Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy

Development and assessment of a synergy-based combined extracts of Spondias mombin L., Spilanthes filicaulis (SCHUMACH. & THONN.) C.D. ADAMS and Piper guineense THONN. for learning and memory enhancement

2026-01-13T04:41:32+00:00

Memory challenges and cognitive decline, linked to neurodegenerative illnesses, continue to rise worldwide without effective remedies. Traditional medicinal plants have shown promise in mitigating these conditions. This study evaluated synergy-based aqueous combinations of Spondias mombin, Spilanthes filicaulis, and Piper guineense for learning and memory enhancement. Two formulations, H1 (ratio 2:2:4) and H2 (ratio 2:2:2), were prepared, administered, and assessed using the Morris Water Maze and Y-maze tests, alongside biochemical analyses of oxidative stress markers (MDA, H₂O₂, SOD, GSH, GPx, GST), nitric oxide levels, and acetylcholinesterase activity. Histopathological examination of the hippocampus was also performed. Results showed that scopolamine impaired learning and memory, elevated oxidative stress, and caused hippocampal damage. However, treatment with the combined extracts H1 and H2 significantly improved spatial learning and working memory compared to scopolamine controls, as evidenced by reduced escape latency and increased spontaneous alternation. Additionally, H1 and H2 lowered oxidative stress markers, restored antioxidant enzyme balance, reduced AChE activity, and ameliorated neuronal disruptions. Among the two formulations, H1 consistently demonstrated superior neuroprotective and antioxidant effects across behavioral and biochemical assays. These findings suggest that synergy-based combinations of these plants, particularly H1, may offer a promising approach for memory enhancement and warrant further investigation for development into an herbal therapeutic product.

Computational and Invitro Evaluation of Aerial Part Extracts of Barringtonia acutangula in Preventing Postprandial Hyperglycemia

2026-01-13T05:30:58+00:00

Polyphenols have the potential for therapeutic properties that may alleviate diabetes and exhibit inhibitory effects on certain pancreatic enzymes. The study aimed to screen the hypoglycemic effects of Barringtonia acutangula aerial part extracts. Cold maceration was used to extract coarsely powdered aerial parts with seven different solvents, which were studied. Quantitative estimation of aerial part extracts was done to determine the total flavonoid, phenolic, and alkaloid content. Further in silico and in vitro studies were carried out to assess the inhibitory action of B.acutangula on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase pancreatic enzymes. The hexahydroxy flavone Gossypetin showed a good docking score. The highest total flavonoid (31.543±0.175mg Quercetin/gm extract) and phenolic content (19.127±0.311mg gallic acid/gm extract) were observed in the methanolic extract, and the chloroform extract showed the highest alkaloid content (23.570±0.090) when compared with a standard solution of Atropine. The phytochemical constituents satisfied drug-likeness properties, and the compound gossypetin showed the highest binding affinity of -7.197 and -7.420 kcal/mol with the active site of target proteins alpha-amylase (2QV4) and alpha-glucosidase (5NN8). The ethanolic extract showed a significant % inhibitory response of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase of 80.955±0.023 and 73.250±0.033, respectively. The results indicate that polyphenols in the aerial extracts of B. acutangula play a significant role, and gossypetin can be a potential candidate in preventing postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes patients.

Neuroprotective effect of Kojic acid in Rotenone - induced Parkinsonism in a Zebrafish Model

2026-01-13T05:36:59+00:00

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremors, and postural instability. The zebrafish (Danio rerio), with 87% genetic closeness to humans, serves as an exemplary model for investigating neurodegeneration. Kojic acid is a natural metabolite produced by fungi Aspergillus oryzae and has been reported for antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsant properties. The present study investigates the neuroprotective effect of Kojic acid in a zebrafish model of Parkinson’s disease. Zebrafishes were divided into six experimental groups namely Normal, Positive control, Standard, and Kojic acid treated group. Parkinsonian symptoms were induced in the zebrafish using the neurotoxin rotenone (5 μg/L). Following induction, the fishes were treated with standard (Kapikacchu, Mucuna prunens extract, 20 mg/L) and kojic acid (5, 10, and 20 mg/L) for 28 days, with the medium being changed every 48 hours to maintain the concentrations. Behavioural analysis was conducted using ANY-MAZE software. On the 29th day, the zebrafishes were euthanized and their brains were extracted for the assessment of biochemical parameters and histopathology. The study revealed that zebrafish exposed to 10 mg/L of Kojic acid exhibited a notable enhancement in locomotor activity relative to the positive control group, indicating Kojic acid as a potential option in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Combinatorial Effects of Syzygium aromaticum, Citrus limon, and Zingiber officinale Extracts on Phytochemical, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties

2026-01-13T05:43:22+00:00

This research explores the synergis- tic properties of lemon (Citrus limon L.), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), and ginger (Zingiber officinale), examining their combined medicinal effects. Through phytochemical screening, bio- chemical and antimicrobial activity, it is aimed to unravel the potential applications of this unique combinations of the three plant extracts. The study involves extracting bioactive compounds from the dried rhizome of ginger, the dried fruit peel of lemon and the dried flower bud of clove, and study their additive, synergistic and antagonistic properties of two combinations of spices namely clove and lemon (C + L) and clove, lemon and ginger (C+L+G). On both the combinations of these extracts phytochemical, antimicrobial, GC-MS and FTIR studies were conducted and satisfactory results obtained. The interactions between these plant extracts were analyzed to understand how they enhance or inhibit each other’s efficacy. The results of the analyses showed the presence of several primary and secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and others. The peaks in the FTIR and GC-MS analyses of the combinations indicated the presence of standard functional groups and bioactive com- pounds respectively.

Toward Precision Surgery in Rectal Cancer: Integrating Machine Learning for Molecular Subtype Identification and Surgical Planning

2026-01-13T05:56:36+00:00

Because rectal cancer is a diverse disease, improving patient outcomes requires precision medicine and individualized surgical techniques. To identify important molecular subtypes that could affect therapeutic decision-making and precision surgery, this study combined unsupervised machine learning techniques with high-throughput microarray analysis. Using R software (v4.0.1), microarray-based gene expression data from the GSE253106 dataset were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The molecular subtypes of rectal cancer were identified using unsupervised machine learning techniques. Markov Clustering (MCL) mapped molecular networks involved in DNA repair and microenvironment interactions, while K-Means clustering grouped genes according to similarities in their expression. Density- Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise, or DBSCAN, identified uncommon tumor subtypes linked to aggressive characteristics. The findings showed that rectal cancer had 411 DEGs, 348 of which were upregulated and 63 were downregulated. Genes such as TTTY15, RPS4Y1, and KDM5D were upregulated, whereas IGF2 and INS-IGF2 were downregulated. K-means clustering highlighted immune and metabolic regulation by grouping genes, such as C3AR1, TREM2, IGF2, and APOE. Networks involving DNA repair (FANCA, DAPK1) and the tumor microenvironment (AIF1, C1QA) were mapped using Markov Clustering (MCL). Rare aggressive subtypes were identified using DBSCAN, which also identified PLTP, ISG15, and TYROBP as indicators of immune evasion. TTTY15, KDM5D, and IGF2 were identified by outlier detection, indicating their involvement in tumor progression and treatment response. By highlighting the important molecular subtypes of rectal cancer, this study demonstrates how machine learning can be used to improve precision oncology and surgical techniques. Biomarker-driven treatment strategies may benefit from additional functional validation, which would improve therapeutic results and patient stratification.

Phytochemical Profiling and Cardiometabolic Potential of Cocos nucifera Bee Pollen: Antioxidant Insights from FTIR, LC-MS and GC-MS Analyses

2026-01-13T06:16:25+00:00

Cardiometabolic disorders driven by dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and chronic in- flammation, remain one of the major global health burdens demanding a safe, natural and multifunctional therapeutic alternatives. Bee pollen is widely recognized for its nutritional rich- ness and bioactive potential. However, the me- tabolomic profile and cardioprotective relevance of monofloral Cocos nucifera bee pollen remain largely unexplored. The present study provides an integrated phytochemical and spectroscopic characterization of the cold-macerated ethanolic extract of C. nucifera bee pollen, with emphasis on its antioxidant and lipid-modulating potential. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed abundant alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, ste- rols, tannins, carbohydrates and glycosides. The extract demonstrated strong antioxidant potency with an 86.7% DPPH radical inhibition, indicating effective free-radical scavenging ac- tivity. UV-Vis absorption profiles confirmed the presence of polyphenolic constituents, while FT-IR analysis revealed characteristic function- al groups corresponding to hydrox ortality rate is due to coronary affliction with conditions such as inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, hypertension and dyslipidemia Hyper- cholesterolemia or dyslipidemia is admitted by immoderate levels of cholesterol in the blood by limiting its flow which results in coronary diseas- es and stroke. It is a condition of lipid metabolic disorder with a cordial relationship associated with CMD (1).

Design and In-silico Study of Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin Malaria-Based Drug Delivery System using Liposomal and Missile Carriers

2026-01-13T06:21:10+00:00

Malaria remains a major global infec- tious disease, contributing significantly to mor- bidity and mortality. Although various antimalar- ial drugs are available, their clinical application is often limited by severe side effects. Targeted drug delivery systems have been explored as a strategy to enhance therapeutic efficacy and minimize systemic toxicity. In this in-silico study, a liver-targeted drug delivery system for hy- droxychloroquine and ivermectin was designed and modeled using liposomal carriers (dipal- mitoyl phosphatidylcholine, DPPC) and micel- lar systems. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted using GROMACS 2022.2 with the MARTINI coarse-grained force field. DPPC liposomes and polymeric micelles were mod- eled to assess drug encapsulation and delivery efficiency. Structural and dynamic properties, including moment of inertia (MOI), solvent-ac- cessible surface area (SASA), and radial distri- bution function (RDF), were analyzed at various simulation stages. Supplementary laboratory validation was performed, involving liposome preparation, size characterization, encapsula- tion efficiency, and release kinetics. Simulations revealed that DPPC liposomes were highly ef- fective for delivering hydroxychloroquine to the lysosomal compartment, while micelles were found to enhance ivermectin solubility in hydro- philic environments. In vivo validation was not conducted, representing a key limitation. Nev-ertheless, valuable insights into the potential of liposomal and micellar carriers for targeted malaria therapy were provided. Further exper- imental studies are recommended to validate and refine these computational findings.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Citrus aurantiifolia Peel Decoction in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 via Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Expression Downregulation

2026-01-13T06:26:37+00:00

Citrus aurantiifolia peel is a major industrial by-product that has potential to be developed into functional food due to its rich bioactive compounds. C. aurantiifolia peel contains bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and limonoids that exhibited anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate anti-inflammatory properties of C. aurantiifolia peel aqueous extract (CPE). C. aurantiifolia peel were extracted using boiling water, then the extract anti-inflammatory properties were tested on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Molecular docking simulations of CPE compounds to inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (PDB ID: 3E6T) and TNF-α (PDB ID: 7KP8) were conducted to identify bioactive compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory properties. The results showed that CPE reduced NO production by 63.48 % at 3.125 μg/ mL and iNOS expression by 71.67 % at 12.5 μg/mL, but TNF-α production was not inhibited. Molecular docking revealed that hesperidin exhibited the highest iNOS binding affinity with a docking score of -104.78 kcal/mol, while hesperetin exhibited the highest TNF-α binding affinity with a docking score of -87.3311 kcal/ mol. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CPE exhibits anti-inflammatory properties through the reduction of NO concentration and iNOS expression, showing promising potential for development into functional food products.

Inhibition of Growth MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell with Umbilical Cord Mesencymal Stem Cells (UCMSCs) Derived Secretome

2026-01-13T06:31:54+00:00

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting in women and is ex- pected will be increase by 2040. Conventional therapy with chemotherapy as the most widely used therapy has severe side effects and can develop chemotherapy resistance. Currently, Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived se- cretome have become an alternative for cancer treatment because it contains various soluble factors, such as cytokines or growth factors, and extracellular vesicles. This study aims to evaluate the anticancer effect of secretome on MCF-7 cancer cells. Methods: MSCs were ex- tracted from the umbilical cord and this superna- tant was collected as secretome. The cytotoxic effect of secretome on MCF-7 was examined at concentrations 25-60% with MTT method and the optimum concentration (IC50) was calculat- ed. Result: Secretome showed significantly re- duced proliferation and had cytotoxic effects on the MCF-7 cell line after 75 h treatment with IC₅₀ 50%. Conclution: Secretome has anticancer ef- fect and could significantly reduce cell viability and proliferation.These findings suggest that secretome is a promising candidate for breast cancer theraphy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the mechanism of action of secretome in inhibit the growth of breast cancer cell.

Unlocking the Power of Fibrinolytic Enzymes in Traditional Indian Fermented Foods: A Gateway to Natural Antithrombotic Agents

2026-01-13T06:37:35+00:00

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) persist to be the leading cause of death worldwide, mostly driven by thrombus formation brought on by fibrin buildup in blood vessels. Despite the fact that current thrombolytic medications like urokinase, streptokinase, and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) efficiently activate plasminogen and dissolve fibrin, their short plasma half-life, high cost, bleeding complications, and immunogenicity limit their clinical use. These restrictions have accelerated the hunt for more affordable, safe, and fibrin-specific substitutes. Because of their long history of dietary safety, high substrate specificity, and reduced immunogenic potential, microbial fibrinolytic enzymes derived from fermented foods have become promising candidates. Fermented foods enriched with fibrinolytic enzymes not only aid in thrombus degradation but may also support gut health, reduce inflammation, and improve cardiovascular wellness. Indian fermented foods enhanced with a variety of Bacillus species are an understudied but incredibly potent source of fibrinolytic enzymes with significant therapeutic potential. This review highlights the significance of fibrinolytic enzymes in thrombolytic therapy while summarizing their types, mechanisms, and biochemical characteristics. There is increasing scientific evidence that the enzymes extracted from traditional Indian fermented foods have thrombolytic potential. This review highlights the need for systematic research and clinical evaluation of food-derived microbial fibrinolytic enzymes as next-generation biotherapeutics for the safe, efficient, and cost-effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases.