Antipsoriatic and Anti-inflammatory Studies of Berberis aristata Extract Loaded Nanovesicular Gels

Overcoming Skin Barrier with Transfersomes: Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications

BACKGROUND

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) offer several advantages over traditional methods such as injections and oral administration. These advantages include preventing first-pass metabolism, providing consistent and sustained activity, reducing side effects, enabling the use of short half-life drugs, improving physiological response, and enhancing patient convenience. However, the permeability of skin poses a challenge for TDDS, as it is impermeable to large molecules and hydrophilic drugs but permeable to small molecules and lipophilic drug. To overcome this barrier, researchers have investigated vesicular systems, such as transfersomes, liposomes, niosomes, and ethosomes. Among these vesicular systems, transfersomes are particularly promising for noninvasive drug administration due to their deformability and flexible membrane. They have been extensively studied for delivering anticancer drugs, insulin, corticosteroids, herbal medicines, and NSAIDs through the skin. Transfersomes have demonstrated efficacy in treating skin cancer, improving insulin delivery, enhancing site-specific corticosteroid delivery, and increasing the permeation and therapeutic effects of herbal medicines. They have also been effective in delivering pain relief with minimal side effects using NSAIDs and opioids. Transfersomes have been used for transdermal immunization and targeted drug delivery, offering site-specific release and minimizing adverse effects. Overall, transfersomes are a promising approach for transdermal drug delivery in various therapeutic applications.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present review is to discuss the various advantages and limitations of transfersomes and their mechanism to penetration across the skin, as well as their application for the delivery of various drugs like anticancer, antidiabetic, NSAIDs, herbal drugs, and transdermal immunization.

METHODS

Data we searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.

RESULTS

In this review, we have explored the various methods of preparation of transfersomes and their application for the delivery of various drugs like anticancer, antidiabetic, NSAIDs, herbal drugs, and transdermal immunization.

CONCLUSION

In comparison to other vesicular systems, transfersomes are more flexible, have greater skin penetration capability, can transport systemic medicines, and are more stable. Transfersomes are capable of delivering both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, making them suitable for transdermal drug delivery. The developed transfersomal gel could be used to improve medicine delivery through the skin.

Plant-Based Nanovesicular Gel Formulations Applied to Skin for Ameliorating the Anti-Inflammatory Efficiency

Inflammation is a vascular response that occurs when the immune system responds to a range of stimuli including viruses, allergens, damaged cells, and toxic substances. Inflammation is accompanied by redness, heat, swelling, discomfort, and loss of function. Natural products have been shown to have considerable therapeutic benefits, and they are increasingly being regarded as feasible alternatives for clinical preventative, diagnostic, and treatment techniques. Natural products, in contrast to developed medications, not only contain a wide variety of structures, they also display a wide range of biological activities against a variety of disease states and molecular targets. This makes natural products appealing for development in the field of medicine. In spite of the progress that has been made in the application of natural products for clinical reasons, there are still factors that prevent them from reaching their full potential, including poor solubility and stability, as well limited efficacy and bioavailability. In order to address these problems, transdermal nanovesicular gel systems have emerged as a viable way to overcome the hurdles that are encountered in the therapeutic use of natural products. These systems have a number of significant advantages, including the ability to provide sustained and controlled release, a large specific surface area, improved solubility, stability, increased targeting capabilities and therapeutic effectiveness. Further data confirming the efficacy and safety of nanovesicles-gel systems in delivering natural products in preclinical models has been supplied by extensive investigations conducted both in vitro and in vivo. This study provides a summary of previous research as well as the development of novel nanovesicular gel formulations and their application through the skin with a particular emphasis on natural products used for treatment of inflammation.

The Standardization of Daruharidradi Ghanavati

Background

Many effective formulations are available in Ayurveda for various diseases. These formulations are lagging in standardization due to the absence of reference standards, whereas maintaining quality standards of given medicines is the need of an hour. Daruharidradi Ghanvati is one such combination of six herbal drugs containing Daruharidra, Meshshrungi, Vijaysar, Mamajjak, Jambubija, and Methikabij. Each drug is described in various Ayurvedic antidiabetic formulations.

