Abida Kalsoom Khan

Recent Developments in Sweat Analysis and Its Applications

Currently, the clinical use of sweat as biofluid is limited. The collection of sweat and its analysis for determining ethanol, drugs, ions, and metals have been encompassed in this review article to assess the merits of sweat compared to other biofluids, for example, blood or urine. Moreover, sweat comprises various biomarkers of different diseases including cystic fibrosis and diabetes. Additionally, the normalization of sampled volume of sweat is also necessary for getting efficient and useful results.

Anti-Aging Potential of Phytoextract Loaded-Pharmaceutical Creams for Human Skin Cell Longetivity.

The exposure to ultraviolet radiations (UVR) is the key source of skin sunburn; it may produce harmful entities, reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to aging. The skin can be treated and protected from the injurious effects of ROS by using various pharmaceutical formulations, such as cream. Cream can be loaded with antioxidants to quench ROS leading to photo-protective effects. Moreover, modern medicines depend on ethnobotanicals for protection or treatment of human diseases. This review article summarizes various in vivo antioxidant studies on herbal creams loaded with phyto-extracts. These formulations may serve as cosmeceuticals to protect skin against injurious effects of UVR. The botanicals studied for dermatologic use in cream form include Acacia nilotica, Benincasa hispida, Calendula officinalis, Camellia sinensis, Camellia sinensis, Nelumbo nucifera, Capparis decidua, Castanea sativa, Coffea arabica, Crocus sativus, Emblica officinalis Gaertn, Foeniculum vulgare, Hippophae rhamnoides, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Malus domestica, Matricaria chamomilla L., Moringa oleifera, Morus alba, Ocimum basilicum, Oryza sativa, Polygonum minus, Punica granatum, Silybum marianum, Tagetes erecta Linn., Terminalia chebula, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Vitis vinifera. The observed anti-aging effects of cream formulations could be an outcome of a coordinating action of multiple constituents. Of numerous botanicals, the phenolic acids and flavonoids appear effective against UVR-induced damage; however the evidence-based studies for their anti-aging effects are still needed.

Preparation and Characterization of Solid Dispersions of Artemether by Freeze-Dried Method

Solid dispersions of artemether and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000) were prepared in ratio 12 : 88 (group-1). Self-emulsified solid dispersions of artemether were prepared by using polyethylene glycol 6000, Cremophor-A25, olive oil, Transcutol, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in ratio 12 : 75 : 5 : 4 : 2 : 2, respectively (group-2). In third group, only Cremophor-A25 was replaced with Poloxamer 188 compared to group-2. The solid dispersions and self-emulsified solid dispersions were prepared by physical and freeze dried methods, respectively. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy, and solubility, dissolution, and stability studies. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed artemether complete crystalline, whereas physical mixture and freeze-dried mixture of all three groups showed reduced peak intensities. In attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, C–H stretching vibrations of artemether were masked in all prepared samples, while C–H stretching vibrations were representative of polyethylene glycol 6000, Cremophor-A25, and Poloxamer 188. Differential scanning calorimetry showed decreased melting endotherm and increased enthalpy change (ΔH) in both physical mixture and freeze-dried mixtures of all groups. Scanning electron microscopy of freeze-dried mixtures of all samples showed glassy appearance, size reduction, and embedment, while their physical mixture showed size reduction and embedment of artemether by excipients. In group-1, solubility was improved up to 15 times, whereas group-2 showed up to 121 times increase but, in group-3, when Poloxamer 188 was used instead of Cremophor-A25, solubility of freeze-dried mixtures was increased up to 135 times. In fasted state simulated gastric fluid at pH 1.6, the dissolution of physical mixture was increased up to 12 times and freeze-dried mixtures up to 15 times. The stability of artemether was substantially enhanced in freeze-dried mixtures by using polyethylene glycol 6000, Cremophor-A25, and Poloxamer 188 of self-emulsified solid dispersions of artemether in Hanks balanced salt solution at pH 7.4.

FOXO Transcriptional Factors and Long-Term Living

Several pathologies such as neurodegeneration and cancer are associated with aging, which is affected by many genetic and environmental factors. Healthy aging conceives human longevity, possibly due to carrying the defensive genes. For instance, FOXO (forkhead box O) genes determine human longevity. FOXO transcription factors are involved in the regulation of longevity phenomenon via insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling. Only one FOXO gene (FOXO DAF-16) exists in invertebrates, while four FOXO genes, that is, FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4, and FOXO6 are found in mammals. These four transcription factors are involved in the multiple cellular pathways, which regulate growth, stress resistance, metabolism, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis in mammals. However, the accurate mode of longevity by FOXO factors is unclear until now. This article describes briefly the existing knowledge that is related to the role of FOXO factors in human longevity.

Chaetomium endophytes: a repository of pharmacologically active metabolites

Fungal endophytes are group of fungi that grow within the plant tissues without causing immediate signs of disease and are abundant and diverse producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. The Chaetomium genus of kingdom fungi is considered to be a rich source of unique bioactive metabolites. These metabolites belong to chemically diverse classes, i.e., chaetoglobosins, xanthones, anthraquinones, chromones, depsidones, terpenoids and steroids. Cheatomium through production of diverse metabolites can be considered as a potential source of antitumor, cytotoxic, antimalarial, antibiotic and enzyme inhibitory lead molecules for drug discovery. This review covers isolation of Cheatomium endophytes, extraction and isolation of metabolites and their biological activities.

Carrageenan Based Bionanocomposites as Drug Delivery Tool with Special Emphasis on the Influence of Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles

Over the past few years, considerable attention has been focused on carrageenan based bionanocomposites due to their multifaceted properties like biodegradability, biocompatibility, and nontoxicity. Moreover, these composites can be tailored according to the desired purpose by using different nanofillers. The role of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in drug delivery is also discussed here in detail. Moreover, this article also presents a short review of recent research on the different types of the carrageenan based bionanocomposites and applications.

The effects of nanoclay on thermal, mechanical and rheological properties of LLDPE/chitosan blend

Abstract The objective of this study was to prepare linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/chitosan/closite nanocomposites by using various concentrations of LLDPE, chitosan, and closite clay mineral. The nanocomposites were then characterized for their thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties by using different analytical techniques including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheological characterization, tensile strength study, and scanning electron microscopy. The TGA demonstrated that crosslinked composites are thermally more stable than non-crosslinked composites. The DSC stated that the percentage crystallinity of crosslinked composites is lower than the non-crosslinked composites. It is also observed that the increasing quantity of chitosan and closite also reduces the percentage crystallinity of the prepared nanocomposites. Rheological characterization revealed that, crosslinked composites are viscoelastic in nature and have high complex viscosities (η*) and high dynamic shear storage modulus (G′), while non-crosslinked composites showed high dynamic shear loss modulus (G″). Tensile strength of crosslinked composites was much higher than non-crosslinked composites, however elongation at break (Eb) values of non-crosslinked composites are higher than crosslinked composites. The scanning electron microscopy displayed strong adhesion between matrix-filler-interphase in crosslinked composites, while some gaps were also observed in non-crosslinked composites. As a conclusion, chitosan, closite clay, and the LLDPE based nanocomposites with improved thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties can be successfully prepared by employing a peroxide-initiated melt compounding technique.

In Vitro Biological Screening of Hartmannia rosea Extracts

The present study is focused on the assessment of the medicinal therapeutic potential extracts of H. rosea to investigate their pharmacological implications based upon science proofs. The antioxidant activity of fraction of H. rosea, namely, n-hexane (HR-1), ethyl acetate (HR-2), chloroform (HR-3), and n-butanol (HR-4), was performed by using the DPPH radical scavenging method. The cytotoxicity and enzyme inhibition assessment were also performed. All the extracts showed significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and protein kinase inhibition but none of the extracts exhibited α-amylase inhibition activity. The chloroform extract HR-3 may block a kinase receptor from binding to ATP; the lead molecule will be isolated, which may stop cancerous cell growth and demotion of cell division. It is predicted that ethyl acetate, chloroform, and n-butanol extracts of H. rosea contain polyphenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids that are biologically effective candidates exhibiting significant cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. They may control oxidative damage in the body tissues and act as potential antidiabetic and anticancer agents. These studies will also be helpful for future drug designing and drug development research.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of carbopol 934-based modified clotrimazole gel for topical application

The aim of present study was to enhance topical permeation of clotrimazole gel preparation by using various permeability enhancers such as coconut oil, pistachio oil and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Clotrimazole gel preparations were prepared and optimized by using three factor, five level central composite design. A second-order polynomial equation was generated in order to estimate the effect of independent variables i.e. coconut oil (X1), pistachio oil (X2) and sodium lauryl sulphate (X3) at various dependent variables i.e. flux (Y1), lag time (Y2), diffusion coefficient (Y3), permeability coefficient (Y4), and input rate (Y5) of clotrimazole gel formulations. Ex vivo skin permeation study was performed through rat skin by using modified Franz diffusion cell system. Optimized formulation F8 exhibited highest flux 2.17 µg/cm2/min, permeability coefficient 0.0019 cm/min and input rate 1.543 µg/cm2/min, along with moderate lag time 77.27 min and diffusion coefficient 0.063 cm2/min, which is further supported by anti-fungal activity that exhibited more prominent zone of inhibition against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Mucor. Thus, it can be concluded that permeation of clotrimazole gel was enhanced by various combination of coconut oil, pistachio oil and sodium lauryl sulphate but optimized formulation F8 containing 0.4 ml pistachio oil, 0.8 ml coconut oil and 0.04 g of SLS exhibited more pronounced and promising effect through rat skin.