Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy

Eco-Friendly LC-MS/MS Method for Quantification of Dapagliflozin and Linagliptin in Combined Dosage Form: Development, Validation and AGREE Assessment

Hiral S. Popaniya — 2025-11-24

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that requires effective therapeutic monitoring. Dapagliflozin and linagliptin, two commonly prescribed antidiabetic agents, act via distinct mechanisms—dapagliflozin inhibits sodium-glucose co-transporter- 2 (SGLT-2), while linagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. This study aimed to develop and validate a sensitive, precise, and green LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of dapagliflozin and linagliptin in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Phenomenex Gemini C18 column (50 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) using an isocratic mobile phase of methanol and 0.1% formic acid (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Detection was carried out using a mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring transitions at m/z 426.3→135.1 for dapagliflozin and 473.3→420.3 for linagliptin. The method exhibited excellent linearity over the range of 5–500 ng/mL for dapagliflozin (r² ≥ 0.9996) and 10–1000 ng/mL for linagliptin (r² > 0.9993). It demonstrated acceptable precision, accuracy, and stability in accordance with regulatory guidelines. Additionally, the AGREE metric yielded a score of 0.76, indicating good compliance with green analytical chemistry principles. The developed LC-MS/MS method is reliable, eco-friendly, and suitable for routine quality control of dapagliflozin and linagliptin in combined formulations. Its robustness also supports potential future applications in pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies.

In vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of Ficus racemosa leaf and fruit extract on MCF7 human breast

Reshmi R. P — 2025-11-24

Humans are constantly exposed to high levels of radiation, which damages proteins, lipids, and DNA oxidatively and results in chromosomal mutations. As an illustration, oxidative stressors can cause diabetes, cancer, and even neurological and cardiovascular conditions. Nowadays, the majority of anticancer medications have a variety of adverse effects. As a result, current attention is being focused on studying plants in order to find the active ingredients that may be useful. Many medicinal plants contains the variable amounts of different phytochemicals such as saponins, triterpenoids, anthracyanins, alkaloids, phenols, flavanoids, resins, fatty acids and tannins. Many of these phytochemical agents have been found to possess anticancer activity. One of the biggest genera of medicinal plants, Ficus is mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and is used for a wide variety of different illnesses. It is well recognized that several plant components, including the bark, leaves, young shoots, fruits, seeds, and latex, have therapeutic use. The present study encompasses the ascertainment of in vitro antioxidant activity and anticancer activity of methanolic extract of Ficus racemosa leaf and fruit by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and MTT assay. From the results, F. racemosa has been found to have the significant antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and IC50 value of leaf and fruit extract were 89 μg/ml and 92 μg/ ml for DPPH. Further, the cytotoxicity analysis was determined against MCF-7 (Human breast cancer) cell line. Methanolic leaf extract of Ficus racemosa showed the most cytotoxic activity at highest concentration (100μg/ml) with significant inhibition of cell growth. Hence, the study confirms that F. racemosa is enriched in phytochemicals which are the agents responsible for the natural antioxidant and anticancer property.

Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of Antibiotic- Resistant Probiotic Strains from Entromax®

Sugunakar Vuree — 2025-11-24

This study evaluated the probiotic properties of poly-antibiotic-resistant ““Bacillus clausii”” derived from Entromax^®, which was subjected to comprehensive phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular characterization, including antibiotic susceptibility testing. Key probiotic attributes, such as tolerance to gastric juice, bile salts, and osmotic stresses, were assessed alongside enzymatic activities like casein and starch hydrolysis. The Total Viable Count (TVC) of the tested Entromax^® “Bacillus clausii” batches was determined to be 0.42 ± 0.02 billion CFU/mL, corresponding to approximately 2 billion CFU per 5 mL dose. Antibiotic resistance profiles revealed that the bacterial culture isolated from Entromax^® exhibited resistance to various classes of antibiotics like phenicols, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, and tetracyclines. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated a close relationship with Shouchella clausii, formerly known as “Bacillus clausii”, while whole-genome BLAST analysis confirmed 100% similarity with “Bacillus clausii” ENTPro. The observed amylolytic and proteolytic activities, resistance to acidic conditions, bile salts, and gastric juice highlight critical probiotic characteristics, supporting the potential of these strains for probiotic applications.

