Phytocannabinoids for Cancer Therapeutics: Recent Updates and Future Prospects.

Phytocannabinoids (pCBs) are lipid-soluble phytochemicals present in the plant, Cannabis sativa L. and non-cannabis plants which have a long history in recreation and traditional medicine. The plant and the constituents isolated were central in the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), the most new target for drug discovery. The ECS includes two G-protein-coupled receptors; the cannabinoid receptors-1 and -2 (CB1 and CB2) for marijuana's psychoactive principle Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC), their endogenous small lipid ligands; namely anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), also known as endocannabinoids and the enzymes for endocannabinoid biosynthesis and degradation such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). The ECS has been suggested as a pro-homeostatic and pleiotropic signaling system activated in a time- and tissue-specific way during pathological conditions including cancer. Targeting the CB1 receptors becomes a concern because of adverse psychotropic reactions. Hence, targeting the CB2 receptors or the endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes by pCBs obtained from plants lacking psychotropic adverse reactions has garnered interest in drug discovery. These pCBs derived from plants appear safe and effective with a wider access and availability. In the recent years, several pCBs derived other than non-cannabinoid plants have been reported to bind to and functionally interact with cannabinoid receptors and appear promising candidate for drug development including cancer therapeutics. Several of them also targets the endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes that control endocannabinoid levels. In this article, we summarize and critically discuss the updates and future prospects of the pCBs as novel and promising candidates for cancer therapeutics.

One-step in situ synthesis of NHx-adsorbed rhodium nanocrystals at liquid-liquid interfaces for possible electrocatalytic applications.

Nearly monodisperse rhodium nanoparticles with adsorbed NH(x) were synthesized at the CCl(4)-water interface. The presence of NH(x)-adsorbed species was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The synthesis of controlled size 2-38 nm rhodium particles was studied as a function of reducing agent concentration by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HRTEM confirmed the formation of rhodium nanoparticles having fringe spacing consistent with reported Rh (111) planes. The continuity of these films over an area of 1×1 µm was revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies. The electrocatalytic application of these nanostructure Rh-NH(x) thin films for formaldehyde oxidation in 0.5M NaOH was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The Rh nanoparticles formed by the present strategy are expected to be useful for other catalytic applications also.

Stability indicating LC method for simultaneous determination of irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide in pharmaceutical preparations.

A simple and precise stability-indicating liquid chromatography method is developed and validated for the quantitative simultaneous estimation of irbesartan (IRB) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in combined pharmaceutical dosage form. A chromatographic separation of the two drugs was achieved with an Ace5 C(18) 25-cm analytical column using buffer-acetonitrile (70:30 v/v). The buffer used in mobile phase contains 50 mM ammonium acetate pH adjusted 5.5 with acetic acid. The instrumental settings are flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, column temperature at 30 degrees C, and detector wavelength of 235 nm using a photodiode array detector. IRB, HCTZ, and their combination drug products were exposed to thermal, photolytic, hydrolytic, and oxidative stress conditions, and the stressed samples were analyzed by the proposed method. Peak homogeneity data of IRB and HCTZ is obtained using photodiode array detector. In the stressed sample chromatograms, it demonstrated the specificity of the assay method for their estimation in presence of degradation products. The described method shows excellent linearity over a range of 10-200 microg/mL for IRB and 5-100 microg/mL for HCTZ. Methylparaben was used as internal standard. The correlation coefficient for IRB and HCTZ are 0.998 and 0.999. The mean recovery values for IRB and HCTZ ranged from 100.45% to 101.25%. The limit of detection for IRB and HCTZ were 0.019 and 0.023 microg/mL, respectively, and the limit of quantification were 0.053 and 0.070 microg/mL, respectively. The proposed method was suitable for quantitative determination and stability study of IRB and HCTZ in pharmaceutical preparations and also can be used in the quality control of bulk manufacturing and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Stability indicating LC method for the simultaneous determination of amlodipine and olmesartan in dosage form.

A simple, rapid, and precise method is developed for the quantitative simultaneous estimation of amlodipine (AM) and olmesartan (OL) in combined pharmaceutical dosage form. A chromatographic separation of the two drugs was achieved with an ACE 5 C(18) 25-cm analytical column using buffer-acetonitrile (60:40, v/v). The resolution between OL and AM was found to be more than 12. Theoretical plates for OL and AM were 6970 and 11,841, respectively. Tailing factor for OL and AM was 0.90 and 0.98, respectively. OL, AM, and combination drug product were exposed to thermal, photolytic, hydrolytic, and oxidative stress conditions, and the stressed samples were analyzed by the proposed method. Peak homogeneity data of OL and AM is obtained by photodiode array detector in the stressed sample chromatograms, demonstrating the specificity of the method for their estimation in presence of degradation product. The described method shows excellent linearity over a range of 20-400 microg/mL for OL and 5-100 microg/mL for AM. The correlation coefficient for OL and AM are 0.9995 and 0.9998, respectively. The relative standard deviation for six measurements in two sets of each drug in tablets is always less than 2%. The proposed method was found to be suitable and accurate for quantitative determination and stability study of OL and AM in pharmaceutical preparations.

Copper phthalocyanine films deposited by liquid-liquid interface recrystallization technique (LLIRCT).

