Citrus decoction by-product represents a rich source of carotenoid, phytosterol, extractable and non-extractable polyphenols.

This study aimed to carry out an exhaustive chemical characterization of citrus (orange, mandarin, and grapefruit) decoctions as well as the residues obtained during the decoction process (by-products). The citrus decoctions were rich in hesperidin, naringin, and narirutin, but carotenoids and phytosterols were not detected. Interestingly, these flavanones were found in a higher concentration in the extractable polyphenol fraction of the citrus decoction by-products. Moreover, the greatest content of hesperidin and naringin was found bound to the food matrix by ether/ester bonds. Violaxanthin and ß-cryptoxanthin were found as major carotenoids in the orange and mandarin decoction by-products, respectively, whereas the grapefruit decoction by-product showed a low content of carotenoids. All citrus by-products showed ß-sitosterol as the major phytosterol, followed by ß-campesterol. Therefore, the by-products obtained during the elaboration of citrus decoctions are rich sources of bioactive compounds that can be used for the development of functional foods or dietary supplements.

Retinal Cell Protection in Ocular Excitotoxicity Diseases. Possible Alternatives Offered by Microparticulate Drug Delivery Systems and Future Prospects.

Excitotoxicity seems to play a critical role in ocular neurodegeneration. Excess-glutamate-mediated retinal ganglion cells death is the principal cause of cell loss. Uncontrolled glutamate in the synapsis has significant implications in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. The exploitation of various approaches of controlled release systems enhances the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activity of drugs. In particular, microparticles are secure, can maintain therapeutic drug concentrations in the eye for prolonged periods, and make intimate contact by improving drug bioavailability. According to the promising results reported, possible new investigations will focus intense attention on microparticulate formulations and can be expected to open the field to new alternatives for doctors, as currently required by patients.

A Reassessment of the Marrubium Vulgare L. Herb's Potential Role in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: First Results Guide the Investigation toward New Horizons.

Despite the wide variety of pharmacological activities described for the Marrubium vulgare L. herb, amazingly, only one clinical trial can be found in scientific literature. It was designed for the evaluation of its antidiabetic activity. Worse, the outcomes of this trial were contradictory to what previous in vivo mice assays had concluded. Therefore, should Marrubium vulgare be ruled out due to its lack of therapeutic potential in diabetes? The authors suggest a reevaluation of the clinical trial methodology to establish valid and final results.

Solving the puzzle: What is behind our forefathers' anti-inflammatory remedies?

Inflammation is a ubiquitous host response in charge of restoring normal tissue structure and function but is a double-edged sword, as the uncontrolled or excessive process can lead to the injury of host cells, chronic inflammation, chronic diseases, and also neoplastic transformation. Throughout history, a wide range of species has been claimed to have anti-inflammatory effects worldwide. Among them, Angelica sinensis, Tropaeolum majus, Castilleja tenuiflora, Biophytum umbraculum, to name just a few, have attracted the scientific and general public attention in the last years. Efforts have been made to assess their relevance through a scientific method. However, inflammation is a complex interdependent process, and phytomedicines are complex mixtures of compounds with multiple mechanisms of biological actions, which restricts systematic explanation. For this purpose, the omics techniques could prove extremely useful. They provide tools for interpreting and integrating results from both the classical medical tradition and modern science. As a result, the concept of network pharmacology applied to phytomedicines emerged. All of this is a step toward personalized therapy.

Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology of Ziziphus jujuba Mills.

Ziziphus jujuba Mills, 'annab' in Iran, 'ber' in India or 'pomme sourette' in France, is a species whose fruit (known warmly as 'the fruits of life' in China) has been consumed for centuries for its nutritional value. The food industry used it as a food additive and flavoring. The dry seeds, the crude leaves and the stem bark are still used in ethnopharmacology to treat digestive disorders and gastric ulcers as antitussive, laxative and hypotensive drugs; even now, it is used in China to treat children who suffer from typhoid fever, furuncle and ecthyma. In Taiwan, the dry seeds for the variety spinosa (Suan Zao Ren) are the second most commonly prescribed and used phytomedicine for insomnia. Its popularity and production have increased worldwide in recent years, especially in Europe. The European Pharmacopoeia Commission has been unable to elaborate upon the EP monograph on Ziziphi spinosae semen as was planned. The EMA has not made its recommendations yet. Is it still a gap in the scientific knowledge? Or is difficult for traditional Chinese medicinal herbs to fulfill the style and quality parameters that are required? Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pharmaceutical technology can turn a traditional drug, dexamethasone into a first-line ocular medicine. A global perspective and future trends.

Dexamethasone is one of the most prescribed glucocorticoids. It is effective and safe in the treatment of a wide variety of ocular conditions, including anterior and posterior segment inflammation. However, its half-life in the vitreous humor is very short, which means that it typically requires frequent administrations, thus reducing patient adherence and causing therapeutic failure. Innovative dexamethasone delivery systems have been designed in an attempt to achieve sustained release and targeting. The FDA has approved dexamethasone implants for the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion and posterior segment noninfectious uveitis. Lenses, micro- and nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles and dendrimers are also proving to be adequate systems for maintaining optimal dexamethasone levels in the site of action. Pharmaceutical technology is turning a classical drug, dexamethasone, into a fashionable medicine.

Dendrimers as a promising tool in ocular therapeutics: Latest advances and perspectives.

Dendrimers have called the attention of scientists in the area of drug and gene delivery over the last two decades for their versatility, complexity and multibranching properties. Some strategies for optimizing drug pharmacokinetics and site-specific targeting using dendrimers have been proposed. Among them, those related to treating and managing ocular diseases are of special interest. Ocular therapies suffer from significant disadvantages, including frequent administration, poor penetration and/or rapid elimination. This review provides an overview of the recent and promising progress in the dendrimers field, focusing on both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye ocular targets, the use of dendrimers as a strategy for overcoming obstacles to the traditional treatment of ocular diseases and an outlook on future directions. Finally, a first approach to ocular safety with dendrimers is intended that accounts for the state-of-the-art science to date.