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Abstract: Herbal medicines are being used by humans since the oldest civilizations and have been an integral part of traditional and alternative medicines. In recent times, pharmaceutical and biomedical scientists are taking interest in developing nutraceutical-based medicines to overcome the side effects and adverse drug reactions caused by allopathic medicines. Nutraceuticals have started occupying the global market. Nutraceuticals have gained widespread acceptance due to their efficacy in treating difficult to treat diseases, low toxicity, low cost, easy accessibility, etc. Safety and efficacy are other important factors in the commercialization process of nutraceuticals. Different novel advanced drug delivery systems have been constantly studied to improve the efficacy and bioavailability of medicines obtained from herbal sources. The transdermal drug delivery system provides a potent alternative to the conventional method of using nutraceuticals. The development of transdermal system-based nutraceuticals could provide the advantage of enhanced bioavailability, improved solubility, bypass of the first-pass metabolism, and targeted delivery of drugs in brain-related disorders. It additionally provides the advantage of being non-invasive. This article reviews the potential effects of various nutraceuticals in brain-related disorders as well as trends in transdermal nano-systems to deliver such nutraceuticals. We have also focused on advantages, applications as well as recent United States-based patents which emphasize emerging interest towards transdermal nutraceuticals in brain disorders.

Abstract: Iridoids are monoterpenoids classed with a cyclopentanopyran framework and detected in various plants and certain special animals. In plants, it exists as glycosides, generally bound to glucose. Around six hundred iridoid glycosides are available in fifty-seven families of plants. Iridoids are abundant in dicotyledonous plants belonging to the Diervillaceae, Loganiaceae, Apocynaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Lamiaceae, and Rubiaceae families. Analytical techniques like chromatography, NMR, UPLC, etc., are used for the identification, separation, and estimation of either herbal extracts or formulations of iridoids. Advanced analytical techniques are useful for precise and accurate quantification of active ingredients responsible for therapeutic effects. They can be achieved by a developed and validated robust analytical method. Iridoids have shown diverse pharmacological properties. Some of the important activities are immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and cardio-protective effects. The other important activities are antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, choleretic, antispasmodic, and purgative activities attributed to iridoids. There were not many efforts made in the past to gather and review the literature on various aspects of iridoids. This review article has collected a myriad of literature on old and advanced analytical techniques, including method development and validation of methods for quantitative and qualitative analysis of iridoids. The review also emphasizes the role of iridoids in the prevention of various ailments.

Abstract: At present, people and patients worldwide are relying on the medicinal plant as a therapeutic agent over pharmaceuticals because the medicinal plant is considered safer, especially for chronic disorders. Several medicinal plants and their components are being researched and explored for their possible therapeutic contribution to CNS disorders. Thymoquinone (TQ) is one such molecule. Thymoquinone, one of the constituents of Plant Nigella Sativa, is effective against several neurodegenerative diseases like, Alzheimer's, Depression, Encephalomyelitis, Epilepsy, Ischemia, Parkinson's, and Traumatic. This review article presents the neuropharmacological potential of TQ's, their challenges, and delivery prospects, explicitly focusing on neurological disorders along with their chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. Since TQ has some pharmacokinetic challenges, scientists have focused on novel formulations and delivery systems to enhance bioavailability and ultimately increase its therapeutic value. In the present work, the role of nanotechnology in neurodegenerative disease and how it improves the bioavailability and delivery of a drug to the site of action has been discussed. There are a few limitations to developing novel drug formulations, including solubility, pH, and compatibility of nanomaterials. Since here we are targeting CNS disorders, the bloodbrain barrier (BBB) becomes an additional challenge. Hence, the review summarized the novel aspects of delivery and biocompatible nanoparticles-based approaches for targeted drug delivery into CNS, enhancing TQ bioavailability and its neurotherapeutic effects.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common heterogeneous gynaecological endocrine disorder characterized by clinical features including oligo-amenorrhea/ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovarian morphology. PCOS increases the risk of depression and anxiety which leads to poor quality of life. Aim of the study were to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among women suffering from PCOS and to determine the quality of life (QOL) in PCOS women.Methods: The study was prospective, observational, non-interventional and questionnaire-based. 192 women with PCOS voluntarily helped in filling the questionnaires consisting of questions using PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, SF-12 for general health and PCOSQ-50 for disease-specific domains. All data were recorded in pre-designed case record forms and analysis of data was done using different statistical methods.Results: Majority of PCOS women were either overweight or obese. Based on PHQ-9 20% of women was suffering with major depression and based on GAD-7, 25% with major anxiety. It is found that psychosocial and emotional domain and coping domain of PCOSQ-50 is significant in patients with major depression and major anxiety. Significant effects were seen on their general health as per SF-12 domain. Lack of physical exercise was found in 83% of women.Conclusions: PCOS is a complex disease which decreases the overall quality of life. Therefore, treatment of PCOS women should include psychological counselling along-with with medication, especially in obese PCOS women. Women should be educated with the benefits of lifestyle modification in PCOS.