Aloe vera gel is well-known as a beauty product, nutrient and herbal medicine due to its therapeutic properties. The current research aimed to make a comparative study of natural Aloe vera gel (AG), sitagliptin (SIAG) and glibenclamide (GLIB) as diabetes medications on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced albino Wistar male rat models.
Rat models (60) were grouped equally into control, diabetic, normal+AG, STZ+AG, STZ+GLIB and STZ+SIAG. After 3 weeks of treatments, body weights, fasting blood glucose levels, blood analyses, fat profile and biochemical and antioxidant enzymes were evaluated. Data were analyzed in SPSS and all values are reported as Mean ± SD. The post hoc multiple comparison tests revealed significant differences among rat groups at p ≤ 0.05.
The oral administration of Aloe vera gel was efficient in the STZ+AG group compared to STZ+GLIB and STZ+SIAG. Treatments of the STZ+AG group caused a remarkable reduction of fasting blood glucose level 100.01 mg/dL. The STZ+AG group and STZ+GLIB group detected the same hemoglobin and glycosylated hemoglobin values. The STZ+GLIB group reported the lowest values for Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR and β cell) 46.73 and 474.02, respectively.
The effect of Aloe vera gel was more pronounced for the biochemical and antioxidant enzymes. These results involved that, when compared to sitagliptin and glibenclamide as diabetes medications, Aloe vera gel ingestion significantly enhanced the diabetic rat' antioxidant defense system.
There is no universally accepted understanding of the complex pathogenesis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Precision prostate artery embolization (PPAE) is performed under the guidance of digital subtraction angiography and can alleviate clinical symptoms caused by BPH. This research assessed the effectiveness of PPAE combined with highly specific α1 blockers for elderly BPH patients.
The 144 elderly BPH patients were split into two groups: 80 for observation and 64 for control. The study treated all participants with α1 blockers, while the observation group additionally received precise prostatic artery embolization (PPAE). Changes in clinical symptoms before and after therapy were monitored.The statistical assessment was done by SPSS 22.00. Count data were reported as a percentage (%), while data were expressed as the Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD). The threshold of significance was p < 0.05.
The treatment led to a significantly greater overall effective rate in the observation group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Both groups had lower international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) and urinary symptom distress (BS) levels than before therapy (p < 0.05), with the observation group also having lower scores. After 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year of therapy, both groups saw substantial increases in Qmax, while the fraction of residual urine volume (RU), prostate volume (PV) and ischemia were reduced. The observation group improved more significantly than the control group. The observation group was considerably lower than the control group (p < 0.05).
High selectivity α1-receptor blockers have good feasibility in the treatment of elderly BPH and combined with precise PAE can improve the treatment effect, with good safety and reliability.
Aging and menopause accelerate bone loss, increasing susceptibility to osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), which cause severe pain, compromise respiratory function, and elevate mortality risk. Therefore, to mitigate this risk, various 10 medications have been used to prevent secondary fractures. However, a comprehensive summary of the efficacy of these medications remains limited, prompting our systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to elucidate the effects of these medications on the prevention of subsequent OVCFs.
A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases—PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and the Cochrane Library—to identify peer-reviewed studies published in English. Eligible studies were included in a quantitative synthesis. Pooled effect estimates were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) or risk ratios (RRs), along with the associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q statistic and quantified with the I2 metric, and meta-analytic procedures were performed using Review Manager (RevMan) software, version 5.4 (The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). The systematic review protocol was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration number CRD420251176522), and the full protocol is available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251176522.
High- to moderate-quality evidence from pooled randomized controlled trials indicates that most bisphosphonates (zoledronate, alendronate, risedronate, etidronate, and ibandronate) and non-bisphosphonate therapies (denosumab, teriparatide, bazedoxifene, estrogen, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone) are associated with a significant reduction in fracture risk. Overall, most bisphosphonates demonstrated an approximate 40–60% reduction in fracture risk (risk ratio [RR] range: 0.40–0.60; 95% confidence intervals [CIs] spanning 0.23–0.77), while non-bisphosphonates were associated with a 30–50% reduction (RR range: 0.30–0.50; 95% CIs: 0.19–0.71), acknowledging that individual agents exhibited varying magnitudes of effect. Pooled analyses also showed that both drug classes increased bone mineral density, with bisphosphonates producing an approximate 3–7% increase (odds ratio [OR] range: 0.33–0.54; 95% CI: 0.19–0.74) and non-bisphosphonates a 3–5% increase (OR range: 0.36–0.57; 95% CI: 0.23–0.83). Furthermore, safety data synthesized from the included trials indicated a low incidence of adverse events for both treatment classes, with bisphosphonates showing RRs ranging from 0.19 to 0.44 (95% CI: 0.09–0.81) and non-bisphosphonates from 0.23 to 0.49 (95% CI: 0.12–0.89).
High- to moderate-quality evidence supports the efficacy of zoledronate, alendronate, risedronate, etidronate, ibandronate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), denosumab, and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) in preventing secondary OVCFs. Zoledronate, risedronate, and PTH reduced both vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Denosumab outperformed alendronate, and PTH surpassed risedronate, although with increased risk of adverse events.
The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of the dried roots of Vladimiriae Radix against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cell-level experimental verification technologies, thereby providing experimental evidence for basic research, clinical application, and the modernization research of Tibetan-Chinese medicine integrated medication.
Firstly, the active components of Vladimiriae Radix were screened using the TCM Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and PubChem, with the criteria of oral bioavailability (OB) ≥30% and drug-likeness (DL) ≥0.18. Subsequently, the SwissTargetPrediction database was used to identify potential targets for the components, and an overlap analysis was conducted on the BPH-related targets from GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and the Therapeutic Target Database (TTD) to identify the common targets. Then, STRING and Cytoscape 3.10.3 analyses were used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the “Chinese medicine-component-target-disease” network for screening core targets. Gene ontology (GO)/kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database and bioinformatics platforms. Discovery Studio 2019 was used to verify the binding between components and targets, and AutoDockTools1-2 was employed to calculate the binding energy. Cell-level experiments (CCK-8 assay and RT-PCR) were conducted using BPH-1 cells to validate the effect of the representative component oleanolic acid.
A total of 235 common targets were identified between Vladimiriae Radix and BPH, and 6 core targets, including AR, CYP17A1, CYP19A1, ACHE, F2, and HMGCR, were further screened. These core targets are mainly involved in biological functions such as steroid hormone response, cellular response to nutrient levels, and regulation of membrane potential, and are enriched in BPH-related pathways including lipid and atherosclerosis, cholinergic synapse, and AGE-RAGE. Molecular docking verification found that the active components form stable bindings with the core targets. Cell experiments found that oleanolic acid significantly inhibits BPH-1 cell proliferation and regulates the mRNA expression of the six core targets at concentration of 10 μM, 20 μM, 40 μM (significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of AR and HMGCR (p < 0.05), significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of CYP17A1, CYP19A1, and ACHE (p < 0.05), and had no significant effect on F2).
Costunolide, dehydrocostus lactone, luteolin, quercetin, taraxasterol and oleanolic acid are the main bioactive ingredients in Vladimiriae Radix. Among them, oleanolic acid exhibited the highest binding energy with 6 core targets and exhibits anti-BPH properties. The present study fills the research gap in the anti-BPH mechanism of Vladimiriae Radix, validates the efficacy of the active components in Vladimiriae Radix at the cellular level, and provides clear targets and theoretical support for subsequent pharmacological verification, active component development, and clinical translation.
Aging is a critical global public health challenge, and natural products represent a key area in anti-aging research. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the chemical composition and anti-aging efficacy of the lotus seed coat.
Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Orbitrap-MS) was used to analyze chemical components. The lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) treated with lotus seed coat extract was measured, along with oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzyme activity. Network pharmacology and molecular dynamics simulations were employed to predict any associated anti-aging mechanisms.
A total of 67 compounds were tentatively identified in the lotus seed coat, including 14 alkaloids, 19 flavonoids, and 6 phenolic acids. Lotus seed coat extract prolonged the lifespan of C. elegans (p < 0.05), reduced lipofuscin and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (p < 0.001), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Network pharmacology linked the anti-aging effects of the lotus seed coat extract to the regulation of SRC, PIK3R1, AKT1, IL6, and TNF genes expression and implicated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway (PI3K–Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), forkhead box O (FOXO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. Molecular simulations confirmed that neferine strongly binds to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), histone acetyltransferase p300 (EP300), and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1).
