Glycyrrhizin mediated liver-targeted alginate nanogels delivers quercetin to relieve acute liver failure

Fabrication and in vitro/vivo evaluation of quercetin nanocrystals stabilized by glycyrrhizic acid for liver targeted drug delivery

The purpose of this study was to design novel drug nanocrystals (NCs) stabilized by glycyrrhizic acid (GL) for achieving liver targeted drug delivery due to the presence of GL receptor in the hepatocytes. Quercetin (QT) exhibits good pharmacological activities for the treatment of liver diseases, including liver steatosis, fatty hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. It was selected as a model drug owing to its poor water solubility. QT NCs stabilized by GL (QT-NCs/GL) were fabricated by wet media milling technique and systemically evaluated. QT-NCs stabilized by poloxamer 188 (QT-NCs/P188) were prepared as a reference for comparison of in vitro and in vivo performance with QT-NCs/GL. QT-NCs/GL and QT-NCs/P188 with similar particle size around 130 nm were successfully fabricated by wet media milling technique. Both of QT-NCs/GL and QT-NCs/P188 showed irregular particles and short rods under SEM. XRPD revealed that QT-NCs/GL and QT-NCs/P188 remained in crystalline state with reduced crystallinity. QT-NCs/GL and QT-NCs/P188 exhibited significant solubility increase and drug release improvement of QT as compared to raw QT. No significant difference for the plasma concentration-time curves and pharmacokinetic parameters of QT were found following intravenous administration of QT-NCs/GL and QT-NCs/P188. However, a significantly higher liver distribution of QT following intravenous administration of QT-NCs/GL was observed in comparison to QT-NCs/P188, indicating QT-NCs stabilized by GL could achieve liver targeted delivery of QT. It could be concluded that GL used as stabilizer of QT NCs have a great potential for liver targeted drug delivery.

Improving the properties of whey protein isolate-zein nanogels with novel acidifiers: Re-dispersity, stability and quercetin bioavailability

Low bioavailability of quercetin (Que) reduces its preclinical and clinical benefits. In order to improve Que bioavailability, a novel whey protein isolate (WPI)-zein nanogel was prepared by pH-driven self-assembly and heat-induced gelatinization. The results showed that hydrochloric acid can be substituted by both acetic acid and citric acid during the pH-driven process. After encapsulation, the bioavailability of Que in nanogels (composed of 70 % WPI) induced by different acidifiers increased to 19.89 % (citric acid), 21.65 % (hydrochloric acid) and 24.34 % (acetic acid), respectively. Comparatively, nanogels induced by acetic acid showed higher stability (pH and storage stability), re-dispersibility (75.62 %), Que bioavailability (24.34 %), and antioxidant capacity (36.78 % for DPPH scavenging rates). s improved performance of nanogels. In mechanism, acetic acid significantly balanced different intermolecular forces by weakening "acid-induced denaturation" effect. Moreover, the faster binding of Que and protein as well as higher protein molecular flexibility and randomness (higher ratio of random coil) was also observed in nanogels induced by acetic acid. All of these changes contributed to improve nanogels performances. Overall, WPI-zein nanogels induced by acetic acid might be a safe, efficiency and stable delivery system to improve the bioavailability of hydrophobic active ingredients.

Glycyrrhizin and the Related Preparations: An Inspiring Resource for the Treatment of Liver Diseases

Liver diseases and their related complications endanger the health of millions of people worldwide. The prevention and treatment of liver diseases are still serious challenges both in China and globally. With the improvement of living standards, the prevalence of metabolic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, has increased at an alarming rate, resulting in more cases of end-stage liver disease. Therefore, the discovery of novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver diseases is urgently needed. Glycyrrhizin (GL), a triterpene glycoside from the roots of licorice plants, possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. Currently, GL preparations (GLPs) have certain advantages in the treatment of liver diseases, with good clinical effects and fewer adverse reactions, and have shown broad application prospects through multitargeting therapeutic mechanisms, including antisteatotic, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antifibrotic, anticancer, and drug interaction activities. This review summarizes the currently known biological activities of GLPs and their medical applications in the treatment of liver diseases, and highlights the potential of these preparations as promising therapeutic options and their alluring prospects for the treatment of liver diseases.

