Evaluating Non-Conventional Chitosan Sources for Controlled Release of Risperidone

From marine debris to a valuable medical resource: A review on biology, chemistry, ethnopharmacology, bioactivity and application in biomedical materials of cuttlebone

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cuttlebone (CB), also known as SEPIAE ENDOCONCHA, is the inner shell of cuttlefish and has been employed in traditional medicine in numerous countries since antiquity. Despite its significant medicinal value, CB is often underestimated and discarded on the beach as debris in some countries, which considerably impacts the environment and economy.

THE AIM OF THE REVIEW

This study aims to elucidate the value of CB, particularly in the context of its medicinal properties, to promote its rational utilization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

"Haipiaoxiao", "Wuzeigu", "cuttlebone", "cuttle bone", "Sepiae Endoconcha" were used as subject headings for the document retrieval conducted in the CNKI (core journals, CSSCI, CSCD) and Web of Science core collection databases (SCI, SSCI) to collate data pertinent to CB. The bibliometric software VOSviewer was employed to perform keyword co-occurrence analysis on the screened data to determine the research focus of this article. Based on the results of the analysis, a review of relevant articles from scientific databases (e.g., CNKI, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Chinese Herbal Classics, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Doctoral and Master's Theses, and so on) was conducted to explore CB from the perspectives of biology, chemistry, ethnopharmacology, bioactivity, and its application in biomedical materials.

RESULTS

The components of CB include calcium carbonate, protein, peptides, amino acids, nucleosides, polysaccharides, inorganic elements, and other chemical components. Among these components, calcium carbonate is the primary component. Several pharmacological activities have been demonstrated in CB, including hemostatic and anticoagulant effects; antiulcer and wound repair effects; antibacterial and antiviral effects; and anti-hyperphosphatemia, osteogenesis, and antioxidant effects. CB has been observed to be nontoxic. Owing to its distinctive "wall-septa" microscopic structure, layer-by-layer destruction characteristics, and multifaceted biological activities, CB is extensively utilized in materials, particularly those in the biomedical field.

CONCLUSION

CB is a versatile marine product in many fields, including ethnopharmacology and materials science. However, only a limited number of cuttlefish species are currently recognized as sources of medicinal CB. It is essential to comprehensively compare CB from various cuttlefish species to expand the range of potential medicinal uses. Several ethnopharmacological applications of CB require further verification through contemporary research. The processing mechanisms of its processed products needs to be elucidated, and the processing parameters should be quantified and unified to obtain products with homogeneous quality. It is imperative to establish a correlation between the chemical composition of CB and its pharmacological activities to clarify the substance basis of its efficacy.

Population Pharmacodynamic Models of Risperidone on PANSS Total Scores and Prolactin Levels in Schizophrenia

Currently, research predominantly focuses on evaluating clinical effects at specific time points while neglecting underlying patterns within the treatment process. This study aims to analyze the dynamic alterations in PANSS total scores and prolactin levels in patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone, along with the influencing covariates. Using data from an 8-week randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial, a population pharmacodynamic model was established for the PANSS total scores of and prolactin levels in patients treated with risperidone. The base model employed was the Emax model. Covariate selection was conducted using a stepwise forward inclusion and backward elimination approach. A total of 144 patients were included in this analysis, with 807 PANSS total scores and 531 prolactin concentration values. The PANSS total scores of the patients treated with risperidone decreased over time, fitting a proportionally parameterized sigmoid Emax model with covariates including baseline score, course of the disease, gender, plasma calcium ions, and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The increase in prolactin levels conformed to the ordinary Emax model, with covariates encompassing course of the disease, gender, weight, red blood cell count, and triglyceride levels. The impacts of the baseline scores and the course of the disease on the reduction of the PANSS scores, as well as the influence of gender on the elevation of prolactin levels, each exceeded 20%. This study provides valuable quantitative data regarding PANSS total scores and prolactin levels among patients undergoing risperidone treatment across various physiological conditions.

The Use of Shells of Marine Molluscs in Spanish Ethnomedicine: A Historical Approach and Present and Future Perspectives

Since ancient times, the shells of marine molluscs have been used as a therapeutic and/or prophylactic resource. In Spain, they were part of practical guides for doctors or pharmacists until the 19th century. In general, seashells were prepared by dissolving in vinegar and were part of plasters or powders used as toothpaste, or to treat dyspepsia, heartburn and leprosy. Thus, the nacre or mother-of-pearl of various molluscs was regularly used in the Royal Colleges of Surgery and in hospitals during the times of the Cortes of Cadiz, as a medicine in galenic preparations based on powders. In contemporary Spanish ethnomedicine, seashells, with a high symbolic value, have been used as an amulet to prevent cracks in the breasts and promote their development during lactation, to avoid teething pain in young children, to eliminate stains on the face or to cure erysipelas. But, as in other countries, products derived from seashells have also been empirically applied. The two resources used traditionally have been the cuttlebone, the internal shell of cuttlefish and the nacre obtained from the external shells of some species. Cuttlebone, dried and pulverised, has been applied externally to cure corneal leukoma and in dental hygiene. In the case of nacre, a distinction must be made between chemical and physical remedies. Certain seashells, macerated in lemon juice, were used in coastal areas to remove spots on the face during postpartum. However, the most common practice in Spain mainland was to dissolve mother-of-pearl buttons in lemon juice (or vinegar). The substance thus obtained has been used to treat different dermatological conditions of the face (chloasma, acne), as well as to eliminate freckles. For the extraction of foreign bodies in the eyes, a very widespread traditional remedy has been to introduce small mother-of-pearl buttons under the lid. These popular remedies and practices are compared with those collected in classic works of medicine throughout history, and data on the pharmacological activity and pharmaceutical applications of the products used are provided. The use of cuttlebone powders is supported by different works on anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and/or wound healing properties. Nacre powder has been used in traditional medicines to treat palpitations, convulsions or epilepsy. As sedation and a tranquilisation agent, nacre is an interesting source for further drug development. Likewise, nacre is a biomaterial for orthopaedic and other tissue bioengineering applications. This article is a historical, cultural and anthropological view that can open new epistemological paths in marine-derived product research.