Catharanthus roseus-assisted bio-fabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles for promising antibacterial potential against Klebsiella pneumoniae.

This study emphasized on the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in an environmentally friendly manner from the extract of Catharanthus roseus leaves and its antibacterial assessment against the pneumonia-causing pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. This simple and convenient phytosynthesis approach is found to be beneficial over conventional methods, wherein plants serve as excellent reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents that enables the formation of ZnO NPs without the use of harmful chemicals. The formation of ZnO NPs was confirmed through several characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, HR-TEM, and EDX. XRD analysis revealed high polycrystallinity with crystallite size of approximately 13 nm. SEM and HR-TEM revealed the hexagonal structure of ZnO NPs with the particle size range of 20-50 nm. The EDX shows the elemental purity without any impurity. Furthermore, the antibacterial efficacy by the technique of disc diffusion exhibited clear inhibition zones in ZnO NPs-treated discs. In addition, 125 µg/mL of ZnO NP concentration showed minimum inhibition by the microbroth dilution method. The potent inhibitory activity was further validated with trypan blue dye exclusion and fluorescence microscopy. Finally, SEM examination confirmed the efficient antibacterial potential of ZnO NPs through disruption of the intact morphology of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Community Pharmacists' Knowledge and Perception towards Telepharmacy Services and Willingness to Practice It in Light of COVID-19.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was increased adoption of telepharmacy, which has proven benefits. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perception of the community pharmacists of Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, towards telepharmacy services and evaluate their willingness to adopt telepharmacy in clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered structured anonymous questionnaire on the community pharmacists of Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. It covers demographics, computer access and literacy, knowledge and perception, and willingness to practice telepharmacy. Results were expressed as frequencies, percentages, and mean. The comparison between the classes of the demographic variables and the scores was done via Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Result: About half of the pharmacists in our study showed average knowledge about telepharmacy, the practical application of telepharmacy technology, and telepharmacy guidelines with a percentage of 53%, 52%, and 47%, respectively). Majority of the participants showed high perception towards telepharmacy in Saudi Arabia, while 93% of the pharmacists in Saudi Arabia agreed that the implementation of telepharmacy technology is appropriate due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Only a significant relation was found between gender and computer access, literacy, and perceptions towards telepharmacy with p values of 0.033 and 0.026, respectively. Conclusion: The majority of the community pharmacists exhibited a positive perception and are willing to practice the concept of telepharmacy despite having a below average knowledge of telepharmacy. A future study involving the entire kingdom of Saudi Arabia could help identify the gaps in the knowledge, perception, and willingness to practice telepharmacy on a broader scale and thus promote telepharmacy adoption in the entire kingdom.

An evaluation of knee osteoarthritis pain in the general community-Asir region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common conditions resulting in disability, particularly in the elderly population. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common articular disease and the leading cause of chronic disability in the developed world. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate knee pain in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. An analytical cross-sectional survey design was adopted in the Asir region from April 2023 to August 2023 to assess the knee pain of the adult population using an anonymous online questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 1234, 332 were men (26.90) and 902 were women (73.09). WOMAC index score category 55.34% (n = 683) of the subjects had a low risk (score <60), 28.68% (n = 354) had a moderate risk (score 60-80), and 15.96% (n = 197) had a high risk (score ≥81) for KOA. According to clinical criteria, 79.33% (n = 979) of the study subjects had OA. Age group, gender 2.17 (1. 67-2.82) [OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.67-2.82), family history of OA [OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.37-0.62], diabetes [OR 2.78; 95% CI 2.17-3.56], hypertension [OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.26-0.45] were significantly associated with the percentage of the WOMAC index score using the Chi-square test analysis (P<0.05). Therefore, the WOMAC index showed higher diagnostic precision with a statistically significant association [OR 9.31 CI 6.90-12.81] with a P< 0.0001. CONCLUSION: KOA is more common in older, obese people who have reached the age of 50 in the Asir region, and it is more prevalent in women. Alarms the need for appropriate awareness programs for better disease prevention and health outcomes for the benefit of the community through general public health programs.