A bibliometric review of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (licorice) research: Insights and future directions

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, a Chinese herb known as licorice, is frequently incorporated in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulations, due to its significant medicinal value and sweet taste. Despite licorice's merits, no systematic scientometric study has yet been conducted to analyze licorice research trends over the past 25 years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We conducted this study with the aim to provide researchers with a comprehensive overview of research advances in the application of licorice as a TCM ingredient and to offer valuable insights to guide future endeavors in this research field.

METHODS

We selected licorice-related research papers published between 1997 and 2021 from the Web of Science Core Collection then conducted a scientometric analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software tools.

RESULTS

A total of 4883 licorice-related publications, including 4511 research papers, 372 review papers, and their cited references, were included in the analysis. Most of these articles were authored by researchers in China (36.8%), including major contributors Wang Ying, Ye Min, and Zhang Yu. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology (impact factor = 5.4) hosted the greatest number of papers (145 articles). Keyword cluster analysis revealed three keyword categories indicating that current licorice research is focused on licorice quality control and identification of licorice active ingredients and associated pharmacological mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comprehensive overview of licorice-related research trends over the past 25 years as based on quantitative and qualitative analyses of published licorice-related articles. The results of this multi-level analysis of licorice research related to TCM formulations, chemical compositions, and pharmacological effects should provide valuable reference data and insights to guide future research endeavors in this field.

Solution blow spun bilayer chitosan/polylactic acid nanofibrous patch with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for accelerating acne healing

The quercetin (QC) loaded chitosan (CS) nanofibrous patch (CSQC) was designed and fabricated successfully by solution blow spinning (SBS). And it was employed to explore a functional double-layer nanofibrous patch (CSQC/PLA) with polylactic acid (PLA) for overcoming the resistance of acne-causing bacteria to antibiotics and local cutaneous irritation. The nanofibrous patch possessed a fluffy bilayer structure with good air permeability, which may be befitted from the SBS method. The 10 % QC loaded CSQC0.10/PLA had sustained release ability of QC for 24 h. A high free radical clearance rate (91.18 ± 2.26 %) and robust antibacterial activity against P. acnes (94.4 %) were achieved for CSQC0.10/PLA with excellent biocompatibility. Meanwhile, E. coli and S. aureus were also suppressed with 99.4 % and 99.2 %, respectively. Moreover, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) was significantly reduced, conducive to acne healing. Therefore, the CSQC0.10/PLA bilayer nanofibrous patch designed here may shed some light on developing multifunctional materials for treating acne infectious wounds.

Preparation of Tetrandrine Nanocrystals by Microfluidic Method and Its In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

The anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of TET are acknowledged, but its application is hindered by its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Conventional methods for nanocrystal preparation are laborious and lack control. To address these limitations, we propose employing the microfluidic method in the preparation of TET nanocrystals, aiming to enhance the aforementioned constraints. The objectives of this study were to prepare TET nanocrystals (TET-NC@GL) using a Y-microfluidic method with glycyrrhetinic acid (GL) as a stabilizer. The optimal preparation prescription was determined through a single-factor test and Box-Behnken response surface method. Additionally, the nanocrystals prepared with the commonly used stabilizer polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVPK30), known as TET-NC@PVPK30, were characterized and evaluated for their toxicity to HepG2 cells. Hybridized nanocrystals (TET-HNC@GL and TET-HNC@PVPK30) were synthesized using a water-soluble aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe (TVP). Qualitative and quantitative cellular uptake experiments were conducted using these hybridized nanocrystals. Conducting in vivo pharmacokinetic assays evaluates the relative bioavailability of nanocrystals. The results indicated that TET-NC@GL, optimized using the response surface method, had a particle size of 136.47 ± 3.31 nm and a PDI of 0.219 ± 0.002. The administration of TET-NC@GL significantly enhanced the cell inhibition rate compared to the TET group and the TET-NC@PVPK30 group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the qualitative and quantitative cellular uptake results revealed a significant enhancement in cellular uptake in the TET-HNC@GL administration group compared to the TET-HNC@PVPK30 group (P < 0.01). In vivo pharmacokinetic results showed that the bioavailability of TET-NC@GL group was 3.5 times higher than that of the TET group. The results demonstrate the successful preparation of TET-NC@GL nanocrystals.

