Research & Review: Drugs and Drugs Development (e-ISSN: 2582-5720)

Antiasthmatic Potential of Methanolic Extracts of Pistacia integerrima

Anjali Thakur — 2025-07-22

An infection happens when a germ affects the body and causes problems by reacting with the immune system. Diseases caused by infections can spread from person to person. These infections can last a short time (acute) or a long time (chronic). Asthma, a multifactorial respiratory condition, particularly prevalent among pediatric populations, has prompted interest in alternative treatments with fewer side effects. Numerous medicinal plants have been traditionally employed for asthma management, including Glycyrrhiza glabra, Adhatoda vasica, Albizzia lebbeck, Ephedra sinica, and others, each containing bioactive compounds such as glycyrrhizin, vasicine, ephedrine, and flavonoids. Despite their widespread use, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects remain insufficiently understood. This highlights the urgent need for rigorous scientific validation through preclinical and clinical studies to ensure efficacy and safety, and to integrate these herbal remedies into evidence-based modern medicine.

A comprehensive pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of Pistacia integerrima leaf galls. Key morphological traits included green coloration, short petioles, and a slightly bitter taste. Microscopic analysis revealed features such as simple trichomes, vascular bundles, stomata, and calcium oxalate crystals. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and sterols. Methanol extraction yielded the highest extractive value (12.8% w/w), and TLC fingerprinting showed multiple distinct spots. The findings establish a standard reference for the authentication and quality control of Pistacia integerrima. Additionally, the methanolic extract demonstrated significant bronchodilatory activity, supporting its traditional use in treating asthma.

Ceftrizxone Estimation Using UV Spectroscopy: A Validated Method Developed

Krishna Jee — 2025-09-11

Background and Aim: There is currently no procedure for estimating ceftriaxone via UV spectroscopy. Ceftriaxone comes in a variety of pharmacological dose formulations. To date, no UV-visible spectrophotometric method has been reported for the estimation of ceftriaxone in its various pharmaceutical dosage forms. Existing methods mainly involve HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, or microbiological assays, which can be time-consuming and equipment-intensive. We used methanol as a solvent and a λmax of 241 nm, which was chosen based on the maximum absorbance, to create a straightforward and affordable UV spectrophotometric technique. The technique showed good reproducibility and was validated in accordance with ICH Q2(R1) requirements for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, and LOQ. This approach closes a gap in the existing literature and provides a useful substitute for routine analysis, particularly in environments with limited resources. It is a straightforward, economical, repeatable, and trustworthy spectroscopic technique.

Method: For Ceftriaxone, distilled water was utilized as the solvent. After preparing a drug stock solution and determining its maximum absorbance (λmax), it was scanned between 200 and 400nm.

Results: Ceftriaxone demonstrated a strong association and complied with Beer’s law. In distilled water, it displayed absorption peaks at 240nm. Beer’s law regression study revealed good concentration ranges in distilled water between 2 and 4 µg per ml, with a concurrence coefficient of 0.999 and a line equation Y=0.039x-0.039. None of the common pharmaceutical excipients has an interface. Repeatability, bearish, and day-to-day studies were conducted to ascertain the method’s precision. Recovery experiments from pharmaceutical dosage forms validated the method’s accuracy. The analysis’s findings were confirmed by a recovery study and statistical analysis. According to the criteria of ICH Q2 (R2), the analytical method was verified for a number of parameters.

Conclusion: The method developed is straightforward, quick, and precise, making it suitable for regular quality control evaluations of ceftriaxone assays in pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Connecting the Dots: Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Traditional and Contemporary Medicine

Mahitha Polukonda — 2025-10-17

Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) remains one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders globally, affecting populations across all age groups. While classical medicine has long focused on dietary interventions and oral iron supplementation, modern medicine has introduced advanced diagnostic tools, intravenous iron formulations, and emerging molecular insights. This paper explores the evolving landscape of IDA by comparing traditional and contemporary approaches in diagnosis, treatment, and pathophysiological understanding. Connecting the dots between the traditional and contemporary medicine perspectives is essential to develop a more integrated, patient-centred model of care. Emphasis is placed on the limitations of historical treatments, recent innovations such as hepcidin modulation and functional iron assessment, and the role of personalized medicine. The analysis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and research to effectively address IDA in diverse clinical settings.

