Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - Volume 18, Issue 9, 2017

Background: Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. (family, Zingiberaceae) is a potent medicinal herb widely known as shampoo ginger and its rhizome is used in numerous ethnomedicinal applications including antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diarrheal, antidiabetics, carminative, and diuretic. The aim of this review was to bring together all the scientific updates on the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of this herb, including their toxicological studies, and critically analyzed the outcomes to provide directions for future research on the herb as potential source of bioactive metabolites for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Methods: A structured electronic search on worldwide accepted scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, SciFinder, Wiley Online Library) was carried out to compile the relevant information. Some information was obtained from books and database on medicinal plants used in various countries. Results: About 60 metabolites, mainly polyphenols, and terpenoids have been isolated and identified. However, most of the reported pharmacological studies were based on crude extracts, and only a few of those isolated metabolites, particularly zerumbone have been investigated for biological and pharmacological activities. Many of the mechanistic studies to understand the pharmacological effects of the plant are limited by many considerations with regard to design, experimentation and interpretation. Conclusion: The bioactive metabolites should be further investigated on their safety and more elaborate preclinical studies before clinical trials can be undertaken.

Background: This review provides a report on recent advances in the field of drug release from matrixes made of natural polymers. Herein, the properties of natural polymers such as proteins and polysaccharides are discussed in general. Selected detailed examples of drug release profiles from biopolymer matrixes have also been collected from scientific literature and practical work, and commented on. In this review, the most common natural polymers, i.e. collagen, elastin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid and sodium alginate have been discussed as biopolymers that can be potentially applied in drug delivery systems. Methodology: The most rapidly developing field of the biomaterials science is the one dealing with their application as matrixes in drug release systems. Such systems show numerous advantages when compared to conventional ones. They improve medical treatment efficiency due to the fact that drugs are placed directly into the infected part. Moreover, the drug release systems reduce toxic reactions because the drug does not pass through the body and, as a result, does not affect the healthy tissues. Such systems also improve the patient’s comfort during the treatment. Result: Biocompatibility, bioresorbability and non-toxicity are the significant properties characteristic for natural polymers. Natural polymers can be used to obtain biomaterials which can further find their applications in the production of bones or soft tissues implants as well as dressing materials placed on damaged skin. Nevertheless, the disadvantages of biomaterials made of natural polymers, e.g., high solubility and low thermal stability, limit the range of their potential applications. Therefore, it is necessary to modify material properties by carrying out the cross-linking process. Conclusion: Recently, a rapidly growing interest in the use of porous materials as controlled drug delivery matrixes has been observed since they present several positive features. The drug release from polymeric matrixes is based on the carrier degradation process which depends on dissolving and diffusion processes. The selection of a polymeric matrix depends on its compatibility with the drug as well as the manufacturing process which needs to be considered. The proper adjustment of the drug release rate is necessary to obtain the best results during medical treatment. Numerous classes of hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic drugs can be released from polymeric matrixes which is beneficial to medical treatment. The research of different drug release systems has already been carried out, and the results can be found in scientific literature.

Background: Swertia chirata, an ethnomedicinal plant, is renowned for its diverse medicinal properties. The plant produces large number of therapeutic phytochemicals responsible for remedial effect against various ailments mainly chronic fever, malaria, bronchial asthma, liver disorders, certain type of mental disorder, blood purification and diabetes. Recently reported anticancer effect of S. chirata has amplified its importance in the scientific community. Objective: The aim of this review is to deliver the pharmaceutical importance of S. chirata as diverse therapeutic agent and attract the scientific community working in the field of pharmacology to produce new drug to treat various ailments. Methodology: Data compiled and presented here were obtained from E-resources like Science Direct, Pubmed, Google, through books and web of science up to Oct 2017. Result: This review comprises the common aspects of S. chirata like pharmacologically important phytochemicals with in vitro and in vivo studies, toxicology, adulteration with similar species, dosage, conservation via in vitro studies and genetic stability with molecular markers. A bioinformatics approach to explore therapeutic targets that might suppress many diseases is also compiled to make it complete. Conclusion: The medicinal plant S. chirata is continuously being used as a traditional herb. The data indicated its safe and positive effect in the treatment of various diseases. It presents many promising prospects for modern medicine, which may be validated after the process of successful in vivo research, clinical studies, and human trials.

Background: Warfarin, an anticoagulant medication, is prescribed regularly despite of its bleeding tendency for the prevention and/or treatment of various thromboembolic conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis, and complications associated with atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction, but because of its narrow therapeutic window, it has a lot of interactions with drugs and diet. Methods: Warfarin relies on regular monitoring of International Normalized Ratio which is a standardized test to measure prothrombin time and appropriate dose adjustment. Pharmacometabonomics is a novel scientific field which deals with identification and quantification of the metabolites present in the metabolome using spectroscopic techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Pharmacometabonomics helps to indicate perturbation in the levels of metabolites in the cells and tissues due to drug or ingestion of any substance. NMR is one of the most widely-used spectroscopic techniques in metabolomics because of its reproducibility and speed. Results: There are many factors that influence the metabolism of warfarin, making changes in drug dosage common, and clinical factors like drug-drug interactions, dietary interactions and age explain for the most part the variability in warfarin dosing. Some studies have showed that pharmacogenetic testing for warfarin dosing does not improve health outcomes, and around 26% of the variation in warfarin dose requirements remains unexplained yet. Conclusion: Many recent pharmacometabonomics studies have been conducted to identify novel biomarkers of drug therapies such as paracetamol, aspirin and simvastatin. Thus, a technique such as NMR based pharmacometabonomics to find novel biomarkers in plasma and urine might be useful to predict warfarin outcome.

