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Objective: Medicinal plants Scutellaria multicaulis and Scutellaria bornmuelleri belong to the Scutellaria genus and Lamiaceae family, and are widely used in traditional Iranian medicine. This study aims to characterize promising bioactive phytochemicals found in the aerial parts of S. multicaulis and S. bornmuelleri. Methods: Accordingly, volatile oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of S. multicaulis and S. bornmuelleri leaves and stems, and then analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: A total of 88 components, representing 92.4% of the oil (oil yield determined to be 0.53%, v/w), were identified in the essential oils of S. multicaulis. The main group was sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (24%), with α-himachalene (7.2%), α-longipinene (6.8%), and α-copaene (3.2%) as the main components. A total of 89 chemicals, representing 83.2% of the essential oil (oil yield determined to be 0.31%, v/w), were detected in the essential oil of S. bornmuelleri. The main components were steroids, such as 14-β-H-pregna (32.9%), hydrocarbons (22.5%), sesquiterpenes (11.4%), and monoterpenes (4.6%), which were considered minor constituents. The contents of sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons present in S. multicaulis and S. bornmuelleri were 24% and 7.1%, respectively. However, the contribution of oxygenated monoterpenes (4%) and sesquiterpenes (4.3%) in both species was less than 5%. Conclusion: As the first report on the chemical composition of S. multicaulis and S. bornmuelleri, this study showed that the major compounds were steroids and sesquiterpenes. Keywords: 14-β-H-Pregna, GC/MS, α-himachalene, α-Longipinene, Scutellaria

Aim: Quorum sensing (QS) is a density-dependent chemical process of cell-to-cell communication in which certain signals are activated, leading to the coordination of pathogenic behaviors and the regulation of virulence in bacteria. Inhibition of QS can prevent biofilm formation and reduce virulence behaviors of bacteria. Herein, bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated silver nanoparticles (NPs) (Ag–Ag2S@BSA NPs) were synthesized and studied as an anti-QS agent. Materials & methods: Ag–Ag2S NPs prepared through a BSA-mediated biomineralization process under ambient aqueous conditions and their physicochemical properties were characterized. The anti-QS activity of the resulting BSA-coated NPs (Ag–Ag2S@BSA NPs) was investigated for the first time. Results & conclusion: The result confirmed the potential of Ag–Ag2S@BSA NPs as novel and useful therapeutic tools for antibacterial purposes. The overuse of antibiotics has caused the development of drug-resistant strains of bacteria. Nowadays, drug resistance is one of the main challenges in the treatment and prevention of microbial diseases. In general, many bacterial species communicate with each other through a population-dependent mechanism called quorum sensing to control their physiological activities. Therefore, inhibiting the quorum sensing mechanism is an attractive alternative to antibiotics and also reduces the risk of drug resistance, and this can be achieved by nanoparticles (NPs). Among these nanostructures, Ag NPs have received particular attention due to their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Herein, we report a method that applies a BSA-guided green and one-pot approach for achieving Ag–Ag2S NPs as potential antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is known as a pathogen with antibiotic resistance, causing respiratory infections. PLGA has been approved for use in vaccines as well as drug delivery. This study was performed to evaluate PLGA nanoparticles containing the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of A. baumannii in stimulating the mice's immune system and improving pneumonia. Experimental approach: Double emulsion solvent evaporation technique was used. The properties of the obtained nanospheres were determined using a zetasizer, FTIR, and AFM devices. Nanoparticles were administered to mice BALB/c by applying the intramuscular route. ELISA was used to measure the amounts of immunoglobulins produced; also, an opsonophagocytic killing assay was used to measure the effectiveness of immunoglobulins. Immunized mice were then challenged with live A. baumannii through the lungs; their internal organs were also removed for bacteriological studies. Findings/Results: The prepared particles were 550 nm in diameter with a negative surface charge. The production of the OMPs specific IgG was much higher in the group receiving nanoparticles containing antigen as compared to those getting pure antigen. The immunoglobulins produced against nanoparticles were superior to those developed against pure antigens. Mice that received the new nanovaccine were more resistant to pneumonia caused by this bacterium than those that received pure antigen. Conclusion and