Roma Ghai

Background: Testosterone, a major sex steroid hormone secreted in males, plays a vital role in androgenic and anabolic activities. A dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal low testicular Leydig cell function can account for the reduction in testosterone levels. This condition is known as hypogonadism/androgen deficiency, a global health issue. Various studies conducted in the past have revealed that the likelihood of developing the disease increases with age. Reports suggest that an annual decline of 0.4-2% occurs, with a 6% incidence in middle-aged men. Orchiectomy-induced hypogonadism causes androgen deficiency in males. Testosterone has a shelf life of two days, so surgical procedure helps in the cessation of testosterone, leading to the same symptoms and conditions as observed in hypogonadism. This study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the combined effects of Tribulus terrestris and Asparagus racemosus on their ability to treat hypogonadism. Methods: In this study, healthy male Wistar rats were acclimatized for one week and subjected to orchiectomy to induce hypogonadism. The animals were divided into five groups: normal control, disease control, standard (Tentex forte 400 mg/kg), Tribulus terrestris (400 mg/kg), and a combination of Tribulus terrestris (400 mg/kg) and Asparagus racemosus (600 mg/kg). Treatments were administered daily for 14 days. Body weight and blood samples were collected on days 1, 7, and 14 for analysis. Serum biochemical parameters, including testosterone levels assessed by LC-MS, were evaluated, along with histopathological examination of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post hoc test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The combination of Tribulus terrestris (TT) (400 mg/kg) and Asparagus racemosus (AR) (600 mg/kg/day), when compared to alone Tribulus terrestris extract (400 mg/kg) resulted in an improvement of testosterone levels compared to the standard drug, Tentex forte (400 mg/kg). Conclusion: Therefore, the combination of Tribulus terrestris and Asparagus racemosus can be a promising treatment choice for the effective treatment of hypogonadism in the future.

Infliximab (INF), a murine human monoclonal antibody, is a substantially more successful biologic than topical drugs for treating mild to severe psoriasis because it clears the skin rapidly due to its fast onset of action. Loss of responsiveness over time and some adverse effects, especially the experience of infusion reactions, are the major causes of non-compliance with INF medication. Therefore, evaluation of the long-term reliability of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) medications is necessary for the assessment of the risks associated with long-term anti-TNF therapy. For psoriasis, there are registered safety statistics; however, these individuals might not receive the same level of care as those in a randomized study. Few assessments of the safety of anti- TNF medications across indications, including their biosimilars, are present, but it’s still unknown how anti-infliximab antibodies arise and produce harmful effects. INF biosimilars, when subjected to human studies to reduce cost and improve access, provide therapeutic benefits with associated adverse events, showing variations in incidence depending upon varying patient populations and no new safety indications. During therapy, certain individuals develop antibodies against INF, which are believed to be linked to a loss of response (LOR). Additional research aimed at identifying individuals who are susceptible to treatment resistance is likely to assist doctors in accurately selecting the appropriate candidates for anti-TNF-α therapy and enhancing the long-term effectiveness of the treatment. From clinical studies, we expect to learn about how to utilize INF or its biosimilars more effectively in the management of psoriasis. Therefore, the paper focuses on the efficacy and safety monitoring of INF and developed biological therapies.

Drug administration at similar doses in patients can often lead to various clinical responses. It has been hypothesized that genetics primarily accounts for variation in drug efficacy and toxicity in individuals. Personalized medicine has been a breakthrough achieved by the Human Genome Project which contributes to enhancing quality-based patient care. It deals with the customization of medication considering the distinct genetic and proteomic data that underpins the originality of every patient and every instance of therapeutic intervention. Many cases have shown that inter-individual differences related to drug response can be traced to genetic polymorphism in the gene alleles that codes for metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and genetic variations in a person’s Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). So, the paper throws an insight into epidemiological variations due to genetics, variations in response based on metabolic parameters, and transporters. It also covers genetic variation related to immune-related drug toxicities. Pharmacogenetic testing plays an important role in achieving more precise personalized therapeutics for better public health. The paper discusses various tests for human leukocyte antigen variants and metabolic variants. Every technology inclusion comes with advantages and limitations so personalized medicine also faces certain challenges which are discussed in the paper. Once personalized medicine is used in clinical settings, patients will be able to receive the best medications for them based on their unique genetic and protein profiles.

The PC-1 formulation, renowned for its diverse biological properties, has yet to be thoroughly examined for its effects on stomach ulceration. Acute toxicity assessment of a lower dose (1000 mg/kg) of PC-1 formulation did not exhibit any observable signs of toxicity, suggesting its potential as protective mediator in contrast to stomach epithelial mutilation. The omeprazole group received 30 mg/kg omeprazole orally. The investigational groups were orally gavage with PC-1 extract formulation at dosage 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, and 200mg/kg in (1%) CMC. Subsequently, after an hour, the normal group received normal water via gavage, while groups 2–6 were administered absolute ethanol via gavage. Treatment with PC-1 extract formulation significantly mitigated ethanol-induced gastric injuries, as demonstrated through improved gastric mucus secretion, pH levels, reduced ulceration size, and decreased infiltration of leukocytes in submucosal layer. Analysis of stomach epithelial homogenate revealed a significant upsurge in the superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione, along with a notable decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels upon treatment with PC-1 formulation. The observed gastroprotective effects of PC-1 formulation could be attributed to its capacity to improve pH and mucus secretion, elevate SOD, GSH, and CAT levels, while reducing MDA levels.

The heterocyclic compounds have a great significance in medicinal chemistry because they have extensive biological activities. Cancer is globally the leading cause of death and it is a challenge to develop appropriate treatment for the management of cancer. Continuous efforts are being made to find a suitable medicinal agent for cancer therapy. Nitrogencontaining heterocycles have received noteworthy attention due to their wide and distinctive pharmacological activities. One of the most important nitrogen-containing heterocycles in medicinal chemistry is ‘quinazoline’ that possesses a wide spectrum of biological properties. This scaffold is an important pharmacophore and is considered a privileged structure. Various substituted quinazolines displayed anticancer activity against different types of cancer. This review highlights the recent advances in quinazoline based molecules as anticancer agents. Several in-vitro and in-vivo models used along with the results are also included. A subpart briefing natural quinazoline containing anticancer compounds is also incorporated in the review.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a chronic, devastating dysfunction of neurons in the brain leading to dementia. It mainly arises due to neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus area of the brain and is clinically manifested as a progressive mental failure, disordered cognitive functions, personality changes, reduced verbal fluency and impairment of speech. The pathology behind AD is the formation of intraneuronal fibrillary tangles, deposition of amyloid plaque and decline in choline acetyltransferase and loss of cholinergic neurons. Tragically, the disease cannot be cured, but its progression can be halted. Various cholinesterase inhibitors available in the market like Tacrine, Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine, etc. are being used to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The paper’s objective is to throw light not only on the cellular/genetic basis of the disease, but also on the current trends and various strategies of treatment including the use of phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Enormous literature survey was conducted and published articles of PubMed, Scifinder, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials.org and Alzheimer Association reports were studied intensively to consolidate the information on the strategies available to combat Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, several strategies are being investigated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Immunotherapies targeting amyloid-beta plaques, tau protein and neural pathways are undergoing clinical trials. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotide methodologies are being approached as therapies for its management. Phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are also gaining attention in overcoming the symptoms related to AD. The present review article concludes that novel and traditional therapies simultaneously promise future hope for AD treatment.