Enhanced Skin Permeation of Bisoprolol Fumarate Using a Microneedle-Assisted Transdermal Patch with Chemical Penetration Enhancers for Potential Hypertensive Effect

Amina Aziz — 2025-11-24

Bisoprolol fumarate (BF) can be administered transdermally to control hypertension in elderly and postoperative settings, but the delivery is blunted due to the hydrophilic nature of the drug across the hydrophobic skin barrier. The present study was aimed at evaluating and optimizing the matrix-type transdermal patch of BF using Eudragit L100 and HPMC as polymers and PEG 400 as a plasticizer. The patches were evaluated for organoleptic characteristics, moisture analysis, and in vitro permeation studies across synthetic membranes. Based on desired characteristics, the HPMC: Eudragit L100 (5:1) patch was further loaded with permeation enhancers, such as Span 20, orange oil, and oleic acid, by the solvent casting method. The patches showed desired physicochemical properties and moisture content. However, BO1 released 6864.17 μg/cm² (equivalent to 8237.0 μg) of drug in 24 hours, which was better than other formulations. The ex vivo permeation analysis demonstrated that Span 20 at 12% w/w (BO1-S12) favored the highest permeation of BF across excised rabbit skin (5974.0 μg/cm²) as compared to the control patch (3517.0 μg/ cm²). However, to improve the BF permeation, a parallel micropore (solid microneedles) and intact skin transport pathway was adapted. The pretreatment of skin with solid microneedles improved the BF cumulative permeation (7580.0 μg/cm²) and flux (225.67 μg/cm²/hr) as compared to BO1-S12 (195.11 μg/cm²/hr). The finding suggests that it is advantageous to use microneedles to create microchannels in the skin that would let drugs penetrate deeper into the dermis for systemic absorption. Therefore, the combination of microneedles with a permeation enhancer effectively sustains BF delivery over 24 hours with minimal skin irritation and desirable storage stability.

Development and Evaluation of Antiparkinsonian Potential of Ficus carica Phytosomes

Monika Singh — 2025-11-24

The symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) are manifested in old life i.e., bradykinesia (slow movements), and stiffness or tremor. The study was focused on the phytosomal formulation of Ficus carica and its targeted evaluation for anti-parkinsonian efficacy. The fig is the edible fruit of the tiny shrub Ficus carica, which belongs to the Moraceae family of flowering plants. The fresh barks of Ficus carica was collected from Kukrail picnic spot, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The bark of Ficus carica plant was authenticated by the Prof. N. K. Pandey, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005, UP, India (plant voucher no. mora. 2023/1). The fresh barks of Ficus carica were cleaned, washed, and dried under shade. It was extracted through Soxhlet apparatus using hydroalcoholic (ethanol 10%: distilled water 1%) solution for 48 hours. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, HPTLC finger printing were determined. After pre-formulation study, the phytosomes of hydroalcoholic bark extract of Ficus carica were developed through Thin-layer hydration method. The phytosomes were characterized for Physical appearance, Particle size, PDI & Zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, In vitro drug release, SEM analysis, FTIR & NMR Spectroscopy. In group design, rats were kept separately into 3 groups (n = 6 each) and treated for 14 days, daily i.e., group 1: vehicle (distilled water), group 2: F1 (100 mg/ kg, p. o.) and group 3: F2 (100 mg/kg, p. o.). The Antiparkinsonian activity was evaluated by estimation of antioxidant enzyme parameters i.e., SOD, CAT and GSH. In results, the evaluation of bark extract of F. carica showed increasing level of antioxidant enzymes which may function as a natural source of anti-parkinsonian role. A dose-dependent increase was seen in facilitating the release of antioxidant enzymes i.e., SOD, CAT, and Reduced Glutathione by the hydroalcoholic bark extract of F. carica. In conclusion, it suggests to assess the safety and efficacy of F. carica’s hydroalcoholic bark extract as a potential natural neuromodulator and anti-Parkinson treatment. In order to improve bioavailability and pharmacological response, its physiologically active component would be added in an appropriate dosage form.

Encapsulation of Sustainable Nanoemulsion based Insect Repellent against Bactrocera Species and Grain Weevils using Throwaways

Shirley C — 2025-11-24

The repellent effect of the extracts of the Allium sativum peel and Pongamia pinnata leaves were studied in the present work. Microencapsulation of the nanoemulsion of the extracts was prepared by ultrasonication and tested for insect-repellent activities. Bioassays for the nanoemulsion encapsulated beads were tested in-vitro against the fruit flies (Bactrocera species) and the grain weevils (Sitophilus species). Various properties of the nanoemulsion encapsulated beads such as the morphology of the beads, stability, oil content, and other characteristics were examined. The average diameter of the capsule and other nano characteristics was measured with Scanning Electron Microscope and with an X-ray diffractometer where the crystalline peak exists at around 22⁰. The shelf life of the encapsulated balls was determined. The encapsulated balls showed evidence of in-vitro repellency against fruit fly and grain weevils at 87% and 92%. The in-vitro toxicity of LC₅₀ concentration was shown at 1:3 (L+P) for both grain weevils and the fruit flies when observed at 1hr interval for each of the concentrations after implementation. Thus, the study revealed garlic peel to be a significant insect repellent component being a waste and along with the Pongamia leaves has unveiled it to be an appreciable alternate for the synthetic repellents.

