ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF AQUEOUS METHANOLIC LEAF AND BARK EXTRACT OF DOLICHANDRONE ATROVIRENS

Objective: The present study was to evaluate the oral toxicity of acute and sub acute studies of methanol leaf and bark extract of Dolichandrone atrovirensMethods: In acute toxicity studies of aqueous methanolic Dolichandrone atrovirens leaf extract(DALE) and Dolichandrone atrovirens bark extracts (DABE) (in 0.3 % sodium CMC) as a single dose (2000 mg/kg) was administered to the Swiss albino mice (20-25 g) by oral route and the animals were observed for mortality and any toxic symptoms up to 14 days. In sub acute toxicity studies the DALE and DABE were administered daily for 28 days at doses ranging from 200-400 mg/kg. The animals were found in signs of toxicity, morbidity and mortality for 28 days. The animals were submitted to observe the serum biochemical markers and weight of the vital organs.Results: The results of 14 days acute toxicity studies up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg of the aqueous methanolic DABE and DALE neither produced mortality nor shows any symptoms of behavior or any physiological changes in body weight, food and water intake. 28 days sub acute studies repeated doses of oral toxicity did not show any toxic signs or any mortality when three doses 200 and 400 mg/kg of the methanolic leaf and bark extracts of Dolichandrone atrovirens administered. No significant changes were integrated in biochemical and hematological parameters when compared with the control group.Conclusion: From the results it is concluded that the dose at 400 mg/kg is safe for long term treatment in diabetic conditions.Â

A Review on DNA Vaccines in Pre-Clinical Trials Against SARS-CoV-2

COVID 19 Pandemic is caused by the viral pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Scientific fraternity worldwide swiftly developed various types of vaccines for the prevention and as mitigation measures for curbing the pandemic. Traditional inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines (protein subunits such as spike proteins), and viral vector vaccines (non-replicating vectors with protein subunits) have been approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use. The emergence of many mutated variants has been a worrying factor in the fight against the pandemic. There has been continuous research in the quest for more therapeutics, especially vaccines to curb and stop the pandemic. According to WHO, there are 194 vaccines in pre-clinical trials belonging to various types out of which sixteen is DNA vaccines. In this review, we have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the DNA vaccines for Covid - 19. This article tried to explore the available information on DNA vaccines and their current status against Covid – 19 which are in pre-clinical trials

Potential COVID -19 Therapeutics in Clinical Trials – A Brief Review

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS – CoV2), the causative viral pathogen of the COVID-19 pandemic belongs to the family of Coronaviruses which are positive single stranded RNA viruses. The scientific fraternity has developed and developing various types of vaccines for prevention against COVID-19, such as inactivated virus vaccines, mRNA vaccines, replicating vector protein subunit vaccines, etc., Out of which ten vaccines namely Novovax, Covovax (protein subunit vaccines), Pfizer BNT16b2, Moderna mRNA 1273 (mRNA vaccines), Johnson & Johnson Ad26, Cov2.S, Astrazeneca AZD1222, Covishield (non-replicating viral vector vaccines), Covaxin, Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV, CoronoVac (inactivated vaccines) have been approved for clinical use by WHO. There is an urgent need for SARS-CoV2 specific therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19 as there is the emergence of various variants such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron, etc. The emergence of variants that possesses immune evading property and spike protein mutation have increased infectivity and more pathogenicity which impelled the need to develop various therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19. This review compiles the information about potential antiviral candidates in preclinical trials intended for the treatment of COVID-19. The clinical development of such antivirals will be very crucial for the treatment of COVID-19 and also to curb the spread as the present scenario depends on the development of effective prophylactic vaccines

STUDIES ON POLY HERBAL POWDER SHAMPOO FOR THE TREATMENT OF PEDICULOSIS CAPITIS AND PITYRIASIS CAPITIS INFESTATIONS

Objective: The main objective of this study was to formulation containing poly herbal medicinal plants, which gives safety, efficacy; rectify the skin disease, scalp disorders and reducing harmful effect from herbal anti-lice and dandruff shampoos for the treatment of Pediculosis capitis and Pityriasis capitis and to prevent hair fall. Methods: The formulation of herbal shampoo with various herbal ingredients were dried, milled, sieved (120#) and mixed in geometrical order and evaluated their physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, particle characters, organoleptic properties, foaming index, skin irritation study, and Anti-lice activity were performed.  Results: The prepared poly herbal powdered shampoo (PHPS) exhibits that was freely soluble, particle 20-25 μm size range and free flowing powder. Lest moisture content (2.5%), ash value, acid value and reduced surface tension of liquid referred as an ideal candidate for foaming, anti-lice potential with no skin irritations. Conclusion: Based on the evaluation parameters, the prepared powdered shampoo helps to remove hair grease, no hair fall and strengthen hair follicles. Preparation of PHPS formulation at laboratory scale and the compounding of several ingredients of herbal source have produced it possible to ensure safety, efficacy and secure highly effective PHPS

