School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS)

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Start date: 2026Has files: Yes

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    Self-emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems as a Paradigm for Enhancing Bioavailability of Phytoconstituents
    (Springer, 2026-01-21) Bhatt, Jyotsana; Kumar, Ganesh
    The major limitations associated with phytoconstituents are their poor solubility and bioavailability in gastric fluid, which limit their further exploration to their full potential. To overcome these challenges, self-emulsifying formulations have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of herbal molecules and phytoconstituents with poor aqueous solubility. SEDDS formulations typically comprise an isotropic mixture of oil, surfactant, and co-surfactants. The concentration of these excipients is chosen based on pre-formulation studies, such as phase equilibrium studies, the oil’s solvent capacity for the drug, and the mutual miscibility of the excipients. This review primarily discusses the development of SEDDS and the role of different excipients in tailoring the oral bioavailability and aqueous solubility of lipophilic phytoconstituents. The various ratios of primary excipients used by different researchers, along with their effects on drug solubility and bioavailability, are presented in a tabular format. Relevant research databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Google Patents, Scopus, and Web of Science, were used to review the research data for various self-emulsifying herbal formulations using the keywords “Self-emulsifying, SEDDS, SMEDDS, SNEDDS, Lipid formulation, LFCS”. The manuscript further explores the potential applications of SMEDDS and SNEDDS in the treatment of various ailments using different herbal extracts and phytoconstituents. In conclusion, the review effectively presents the role of SEDDS in improving the oral bioavailability of lipophilic compounds.
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    Precision-engineered Carrageenan Gels: Boosting the Efficacy, Selectivity, and Release of Celecoxib for Lung Cancer Therapy
    (PubMed, 2026) Bhatt, Akanksha; Purohit, Priyank et al
    Background: Lung cancer is one of the most widespread malignancies among all types of cancers. There is uncertainty in its treatment because of the selectivity. The investigation is aimed to enhance therapeutic efficacy through targeted improvements in drug selectivity and reduced toxicity by analyzing well-accepted cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which is an enzyme target and a known therapeutic target for anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents. Objective: The objective of the present research was to identify the most suitable counterpart for celecoxib, which would produce synergistic effects and improve the selectivity index, safety, and efficacy of targeting cancer cells. Methods: The HOPE-62 cancer cell line and noncancerous LLC-MK2 cell line were used to analyze the activity of the prepared formulations. The effectiveness was compared by calculating the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of carrageenan, celecoxib, and celecoxib embedded with carrageenan. The release pattern of celecoxib from the carrageenan matrix was also determined by using a trans-diffusion cell; moreover, the binding sites of carrageenan and celecoxib were also evaluated through in silico molecular docking studies. Results: Carrageenan showed promising anticancer activity, with an IC50 value of 17.3±2 μM against the HOPE- 62 cell line. When blended with celecoxib (15.6±2 μM), the combination achieved enhanced efficacy and improved selectivity over celecoxib alone (IC50 of 10.3±1.5 μM). In noncancerous LLC-MK2 cells, the IC50 values were observed to be significantly higher: 1484 ±6 μM in the combined formulation and with IC50 values of 559±3 μM and 878±4 μM, respectively, in celecoxib and carrageenan alone. Conclusion: The carrageenan-embedded celecoxib exhibited a significant increase in the selectivity index from 32 to 144, which suggests enhanced anticancer activity with a favorable safety profile. Initially, sustained release of celecoxib from the blend was at a higher rate, but steadily maintained rates were. The In-silico docking studies also supported the synergistic activity of the combined form through separate interaction patterns without interfering with others. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of excipient-drug blending strategies to achieve synergistic effects, excellent selectivity, and reduced toxicity in cancer treatments.
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    Physiological limits and adaptive responses of the Wetland species Acorus calamus (L.) to gradient drought stress: Insights from photosystem II dynamics and oxidative damage
    (Elsevier, 2026-06) Nautiyal, Pallavi; Raveendran, Athira; Laxmi Trivedi, Vijay; Farswan, Arvind Singh; Nautiyal, M.C.