Lotus seed coat is rich in bioactive compounds and exhibits significant anti-aging potential.
Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who also have chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) or gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) may receive a concurrent therapy of imatinib and ticagrelor. The absorption and transport of both drugs are influenced by organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Furthermore, both are primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes. Thus, co-administration may lead to pharmacokinetic interactions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of ticagrelor on imatinib pharmacokinetics in rats.
A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (imatinib 30 mg/kg), a low-dose experimental group (imatinib 30 mg/kg, ticagrelor 10 mg/kg), and a high-dose experimental group (imatinib 30 mg/kg, ticagrelor 20 mg/kg). All rats received the appropriate drugs once daily for 14 consecutive days. Venous blood samples were collected at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-dose on days 1 and 14, and the plasma was isolated. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using DAS 2.0 software.
On day 1, no significant changes were observed in the pharmacokinetic parameters of either imatinib or any associated active metabolite, N-desmethyl imatinib. However, after 14 days, the high-dose experimental group showed a significant decrease in the area under the plasma concentration time curve for imatinib from 0 to 24 hours (area under the curve, AUC0-24) and from 0 to infinity (AUC0-∞). Similarly, the AUC0-24, AUC0-∞, and maximum concentration (Cmax) of N-desmethyl imatinib were also significantly reduced in the high-dose experimental group. In contrast, administering 10 mg/kg ticagrelor did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of imatinib or N-desmethyl imatinib. The trough plasma concentrations (Cmin) of both imatinib and N-desmethyl imatinib were not significantly altered in any group.
Repeated administration of 20 mg/kg ticagrelor significantly inhibited imatinib absorption in rats. These results suggest that clinical symptoms and imatinib plasma concentration should be monitored when ticagrelor and imatinib are used concomitantly.
Berberine represents a promising supplement with several health benefits. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of berberine in reducing mammary carcinoma induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in female mice.
A total of 40 virgin female mice were segregated into four groups: an untreated control group, a group treated with a daily oral dose of berberine (BBR) extract (25 mg/kg), a group injected with a single dose of 50 mg/kg DMBA in the breast fat pad, and a group treated with DMBA, similar to the third group. After 1 week of injections, the animals were treated with BBR extract, as in the second group.
Animals treated with DMBA for mammary carcinoma induction showed increases in liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP), kidney biomarkers (BUN, UA, and CRT), and an oxidative stress marker (MDA). Meanwhile, DMBA also promoted a decrease in the antioxidant marker (GSH) and a minor elevation in estrogen levels. Conversely, the progesterone levels increased significantly, along with those of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)). The histopathological analysis revealed carcinoma cells in the breast tissue, with a marked desmoplastic response. Meanwhile, the uterus showed hyperplasia and dysplasia of endometrial epithelia. The immunohistochemical analysis for Ki-67 expression revealed an intense immunoreaction associated with carcinoma proliferation in the breast. In contrast, the treatment with BBR extraction one week after the induction of mammary carcinoma by DMBA resulted in a significant decrease in liver enzymes and kidney biomarkers, as well as a reduced MDA level and a higher GSH level due to oxidative stress reduction, along with a variance in female hormone levels and a decrease in cytokines. Furthermore, the histopathological analysis showed a decline in the occurrence of carcinoma and desmoplastic response in the breast, as well as less hyperplasia and dysplasia of endometrial epithelia, and a lower incidence of Ki-67 expression in the breast.
This study observed that berberine extract possessed a potent effect in reducing the mammary carcinoma induced by DMBA in female mice.
Plants have played a crucial role in human health since ancient times, serving as reliable and significant sources of biologically active compounds used to treat numerous disorders. Thus, the potential of these compounds to treat various diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular conditions, is being extensively researched. Notably, the diverse mechanisms of action associated with these compounds make them promising candidates for future drug development. Meanwhile, 7-hydroxyflavone (7-HF), a natural flavonoid, has demonstrated notable biological properties; however, the therapeutic potential of 7-HF for pain remains unexplored. Threfore, this study aimed to investigate the potential role of 7-HF in alleviating pain in rats.
