Abhinav Anand

Increased cases of fungal infections have become a significant public health concern, exacerbated by improvements in host predisposition characteristics. It is crucial to develop new and innovative methods to prevent drug resistance and combat fungal diseases. To protect humans from newly evolved, disease-causing, drug-resistant fungal infections, it is essential to develop new antifungals in response to the gradual emergence of fungal strains that resist one or more antifungals. While toxicity is a concern, various inorganic and organic chemicals have been developed as antifungals. However, many alternatives, such as medicinal plant extracts with strong antifungal properties and good biocompatibility, have faced challenges due to their limited water solubility, which reduces bioavailability. A promising solution is to use a nanotechnological approach that involves encapsulating or trapping phytochemicals in hydrophilic capping agents, either inorganic or organic. This methodology appears to offer a promising avenue for enhancing the effectiveness of these natural compounds. Recently, the field of medicine has greatly benefited from the use of herbal extracts and their phytomedicines. This article provides an overview of novel approaches that have been investigated to enhance the efficacy of herbal antifungal treatments and reduce the side effects of conventional drugs. These challenges can be addressed through innovative drug delivery strategies that enhance bioavailability and antifungal activity. Additionally, incorporating drugs into innovative systems can significantly reduce their toxicity and enhance the medicinal effects of plant extracts and oils. Therefore, the effective delivery of herbal actives by antifungal agents is facilitated by the use of nanocarriers, such as ethosomes, liposomes, transferosomes, phytosomes, and dendrimers, to the intended location. The methods for delivering herbal nano-formulations to improve antifungal therapy and minimize adverse effects associated with traditional therapy are summarized in the current study. The article also emphasizes the usage of herbal nanocarriers, which have shown the ability to treat a range of fungal illnesses caused by various fungi.

Continuous anthropogenic inputs have raised environmental concerns regarding non-degradable plastics derived from non-renewable petrochemicals, creating an urgent need for sustainable alternatives and driving a paradigm shift toward bioplastics. This review investigates the transformative role of the natural biopolymer xanthan gum as an eco-friendly additive in advancing biodegradable materials. Derived from Xanthomonas campestris, xanthan gum offers non-toxicity, biodegradability, and strong compatibility. The literature indicates that its negative charge enables interactions with positively charged molecules, enhancing composite properties such as mechanical strength. Although xanthan gum has limitations when used alone, it functions as an effective additive in packaging applications. The novelty of this work lies in exploring diverse techniques and formulations for integrating xanthan gum into bioplastic films and coatings, emphasizing its role in reinforcing biopolymer structures. As a sustainable alternative, xanthan gum-based composites preserve food quality and extend shelf life by providing protection against moisture, oxygen, UV radiation, and microbial contamination. Realizing its full potential requires optimized formulations to prevent structural disruptions and reduced stretchability at higher xanthan gum concentrations. Continued research, especially leveraging nanotechnology, is essential to amplify its advantages and address related challenges. This review highlights xanthan gum’s pivotal contribution to bioplastic innovation, presenting a strong case for its broader adoption in the food packaging industry.

Sweet orange essential oil (OEO) obtained from Citrus sinensis is a complex phytochemical matrix rich in volatile compounds such as limonene and linalool, widely recognised for their aromatic, therapeutic, and nutraceutical properties. This review synthesises the phytochemistry, biological activities, and industrial applications of orange essential oil with an emphasis on mood modulation, neuroprotection, antimicrobial activity, and metabolic health. Key monoterpenes have demonstrated significant anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, and sedative effects in both in vitro and in vivo models. A special focus is placed on aromatherapeutic relevance, where orange essential oil influences the limbic system and alters neuroendocrine responses. Moreover, the manuscript discusses extraction methodologies, contrasting conventional solvent‐based approaches with emerging green techniques such as cold pressing and supercritical carbondioxide extraction. Visual summaries and comparative tables highlight evidence levels and constituent efficacy. Together, these insights reinforce the value of orange oil not only in fragrance and flavour industries but also in developing holistic wellness strategies.

The escalating environmental challenges posed by different waste sources, including agricultural residues and industrial byproducts, necessitate innovative solutions for waste utilization.

Objective: To predict the biological activity of certain phytoconstituents for their anti-AD effects.Methods: Several phytoconstituents were selected on the basis of reported literature. The anti-AD activities of selected phytoconstituents were predicted by employing canonical simplified molecular-input line-entry system obtained from PubChem using PASS online.Results: Several phytoconstituents were predicted to have effects better than marketed drugs under some or the other out of the chosen six areas of pharmacological intervention. On the other hand, several new avenues were predicted in which the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the phytoconstituents can be made on the basis of PASS predicted activities.Conclusion: PASS is an important tool for virtually screening the compounds of interest for the biological activities of interest. This helps the researchers to streamline the research. However, PASS has its own share of limitations amidst a multitude of merits.

Dementia is referred to a loss of memory and decline in other mental abilities at levels critical enough to hinder performance of daily activities. It can be of several types, depending on the underlying pathophysiology. The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are various, but the most clinically significant are depression, apathy, and anxiety. Other BPSD include agitation, aberrant motor behavior, elation, hallucinations, and alterations in sleep and appetite. About 90% of sufferers of dementia are affected by BPSD during the course of the illness. These symptoms occur in demented patients irrespective of the dementia subtype. However, there has not been significant development in the areas of disease-modifying pharmacotherapeutics for dementia. Therefore, tackling BPSD has emerged as a research avenue in the recent past. Existing antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cholinergic agents have been extensively used in the treatment of BPSD, independently and in different combinations. However, these agents have not successful in completely alleviating such symptoms. Research in this field is going on globally, but it is still limited by various factors. There is a strong need to develop new entities and test them clinically. This review focuses on emerging treatments for the management of clinically significant BPSD.