    Wetland plants Acorus calamus (L.) face increasing drought pressure due to declining global rainfall. As a key wetland species contributing to ecosystem services such as water filtration, shoreline stabilization, and wildlife habitat provision, understanding its drought responses is essential for predicting wetland vulnerability and informing conservation strategies. This study investigated the physiological, morphological, and biochemical responses of A. calamus to varying levels of drought stress. Multiple drought-responsive parameters were assessed, revealing significant changes in photosynthetic pigments, morphological traits, and stress indicators, including malondialdehyde and proline. With increasing drought severity, leaf gas-exchange parameters such as net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and intrinsic water use efficiency declined significantly (p < 0.001). Functional traits, including leaf area, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, and specific leaf weight ratio, also showed significant reductions (p < 0.001). In contrast, root length, total phenolic content, soluble sugars, starch, proline, and malondialdehyde increased progressively with drought stress. These findings revealed that A. calamus undergoes pronounced physiological and biochemical limitations under drought conditions, highlighting the sensitivity of wetland plants to water shortage and underscoring the vulnerability of wetland ecosystems under ongoing climatic change.
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    Ammonia-triggered disintegration of kappa-carrageenan hydrogel carrier for site-specific anti-inflammatory drug delivery
    (Frontiers, 2026-01-06) Kumar, Sachin; Purohit, Priyank et al.
    Ammonia accumulation in tissues is increasingly recognized as a direct biochemical trigger of ammonia-induced inflammation, yet no therapeutic strategy currently exists that can selectively target this pathological condition while minimizing systemic toxicity. Addressing this critical gap, the present study introduces a first-of-its-kind kappa-carrageenan (KC)-based formulation engineered to respond selectively to ammonia-rich inflammatory environments while simultaneously exerting synergistic anti-inflammatory effects. The KC gel’s structural network exhibited pronounced disruption upon exposure to ammonium hydroxide, supported by physicochemical changes, the weakening of OH and SO3H absorption bands in FT-IR spectra, and optical microscopy-confirmed morphological alterations. Drug-release studies revealed highly accelerated celecoxib release (up to 86%) from NH4OH-treated gels compared to only 33% under normal physiological conditions, demonstrating strong ammonia-triggered responsiveness and high site-selective delivery. In vivo anti-inflammatory evaluation further confirmed enhanced therapeutic potency arising from the synergistic interaction between celecoxib and KC, while cell-line assays validated the formulation’s favorable safety profile. Although long-term stability and pharmacokinetic assessments are required for clinical translation, this study establishes KC as a dual-functional, smart, and ammonia-responsive system, offering a novel mechanistic framework for targeted, sustained, and effective treatment of ammonia-associated inflammatory disorders.
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    Evaluation of neuroprotective effects of Pyracantha crenulata (D. Don) M. Roem against aluminium chloride induced memory impairment of rats
    (Taylor & Francis, 2026-07-05) Saxena, Payal; Kothiyal, Preeti; Ratan, Parminder
    Ethnopharmacological relevance: Pyracantha crenulata, traditionally used in Himalayan folk medicine, valued for enhancing vitality, mental clarity, and combating age-related cognitive decline due to its antioxidant constituents. Aim: This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of P. crenulata against aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats. Materials and Methods: Alzheimer’s pathology was induced using AlCl3, and rats were treated with P. crenulata extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) for 21 days. Cognitive and beha vioural performance were assessed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). Biochemical parameters, including oxidative stress markers (SOD), cholinesterase activity (AChE), and myeloperoxidase levels (MPO), were measured. Histopathological examination of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex was conducted. Results: Aluminium intoxication led to marked deficits in learning and memory, as evidenced by performance in the Morris Water Maze and Elevated Plus Maze tests. Treatment with P. crenulata extract significantly enhanced spatial and long-term mem ory in a dose-dependent manner, with the higher dose producing the most pronounced improvement. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the notable neuroprotective effects of P. crenulata, demonstrated through modulation of biochemical parameters and suppres sion of amyloid precursor protein and Tau, key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, further validated by histopathological evidence.