Layer-by-layer reinforced-mediated sustained-release nanoantioxidants for long-lasting prevention against drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a commonly encountered and diagnostically complex etiology of acute liver failure, characterized by early indications of hepatic oxidative stress. The most economical approach for DILI treatment is effective and durable oxidative stress prevention. Herein, we propose a long-lasting nanoantioxidant called PDA-Zn-BAI NPs characterized by sustained-release of baicalein (a natural antioxidant) for the long-lasting prevention of DILI. It is constructed using dopamine as an intermediate and layer-by-layer reinforcement strategy based on Zn2+-mediated coordination bonding, π-π stacking, and steric hindrance made of polydopamine network. Optimized PDA-Zn-BAI NPs performed a satisfactory sustained-release effect (36.67% ± 6.67 in normal condition and 60.32% ± 3.19 in acid condition of cumulative release within 5 days). Furthermore, it's been found that PDA-Zn-BAI NPs could continuously be accumulated in the liver with negligible hepatotoxicity and were activated to effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species to break off the damage of acetaminophen to the liver within 5 days (ALT as an indicator, > 70% prevention effect lasts for 5 days), which was vital for the long-lasting prevention of DILI. The long-lasting detoxification by PDA-Zn-BAI NPs in patients with DILI suggested a potential clinical application, especially for those patients who need prolonged administration of hepatotoxic drugs.

Micro-simulation insights into the functional and mechanistic understanding of glycyrrhizin against asthma

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease, which causes inflammation and airway stenosis, leading to dyspnea, wheezing and chest tightness. Using transgelin-2 as a target, we virtually screened the lead compound glycyrrhizin from the self-built database of anti-asthma compounds by molecular docking technology, and found that it had anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-asthma pharmacological effects. Then, molecular dynamics simulations were used to confirm the stability of the glycyrrhizin-transgelin-2 complex from a dynamic perspective, and the hydrophilic domains of glycyrrhizin was found to have the effect of targeting transgelin-2. Due to the self-assembly properties of glycyrrhizin, we explored the formation process and mechanism of the self-assembly system using self-assembly simulations, and found that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were the main driving forces. Because of the synergistic effect of glycyrrhizin and salbutamol in improving asthma, we revealed the mechanism through simulation, and believed that salbutamol adhered to the surface of the glycyrrhizin nano-drug delivery system through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, using the targeting effect of the hydrophilic domains of glycyrrhizin to reach the pathological parts and play a synergistic anti-asthmatic role. Finally, we used network pharmacology to predict the molecular mechanisms of glycyrrhizin against asthma, which indicated the direction for its clinical transformation.

Antibacterial and Antihemolytic Activity of New Biomaterial Based on Glycyrrhizic Acid and Quercetin (GAQ) against Staphylococcus aureus

The goal of this study is to obtain and characterize the complex of quercetin with glycyrrhizic acid, which is known to serve as a drug delivery system. Quercetin is a flavonoid with a wide range of biological activities, including an antimicrobial effect. However, quercetin instability and low bioavailability that limits its use in medical practice makes it necessary to look for new nanoformulations of it. The formation of the GAQ complex (2:1) was confirmed by using UV and FT-IR spectroscopies. It was found that the GAQ exhibited antimicrobial and antihemolytical activities against S. aureus bacteria and its main virulent factor-α-hemolysin. The IC₅₀ value for the antihemolytical effect of GAQ was 1.923 ± 0.255 µg/mL. Using a fluorescence method, we also showed that the GAQ bound tightly to the toxin that appears to underlie its antihemolytic activity. In addition, another mechanism of the antihemolytic activity of the GAQ against α-hemolysin was shown, namely, its ability to increase the rigidity of the outer layer of the erythrocyte membrane and thus inhibit the incorporation of α-hemolysin into the target cells, increasing their resistance to the toxin. Both of these effects of GAQ were observed at concentrations below the MIC value for S. aureus growth, indicating the potential of the complex as an antivirulence agent.