Computational Discovery of Drug Targets and Potential Phytochemical Inhibitors for Porphyromonas gingivalis

Mohita Karmi — 2025-11-24

The current work attempts to discover some new drug targets in the case of Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 using computational methods. The 245 numbers of selected essential genes in the case of bacteria P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 were obtained by searching the total no. of 463 genes available in the Database of Essential Genes (DEG) database by using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) tool against the Human (Homo sapiens) genome. Screening of the target molecule was performed based on (expectation) E-value, similarity score, and query coverage. Further, the gene interaction network was constructed by the STRING database, and potential hub genes were identified by the Cytohubba module of the Cytoscape tool. rplR gene encoding large ribosomal subunit protein was chosen as the target. Further receptor-based screening of traditional Chinese medicinal compounds using docking, toxicity, and molecular dynamics simulations identified Mulberroside C as a potential inhibitor. Since it is a computational work further experiment is necessary to validate the prediction.

PGR-Mediated Metabolic and Oxidative Stress Responses in Simarouba glauca under Water Deficit Conditions

Manasi Patil — 2025-11-24

Simarouba glauca DC is known for its varied range of bioactive substances and its ability for resilience under abiotic stress circumstances, especially drought, which is still a major limit to crop yield. Understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in S. glauca can provide valuable insights into its adaptive strategies and inform broader applications in stress biology and crop improvement. The present study investigated the role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) including salicylic acid (SA), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), abscisic acid (ABA), and putrescine— in modulating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems under water stress. Enzyme activities (invertase, dehydrogenase, ATPase, acid phosphatase, and nitrate reductase) were assayed alongside oxidative stress markers and antioxidant capacities (DPPH, FRAP, H_₂O_₂ scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging) Key findings shown that SA and GABA substantially boosted the activities of invertase and dehydrogenase during water stress, while PGR application restored ATPase activity that had previously decreased under stress. Under stress, acid phosphatase activity elevated and was further boosted by GABA and SA. Under stress, antioxidant activities as determined by DPPH, FRAP, and TAC were increased, and PGR treatments further increased these levels. The effects of SA, ABA, GABA, and putrescine were especially potent. These results are consistent with mounting evidence that PGRs are essential for improving drought tolerance through the regulation of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Few studies have investigated perennial, oilseed-bearing trees like S. glauca, despite the fact that numerous studies have documented the function of PGRs in annual crops. By showing how PGRs alter both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant pathways in a woody perennial species during drought, this study closes that gap. The findings show possible directions for creating PGR-based treatments to increase stress tolerance in S. glauca as well as other perennial crops that are significant to the economy.

Development and Standardization of a New Ayurvedic Formulation from Barringtonia acutangula leaf

Moulisha Biswas Roy — 2025-11-24

Barringtonia acutangula (L) Gaertn. (Lecythidaceae) commonly known as freshwater mangrove and mango-pine in English, Hijal in Bengali, is a large evergreen mangrove tree grown in the coastal wetlands of Northern Australia and South-East Asian countries including India. This plant has traditionally been used in India for several important medicinal purposes. In the present study, the dried and powdered leaf of B. acutangula was extracted by hot water and a new oral liquid Ayurvedic formulation was developed from that decoction (kwatha) and preserved for subsequent standardization. Its organoleptic properties like description, colour, odour, taste were noted. Then different physico-chemical parameters of this product like specific gravity, pH, viscosity, solubility, total solids content, ash values, preliminary phytochemical analysis, thin layer chromatographic (TLC) profile, microbial and heavy metal contaminants were determined as per the protocols prescribed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. These salient pharmacopoeial quality standardization parameters may be useful for ascertaining the quality, purity and stability of this newly developed Ayurvedic oral formulation from B. acutangula leaf for further compliance.

Sustainable Agriculture Through Biological Nitrogen Fixation: A New Approach

Sanjeev Kumar K — 2025-11-24

An approach using Homogeneous mixture of soils (HMS) from 6 different forests of Telangana State were used to provide the native geo-climatic conditions, which helps in a localized natural selective way of symbiosis in Arachis hypogea and Vigna radiata from a diverse microbiome. Nodulation in legumes provides a major conduit of available nitrogen into the biosphere. This technique could be the most effective way for isolating efficient host-specific nitrogen-fixing bacteria because this technique depends on the availability of several Rhizobia to the legume plant in the specific climatic condition, and the selection is based on how the plant and the soil’s rhizobia interact. This symbiotic relationship is a complex interaction between each Rhizobium species and its limited group of host plants. The pure cultures were identified as Bradyrhizobium sp. PSKT OL304251; MTCC: 13187; JCM: 35069and Rhizobium sp.WGT MH290562; MTCC 12969 & JCM 33803 in Arachis hypogaea and Vigna radiata by using Polyphasic taxonomy respectively. The both strains were performed 1.5 to 2 times better than the controls in measurements including shoot and root length, dry weight, chlorophyll, protein, and Nitrogen content under gnotobiotic conditions for improving nodulation and plant growth through inoculation in field trials for the unraveling and amelioration of sustainable plantations in barren, polluted and agriculture soils. The study introduces a promising approach for screening efficient biological nitrogen fixing rhizobia bioinoculant, which can adapt to geo-specific conditions. Unlike traditional random selection for biofertilizer preparation, this method distinguishes itself by referring to and exploring natural combinations.