Nanotechnology-empowered strategies in treatment of skin cancer

In current scenario skin cancer is a serious condition that has a significant impact on world health. Skin cancer is divided into two categories: melanoma skin cancer (MSC) and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Because of its significant psychosocial effects and need for significant investment in new technology and therapies, skin cancer is an illness of global health relevance. From the patient's perspective chemotherapy considered to be the most acceptable form of treatment. However, significant negatives of chemotherapy such as severe toxicities and drug resistance pose serious challenges to the treatment. The field of nanomedicine holds significant promise for enhancing the specificity of targeting neoplastic cells through the facilitation of targeted drug delivery to tumour cells. The integration of multiple therapeutic modalities to selectively address cancer-promoting or cell-maintaining pathways constitutes a fundamental aspect of cancer treatment. The use of mono-therapy remains prevalent in the treatment of various types of cancer, it is widely acknowledged in the academic community that this conventional approach is generally considered to be less efficacious compared to the combination treatment strategy. The employment of combination therapy in cancer treatment has become increasingly widespread due to its ability to produce synergistic anticancer effects, mitigate toxicity associated with drugs, and inhibit multi-drug resistance by means of diverse mechanisms. Nanotechnology based combination therapy represents a promising avenue for the development of efficacious therapies for skin cancer within the context of this endeavour. The objective of this article is to provide a description of distinct challenges for efficient delivery of drugs via skin. This article also provides a summary of the various nanotechnology based combinatorial therapy available for skin cancer with their recent advances. This review also focuses on current status of clinical trials of such therapies.

Modulation of IL-33/ST2 signaling as a potential new therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases

IL-33 belongs to the IL-1 family of cytokines, which function as inducers of Th2 cytokine production by binding with ST2L and IL-1RAcP. This, in turn, activates various signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), the inhibitor of Kappa-B kinase (IKK) pathway, and the phospholipase D-sphingosine kinase pathway. IL-33 has demonstrated protective effects against various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by inducing Th2 cytokines and promoting alternative activating M2 polarization. However, the soluble decoy form of ST2 (sST2) mitigates the biological effects of IL-33, exacerbating CVDs. Furthermore, IL-33 also plays a significant role in the development of asthma, arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and anaphylaxis through the activation of Th2 cells and mast cells. In this review, we aim to demonstrate the protective role of IL-33 against CVDs from 2005 to the present and explore the potential of serum soluble ST2 (sST2) as a diagnostic biomarker for CVDs. Therefore, IL-33 holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CVDs.

A review on various analytical methods for the estimation of olanzapine - An antipsychotic drug

Olanzapine (OLZ) is an antipsychotic agent which is thienobenzodiazepine derivative. It is used either in combination with other drugs like Carbamazepine, Simvastatin, Clozapine etc. or as a single drug. The present work is mainly focused on various approaches for the analysis of OLZ in bulk drugs as well as their pharmaceutical formulations. It is also focused on various bioanalytical methods used for the analysis. Based on our survey, it is observed that many analytical techniques were carried out using UV-Spectrophotometry, Mass spectrophotometry, LC-MS/MS techniques, and chromatographic techniques like HPLC, and HPTLC in both bulk and solid dosage forms. Bioanalytical techniques are also performed using human plasma or serum etc., The analysis was carried out either for the single drug or for a combination of drugs. The review depicts the rate usage of the different methodologies for the analysis of OLZ. A measurable amount of information is gathered and utilized for the strategies.

Nanocrystals as an emerging nanocarrier for the management of dermatological diseases

Skin conditions are amongst the most prevalent health issues in the world and come with a heavy economic, social, and psychological burden. Incurable and chronic skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections are linked to major morbidity in the manner of physical pain and a reduction in quality life of patients. Several drugs have difficulties for penetrating the skin due to the barrier mechanism of the skin layers and the incompatible physicochemical characteristics of the drugs. This has led to the introduction of innovative drug delivery methods. Currently, formulations depend on nanocrystals have indeed been researched for topical administration of drugs and have resulted in enhanced skin penetration. This review focuses on skin penetration barriers, modern methods to enhance topical distribution, and the use of nanocrystals to overcome these barriers. By means of mechanisms such as adherence to skin, creation of diffusional corona, targeting of hair follicles, and the generation of a greater concentration gradient throughout the skin, nanocrystals could enhance transport across the skin. Scientists working on product formulations incorporating chemicals that are "challenging-to-deliver" topically may find the most current findings to be of relevance.

