In traditional medicine, Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae) is used by Indian and Bangladeshi practitioners to treat jaundice and liver ailments. Despite its widespread use, its hepatoprotective activity lacks scientific validation in HepG2 liver cell models. This study evaluated the protective effects of methanolic extract of A. mexicana (MEAM) against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Antioxidant activity were assessed via DPPH, ABTS, lipid peroxidation, and ferricyanide assays. Cytoprotective effects were evaluated using MTT, LDH, AST, ALT, and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β), along with oxidative stress indicators (SOD, GSH, GPx, MDA). LC–MS analysis was used to identify bioactive compounds in the MEAM. In silico molecular docking studies with Schrödinger software further examined the interaction of identified bioactive compounds with PPAR-α and TGF-β1 to explore their potential hepatoprotective mechanisms. MEAM exhibited strong antioxidant activities (IC₅₀: DPPH- 92.3, ABTS- 93.7, lipid peroxidation- 43.2 µg/mL). In the MTT assay, MEAM significantly (p < 0.05) increased HepG2 cell viability compared to the paracetamol-treated group. It also elevated antioxidant markers (SOD, GSH, GPx) and reduced MDA levels relative to the positive control. MEAM restored cellular architecture in a dose-dependent manner, similar to silymarin. Additionally, it significantly lowered AST, ALT, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels, approaching normal control values. In silico analysis identified reticuline and oxyberberine with the highest docking scores to PPAR-α and TGF-β1. MEAM showed significant in vitro hepatoprotective activity, supporting its traditional use. Hepatoprotective potential of Argemone mexicana L. root methanol extract: LC–MS profiling, molecular docking and protection against paracetamol-induced toxicity in HepG2 cell lines.

Nowadays, diabetic wounds are a major concern in the medical and animal fields due to delayed wound healing, as reactive oxygen species play a crucial role in the healing process. Pro-inflammatory molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and interleukin (IL)-1 β, are most prevalent in diabetic wounds, along with anti-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, which exhibit dysregulated macrophage responses. Although various plants exhibit strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antidiabetic properties, only a few have been used as effective therapeutic agents for diabetic wounds. More plants need to be explored for their effects on diabetic wounds. Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. is Devil’s tree, which is a rich source of various alkaloids, such as tubotaiwine, picralinal, and 16-formyl-5-methoxystrictamine, making it a potential therapeutic agent against diabetic wounds. The relevant articles showing the pharmacological effects of the tree, A. scholaris (L.) R. Br. were searched in search engines like Google Scholar, Web of Science databases, and PubMed. It also shows numerous biological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, stimulant, carminative, stomachic, hemostatic, inhibitory cytokine, wound-healing, hypoglycemic, improving collagen and hydroxyproline synthesis, repair of skin tears, increasing granulation strength, and helping in wound contraction in models. More research on A. scholaris is needed to prove it as a potential therapeutic regimen against diabetic wounds. Therefore, this review highlights the pharmacological properties and biological effects of A. scholaris, demonstrating its potential as a candidate for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

This study aimed to develop and optimize a preservative-free, controlled-release nanofiber formulation of loteprednol etabonate (LE) using polycaprolactone (PCL) for effective management of corneal inflammation. The objective was to minimize the challenges of limited solubility, poor ocular retention, and premature drug clearance while enhancing therapeutic efficacy. LE polycaprolactone nanofibers (LE-PCL-NF) were fabricated by electrospinning and optimized using polymer concentrations of 10-16% w/v. The optimized 14% PCL solution at a 1 mL/h flow rate and 15 kV yielded bead-free, uniform nanofibers with an average diameter of 210 +/- 17 nm. Solubility of the drug increased similar to 4-fold (i.e., 7.25 mu g/mL to 29.32 mu g/mL). The drug release results show that 50% of the drug was released within 6 h and 82% over 72 h, compared to pure LE, which shows only 32% release. Ex vivo corneal permeation data showed similar to 2.40-fold increase in permeation in 24 h as compared to the pure drug. HET-CAM and in vivo irritation tests confirmed safety and compatibility of the prepared formulation. LE-PCL-NF showed higher corneal retention (24 h) and maintained therapeutic levels in tear fluid for 72 h, unlike pure LE, which cleared within 6 h. In vivo efficacy studies reflect a significant reduction in redness and inflammation (p < 0.001), with eyes in the LE-PCL-NF-treated group appearing comparable to negative controls. LE-PCL nanofibers successfully enhanced solubility, sustained release, corneal retention, and anti-inflammatory efficacy while ensuring safety. These findings highlight their potential as a novel ocular delivery system for corneal inflammation.

