Improved Activity of Herbal Medicines through Nanotechnology

Nanodrug Delivery Systems for Myasthenia Gravis: Advances and Perspectives

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease caused by the production of autoantibodies against the postsynaptic membrane receptors present at the neuromuscular junction. This condition is characterized by fatigue and muscle weakness, including diplopia, ptosis, and systemic impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that in addition to immune dysregulation, the pathogenesis of MG may involve mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis. Mitochondria are the primary site of energy production, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated due to mitochondrial dysfunction can induce ferroptosis. Nanomedicines have been extensively employed to treat various disorders due to their modifiability and good biocompatibility, but their application in MG management has been rather limited. Nevertheless, nanodrug delivery systems that carry immunomodulatory agents, anti-oxidants, or ferroptosis inhibitors could be effective for the treatment of MG. Therefore, this review focuses on various nanoplatforms aimed at attenuating immune dysregulation, restoring mitochondrial function, and inhibiting ferroptosis that could potentially serve as promising agents for targeted MG therapy.

Romanian Wild-Growing Chelidonium majus-An Emerging Approach to a Potential Antimicrobial Engineering Carrier System Based on AuNPs: In Vitro Investigation and Evaluation

Novel nanotechnology based on herbal products aspires to be a high-performing therapeutic platform. This study reports the development of an original engineering carrier system that jointly combines the pharmacological action of Chelidonium majus and AuNPs, with unique properties that ensure that the limitations imposed by low stability, toxicity, absorption, and targeted and prolonged release can be overcome. The metabolite profile of Romanian wild-grown Chelidonium majus contains a total of seventy-four phytochemicals belonging to eight secondary metabolite categories, including alkaloids, amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, fatty acids, sterols, and miscellaneous others. In this study, various techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM, DLS, and TG/DTG) were employed to investigate his new carrier system's morpho-structural and thermal properties. In vitro assays were conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potential and release profile. The results indicate 99.9% and 94.4% dissolution at different pH values for the CG-AuNPs carrier system and 93.5% and 85.26% for greater celandine at pH 4 and pH 7, respectively. Additionally, three in vitro antioxidant assays indicated an increase in antioxidant potential (flavonoid content 3.8%; FRAP assay 24.6%; and DPPH 24.4%) of the CG-AuNPs carrier system compared to the herb sample. The collective results reflect the system's promising perspective as a new efficient antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory candidate with versatile applications, ranging from target delivery systems, oral inflammation (periodontitis), and anti-age cosmetics to extending the shelf lives of products in the food industry.

Synergistic Effect of Nilavembu Choornam-Gold Nanoparticles on Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Susceptibility and Contact Lens Contamination-Associated Infectious Pathogenicity

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial colonies mitigate rapid biofilm formation and have complex cell wall fabrications, making it challenging to penetrate drugs across their biofilm barriers. The objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial susceptibility of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and contact lens barrenness. Nilavembu Choornam-Gold Nanoparticles (NC-GNPs) were synthesized using NC polyherbal extract and characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer, SEM-EDX, XRD, Zeta sizer, FTIR, and TEM analysis. Contact lenses with overnight cultures of antibiotic-resistant bacteria K. pneumoniae and S. aureus showed significant differences in growth, biofilm formation, and infection pathogenicity. The NC-GNPs were observed in terms of size (average size is 57.6 nm) and surface chemistry. A zone of inhibition was calculated for K. pneumoniae 18.8 ± 1.06, S. aureus 23.6 ± 1.15, P. aeruginosa 24.16 ± 0.87, and E. faecalis 24.5 ± 1.54 mm at 24 h of NC-GNPs alone treatment. In electron microscopy studies, NC-GNP-treated groups showed nuclear shrinkage, nuclear disintegration, degeneration of cell walls, and inhibited chromosomal division. In contrast, normal bacterial colonies had a higher number of cell divisions and routinely migrated toward cell multiplications. NC-GNPs exhibited antibacterial efficacy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria when compared to NC extract alone. We suggest that NC-GNPs are highly valuable to the population of hospitalized patients and other people to reduce the primary complications of contact lens contamination-oriented microbial infection and the therapeutic efficiency of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogenicity.

