The Efficacy of Gum Arabic in Managing Diseases: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Clinical Trials

Microencapsulation and nanoencapsulation of bacterial probiotics: new frontiers in Alzheimer's disease treatment

Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, affects millions worldwide. The presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain is the key pathological feature, leading to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Current treatment options include pharmacological approaches such as cholinesterase inhibitors, as well as non-pharmacological strategies like cognitive training and lifestyle modifications. Recently, the potential role of probiotics, particularly strains, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in managing neurodegenerative diseases through the gut-brain axis has garnered significant attention. Probiotics can modulate inflammation, produce neurotransmitters, and support neuronal health, potentially slowing disease progression and alleviating symptoms, such as stress and anxiety. Optimizing the pharmacotherapeutic effects of probiotics is critical and involves advanced formulation techniques, such as microencapsulation and nanoencapsulation. Microencapsulation employs natural or synthetic polymers to protect probiotic cells, enhancing their viability and stability against environmental stressors. Methods like extrusion, emulsion, and spray-drying are used to create microcapsules suited for various applications. Nanoencapsulation, on the other hand, operates at the nanoscale, utilizing polymeric or lipid-based nanoparticles to improve the bioavailability and shelf life of probiotics. Techniques, such as nanoprecipitation and emulsification, are employed to ensure stable nanocapsule formation, thereby augmenting the therapeutic potential of probiotics as nutraceutical agents. This study delves into the essential formulation aspects of microencapsulation and nanoencapsulation for beneficial probiotic strains, aimed at managing Alzheimer's disease by optimizing the gut-brain axis. The insights gained from these advanced techniques promise to enhance probiotic delivery efficacy, potentially leading to improved health outcomes for patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders.

Gum Arabic as a potential candidate in quorum quenching and treatment of periodontal diseases

Periodontal diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions influenced by bacterial biofilm formation and host immune responses, affecting millions worldwide. Traditional treatments like mechanical debridement and systemic antibiotics often face limitations, including biofilm resilience and antibiotic resistance. Gum Arabic (GA), a natural exudate from Acacia trees, presents a promising alternative with its anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory properties. This review highlights the role of GA in periodontal therapy, particularly its ability to interfere with quorum sensing (QS) pathways, specifically the AI-2 signaling system used by key periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. By disrupting QS, GA inhibits biofilm formation, reduces bacterial virulence, and promotes a balanced oral microbiome. GA's prebiotic properties also encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, enhancing the host's immune response while preserving the systemic microbiome. Clinical studies demonstrate GA's effectiveness as an adjunct in periodontal therapy, with significant reductions in plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, and bleeding. This highlights GA's potential as a natural therapeutic agent, offering an effective, antibiotic-sparing option in managing periodontal disease. However, further research is warranted to fully establish GA's role in comprehensive periodontal care and its long-term benefits.

Synthesis and Characterization of Acacia-Stabilized Doxorubicin-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy

The targeted delivery of drugs is vital in breast cancer treatment due to its ability to produce long-lasting therapeutic effects with minimal side effects. This study reports the successful development of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX)-loaded colloidal gold nanoparticles stabilized with acacia gum (AG). Optimization studies varied AG concentrations (0.25% to 3% w/v) to determine optimal conditions for nanoparticle synthesis. The resulting acacia stabilized gold nanoparticles (AGNPs) were characterized using various techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). In vitro drug release studies demonstrated a higher release rate of DOX in sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0) compared to phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4), suggesting an enhanced therapeutic efficacy in acidic tumor environments. Cytotoxicity of DOX-AGNPs and free DOX was assessed in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). The DOX-AGNPs exhibited significantly greater cytotoxicity, indicating enhanced efficacy in targeting cancer cells. This enhancement suggests that adsorbing DOX on the surface of gold nanoparticles can improve drug delivery and effectiveness, potentially reducing side effects compared to pure DOX and traditional delivery methods. Stability tests conducted over six months at 25±1°C showed significant changes in particle size and PDI, suggesting limited stability under these conditions. Overall, the acacia-stabilized gold nanoparticles synthesized in this study exhibit promising characteristics for drug delivery applications, particularly in cancer therapy, with effective drug loading, controlled release, and favorable physicochemical properties.

Therapeutic Potential of Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) in Chronic Kidney Disease Management: A Narrative Review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses significant health challenges globally, particularly in regions like the Middle East. This review evaluates the potential efficacy and safety of Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal), a traditional remedy, in managing CKD. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed and Scopus, focusing on the biochemical, physiological, and therapeutic impacts of Gum Arabic on renal health. Gum Arabic has demonstrated antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties that may benefit renal function, as shown in animal studies. Clinical trials suggest improvements in renal biomarkers, though these are limited by scope and methodology. While promising, the clinical application of Gum Arabic requires cautious interpretation due to gaps in understanding its mechanisms of action. Gum Arabic shows potential as an adjunct treatment for CKD, reflecting both traditional use and preliminary scientific evidence. Future research should focus on its long-term efficacy, safety, and underlying biochemical pathways to better guide its therapeutic use.

Gum acacia dietary fiber: Significance in immunomodulation, inflammatory diseases, and cancer

Gum arabic/acacia (GA), derived from Acacia trees, is a versatile natural product offering a broad spectrum of applications. Its rich content of soluble dietary fibers, coupled with a low caloric profile, renders GA a valuable dietary component associated with numerous health benefits. Furthermore, its fermentation by gut microbiota yields short-chain fatty acids, renowned for their positive impact on health. Immunomodulation, a crucially regulated mechanism in the body, serves to fend off pathogenic infections by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, prolonged synthesis of these cytokines can lead to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and potentially contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify plant-based biomolecules that can effectively reduce inflammation and inhibit inflammation-induced complications or disorders. In this context, edible biomolecules like GA are gaining prominence for their noteworthy immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, in the present review we have explored the role of GA in immunomodulation, inflammation, and inflammation-associated metabolic diseases, and cancer.

Electrochemical sensor based on gum Arabic nanoparticles for rapid and in-situ detection of different heavy metals in real samples

The key solution to combat trace metal pollution and keep the environment, ecosystem, animals, and humans safe is earlier and rapid trace metal detection. For all these reasons, we propose in this work the design of a simple electrochemical sensor functionalized with green nanoparticles for electrochemical detection of the fourth most dangerous heavy metal ions namely copper, zinc, lead, and mercury. The green nanoparticles are fabricated by a one-step, consisting of reducing platinum nanoparticles by a natural gum Arabic polymer. To guarantee the success of these nanoparticles' design, the nanoparticles have been characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, and thermogravimetric TGA techniques. While, for the electrochemical characterization, we have adopted cyclic voltammetry CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy EIS to control different steps of surface modification, and the differential pulse anodic stripping DPAS was monitored to follow up the electrochemical detection of different heavy metals.

Results

have confirmed the good chemical and physical properties of the elaborated nanoparticles. As, the developed sensor showed a specific electrochemical response toward the heavy metal ions separately, with a lower limit of detection lower LOD than that recommended by the World Health Organization, in order of 9.6 ppb for Cu2+, 1.9 ppb for Zn2+, 0.9 ppb for Hg2+, and 4.2 ppb for Pb2+. Impressively, the elaborated sensor has demonstrated also high stability, outstanding sensitivity, and excellent analytical performance.In addition, the elaborated analytical tool has been successfully applied to the determination of various heavy metal ions in real samples, reflecting then its promising prospect in practical application.