Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 31, Issue 24, 2025

The challenges posed by excessive global population growth remain significant. Hormonal female contraceptive pills, which have been approved for over 60 years, serve as an important means of contraception; however, many women experience adverse effects after taking these pills, including abnormalities in blood clotting, dizziness, headaches, and vomiting. In this context, male contraceptives have emerged as a prominent area of research. Unfortunately, most male contraceptives are still in the experimental or clinical research stages. Therefore, screening for active ingredients that can specifically inhibit sperm function from natural drug active ingredient libraries holds substantial clinical and practical significance. In this manuscript, we review the inhibitory effects of various natural drug active monomers on sperm function and their underlying molecular mechanisms, aiming to provide theoretical insights for the future development of novel male contraceptives.

The human skin, being the largest organ, provides defense against bacteria, toxins, and ultraviolet radiation. The skin may experience changes like dryness, photodamage, oxidative damage, and inflammation. This review explores sources of fatty acids and how they can prevent skin damage, with the goal of determining their potential for preventing skin aging. The role and significance of various mechanistic pathways and molecular targets involved in skin aging are highlighted. By using current research findings, this review contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how fatty acids may serve as a proactive approach to promoting youthful skin and mitigating the signs of skin aging. In addition to treating specific skin conditions, nutraceuticals offer immense potential to minimize, postpone, or prevent premature skin aging. The substances that are most frequently employed include carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, plant polyphenols, bioactive peptides, oligosaccharides, and vitamins. Numerous human trials have demonstrated the impact of supplementing with these items on indicators of aging. The most pertinent clinical and non-clinical investigations are assessed in this review. Based on the comprehensive understanding of the significant role of fatty acids in addressing skin aging, this review may open doors and offer avenues for future explorations.

CNS illnesses specified by slow deprivation of especially preganglionic neurons, as opposed to the selective static neuronal loss caused by a toxic or metabolic condition, are known as Neurodegenerative disorders. Neurodegenerative disorders are differentiated clinically by behavioral or cognitive problems. The management and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders pose significant challenges, necessitating a multidimensional approach. While primarily designed for psychiatric conditions, antipsychotics have shown potential in ameliorating behavioral and psychological symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This review explores the existing literature, highlighting the potential benefits, risks, and considerations associated with incorporating antipsychotics into the treatment paradigm for neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, it discusses the evolving landscape of personalized treatment strategies, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach to optimize patient outcomes in the complex realm of neurodegenerative disorder management.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising avenue for targeted drug delivery to the small intestine, offering precise control over drug release and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This review discusses recent advancements and challenges in nanotechnology-based approaches for targeted drug delivery to the small intestine. The small intestine presents unique challenges for drug delivery, including enzymatic degradation, low permeability, and rapid transit time. Nanotechnology offers solutions to these challenges by providing carriers capable of protecting drugs from degradation, enhancing their absorption, and facilitating site-specific delivery. Various nanocarrier systems have been explored for targeted drug delivery to the small intestine, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and solid lipid nanoparticles. These carriers can be functionalized with ligands targeting specific receptors or transporters expressed on the intestinal epithelium, enabling efficient uptake and intracellular delivery of drugs. Additionally, nanotechnology enables the controlled release of drugs, allowing for sustained and/or triggered release profiles tailored to the physiological conditions of the small intestine. This precise control over drug release can improve therapeutic outcomes while minimizing systemic side effects. Despite the significant progress in nanotechnology-based drug delivery to the small intestine, several challenges remain. These include achieving sufficient drug loading capacity, ensuring biocompatibility and safety of nanocarriers, and addressing regulatory concerns associated with their clinical translation. In conclusion, nanotechnology holds immense potential for targeted drug delivery to the small intestine, offering solutions to overcome the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Addressing the remaining challenges will be crucial for realizing the full therapeutic benefits of nanotechnology in treating diseases affecting the small intestine.