Flavonoid-Enriched Lagenaria siceraria as a Natural Anti-Ulcer Agent: Comparative Acid-Neutralizing Capacity and H⁺/K⁺-ATPase Docking Studies

Prasanthi Dopalapudi — 2025-12-31

Background: Although the bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, has long been praised for its gastroprotective qualities, there are still few systematic studies on its potential to prevent ulcers. Objectives: In order to determine the effectiveness of L. siceraria's bioactive flavonoids as a natural anti-ulcer agent, this study examined their physicochemical characteristics, phytochemical profile, in vitro acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC), and in silico molecular docking.

Methods: Fresh juice was made, and its pH, specific gravity, moisture content, and ash value were measured. To find the main metabolites, a preliminary screening of phytochemicals was conducted. By titrating against 1 N HCl and using magnesium trisilicate as a reference, ANC was ascertained. Pantoprazole was used as a standard ligand in the molecular docking of isoorientin and isovitexin with gastric H⁺/K⁺-ATPase using CB-Dock2 linked with AutoDock Vina.

Results: The juice's favourable physicochemical stability was indicated by its pH of 6.1, specific gravity of 1.016 g/cm³, moisture content of 1.94%, and total ash content of 4%. Triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and sugars were all verified by phytochemical screening. L. siceraria juice (3.8 ml) had an ANC value that was similar to that of magnesium trisilicate (4.5 ml). With H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, docking study showed that isoorientin (–9.1 kcal/mol) and isovitexin (–8.5 kcal/mol) had substantial binding affinities that were higher than those of pantoprazole (–7.7 kcal/mol).

Conclusion: L. siceraria is a promising gastroprotective candidate that works by neutralizing acids and inhibiting proton pumps, according to these studies. Additional in vivo and clinical research is necessary to validate the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

Hypoglycemia in the Elderly: Clinical Recognition, Risks, and Management Strategies

Abhinav Kumar Dokania — 2025-12-31

Hypoglycemia is a frequent yet underrecognized clinical condition among elderly individuals, particularly those living with diabetes mellitus, and represents a major challenge to achieving safe and effective glycemic control in this vulnerable population. Advancing age is associated with progressive physiological changes that impair glucose homeostasis, including reduced renal drug clearance, diminished hepatic glucose production, blunted autonomic warning responses, and altered counterregulatory hormone secretion. When combined with multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy, cognitive decline, nutritional inadequacy, and irregular dietary intake, these age-related alterations substantially increase susceptibility to hypoglycemic episodes. Despite its high prevalence, hypoglycemia in older adults is often overlooked because symptoms are frequently atypical, nonspecific, or subtle, manifesting as confusion, dizziness, weakness, visual disturbances, or behavioral changes that may be mistakenly attributed to normal aging or underlying neurological disorders.In conclusion, hypoglycemia in the elderly is a multifactorial and clinically significant condition with serious short- and long-term consequences. Improved awareness, early recognition, individualized glycemic strategies, judicious pharmacotherapy, and multidisciplinary care are essential to reducing hypoglycemia-related morbidity and mortality. Proactive prevention and patient-centered management are crucial to preserving functional independence, enhancing quality of life, and optimizing diabetes care outcomes in elderly populations. Future research should focus on developing geriatric-specific risk assessment tools, integrating continuous glucose monitoring in routine elderly care, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration among physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and caregivers. Such strategies may facilitate early detection, timely intervention, and sustainable glycemic management while addressing the unique physiological, social, and economic challenges faced by older adults with diabetes globally across diverse healthcare systems and resource-limited settings worldwide.