Journal of Pharmacological Research and Developments (e-ISSN: 2582-0117)

Choline in Maternal and Infant Health: A Key Nutrient for Development and Wellness

2026-08-04T12:17:44+00:00

In pregnancy and lactation, a woman's nutritional requirements rise considerably, with choline becoming an essential but frequently neglected nutrient. Significant quantities of choline are actively passed from mother to foetus via the placenta and subsequently through breast milk to the infant, creating a considerable demand on maternal reserves. Sufficient choline consumption is crucial for promoting optimal foetal growth, especially for brain development, lowering the likelihood of birth defects, and ensuring proper liver and placental health in the mother. Regardless of its significance, many populations still do not meet adequate dietary choline intake. Research indicates that dietary patterns in low-income nations and even among women in wealthy countries do not satisfy the suggested choline intake. Significantly, many prenatal supplements lack sufficient choline, which further raises the likelihood of deficiency. Women who do not consume essential choline-rich foods like eggs, meat, and dairy should seriously consider dietary supplementation. Maintaining adequate choline consumption during these important life phases is vital for maternal health and the child's long-term welfare.

Comprehensive Pharmacological Review of Berberis aristata: Phytochemical Complexity, Molecular Mechanisms, and Clinical Efficacy

2026-07-14T11:03:30+00:00

Berberis aristata (family Berberidaceae), known as Daruharidra, is a well-known medicinal herb widely utilized in traditional medical systems like Ayurveda, Unani, and Tibetan medicine. It is rich in bioactive alkaloids, particularly berberine, along with palmatine, berbamine and oxyacanthine, which complement its wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. It has been used to heal infections, skin problems, and wound healing, and to treat and control skin problems. Many ethnomedicinal claims have been substantiated by modern pharmacological studies, which have documented significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties. Its therapeutic actions are correlated with the mechanisms: modulation of the inflammatory pathways, suppression of microbial growth. The plant also demonstrates considerable effects on protecting the gastrointestinal tract and improving liver function. It has recently been highlighted for its potential in solving new health problems, such as resistant infections and chronic diseases. Even with its extensive therapeutic promise, standardization, quality assurance, and clinical validation are crucial for its secure and effective incorporation into contemporary healthcare. The present review aims to explore the various pharmacological activities of this plant and relate them to the traditional knowledge and understand its significance as a potential source for further development of pharmaceutical products from natural origin.

Advances in 3D-Printed Microfluidic Platforms for Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, and Personalized Medicine

2026-07-24T06:17:21+00:00

Three-dimensional (3D) printed microfluidic chips have emerged as versatile platforms for miniaturized pharmaceutical analysis, enabling precise manipulation of microliter to nanoliter volumes within integrated lab-on-a-chip architectures. This review summarizes the evolution of microfabrication from conventional silicon and glass photolithography to polymer-based soft lithography and, more recently, additive manufacturing approaches that provide rapid prototyping, reduced cost, and enhanced geometric complexity. Key printing technologies, including stereolithography, digital light processing, fused deposition modelling, and multi-material jetting, are discussed with respect to resolution, materials, and suitability for biomedical applications. Design considerations, computational modeling, fabrication strategies, and post-processing methods are highlighted to optimize channel performance, mixing efficiency, and device reliability. The integration of optical and electrochemical sensors, real-time detection systems, and artificial intelligence-driven data analytics is examined for high-throughput drug screening, pharmacokinetic studies, toxicity assessment, and point-of-care diagnostics. Validation methodologies, regulatory requirements, and technical challenges such as surface roughness, cytotoxicity, and scalability are critically evaluated. Collectively, 3D-printed microfluidics offers flexible, cost-effective, and physiologically relevant platforms that bridge laboratory research and clinical translation, positioning additive manufacturing as a transformative technology for next-generation pharmaceutical development and personalized medicine across diverse healthcare settings worldwide.