The simple recrystallization process is innovatively used to obtain the nanoparticles of copper phthalocyanine by a simple method. Liquid-liquid interface recrystallization technique (LLIRCT) has been employed successfully to produce small sized copper phthalocyanine nanoparticles with diameter between 3-5 nm. The TEM-SAED studies revealed the formation of 3-5 nm sized with beta-phase dominated mixture of alpha and beta copper phthalocyanine nanoparticles. The XRD, SEM, and the UV-vis studies were further carried out to confirm the formation of copper phthalocyanine thin films. The cyclic voltametry (CV) studies conclude that redox reaction is totally reversible one electron transfer process. The process is attributed to Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox reaction.

Direct synthesis of nanocrystalline silver from the reaction between silver carboxylates and n-trioctylphosphine.

Neat n-Trioctylphosphine (TOP) has been used for the first ever time for reduction of silver nitrate and silver carboxylates (citrate, oleate, and myristate) under mild thermal reaction conditions. UV-visible absorption measurements of re-dispersible silver particles that were obtained by reduction of silver myristrate (product-IV) and silver nitrate (product-I) showed surface plasmon resonance absorption peak at 400 nm. The powder XRD pattern of fcc zero-valent silver resulted in diameters in the range of about 25-30 nm. TEM analysis showed particle diameter similar to that was observed by the XRD. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the organics from the carboxylate group are retained by the nano-particles in case of product-IV however, presence of TOP is observed in product-I. It is found that when silver nitrate is reduced by TOP, spherical silver nano-particles with poor redispersity are formed but extended heating results in formation of long silver rods of micrometer size however, the re-dispersible nano-particles are easily formed when silver carboxylates are reduced by TOP.

Effect of calcination cycles on the preparation of tin oxide based traditional drug: studies on its formation and characterization.

The preparation method of metal based Indian traditional drugs involves conversion of a pure metal into its oxide by repeated high temperature calcination cycles. In this work, the effect of number of calcination cycles followed in the preparation of tin oxide based Ayurvedic drug, 'vanga bhasma' was studied by a systematic characterization of the drug samples after various calcination stages. It was found that tin was in the form of Sn4+ state and that the formation of SnO2 proceeded step-wise through Sn(OH)4.

Validated chiral high-performance liquid chromatography method for a novel anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus fluoroquinolone WCK 771.

A sensitive, simple, specific, precise, accurate and rugged method for the assay and determination of enantiomeric purity of S-(-)-9-fluoro-6,7-dihydro-8-(4-hydroxypiperidin-1-yl)-5-methyl-1-oxo-1H,5H-benzo[i,j]quinolizine-2-carboxylic acid L-arginine salt tetrahydrate (WCK 771) in bulk drug has been developed. The method is RP-HPLC using endcapped C-18 stationary phase and chiral mobile phase. Chirality to the mobile phase was imparted with addition of beta-cyclodextrin. The UV-vis detector was operated at 290 nm. The flow rate of mobile phase was 2 ml/min. The method offers excellent separation of two enantiomers with resolution more than 2 and tailing factor less than 1.5. The method was validated for the assay of WCK 771 and quantification of R-(+)-enantiomer impurity in bulk drug. The calibration curves showed excellent linearity over the concentration range of 0.05-0.15 mg/ml for WCK 771 and 0.5-7.5 microg/ml for R-(+)-enantiomer. The precision (RSD) of the assay was 0.23%. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of the method for WCK 771 were 0.015 and 0.06 microg/ml, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for R-(+)-enantiomer were 0.025 and 0.09 microg/ml, respectively. The average recovery of the R-(+)-enantiomer was 100.5%. Same method was applied for the assay and determination of enantiomeric purity of WCK 771 in the intravenous formulation.

Preparation and characterization of a copper based Indian traditional drug: tamra bhasma.

The copper based Indian traditional drug 'tamra bhasma' is administered for various ailments since long. Its synthesis involves treating metallic copper with plant juices and then repeated calcination in presence of air so that the metallic state is transformed into the corresponding oxide form traditionally known as 'bhasma'. In this work, we present a systematic characterization of this traditional drug using various techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetry (TG) and surface area measurement. The results obtained were found to match very well with those of a standard copper oxide confirming the composition of the drug sample. In addition, some specific findings were also made which could help in interpreting the therapeutic properties of the traditional drug 'tamra bhasma'.

Tailor-made functional surfaces: potential elastomeric biomaterials I.

In the present investigation, different functional monomers, like hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, N-vinyl pyrrolidone and glycidyl methacrylate, have been grafted onto the surface of EPDM film (approx. 200 microm) using simultaneous photo-grafting (lambda > or = 290 nm) and cold plasma-grafting techniques, to alter the surface properties, such as hydrophilicity and, therefore, biocompatibility. Here, we have carried out simultaneous plasma-grafting, unlike the conventional post plasma-grafting. The effect of different surface grafting techniques on the degree of surface modification and resultant biocompatibility has been investigated. The chemical changes on the polymer backbone are followed from the results of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which shows the peaks corresponding to the functional groups of the monomers grafted onto the film surface. The morphology of the modified surfaces was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The induced hydrophilicity and resultant cell compatibility were followed from the water contact angle measurements and in vitro human carcinoma cell adhesion/proliferation tests, respectively. All the grafted samples exhibited variable cell compatibilities depending upon the type of monomer and their degree of grafting; however, always better than the neat samples. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acrylic acid showed exceptionally high cell compatibility in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation.