Paranthaman Subash

Objective: Epilepsy is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder characterized by abnormal neuronal electrical activity. The primary treatment modality for individuals with epilepsy (PWE) is antiseizure medication (ASM). The multiple potential factors contributing to treatment resistance in epilepsy may be attributed to the inability of ASMs to traverse the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Consequently, it is imperative to identify a solution, and optimally, enhance ASM efficacy. Method: Innovative drug delivery technologies have shown improved therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of epilepsy as compared with traditional pharmaceutical treatments. Furthermore, exosomes, neosomes, and phytosomes have received interest as potential next‐generation drug delivery platforms, owing to their benefits over semi‐synthetic and synthetic alternatives. These systems have demonstrated better bioavailability, tailored distribution, and decreased adverse effects, giving them potential choices for boosting the treatment of numerous disorders. Results: Exploring and optimizing novel drug delivery systems could lead to significant advancements in the treatment of drug‐resistant epilepsy by enhancing the delivery of ASMs to the brain and overcoming barriers like the BBB. Additionally, further research into the mechanisms of action and potential side effects of these innovative drug delivery systems is crucial for their successful clinical translation in epilepsy treatment. Significant: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic can be used to better customize medicines for specific patients, increase efficacy, and lessen side effects. All things considered, the creation of medication delivery systems based on nanotechnology has enormous potential to transform the treatment of epilepsy and enhance patient outcomes. Plain Language Summary: Epilepsy is a common neurological illness treated mostly with antiseizure drugs (ASMs), although treatment resistance is typically connected to the difficulty of ASMs to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Innovative drug delivery systems, such as exosomes, neosomes, and phytosomes, offer potential advantages over existing approaches by boosting bioavailability, distribution, and minimizing side effects.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health challenge owing to its therapeutic resistance and high recurrence rates, underscoring the need for mechanism-based interventions. Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze, a medicinal herb traditionally used for inflammatory disorders, contains bioactive diterpenoids and alkaloids with anticancer potential. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process in CRC remain unclear. This study evaluated sequential Soxhlet extracts of S. cusia leaves using integrated in-vitro and in-silico methods. Among the n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous fractions, the ethanolic extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against HCT-116 and SW-620 CRC cells, with IC ₅₀ values of 54.37 and 77.52 µg/mL, respectively. GC–MS analysis identified 13 phytoconstituents, and andrographolide was isolated for the first time from S. cusia and structurally characterized using UV–Visible, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Network pharmacology analysis identified checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1) as a central target. Molecular docking revealed favorable binding of andrographolide to CHEK1 (− 6.40 kcal/mol), comparable to that of the reference compound (− 6.30 kcal/mol), and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed complex stability. In vitro validation demonstrated dose-dependent apoptosis and proliferation inhibition in both cell lines, with significantly lower IC ₅₀ values at 48 h (isolated: 10.52 ± 1.91µM; commercial: 8.96 ± 9.35µM) than at 24 h. These findings identify CHEK1 as a mechanistically relevant target and support further translational investigation of S. cusia-derived andrographolide in CRC therapy.

The antivenom potential of Andrographis echioides (A. echioides), a traditional medicinal herb, was investigated using a comprehensive in silico approach to address the limitations of conventional antivenoms against Russell's viper envenomation. This study aimed to conduct virtual screening and molecular dynamics (MD) studies of flavonoid compounds from A. echioides to explore their potential as antivenom agents. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 84 bioactive phytochemicals in the leaf extracts. The selected flavonoid constituents were evaluated for their predicted inhibitory potential against venom-associated enzymes using molecular docking with the iGEMDOCK software. The target proteins included metalloproteinase (PDB ID: 2E3X), serine proteinase (PDB ID: 3S9A), and human pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PDB ID: 6Q42). Among the screened compounds, decanoic acid (- 93.7429 kcal/mol), oxalic acid 6-ethyloct-3-yl isohexyl ester (- 91.6448 kcal/mol), and oxalic acid 6-ethyloct-3-yl hexyl ester (- 85.7934 kcal/mol) exhibited the highest binding affinities to the target protein and compared them with the standard compound. Drug-likeness analysis confirmed the favorable pharmacokinetic properties of compounds. MD simulations spanning 100 ns revealed stable binding interactions, consistent RMSD values, favorable hydrogen bonding patterns, and stable structural dynamics. This is the first study to report the antivenom potential of bioactive compounds from this species using computational methods. These computational insights suggest that flavonoid constituents derived from A. echioides may possess promising binding and predicted inhibitory activities against key venom enzymes, warranting further investigation as potential natural antivenom agents.

To explore the advancements and therapeutic potential of nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems in improving drug administration, targeting efficiency, and patient outcomes, particularly in complex disease management. Traditional drug delivery methods often suffer from limited targeting ability, poor bioavailability, and increased side effects. Nanocarriers, such as liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles, offer innovative solutions by enabling site-specific delivery, controlled release, and enhanced therapeutic indices, thereby transforming pharmaceutical care. This review examines the current literature and recent innovations in nanocarrier design and application. It highlights stimulus-responsive systems (e.g., pH- or temperature-sensitive nanocarriers) and assesses their roles in treating conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological disorders. This study also analyzes technological trends and translational challenges in clinical applications, including regulatory and safety concerns. Recent developments in nanotechnology have enabled the creation of multifunctional, targeted, and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers capable of delivering therapeutic agents with improved precision and efficacy. These systems significantly enhance drug absorption and retention at the target site, provide sustained release, and minimize systemic side effects of the drug. Preclinical and early clinical data support their effectiveness in overcoming the limitations of conventional therapies. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems represent a paradigm shift in therapeutic strategies, offering precision-targeted treatment with improved efficacy and safety. Despite regulatory and translational challenges, continued research and innovation are accelerating their path to clinical adoption, establishing nanocarriers as the cornerstone of personalized medicine in cancer therapy.

The creation of stability-indicating analytical methods, phytoconstituent identification, and validation for content and impurity estimation in pharmaceutical drug products and drug substances using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) employing contemporary analytical techniques are the primary topics of this chapter. The intricacy and diversity of herbal components provide the most analytical hurdle. Effective analytical methods are thus crucial for the separation and qualitative and quantitative analysis of multi-component systems. Recent advances in selectivity, sensitivity, and speed of analysis have made a number of newly developed analytical approaches a major support for complex component analysis. This chapter provides an overview of the application of advanced chromatography for the separation and identification of natural components in herbal medicines. By carefully choosing and refining both fixed and mobile phases, the scope of applications was increased.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer affecting men and women worldwide. Among different types of lung cancer (LC), two primary forms stand out: small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC, the more prevalent variety, accounts for around 85–90% of all lung cancer cases. Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning, is the investigation of using existing drugs for new therapeutic purposes. This approach can lead to the formulation of effective treatments for diseases that might not have been adequately addressed by traditional drug discovery methods. The importance of drug repositioning in lung cancer research cannot be overstated. Traditional drug discovery is often a lengthy and costly process, requiring years of research and substantial investment. In contrast, repurposing existing medications can enhance the pre-clinical journey of developing new drugs. High-performance computing capabilities enable the efficient processing of these extensive datasets, which may include biological, biomedical, and electronic health-related information. This data-driven approach has dramatically accelerated the development of computational methods for drug repositioning. The strategy of drug repositioning offers a promising pathway for researchers, significantly shortening the timeline and reducing the costs associated with new drug development.