In vitro and in vivo studies of Dragon's blood plant (D. cinnabari)-loaded electrospun chitosan/PCL nanofibers: Cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and wound healing activities

The D. cinnabari plant was loaded into the chitosan (Chn)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers in two forms: resin (D. cinnabari) and its ethyl acetate fraction. The Chn/PCL, Chn/PCL/D. cinnabari (CPD, 1, 3, and 5 %), and Chn/PCL/ethyl acetate extract D. cinnabari (CPED, 1, 3, and 5 %) showed no toxicity against human dermal fibroblast cells. The lactate dehydrogenase assay results indicated that the toxicity of pour, coated D. cinnabari, and CPED nanofibers were lower than 10 and 15 % after 1 and 3 days, respectively. The antibacterial results showed the inhibition zone for ethyl acetate extract D. cinnabari (ED-3 %), the Chn/PCL-2, and CPED3% nanofibers was 8.1, 7.4, 4.2, 5.1 mm, 12.8, 12.4, 21.7, 17.2 mm, and 24.7, 22.9, 37.1, 30.2 mm against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa, respectively. The antibacterial activity results showed synergistic effect between the Chn/PCL and ethyl acetate extract D. cinnabari occurred. The diameter of wounds (1.50 × 1.50 cm diameter) made on the dorsal surface of rabbits reduced to 1.50 × 0.70, 0.50 × 0.30, 1.00 × 1.00, 0.60 × 0.50, 0.20 × 0.05, and 0.00 × 0.00 cm in the presence of ordinary gauze dressing, silver sulfadiazine, ED-3 %, Chn/PCL-2, CPD3%, and CPED3%nanofibers, respectively, after 14 days.

Factors Affecting the Synthesis of Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Using the Desolvation Method

Currently, protein-based nanoparticles are in high demand as drug delivery systems due to their exceptional qualities, including nontoxicity, nonantigenicity, and biodegradability. Other qualities include high nutritional value, abundance of renewable resources, excellent drug binding capacity, greater stability during storage and in vivo, as well as ease of upgrading during manufacture. Examples of protein suitable for this purpose include ovalbumin (OVA) derived from egg white, human serum albumin (HSA), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). To create albumin nanoparticles, six different processes have been investigated in depth and are frequently used in drug delivery systems. These included desolvation, thermal gelation, emulsification, NAB technology, self-assembly, and nanospray drying. Several experimental conditions in the synthesis of albumin nanoparticles can affect the physicochemical characterization. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of various experimental conditions capable of affecting the physicochemical characteristics of BSA nanoparticles formed using the desolvation method. By considering the variation in optimal experimental conditions, a delivery system of BSA nanoparticles with the best physicochemical characterization results could be developed.

Improved Solubility and Activity of Natural Product in Nanohydrogel

With the development of technology, natural material components are widely used in various fields of science. Natural product components in phytochemical compounds are secondary metabolites produced by plants; they have been shown to have many pharmacological activities. Phytochemical compounds obtained from plants have an important role in herbal medicine. Herbal medicine is safer and cheaper than synthetic medicine. However, herbal medicines have weaknesses, such as low solubility, less stability, low bioavailability, and experiencing physical and chemical degradation, reducing their pharmacological activity. Recent herbal nano-delivery developments are mostly plant-based. A nanotechnology-based system was developed to deliver herbal therapies with better bioavailability, namely the nanohydrogel system. Nanohydrogel is a delivery system that can overcome the disadvantages of using herbal compounds because it can increase solubility, increase pharmacological activity and bioavailability, reduce toxicity, slow delivery, increase stability, improve biodistribution, and prevent physical or chemical degradation. This review article aimed to provide an overview of recent advances in developing nanohydrogel formulations derived from natural ingredients to increase solubility and pharmacological activity, as well as a summary of the challenges faced by delivery systems based on nanohydrogel derived from natural materials. A total of 25 phytochemicals derived from natural products that have been developed into nanohydrogel were proven to increase the activity and solubility of these chemical compounds.

