Medicine Utilization Research Articles

Determinants of traditional Korean medicine utilization by individuals with physical disabilities: inference of causal relationships using Korea health panel data

BackgroundThe demand for health management services has grown among individuals with physical disabilities. It is noteworthy that a significant proportion of this demographic has sought the services of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the characteristics of TKM utilization within this population. Therefore, this study aims to explore the characteristics of individuals with physical disabilities who utilize TKM services, to support future policy development in TKM for enhancing the health and quality of life for individuals with physical disabilities.MethodsThe study utilized a dataset from the Korea Health Panel (KHP) version 1.7, from the years 2008 to 2018. A panel analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between the characteristics of participants and their influence of the TKM utilization.ResultsBased on the panel logistic regression analysis, the probability of TKM utilization was higher for individuals with physical disabilities who were female (p < 0.001), had a chronic musculoskeletal disorder (p < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1 (p = 0.025), and multiple chronic conditions (p = 0.025). Based on the panel hybrid regression analysis, those covered with Medical Aid spent less on TKM than those covered with National Health Insurance (p < 0.001), while those who were female (p < 0.001), had chronic musculoskeletal disorders (p = 0.007), or multiple chronic conditions (p = 0.007) had higher medical expenses for TKM utilization.ConclusionsIndividuals with physical disabilities accompanying nonfatal chronic musculoskeletal disorders or other chronic conditions frequently utilized TKM services. Those covered by Medical Aid spent less on TKM, while females and individuals with chronic musculoskeletal disorders or multiple chronic conditions incurred higher medical expenses for TKM. These results suggest the need for targeted interventions and policy changes to improve TKM access and address financial burdens for people with disabilities.

Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial, and Enzyme Inhibitory Properties of Elaeagnus angustifolia L.

Research on natural antioxidants derived from plants has surged due to their potential health benefits. In the current study, the chemical composition, enzyme inhibitory activity, and antimicrobial effects of the Elaeagnus angustifolia L. plant, including leaves, flowers, and flower stalk (FS) extracts, were analyzed. A total of 28 compounds were identified across the different plant parts, with 24 in flowers (F), 9 in FSs, and 14 in leaves (L). The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated using the disk diffusion method against two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined as 3.13-12.50mg/mL. The measured zone diameters were also in the range of 5-8mm. The results indicated that the methanol extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial properties. Additionally, the extracts demonstrated strong inhibition of cholinesterases (acetylcholinesterase [AChE]: 11.14±0.11-18.11±0.12µg/mL; butyrylcholinesterase [BChE]: 32.54±0.55-44.61±0.17µg/mL) and moderate inhibition against α-glycosidase and tyrosinase enzymes. Moreover, the molecular docking interaction of trans-ferulic, shikimic, and vanillic acids, the most abundant phenolic compounds in the extracts, with AChE, BChE, α-glycosidase, and tyrosinase, was assessed using AutoDock Vina software. E. angustifolia L. possesses a high phenolic content and exhibits significant antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory capabilities, which may contribute to its extensive utilization in food and traditional medicine.

Trillium govanianum (Nagchattri): A promising rare and commercially important medicinal herb from higher altitudes of the Himalayas

Secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds derived from naturally occurring sources have been the prime ingredients in modern health care as well as ancient medicine systems like Ayurveda, Yunani, and traditional folk medicines. A large number of plant species and their extracts are utilized to cure several human ailments. Trillium govanianum, belonging to the genus Trillium (family: Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae), is a traditional medicinal herb of the Himalayan region used to cure joint pains, wounds, boils, dysentery, inflammation, menstrual and sexual disorders. T. govanianum root extracts have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cancer-preventing, anti-fungal, and wound-healing activities. The main bioactive compounds present in this species are steroidal saponins. Indiscriminate and commercial harvesting in an unsustainable manner, along with various other biotic pressures, have created a synergistically severe menace toward the subsistence of T. govanianum in its natural habitat. Population assessment, conservative and in vitro proliferation methods pertaining to mass multiplication and advancement in ex–situ and in–situ environments are required for sustainable use of this species. In lieu of the significance of this herb, the present study aims at the exploration of phytochemical, ethnomedicinal, ecological, pharmacological, and conservational practices of T. govanianum for a better understanding of medicinal activities and sustainable use of this plant. This review summarised the potential resources of T. govaninanum in terms of biologically active compounds and their dependence on the local population. It focuses on the medicinal utility of T. govaninanum in different diseases and ailments.

