Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 31, Issue 38, 2025

Plants are a source of a variety of compounds, such as vegetable oils, which are rich in fatty acids and possess skin-whitening properties. Considering the hyperpigmentation treatment challenges (lack of efficacy or aggressiveness), the constant search for new whitening substances is necessary. Given vegetable oils’ potential and application in dermatological and cosmetic products, we reviewed the scientific literature on vegetable oils with skin depigmenting activity. It was observed that a variety of species (Adansonia digitata, Arctium lappa, Argania spinosa, Astrocaryum vulgare, Bertholletia excelsa, Borago officinalis, Camellia oleifera, Cucurbita moschata, Euterpe oleraceae, Hevea brasiliensis, Moringa oleifera, Nicotiana tabacum, Oenocarpus bataua, Oenothera biennis, Panax ginseng, Passiflora edulis, Pentaclethra macroloba, Perilla frutescens, Sapindus mukorossi, Taiwanese species Taichung selective No. 4 (TCS4) (Adlay bran), Torreya grandis) were evaluated in vitro regarding their skin whitening properties. All the studies demonstrated that the oils have skin whitening properties and that the oils’ activity is related to their composition. The harvesting period, as well as the extraction method, impact on the oils’ properties, hence in their activity. The use of vegetable oils can have advantages over an isolated compound as their components can have synergistic or adding effects. When conducting skin whitening experiments, it is recommended to employ multiple assays because vegetable oils can influence skin whitening through various mechanisms. Furthermore, more clinical trials should be encouraged, considering the potential of vegetable oils as skin-lightening ingredients. More innovative and effective formulations can be obtained using vegetable oils for skin whitening purposes.

The potential for 3D printing to completely transform future advanced manufacturing systems has been widely acknowledged. Recent developments in 3D printing technology, particularly in the areas of materials, printers, and procedures, have the potential to revolutionize numerous industries and improve our quality of life on a worldwide scale. 4D printed structures evolve and display intelligent behavior based on specific stimulus-smart material interaction mechanisms and the right design of multi-material structures from mathematical modelling. Time, printer, and shape/property/functionality evolution are the goals of 4D printing, which differs from 3D printing in that it is predictable and not dependent on any one factor. These features enable the product to be self-assembled, multi-functional, and self-repairing. The idea behind four-dimensional printing is the creation of sophisticated three-dimensional structures that can change form in response to various external stimuli. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the smart materials, activation mechanisms, and shape-changing processes used in 4D printing. 4D printing items can be engineered for diverse biomedical purposes, including cell scaffolds, vascular stents, bone scaffolds, tracheal stents, and cardiac stents, through various 3D printing methodologies, influenced by diverse challenges. Additionally, the article explores the potential of shape-changing structures and their present uses in several scientific and biomedical areas.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can completely transform drug development methods by delivering faster, more accurate, efficient results. However, the effective use of AI requires the accessibility of data of excellent quality, the resolution of ethical dilemmas, and an awareness of the drawbacks of AI-based techniques. Moreover, the application of AI in drug discovery is gaining popularity as an alternative to both the complex and time-consuming process of discovering as well as developing novel medications. Importantly, machine learning (ML) as well as natural language processing, for example, may boost both productivity as well as accuracy by analyzing vast volumes of data. This review article discusses in detail the promise of AI in drug discovery as well as offers insights into various topics such as societal issues related to the application of AI in medicine (e.g., legislation, interpretability and explainability, privacy and anonymity, and ethics and fairness), the importance of AI in the development of drug delivery systems, causability and explainability of AI in medicine, and opportunities and challenges for AI in clinical adoption, threat or opportunity of AI in medical imaging, the missing pieces of AI in medicine, approval of AI and ML-based medical devices.