A novel type lavandulyl flavonoid from Sophora flavescens as potential anti-hepatic injury agent that inhibit TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Sophora flavescens Aiton, was a crucial source of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has benefited human health for hundreds of years. Alkaloids and flavonoids were the major bioactive constituents from S. flavescens, which had been widely used for liver disease treatment in China. However, the liver-protective components of flavonoids from S. flavescens and their mechanism of action were not clear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work aimed to evaluate the in vitro hepatoprotective activities of 35 flavonoids from S. flavescens and screen active compounds. Furthermore, it was conducted to demonstrate the hepatoprotective effects of a new active compound (kurarinol A, 1) was isolated by authors and the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract form S. flavescens against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic injury in Kunming (KM) mice, meanwhile revealed the potential mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 35 flavonoids from S. flavescens were co-incubated with HepG2 cells and treated with 0.35% CCl₄ for 6 h cell viability was measured by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt) (MTS) assay. Then, in vivo animal experiments, the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum were analyzed, the degree of hepatic injury was examined using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, the mRNA expression of Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2), Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and the protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B p65/p-p65 (NF-κB p65/p-p65), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), IL-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) in hepatic tissues were detected.

RESULTS

The lavandulyl flavonoid (kurarinol A, 1) and the EtOAc extract from S. flavescens showed protective effects on CCl₄-injured HepG2 cells, increasing cell viability from 24.5% to 61.3% and 91.8%, respectively. What's more, we found that treatment with kurarinol A (1) and the EtOAc extract lead to a significant reduction in hepatotoxicity in response to acute CCl₄ exposure. Compared with the model group, experimental results exhibited kurarinol A (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and the EtOAc extract (300 mg/kg, i.p.) could decrease the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and tissue damage. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that up-regulated the mRNA expression of SOD2, Nrf2, OH-1 and down-regulated the IL-1β in liver tissues, respectively. Additionally, Western blot analyses elucidated that inhibition of IL-1β, TLR2, COX-2, NF-κB (p65/p-p65) via TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway by kurarinol A and the EtOAc extract contribute to its hepatoprotective activity.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that the novel compound (kurarinol A, 1) possessed notable hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄. It was confirmed that kurarinol A had a certain effect on mice with liver damage induced by CCl₄, and its mechanism could be include inhibiting inflammation and reducing of oxidative stress reaction by regulating expression of related genes and proteins. Thus, kurarinol A could as a novel active agent that contributes to the hepatoprotective activity of S. flavescens for the treatment of live injury.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Delivery of Natural Bioactive Agents: Recent Advances and Challenges

In the last few decades, several natural bioactive agents have been widely utilized in the treatment and prevention of many diseases owing to their unique and versatile therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective action. However, their poor aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, low GIT stability, extensive metabolism as well as short duration of action are the most shortfalls hampering their biomedical/pharmaceutical applications. Different drug delivery platforms have developed in this regard, and a captivating tool of this has been the fabrication of nanocarriers. In particular, polymeric nanoparticles were reported to offer proficient delivery of various natural bioactive agents with good entrapment potential and stability, an efficiently controlled release, improved bioavailability, and fascinating therapeutic efficacy. In addition, surface decoration and polymer functionalization have opened the door to improving the characteristics of polymeric nanoparticles and alleviating the reported toxicity. Herein, a review of the state of knowledge on polymeric nanoparticles loaded with natural bioactive agents is presented. The review focuses on frequently used polymeric materials and their corresponding methods of fabrication, the needs of such systems for natural bioactive agents, polymeric nanoparticles loaded with natural bioactive agents in the literature, and the potential role of polymer functionalization, hybrid systems, and stimuli-responsive systems in overcoming most of the system drawbacks. This exploration may offer a thorough idea of viewing the polymeric nanoparticles as a potential candidate for the delivery of natural bioactive agents as well as the challenges and the combating tools used to overcome any hurdles.

Smart Stimuli-responsive Alginate Nanogels for Drug Delivery Systems and Cancer Therapy: A Review

Nanogels are three-dimensional networks at the nanoscale level that can be fabricated through physical or chemical processes using polymers. These nanoparticles' biocompatibility, notable stability, efficacious drug-loading capacity, and ligand-binding proficiency make them highly suitable for employment as drug-delivery vehicles. In addition, they exhibit the ability to react to both endogenous and exogenous stimuli, which may include factors such as temperature, illumination, pH levels, and a diverse range of other factors. This facilitates the consistent administration of the drug to the intended site. Alginate biopolymers have been utilized to encapsulate anticancer drugs due to their biocompatible nature, hydrophilic properties, and cost-effectiveness. The efficacy of alginate nano gel-based systems in cancer treatment has been demonstrated through multiple studies that endorse their progress toward clinical implementation. This paper comprehensively reviews alginate and its associated systems in drug delivery systems.

