Innovative pulmonary targeting of terbutaline sulfate-laded novasomes for non-invasive tackling of asthma: statistical optimization and comparative in vitro/in vivo evaluation

Asthma represents a globally serious non-communicable ailment with significant public health outcomes for both pediatrics and adults triggering vast morbidity and fatality in critical cases. The β₂-adrenoceptor agonist, terbutaline sulfate (TBN), is harnessed as a bronchodilator for monitoring asthma noising symptoms. Nevertheless, the hepatic first-pass metabolism correlated with TBN oral administration mitigates its clinical performance. Likewise, the regimens of inhaled TBN dosage forms restrict its exploitation. Consequently, this work is concerned with the assimilation of TBN into a novel non-phospholipid nanovesicular paradigm termed novasomes (NVS) for direct and effective TBN pulmonary targeting. TBN-NVS were tailored based on the thin film hydration method and Box-Behnken design was applied to statistically optimize the formulation variables. Also, the aerodynamic pattern of the optimal TBN-NVS was explored via cascade impaction. Moreover, comparative pharmacokinetic studies were conducted using a rat model. TBN elicited encapsulation efficiency as high as 70%. The optimized TBN-NVS formulation disclosed an average nano-size of 223.89 nm, ζ potential of −31.17 mV and a sustained drug release up to 24 h. Additionally, it manifested snowballed in vitro lung deposition behavior in cascade impactor with a fine particle fraction of 86.44%. In vivo histopathological studies verified safety of intratracheally-administered TBN-NVS. The pharmacokinetic studies divulged 3.88-fold accentuation in TBN bioavailability from the optimum TBN-NVS versus the oral TBN solution. Concisely, the results proposed that NVS are an auspicious nanovector for TBN pulmonary delivery with integral curbing of the disease owing to target specificity.     

Bioactive diterpenes and other constituents of Croton steenkampianus

A new indanone derivative (1) and two new diterpenoids (2 and 3), together with three known flavonoids, have been isolated from an ethanol extract of the leaves of Croton steenkampianus. The structure of 2 was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, whereas those of 1 and 3 were established mainly by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. The isolated compounds were tested for their antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity. Antiplasmodial assays against chloroquine-susceptible strains (D10 and D6) and the chloroquine-resistant strains (Dd2 and W2) of Plasmodium falciparum showed that compound 2 gave moderate activities at 9.1-15.8 μM, while none of the compounds were cytotoxic against Vero cells.     

Histological evaluation of Curcuma longa-ghee formulation and hyaluronic acid on gingival healing in dog

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The experimental finding of Asian traditional medicine revealed the pharmacological effect of the local application of ghee which was taken from cow butterfat and the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. These materials significantly improved the healing process of the wound. In addition, ancient physicians of Middle East discovered that the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa (common turmeric) also had impressive medicinal qualities. Over the centuries, this spice has been used as a pain relieving, anti-inflammatory agent to relieve pain and inflammation in the skin and muscles.

Aim of the study

We decided to mix ghee which was taken from sheep butterfat with the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa to formulate a novel cost-benefit material and then, evaluate its potential therapeutic effect on acceleration of surgical wound healing; moreover, this present study was performed to compare the effects of Curcuma longa–ghee formulation and hyaluronic acid on gingival wound healing following surgery.

Materials and methods

Five healthy 3-year-old male beagle dogs were used in this study. They had intact teeth and the clinical and radiographic examination revealed no periodontal disease. Ghee was obtained from the refined sheep butterfat heated to 70 °C mixed with the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa and was applied with two different ratios including materials A and B. Randomly, these three materials including hyaluronic acid, materials A and B were applied topically in test regions and then covered with periodontal pack. Histological changes were monitored in days 4 and 7 after operation to evaluate the inflammatory and repair stage of healing process.

Results

We observed significant difference in the inflammatory and repair parameters of the healing process between cases treated with this new formulation and cases of hyaluronic acid application.

Conclusion

The results suggested a positive potential therapeutic effect on surgical wound healing particularly improvement of periodontal treatment consequences after surgery.     

Role of Nigella sativa and a number of its antioxidant constituents towards azoxymethane-induced genotoxic effects and colon cancer in rats

This study examined the chemopreventive effect of Nigella sativa and some of its antioxidant constituents on a number of colon cancer biomarkers in rats induced with azoxymethane (AOM). Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into ten subgroups: vehicle (1-5) and experimental (6-10). The rats in each group were fed one of the following diets: basal diet, (200 mg/kg) Nigella sativa, (0.2 mg/kg) selenium, (1.2 mg/kg) all-trans-retinol plus (100 mg/kg) DL-alpha-tocopherol and (10 mg/kg) thymoquinone, respectively. Only rats in subgroups 6-10 were injected with AOM (15 mg/kg) once per week for 2 weeks. Both groups were fed their respective diets for 5 weeks. Then they were killed and examined for colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Our result showed that only vitamin supplementation was effective on ACF. Nigella sativa revealed inhibitory effects only on DNA damage (day 34) in the AOM-treated rat group. Alternatively, selenium, thymoquinone and vitamins inhibited the MDA content in the liver. Although the exact mechanisms involved in the protective role of Nigella sativa against the initiation of colon carcinogenesis are not clearly understood, the results suggest that its inhibitory effects might depend on the combined competitive inhibition of various antioxidant constituents of this plant.     

Valorization of Rice Husk and Straw Agriculture Wastes of Eastern Saudi Arabia: Production of Bio-Based Silica,Lignocellulose, and Activated Carbon

Bio-based silica, lignocellulose, and activated carbon were simply produced via the recycling of Hassawi rice biomass waste of Al-Ahsa governorate in the eastern Saudi Arabia region using a fast chemical treatment procedure. Rice husk and rice straw wastes were collected, ground, and chemically treated with sodium hydroxide to extract silica/silicate from the dried plant tissues. The liquid extract is then treated with acid solutions in order to precipitate silica/silicate at neutral medium. Lowering the pH of the supernatant to 2 resulted in the precipitation of lignocellulose. Thermal treatment of the biomass residue under N₂ gas stream resulted in activated carbon production. Separated products were dried/treated and characterized using several physical examination techniques, such as FT-IR, SEM/EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy in order to study their structure and morphology. Silica and lignocelluloses products were then preliminarily used in the treatment of wastewaters and water-desalination processes.