Development of Essential Oil Delivery Systems by 'Click Chemistry' Methods: Possible Ways to Manage Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Recently, rare diseases have received attention due to the need for improvement in diagnosed patients' and their families' lives. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, severe, progressive, muscle-wasting disease. Today, the therapeutic standard for treating DMD is corticosteroids, which cause serious adverse side effects. Nutraceuticals, e.g., herbal extracts or essential oils (EOs), are possible active substances to develop new drug delivery systems to improve DMD patients' lives. New drug delivery systems lead to new drug effects, improved safety and accuracy, and new therapies for rare diseases. Herbal extracts and EOs combined with click chemistry can lead to the development of safer treatments for DMD. In this review, we focus on the need for novel drug delivery systems using EOs as the therapy for DMD and the potential use of click chemistry for drug delivery systems. New EO complex drug delivery systems may offer a new approach for improving muscle conditions and mental health issues associated with DMD. However, further research should identify the potential of these systems in the context of DMD. In this review, we discuss possibilities for applying EOs to DMD before implementing expensive research in a theoretical way.

Anti-Aging Potential of Plants of the Anak Dalam Tribe, Jambi, Indonesia

The process of skin aging is a physiological phenomenon that can not be avoided. According to global population data, the rate of aging increases by approximately 13% every year. The impact of skin aging has become a significant concern and challenge for developed countries. Consequently, there has been a search for potential new anti-aging agents. This review aims to provide an overview of the current research status of plants of the Anak Dalam Tribe (Indonesian: Suku Anak Dalam [SAD]; referred to as SAD henceforth) in Jambi Province, Indonesia, for the development of potential new anti-aging agents. One such discovery is a product derived from natural ingredients with the ability to prevent premature aging. These new anti-aging plants have been used for centuries by the Anak Dalam tribe, for treating skin diseases and maintaining skin health through traditional remedies. Recent research on herbal formulations used by the SAD community in Indonesia for skin beauty treatments, reported by Research on Medicinal Plants and Herbs or RISTOJA, indicates that 64 plant species are used for skin care. Among these plants, Toona sinensis, Curcuma heyneana, Curcuma zedoaria, Curcuma longa, and Kaempferia rotunda are the most commonly used medicinal plants with anti-aging properties. T. sinensis is a tree, while the others are herbs. T. sinensis shows the highest potential for development as an anti-aging agent, with its extracts, active fractions, and bioactive quercetin isolates known to possess strong anti-aging activities both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, C. heyneana, C. longa, C. zedoaria, and K. rotunda also show potential for further research, and three of them have demonstrated good potential for in vivo anti-aging activities. Only K. rotunda demonstrates relatively weaker antioxidant activity compared to T. sinensis, C. heyneana, C. longa, and C. zedoaria. Nevertheless, K. rotunda can still be developed to search for potential opportunities as agents with other activities, while T. sinensis, C. heyneana, C. longa, and C. zedoaria in the findings could be an opportunity to explore the potential of new anti-aging agents. In conclusion, of the five medicinal plants traditionally used by the SAD in Jambi, Indonesia, C. longa has received the most extensive research and shows potential for the development of anti-aging solutions. C. zedoaria, C. heyneana and K. rotunda show good potential for in vivo anti-aging activity. T. sinensis is the least-studied medicinal plant. Nevertheless, it has potential for development, as it is widely used by the SAD community for both traditional medicine and skin care.

Pentacyclic Triterpenes from Olive Leaves Formulated in Microemulsion: Characterization and Role in De Novo Lipogenesis in HepG2 Cells

Olea europaea L. leaves contain a wide variety of pentacyclic triterpenes (TTPs). TTPs exhibit many pharmacological activities, including antihyperlipidemic effects. Metabolic alterations, such as dyslipidemia, are an established risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the use of TTPs in the adjunctive treatment of HCC has been proposed as a possible method for the management of HCC. However, TTPs are characterized by poor water solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. In this work, a microemulsion (ME) loading a TTP-enriched extract (EXT) was developed, to overcome these limits and obtain a formulation for oral administration. The extract-loaded microemulsion (ME-EXT) was fully characterized, assessing its chemical and physical parameters and release characteristics, and the stability was evaluated for two months of storage at 4 °C and 25 °C. PAMPA (parallel artificial membrane permeability assay) was used to evaluate the influence of the formulation on the intestinal passive permeability of the TTPs across an artificial membrane. Furthermore, human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells were used as a cellular model to evaluate the effect of EXT and ME-EXT on de novo lipogenesis induced by elevated glucose levels. The effect was evaluated by detecting fatty acid synthase expression levels and intracellular lipid accumulation. ME-EXT resulted as homogeneous dispersed-phase droplets, with significantly increased EXT aqueous solubility. Physical and chemical analyses showed the high stability of the formulation over 2 months. The formulation realized a prolonged release of TTPs, and permeation studies demonstrated that the formulation improved their passive permeability. Furthermore, the EXT reduced the lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells by inhibiting de novo lipogenesis, and the ME-EXT formulation enhanced the inhibitory activity of EXT on intracellular lipid accumulation.

