Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy

In-Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Crinum Solapurense: For Cox-Inhibition

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the present study, an aim was to identify adrug-likecandidate for the plant Crinum Solapurense( Amaryllidaceae).The Lycorine, an alkaloid that could be a potential candidate which can interact and inhibits the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) generated protein 5KIR and relieves pain and inflammation.Total 18 compounds were analyzed through, Autodock vina. The docking value was observed in the range of -9.4 to −10.3 kcal·mol⁻¹. No other article and review have been reported for the molecular docking study for the plant Crinum Solapurense.Moreover, there have been some articles of plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae.

Design, Synthesis, In Silico ADMET Profiling, and Molecular Docking of a Novel Bis-dimethylamino Hydrazone as a Potent Dual Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidases

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) play a key role in the metabolism of neurotransmitters, and their dysregulation is linked to neurological disorders. Hydrazone scaffolds are known for their versatile biological activities, including MAO inhibition. In this work, a new hydrazone derivative, 4-(Dimethylamino) benzaldehyde (4-dimethylamino) benzylidene hydrazone (DMBH-1), was synthesized through the condensation of hydrazine hydrate with para-dimethylamino benzaldehyde. The reaction produced a yellow crystalline solid with a 65% yield after recrystallization using chloroform. The molecular formula of the compound is C₁₈H₂₂N₄, with a molecular weight of 294.39 g/mol. Structural confirmation was achieved through UV–Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry. Molecular target prediction using SwissTargetPredict indicated affinity towards human monoamine oxidases MAO-A and MAO-B. Docking studies were performed using AutoDock against MAO-A PDB structures 2Z5X and 2BXR, and MAO-B structures 1GOS, 2V5Z, and 6FW0. DMBH-1 showed strong binding energies across all targets, with scores of –8.55 kcal/mol (2Z5X) and –8.35 kcal/mol (2BXR) for MAO-A. For MAO-B, the compound showed binding energies of –8.47 (1GOS), –8.74 (2V5Z), and –9.22 kcal/ mol (6FW0). These values were superior to standard MAO-B inhibitors including safinamide (–7.18 to –8.72), rasagiline (–6.88 to –7.11), and selegiline (–6.23 to –6.94). DMBH-1 also showed stronger affinity than MAO-A inhibitors harmine (-7.13 to -7.67), moclobemide (-7.05 to -7.28), and clorgyline (6.35 to 6.60). SwissADME analysis showed favourable properties: molecular weight 294.39 g/mol, TPSA 31.20 Å², consensus LogP 3.25, high GI absorption, BBB permeability, and no PAINS alerts. The bioavailability score was 0.55 with a synthetic accessibility of 2.38. Overall, DMBH-1 exhibits strong predicted MAO inhibitory activity and promising drug-likeness, indicating good potential as a lead molecule for CNS-related drug discovery.

Antihepatotoxic effect of Premna spinosa Leaf in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Damage to Rats by Restoring Hepatic Structure, Functions and Oxidative Stress

Biswakanth Kar, Sanjib Bhattacharya — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Premna spinosa L. (Lamiaceae), is a small shrub/tree and applied traditionally in India for different medicinal purposes. The present work screened the antihepatotoxic effect of methanol extract from P. spinosa leaf (MEPS) against acetaminophen-evoked hepatic lesions in rats. Hepatic toxicity was elicited in Wistar albino rats via single oral administration of acetaminophen at the dose of 640 mg/kg body weight. Then MEPS was given to rats at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight orally for 16 consecutive days. Silymarin (200 mg/kg body weight) similarly was employed as reference drug. Hepatoprotective effect was assessed by determination of hepatic functions viz. SGPT, SGOT, ALP, billirubin, total protein; liver oxidative stress biomarkers viz. reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, catalase, superoxide dismutase and histopathological examination of liver. In MEPS treated rats, the foregoing liver functions and oxidative stress parameters were significantly restored, when compared to acetaminophen control. Histopathological study of the liver tissue demonstrated maintenance of normal hepatocellular architecture in MEPS treated rats as compared with acetaminophen control, thus affirming the protective role of MEPS in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. From the current work in can be inferred that, P. spinosa leaf possessed marked antihepatotoxic potential in acetaminophen-invoked hepatic damage in rats by virtue of its preserving liver structure, functions and antioxidant capacity.