Community Knowledge and Determinants of Conventional and Traditional Medicine Utilization: Preliminary Study

Community Knowledge and Determinants of Conventional and Traditional Medicine Utilization: Preliminary Study

SCREENING OF SECONDARY METABOLITE COMPOUNDS AND YIELD OF WHITE RHIZOME (Alpinia Galanga L.) EXTRACT THROUGH FOUR EXTRACTION METHODS

Background: Health maintenance can be addressed by the utilization of natural medicines derived from plants called traditional medicine. Traditional medicine can be produced from rhizomes, one of include was the white galangal rhizome. The chemical compounds of white galangal rhizome provide numerous benefits in both culinary and health fields. Objective: to obtain the best yield from the four extraction methods used. The extracts obtained were tested qualitatively using chemical reagents. Method: The method employed was a laboratory experiment utilizing various extraction techniques. The results indicate that the yields from maceration, soxhletation, reflux, and infusion were 11.955%, 20.359%, 15.737%, and 9.416%, respectively. The secondary metabolite compounds found in the white galangal rhizome extract were flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, and saponins. Conclusions: it can be concluded that the extraction method with the best yield results was the soxhletation method.

Optimizing personalized healthcare using artificial intelligence with precision medicine.

Madam, Precision medicine is a relatively recent approach to managing disease. It considers the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle-related variability unique to each individual, taking into account their predicted response to treatment or their disease risk for prevention strategies [1]. The concept of personalised healthcare to target each individual's medical needs is not exactly new, but the use of emerging technology and innovations, especially in fields like genomics and artificial intelligence (AI), has enabled this model to progress remarkably [2]. The utility of precision medicine for this purpose can be highlighted by pointing out the several domains where individuals can be targeted during the disease management process - for instance, the principles of AI may be used for actions like altering prescriptions based on pharmacogenomic variability, minimising sociodemographic considerations negatively impacting healthcare delivery; making clinical stratifications based on risks of comorbidities; and assessment of genomic cues and clinical patterns to customise therapies, thus improving the disease burden considerably [2]. AI has already been shown to outperform existing methods in its visual diagnostic capacity and ability to integrate and analyse diversified data, thereby becoming better at making distinctive risk predictions and significantly improving individual patient outcomes in the cardinal domain of myocardial infarction [3]. This futuristic mode of healthcare with its exciting prospects inadvertently faces some hurdles the mention of which seems imperative at this stage - for example, AI’s heavy dependence on the quality, applicability, and pertinence of its data to be able to perform the tasks mentioned above; its statistical limitation to make accurate predictions at the individual level; its incapacity as yet to ascertain causation, affecting therapy selection with precision; and the concerns of data safety and privacy [2,4]. In addition, its cost-effectiveness cannot presently be judged as a result of misallocation in the market and systematic biases owing to its novelty in healthcare [5]. Nevertheless, the remarkably accelerating impact of AI in personalising medicine must be acknowledged. In this regard, the upcoming generation of progressive researchers will surely play a profound role in bridging the gap between research and its clinical applications.

A Chemoinformatic-Guided Synthesis of a Spleen-Expressing mRNA Lipid Nanoparticle Platform.

mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a powerful technology that are actively being investigated for their ability to prevent, treat, and study disease. However, a major limitation remains: achieving extrahepatic mRNA expression. The development of new carriers could enable the expression of mRNA in non-liver targets, thus expanding the utility of mRNA-based medicines. In this study, we use a combination of chemoinformatic-guided material synthesis and design of experiment optimization for the development of a spleen-expressing lipid nanoparticle (SE-LNP). We begin with the synthesis of a novel cholesterol derivative followed by SE-LNP formulation and design of experiment-guided optimization to identify three lead SE-LNPs. We then evaluate their in vitro delivery mechanism, in vivo biodistribution, and protein expression in mice, ultimately achieving spleen-preferential expression. The goal of this paper is thus to create LNPs that preferentially express mRNA in the spleen upon intravenous delivery, demonstrating the potential of LNPs to modulate gene expression in extrahepatic tissues for disease treatment.

