Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF COENZYME Q10: FROM CELLULAR ENERGY TO CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

Aditya Vikram Singh, Farida Ahmad, Syed Sharik Naeem — Sun, 18 May 2025 17:07:09 +0530

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble molecule with a benzoquinone core and a polyisoprenoid side chain, playing a vital role in mitochondrial electron transport and cellular antioxidant defense. Although often regarded as a vitamin-like compound, CoQ10 is endogenously synthesized through a multi-step process involving the mevalonate pathway. It is primarily found in metabolically active tissues such as the heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle. CoQ10 exists in two interconvertible forms—ubiquinone and ubiquinol—essential for maintaining cellular redox balance. Apart from its role in oxidative phosphorylation, CoQ10 contributes to inflammation regulation, lipid metabolism, lysosomal function, and gene expression modulation.

Age-related decline and certain medications, particularly statins, reduce CoQ10 levels, potentially leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and associated disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and muscle-related pathologies. Supplementation with CoQ10, particularly in the form of Ubidecarenone, has been explored for its therapeutic potential in mitigating oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function. Clinical studies suggest that CoQ10 supplementation may alleviate statin-induced myopathy and offer protective effects in neurodegenerative and retinal diseases, though bioavailability challenges limit its efficacy. Despite promising preclinical findings, the precise therapeutic dosage and long-term clinical benefits remain under investigation.

While synthetic derivatives like Idebenone show potential in neurodegenerative treatment, further research is required to establish optimal formulations and administration strategies. Standardizing dosing regimens and improving bioavailability are crucial to maximizing CoQ10’s clinical utility. This review highlights the diverse physiological roles of CoQ10 and its potential implications in aging, disease prevention, and therapeutic intervention.

THE EVOLVING ROLE OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN CANCER THERAPY: MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Mukesh Chandra Sharma, Abhijeet Singh, Raman Rana, Aman Kumar, Mansi Chauhan — Sun, 18 May 2025 17:19:49 +0530

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality, necessitating the search for novel, effective, and safer therapeutic strategies. Phytochemicals—bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants—have demonstrated promising anticancer properties by targeting multiple oncogenic pathways, including apoptosis induction, angiogenesis inhibition, metastasis suppression, and immune modulation. Among the most studied phytochemicals, alkaloids (vincristine, camptothecin), flavonoids (quercetin, genistein), terpenoids (paclitaxel, artemisinin), and polyphenols (curcumin, resveratrol) exhibit potent anticancer effects through mechanisms such as DNA damage induction, inhibition of survival signaling pathways (NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/Akt), and modulation of oxidative stress. Despite these promising therapeutic attributes, the clinical translation of phytochemicals remains limited due to poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and drug resistance. Recent advances in nanotechnology-based formulations, AI-driven phytochemical screening, and synergistic combinations with conventional cancer therapies have emerged as potential solutions to enhance their clinical efficacy. This review comprehensively explores the molecular mechanisms of key phytochemicals in cancer therapy, their synergistic effects with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, and the latest clinical trial updates. Additionally, we discuss bioavailability enhancement strategies, regulatory challenges, and the future of precision phytotherapy in personalized oncology. The integration of artificial intelligence in phytochemical research and the application of CRISPR-based gene editing for pathway-specific interventions represent emerging frontiers that could revolutionize the use of plant-derived compounds in cancer treatment. By addressing existing challenges and leveraging cutting-edge innovations, phytochemicals hold the potential to become integral components of next-generation anticancer therapeutics.

IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDATIVE, ANTIBACTERIAL, AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF SMILAX ZEYLANICA L. AND BERBERIS ARISTATA DC

Sun, 18 May 2025 17:31:55 +0530

Abstract

Background: The research examined the antioxidant, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective properties of hydroalcoholic extracts derived from Smilax zeylanica L. and Berberis aristata DC. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and glycosides were the major phytoconstituents, with a significant quantity of alkaloids and flavanones.

Objective: The hydroalcoholic extract of Smilax zeylanica exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 6.29 μg/ml, while Berberis aristata demonstrated an IC₅₀ value of 9.26 μg/ml in the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl) assay for antioxidant activity.

Methods: The modified extract showed significant antibacterial activity and Enterococcus faecalis exhibited significant susceptibility to the extract by using the disc diffusion method.

Results: The hepatoprotective activity of the extracts was assessed against HepG2 cells, and the extracts showed varying levels of hepatoprotection and cytotoxicity. Berberis aristata showed the highest hepatoprotective activity (IC₅₀ < 47.09) among all the extracts.

Conclusion: From the above, it is suggested that natural antioxidants, antibacterials, and hepatoprotective properties of plant extracts of Smilax zeylanica and Berberis aristata could be promising for further research and can be used to develop effective antibacterial agents against microbial infections.

