Jurinea dolomiaea Boiss., family Compositae, is a medicinally important plant of alpine region. Its tuberous roots are used in various ailments in folk medicine. This study was undertaken to estimate total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) and to determine anti-free radical potential by diverse in vitro antioxidant assays. Crude methanol extract (JDME) was fractionated into n-hexane (JDHE), chloroform (JDCE), ethyl acetate (JDEE), n-butanol (JDBE), and aqueous (JDAE) fractions. The results indicated that JDEE and JDCE constituted the highest amount of TFC (807 ± 7.2 mg rutin equivalent/g sample) and TPC (757 ± 9.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g sample), respectively. Significant correlation of TFC with IC50 values was recorded for •OH (R 2 = 0.91), H2O2 (R 2 = 0.82), and ABTS (R 2 = 0.82) assay. It could be made clear that JDEE was the most potent in antioxidant activity as compared to others, with generally lower IC50 values for DPPH (41.1 ± 1.0 μg/mL), ABTS (46.7 ± 0.6 μg/mL), H2O2 (42.2 ± 0.9 μg/mL), •OH (61.1 ± 1.1 μg/mL), O2 − (152 ± 1.1 μg/mL), and antilipid peroxidation (54.3 ± 1.6 μg/mL). HPLC chromatogram of JDEE revealed the presence of catechin, caffeic acid, and rutin. The results indicated the antioxidant activities of J. dolomiaea roots and merit further investigations for their use in oxidative stress related disorders.

In the current study protective effect of ethanol extract of Pistacia chinensis bark (PCEB) was investigated in rats against CCl4 induced lung and thyroid injuries. PCEB dose dependently inhibited the rise of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, nitrite, and protein content and restored the levels of antioxidant enzymes, that is, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and quinone reductase in both lung and thyroid tissues of CCl4 treated rats. Decrease in number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and hemoglobin and T3 and T4 content as well as increase in monocytes, eosinophils, and lymphocytes count with CCl4 were restored to normal level with PCEB treatment. Histological study of CCl4 treated rats showed various lung injuries like rupture of alveolar walls and bronchioles, aggregation of fibroblasts, and disorganized Clara cells. Similarly, histology of CCl4 treated thyroid tissues displayed damaged thyroid follicles, hypertrophy, and colloidal depletion. However, PCEB exhibited protective behaviour for lungs and thyroid, with improved histological structure in a dose dependant manner. Presence of three known phenolic compounds, that is, rutin, tannin, and gallic acid, and three unknown compounds was verified in thin layer chromatographic assessment of PCEB. In conclusion, P. chinensis exhibited antioxidant activity by the presence of free radical quenching constituents.

The present work is focused on the development of thiolated film for fluconazole buccal delivery. To this end, unmodified polymers chitosan and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) backbone was covalently modified by thioglycolic acid (TGA) and cysteine, respectively. The thiolated buccoadhesive film was evaluated in terms of thickness, weight uniformity, water-uptake capacity, drug content, and release patterns. Moreover, mucoadhesion profile was investigated on buccal mucosa. The resulting chitosan-TGA and NaCMC-cysteine conjugates displayed 171 ± 13 and 380 ± 19 μmol thiol groups per gram of polymer (mean ± SD; n = 3), respectively. The water binding capacity of the thiolated film was significantly ∼2-fold higher (p < 0.05) as compared to unmodified film. The obtained thiolated film displayed 5.8-fold higher mucoadhesive properties compared with corresponding film. Controlled release of drugs from film was observed over 8 h. The transport of fluconazole across excised buccal mucosa was enhanced up to 17-fold in comparison with fluconazole applied in buffer. Based on these findings, thiolated film seems to be promising for fluconazole buccal delivery.

It is concluded that some bioactive antioxidants of P. chinensis bark might be a good source to isolate the potent antioxidant components.

Background:  Plantar wart is a common viral infection of the plantar surface of the foot. Multiple treatment modalities are available but there is no definitive management option. The aim of this study is to compare topical adapalene gel 0.1% with cryotherapy in patients presenting with plantar warts in terms of time taken for complete clearance of the lesions. Methods: The study was conducted at the department of Dermatology, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi from 28th April to 28th October 2020. Eighty-four patients with plantar warts who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Approval from the institutional ethical review committee was sought and written informed consent was taken from all the patients. Patients were divided into two groups, A (Adapalene 0.1% gel) and B (Cryotherapy) of 42 patients each. Adapalene gel was applied twice daily under occlusion at home and cryotherapy was done at the clinic after every two weeks. Patients were followed weekly from the onset of treatment and days taken for complete clearance of plantar warts were noted. Both the groups were compared for the outcome, i.e., time taken for complete clearance of lesions. Results: The mean time for complete clearance of plantar warts in group A was 35.619±3.154 days and in group B, it was 50.404±3.178 days. Conclusion: Adapalene gel 0.1% used for the treatment of plantar warts helped in complete clearance of lesions faster than cryotherapy.