Current Drug Research Reviews - Volume 17, Issue 3, 2025

The Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and regulates gene transcription as well as diverse cellular processes like metabolism, inflammation, and cell differentiation. As an attractive therapeutic target, RXR inhibitors have garnered attention for their potential in alleviating chronic diseases. RXR inhibitors have the potential to modulate inflammation and immune responses and manage diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidemia, cancer progression, solid tumors, and hematologic malignancies. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind their therapeutic effects is crucial for optimizing their use in different disease contexts. While RXR inhibitors hold promise, some challenges and questions necessitate further research. Future directions include refining the understanding of specific pathways affected by RXR inhibition and addressing potential side effects along with tailoring treatment approaches based on individual patient characteristics, as this would improve outcomes. Exploring the potential synergies of RXR inhibitors with other therapeutic agents could enhance their efficacy and broaden their applicability.

Naturally occurring glycosylated hydroquinone Arbutin, has drawn interest due to its possible function in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Arbutin is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are essential in preventing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Research has shown that arbutin might alter important physiological pathways connected to protein misfolding, synapse function, and neuronal survival processes linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Arbutin can also penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which increases its therapeutic potential. Arbutin's neuroprotective properties and promise as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative illnesses are summarized in this review, which also emphasizes the need for further study into the molecular processes behind these effects.

Cyclophosphamide is a drug derived from nitrogenous mustards and is mainly indicated for the anti-neoplastic clinic. When it is metabolized in the liver, it produces acrolein, a cytotoxic metabolite capable of generating damage to the body. The oxidative, nitrative and nitrosative stress are responsible for mediating this side effect since the toxicity of the drug induces the production of reactive species of oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS). These radicals are unstable and react with other molecules that can result in cellular lesions such as lipid peroxidation, enzymatic inactivation, and excessive activation of pro-inflammatory genes, producing molecules such as malonaldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), representing oxidative stress markers. One of the consequences of these mechanisms is nephrotoxicity. In contrast, some compounds have direct or indirect antioxidante action, which are the objects of this study: gallic acid, aminoguanidine, chrysin, hesperidine, naringin, morin-5'-sulfonic acid sodium salt and spirulina. All of them are responsible for the nephroprotective activity when administered during experiments in vitro or in vivo. Thus, this observational bibliographic research is characterized as qualitative descriptive and explanatory, since it focuses on analyzing the antioxidant properties of compounds with possible potentials to inhibit the nephrotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide and describe the results, in addition to clarifying the biochemical activities involved in the process.

Neurodegenerative movement disorders, encompassing conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, represent a significant burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems globally. Traditional drug discovery approaches for these disorders have encountered challenges, including high costs and lengthy timelines. Drug repurposing has emerged in recent years as a promising approach to expedite the discovery of new treatments by leveraging existing drugs approved for other indications. This review explores the landscape of drug repurposed for neurodegenerative movement disorders, highlighting promising candidates, underlying mechanisms, and clinical implications. The rationale behind repurposing, including the advantages of utilizing existing pharmacological agents with established safety profiles and known pharmacokinetics, along with techniques utilized for repurposing (computational and experimental), have been elaborated. Several studies on the potential of pre-existing drugs such as isradipine, tetracycline, ambroxol, metformin, deferiprone, simvastatin, etc., which have been repurposed for neurodegenerative movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. have been discussed. Further, the current scenario and future prospective of drug repurposing have also been touched upon.

Today's pharmaceutical products are seeing a massive increase in impurity profiling. A drug substance or product will inevitably contain contaminants in trace amounts. According to pharmaceutical chemistry, impurities are undesirable substances found in pharmaceutical compounds with therapeutic activity. Due to their extraordinary potency and likelihood of toxicity, they may exhibit unanticipated pharmacological effects that are detrimental to human health. For the pharmaceutical sector, impurity management is currently a major concern. The impurity can appear in medicines either during the formulation process or after the produced Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) have aged. The term “impurity profiling” refers to a collection of analytical procedures that include characterizing, quantifying, and describing the known and unknown impurities found in novel pharmacological compounds. Highly sophisticated analytical techniques and instrumentation are essential for identifying small elements (drugs, contaminants, breakdown products, and metabolites) in diverse matrices. Current references and articles reveal different impurities found in the APIs of antiviral drugs, techniques for locating them, and potential countermeasures for the interferences they produce in pharmaceutical analysis. Antiviral medications are a class of medications used to treat viral infections. They work by preventing the growth of the pathogen they are intended to treat. Drugs that target viral activities must enter host cells because viruses are obligatory intracellular entities and prevent the production of viral DNA, which is subsequently converted to triphosphate. Regulatory authorities now need not just purity profiles but also impurity profiles. This review also covers the origins of impurities, how they are classified, and the different analytical techniques used to identify and quantify them. It also covers the simple, rapid, accurate, precise, and exact creation of innovative analytical techniques for determining impurity levels.

Cancer therapies have advanced significantly, yet traditional treatments still confront obstacles, such as systemic toxicity and drug resistance. Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in addressing these issues, particularly through the development of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). PNCs are hybrid materials composed of a polymer matrix embedded with nanoscale fillers. These composites can be classified based on the type of matrix (ceramic, metal, or polymer) and their structural properties (exfoliated or intercalated forms). Synthesis methods, such as solvent casting and in situ polymerization, ensure the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. PNC-based drug delivery systems are categorized into two types: passive targeting, which leverages the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, and active targeting, which relies on ligand-receptor interactions. In the pharmaceutical industry, recent developments in nanocomposite-based systems have demonstrated great promise, especially in terms of improving medication solubility, stability, and bioavailability while reducing adverse effects. These methods use nanoparticles embedded in a matrix to increase drug delivery, addressing issues, such as poor solubility and limited bioavailability associated with conventional therapies. Before these novel medicines are widely used, clinical studies are essential for assessing their safety and effectiveness and making sure they adhere to legal requirements. Furthermore, the growth of patents pertaining to nanocomposites indicates continued study and advancement in this field, emphasizing nanocomposites’ potential uses in a range of medical conditions. Nanocomposites are anticipated to transform drug delivery methods and make a substantial contribution to current medicine as research advances.