International Journal of Modern Pharmacy and Life Sciences

Structure-Based Molecular Docking of Vitex negundo Phytoconstituents Targeting ACE and HMG-CoA Reductase: Implications for Dual Cardiovascular Therapy

Ramesh K — 2026-08-27

The development of multi-target treatment approaches is necessary since cardiovascular illnesses continue to be a major cause of death worldwide. Using a molecular docking technique, the current work assesses the dual inhibitory ability of Vitex negundo phytoconstituents against angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR). AutoDock Vina was used to perform docking analysis on the crystal structures of ACE (PDB ID: 1O86) and HMGCR (PDB ID: 1DQ8). For comparative analysis, common medications such as lisinopril, captopril, enalaprilat, atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin were utilized. Ursolic acid showed the most dual-target potential among the phytoconstituents, with the highest binding affinity for both targets (up to −10.5 kcal/mol). Vitexin and isovitexin showed significant binding affinities for ACE, while negundoside and casticin showed comparatively larger affinities among the phytocompounds for HMG-CoA reductase. Stable binding via hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions within the active sites was found by the interaction analysis. Overall, the results indicate that the phytoconstituents of Vitex negundo have promising multi-target action related to the treatment of cardiovascular disease. To verify their therapeutic potential, however, more validation via molecular dynamics simulations and experimental research is needed.

Naegleria fowleri: A Rare but Fatal Invader of the Human Brain

J. Jaisudha — 2026-09-24

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba that causes Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) in living organisms. It is commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” It is a single-celled, microscopic organism found in warm freshwater and soil. Even though it is rare, the disease progresses rapidly, and the mortality rate is high. This review presents available information on Naegleria fowleri in an organised and understandable manner. The ultimate goal is to develop an understanding of the organism and the mechanism of the disease caused by it, along with its significance and prevention.

The article aims to give an overview of Naegleria fowleri, along with its history, classification, morphology, pathogenesis, life cycle, mode of transmission, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options, prevention strategies, and public health importance. The aim of this article is to improve basic awareness among readers and highlight the need for early recognition of this deadly infection. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of Naegleria fowleri, encompassing its biological characteristics, classification, morphology, life cycle, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, treatment options, prevention strategies, and public health significance. The review aims to enhance understanding of this pathogenic free-living amoeba and emphasize the importance of early recognition, appropriate diagnosis, and timely management of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis.

Proximate and Physiochemical Analysis of Modified Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranea) Starch

Adeyemo, Waliu A. — 2026-09-29

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) is an underutilized, drought-tolerant leguminous crop rich in carbohydrates, offering a sustainable source of industrial starch. However, native starches exhibit functional limitations such as low thermal and shear stability, restricting their direct industrial utility. This study investigated the chemical composition, physical modification, and resulting physicochemical and functional properties of Bambara groundnut starch. Starch was isolated from clean seeds and physically modified via annealing (BAS), pregelatinization (BPS), and heat-moisture treatment at 20%, 25%, and 30% moisture contents (BHS-20, BHS-25, BHS-30). Proximate analysis of the native starch revealed a moisture content of 13.65%, ash content of 0.45%, crude fat of 1.78%, crude protein of 2.22%, crude fibre of 0.50%, and carbohydrate content of 81.90%, demonstrating high starch purity. Physicochemical characterization across temperatures (55–95°C) indicated that swelling power and solubility were temperature-dependent for all samples. Native starch (BNS) exhibited the highest swelling capacity overall (433% at 95°C), while among modified starches, BAS demonstrated superior swelling (268% at 95°C) due to enhanced structural stability. Conversely, BPS achieved the highest solubility (550% at 85°C) owing to thermal granule pre-disruption. Heat-moisture treatment restricted swelling power while increasing oil and water absorption capacities (up to 218% and 320%, respectively, in BHS-30) through internal crystalline reordering. The least gelation concentration increased progressively from BNS (8% w/v) to BHS-30 (18% w/v), reflecting strengthened intragranular binding forces. The results demonstrate that physical modification significantly alters and improves the functional profile of Bambara groundnut starch, rendering it a viable, high-performance biopolymer for food formulation, pharmaceutical excipients, and textile sizing applications.

