancing the gut microbiota. Objective: The current study was undertaken to correlate the alcohol consumption and change in urinary metabolites profile linked with gut microbiota. Method: Non-alcoholic (control) healthy (n=22) and moderate alcoholic (n=26) males with an average age of 39.3±1.83 yea Read More

Background: Aiming to improve the laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) cell isolation process, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer with micro-hole arrays was employed to improve the cell separation precision, and a microchip with heater was developed to maintain the working area at 100% humidity and 37°C with the purpose to preserve the viability of the isolated cells. Methods: A series of experiments were conducted to v Read More