Chemical Profiling, in-vitro biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of Ruellia tweediana: An unexplored plant.

Many Ruellia species have been utilized in traditional medicine and despite the prevalent use of Ruellia tweediana in folk medicine, its antioxidant potential and polyphenol content have not been investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the medicinal value of R. tweediana by evaluating its total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), GC-MS analysis, antioxidant, antibacterial, and enzyme inhibition activities. The TPC and TFC of the extract/fractions were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum trichloride methods, respectively. To determine the antioxidant capacity, five different assays were used: DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, and metal chelating assays. The inhibition activity against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, cholinesterases, and lipoxygenase enzymes was also analyzed. Furthermore, GC-MS was performed for chemical screening of non-polar fraction. The methanol extract showed the maximum TPC (167.34 ± 2.23 mg GAE/g) and TFC (120.43 ± 1.71 mg RE/g) values among all the tested samples. GC-MS screening of the n-hexane fraction showed the presence of 40 different phytoconstituents. The results demonstrated the highest scavenging potential of the methanol extract against DPPH (167.79 ± 2.75 mg TE/g) and ABTS (255.32 ± 2.91 mg TE/g) radicals, as well as the metal-reducing capacity measured by CUPRAC (321.34 ± 3.09 mg TE/g), FRAP (311.32 ± 2.91 mg TE/g), and metal chelating assay (246.78 ± 10.34 mg EDTAE/g). Notably, the n-hexane fraction revealed the highest α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition activity (186.8 ± 2.84 and 179.7 ± 4.32 mg ACAE/g, respectively) while methanol extract showed highest acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition activity (198.6 ± 3.31 and 184.3 ± 2.92 mg GALE/g, respectively). The GC-MS identified Lupeol showed best binding affinity with all docked enzymes as compared to standard compounds. The presence of bioactive phytoconstituents showed by GC-MS underscores the medicinal importance of R. tweediana, making it a promising candidate for natural medicine.

Pain and quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Pain has an adverse effect on HRQoL and has social, psychological, and physical repercussions for ESRD patients. In the present study, we assessed chronic pain in ESRD patients on HD in terms of severity and interference with activity. We also assessed the impact it has on these patients, along with looking at the factors that were linked to QoL in this population. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study carried out between April and July of 2023 in the hemodialysis units of Asir Central Hospital and Khamis Mushait General Hospital. Brief Pain Inventory and European Quality of Life scale 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) scale, including its European Quality of Life visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) component, were used to assess pain and QoL, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 97 participants were included in the final study. The average interference level of pain with daily functions was 22.5 ± 15.0 out of 70. The mean interference score was significantly higher among patients at rural areas (28.2 ± 16.3; P = 0.012), and those who undergone dialysis session for ≥ 4 times per week (31.6 ± 16.7; P = 0.026). The overall score of quality of life ranged from 20% to 92% with mean score of 36.5 ± 12.8%. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that patients with higher BMI, more frequent dialysis sessions per week, and higher level of pain interference with daily functions demonstrated lower QoL (B= - 2.36, - 1.46, and - 0.64, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pain has a significant negative impact on QoL in ESRD patients undergoing HD. Patients with higher BMI, more frequent dialysis sessions, and higher level of pain interference with daily functions are at higher risk of lower QoL. These findings provide valuable information for educators, physicians, and other healthcare providers working with patients undergoing HD.

The smoldering pandemic: Prevalence of prolonged grief disorder. A cross-sectional study of bereaving adults during the COVID pandemic in Pakistan.

The world continues to face unprecedented psycho-social challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a young psychiatric condition describing grief exceeding standard cultural, social, and religious norms. We assessed the prevalence of PGD in Pakistan along with its correlation to anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. The prevalence of PGD was estimated to be 15 % with grief intensity correlating with depression, anxiety, and serious mental illness. People who were closely related to the deceased were more likely to experience severe PGD symptoms. Discussions about grief and measures to curb its psychological effects are crucial in the post-pandemic world.