The present study reports the development and evaluation of a localized re-dispersible mucoadhesive gargle (RMG) formulation of azithromycin (AZM) to mitigate secondary complications associated with bacterial throat infections with the potential to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The formulation was prepared using optimized pharmaceutical excipients, incorporating glycyrrhizin as a natural sweetener and multifunctional bioactive agent with proven anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antitussive properties. The inclusion of glycyrrhizin was specifically rationalized based on its local mucosal anti-inflammatory action and its ability to support reflex-mediated cough modulation and mucus clearance at the oropharyngeal site. Re-dispersible granules were developed via wet granulation method and optimized using a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach. FTIR and DSC analyses confirmed the absence of significant interactions between the drug and excipients. The optimized formulation showed excellent drug loading (99.73

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a significant global public health threat, with heightened morbidity and mortality observed among immunocompromised populations due to their impaired immune responsiveness and increased susceptibility to severe infection. Vitamins A, C, D, E, and the B-complex vitamins, as well as zinc, selenium, magnesium, and copper, are micronutrients needed to support a proper immune response against viral infections. This study aims to highlight the role of these micronutrients in modulating immune responses and their potential contributions to the prevention, management, and recovery from COVID-19. Methods: In this study, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect were utilized for the literature search. Articles on human research in English that focused on the immunological or clinical significance of micronutrients in viral infections, specifically COVID-19, were considered. Articles with poor methodological clarity, non-human studies, duplicates, editorials, and articles that were not clear on the methods used were excluded. Results: The evidence reviewed indicates that restricted diets due to food allergies lead to micronutrient deficiencies, which are associated with increased susceptibility to infections and worse COVID-19 outcomes. Increased micronutrient intake or supplementation was associated with a better immune phenotype, clinical recovery, and lower disease severity. Discussion: The positive impact of micronutrients is explained by the fact that they play the immune- regulating, antioxidant defense, inflammatory control, and antiviral defense functions. A lack of them can impair the immune system and accelerate disease progression in COVID-19. Conclusion: Properly balanced consumption of micronutrients can be an effective complement to common treatments to enhance the immune system, hasten recovery, and even reduce the severity of COVID-19.

The global escalation of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) bacterial infections poses a serious and growing threat to public health, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and substantial economic burden worldwide. The widespread and often indiscriminate use of antibiotics in clinical and agricultural settings has accelerated the emergence of resistance, significantly diminishing the efficacy of conventional antimicrobial therapies. This pressing challenge necessitates the exploration of alternative sources for novel antibiotics. Marine ecosystems-renowned for their immense biodiversity and ecological complexity-have gained attention as a rich and largely untapped reservoir of bioactive natural products with potent antimicrobial activity. Marine organisms, such as sponges, tunicates, algae, and bacteria and fungi derived from marine sources, produce structurally diverse and pharmacologically active metabolites, including peptides, polyketides, alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, lactones, and halogenated compounds. Many of these marine-derived molecules possess unique chemical scaffolds and novel mechanisms of action, offering the potential to circumvent existing resistance pathways. Some compounds have shown promising activity against MDR pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. However, challenges such as low natural abundance, difficulty in cultivation, and structural complexity have limited their clinical translation. Recent advancements in marine biotechnology, genomics, metagenomics, and synthetic biology have opened new avenues for the discovery, biosynthesis, and structural optimization of these compounds. These innovative approaches not only facilitate sustainable production but also enhance the pharmacological properties.

Diabetes can frequently result in peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN), a lifethreatening illness that impairs the motor and sensory abilities of peripheral nerves. Prompt identification and management of peripheral neuropathy are essential to avert permanent nerve impairment and enhance the well-being of affected individuals. In addition, axonal degeneration is usually detected at a late stage of the disease and serves as a basis for developing modern diagnostic techniques. Novel biomarkers that can detect PDN early and track its development are thus required. In this review, we highlight the most recent developments in identifying and verifying putative biomarkers for PDN, emphasizing their connections to the pathophysiology and clinical presentations of the illness. The challenges and opportunities for developing biomarker-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for PDN are also discussed. It is suggested that biomarkers help predict the response and outcome of PDN treatments, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors and regenerative medicine.