Antioxidant Activities of Natural Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives for Biomedical and Medicinal Applications

Many chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are closely related to in vivo oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Natural polysaccharides, as a kind of biomacromolecule with good biocompatibility, have been widely used in biomedical and medicinal applications due to their superior antioxidant properties. In this review, scientometric analysis of the highly cited papers in the Web of Science (WOS) database finds that antioxidant activity is the most widely studied and popular among pharmacological effects of natural polysaccharides. The antioxidant mechanisms of natural polysaccharides mainly contain the regulation of signal transduction pathways, the activation of enzymes, and the scavenging of free radicals. We continuously discuss the antioxidant activities of natural polysaccharides and their derivatives. At the same time, we summarize their applications in the field of pharmaceutics/drug delivery, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial food additives/packaging materials. Overall, this review provides up-to-date information for the further development and application of natural polysaccharides with antioxidant activities.

Advances in Delivering Oxidative Modulators for Disease Therapy

Oxidation modulators regarding antioxidants and reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducers have been used for the treatment of many diseases. However, a systematic review that refers to delivery system for divergent modulation of oxidative level within the biomedical scope is lacking. To provide a comprehensive summarization and analysis, we review pilot designs for delivering the oxidative modulators and the main applications for inflammatory treatment and tumor therapy. On the one hand, the antioxidants based delivery system can be employed to downregulate ROS levels at inflammatory sites to treat inflammatory diseases (e.g., skin repair, bone-related diseases, organ dysfunction, and neurodegenerative diseases). On the other hand, the ROS inducers based delivery system can be employed to upregulate ROS levels at the tumor site to kill tumor cells (e.g., disrupt the endogenous oxidative balance and induce lethal levels of ROS). Besides the current designs of delivery systems for oxidative modulators and the main application cases, prospects for future research are also provided to identify intelligent strategies and inspire new concepts for delivering oxidative modulators.

Tungsten disulfide nanoflowers with multi-nanoenzyme activities for the treatment of acute liver injury

In this study, polyvinyl pyrrolidone modified tungsten disulfide (WS₂-PVP) nanoflower was synthesized using a simple and effective one-pot method. Owing to the surface polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) modification, WS₂-PVP nanoflowers showed excellent colloidal stability in different circumstances, which can be well dispersed in water, saline, and cell culture medium. Meanwhile, the WS₂-PVP nanoflowers have a good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Further studies confirmed that the WS₂-PVP nanoflowers have the ability of simulating catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, WS₂-PVP nanoflowers were used to treat reactive oxygen species-related diseases, which showed the cell protection effect and significantly improved the treatment results of acute liver injury on mice. We hope that our findings will facilitate the development of nanomaterials with multiple enzymatic mimicking properties and further clinical application of tungsten-based ROS scavengers in biomedical therapy and research.

Recent advances in glycyrrhizin metabolism, health benefits, clinical effects and drug delivery systems for efficacy improvement; a comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Glycyrrhizin (GL) is a major active constituent of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) that is considered one of the oldest and most frequently employed botanicals in Chinese medicine and worldwide, with most effects attributed to its rich GL content. Structurally, GL a triterpene saponin that is widely used as a flavoring agent in foodstuffs and cosmetics, and also proposed for various clinical applications with a myriad of health benefits. Pharmacological and biological activities of GL include antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities (in vitro and in vivo). Currently, there is no comprehensive review on GL biological effects and its action mechanisms.

PURPOSE

This review summarizes GL pharmacological actions from a molecular biology perception, presented on its metabolism and side effects based on in vitro, in vitro and clinical studies. Moreover, the potential of GL as a nanomedicine delivery system is also summarized. The progress in drug delivery research using GL presented herein is expected to provide a theoretical basis for developing other novel drugs formulations.

METHODS

A systematic review was carried out in several electronic databases (Science Direct, SpringerLink, CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, and Scopus), using the following key words: glycyrrhizin "AND" bioactivity "OR" clinic "OR" therapeutic "OR" drug delivery. This search included manuscripts published between 1989 and 2021.

RESULTS

126 researches were selected and summarized in this review. The analysis of these studies indicated that GL has antiviral activity against different viruses. Further, GL efficiently suppressed the respiratory manifestations associated with COVID-19 by reducing the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) that employed by the virus as an entry point. Otherwise, GL was found to induce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, and anticancer activity. Besides, diminution the particle size of GL to nanometer size significantly augments their action and biodistribution.

