Assessing the Anti-Aging and Wound Healing Capabilities of Etlingera elatior Inflorescence Extract: A Comparison of Three Inflorescence Color Varieties.

Torch ginger, Etlingera elatior, is a Zingiberaceae plant with various red, pink, and white inflorescence. The wound healing potential and anti-aging effects of freeze-dried torch ginger inflorescence extracts (FTIEs) from three varieties were compared. The red FTIE had the highest content of phenolic, flavonoid, caffeoylquinic acid, and chlorogenic acid, followed by the white and pink FTIE. Consistent with the chemical constituents, the red FTIE demonstrated the greatest capacities for free radical scavenging, anti-tyrosinase, and anti-collagenase activity, followed by the white and pink FTIE. In cell-based studies, FTIEs displayed cytotoxicity to B16F10 melanoma cells, with the red FTIE showing the greatest activity (LC50 of 115.5 µg/mL). In contrast, the pink and the white FTIEs had less cytotoxicity impact. Nonetheless, at 1000 µg/mL, all three FTIE variants were safe on L929 fibroblasts or RAW 264.7 monocyte cells. White FTIE (500 µg/mL) exhibited the highest activity in stimulating collagen production and the greatest impact on cell migration, whereas the pink and red FTIE had a lesser effect. All FTIEs slightly suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes, with no significant variation between FTIE variants. In conclusion, all FTIEs revealed promising potential for anti-aging cosmeceuticals and wound care products at specific concentrations.

The radical scavenging activity of vanillin and its impact on the healing properties of wounds.

Vanillin, an extract from the Vanilla planifolia plant, is reported to possess potent antioxidant properties. The ability of vanillin to protect skin cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage and its potential use in the treatment of wounds were studied. Cytocompatibility and cytoprotective properties against ROS-induced damage were examined using keratinocyte and fibroblast cell models. Vanillin's effect on cell migration was studied using the scratch wound healing assay. Vanillin exhibited cytocompatibility and cytoprotective properties against cell damage induced by ROS. Human keratinocytes and fibroblast cells showed >80% survival when exposed to vanillin (10-500 µM). Both cells showed no evidence of necrosis or apoptosis, which was confirmed by acridine orange/propidium iodide staining. Both examined cells were exposed to 750 µM hydrogen peroxide to cause oxidative stress, and vanillin demonstrated the ability to inhibit ROS-induced cell death. In addition, a considerable increase in cell migration suggested that vanillin had the ability to heal wounds in vitro. Vanillin is safe and potentially useful in wound healing treatments.

Dry powder inhalation formulation of chitosan nanoparticles for co-administration of isoniazid and pyrazinamide.

Co-loaded isoniazid and pyrazinamide chitosan nanoparticles were formulated using the ionic gelation method. The formulations were adjusted to five mass ratios of tripolyphosphate (TPP) and chitosan at three TPP concentrations. Particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were used to evaluate all formulations. The results revealed that the ratio of TPP to chitosan had the highest impact in generating chitosan nanoparticles. The selected nanoparticle formulations were freeze-dried, and the obtained dry powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm the interaction of loaded drug and formulation excipients. The aerosolized performance of dry powders was also evaluated using the Andersen cascade impactor. A mass median aerodynamic diameter of 3.3-3.5 µm, % fine particle fraction of 30-44%, and 92-95% emitted dose were obtained from all formulations. The dry powder formulations were not toxic to the respiratory tract cell lines. Furthermore, they did not provoke alveolar macrophages into producing inflammatory cytokines or nitric oxides, indicating that the formulations are safe and could potentially be used to deliver to respiratory tract for tuberculosis treatment.

Effects of Ultrasonic Operating Parameters and Emulsifier System on Sacha Inchi Oil Nanoemulsion Characteristics.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic operating conditions, i.e., ultrasonic mode, amplitude, total ultrasonic duration time, and emulsifier system in producing an optimum oil-in-water of sacha inchi oil nanoemulsions (SIO-NEs). Physicochemical characteristics (including average droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and viscosity) were the evaluated response variables. Smaller droplet size was obtained from SIO-NEs prepared by ultrasonic pulse application (15s ON and 10s OFF) with an ultrasonic amplitude level of 60%. In contrast, excess energy produced by ultrasonication amplitudes of more than 60% resulted in larger average droplet size and PDI. A decrease in the absolute value of zeta potential and a lower viscosity of SIO-NEs were also observed in conjunction with the high amplitude level of the ultrasonication process. An ultrasonication duration time of longer than 10 minutes did not significantly reduce the droplet size. Five emulsifier systems were evaluated in this study, including Pluronic®L-31, Brij®C-10, Tween®80, Tween®80/Pluronic®L-31, and Brij®C-10/Pluronic®L-31. The results revealed that the Brij®C-10/Pluronic®L-31 mixture produced the smallest droplet size (148 nm) with the lowest PDI (0.210), viscosity (3.35 cPs), and zeta potential (－31.09 mV). The concentration of the Brij®C-10/Pluronic®L-31 mixture, used as an emulsifier of SIO-NEs, varied from 1.5% to 9%. Based on the present findings, the most suitable concentration of mixed emulsifier used was deemed as 3% (w/v). The selected SIO-NEs were stored under room temperature to determine their droplet size stability, with the constant slightly increasing within 90 days of storage.

Preparation and in vivo absorption evaluation of spray dried powders containing salmon calcitonin loaded chitosan nanoparticles for pulmonary delivery.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to prepare inhalable co-spray dried powders of salmon calcitonin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (sCT-CS-NPs) with mannitol and investigate pulmonary absorption in rats. METHODS: The sCT-CS-NPs were prepared by the ionic gelation method using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a cross-linking polyion. Inhalable dry powders were obtained by co-spray drying aqueous dispersion of sCT-CS-NPs and mannitol. sCT-CS-NPs co-spray dried powders were characterized with respect to morphology, particle size, powder density, aerodynamic diameter, protein integrity, in vitro release of sCT, and aerosolization. The plasmatic sCT levels following intratracheal administration of sCT-CS-NPs spray dried powders to the rats was also determined. RESULTS: sCT-CS-NPs were able to be incorporated into mannitol forming inhalable microparticles by the spray drying process. The sCT-CS-NPs/mannitol ratios and spray drying process affected the properties of the microparticles obtained. The conformation of the secondary structures of sCTs was affected by both mannitol content and spray dry inlet temperature. The sCT-CS-NPs were recovered after reconstitution of spray dried powders in an aqueous medium. The sCT release profile from spray dried powders was similar to that from sCT-CS-NPs. In vitro inhalation parameters measured by the Andersen cascade impactor indicated sCT-CS-NPs spray dried powders having promising aerodynamic properties for deposition in the deep lung. Determination of the plasmatic sCT levels following intratracheal administration to rats revealed that the inhalable sCT-CS NPs spray dried powders provided higher protein absorption compared to native sCT powders. CONCLUSION: The sCT-CS-NPs with mannitol based spray dried powders were prepared to have appropriate aerodynamic properties for pulmonary delivery. The developed system was able to deliver sCT via a pulmonary route into the systemic circulation.