Hypoglycemic and Antidiabetic Activity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Fruit Peel Extract in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rat Model

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Diabetes mellitus is a global health concern which needs safe, effective and economical solutions. This research aimed at the phytochemical composition and antidiabetic activity of ethanol extract and fractions of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit peel biowaste against Alloxan induced diabetic rats. The extractable obtained with ethanol extract was 55.82% while the bioactive phytochemicals identified were alkaloids, phytosterols, glycosides, tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carbohydrates and saponins. Male Wistar albinos were used to assess the antidiabetic activity in vivo. Alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) was injected once into the peritoneum to induce diabetes. The PG II fraction showed a significant, dose-dependent decrease in fasting blood glucose after 28 days treatment, when administered orally (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day). The effects were similar to, or slightly better than, the standard drug, glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) which lowered blood glucose to 95.83 ± 1.85 mg/dl (67.70% reduction). Furthermore, the treatment with PG II fraction in a dose dependent manner significantly inhibited body weight loss and induced weight gain in diabetic control group. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the PG II fraction was safe up to 1000 mg/kg body weight without any toxicity or mortality. The findings are scientifically significant to validate the traditional use of pomegranate peel in Ayurveda and also reveals that, the PG II fraction is a promising biowaste material that could be used to develop novel phytotherapeutic agents and functional food for diabetes management with safety in future.

Green Synthesis, Characterization, Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity of Piper betle-mediated Silver Nanoparticles Against Foodborne Pathogens

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The present study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Piper betle leaf extract through a green and eco-friendly approach and to evaluate their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activities against selected foodborne pathogens. Piper betle-mediated silver nanoparticles (PB-AgNPs) were synthesized using an aqueous leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of PB-AgNPs was confirmed by a visible color change and further characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The synthesized PB-AgNPs exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 459 nm, with nanoscale particle size and moderate colloidal stability. The SEM analysis revealed predominantly spherical nanoparticles with an aggregated morphology. The antioxidant activity of PB-AgNPs was evaluated using the DPPH assay, which demonstrated a concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity with an IC_₅₀ value of approximately 170 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity assessed using the agar well diffusion assay showed significant inhibition against Escherichia coli MTCC 41 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 13565. Furthermore, the PB-AgNPs exhibited strong concentration-dependent antibiofilm activity, as evidenced by the crystal violet staining assay. The findings of the present study suggest that PB-AgNPs possess promising antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm properties and may serve as potential alternative antimicrobial agents for food safety and biomedical applications.

Desıgn Optımızatıon and Evaluatıon of Mesoporous Sılıca Based Lıquısolıd Blends of Azelnıdıpıne

Rutik Jukti, Abhishek Kanugo — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Azelnidipine is a calcium channel inhibitor widely utilized for the management of hypertension. The therapeutic benefits are restricted due to high lipophilicity. The recent work focused on the enhancement of solubility dissolution rate and bioavailability of Azelnidipine by the Liquisolid Compact technique. One of the best solubility enhancement techniques for BCS-II potent molecules is the Liquisolid Compaq technique. The hydrophobic active ingredient is converted into the liquid medicament by adding a non-volatile solvent. Furthermore, the freely flowable and compressible powder blends were accomplished by the amalgamation of adsorbents. The highest solubility of Azelnidipine was observed in PEG 400. The drug-excipient interactions were checked with FTIR and DSC. The screening was performed with the Design of expert software with MCC 102 (X1), Parteck SLC (X2), crosspovidone (X3) as independent factors and disintegration (Y1) dissolution release (Y2) as dependable factors with 12 trial runs. The ANOVA was applied with a polynomial quadratic model with response surface methodology. The optimized batch F5 indicated excellent flowability characteristics, the least disintegration time (4.05 min), and the greatest dissolution release (99.31%) owing to the greatest adsorption capacity and surface area of mesoporous silica.

Synergistic Neuroprotective Drug Combinations Targeting Amyloid-Beta Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans: A Multitarget Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A progressive neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by a multifactorial pathology that includes neuronal loss, oxidative stress, amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Since currently available drugs like donepezil simply reduce symptoms, there is an urgent need for more potent, disease-modifying therapy. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models of AD, we examined the treatment effectiveness of three novel antioxidant-based medication combinations: N-acetylcysteine + Curcumin (NAC+CUR), Mitoquinone + Butylated Hydroxyanisole (MitoQ+BHA), and Carnosine + Kynurenic Acid (CAR+KYNA). Phenotypic investigation was conducted using the wild-type N2 and transgenic CL4176 strains, the latter of which expresses human Aβ1–42 in muscle tissue. The Chou–Talalay approach was used for evaluating drug interactions in order to identify synergistic combinations. Lifespan, healthspan, Aβ-induced paralysis, stress tolerance, chemotaxis index, and fluorescence microscopy-measured amyloid burden were important outcomes. These results show that, in comparing with untreated and donepezil-M treated controls, all three drug combinations show synergistic interactions and significantly enhance physiological outcomes.

Development of Next-Generation Herbal Hair Oil Engineering for Fungal Scalp Disorders: The Nigella sativa Advantage

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Scalp fungal infections such as dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis remain highly prevalent and are often associated with irritation, recurrence, and poor patient compliance when treated with long-term synthetic antifungal agents. In this study, a next-generation antifungal herbal hair oil was designed, developed, and preclinically evaluated using a rational, green pharmaceutical approach that integrates potent plant-derived antifungal agents, scalp-soothing bioactives, and natural bio-stabilizers. The formulation was optimized around a synergistic phytochemical matrix comprising neem oil, tea tree oil, fenugreek extract, tulsi extract, and a carefully regulated concentration of Custard Seed Oil (Nigella sativa L.), enriched with thymoquinone as a key antifungal and anti- inflammatory marker compound . Natural antioxidants (wheat germ oil and rosemary extract), stabilizers (gum acacia/lecithin), cooling agents (menthol crystals), and aroma modulators (lemongrass oil) were incorporated to enhance stability, safety, and sensory acceptability while maintaining complete reliance on GRAS-listed botanical excipients. The optimized formulation exhibited excellent physicochemical stability, skin-compatible pH, low peroxide and acid values, and no phase separation under accelerated storage conditions. In vitro antifungal evaluation demonstrated strong activity against Malassezia furfur, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Aspergillus niger, with inhibition zones and MIC values comparable to clotrimazole 1% . Antioxidant assays confirmed high radical scavenging and reducing potential, supporting oxidative stability and scalp protection. Preclinical dermal safety studies indicated negligible irritation, validating suitability for repeated topical use . Infrared thermographic analysis confirmed sustained scalp cooling, while in vivo hair growth studies revealed accelerated telogen- to-anagen transition and a 26% increase in hair density after 28 days . Collectively, these findings position the developed formulation as a safe, multifunctional, and efficacious herbal alternative for the management of fungal scalp disorders with added hair health benefits.

Optimization, purification and characterization of L-asparaginase from clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from hospitals in Ramadi city-Iraq

Ahmed Ghalib Jumaa, Ahmed F. Alshanon, Muthanna Hamid Hassan — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the current study,32 isolates belonging to the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated. It was diagnosed using several diagnostic methods, including microscopic, biochemical, culture and VITIK 2. Its ability to produce the L-asparaginase was also studied, and the optimal conditions for production were studied, where lactose was the best carbon source, casein the best nitrogen source, temperature 37, pH 8, and the incubation period was 24 hours, the best incubation period. The enzyme was also purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. High enzyme activity (0.85 Unit/ ml) and specific activity (4.25 U/mg. protein) were obtained in 70% ration saturation of ammonium sulphate After elution step in Gel filtration chromatography one peak was obtained and the activity of L-asparaginase was entirely associated with this peak. The L-asparaginase was purified from A. boumamanni using Sephadex G-150 as third step of purification with specific activity 13.7 U/ mg.

Evaluation of nematicidal potential of botanicals for sustainable management of Meloidogyne incognita population

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Meloidogyne incognita, a rootknot nematode (RKNs), poses a significant economic threat to various agriculturally important crops as an endoparasite. The use of botanicals as a component of integrated pest management (IPM) offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. In this study we evaluated the nematicidal potential of Calotropis gigantea, Tinospora cordifolia, and Allium sativum L. against M. incognita juveniles (J2s) at concentration of 0.2 g/ 10 mL, 0.4 g/ 10 mL, 0.6 g/ 10 mL, 0.8 g/ 10 mL and 1 g/ 10 mL over exposure periods of 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. Among the tested extracts, T. cordifolia exhibited the highest J2s mortality (100.00% and 99.27%), while A sativum L. extract showed the lowest efficacy (41.19%). Furthermore, T. cordifolia showed remarkable phytonematicidal compounds. To enhance the efficacy of phytonematicides, we investigated the bioactive compounds present in the aqueous extract of T. cordifolia , which showed the highest mortality rate. In vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to assess the impact of hexadecane, a crude hydrocarbon present prominently in the aqueous extract of T. cordifolia leaf. Its 0.002 mL/ L and 0.004 mL/ L concentrations were tested for different time durations against M. incognita . Hexadecane at 0.004 mL/ L exhibited the highest J2s mortality (85.09% after 72 h of treatment, as compared to the control 3.46%). These findings highlight the potential of T. cordifolia based bio-nematicide formulations. GC-MS profile of T. cordifolia revealed the prominant presence of hexadecane, thus it was asses to test its bioeffacy as a bionematicide which would show a path of sustainable strategy for plant parasitic nematode management. This novel approach offers an environmentally friendly and costeffective alternative to synthetic pesticides, potentially leading to improved crop yield and sustainable agricultural practice.

The Effect of Microplastics and Its Impact on Human Health: Mapping India’s Research Footprint

Anu, NK Prasanna — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size and have been identified as a major global concern because of their persistence and potential risks for human health. This study aimed to conduct a scientometric analysis of the global research on MPs with special referenceto India. Results indicated that most of the significant funding support was providedby the Department of Science and Technology (DST), University Grants Commission (UGC), and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).The keywords mostlyused in the research studies were microplastics, human health, toxicity and heavy metals. However, the emerging themes were artificial intelligence, pharmacokinetics, and biomedical applications. The collaboration mapping of Institutions revealed IITs, CSIR labs, Banaras Hindu University and Cochin University of Science and Technology as the leading contributors in this research domain. The journals most opted by the authors for their publications were Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, and Environmental Research. The findings reveal that Indian research on MPs is multidisciplinary and increasingly integrated with global efforts.

Phytochemical profile and antimicrobial potential of leaf and floral extracts of Antigonon leptopus, Bauhinia purpurea and Spathodea campanulata

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Plants are the primary source of chemicals that are useful to mankind for their variety of medicinal and pharmacological activities. Phytochemical studies on the leaf &floral extracts of Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn., Bauhinia purpurea L., and Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv are tested for their phytochemical compounds and antimicrobial activity. Both leaf and floral extracts are collected by using solvents acetone, methanol and chloroform. Among the three plants selected Bauhinia purpurea exhibited good phytochemicals and highest antimicrobial potential in both leaf and floral sample extracts tested followed by Antigonon leptopus with moderate activity, and Spathodea campanulata exhibited poor antimicrobial activity. The present paper reveals the phytochemical constituents and their antimicrobial activity against the test pathogens.

Pan-Cancer Non-Coding RNA Signatures of Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling Identify Delivery-Aware Therapeutic Targets in Pancreatic, Lung, Breast and gastric Adenocarcinomas

Khalidah Khalid Nasser — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major determinant of progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance in solid tumors, yet the non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that coordinate stromal, immune, and hypoxic programs across cancers remain poorly catalogued and have rarely been prioritized with delivery considerations in mind; we therefore performed an integrative pan-cancer analysis of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in 2,447 primary tumors from four stroma-rich TCGA cohorts, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD, n=183), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD, n=590), breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA, n=1,226), and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD, n=448). For each sample we computed ESTIMATE stromal and immune scores and ssGSEA hypoxia scores, identified differentially expressed ncRNAs between expression tertiles (Wilcoxon FDR<0.05), correlated candidates with TME axes (Spearman |ρ|>0.25, FDR<0.05), reconstructed lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA ceRNA networks supported by miRTarBase/ENCORI, applied Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox survival models, and integrated single-cell evidence from TISCH2 to score therapeutic and delivery feasibility. Among 18,770 tested ncRNAs, we nominated 50 high-confidence candidates; LINC01614, LINC01094, LINC02544, MSCAS1, PCED1B-AS1, and AP000695.1 were the top recurrent lncRNAs, and hsa-mir-29c the top recurrent miRNA. LINC01614 was upregulated in TME-high tumors across all four cohorts (mean |log₂FC|=1.95, mean |ρ|=0.54), engaged ECM-stromal, hypoxia, TGF-β, and immune-activation modules via 294 ceRNA edges, and predicted shorter overall survival (best p=4.9×10⁻³, HR=1.17), while hsa-mir-29c was consistently downregulated and recovered canonical collagen targets. These findings establish a delivery- aware, pan-cancer ncRNA shortlist that links TME biology to actionable therapeutic strategies, providing a prioritized foundation for preclinical validation of TME-responsive ncRNA medicines.

A Narrative Review of Bioactive Metabolites from Macroalgae-Associated Microbes with Antimicrobial, Anti-Dengue, and Immunomodulatory Potentials

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Over the past decade, reinteractions. The narrative review emphasizes that marine microbial metabolites are emergsearch has established macroalgae-associated microbial communities as a rich and largely untapped source of structurally unique bioactive compounds. Key findings indicate that these symbiotic microbes exhibit high taxonomic and functional diversity, producing a wide range of secondary metabolites with potent biological activities, especially antimicrobial, anti-dengue, and immunostimulatory activities. Advances in extraction and screening techniques have significantly enhanced the recovery and characterization of these compounds. Notably, microbial-derived metabolites demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, including antifungal, antibacterial, anti-dengue, immunostimulatory, and antitumor activities. These allelochemicals play dual roles: they protect macroalgal hosts from surrounding pelagic microorganisms and help stabilize host–microbe ing as promising candidates for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications, particularly as novel antimicrobial and antiviral agents with immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, metagenomic approaches are highlighted as transformative tools for discovering previously inaccessible biosynthetic pathways and novel compounds without the need for culturing. Overall, macroalgae-associated microbial communities represent a frontier in drug discovery, offering significant potential for identifying innovative therapeutic agents and addressing current challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and emerging viral diseases. This opens up great opportunities to identify innovative and potential drug targets from macroalgae-associated microbial communities in the future, supporting marine biotechnological strategies for compound and drug discovery.

Structure- Activity Relationship Insights into Dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs): A Versatile Scaffold for Multitarget Drug Discovery

Manjiri Mandar Shastri, Archana Mukul Karnik, Somdatta Y. Chaudhari — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs), a group of heterocyclic compounds that are considered versatile compounds bearing significant potential in multitarget drug discovery and development. Due to their adaptable nature, DHPMs demonstrate a wide range of pharmacological activities. Additionally, the implementation of green synthesis methods, such as solvent-free and microwave-assisted reactions, enhanced DHPM production efficiency by reducing reaction time from 2-4 hours to 10-20 minutes, increasing yields up to 95%, and lowering energy consumption by 40%, thereby improving environmental sustainability through a 60% reduction in hazardous waste. This review presents a wide-ranging consideration of the structural activity relationships (SAR) of DHPM derivatives, highlighting how specific substitutions (e.g. electron-donating, electron-withdrawing groups) at various positions on the DHPM core impact their biological activities. Hybridisation and In-silico methodologies have emerged as pivotal tools for enhancing lead identification and optimisation. Techniques such as quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), virtual screening, and molecular modeling have allowed precise evaluation of DHPM-target interactions, facilitating SAR refinement. By elucidating the SAR of DHPMs, this review aims to guide future research in the rational design of more potent DHPM-based therapeutics, facilitating the development of more effective and safer drugs across various therapeutic areas.