Oxy-Berberine (OBBR) is a metabolite of berberine (BBR) an isoquinoline alkaloid with promising hepatoprotective activity. But due to its lower aqueous solubility, and less retention time at site of action its clinical translation is limited. The present study aimed to develop and characterize a novel OBBR and ascorbic acid co-crystal (OBACC) incorporated in collagen microspheres (OBACC-CMPs) to enhance the solubility, release and hepatoprotective activity of OBBR. In-vitro solubility study showed that 1.70-fold higher solubility of OBACC as compared to the plain drug in aqueous media. Further, FT-IR, DSC, and XRD are carried out to investigate the drug, polymer, and excipients interactions. The morphology study by scanning electron microscope showed porous and spherical shape of microsphere at a size range of 5 μm. In-vitro drug release study revealed the controlled release manner of OBBR for 6 h at the site of action and release kinetics followed Korsemeyar-Peppas model. The in-vitro cell internalization study ensures the higher cellular uptake for 6 h as compared to the control and good cytocompatibility was observed at higher dose of microspheres in HepG2 cell line. In-vivo study emphasized the effectiveness of OBACC-CMPs on liver marker enzymes, proteins, lipid profile, cytokines and oxidative markers as compared to the PCM induced toxicity in rat model. Also, a prolonged accumulation of OBBR for 16 h was observed in bio-distribution study of OBACC-CMPs. Furthermore, the study highlights the OBACC-CMPs promising, safe and effective application for hepatoprotective and liver targeted applications. Co-crystal formation with ascorbic acid enhanced oxy-berberine’s aqueous solubility upto 1.70-fold. OBBR possessed controlled release for 6 h after micro-encapsulation with collagen biopolymer. OBACC-CMPs showed higher liver accumulation upto 16 h as compared to the pure drug.

Cancer remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, with rising incidence and limited effectiveness of conventional therapies due to systemic toxicity, adverse effects, and multidrug resistance. These limitations underscore the need for safer, targeted, and biologically effective therapeutic alternatives. Phytochemicals, naturally occurring com-pounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and polyphenols, have garnered consider-able attention due to their broad-spectrum anticancer activities and favorable safety profiles. This review assesses the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals in cancer prevention and treatment, focusing on their molecular mechanisms, pharmacological relevance, and translational applications. A comprehensive literature survey of peer-reviewed articles, clinical studies, and database reports (2015-2025) was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science with search terms including "phytochemicals," "plant-derived compound", "cancer", "tumor", "anticancer activity," "molecular mechanisms," "chemoprevention," "combination therapy," and "chemotherapy" with Boolean operators. Phytochemicals demonstrated significant anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, suppressing angiogenesis, and modulating key oncogenic pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, and NF-κB. Clinically approved phytochemical-based drugs, including paclitaxel and vinblastine, validate their therapeutic relevance, while com-pounds such as curcumin and resveratrol show encouraging outcomes in ongoing studies. Synergistic interactions with conventional chemotherapeutics further enhance their thera-peutic potential. Overall, phytochemicals exert multi-targeted actions regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell survival pathways, offering advantages of reduced toxicity and enhanced efficacy. However, challenges such as poor solubility and low bioavailability limit their clinical translation. Continued efforts toward advanced formulations and robust clinical validation are essential to advance their integration into modern cancer therapeutics.

