Avicenna Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Jul 2020

The microflora of Iranian traditional sourdoughs was investigated by microscopic and biochemical tests. All of the isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) belonged to the genus Lactobacillus and most of them belonged to L. plantarum species.

LAB of Iranian traditional sourdoughs were selected for antimicrobial activity by measuring diameters of the inhibition zones.

The best result belonged to Lactobacillus casei. The supernatant of the specified species was added to specific culture media of each pathogenic organism, and then the optical density before and after adding the supernatant was measured at 600 nm by UV spectrophotometer every 2 hours.

The results showed that L. casei had suitable bacteriostatic and fungistatic effects and can be used as a potent biopreservative agent in preparing various baked products such as all kinds of bread.

Apoptosis is one of the most vital mechanisms in the removal of old and damaged cells, especially cancer cells. Many polyphenolic and antioxidant compounds can inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. This study intended to evaluate the effect of the thymoquinone (TQ) on the three pre-apoptotic factors Bad, Bak, and Bim in the simulation environment.

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) files of three pre-apoptotic proteins Bad, Bak, and Bim were obtained from PDB database and the molecular structure of TQ from PubChem database. The optimization, simulation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) computation were performed using AutoDock, VMD, and GROMACS packages on each one of the proteins in free mode and ligand binding mode.

The number and type of hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds at the binding site of TQ and pre-apoptotic factors Bad, Bak, and Bim were detected at the lowest level of energy. The lowest binding energy level of TQ had the highest tendency to bind to the BAD molecule. After the binding of TQ to proteins, the radius of gyration (Rg) of Bim increased while the Rg of Bad and Bak decreased. However, the secondary structures (Turn, Coil, Helix, and Bend) were greatly affected in the binding of TQ to Bad, Bak, and Bim.

The variations of binding energy indicated that TQ can affect the three pre-apoptotic factors Bad, Bak, and Bim. This bond seems to increase their activity by variation in the secondary structure of the Bim specific residues.

Pistacia atlantica kurdica has recently been shown to possess free radical scavenging ability. The current study aims to investigate the protective effect of this plant against cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity.

Thirty-six rats were divided into 6 groups (6 in each), and treated as follows: group 1 received normal saline (control group), group 2 (positive control) received cadmium by drinking water (100 mg/ L/d), group 3 received 200 mg/kg of P. atlantica extract, and groups 4-6 received cadmium as well as 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/d of P. atlantica extract (orally), respectively. After 2 weeks, oxidative damage and renal function markers were assayed by standard methods.

In cadmium group, a significant increase was observed in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P<0.01) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) level of renal tissue (P<0.001) and a remarkable decrease was found in total thiol molecules (TTM) of the kidney (P<0.001). Despite the decreased renal antioxidant capacity, these changes were not significant. P. atlantica extract improved the LPO, TTM, and histopathological changes in renal tissue.

In this study, although the P. atlantica extract did not have a significant effect on cadmiuminduced renal dysfunction, it did improve the oxidative/antioxidant balance in renal tissue.

Production of the recombinant proteins in mammalian cells is an important issue with a bio-therapeutic purpose. Numerous efforts have been focused on the improvement of the yields of recombinant proteins, which include optimization of conventional biological processes, selection of appropriate signal peptides, codon optimization, and re-engineering of cells to produce more proteins. Stem cell factor (SCF) is a blood cytokine which activates the c-Kit receptor. This factor is crucial not only for the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells but also for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of mast cells. Recently, its therapeutic role in several diseases such as Alzheimer’s and myocardial infarction has been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design a secretory recombinant human SCF with the maximal yield in an appropriate mammalian host cell as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using the computational studies.

As the first step, computational simulation studies were carried out to design the appropriate signal peptide for the human SCF protein. Codon optimized coding sequence of hSCF was transferred into a eukaryotic expression vector (pBudCE4.1). Recombinant vector (pBudCE4.1/SCF) was transfected into CHO cells and the stably transformed cells were screened and isolated. Subsequently, the expression of SCF was defined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in stably transformed cells.

Our bioinformatics studies indicated that Azurocidin signal peptide could be a suitable signal peptide for the production of SCF proteins in the CHO cells. Accordingly, computational studies revealed that the presence of 6×His-tag did not have a significant impact on the three-dimensional structure of the protein. Furthermore, the expression of hSCF was significant in the stable CHO cells.

The use of this approach may, therefore, lead to the production of highly efficient recombinant hSCF, which would be feasible for the mass production of this factor for therapeutic purposes.

Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) can be used to improve the oral bioavailability of lipophilic drugs. The aim of this study was the preparation and characterization of a SNEDDS for the oral delivery of budesonide as a poorly soluble drug.

To prepare SNEDDS, budesonide (20 mg) was dissolved in the mixture of liquid paraffin, Tween 80, and propylene glycol, followed by using the Box-Behnken response surface methodology for statistical optimization. The prepared mixtures were then diluted in the simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and their physico-chemical characteristics were studied as well. Then, SNEDDS were morphologically evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, the in vitro release profile of budesonide from nano-droplets was determined in the SIF.

Based on the results, the size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency of statistically optimized SNEEDS were reported as 146±37 nm, 0.211±0.06, +3.6±0.84 mV, and 94.3±6.58%, respectively. In addition, TEM images revealed spherical nano-droplets. Further, the release profile of budesonide from nano-droplets exhibited 33.81±1.67% of drug release in SIF during 360 minutes of incubation at 37° C, indicating sustained drug release.

The obtained data demonstrated that SNEDDS could be regarded as a good candidate for oral delivery of budesonide as a poorly water-soluble drug representing a high first-pass metabolism.

Stachys (Lamiaceae) is a genus with varied effects and applications in traditional medicine. The essential oil (EO) of different species of genus Stachys has received much attention in different studies. According to previous evidence, the components of EO in different species have diversity although there is no previous data regarding investigating Stachys fruticulosa for EO. Considering the importance of the plants of genus Stachys, vast types of compounds in the EO of the genus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the components of EO of S. fruticulosa M. Bieb.

The EO of the aerial parts from S. fruticulosa was obtained by hydrodistillation and then the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and 95% of the oil (17 components) was identified accordingly. The identity of the components was assigned by comparing their mass spectra and retention indices with those of authentic samples.

Most oil components were α-terpinyl acetate (24.6%), 3-n-Butyl phthalide (20.5%), p-cymene (18.2%), and β-phellandrene (18.2%).

The components of essential oil from S. fruticulosa were identified for the first time, and these substances may be responsible for the biological effects of these essential oils.

Natural products, herbal medicines, and supplements have received more attention of the scientific and pharmaceutical community. Supplemental and alternative medicines include dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and special diets. It has been found that some complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are safe and effective but the important point is that less is known about many of them. Medicines used in multiple sclerosis (MS) are not completely effective and various side effects have been detected. There is an increasing trend in the use of supplementary and alternative medicines in treating MS because of fewer side effects, more comfort, and more preventative effects. It has been indicated that up to 70%-80% of people with MS have tested herbal products or bioactive compounds for treating their disease. The present study aimed to investigate the use of natural products, herbal remedies, and supplements to treat MS to confirm or rule out the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of these supplementary medicines.