This prospective experimental study employed healthy Swiss albino rats with Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC) approval. Rats were divided in to four groups: control group, which received normal saline; the standard group, which received morphine 2 mg/kg; and two test group, which received 7-HF at doses of 5 & 10 mg/kg/rat. Behavioral analysis was performed after treatment to assess the central and peripheral analgesic effects using the hot plate, tail flick analgesiometer, tail immersion, and acetic acid-induced writhing, a validated animal model for screening analgesic effects in a preclinical laboratory. All animals were sacrificed after the writhing test and screened for oxidative stress markers as well as antioxidants level.
At 30–240 min, the administration of a 10 mg/kg test dose notably showed prolonged response time in the hot plate test, tail flick test and tail immersion method. In the acetic acid writhing test, 7-HF at 10 mg/kg significantly inhibited writhing in experimental animals. Moreover, 7-HF at a dose of 10 mg/kg restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels, and conversely reduced elevated lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels.
This study provides the first evidence that 7-HF effectively mitigates pain in rats, likely through the associated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. These results support the therapeutic potential of 7-HF as a novel candidate for a management pain in various chronic disorders.
Despite nephrotoxicity concerns, liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) remains essential for treating invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of L-AMB-associated nephrotoxicity, assess the effectiveness of nephroprotective premedication, determine treatment efficacy, and identify risk factors for adverse outcomes.
A retrospective analysis was conducted on adult hematology–oncology patients who received intravenous L-AMB for ≥7 days between January 2017 and December 2020. Patients with pre-existing dialysis dependency or acute kidney injury were excluded. The primary endpoint was the incidence of acute kidney injury within two weeks of L-AMB administration. Secondary endpoints included treatment efficacy, biomarker associations, predictors of nephrotoxicity, and the effectiveness of nephroprotective strategies.
Among the 90 analyzed patients, 46.7% (42/90) developed nephrotoxicity within two weeks of L-AMB treatment, whereas 53.3% (48/90) did not experience nephrotoxicity. Treatment efficacy was high, with 83.3% of patients avoiding breakthrough fungal infections. Median serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in the nephrotoxicity group both before and after treatment (p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified advancing age as significantly associated with higher odds of nephrotoxicity (odds ratio (OR) = 1.032; p = 0.017). Concomitant use of colistin (OR = 10.10; p = 0.008) and cyclosporine (OR = 9.01; p = 0.027) significantly increased nephrotoxicity risk. No significant association was found between the galactomannan/β-D-glucan results and breakthrough infections (p = 0.131) or between nephroprotective premedication protocols and nephrotoxicity prevention (p = 0.798).
L-AMB-associated nephrotoxicity affected 46.7% of the included hematology–oncology patients while maintaining acceptable antifungal efficacy (83.3% without breakthrough infections). Advancing age, colistin, and cyclosporine were identified as independent risk factors with additive nephrotoxic mechanisms. The absence of demonstrable benefits from premedication strategies likely reflects methodological limitations. These findings support enhanced renal monitoring for patients receiving concurrent nephrotoxic agents and highlight the need for prospective studies to optimize nephroprotective strategies.
The therapeutic potential of herbal and natural compounds has long been recognized; meanwhile, the role of these compounds in neuropharmacology is gaining increasing attention due to their promising biochemical effects. The rising prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and depression, has underscored the need for novel, effective treatments with minimal side effects. Notably, natural products derived from plants, fungi, and other organisms offer a vast array of bioactive molecules that can interact with neuronal pathways to modulate cognitive function, neuroprotection, and synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, recent advancements in neuropharmacology have revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of herbal compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids, in mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroinflammation. Moreover, these compounds have shown promise in enhancing neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine. The integration of cutting-edge technologies, including high-throughput screening, metabolomics, and molecular docking, has facilitated the discovery of novel natural neuroprotective agents. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology are transforming the use of phytobioactive compounds in modern neuropharmacology by enabling precise prediction of molecular targets, optimizing drug-likeness, and enhancing mechanistic understanding. Additionally, nanocarriers such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and nanoemulsions, are improving the brain delivery, stability, and bioavailability of plant-derived molecules that traditionally suffer from poor pharmacokinetics. Together, these technologies can accelerate the development of next-generation neuroprotective therapeutics from natural products with greater efficiency, specificity, and translational potential. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest biochemical innovations in herbal and natural compounds for neuropharmacology, emphasizing the potential of these compounds as safe and effective alternatives or adjuncts to conventional neurotherapeutics.