Harnessing the Antibacterial, Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Carcinogenic Properties of Ocimum sanctum Linn (Tulsi).

Ocimum sanctum Linn (O. sanctum L.), commonly known as Holy Basil or Tulsi, is a fragrant herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This plant is widely cultivated and found in north-central parts of India, several Arab countries, West Africa and tropical regions of the Eastern World. Tulsi is known to be an adaptogen, aiding the body in adapting to stress by harmonizing various bodily systems. Revered in Ayurveda as the "Elixir of Life", Tulsi is believed to enhance lifespan and foster longevity. Eugenol, the active ingredient present in Tulsi, is a l-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-allylbenzene compound with diverse therapeutic applications. As concerns over the adverse effects of conventional antibacterial agents continue to grow, alternative therapies have gained prominence. Essential oils (EOs) containing antioxidants have a long history of utilization in traditional medicine and have gained increasing popularity over time. Numerous in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies have provided compelling evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of antioxidant EOs derived from medicinal plants for promoting health. This comprehensive review aims to highlight the scientific knowledge regarding the therapeutic properties of O. sanctum, focusing on its antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, radioprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neurogenesis, anti-depressant and other beneficial characteristics. Also, the extracts of O. sanctum L. have the ability to reduce chronic inflammation linked to neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The information presented in this review shed light on the multifaceted potential of Tulsi and its derivatives in maintaining and promoting health. This knowledge may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic interventions and natural remedies that harness the immense therapeutic potential of Tulsi in combating various health conditions, while also providing valuable insights for further research and exploration in this field.

A comparative analysis of Asian medicinal herbs Catharanthus roseus and Vinca alba based on their antidiabetic, anticancer and turbidimetric antibiotic efficacies

Being on Northern Hemisphere, India is a geographically established country with a large variety of species variation in terms of animals and plants species. According to geographical location, the land barriers in north and the oceanic barriers in east and west region of India made the differences among medicinal plant species being isolated from different areas.To isolate the pharmaceutical values of those species for antidiabetic, anticancer and antibiotic potencies are essential for further drug establishments from Catharanthus roseus and .Turbidimetric Assay or Tube Assay method is used to determine antibiotic efficacy against Vinblastine (VLB) and Vincristine (VCR) Reference standards. Bradford assay is used to identify protein content against standard curve. Polysaccharide and Amino acid assay are used to evaluate unknown concentration of dextrose and glycine against known concentration. Presence of alkaloids are tested by Mayer’s test. Thin Layer Chromatography is used to assume presence of Amino acids rich in anticancer peptides.Both leaf and stem extracts of and are showing significant amount of polysaccharide content, strong protein content, presence of alkaloids, anticancer peptides, hypoglycemic or antidiabetic and antibiotic efficacies.The medicinal plant species and are well known to be helpful for the medical, biological, pharmacological and biochemical studies for human benefits. So, the desire of medicinal plant utility is a certain thing from the ancient era, till from “Ayurveda shastra” that intricates the therapeutic capability of and .

Medicinal application and industrial utilization of Veldt grape (Cissus quadrangularis L.): A review

Medicinal application and industrial utilization of Veldt grape (Cissus quadrangularis L.): A review

Trends in Korean Medicine Utilization for Chronic Rhinosinusitis Using National Health Insurance Service Data (2012-2022)

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is often treated with Korean medicine (KM), but comprehensive utilization data is lacking. This study aimed to analyze the patterns of KM use for CRS using National Health Insurance Service data from 2012 to 2022.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of claims data for CRS patients (International Classification of Diseases code: J32) who visited KM institutions. We examined demographic characteristics, visiting patterns, medical costs, treatment modalities, and concurrent use of Western medicine.Results: Of 138,647 patients (52.2% male, mean age 23.8 years), 41.8% were under 10 years old. Annual patient numbers ranged from 14,595-17,242 (2012-2019), decreasing sharply from 2020. Average costs increased 5% annually. Acupuncture was the most common treatment (661,455, 50.5%). The most frequently prescribed insured herbal medicine was Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang (48,494, 48.5%). Notably, 87.0% (120,610 patients) concurrently received Western medical treatment, indicating a prevalent integrative approach in CRS management. 77.8% received their initial diagnosis at Western institutions.Conclusion: This comprehensive analysis of KM utilization for CRS in Korea reveals significant patterns in patient demographics, treatment preferences, and integration with Western medicine. The high rate of concurrent KM and Western treatment highlights the integrative nature of CRS management in Korea, providing valuable insights for health policy and clinical practice.

