Eucalypt Extracts Prepared by a No-Waste Method and Their 3D-Printed Dosage Forms Show Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

The pharmaceutical industry usually utilizes either hydrophobic or hydrophilic substances extracted from raw plant materials to prepare a final product. However, the waste products from the plant material still contain biologically active components with the opposite solubility. The aim of this study was to enhance the comprehensive usability of plant materials by developing a new no-waste extraction method for eucalypt leaves and by investigating the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of eucalypt extracts and their 3D-printed dosage forms. The present extraction method enabled us to prepare both hydrophobic soft extracts and hydrophilic (aqueous) dry extracts. We identified a total of 28 terpenes in the hydrophobic soft extract. In the hydrophilic dry extract, a total of 57 substances were identified, and 26 of them were successfully isolated. The eucalypt extracts studied showed significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Corynebacterium diphtheriae gravis, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae mitis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the dry extract was studied using a formalin-induced-edema model in mice. The maximum anti-exudative effect of the dry extract was 61.5% at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Composite gels of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and eucalypt extract were developed, and the key process parameters for semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing of such gels were verified. The SSE 3D-printed preparations of novel synergistically acting eucalypt extracts could have uses in antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medicinal applications.

Pharmaceutical 3D-printing of nanoemulsified eucalypt extracts and their antimicrobial activity.

Overcoming the health threatening consequences of staphylococcal infections and their negative socio-economic effects have become a priority in the medical, pharmaceutical, food and many other sectors globally. Staphylococcal infections are a big challenge for a global health care, since they are difficult to be diagnosed and treated. Therefore, the development of new medicinal products of plant-origin is timely and important, because bacteria have a limited ability to develop resistance to such products. In the present study, a modified eucalypt (Eucalyptus viminalis L.) extract was prepared and further enhanced by using different excipients (surface active agents) to obtain a water-miscible 3D-printable extract (nanoemulsified aqueous eucalypt extract). Phytochemical and antibacterial studies of the eucalypt leaves extracts were conducted as a preliminary investigation for 3D-printing experiments of the extracts. The nanoemulsified aqueous eucalypt extract was mixed with polyethylene oxide (PEO) to form a gel applicable for semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing. The key process parameters in a 3D-printing process were identified and verified. The printing quality of the 3D-lattice type eucalypt extract preparations was very good, demonstrating the feasibility of using an aqueous gel in SSE 3D printing also exhibiting compatibility of the carrier polymer (PEO) with the plant extract. The SSE 3D-printed eucalypt extract preparations presented a rapid dissolution in water within 10-15 min, suggesting the applicability of these preparations e.g., in oral immediate-release applications.

Study of total antioxidant capacity of red raspberry (Rubus idaeous L. ) shoots. / Estudio de la capacidad antioxidante total de brotes de frambuesa roja (Rubus idaeous L. ).

Background: Today, cardiovascular, oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases are the main causes of death in the world, according to official World Health Organization (WHO) statistics. Antioxidants are used to treat and prevent these diseases. In order to develop optimal technology for obtaining drugs based on plant extracts with antioxidant action, it is necessary to determine the total antioxidant capacity of raspberry shoots. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the total antioxidant capacity of red raspberry shoots, study the content of biologically active substances (BAS), and the antioxidant activity of red raspberry shoot extracts obtained during subsequent exhaustive extraction. Methods: The number of phenolic compounds, catechins, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids was determined by a spectrophotometric analysis method, whereas organic acids were determined by the alkalimetric method in red raspberry shoot extracts; the antioxidant activity of obtained extracts was evaluated by potentiometric method. Results: The total antioxidant capacity of red raspberry shoots was 164.12 mmol-equiv./m dry weight, the sum of the total content of phenolic compounds was 24.40 mg gallic acid (GA)/mL, catechins ­ 21.36 mg epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG)/mL, flavonoids ­ 0.77 mg rutin (R)/mL, hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives ­ 2.56 mg chlorogenic acid (ChA)/mL and organic acids ­ 1.88 mg citric acid (CA)/mL in red raspberry shoot extracts obtained during subsequent exhaustive extraction. The analysis showed that there is a very high positive correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds, catechin, flavonoid, hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives, and organic acids content in red raspberry shoot extracts. Conclusions: Total red raspberry shoots' antioxidant capacity has been determined. The study results can be used to develop optimal technology for obtaining drugs based on the extract of red raspberry shoots, which has an antioxidant effect

Contexto: Hoy en día, las enfermedades cardiovasculares, oncológicas y neurodegenerativas son las principales causas de muerte en el mundo según estadísticas oficiales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud OMS. Los antioxidantes se utilizan para tratar y prevenir estas enfermedades. Para desarrollar una tecnología óptima para la obtención de fármacos a base de extractos de plantas con acción antioxidante, es necesario determinar la capacidad antioxidante total de los brotes de frambuesa.Objetivos: El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la capacidad antioxidante total de los brotes de frambuesa roja, estudiar el contenido de sustancias biológicamente activas (SBA) y la actividad antioxidante de los extractos de brotes de frambuesa roja obtenidos mediante extracción exhaustiva. Métodos: La cantidad de compuestos fenólicos, catequinas, flavonoides y ácidos hidroxicinámicos se determinó por método de análisis espectrofotométrico, mientras que los ácidos orgánicos por método alcalimétrico en extractos de brotes de frambuesa roja; La actividad antioxidante de los extractos obtenidos se evaluó por método potenciométrico. Resultados: La capacidad antioxidante total de los brotes de frambuesa roja fue de 164.12 mmol-equiv./m de peso seco, la suma del contenido total de compuestos fenólicos fue de 24.40 mg gálico ácido (GA)/mL, catequinas ­ 21.36 mg epigalocatequina-3-O-galato (EGCG)/mL, flavonoides ­ 0.77 mg rutina (R)/mL, derivados de ácidos hidroxicinámicos ­ 2.56 mg clorogénico ácido (ChA)/mL y ácidos orgánicos ­ 1.88 mg cítrico ácido (CA)/mL en extractos de brotes de frambuesa roja obtenidos durante extracción exhaustiva. La correlación analizada mostró que existe una correlación positiva entre la actividad antioxidante y el contenido de compuestos fenólicos totales, catequinas, flavonoides, derivados de ácidos hidroxicinámicos y ácidos orgánicos en extractos de brotes de frambuesa roja. Conclusiones: Gracias a nuestros resultados se ha determinado la capacidad antioxidante total de los brotes de frambuesa roja. Los resultados del estudio se pueden utilizar para desarrollar una tecnología óptima para la obtención de fármacos basados en el extracto de brotes de frambuesa roja, que tiene un efecto antioxidante