Theoretical design for covering Engeletin with functionalized nanostructure-lipid carriers as neuroprotective agents against Huntington's disease via the nasal-brain route

Objective: To propose a theoretical formulation of engeletin-nanostructured lipid nanocarriers for improved delivery and increased bioavailability in treating Huntington's disease (HD). Methods: We conducted a literature review of the pathophysiology of HD and the limitations of currently available medications. We also reviewed the potential therapeutic benefits of engeletin, a flavanol glycoside, in treating HD through the Keap1/nrf2 pathway. We then proposed a theoretical formulation of engeletin-nanostructured lipid nanocarriers for improved delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and increased bioavailability. Results: HD is an autosomal dominant neurological illness caused by a repetition of the cytosine-adenine-guanine trinucleotide, producing a mutant protein called Huntingtin, which degenerates the brain's motor and cognitive functions. Excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, elevated concentration of ROS and RNS, neuroinflammation, and protein aggregation significantly impact HD development. Current therapeutic medications can postpone HD symptoms but have long-term adverse effects when used regularly. Herbal medications such as engeletin have drawn attention due to their minimal side effects. Engeletin has been shown to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction and suppress inflammation through the Keap1/NRF2 pathway. However, its limited solubility and permeability hinder it from reaching the target site. A theoretical formulation of engeletin-nanostructured lipid nanocarriers may allow for free transit over the BBB due to offering a similar composition to the natural lipids present in the body a lipid solubility and increase bioavailability, potentially leading to a cure or prevention of HD. Conclusion: The theoretical formulation of engeletin-nanostructured lipid nanocarriers has the potential to improve delivery and increase the bioavailability of engeletin in the treatment of HD, which may lead to a cure or prevention of this fatal illness.

Silver Nanoparticles of Artemisia sieberi Extracts: Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities

BACKGROUND

Artemisia sieberi (mugwort) is a member of the daisy family Asteraceae and is widely propagated in Saudi Arabia. A. sieberi has historical medical importance in traditional societies. The current study aimed to assess the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. sieberi. In addition, the study investigated the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from the A. sieberi extract.

METHODS

The ethanolic and aqueous extracts and AgNPs were prepared from the shoots of A. sieberi. The characteristics of AgNPs were assessed by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The antibacterial experiments were performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The fungal species used were Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Candida famata, Candida rhodotorula, and Candida albicans. The antibacterial and antifungal characteristics were evaluated by measuring the diameter of growing organisms in Petri dishes treated with different concentrations of either extracts or AgNPs compared to the untreated controls. Furthermore, TEM imaging was used to investigate any ultrastructure changes in the microbes treated with crude extracts and AgNO₃.

RESULTS

The ethanolic and aqueous extracts significantly decreased the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis (p < 0.001), while P. aeruginosa was not affected. Unlike crude extracts, AgNPs had more substantial antibacterial effects against all species. In addition, the mycelial growth of C. famata was reduced by the treatment of both extracts. C. krusei mycelial growth was decreased by the aqueous extract, while the growth of C. parapsilosis was affected by the ethanolic extract and AgNPs (p < 0.001). None of the treatments affected the growth of C. albicans or C. rhodotorula. TEM analysis showed cellular ultrastructure changes in the treated S. aureus and C. famata compared to the control.

CONCLUSION

The biosynthesized AgNPs and extracts of A. sieberi have a potential antimicrobial characteristic against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains and nullified resistance behavior.