The genus Polygonum: An updated comprehensive review of its ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and phytopharmaceutical formulation.

Polygonum is a plant genus that includes annual and perennial species and is found at various temperatures, from northern temperate regions to tropical and subtropical areas. The genus Polygonum has been used for centuries for various disorders, including hypertension, intestinal and stomach pain, dysuria, jaundice, toothaches, skin allergies, hemorrhoids, cardiac disorders, kidney stones, hemostasis, hyperglycemia, and others. Various databases, including Google Scholar, Scifinder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, ResearchGate, and Web of Science, were utilized to collect pertinent scientific literature data. According to bibliographic studies, the Polygonum genus possesses various compounds from different families, including phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, quinic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, and many other compounds), flavonoids (quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, quercitrin, kaempferol, myricetin, etc.), tannins, stilbenes (polydatin and resveratrol), terpenes (α-pinene, ß-caryophyllene and ß-caryophyllene oxide, bisabolene, ß-farnesene, etc.), fatty acids (decanoic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, dodecanoic acid), polysaccharides, and others. Various chemical and biological activities (in vitro and in vivo), such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antiparasitic, hepatoprotective, neuropharmacological, gastroprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, and others, have been described in several biological studies involving this species. An updated summary of Polygonum species and their ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, toxicological, pharmacological, and phytopharmaceutical formulations is necessary. Considering the numerous potentialities of the Polygonum species and their wide-ranging use, it is extremely essential to provide knowledge by compiling the accessible literature to identify the topics of intense investigation and the main gaps to better design future studies. The objective of this review is to give readers a better understanding, greater comprehension, and in-depth knowledge of the genus Polygonum's traditional applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicological features, and galenic formulation. Several species of this genus have been detailed in this review, including those that were frequently used in traditional medicine (P. minus, P. aviculare, P. hydropiper, P. cuspidatum, and P. multiflorum) and many of the genus' therapeutic species, like P. equisetiforme, which do not get enough attention.

Status of Polymer Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)-Based Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing (3DP) is arguably a versatile and more efficient way for the production of solid dosage forms such as tablets. Of the various 3DP technologies currently available, fused deposition modeling (FDM) includes unique characteristics that offer a range of options in the production of various types of tablets. For example, amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), enteric-coated tablets or poly pills can be produced using an appropriate drug/polymer combination during FDM 3DP. The technology offers the possibility of evolving personalized medicines into cost-effective production schemes at pharmacies and hospital dispensaries. In this review, we highlight key FDM features that may be exploited for the production of tablets and improvement of therapy, with emphasis on gastrointestinal delivery. We also highlight current constraints that must be surmounted to visualize the deployment of this technology in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Role of HMGB1 and its associated signaling pathways in human malignancies.

The High-Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB1), a non-histone chromatin-associated protein, plays a crucial role in cancer growth and response to therapy as it retains a pivotal role in promoting both cell death and survival. HMGB1 has been reported to regulate several signaling pathways engaged in inflammation, genome stability, immune function, cell proliferation, cell autophagy, metabolism, and apoptosis. However, the association between HMGB1 and cancer is complex and its mechanism in tumorigenesis needs to be further elucidated. This review aims to understand the role of HMGB1 in human malignancies and discuss the signaling pathways linked to this process to provide a comprehensive understanding on the association of HMGB1 with carcinogenesis. Further, we will review the role of HMGB1 as a target/biomarker for cancer therapy, the therapeutic strategies used to target this protein, and its potential role in preventing or treating cancers. In light of the recent growing evidence linking HMGB1 to cancer progression, we think that it may be suggested as a novel and emergent therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Hence, HMGB1 warrants paramount investigation to comprehensively map its role in tumorigenesis.

Biotechnology content in pharmacy curricula: Focus on Arab Countries.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmaceutical biotechnology involves using the principles of biotechnology to develop drugs. With the rapid increase in biopharmaceutical products being developed and approved for use, educating pharmacy students about biotechnological products becomes paramount. However, there is a scarcity in the literature exploring biotechnology content in pharmacy education. This paper aims to explore and discuss previously published studies on biotechnology education in pharmacy curricula and will provide a brief overview of biotechnology content offered in pharmacy schools in Arab countries. PERSPECTIVE: The majority of pharmacy schools in the United States and Europe offer biotechnology-related content within the curriculum as part of other courses. It has also been reported that biotechnology content is taught in 22 pharmacy schools in Arab countries. In general, biotechnology content is mostly taught as part of other pharmacy courses and is often provided as compulsory content. Including pharmaceutical biotechnology concepts in pharmacy curriculum has positive impact on pharmacy students as it increases their knowledge of biotechnology and their interest in the topic. IMPLICATION: Pharmaceutical biotechnology is an important field in which pharmacy graduates should be knowledgeable. However, there is a need to explore biotechnology content offered in pharmacy schools in other parts of the world in order to have an understanding of how different pharmacy programs prepare their students for practice. The information currently available in the literature is not enough to determine the usefulness of pharmaceutical biotechnology content currently offered to prepare pharmacists for practice. This highlights the need for further research in the area.