Paradoxical Hepato-Peripheral Glucoregulatory Dissociation Syndrome (HPGDS): A Novel Framework for Multi-Drug Refractory Type 2 Diabetes

Mahmoud Younis — 2026-09-30

Background: Hepato-Peripheral Glucoregulatory Dissociation Syndrome (HPGDS) is a severe phenotype of refractory type 2 diabetes characterized by unsuppressed hepatic glucose production and peripheral insulin resistance.

Objective: To investigate the physiological mechanisms driving hepatic insulin resistance and skeletal muscle microvascular impairment in HPGDS.

Methods: A multi-center clinical investigation evaluated 127 participants (42 HPGDS, 45 type 2 diabetes controls, and 40 healthy metabolic controls) using 6,6-[²H₂] glucose stable isotope tracer kinetics during a 120-minute hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, MRI-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) for hepatic fat quantification, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for skeletal muscle microvascular recruitment.

Results: HPGDS patients exhibited severe glycemic failure (HbA1c 9.8%) despite high basal-bolus insulin regimens (1.85 U/kg/day). Tracer kinetics revealed profound hepatic insulin resistance with minimal suppression of endogenous glucose production (clamp Ra 18.9 µmol/kg/min; suppression rate 11.7%). MRI-PDFF demonstrated marked hepatic steatosis (24.6%), which correlated robustly with clamp Ra ($r = 0.84, p < 0.001$). Furthermore, CEUS revealed severe impairment in skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow ($0.14\text{ AU}$), showing strong inverse correlations with HbA1c ($r = -0.76, p < 0.001$) and circulating glucagon ($r = -0.68, p < 0.001$).

Conclusion: HPGDS is driven by a dual pathophysiological failure combining autonomous hepatic glucose output and peripheral microvascular dysfunction, providing a mechanistic explanation for severe treatment refractoriness.

The Next Frontier of Pharmaceutical Innovation: Converting Complex Therapeutics into Accessible Medicines

Shabana Naz Shah — 2026-10-01

Complex therapeutics, including peptides, proteins, monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acids, vaccines, and other biological medicines, have transformed the treatment of many difficult diseases. However, their clinical usefulness is frequently limited by the way they must be administered. Injectable treatment remains dominant for many biologics because gastrointestinal degradation, poor epithelial permeability, enzymatic instability, limited tissue penetration, and rapid clearance make conventional oral administration difficult. Repeated injections can also create practical and behavioral burdens for patients, particularly when treatment is required over many years. Pharmaceutical innovation is therefore increasingly shifting from discovering increasingly potent molecules toward designing delivery systems that can make existing complex therapeutics easier, safer, and more acceptable to use. This evidence-based translational review examines emerging strategies for converting complex therapeutics into more accessible medicines through oral, transdermal, pulmonary, nanocarrier, lipid-based, microneedle, and device-assisted delivery platforms. Published evidence was identified from major biomedical literature sources and evaluated according to therapeutic class, biological barrier, delivery technology, route of administration, translational maturity, and potential patient benefit. The evidence indicates that no single platform can solve the delivery problem for all complex therapeutics. Oral nanocarriers can protect sensitive molecules from gastrointestinal degradation, while active transport systems and ingestible devices may overcome epithelial barriers more directly. Microneedles and other physical enhancement technologies offer opportunities for minimally invasive transdermal administration, whereas pulmonary systems may provide local or systemic delivery for selected biologics. Lipid and polymeric nanoparticles can additionally provide protection, controlled release, targeting, and improved tissue exposure. Nevertheless, formulation stability, dose loading, manufacturing scale-up, reproducibility, immunogenicity, safety, regulatory classification, and cost remain important barriers. The future of pharmaceutical innovation is therefore likely to depend on integrated drug–delivery design in which molecular properties, formulation technology, device engineering, manufacturing, regulatory requirements, and patient preferences are considered simultaneously. Converting complex therapeutics into accessible medicines could substantially broaden the practical value of modern biopharmaceutical innovation.