CROCIN'S PROTECTIVE EFFECT AGAINST A VALPROATE-EXPOSED MODEL OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A HISTOLOGICAL AND OXIDO-INFLAMMATORY INVESTIGATION

Sagarika Majhi, Lubhan Singh — Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 +0530

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is shown to be associated with oxidative stress and damage to neurons induced by valproic acid (VPA) in a postnatal animal model. Crocin (CRO) was considered to have potential advantages in ASD due to its putative anti-inflammatory, Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2) stimulation, and gut microbiota alteration capabilities.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the histological and biochemical alterations associated with crocin treatment in an ASD model induced by valproic acid (VPA). By examining both the structural and molecular changes in affected brain tissues, the therapeutic potential of crocin in mitigating the adverse effects of VPA exposure was studied.

Methods: Wistar albino rat, aged thirteen days, were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. VPA was effectively used to cause autism on PND 14 with a single 400 mg/kg s.c. dosage. Crocin was given out every day between PND 14 and 40. After the study concluded, the animals were euthanized for oxido-inflammatory estimations and histopathological investigation.

Results: Following administration of VPA, a rise in Ca²⁺ and myeloperoxidase level was observed. Also, the inflammatory markers viz. IL-6, TNF-α level increased and BDNF, CREB and IL-10 level was decreased along with mitochondrial complexes. Intervention with crocin considerably improved the histological and inflammatory alterations in rodents contrasted with those in the VPA-exposed category. Increasing the dosage of crocin had more noticeable effects, suggesting that the autistic deficiencies induced by VPA may be reversed.

Conclusion: Crocin may be helpful in the treatment of ASD because it has neuronal cytoprotective properties, possibly as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties. Future studies are required to completely comprehend the biological mechanism of action of crocin.

SECURE DATA ACCESS IN VIRTUALIZED ENVIRONMENTS: VMWARE AND WINDOWS

Kamal Dhingra — Sun, 18 May 2025 17:43:02 +0530

Virtualized environments have become integral to modern IT infrastructures, offering enhanced flexibility, scalability, and resource optimization. VMware, a leading virtualization platform, combined with Windows operating systems, forms the backbone of numerous enterprise applications and services. However, securing data access within these virtualized setups presents unique challenges due to the shared nature of resources and the complexity of managing multiple virtual machines (VMs). This research explores effective security techniques for ensuring secure data access in VMware and Windows-based virtual environments. Through a comprehensive literature review, case studies, and empirical data analysis, the study identifies key vulnerabilities and evaluates the effectiveness of various security measures, including access control mechanisms, encryption protocols, and monitoring tools. The findings indicate that implementing a layered security approach, integrating robust authentication methods, and leveraging VMware-specific security features significantly enhance data protection. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and regular security audits in maintaining a secure virtualized environment. The research concludes with strategic recommendations for organizations to fortify their VMware and Windows virtual infrastructures, ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and availability against evolving cyber threats.

IN-SILICO EVALUATION OF TETRAMETHYL-PYRAZINE: TREATING RECURRING SEIZURES

Sun, 18 May 2025 17:48:13 +0530

Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, remains a challenging condition to treat due to the limited availability of potent and safe molecules. This study explores Tetramethyl-pyrazine (TMP) as a potential scaffold for epilepsy treatment, leveraging its diverse pharmacological properties. Utilizing structure-based virtual screening, we identified 300 active ligands from a virtual chemical library of 4427 compounds, narrowing down to the top 7 potential ligands for GABA-AT inhibitor properties based on binding energy, drug-likeness, non-covalent interactions, and toxicity. Our results revealed a compound (PubChem ID 227746) with high binding affinity to protein 4MS4, strong interactions within the active site, and favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties, suggesting TMPz holds promise as an anti-epileptic agent.

PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS: A TRANSLATIONAL STUDY ON MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND CHRONIC DISEASE OUTCOMES IN RURAL FAMILY PRACTICE SETTINGS

Osagwu Nnenna Anestina — Sun, 18 May 2025 18:01:14 +0530

For underserved populations, mainly in rural areas, chronic diseases are the main reason for poor health and high mortality since access to health services and taking needed medication can be very difficult. Many patients do not take as many medications as they should, so this study wants to look into rural family practices and figure out what can be done to help them follow recommended drug treatments. Through a combination of implementation science, community-minded steps, and intervention studies, this study examined recent literature and research to determine what helps, what hinders, and approaches that focus on equity. Much attention is given to using digital tools, interventions suitable for specific cultures, and ensuring that rural, tribal, and low-resource people are included. It has been shown that multi-level methods, for example practice facilitation, mobile health apps, and implementing pharmacogenetics, can help more people in underserved communities stick to their medicines and control their chronic diseases. It is also vital that different groups are equally involved in research and practice to keep health impact going. In order to address medical issues in places where people have limited access to care, advancements should focus on strategies for the community and the needs of individual patients. Future studies ought to concentrate on promoting adherence using local methods, influencing policies, and including the use of technology in family practice