Protocatechuic acid attenuates chronic unpredictable mild stress induced-behavioral and biochemical alterations in mice.

Amelioration of oxidative stress via promoting the endogenous antioxidant system and enhancement of monoamines in brain were the important underlying antidepressant mechanism of protocatechuic acid (PCA). The aim of the present study is to explore the potential antidepressant mechanism(s) PCA in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice. Mice were subjected to CUMS protocol for 4 weeks, and administered with PCA (100 and 200 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) for 24 days (from day 8th to 31st). Behavioral (sucrose preference, immobility time, exploratory behavior), and biochemical alterations such as serum corticosterone, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and antioxidants parameters were investigated. Experimental findings revealed that CUMS subjected mice exhibited significant impairment in behavioral alterations, such as increased immobility time, impaired preference to the sucrose solution, BDNF levels and, serum corticosterone, cytokines, malondialdehyde (MDA) formation with impaired antioxidants in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Administration of PCA to CUMS mice attenuated the immobility time, serum corticosterone, cytokines TNF-α, and IL-6, MDA formation and improved sucrose preference, including restoration of BDNF level. Thus, the present findings demonstrated the antidepressant potential of PCA which is largely achieved probably through maintaining BDNF level, and by modulation of the oxidative stress response, cytokines systems, and antioxidant defense system in mice.

Facile synthesis of mesoporous alumina using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) as template: simplified sol-gel approach.

Herein the authors present the synthesis of surface functionalised mesoporous alumina (MeAl) for textural characterisation by a simplified sol-gel method obtained by using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template. Etoricoxib (ETOX) was used as a model drug for the study. Alumina supported mesoporous material containing drug was characterised using instrumental technique namely Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, Fourier transform-infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Diffusion study using a dialysis bag method used to check the release pattern of ETOX-loaded-MeAl. Results of characterisation study revealed the successful surface functionalisation of the drug on nanocomposite. The IC50 value obtained from cell viability study demonstrated the non-toxic behaviour of synthesised drug-loaded mesoporous alumina up to the tested concentration range. The present work has demonstrated that synthesised MeAl showed excellent stability with an expanded surface area suitable for carrier material for drug delivery system.

Facile synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotube via folic acid grafted nanoparticle for precise delivery of doxorubicin.

The motive of work was to develop a multi-walled carbon nanoplatform through facile method for transportation of potential anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Folic acid (FA)-ethylene diamine (EDA) anchored and acid functionalised MWCNTs were covalently grafted with DOX via π-π stacking interaction. The resultant composite was corroborated by 1H NMR, FTIR, XRD, EDX, SEM, and DSC study. The drug entrapment efficiency of FA-conjugated MWCNT was found high and stability study revealed its suitability in biological system. FA-EDA-MWCNTs-DOX conjugate demonstrated a significant in vitro anticancer activity on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. MTT study revealed the lesser cytotoxicity of folate-conjugated MWCNTs. The obtained results demonstrated the targeting specificity of FA-conjugate via overexpressed folate receptor deemed greater scientific value to overcome multidrug protection during cancer therapy. The proposed strategy is a gentle contribution towards development of biocompatible targeted drug delivery and offers potential to address the current challenges in cancer therapy.