Garlic and its processing products, prospects of their utilization

Relevance. Garlic is one of the most popular agricultural crops characterized by high nutritional value and unique chemical composition providing significant beneficial effect on human health.Methods. The review summarizes the most significant publications on garlic biochemical composition, utilization in medicine, human nutrition and agriculture for a period from 1988 to 2024 with the predominant utilization of Scopus and WoS publications.Results. The diversity of garlic processing products (fresh, dry powder, ‘Green' garlic, Laba garlic, garlic essential oil macerate, ethanolic extract (‘aged garlic extract' AGE) and black garlic) provides the diversity of biochemical composition and the direction of biological effect. The possibility to utilize both garlic bulbs, leaves, stems and peel in medicine and agriculture (for yield and stress resistance improvement) are the most important factors for successful waste free production and wide utilization of garlic.

Effect of scalp nerve block on postcraniotomy analgesia in children: a randomized, controlled trial

ObjectiveEffective postoperative pain management is critical for pediatric craniotomies. Scalp nerve block (SNB) interventions present a potential solution, yet their comparative benefits in preoperative and postoperative settings remain unclear. This study investigated the analgesic effects of SNB in pediatric craniotomy patients by comparing preoperative versus postoperative administration.MethodsThis randomized trial included 180 children (1–12 years) who underwent elective craniotomy and were assigned to the preoperative, postoperative, or nonblocking control group. The outcomes included cumulative sufentanil use, pain scores (1, 2, 4, 24, 48 h postoperation), rescue medicine utilization, postoperative complications (24, 48 h), and hospitalization length. The primary outcome was total sufentanil use within 24 h postsurgery.ResultsTotal sufentanil use (µg·kg− 1) in the postoperative block group was significantly lower than that in the nonblocking control group at 1 h (P < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.024 to -0.006]), 2 h (P < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.054 to -0.020]), 4 h (P < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.089 to -0.032]), 24 h (P < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.192 to -0.047]), and 48 h (P = 0.010, 95% CI [-0.208 to -0.022]) postoperation. Additionally, sufentanil use in the preoperative block group was significantly lower than that in the nonblocking control group at 1 h (P = 0.004, 95% CI [-0.021 to -0.003]), 2 h (P < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.043 to -0.010]), and 4 h (P = 0.002, 95% CI [-0.069 to -0.013]). Within 24 h postoperation, the use of sufentanil in the postoperative block group was significantly lower than that in the preoperative block group (P = 0.014, 95% CI [-0.157 to -0.013]).ConclusionCompared with preoperative SNB or nonblocking, postoperative SNB significantly reduces postoperative sufentanil use within 24 h for pediatric patients undergoing craniotomy, highlighting its potential as an effective analgesic intervention in this population.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800017386) on 27/07/2018, under the title “A study of scalp nerve block for neurosurgical analgesia in children with craniotomy.”

Alginate Formulation for Wound Healing Applications.

Significance: Alginate, sourced from seaweed, holds significant importance in industrial and biomedical domains due to its versatile properties. Its chemical composition, primarily comprising β-D-mannuronic acid and α-L-guluronic acid, governs its physical and biological attributes. This polysaccharide, extracted from brown algae and bacteria, offers diverse compositions impacting key factors such as molecular weight, flexibility, solubility, and stability. Recent Advances: Commercial extraction methods yield soluble sodium alginate essential for various biomedical applications. Extraction processes involve chemical treatments converting insoluble alginic acid salts into soluble forms. While biosynthesis pathways in bacteria and algae share similarities, differences in enzyme utilization and product characteristics are noted. Critical Issues: Despite its widespread applicability, challenges persist regarding alginate's stability, biodegradability, and bioactivity. Further understanding of its interactions in complex biological environments and the optimization of extraction and synthesis processes are imperative. Additionally, concerns regarding immune responses to alginate-based implants necessitate thorough investigation. Future Directions: Future research endeavors aim to enhance alginate's stability and bioactivity, facilitating its broader utilization in regenerative medicine and therapeutic interventions. Novel approaches focusing on tailored hydrogel formations, advanced drug delivery systems, and optimized cellular encapsulation techniques hold promise. Continued exploration of alginate's potential in tissue engineering and wound healing, alongside efforts to address critical issues, will drive advancements in biomedical applications.

Assessment of Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer Treatment Patterns for Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A MarketScan Claims Analysis.

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), weight-based treatments administered weekly by intravenous infusion, are approved in the US for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) amenable to certain exon skipping. Evidence regarding PMO treatment patterns in real-world settings is limited. This study used longitudinal administrative claims data to characterize PMO treatment patterns among US patients with DMD. MarketScan® commercial and Medicaid data (January 1, 2018-December 31, 2021) were used to identify claims for PMO treatments (eteplirsen, golodirsen, viltolarsen, casimersen). The proportion of days covered (PDC), proportion with continuous PMO claims coverage (no gaps in claims ≥ 30days), and time to subsequent PMO claims after a ≥ 30-day gap in PMO claims were described. One hundred thirty-three patients with ≥ 1 PMO claim were identified. Multiple codes were needed to identify PMO treatment coverage. Mean age was 14.1years; all patients were male. Mean continuous follow-up duration was 669.3days. Median PDC was 83.4%. Seventy-four (55.6%) patients had continuous PMO claims coverage (no ≥ 30-day gaps in claims). Of the 59 patients with ≥ 1 gap in PMO claims of ≥ 30days, 39 had ≥ 1 subsequent PMO claim. Accounting for censoring via Kaplan-Meier analysis, 75.5% had a subsequent PMO claim within 1 year after a ≥ 30-day gap, with a median time of 64days (including the qualifying 30days). Understanding treatment patterns is important for characterizing real-world utilization of precision genetic medicines. This study observed a high PDC for PMO treatments for DMD. Most patients had continuous PMO claims coverage, and most patients with a gap in PMO claims had a subsequent PMO claim. Nonetheless, the observed persistence may have been underestimated given shortcomings of claims data and payer coverage considerations. Caution should be exercised when inferring treatment effectiveness or tolerability based on observed treatment patterns from claims data alone for weight-based, infused PMO treatments.

Dammarane-Type Saponins from the Leaves of Vietnamese Ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha & Grushv.) and Their Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition In Vitro and In Silico.

Vietnamese ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha & Grushv.) represents one of the famous Panax spp. for valuable applications in both traditional and modern medicine; in which, its rhizome part has mainly been used as the medicinal materials based on the bioactive ginsenosides such as ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rd, and majonoside R2. In modern medicine, the development of medicinal materials and utilization of medicinal plants are crucially based on standard bioactive ingredients, so this study to evaluate the leaves of Vietnamese ginseng as source of bioactive ginsenoside led to the identification of seven ginsenosides (1-7). Of them, ginsenoside Rd (2) and pseudoginsenoside RS1 (5) showed inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase in vitro with the IC50 values of 47.13 and 79.58 μM and supported by molecular docking analysis, in which ginsenoside Rd (2) and pseudoginsenoside RS1 (5) could play as allosteric inhibitors with high binding affinity (-8.5 and -9.4 kcal/mol) as evidenced by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The findings provided the scientific evidence for using the leaves of Vietnamese ginseng as an alternative source to the roots to enhance memory in traditional medicine as well as for further research on the anti-dementia effects of 2 and 5.

Testing the unintended cost effects of health policies for generic substitutions: the case of China's National Volume-Based Procurement (NVBP) policy.