An overview on medicinal perspective of thiazolidine-2,4-dione: A remarkable scaffold in the treatment of type 2 diabetes

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TZDs, an important pharmacophore in the treatment of diabetes.

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Various analog-based synthetic strategies and biological significance are discussed.

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Clinical studies using TZDs along with other antidiabetic agents are also highlighted.

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SAR has been discussed to suggest the interactions between derivatives and receptor sites.

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Pyrazole, chromone, and acid-based TZDs can be considered as potential lead molecules.

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a complex or polygenic disorder, which is characterized by increased levels of glucose (hyperglycemia) and deficiency in insulin secretion or resistance to insulin over an elongated period in the liver and peripheral tissues. Thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZD) is a privileged scaffold and an outstanding heterocyclic moiety in the field of drug discovery, which provides various opportunities in exploring this moiety as an antidiabetic agent. In the past few years, various novel synthetic approaches had been undertaken to synthesize different derivatives to explore them as more potent antidiabetic agents with devoid of side effects (i.e., edema, weight gain, and bladder cancer) of clinically used TZD (pioglitazone and rosiglitazone). In this review, an effort has been made to summarize the up to date research work of various synthetic strategies for TZD derivatives as well as their biological significance and clinical studies of TZDs in combination with other category as antidiabetic agents. This review also highlights the structure-activity relationships and the molecular docking studies to convey the interaction of various synthesized novel derivatives with its receptor site.

Construction of a novel quinoxaline as a new class of Nrf2 activator

Background

The transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its principal repressive regulator, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), are perilous in the regulation of inflammation, as well as maintenance of homeostasis. Thus, NRF2 activation is involved in cytoprotection against many inflammatory disorders. N′-Nicotinoylquinoxaline-2-carbohdyrazide (NQC) was structurally designed by the combination of important pharmacophoric features of bioactive compounds reported in the literature.

Methods

NQC was synthesised and characterised using spectroscopic techniques. The compound was tested for its anti-inflammatory effect using Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (LPSEc) induced inflammation in mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells). The effect of NQC on inflammatory cytokines was measured using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The Nrf2 activity of the compound NQC was determined using ‘Keap1:Nrf2 Inhibitor Screening Assay Kit’. To obtain the insights on NQC’s activity on Nrf2, molecular docking studies were performed using Schrödinger suite. The metabolic stability of NQC was determined using mouse, rat and human microsomes.

Results

NQC was found to be non-toxic at the dose of 50 µM on RAW 264.7 cells. NQC showed potent anti-inflammatory effect in an in vitro model of LPSEc stimulated murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) with an IC₅₀ value 26.13 ± 1.17 µM. NQC dose-dependently down-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β (13.27 ± 2.37 μM), IL-6 (10.13 ± 0.58 μM) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] (14.41 ± 1.83 μM); and inflammatory mediator, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) with IC₅₀ values, 15.23 ± 0.91 µM. Molecular docking studies confirmed the favourable binding of NQC at Kelch domain of Keap-1. It disrupts the Nrf2 interaction with kelch domain of keap 1 and its IC₅₀ value was 4.21 ± 0.89 µM. The metabolic stability studies of NQC in human, rat and mouse liver microsomes revealed that it is quite stable with half-life values; 63.30 ± 1.73, 52.23 ± 0.81, 24.55 ± 1.13 min; microsomal intrinsic clearance values; 1.14 ± 0.31, 1.39 ± 0.87 and 2.96 ± 0.34 µL/min/g liver; respectively. It is observed that rat has comparable metabolic profile with human, thus, rat could be used as an in vivo model for prediction of pharmacokinetics and metabolism profiles of NQC in human.

Conclusion

NQC is a new class of NRF2 activator with potent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and good metabolic stability.

Molecular understanding of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenolic compound present in green tea [Camellia sinensis (Theaceae], has shown numerous cardiovascular health promoting activity through modulating various pathways. However, molecular understanding of the cardiovascular protective role of EGCG has not been reported.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to compile the preclinical and clinical studies that had been done on EGCG to investigate its protective effect on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in order to provide a systematic guidance for future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research papers related to EGCG were obtained from the major scientific databases, for example, Science direct, PubMed, NCBI, Springer and Google scholar, from 1995 to 2017.