implication: Overall, it can be said that PLGA nanoparticles could deliver their internal antigens (OMPs) well to the immune system of mice and stimulate humoral immunity in these animals, thus protecting them against pneumonia caused by A. baumannii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-delivery approach has been recommended to reduce the amount of each drug and to achieve the synergistic effect for cancer treatment. Curcumin (CUR) and sulforaphane (SF) have antitumor effects, but their application is limited because of their low water solubility and poor oral bioavailability. To improve the bioavailability and solubility of SF and CUR, we performed an innovative co-delivery of them with PEGylated gold coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (PEGylated Fe3O4@Au NPs) to endorse SF and CUR maintenance as an effective and promising antitumor drugs. The structure of the synthesized nanocarriers evaluated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the zeta potential of CUR and SF-loaded NPs were about -15.4 mV and the average sizes were 80.57 nm. They were monodispersed (polydispersity index = 0.161 ± 0.016) in water with high drug-loading capacity and stability. CUR and SF were encapsulated into NPs with loading capacity of 17.32 ± 0.023% and 16.74 ± 0.015% and the entrapment efficiency of 83.72 ± 0.14% and 81.20 ± 0.18% respectively. The in-vitro study of SF and CUR loaded PEGylated Fe3O4@Au NPs on human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) confirmed that cytotoxicity of SF and CUR can enhance when they are loaded on PEGylated Fe3O4@Au NPs in comparison to free SF and CUR. The results of real-time PCR and flow cytometry shown that this combination can increase therapeutic effects of SF and CUR by apoptosis and necrosis induction as well as inhibiting of migration in MCF-7 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this project, TiO@ZnO nanoparticles core-shell nanostructured and titanium dioxide@ mesoporous zinc oxide-graphene oxide (TiO@ZnO-GO) hybrid nanocomposites as controlled targeted drug delivery systems were synthesized by a facile sono-chemical method. We prepared a novel mesoporous and core-shell structure as a drug nanocarrier (NCs) for the loading and pH-responsive characteristics of the chemotherapeutic curcumin. The structure, surface charge, and surface morphology of NCs were studied using with X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, brunauer-emmett-teller, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The SEM and TEM images of NCs show the uniform hexagonal mesoporous morphology with average grain size of about ∼ 190 nm. The drug loading was very high about 16 and 19 for TiO@ZnO and TiO@ZnO-GO, respectively. The NCs showed pH-dependent drug release behavior. Drug release from TiO@ZnO-GO in neutral pH were higher than in acidic medium, due to anionic charge of GO nanosheet. MTT assay results showed that the curcumin-loaded NCs showed significant toxicity due to which cell viability reduced to below 50% at 140 μg/mL concentration, thereby confirming its anticancer effects. The goal of this study is the application of water-dispersed TiO@ZnO-GO with pH-dependent release properties for design a new drug delivery carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method has been evaluated for the assignment of clonidine hydrochloride in human plasma. Methods: The mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water 60:40 (v/v) and 0.2% formic acid 20 μl of sample was chromatographically analyzed using a repacked ZORBAX-XDB-ODS C18 column (2.1 mm×30 mm, 3.5 μ). Detection of analytes was achieved by tandem mass spectrometry with Electrospray Ionization (ESI) interface in positive ion mode operated under the multiple-reaction monitoring mode (m/z 230.0 →213). Sample pretreatment consisted of a one-step Protein Precipitation (PPT) with methanol and perchloric acid (HClO4) of 0.10 ml plasma. Results: Standard curve was linear (r=0.998) over the concentration range of 0.01- 10.0 ng/ml and showed suitable accuracy and precision. The Limit of Quantification (LOQ) was 0.01 ng/ml. The mean (SD) Cmax, Tmax, AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ values after administration of the test and reference formulations, respectively, were in this manner: 6.16 (0.32) versus 6.21 (0.07) ng/ml, 30.12 (0.86) versus 30.13 (0.73) hr, 290.37 (1.13) versus 293.39 (1.22) ng/ml/hr, and 350.17 (1.98) versus 352.96 (1.67) ng/ml/hr. The mean (SD) t1/2 was 120.12 (1.90) hr for the test formulation and 120.96 (1.54) hr for the reference formulation. No statistical differences were showed for Cmax and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve for test and reference tablets. Conclusion: The method is rapid, simple, very steady and precise for the separation, assignment, pharmacokinetic and bioavailability evaluation of clonidine in healthy Iranian adult male volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]