The nanofibers based on hyaluronic acid (HA) have been considered as the promising platform in the mucosal and skin delivery of drugs due to its distinctive physicochemical, biological, and biomimetic characteristics. HA is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan which is biocompatible, biodegradable, mucoadhesive and has high hydration capacity and is ideally suited to local therapeutic delivery through the epithelial barriers. HA nanofibers electrospun have a high surface area, tunable porosity, and the potential to deliver a wide range of therapeutic molecules, including small molecules, biologics, probiotics, and growth factors, which allows them to release drugs in a controlled and targeted manner. Their recent progress is shown to be effective in the treatment of the mucosal diseases like oral ulcers, vaginal infections, sinusitis, and mucositis and dermatological diseases like wounds, inflammatory skin diseases, and systemic therapy through the transdermal route. The mechanical strength, drug loading and stabilization of HA and carrier polymers, chemical modifications and multifunctional nanocomposites have been enhanced, solving the inherent processing issues with HA electrospinning. However, toxicity of HA can change depending on the molecular weight, modifications and formulation ingredients. Clinical translation is still dependent on thorough toxicological evaluation and regulatory compliance. Translational barriers, such as mass-manufacturing, prolonged safety testing, regulatory issues, and clinical validation, still continue to pose a challenge despite promising preclinical results. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the field of HA nanofiber fabrication, physicochemical optimization, therapeutic use as well as translational perspective with particular focus on their future as the next-generation platforms to deliver drugs to the mucosal and skin.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide and a major contributor to cancer-related death. It has been established for decades that natural bioactive compounds are a crucial source for developing novel anticancer drugs. However, their poor targeting, limited solubility and bioavailability, and instability hinder the effectiveness of treatment. With advancements in nanotechnology, nanomedicine delivery systems have emerged as viable approaches to enhance drug bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness, with natural polymer-based drug carriers gaining significant attention for breast cancer treatment. Chitosan's distinct physicochemical characteristics, biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity make it a popular choice for carrier materials in nanomedicine delivery systems. Their desired qualities include the extent of chemical modification, controlled drug release, surface flexibility, non-toxicity, enhanced stability, cellular uptake, anticancer drug solubility, modulation of release kinetics, and biodistribution. This review aims to illustrate current concerns regarding breast cancer treatment, highlighting the untapped potential of natural bioactive compounds while promoting the latest developments of using chitosanbased nanocarriers to deliver natural bioactive compounds. Finally, this review spotlights the limitations of existing research and the futuristic prospects in this emerging field. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Wound healing is a complex and coordinated biological process consisting of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling, which is regulated through the interaction of fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Fibroblasts play a key role in mediating tissue repair, and they regulate collagen deposition, angiogenesis, cell migration, ECM remodeling, and wound contraction. However, the abnormal behaviour of fibroblasts in wounds causes non-healing and is not sufficiently addressed by conventional wound dressings. Sericin, a silk-based glycoprotein with many polar amino acids, is a promising biomaterial for regenerative wound healing owing to its biocompatibility, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, moisturising and cell-adhesive properties. Recent studies demonstrated the positive effects of sericin-based materials on fibroblast survival, proliferation and migration, as well as modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. These effects are mediated through signalling pathways including TGF-β/Smad, PI3K/Akt and MAPK, all promoting matrix synthesis, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. In this review, we critically discuss sericin-based composites and their fibroblast-targeted mechanisms in wound healing with respect to current advances, design strategies, translational challenges and future perspectives of next-generation regenerative biomaterials in general wound environments.

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent dermatological condition resulting from inflammation, follicular hyperkeratinization, and bacterial growth. Standard treatments, whether topical or oral, frequently encounter challenges such as limited skin penetration, drug instability, and undesirable side effects. The report found that lipid-based nanocarriers have emerged as a promising alternative, demonstrating the potential for enhanced therapeutic effectiveness, better skin bioavailability, controlled drug release, and targeted delivery specifically to sebaceous glands, which help minimize systemic side effects. This review article aims to explore the therapeutic potential of various lipid nanocarriers, including Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs), Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs), liposomes, microemulsions, niosomes, and ethosomes particularly by examining the mechanisms through which they penetrate the stratum corneum and deeper skin layers to enhance drug delivery. This review comprehensively surveys lipid-based nanocarriers for acne vulgaris treatment, drawing from a systematic literature search across Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for publications between 2015 and 2025. The search strategy employed keywords such as "lipid nanocarrier," "acne vulgaris," "animal models," or "preclinical studies," and "clinical trials" to capture the research landscape. The review compiles evidence from multiple preclinical experiments and clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of lipid nanocarriers in managing acne. It explores the different pathways these lipid nanocarriers use to permeate the skin and reach target sites. Additionally, it also covers different patents filed by various researchers focusing on the application of lipid nanocarriers for acne management. Lipid nanocarriers represent a significant advancement in dermatological drug delivery, particularly for acne management. By leveraging various skin penetration mechanisms to improve drug targeting to the pilosebaceous unit, they offer potential for more effective treatment compared to conventional methods. While promising, ongoing research and development are necessary to overcome current limitations and fully harness the potential of lipid nanocarriers in clinical practice.