Exploring the Influence of Perceived Ingroup and Outgroup Threat on Quality of Life in a Region Impacted by Protracted Conflict.

While the detrimental effects of protracted political conflict on the wellbeing of Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) are generally recognized, the impact of perceived threat on quality of life (QoL) faced from within their community (ingroup; Palestinians) and from the outgroup (Israelis) is unexplored. This cross-sectional study examined the following: (1) The status of perceptions of QoL on four domains measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL-Bref) instrument, physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment, among Palestinian adults (n = 709) living in the Gaza Strip; (2) The associations between perceived ingroup threat (PIT) and QoL on the four domains; (3) The associations between perceived outgroup threat (POT) and QoL on the four domains. Multivariable linear regression models revealed PIT was negatively associated with QoL in each of the four domains (p < 0.001). POT was positively associated with QoL in three of the four domains: physical health (p < 0.001), psychological health (p < 0.001), and social relationships (p < 0.001). This study contributes valuable insights into how QoL is viewed by a group experiencing collective existential threat. The findings expand the limited recognition of the reciprocal roles of perceived threat from the ingroup and outgroup on the QoL of vulnerable populations.

Discovery of Novel Myristic Acid Derivatives as N-Myristoyltransferase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, Analysis, Computational Studies and Antifungal Activity.

In recent years, N-Myristoyltransferase (NMT) has been identified as a new target for the treatment of fungal infections. It is observed that at present, there are increased rates of morbidity and mortality due to fungal infections. Hence, a series of novel myristic acid derivatives were designed via molecular docking studies and ADMET studies by targeting NMT (N-Myristoyltransferase). The designed myristic acid derivatives were synthesized by converting myristic acid into myristoyl chloride and coupling it with aryl amines to yield corresponding myristic acid derivatives. The compounds were purified and characterized via FTIR, NMR and HRMS spectral analyses. In this study, we carried out a target NMT inhibition assay. In the NMT screening assay results, the compounds 3u, 3m and 3t showed better inhibition compared to the other myristic acid derivatives. In an in vitro antifungal evaluation, the myristic acid derivatives were assessed against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger strains by determining their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC50). The compounds 3u, 3k, 3r and 3t displayed superior antifungal capabilities against Candida albicans, and the compounds 3u, 3m and 3r displayed superior antifungal capabilities against Aspergillus niger compared to the standard drug FLZ (fluconazole). Altogether, we identified a new series of antifungal agents.

Valorization of mustard and sesame oilseed cakes for food application through eco-innovative technologies.

Agricultural waste valorization is currently getting attention across the world owing to its environmental impact and rich phytochemistry. The mandate of the current investigation was the extraction and characterization of bioactive moieties from the mustard oilseed cake/meal MOC and sesame oilseed cake/meal SOC through ultrasound extraction (UE) techniques due to its higher yield and less burden on the environment as compared to conventional extraction (CE). Purposely, the MOC and SOC were initially subjected to compositional analysis. Thereafter, bioactive moieties were extracted by using different solvents, that is, ethanol and distilled water, and by applying conventional and ultrasonic extraction techniques. The outcomes indicated that among the techniques, ultrasound exhibited the highest results, and in solvents, ethanol performed better. The treatment extracted with ethanol with UE at 10 min showed the best result for total phenolic contents (TPC) as (6.07 ± 0.03 09 g GAE/100 g MOC) and (7.09 ± 0.04 g GAE/100 g SOC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (67.3 ± 1.9 TE/100 g MOC) & (72.68 ± 1.9 TE/100 g SOC), and FRAP was recorded as (2.83 ± 0.02 g TE/100 g MOC) & (3.56 ± 0.03 g TE/100 g SOC). The higher antioxidant potential showed that the mustard and sesame waste holds significant therapeutic potential owing to its rich antioxidant profile and thus should be utilized for the development of functional products against lifestyle-related disorders. In conclusion, ultrasound is a better technique for maximum as well as accurate extraction, with ethanol exhibiting as a better solvent for this process with more yields as compared to distilled water.