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SEMI-SOLID BASES OF NAPROXEN: PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS

Objective: The main objectives of the present investigation work included that the preparation of a suitable naproxen semi-solid dosage form by using different types of semi-solid bases (gel bases, ointment bases) for topical application for the effective treatment of muscle aches. Methods: Different types of semi-solid bases (gel bases and ointment bases) were successfully prepared by the incorporation method to know the effect of semi-solid bases on drug release from topical semi-solid formulations. In all formulations, the drug was added by the levigation method. An evaluation study of prepared formulations, includes physical appearance, spreadability, extrudability, pH was conducted according to official methods. Results: Percent drug release of all formulations was conducted by taking diffusion cells with cellophane membrane and results showed that gel-based formulations showed more drug release than ointment-based formulations. Carbopol gel base (F1) showed more drug release (98.76 %), simple ointment base formulation (F8) showed least drug release (25.11%). From the stability studies reports at various temperature and humidity conditions it is evident that all formulations are stable for one month. In all the formulations, the drug content was observed at 95.75%. Conclusion: Finally concluded that the NXN topical dosage forms can be prepared by using gel-type bases preferably than ointment bases to release more drug from formulations

In Vitro Physical Characterizations and Docking Studies on Carvedilol Nanocrystals

The major goal of this investigation was to prepare carvedilol nanocrystals (CRL-NCs) for better solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Using polyvinyl pyrolidine K-30 (PVP) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as stabilisers, CRL-NCs were effectively synthesised by emulsion-diffusion, followed by the high-pressure homogenization (HPH) method. The AL classes of phase solubility curves with ideal complexes produced with stabilisers were estimated by thermodynamic parameters. The docking study was performed with the active site of a β-1 adrenoreceptor protein, and the CRLs docking score was revealed as −23.481 Kcal/mol−1. At 25 and 37 °C, the optimum interaction constant was determined for PVP (144 and 176 M−1) and SDS (102 and 121 M−1). The average particle size (PS) of the produced stable CRL-NCs is 58 nm, with a zeta potential of −27.2 ± 2.29 mV, a poly dispersibility index of 0.181 ± 0.012, a percentage yield of 78.7 ± 3.41, drug content of 96.81 ± 3.64%, and entrapment efficiency of 83.61 ± 1.80%. The morphological data also reveals that the CRL-NCs were nearly sphere shaped, with distinct and smooth surfaces. CRL-NCs were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the results show no chemical structural alterations, even when PS was reduced. NCs accelerate their in vitro dissolution release rate by about three times faster than CRL-MCs (microcrystals). When kept at 4 °C, the CRL-NCs exhibit good physical stability for six months. As a result, the CRL-NCs created via emulsion-diffusion followed by HPH with stabilisers can be used to increase the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly soluble or lipophilic drugs

Trisodium citrate as a potential and eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor of copper in potable water

In this work, the mixture of trisodium cittrate and Zn2+ was used as binary (hetero type) inhibitor for corrosion inhibition of copper metal in potable water. The binary inhibitor system (Zn2+ and trisodium citrate) was used to form hydrophobic surfaces on copper submerged in potable water. Water contact angle (WCA) was found to be 155°4° when the inhibitor was present, whereas it was 84°2° when there was no inhibitor. These observations suggested the development of superhydrophobic layer on the surface of copper in drinkable water. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS – AC mode), and potentiodynamic polarization (DC mode) experiments conveyed that the copper surface could be protected by utilizing the mixture of trisodium citrate and Zn2+ in potable water. The morphological studies including SEM (coupled with EDX), AFM, and WCA were evidenced the formulation of a hetero-type inhibitor for the corrosion inhibition of copper in potable water. In this study, the decline in the double-layer capacitance and the rise in the charge transfer resistance were due to the adsorption of inhibitor confirming the development of protective layer, which EIS, SEM, EDX, AFM, and WCA studies also supported. Thus, there was a synergism observed between TSC and Zn2+, and the formulation consisting of TSC and Zn2+ provided 83% of inhibition efficiency (IEp). So, it was suggested that the approach reported in this study could be a simple method for obtaining the superhydrophobic copper surface

A Comparative analysis of PESC and PPSC copolyesters: Insights into viscosity, thermal behavior, crystallinity, and biodegradability