RESULTS

EGCG was found to exhibit a wide range of therapeutic properties including anti-atherosclerosis, anti-cardiac hypertrophy, anti-myocardial infarction, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. These therapeutic effects are mainly associated with the inhibition of LDL cholesterol (anti-atherosclerosis), inhibition of NF-κB (anti-cardiac hypertrophy), inhibition of MPO activity (anti-myocardial infarction), reduction in plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin level (anti-diabetes), reduction of inflammatory markers (anti-inflammatory) and the inhibition of ROS generation (antioxidant).

CONCLUSION

EGCG shows different biological activities and in this review, a compilation of how this bioactive molecule plays its role in treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases was discussed.

Molecular understanding of the protective role of natural products on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction: A review

Modern medicine has been used to treat myocardial infarction, a subset of cardiovascular diseases, and have been relatively effective but not without adverse effects. Consequently, this issue has stimulated interest in the use of natural products, which may be equally effective and better tolerated. Many studies have investigated the cardioprotective effect of natural products, such as plant-derived phytochemicals, against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial damage; these have produced promising results on the basis of their antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. This review briefly introduces the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction (MI) and then addresses the progress of natural product research towards its treatment. We highlight the promising applications and mechanisms of action of plant extracts, phytochemicals and polyherbal formulations towards the treatment of ISO-induced myocardial damage. Most of the products displayed elevated antioxidant levels with decreased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, along with restoration of ionic balance and lowered expression of myocardial injury markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic parameters. Likewise, lipid profiles were positively altered and histopathological improvements could be seen from, for example, the better membrane integrity, decreased necrosis, edema, infarct size, and leukocyte infiltration. This review highlights promising results towards the amelioration of ISO-induced myocardial damage, which suggest the direction for future research on natural products that could be used to treat MI.

[Effects of various diuretics on cardiac function in rats with heart failure]

Torasemide is a long-acting loop diuretic that combines the effects of both furosemide and spironolactone. It has been reported that torasemide but not furosemide might attenuate myocardial remodeling accompanied by left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. However, nothing is known about the effect of torasemide, long-acting loop diuretic and spironolactone, an aldosterone receptor antagonist in a rat model of chronic heart failure (CHF). Therefore, we compared the therapeutic effects of torasemide, furosemide and spironolactone on the progression of LV remodeling in a rat model of CHF after experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). EAM was elicited in Lewis rats by immunization with porcine cardiac myosin. Twenty-eight days after immunization, rats were treated for 28 days with torasemide, furosemide and spironolactone. Diuretic actions, heart weight/body weight, heart rate, mean blood pressure, myocardial function by echocardiography, cardiac fibrosis, myocyte diameter and cardiac aldosterone synthetase (CYP11B2) were evaluated. Increased cardiac CYP11B2, severe LV remodeling and resultant cardiac dysfunction was found in CHF rats, whereas decreased cardiac CYP11B2, less remodeling and improvement of cardiac function were found in torasemide- and spironolactone-treated CHF rats. Our results indicate that torasemide and spironolactone treatment significantly improved cardiac function and LV remodeling compared with furosemide treatment.

Relationships between serum unsaturated fatty acids and coronary risk factors: negative relations between nervonic acid and obesity-related risk factors

Relative increases in unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) in the diet are considered to exert beneficial effects on coronary risk factors (CRF). However, detailed analysis of the relationships between serum USFA and CRF are scanty and there is no report of the relationship between nervonic acid (NA) and CRF. The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationships between serum USFA and CRF. Body height and weight, blood pressure, fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triacyl-glycerol (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDLc), fasting blood sugar (FBS), total fatty acid composition, leptin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 31 men (age, 41-78 years) and 11 women (age, 54-77 years). The relationships between serum USFA, and body mass index (BMI), leptin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), TC, TG, HDLc, FBS, and CRP were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The final results were summarized using coronary risk factor scores (CRFS) in order to assess the correlations between USFA with CRF. Oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were positively related to coronary risk factors (total CRFS = 2, 3, and 4, respectively), while nervonic acid (NA) exerted negative effects on these risk factors (total CRFS = -6 ). It is concluded NA may have preventive effects on obesity-related metabolic disorders.