Novel Indole-Tethered Chromene Derivatives: Synthesis, Cytotoxic Properties, and Key Computational Insights.

Indole-tethered chromene derivatives were synthesised in a one-pot multicomponent reaction using N-alkyl-1H-indole-3-carbaldehydes, 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione, and malononitrile, catalysed by DBU at 60-65 °C in a short reaction time. The benefits of the methodology include non-toxicity, an uncomplicated set-up procedure, a faster reaction time, and high yields. Moreover, the anticancer properties of the synthesised compounds were tested against selected cancer cell lines. The derivatives 4c and 4d displayed very good cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values ranging from 7.9 to 9.1 µM. Molecular docking revealed the potent derivatives have good binding affinity towards tubulin protein, better than the control, and the molecular dynamic simulations further demonstrated the stability of ligand-receptor interactions. Moreover, the derivatives followed all the drug-likeness filters.

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Case Report of a Rare Adolescent Head and Neck Tumor.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a rare benign head and neck tumor. We report a rare case of JNA, provide a brief literature review, and treatment options, and emphasized the role of flutamide as pre-surgical medication for tumor regression. JNA primarily affects adolescent males aged 14 to 25 years. There are various theories explaining the formation of the tumor. However, sex hormones are found to play a crucial role in the etiology of the tumor. In recent years testosterone and dihydrotestosterone receptors have been identified on the tumor thus suggesting the strong influence of hormones. This permits the use of flutamide, an androgen receptor blocker, as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of JNA. This is a case of a 12-year-old boy who presented to the hospital with right-sided nasal obstruction, epistaxis, watery nasal discharge, and a mass in the right nasal cavity for two months. Diagnostic nasal endoscopy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were done. These investigations confirmed the diagnosis of JNA stage IV. The patient was started on treatment with flutamide for tumor regression.

Development and Evaluation of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for the Clearance of Aß in Alzheimer's Disease.

Aggregation of Amyloid-ß (Aß) leads to the formation and deposition of neurofibrillary tangles and plaques which is the main pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The bioavailability of the drugs and their capability to cross the BBB plays a crucial role in the therapeutics of AD. The present study evaluates the Memantine Hydrochloride (MeHCl) and Tramiprosate (TMPS) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for the clearance of Aß on SHSY5Y cells in rat hippocampus. Molecular docking and in vitro Aß fibrillation were used to ensure the binding of drugs to Aß. The in vitro cell viability study showed that the M + T SLNs showed enhanced neuroprotection against SHSY5Y cells than the pure drugs (M + T PD) in presence of Aß (80.35µM ± 0.455 µM) at a 3:1 molar ratio. The Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to optimize the SLNs and the optimized M + T SLNs were further characterized by %drug entrapment efficiency (99.24 ± 3.24 of MeHCl and 89.99 ± 0.95 of TMPS), particle size (159.9 ± 0.569 nm), PDI (0.149 ± 0.08), Zeta potential (-6.4 ± 0.948 mV), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and in vitro drug release. The TEM & AFM analysis showed irregularly spherical morphology. In vitro release of SLNs was noted up to 48 h; whereas the pure drugs released completely within 3 hrs. M + T SLNs revealed an improved pharmacokinetic profile and a 4-fold increase in drug concentration in the brain when compared to the pure drug. Behavioral tests showed enhanced spatial memory and histological studies confirmed reduced Aß plaques in rat hippocampus. Furthermore, the levels of Aß decreased in AlCl3-induced AD. Thus, all these noted results established that the M + T SLNs provide enhanced neuroprotective effects when compared to pure and individual drugs and can be a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of AD.

Beliefs and Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in Three Countries with Different Human Development Index (HDI) Scores: A Comparative Study.