Aim

The present study was aimed at setting a standard pharmacognostical and pharmaceutical profile of Daruharidradi Ghanavati.

Materials and Methods

The study included the preparation of Daruharidradi Ghanavati using raw drugs. Later, Daruharidradi Ghanavati was subjected to pharmacognostical, physiochemical, and thin-layer chromatography analysis as per standard protocols.

Results

The final observations were recorded. Pharmacognostical findings matched with that of individual raw drugs with no major change in the microscopic structure of the raw drugs during the preparation of Ghanavati.

Conclusion

The quality of Daruharidradi Ghanavati tablet can be tested by pharmacognostical, physiochemical screening for the observations of the present study.

Buccal spray of standardized Berberis aristata extract causes tumour regression, chemoprotection and downregulation of inflammatory mediators in oral cancer hamster model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Berberis aristata (BA) has been described in Ayurveda in formulations for treating conditions related to the buccal cavity, including tumours and inflammation. Oral cancer (OC) is a major global health problem with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Natural product based therapies are being explored as safer therapeutic strategies for OC.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Evaluating the potential of standardized BA extract loaded buccal spray formulation in OC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

BA stem bark extract was prepared using sonication and standardized with respect to Berberine. The standardized extract was characterized and formulated as a buccal spray (SBAE-BS) using hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose K15M, polyethylglycol 400, Miglyol®812N and ethanol. The SBAE-BS was characterized and evaluated in vitro in KB cell line and in vivo in OC hamster model.

RESULTS

The SBAE-BS had pH, viscosity, mucoadhesive strength and BBR content corresponding to 6.8, 25.9 cP, 345 dyne/cm2 and 0.6 mg/mL respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity of SBAE-BS was comparable to 5 fluorouracil (5FU). In hamsters, SBAE-BS treatment lead to tumour regression (p = 0.0345), improved body weights (p < 0.0001), no organ toxicity, downregulation of inflammatory mediators and improved survival outcomes as compared to standard systemic 5FU.

CONCLUSION

Thus, SBAE-BS showed cytotoxic and chemo-protective effects in the OC hamster model, evidencing its ethnopharmacological use and demonstrating translational potential to be developed as therapy for OC.

Indian Traditional Treatments for Psoriasis: A Critical Appraisal of Available Evidence Supporting Efficacy

OBJECTIVE

To examine data from studies supporting the clinical efficacy of medical approaches from India traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy for psoriasis using outcome indicators employed in clinical practice and research.

METHODS

Searches were conducted between December 2019 and September 2020 in databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Ovid Medline using search terms including traditional, complementary, psoriasis, Kushtha, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy and clinical. Controlled trials, case series and case reports published from India were included.

RESULTS

Data of 17 selected studies were extracted. Treatment efficacy in terms of improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score or/and percentage reduction in score (PASI 50, PASI 75 and PASI 90) or/and patient-reported outcomes using instruments like Dermatology Life Quality Index and Psoriasis Disability Index were noted. All studies reported good improvement as per the study specific outcome. However, study characteristics, including study design, sample size, follow-up period, inclusion and exclusion criteria were heterogeneous, and the choice of outcome measures was not adequate to conclude the effectiveness of intervention. The use of some herbs as common ingredients in several formulations across different systems of medicines were noted in analyzing individual formulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies must incorporate a comprehensive study design with specific outcome measures like PASI, PASI 75, PASI 90, quality of life parameters, compliance to medications, adverse reactions, remission period, relapse rate and cost-effectiveness with long term follow-up. The currently available evidence on the roles of these herbs at molecular level in psoriasis is preliminary.

