Ibuprofen-loaded calcium phosphate granules: A new bone substitute for local relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis

Artemisia herba-alba: antioxidant capacity and efficacy in preventing chronic arthritis in vivo

Arthritis is a debilitating condition impacting the quality of life for millions worldwide, characterized by pain and inflammation. Understanding the mechanisms of arthritis and developing effective treatments are crucial. This study investigated the hydroethanolic extract of Artemisia herba-alba for its protective potential against arthritis hallmarks, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation in vitro. It also assessed its in vivo anti-arthritic activity. The phytochemical analysis identified various compounds within the extract, with high concentrations of polyphenols and flavonoids. These compounds are associated with numerous health benefits, making A. herba-alba a potential source of valuable phytochemicals. A. herba-alba demonstrated a notable effect in body weight loss, paw edema, and arthritic severity. Histopathological examination revealed structural improvements in bone and muscle tissues, emphasizing its therapeutic potential in managing chronic arthritis. Furthermore, while these findings are promising, further studies are necessary to delve deeper into the mechanisms underlying the observed hematological changes and to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the in vivo results. This research sets the stage for continued exploration, ultimately aiming to unlock the full potential of A. herba-alba in addressing chronic arthritis and enhancing the lives of those affected by this condition.

Antitumoral activity of Caralluma europaea on colorectal and prostate cancer cell lines

Caralluma europaea is a medicinal plant used in Moroccan popular medicine, which has been employed as a remedy attributed to its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antinociceptive, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and antiparasitic properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumor activity of both the methanolic and aqueous extract of C. europaea. The effects of increasing concentrations of aqueous and methanolic extracts on human colorectal cancer HT-29 and HCT116 cell lines and human prostate cancer PC3 and DU145 cell lines were examined on cell proliferation using MTT assay and cell cycle analysis. The induction of apoptosis was also assessed by determining protein expression of caspase-3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage by western blot. The methanolic extract of C. europaea exerted significant antiproliferative effects on HT-29 (IC₅₀ values 73 µg/ml), HCT116 (IC₅₀ values 67 µg/ml), PC3 (IC₅₀ values 63 µg/ml) and DU145 cells (IC₅₀ values 65 µg/ml) after 48 hr treatment. Further, incubation with methanolic extract of C. europaea induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and an apoptotic process for all treated cell lines. In conclusion, the present results suggest that C. europaea, exhibited that these natural compounds are significant apoptosis inducers which may have considerable potential for development of effective natural product anticancer agents.

Multifunctional modified polylactic acid nanofibrous scaffold incorporating sodium alginate microspheres decorated with strontium and black phosphorus for bone tissue engineering

Polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibrous scaffolds have received extensive attention in the field of tissue engineering due to their excellent degradability, biocompatibility and the biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) topographies. However, the cell affinity and osteogenic activity of PLA scaffolds is not satisfactory because of their intrinsic hydrophobicity, the absence of cell recognition sites and the nucleation sites of the in vivo biomineralization. Furthermore, effective anti-inflammatory activity for the in vivo scaffold could not be ignored, so a strategy to develop a multifunctional PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) nanofibrous scaffold with improved hydrophilicity, osteoinductivity, excellent near-infrared photothermal-responsive drug release capacity and anti-inflammatory activity via incorporating sodium alginate microspheres decorated with strontium and ibuprofen-loaded black phosphorus (BP + IBU@SA microspheres) into aminated modified PLLA nanofiber network is proposed in this study. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that the BP + IBU@SA microspheres were homogeneously dispersed into the modified PLLA matrix with uniform nanofiber structure and the chemical composition of the as-prepared scaffolds was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and elemental mapping. The photothermal property of the scaffolds was assessed under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the results manifested that the entrapment of BP nanosheets endowed PLLA nanofibrous scaffold with significantly high photothermal conversion efficiency and optical cycle stability. Meanwhile, the scaffold also displayed an excellent photothermal-responsive intelligent drug release performance toward Sr²⁺ and ibuprofen. Moreover, the in vitro studies revealed that the as-developed scaffolds possessed a good biocompatibility for cell adhesion and proliferation and an improved bioactivity to induce apatite formation. All these results indicated the potential of the fabricated scaffolds in tissue engineering applications.