Background: As vaccination is a cornerstone strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this study assessed and compared beliefs about and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among the population of three countries with different Human Development Index (HDI) scores: Saudi Arabia (very high), India (medium), and Sudan (low). Methods: A web-based, self-administered structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from the three countries. The questionnaire contained three sections that measured sociodemographic characteristics, participants' beliefs about and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, barriers to receiving COVID-19 vaccines, and scenarios in which there is a possibility to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine whether there was an association between the country of the participant and their beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. Results: 972 responses were collected. The study participants from India were more likely to believe in the safety and efficacy of vaccines than those from Saudi Arabia or Sudan. Consequently, they reported more willingness to get vaccinated to avoid complications from COVID-19. Regarding barriers to COVID-19 vaccination, concerns about adverse effects and ineffectiveness of vaccines were more common among Saudi participants, while concerns about conspiracy were more common among Sudanese participants. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was higher in countries with a very high to medium Human Development Index, indicating greater belief in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

Dengue & COVID-19: A Comparison and the Challenges at Hand.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 spread across many countries between 2020 and 2022. The similarities in clinical presentation with other endemic diseases pose a challenge to physicians in effectively diagnosing and treating the infection. Approximately 129 nations have a risk of dengue infection, and more than 100 of those are endemic to dengue. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of dengue cases decreased in many countries owing to the isolation measures followed. However, the common clinical presentation between them has led to misdiagnosis. Both COVID-19 and dengue fever cause a surge in pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, thus sharing a common pathophysiology. False positive serological test results also posed difficulty differentiating between COVID-19 and dengue fever. This review aims to compare the clinical features, pathophysiology, and immune response between dengue and COVID-19, to benefit public health management during the pandemic.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems as an Emerging Platform for Stomach Cancer Therapy.

Cancer has long been regarded as one of the world's most fatal diseases, claiming the lives of countless individuals each year. Stomach cancer is a prevalent cancer that has recently reached a high number of fatalities. It continues to be one of the most fatal cancer forms, requiring immediate attention due to its low overall survival rate. Early detection and appropriate therapy are, perhaps, of the most difficult challenges in the fight against stomach cancer. We focused on positive tactics for stomach cancer therapy in this paper, and we went over the most current advancements and progressions of nanotechnology-based systems in modern drug delivery and therapies in great detail. Recent therapeutic tactics used in nanotechnology-based delivery of drugs aim to improve cellular absorption, pharmacokinetics, and anticancer drug efficacy, allowing for more precise targeting of specific agents for effective stomach cancer treatment. The current review also provides information on ongoing research aimed at improving the curative effectiveness of existing anti-stomach cancer medicines. All these crucial matters discussed under one overarching title will be extremely useful to readers who are working on developing multi-functional nano-constructs for improved diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer.

Impact of Non-viral Coinfections on Mortality of Severely Ill COVID-19 Patients in Dubai.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections may have been associated with secondary infection. Community-acquired or hospital-acquired such infections affect clinical outcomes. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the impact of these infections on clinical outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Dubai hospital. RESULTS: Patients with secondary non-viral infections (SNIs) have higher mortality than patients without SNIs (57.3% vs. 43.7%, p=0.037). Patients with SNIs had more days on mechanical ventilation (MV) 19(11-27) vs. 5(2-10) p<0.001, more LOSICU 22 (15-33) vs. 7 (2-11) p<0.001, and more length of stay in hospital (LOSH) 28 (18-45) vs. 11.5 (6-19), p<0.001. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that SNIs do not predict mortality. Linear logistic regression analysis showed patients with SNIs have increased length of stay in ICUs (LOSICUs), length of stay in hospitals (LOSHs), and prolonged needs for MV. CONCLUSION: SNIs are high in patients admitted to ICU for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although they do not impact mortality, they prolong the need for MV, LOSICU, and LOSH.

An overview of the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling and open dumping.