The study examined various properties of synthesized copolyesters PESC and PPSC. Inherent viscosities of the copolyesters, measured in 1,4-dioxane at 32 °C, were 0.65 dL/g for PESC and 0.73 dL/g for PPSC. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed distinct absorption bands associated with ester carbonyl stretching, C–H bending vibration, C–H group symmetry stretching, and C–O stretching vibrations. 1H and 13C Nuclear magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to identify specific protons and carbon groups in the polymer chain, revealing the molecular structure of the copolyesters. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) identified the glass transition, melting, and decomposition temperatures for both copolyesters, indicating variations in the crystalline nature of the copolymers. XRD Spectral studies further elaborated on the crystalline nature, indicating that PPSC is less amorphous than PESC. Biodegradation analysis showed that PESC degrades more quickly than PPSC, with degradation decreasing as the number of methylene groups increase. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images depicted the surface morphology of the copolyesters before and after degradation, revealing a more roughened surface with pits post-degradation. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the structural and degradable properties of PESC and PPSC copolyesters

Clinical Investigation of Chemotherapeutic Resistance and miRNA Expressions in Head and Neck Cancers: A Thorough PRISMA Compliant Systematic Review and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Background: Chemoresistance is a significant barrier to combating head and neck cancer, and decoding this resistance can widen the therapeutic application of such chemotherapeutic drugs. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the influence of microRNA (miRNA) expressions on chemoresistance in head and neck cancers (HNC). The objective is to evaluate the theragnostic effects of microRNA expressions on chemoresistance in HNC patients and investigate the utility of miRNAs as biomarkers and avenues for new therapeutic targets. Methods: We performed a comprehensive bibliographic search that included the SCOPUS, PubMed, and Science Direct bibliographic databases. These searches conformed to a predefined set of search strategies. Following the PRISMA guidelines, inclusion and exclusion criteria were framed upon completing the literature search. The data items extracted were tabulated and collated in MS Excel. This spreadsheet was used to determine the effect size estimation for the theragnostic effects of miRNA expressions on chemoresistance in HNC, the hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The comprehensive meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model. Heterogeneity among the data collected was assessed using the Q test, Tau2, I2, and Z measures. Publication bias of the included studies was checked using the Egger’s bias indicator test, Orwin and classic fail-safe N test, Begg and Mazumdar rank collection test, and Duval and Tweedie’s trim and fill methods. Results: After collating the data from 23 studies, dysregulation of 34 miRNAs was observed in 2189 people. These data were gathered from 23 studies. Out of the 34 miRNAs considered, 22 were up-regulated, while 12 were down-regulated. The TaqMan transcription kits were the most used miRNA profiling platform, and miR-200c was seen to have a mixed dysregulation. We measured the overall pooled effect estimate of HR to be 1.516 for the various analyzed miRNA at a 95% confidence interval of 1.303–1.765, with a significant p-value. The null hypothesis test’s Z value was 5.377, and the p-value was correspondingly noted to be less than 0.0001. This outcome indicates that the risk of death is determined to be higher in up-regulated groups than in down-regulated groups. Among the 34 miRNAs that were investigated, seven miRNAs were associated with an improved prognosis, especially with the overexpression of these seven miRNAs (miR15b-5p, miR-548b, miR-519d, miR-1278, miR-145, miR-200c, Hsa- miR139-3p). Discussion: The findings reveal that intricate relationships between miRNAs’ expression and chemotherapeutic resistance in HNC are more likely to exist and can be potential therapeutic targets. This review suggests the involvement of specific miRNAs as predictors of chemoresistance and sensitivity in HNC. The examination of the current study results illustrates the significance of miRNA expression as a theragnostic biomarker in medical oncology

Fatigue behaviour of Kevlar/carbon/basalt fibre-reinforced SiC nanofiller particulate hybrid epoxy composite

It is vital to conduct research on the behaviour of natural fibre composites under cyclic loading in order to have confidence in the mechanical durability. During this study, the fabrication of composite laminates will be carried out by the hybridization effect of natural and synthetic fibres. Quantifying the impact that the SiC filler (10, 20, and 30 g) has when combined with the fibre reinforcement and epoxy matrix (275 g) under cyclic loading circumstances and determining the significant sequence of hybrid composites are the goals of this research. The results of the tensile mode were used to determine the input parameters, and based on the tensile strength of the hybrid composite, 70% of the tensile strength was fixed at 3 Hz frequency as the input for fatigue analysis. The life span was then determined for the hybrid composite. The results of this fatigue test showed that increasing the amount of SiC nanofillers produced a very high potential output for the fatigue test. As a result of increasing the amount of silicon carbide fillers from 10 to 30 g, sample S3 was able to significantly tolerate 65% more life. Failure mode can be identified from scanning electron microscope analysis revealing the major porosity, matrix crack, and laminate bonding strength that causes the failure during fatigue analysis