Phenolic Profiling, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Tunisia.

Phytochemical screening of aqueous extract from six medicinal wild plants grown in South-eastern of Tunisia: Atriplex halimus, Teucrium polium, Moricandia arvensis, Deverra tortuoa, Haplophyllum tuberculatum and Polygonum equisetiforme were evaluated. Both decoction and ultrasound assisted extraction were used. Antioxidant, antibacterial proprieties, and phenolic profiling, using LC-ESI-MS method, were assessed. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents ranged from 7.47±0.19 to 22.25±0.49 mg GAE/g Dw, 5.47±0.06 to 7.55±0.07 mg RE/g Dw, and 0.33±0.02 to 19.43±0.64 mg TAE/g Dw, respectively. Moreover, the reducing power and DPPH tests showed that P. equisetiforme (EC50 : 12.50±0.50 µg/ml; DPPH⋅+ : 213.49±4.24 mg TEAC/g DW), T. polium (EC50 : 25.00±1.00 µg/ml; DPPH⋅+ : 181.39±9.47 mg TEAC/g DW) as well as H. tuberculatum (EC50 : 56.25±0.25 µg/ml; DPPH⋅+ : 177.83±5.85 mg TEAC/g DW) extracts were the most effective natural antioxidants. For anti-bacterial activity, the ultrasonic extract of H. tuberculatum showed the highest activity against both P. aeruginosa (13.50±0.71 mm) and S. aureus (13.00±0.00 mm) at 10 mg/ml. Furthermore 24 phenolic compounds were identified, with predominance of quinic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, catechin (+), trans-cinnamic and silymarin. These results were further consolidated by to heatmap clustering with P. equisetiforme, H. tuberculatum, T. polium as the main antioxidant and antibacterial sources which supports their domestication and industrial use.

Influence of Extraction Techniques and Solvents on the Antioxidant and Biological Potential of Different Parts of Scorzonera undulata.

The genus Scorzonera has various medicinal values. Species belonging to this genus were traditionally used as drugs or in food. The current study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and biological properties of the tuber, leaf, and flower of Scorzonera undulata extracts, collected from the southwest of Tunisia. Phenolic compounds from the three parts were extracted using two solvents (water and ethanol) and two extraction techniques (maceration and ultrasound). The total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Furthermore, the chemical composition of Scorzonera undulata extract was also investigated by the LC-ESI-MS method using phenolic acid and flavonoid standards. The variation of the extraction methods induced a variation in the real potentialities of the three parts in terms of bioactive molecules. However, the aerial part of S. undulata (leaves and flowers) showed, in general, the highest phenolic contents. Twenty-five volatile compounds have been detected by GC-MS in S. undulata extracts; among them, fourteen were identified before derivatization. The DPPH test showed that the aerial part of the plant has a higher antioxidant activity compared to the tuber (25.06% at 50 µg/mL for the leaf ethanolic extract obtained by ultrasound extraction). For most biological activities (anti-Xanthine, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic (alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase)), the aerial parts (flowers and leaves) of the plant showed the highest inhibition than tubers.

Studies on anti-colon cancer potential of nanoformulations of curcumin and succinylated curcumin in mannosylated chitosan.

Colon cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death and the third most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Although curcumin (CUR) has demonstrated a potent anticancer activity, it is characterized by its poor solubility, low bioavailability, and instability. This study is a projection from a previous investigation where CUR and succinylated CUR (CUR.SA) were separately encapsulated in mannosylated-chitosan nanoparticles (CM-NPs) to form CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs, respectively. Here, we aim to assess the anti-CRC activity of these two nanoformulations. Cytotoxicity studies using CCK-8 assay indicated that both CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs have a dose and time-dependent toxicity towards CRC human cell-lines (HCT116 and SW480), and more cytotoxic compared to free CUR or CUR-SA in a time-dependent manner. A significant induction of early and late apoptosis in the CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs treated CRC cell lines compared to untreated cells was observed. Western blotting analyses confirmed the induction of apoptosis through activation of Caspase signaling compared to untreated cells. Based on the physicochemical properties of CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs along with the data from the in vitro studies, we may conclude these nanoparticle formulations hold very promising attributes, worthy of further investigations for its role in the management of CRC.

Applications of polydopaminic nanomaterials in mucosal drug delivery.

Polydopamine (PDA) is a biopolymer with unique physicochemical properties, including free-radical scavenging, high photothermal conversion efficiency, biocompatibility, biodegradability, excellent fluorescent and theranostic capacity due to their abundant surface chemistry. Thus, PDA is used for a myriad of applications including drug delivery, biosensing, imaging and cancer therapy. Recent reports present a new functionality of PDA as a coating nanomaterial, with major implications in mucosal drug delivery applications, particularly muco-adhesion and muco-penetration. However, this application has received minimal traction in the literature. In this review, we present the physicochemical and functional properties of PDA and highlight its key biomedical applications, especially in cancer therapy. A detailed presentation of the role of PDA as a promising coating material for nanoparticulate carriers intended for mucosal delivery forms the core aspect of the review. Finally, a reflection on key considerations and challenges in the utilizing PDA for mucosal drug delivery, along with the possibilities of translation to clinical studies is expounded.

