American Journal of PharmTech Research

Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor, is widely used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis. However, its poor water solubility to formulate and evaluate a Nanoemulsion (NE) system for Apremilast to enhance its solubility, stability, and bioavailability. A Nanoemulsion was developed using a high energy emulsification method, with a combination of oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant carefully selected based on solubility studies and construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. Various formulations were prepared and evaluated for droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and drug encapsulation efficiency. The optimized formulation exhibited a droplet size of below 600 nm, a low PDI, and a stable zeta potential, confirming its stability. According to this report, the Nanoemulsion based delivery system for Apremilast drug could offer significant clinical advantages, particularly in terms of improved pharmacokinetics and enhanced therapeutics outcomes, paving the way for more effective treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Further in vivo studies are recommended to confirm the observed benefits and to evaluate long term safety and efficacy.

Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by mucosal damage in the stomach or duodenum due to an imbalance between aggressive factors such as gastric acid and protective mucosal defense. Conventional anti-ulcer drugs, although effective, are often associated with high cost and adverse effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate polyherbal floating tablets as a safer and more effective alternative for gastric ulcer management. The formulation incorporated extracts of Annona squamosa with sodium bicarbonate as a gas-generating agent to enhance buoyancy and prolong gastric retention. Tablets were prepared using the direct compression method by blending plant extracts with suitable polymers and excipients. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physicochemical properties and showed satisfactory results. The floating drug delivery system demonstrated potential for prolonged gastric residence time, which may improve therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.

Diabetes mellitus and inflammation are among the most prevalent chronic disorders worldwide, creating a growing need for safer and more effective therapeutic agents. Medicinal plants have gained significant attention due to their rich phytochemical composition and broad pharmacological activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of the hydroalcoholic flower extract of Sphagneticola trilobata. Fresh flowers were collected, shade-dried, and extracted using 70% ethanol by the Soxhlet extraction method. The obtained extract showed a percentage yield of 8.24% and was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, which confirmed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, triterpenes, steroids, carbohydrates, and reducing sugars. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by the nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay using RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, while the antidiabetic activity was evaluated by the glucose utilization assay using HepG2 cell lines, with metformin serving as the standard drug. The extract exhibited dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity, achieving 69.90% NO inhibition at 100 µg/mL, and demonstrated significant enhancement of glucose utilization, reaching 166.19% of control at 100µg/mL. These findings indicate promising anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential, which may be attributed to the synergistic action of the phytoconstituents present in the extract.