Landfilling is one of the most common waste management methods employed in all countries alike, irrespective of their developmental status. The most commonly used types of landfills are (a) municipal solid waste landfill, (b) industrial waste landfill, and (c) hazardous waste landfill. There is, also, an emerging landfill type called "green waste landfill" that is, occasionally, being used. Most landfills, including those discussed in this review article, are controlled and engineered establishments, wherein the waste ought to abide with certain regulations regarding their quality and quantity. However, illegal and uncontrolled "landfills" (mostly known as open dumpsites) are, unfortunately, prevalent in many developing countries. Due to the widespread use of landfilling, even as of today, it is imperative to examine any environmental- and/or health-related issues that have emerged. The present study seeks to determine the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling by adopting a desk review design. It is revealed that landfilling is associated with various environmental pollution problems, namely, (a) underground water pollution due to the leaching of organic, inorganic, and various other substances of concern (SoC) contained in the waste, (b) air pollution due to suspension of particles, (c) odor pollution from the deposition of municipal solid waste (MSW), and (d) even marine pollution from any potential run-offs. Furthermore, health impacts may occur through the pollution of the underground water and the emissions of gases, leading to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of the exposed population living in their vicinity.

Development of stealth liposomal formulation of celecoxib: In vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Celecoxib (CLB) is a highly hydrophobic selective cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor with high plasma protein binding and undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism. CLB is highly effective in the treatment of osteo and rheumatoid arthritis as first line therapy but produces severe gastro-intestinal toxicities and cardiovascular side effects. In this research, stealth liposomes of CLB were developed with the intention to reduce the side effects and increase the accumulation of drug in the sites of inflammation. Stealth liposomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique using distearoylphosphatidylcholine and PE-PEG 2000 with variable amounts of cholesterol and characterized. The effects of various lipids such as hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, distearoylphosphatidylcholine and cholesterol content on % drug encapsulation was investigated. The optimized stealth liposomes were characterized by FT-IR and DSC for possible drug excipients interaction. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and biodistribution studies were carried out for the stealth liposomes. The results revealed that the stealth liposomes reduced the inflammation to the larger magnitude and have also sustained the magnitude when compared to free drug along with maximum analgesic response. Higher elimination half-life, AUC, MRT and lowered clearance rate denotes the extended bioavailability of the drug in blood. Biodistribution studies revealed that stealth liposomes extend the circulation time of liposomes in blood by decreasing opsonisation and be less concentrated in kidney, thereby reducing the toxicities to RES and renal organs and facilitate the drug accumulation in the area of inflammation. Our results indicated that CLB, without the requirement of modifications to enhance solubilisation, can be encapsulated and released from liposomal formulations. This new-fangled drug delivery approach may be used to circumvent the low bioavailability and toxic side effects of oral CLB formulations.

Pharmacological Efficacy and Safety of Glycyrrhiza glabra in the Treatment of Respiratory Tract Infections.

Respiratory tract infections are underestimated because they are mild and disabling, but in clinical medicine, these are the most prevalent problems. According to the World Health Organization third-most comprehensive cause of death in the world till 2030 would be Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Dominating viruses of respiratory infections are influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, and human coronaviruses. Antibiotics are mostly used to treat bacterial infections, and they do not effectively manage viral infections like sinusitis, sore throats, bronchitis, influenza, and common respiratory infections. Presently no medication is available only symptomatic interventions is an option in our hand. However, a lot of research is going on the vaccine and drugs-based approaches against respiratory viruses worldwide. Traditional medicines are getting the attraction to treat many diseases. It is vital to screen the medicinal plants to find the potential of new compounds for treatment against antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Licorice) pharmacological actions modulate the immune system, inhibit virus growth, produce anti-inflammatory activity, and inactivate viruses. This comprehensive review mainly focuses on the role of licorice in managing respiratory infections caused by viruses and bacteria, including complications associated with its excess intake. There has been limited human research's exhibited licorice effectiveness in respiratory infections; therefore, there is a need for uncompromising and long-term research. This paper will be a valuable reference for biologists and physicians looking for a medication for respiratory infections. Glycyrrhiza glabra could open the door to novel agents in drug discovery and development.