Objectives: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women in both developed and Third World countries. Fucoidan is a natural plant metabolite produced by brown seaweeds with proven anticancer potential. This study determined the cytotoxic, apoptotic and cell cycle effects of fucoidan alone and in combination with first-line anticancer drugs (cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and non-malignant MCF-12A breast epithelial cells as control. Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT reduction assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry using Annexin VFITC/PI and Hoechst 33342 staining, and caspases-3, -7 and -9 activation. Results: Fucoidan alone was significantly more cytotoxic to MCF-7 breast cancer cells compared to the MCF-12A non-cancerous breast epithelial cell line. In MCF-7 cells, the presence of fucoidan caused cell cycle arrest at G1 with accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase with the activation of caspases-3,-7 and -9. Furthermore, combination of fucoidan with the standard chemotherapeutic agents-cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol-significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of these drugs and accumulation of cells in the G2/M and sub-G1 phases, and induction of apoptosis. No significant differences were observed between fucoidan-treated and untreated MCF-12A cells with respect to cytotoxicity and cell cycle distribution profiles. By contrast, in non-cancerous MCF-12A cells, fucoidan attenuated the toxicity of doxorubicin and cisplatin in combination by increasing their IC50 values. This effect was not demonstrated with the taxol combination. Conclusions: Fucoidan is an effective antitumor agent, either alone or in combination with cisplatin, doxorubicin and taxol in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Drug combinations that discriminate between cancerous and non-cancerous cells afford a plausible and viable strategy of attaining therapeutic efficacy and avoiding possible toxicity and side effects. These findings suggest that fucoidan is a promising candidate for cancer combination therapies.

Background: Prominent among all the organisms that have a potential value for the production of new medicines, are endophytes, fungi and bacteria that live inside plants without harming them. In this study, a total lyophilized extract (TLE) of Paenibacillus polymyxa RNC-D was used. The P. polymyxa lineages are known for their capacity to segregate a large number of extracellular enzymes and bioactive substances. Methods: The TLE of Paenibacillus polymyxa RNC-D was tested in cell viability assays for cytotoxicity and cytokine production in BALB/3T3 and J774A.1 cell lineages. Results: A 50% mortality rate of fibroblasts (BALB/3T3) was observed in the 1.171±0.161 mg/mL and 0.956±0.112 mg/mL doses after 48 and 72 hours, respectively, as well as a 50% mortality rate of macrophage cells (J774A.1) in the 0.994±0.170 mg/mL and 0.945±0.280 mg/mL doses after 48 and 72 hours, respectively. The ≈1 mg/mL concentration significantly affected the kinetic of growth in all the measured periods. The extract induced apoptosis and necrosis 24 hours after the ≈1 mg/mL concentration in both tested lineages. The treatment with the ≈1 mg/mL concentration led to the production of TNF-α and IFN-γ cytokines in 24 hours. IL-12 and IL-10 began to be detected as a result of the treatment with 0.1 mg/mL. However, with the 0.5 mg/mL dose in 24 hours, a significant reduction in IL-10 was observed. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the TLE of P. polymyxa RNC-D modulated the production of cytokines with different patterns of immune response in a dose-dependent way.

Background: The ligand PKP10 having substitution of Cl- at R2 and R3 positions of ring A of Panduratin A i.e., ((1R,2S,5S)-5-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-(3-methylbut-2-nyl)cyclohex-3- enyl)(2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylphenyl)methanone hydrate) has been observed to block the Nuclear Receptor Binding Protein binding site of Non Structural protein 3 in all dengue serotypes. In continuation with our earlier study, we have reported sixty novel Panduratin A derivatives compounds where substitution was done in positions 2 and 3 position of the benzyl ring A of Panduratin A with various substituents. Methods: We selected ((1R,2S,5S)-5-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-(3-methylbut-2-nyl)cyclohex-3- nyl) (2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylphenyl) methanone hydrate) (PKP10) for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as it constantly produced lowest CDocker interaction energy of among all the sixty five derivatives. The CDocker interaction energy was predicted to be -140.804, -79.807, -78.217 and -84.073 Kcalmol-1 respectively against NS3 protein of dengue serotypes (DENV1-4). To understand the dynamics of the PKP10 with NS3 protein, each complex was subjected to molecular dynamics simulations of 50 ns in aqueous solution. MD (Molecular Dynamics) simulation study revealed that the binding of ligand PKP10 at the active site of NS3 induces a conformational change in all serotypes which was well supported by principal component analysis. Result: To the best of our knowledge, this is first ever study which provided atomistic insights into the interaction of PKP10 with NS3 protein of dengue serotypes. Conclusion: The result from our study along with in vitro studies is expected to open up better avenues to develop inhibitors for dengue virus in the near future.