Nano-vitamin C: A promising candidate for therapeutic applications.

Vitamin C is an important nutrient implicated in different physiological functions in humans. Despite its important biological functions, therapeutic applications of vitamin C are rare and its use is further impacted by low chemical stability. Several nano-encapsulation techniques have been described in the literature and yet, there are only a handful of clinical investigations dedicated to unlocking the therapeutic applications of nano-encapsulated vitamin C. Clearly, further investigations are warranted in order to affirm the promising clinical potential of nano-encapsulated vitamin C. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of vitamin C activity as a modulator of crucial therapeutic uses in biological systems. We look at key factors affecting the chemical stability of vitamin C alone and in nano-encapsulated and explore pre-clinical and clinical evidence on current vitamin C nano-formulations along with their therapeutic applications. Finally, we critically appraise the gaps and opportunities prevailing in nano-vitamin C research and its potential translation towards relevant clinical outcomes.

A novel approach of encapsulating curcumin and succinylated derivative in mannosylated-chitosan nanoparticles.

Curcumin (CUR) manifests anti-colon cancer activity but suffers from low solubility, bioavailability, and instability, rendering it not as effective as its chemotherapeutic cousins. Here, we conjugate CUR to succinic anhydride (SA), (CUR.SA conjugate), subsequently formulated in mannose-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs). Instrumental analyses confirmed formation of CUR.SA and mannosylated chitosan (CM) conjugates, with CUR.SA being less crystalline thus, more soluble. Average particle size of CUR-NPs and CUR.SA-NPs were 268 ± 6 nm and 342 ± 4.6 nm, with drug entrapment of 93.34 ± 0.40 % and 98.46 ± 0.06 % respectively. In vitro releases of CUR and CUR.SA from nanoparticles in pH 1.2 and 6.8 media were slow and sustained over 2 h and 72 h, respectively. The physical characteristics of the nanoparticles were unchanged over 3 weeks of storage. Thus, a successful CUR.SA conjugate has been developed, couriered in CM nanoparticles, with favorable attributes that warrant further anti-colon cancer studies, which is ongoing.

Curcumin and Derivatives in Nanoformulations with Therapeutic Potential on Colorectal Cancer.

There is growing concern in the rise of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases globally, and with this rise is the presentation of drug resistance. Like other cancers, current treatment options are either invasive or manifest severe side effects. Thus, there is a move towards implementing safer treatment options. Curcumin (CUR), extracted from Curcuma longa, has received significant attention by scientists as possible alternative to chemotherapeutic agents. It is safe and effective against CRC and nontoxic in moderate concentrations. Crucially, it specifically modulates apoptotic effects on CRC. However, the use of CUR is limited by its low solubility and poor bioavailability in aqueous media. These limitations are surmountable through novel approaches, such as nanoencapsulation of CUR, which masks the physicochemical properties of CUR, thus potentiating its anti-CRC effects. Furthermore, chemical derivatization of CUR is another approach that can be used to address the above constraints. This review spans published work in the last two decades, with key findings employing either of the two approaches, in addition to a combined approach in managing CRC. The combined approach affords the possibility of better treatment outcomes but not widely investigated nor yet clinically implemented.

Smart Synthesis of Trimethyl Ethoxysilane (TMS) Functionalized Core-Shell Magnetic Nanosorbents Fe3O4@SiO2: Process Optimization and Application for Extraction of Pesticides.

In the current study, a smart approach for synthesizing trimethyl ethoxysilane-decorated magnetic-core silica-nanoparticles (TMS-mcSNPs) and its effectiveness as nanosorbents have been exploited. While the magnetite core was synthesized using the modified Mössbauer method, Stöber method was employed to coat the magnetic particles. The objective of this work is to maximize the magnetic properties and to minimize both particle size (PS) and particle size distribution (PSD). Using a full factorial design (2k-FFD), the influences of four factors on the coating process was assessed by optimizing the three responses (magnetic properties, PS, and PSD). These four factors were: (1) concentration of tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS); (2) concentration of ammonia; (3) dose of magnetite (Fe3O4); and (4) addition mode. Magnetic properties were calculated as the attraction weight. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine PS, and standard deviation (±SD) was calculated to determine the PSD. Composite desirability function (D) was used to consolidate the multiple responses into a single performance characteristic. Pareto chart of standardized effects together with analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95.0 confidence interval (CI) were used to determine statistically significant variable(s). Trimethyl ethoxysilane-functionalized mcSNPs were further applied as nanosorbents for magnetic solid phase extraction (TMS-MSPE) of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides.