Utilization of natural products in medical textiles toward multifunctional applications without side effects is an extremely motivating goal. Herein, a novel, eco-friendly procedure was developed to introduce multifunctional cotton gauze fabrics using guava leaf powder extract. Biocompatible microcapsules composed of guava leaf powder extract and starch core and calcium-alginate (Ca-alginate) outer membrane were developed. The current strategy involved the identification and assessment of the bioactive compounds extracted from guava leaf via ultrasonic technique. Then, the guava leaf extract was loaded within a matrix of sodium alginate/starch and coated onto the cotton gauze fabrics. The morphological properties of both blank and treated cotton gauze fabrics were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT−IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial activity of the developed cotton gauze was evaluated against E. coli as Gram negative pathogenic bacteria and S. aureus as Gram positive pathogenic bacteria using the agar diffusion and bacterial counting methods. Furthermore, the treated cotton gauze fabrics were also used to conduct further studies toward the production of wound healing dress. The treated cotton gauze demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial, antioxidant, UV shielding, and wound healing properties. As a result, the current study presents a new simple approach to design smart cotton gauze for multifunctional medical and healthcare applications employing bioactive extract from sustainable plant waste.

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease that results in inflammation of the pancreatic tissue. The most characteristic features of this disease are activation of digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase with subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It may be complicated with multiorgan failure. Pulmonary complications are considered the most frequent and most serious complications. Apitherapy is a type of natural medicine that uses honey bee products like bee venom and bee propolis for treating various diseases. The aim of the study: To elucidate the apitherapeutic value of bee venom and bee propolis on L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis and its associated lung injury complication in adult male albino rats via biological study. Materials and methods: This study was performed on 70 adult male albino rats. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups: Group I :Control group (CG), Group II :Acute pancreatitis group (AP) in which pancreatitis was induced by two intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 2g/kg L-arginine, 1 h apart, Group III :Bee venom (250µg/kg subcutaneous (s.c.) injection) + L-arginine treated group (BVL), Group IV: Bee propolis (300mg/kg intramuscular (i.m.) injection) + L-arginine treated group (BPL), Group V: Combined therapy group (CT), Group VI: Bee venom only treated group(BV) and Group VII: Bee propolis only treated group (BP). The diagnostic markers, including serum lipase and amylase, GGT, glucose, CRP, tissue total antioxidants and RT-PCR analysis of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), were measured. Histological (using hematoxylin & eosin stain) and Immunohistochemical (using NF-κB immunostain) techniques were done. The morphometric study was performed for area % and optical density of immunoexpression of NF-κB in pancreatic and lung tissues. All performed measurements were followed by statistical analysis. Results: Acute pancreatitis group revealed a significant increase in amylase and lipase serum levels, increase in MMP-9 expression and a decrease in the total antioxidants tissue content. Histopathological results demonstrated widening of the connective tissue septa of the pancreas with degeneration of pancreatic acini in AP group while, the lungs showed thickened interalveolar septa with inflammatory cellular infiltration. A significant increase in immunoreactivity of NF-κB in pancreatic and lung tissues was also observed. The pretreated groups showed a significant improvement of these biochemical and histological changes. Conclusions: There was a significant role of pretreatment with bee venom and bee propolis in ameliorating biochemical and histopathological changes in AP group.

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Background: Hypothyroidism is a decrease in the production of the thyroid hormones and leads to gland dysfunction. Ashwagandha extract was used as an ayurvedic treatment and supposed to be as antihypothyroidism agent. Objectives: to investigate the impact of ashwagandha (Ash) extract on propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism in rats. Subjects and Methods: The rats were divided into three groups, control group, PTU (hypothyroid) group (6mg/kg/day by oral route), PTU (6mg/kg/day by oral route) +Ash (50mg/kg/day by oral route) treated group. All treatment continued for 30 days. At the end of experiment, measurement of serum T3, T4 and TSH was performed. Thyroid gland, right sided tibia and dentate gyrus region of hippocampus were examined using histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies. All measurements were statistically analyzed. Results: Decrease in serum T3 and T4 and congestion of the blood capillaries, follicular distortion, and vacuolar degeneration of some follicular cells were exhibited in thyroid gland of hypothyroid group. Histological changes in growth plate cartilage in the form of decrease of matrix deposition and plate thickness were detected. Dentate gyrus showed distorted granule cell layer. Immunohistochemically, low expression of the GFAP was expressed in astrocytes. PTU+Ash treated group showed improvement of the previous changes. Conclusion: Administration of ashwagandha with PTU displayed protective effect on the thyroid gland and its associated histological changes in growth plate cartilage and dentate gyrus. Higher doses of ashwagandha should be used for extrapolation if it may give better results than the used dose.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is one of the commonest chronic autoimmune diseases.