Novel Herbal Nanocarriers for Treatment of Dermatological Disorders

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In the present scenario, the use of novel nanocarriers to provide a better therapy regimen is noteworthy. Nanotechnology with the advanced system enables the herbs for encapsulation within the smart carrier and boosts the nanotherapeutic. These emerging innovations of herbal nanocarriers have paved the way for dermal targeting by eliciting the desired response for particular diseases.

METHODS

In this current manuscript, an extensive search is conducted for the original research papers using databases, viz., Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, etc. Furthermore, painstaking efforts are made to compile and update the novel herbal nanocarriers, such as liposomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, niosomes, nanoemulsions, nanogels, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid carriers, etc., which are mostly used for the treatment of several skin maladies, viz., eczema, psoriasis, acne, etc. This article highlights the recent findings that the innovators are exclusively working on herbal drug delivery systems for dermal targeting, and these are enumerated in the form of tables.

CONCLUSION

Herbal formulations employing a suitable nanocarrier could be a promising approach for the treatment of several pathological conditions, including skin ailments. Therefore, scientific research is still being carried out in this specific area for a better perspective in herbal drug delivery and targeting.

A Comprehensive Review of Therapeutic Approaches Available for the Treatment of Dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Dermatitis or eczema is a prevalent skin disorder worldwide and is also very common as a pediatric inflammatory skin disorder. Its succession gets worse with the multiple comorbidities which exhibit mechanisms that are poorly understood. Its management further becomes a challenge due to the limited effective treatment options available. However, the Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) along with new targeting strategies can easily bypass the issues associated with dermatitis management. If we compare the active constituents against phytoconstituents effective against dermatitis then phytoconstituents can be perceived to be more safe and gentle.

OBJECTIVE

Administration of NDDS of plant extract or actives displays improved absorption behavior, which helps them to permeate through lipid-rich biological membrane leading to increased bioavailability. The newer efficient discoveries related to eczema can face various exploitations. This can be intervened by the subjection of patent rights, which not only safeguard the novel works of individual(s) but also give them the opportunity to share details of their inventions with people globally.

CONCLUSION

The present review focuses on the available research about the use of nanoformulations in the topical delivery. It further elaborates the use of different animal models as the basis to characterize the different features of dermatitis. The review also highlights the recent nanoformulations which have the ability to amplify the delivery of active agents through their incorporation in transfersomes, ethosomes, niosomes or phytosomes, etc.

Self-Assembling Drug Formulations with Tunable Permeability and Biodegradability

This review focuses on key topics in the field of drug delivery related to the design of nanocarriers answering the biomedicine criteria, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and the ability to overcome biological barriers. For these reasons, much attention is paid to the amphiphile-based carriers composed of natural building blocks, lipids, and their structural analogues and synthetic surfactants that are capable of self-assembly with the formation of a variety of supramolecular aggregates. The latter are dynamic structures that can be used as nanocontainers for hydrophobic drugs to increase their solubility and bioavailability. In this section, biodegradable cationic surfactants bearing cleavable fragments are discussed, with ester- and carbamate-containing analogs, as well as amino acid derivatives received special attention. Drug delivery through the biological barriers is a challenging task, which is highlighted by the example of transdermal method of drug administration. In this paper, nonionic surfactants are primarily discussed, including their application for the fabrication of nanocarriers, their surfactant-skin interactions, the mechanisms of modulating their permeability, and the factors controlling drug encapsulation, release, and targeted delivery. Different types of nanocarriers are covered, including niosomes, transfersomes, invasomes and chitosomes, with their morphological specificity, beneficial characteristics and limitations discussed.

Polyherbal formulation Anoac‑H suppresses the expression of RANTES and VEGF for the management of bleeding hemorrhoids and fistula

Hemorrhoids and fistula are considered the most common anorectal conditions in the general population. These conditions affect the quality of a patient's life by causing pain and bleeding during defecation or even in the resting state. Lower grades of hemorrhoids may be controlled by traditional measures. However, surgery is an effective treatment option in recurrent-lower and higher-grade hemorrhoids. Surgical procedures are associated with various complications, including pain and delayed wound healing. Recurrence of hemorrhoids is also a major concern in the post-operative period. An anal fistula is the connection between the anus and the skin and causes severe pain, swelling, as well as blood and pus discharge. Fistula has serious social and economic consequences. Hence, it is important to understand the pathophysiology and molecular pathology of hemorrhoids and fistula, to identify the molecular targets and to develop pharmacological-interventions. In a previous study by our group, the polyherbal formulation Anoac-H was developed for the treatment of different stages of hemorrhoids and fistula, and it was demonstrated that Anoac-H is an effective formulation for treating hemorrhoids. However, the molecular mode of action of Anoac-H on hemorrhoids and fistula had remained elusive. In the present study, it was determined that this formulation reduces the migration of mesenchymal (fibroblasts) and immune (RAW 264.7) cells without affecting their viability. It was also observed that Anoac-H suppresses the expression of regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES) and VEGF in fibroblasts and macrophages. Inflammation and elevated expression of RANTES and VEGF were observed in hemorrhoids and fistula. However, inflammation, as well as the expression of RANTES and VEGF, were significantly reduced in treated human hemorrhoid and fistula tissues as compared to untreated ones, confirming the in vitro results.

Potential implications of Ayurveda in Psoriasis: A clinical case study

Immune response of a human body to the uncertain factors leads to the accelerated inflammatory proliferation of the ailing cells of the skin known as Psoriasis. Although the condition found described many decades ago, the etiology and treatment look under-researched. In Ayurveda, many herbs have proven efficacy in psoriasis, but the multifaceted etiology of the disease needs a multimodal treatment approach. We report about Ayurveda treatment in a 68-year-old female patient with plaque psoriasis presented with erythematous plaques on the anterior surface of the legs, right forehand, and neck region. The Auspitz sign and Koebner phenomenon were positive. The treatment protocol was adopted as per Ayurvedic samprapti (pathophysiology) and the patient cured completely without reporting any adverse events after the one year of treatment. No recurrence observed even after one year of the halted treatment. The importance of a wholesome diet as a health promoter is also revalidated. Photographic documentation was recorded with the proper consent of the patient during successive treatment and regular follow-ups. Altogether, multimodal Ayurveda treatment led to speedy and substantial recovery from a chronic case of psoriasis.

Medicinal Species of the Genus Berberis: A Review of Their Traditional and Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Discovering new drugs for treating different health problems is one of the basic needs of human societies. There are various strategies to find new lead compounds. One of the most important strategies in this regard is using the knowledge in traditional and folk medicines as a valuable guide. Islamic traditional medicine (ITM) is a well reputed school of medicine with a long history. In the textbooks of this medical system, the properties and applications of many medicinal plants have been described. As a part of an ongoing project on plants used in ITM, in this study we investigated botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Berberis spp. The great genus Berberis (Berberidaceae) consists of 594 species worldwide which have been used in different traditional medicines for a wide range of diseases. In ITM reference books such as Al-Hâwi fi'aṭ-Ṭibbe (Comprehensive Book of Medicine), Kâmel al-Sinâh aṭ-Ṭibbiyah (Complete Book of the Medical Art), Al-Qânun fi' aṭ-Ṭibbe (Canon of Medicine), Ḏakhireh Khârazmshâhi (Treasure of Khârazmshâh), and Makhzan al-Adwyah (Drug Treasure), different parts of B. vulgaris and B. integrimma, known as Zereshk, have been mainly prescribed for skin, liver, stomach, kidney, and eye problems. There are several pharmacological studies reporting beneficial effects of various Berberis plants confirming traditional uses. Most of the activities reported for Berberis is attributed to the presence of an important class of alkaloids namely isoquinolines. Nevertheless, clinical studies are necessary to confirm the therapeutic effects of different species of this genus.