Toxicological effects of some antiparasitic drugs on equine liver glutathione S-Transferase enzyme activity

Chitosan-ricobendazole complex: Synthesis, characterization and anthelmintic activity

Synthesis, characterization and assessment of therapeutic efficacy of chitosan-ricobendazole complex were carried out for the first time in this work. Study of physico-chemical properties revealed the optimal ratio of chitosan: ricobendazole (30:4). Quantum chemical modeling set the optimal parameters for the formation of the chitosan-ricobendazole molecular system (E = -3765.26 kcal/mol, η = 0.127 eV), which was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy showed spherical particles of chitosan-ricobendazole complex ranging in size from 100 to 200 μm. Study of therapeutic efficiency was conducted on sheep with dicroceliosis. Notably, the therapeutic efficiency of the chitosan-ricobendazole complex (4 mg/kg of ricobendazole) reached 89 %, while the therapeutic efficiency of the commercial preparation ricazole (8 mg/kg of ricobendazole) was 92 %. Biochemical blood test indicated equivalent normalization of hematological parameters in sheep after treatment with ricazole and the chitosan-ricobendazole complex. Histological examination of infected sheep liver revealed that treatment with the chitosan-ricobendazole complex leads to a decrease in the number of helminth eggs with subsequent therapeutic effect on the severity of the disease. This proves the enhanced solubility of ricobendazole at a dosage of 4 mg/kg, active interaction of the components and relatively high bioavailability without increasing the release rate of ricobendazole.

New chalcone derivative, ethyl 2-(4-(3-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)acryloyl)phenoxy)acetate: synthesis, characterization, DFT study, enzyme inhibition activities and docking study

Chalcone derivative, ethyl 2-(4-(3-(benzo[b]thiophen-2yl)acryloyl)phenoxy)acetate (I), was synthesized. Compound I was characterized by proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H- and ¹³C- NMR), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and mass (LC-ESI-MS/MS) spectroscopic methods. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for compound I were performed at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level. Optimized geometry, frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO; highest occupied molecular orbital; LUMO: lowest unoccupied molecular orbital), IR and NMR parameters of compound I were obtained. The evaluations reveal that the calculation results support the experimental results. The inhibition effects of compound I on cholinesterases and GST enzyme were investigated. K_i and inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values were calculated separately. Ki values of compound I were found for GST 14.19 ± 2.15, for AChE 11.13 ± 1.22 and for BChE 8.74 ± 0.76 recpectively. The docking analysis of compound I supported the enzym inhibition activity exhibiting high inhibition constant and binding energy for three receptors. Compound I is strongly bound to AChE, huBChE and Glutathione S-transferase with binding energies -11.24, -8.56 and -10.39 kcal/mol, respectively.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

When pharmaceutical drugs become environmental pollutants: Potential neural effects and underlying mechanisms

Pharmaceutical drugs have become consumer products, with a daily use for some of them. The volume of production and consumption of drugs is such that they have become environmental pollutants. Their transfer to wastewater through urine, feces or rinsing in case of skin use, associated with partial elimination by wastewater treatment plants generalize pollution in the hydrosphere, including drinking water, sediments, soils, the food chain and plants. Here, we review the potential effects of environmental exposure to three classes of pharmaceutical drugs, i.e. antibiotics, antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on neurodevelopment. Experimental studies analyzing their underlying modes of action including those related to endocrine disruption, and molecular mechanisms including epigenetic modifications are presented. In addition, the contribution of brain imaging to the assessment of adverse effects of these three classes of pharmaceuticals is approached.