CONCLUSION

This article summarizes the pharmacological actions of GL. The potential of GL as a nanomedicine delivery system is also presented. Nevertheless, most studies reported provide no deep insight of GL health effects warranting for more future studies to elucidate its action mechanism and potential therapeutic benefits through preclinical and clinical trials.

Hard, Soft, and Hard-and-Soft Drug Delivery Carriers Based on CaCO3 and Alginate Biomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, Pharmaceutical Applications

Because free therapeutic drug molecules often have adverse effects on normal tissues, deliver scanty drug concentrations and exhibit a potentially low efficacy at pathological sites, various drug carriers have been developed for preclinical and clinical trials. Their physicochemical and toxicological properties are the subject of extensive research. Inorganic calcium carbonate particles are promising candidates as drug delivery carriers owning to their hardness, porous internal structure, high surface area, distinctive pH-sensitivity, low degradability, etc, while soft organic alginate hydrogels are also widely used because of their special advantages such as a high hydration, bio-adhesiveness, and non-antigenicity. Here, we review these two distinct substances as well as hybrid structures encompassing both types of carriers. Methods of their synthesis, fundamental properties and mechanisms of formation, and their respective applications are described. Furthermore, we summarize and compare similarities versus differences taking into account unique advantages and disadvantages of these drug delivery carriers. Moreover, rational combination of both carrier types due to their performance complementarity (yin-&yang properties: in general, yin is referred to for definiteness as hard, and yang is broadly taken as soft) is proposed to be used in the so-called hybrid carriers endowing them with even more advanced properties envisioned to be attractive for designing new drug delivery systems.

Identifying the Mechanism of Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix in Treating Acute Liver Failure Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Materials and Methods

The potential bioactive compounds of PCRR and their targets were collected from TCMSP, TCMID, and BATMAN-TCM databases with absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion protocols (oral bioavailability ≥30% and drug-likeness ≥0.18). The ALF-related target genes were identified using the GeneCards and OMIM databases. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network among these targets was constructed using the Cytoscape software to obtain the core targets. The genes associated with ALF were analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses to identify the signaling pathways related to the therapeutic effect of PCRR in ALF.

Results

In total, 10 bioactive compounds of PCRR and 200 targets related to them were obtained, and 2913 ALF-related target genes were identified. PPI network analysis pinpointed 15 core targets, namely, TP53, AKT1, JUN, HSP90AA1, MAPK1, RELA, TNF, ESR1, IL6, MYC, MAPK14, FOS, RB1, CDKN1A, and EGFR. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that the therapeutic mechanisms of PCRR in ALF are related to cell metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatocyte apoptosis.

Conclusion

This is the first study to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of PCRR in ALF via network pharmacology and molecular docking. This study provides a research platform with candidate ALF-related targets of PRCC for the development of therapeutics against ALF.

The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)-Derived Compounds in Intestinal Disorders

Intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC), are a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidemiological data have shown that IBD patients are at an increased risk for the development of CRC. IBD-associated cancer develops against a background of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and their products contribute to cancer development and progression. Therefore, the discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of intestinal diseases is urgently needed. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been largely used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. Licorice and its derived compounds possess antiallergic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. These pharmacological properties aid in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological potential of bioactive compounds derived from Licorice and addresses their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We also discuss how the mechanisms of action in these compounds can influence their effectiveness and lead to therapeutic effects on intestinal disorders.

Marine Polysaccharides in Tailor- Made Drug Delivery

Abstract:

Marine sources have attracted much interest as an emerging source of biomaterials in drug delivery applications. Amongst all other marine biopolymers, polysaccharides have been the mostly investigated class of biomaterials. The low cytotoxic behavior, in combination with the newly explored health benefits of marine polysaccharides has made it one of the prime research areas in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. In this review, we focused on all available marine polysaccharides, including their classification based on biological sources. The applications of several marine polysaccharides in recent years for tissue-specific novel drug delivery including gastrointestinal, brain tissue, transdermal, ocular, liver, and lung have also been discussed here. The abundant availability in nature, cost-effective extraction, and purification process along with a favorable biodegradable profile will encourage researchers to continue investigating marine polysaccharides for exploring newer applications in targeting specific delivery of therapeutics.