Generic substitutions are globally considered to contain health expenditures. Yet it is uncertain whether the costs would spill over to other medicines or health services. Contextualizing China's National Volume-Based Procurement (NVBP) policy, which promoted generic substitution, this study tests the changes in patients' utilisation of generic medicines and whether the costs shift to other pharmaceutics or health services post-policy. This population-based, matched, cohort study uses claims data from Tianjin, China in 2018-2020. We focus on Amlodipine, the most commonly used calcium channel blocker with the largest volume. We build comparable post-policy cohorts: Non-switchers who kept using originator Amlodipine, Pure-switchers who loyally switched to generic Amlodipine, and Back-switchers who switched back-and-forth; and compare between each matched pair, respectively, of their annual healthcare costs and that broken down by components, and patients' use of and adherence to Amlodipine post-policy. 1185 Pure-switchers, 1398 Back-switchers, and 2330 Non-switchers are identified (mean age: 63.0 years; 58.5% men). For the matched pairs, Pure-switchers (N=772) incurred an annual total medical costs of CNY 9213.5, 12.2% lower than Non-switchers (N=1544, absolute difference CNY -1309.3, 95%CI: [-2645.8, -19.6]). The cost reduction only results from Amlodipine prescriptions in outpatient encounters, and are equally born on health plans and the enrolees. Pure-switchers and Non-switchers are not different in costs from other medicines, nor from other items including tests, surgeries, beds, and medical consumables for hypertension-related encounters/admissions. Pure-switchers had higher daily dosage and better adherence to Amlodipine than Non-switchers as well. The differences between Back-switchers and Non-switchers show similar trends but are less profound. China's NVBP policy is effective to control pharmaceutical costs. No unintended cost effects have yet been identified in the short run. Other countries may learn from China on the comprehensive sets of auxiliary policies, including listing, bidding, purchasing, and reimbursing, to better promote generic substitutions.

Reducing the diameter of the atomized particles by coating polymer membrane on the inner wall of micro-tapered holes of the ultrasonic mesh atomizers

Atomized inhalation therapy with its rapid efficacy, low side effects and high medicine utilization, has become a crucial method for treating respiratory diseases. The depth of atomized particles deposition in the respiratory tract mainly depends on the particle diameter, making the reducing of the atomized particle size crucial for medicine deposit in lung. In the existing literatures, for the widely used dynamic mesh atomizer, the majority of the researches focused on the mechanical structure and the vibration characteristics of the atomizers. However, there is little researches on the micro-tapered holes of the metal sheet of the atomizer, despite the fact that the diameter of these tapered holes determines the size of the atomized particles. Due to the processing technology, the diameter of the micro-tapered holes cannot be further reduced, which greatly limits the development of the dynamic mesh atomizer in inhalation therapy. In this study, we consider the use of polymer coating on the inner wall of the micro-tapered holes to eliminate burrs, reduce the diameter of the holes, and ultimately reduce the size of the atomized particles. A theoretical model of the initial thickness of the coating polymer membrane and the rupture depth under the uniform air pressure applied to a single tapered hole was established. The metal sheets with different initial coating thicknesses were processed to verify the theoretical model by observing the quality of the inner surface and measuring the diameter of the holes. The particle size measurement experiment results show that when the initial coating thickness was 3 μm and 4.5 μm, the average particle sizes were reduced by 12.5 % and 23.2 %, respectively. Therefore, the proposed method can effectively reduce the atomized particles size, which helps to efficiently deposit atomized drugs in the lungs.

Unveiling the Therapeutic Potentials of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) Flower against Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Depressive Disorders: GC-MS/MS, In Vitro, In Vivo and In Silico Approaches.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) is a highly invasive aquatic weed native to the Amazonia basin, known for its rapid propagation, adaptability, and utilization in traditional medicine. The study aims to unveil the therapeutic potential of water hyacinth flowers methanolic extract (EC CME) and its four kupchan fractions (EC PESF, EC DCMSF, EC EASF, EC ASF) through diversified chemical-pharmacological approaches. GC-MS/MS of EC-CME uncovered a rich tapestry of 72 phytochemical components. In vitro DPPH scavenging assay and total phenolic content determination assay deciphered promising antioxidant assays with remarkably low IC50 values of 0.353 and 0.485 μg/mL, respectively for EC-ESF and EC-ASF. Besides, different in vivo tests, including tail emersion, acetic acid-induced writhing, and thiopental-induced sleeping test of EC-CME, yielded a remarkable 8.61±0.29 min of tail immersion time compared to the control's 2.05±0.11 min at the highest dose (600 mg/kg). The best % inhibition of writhing was recorded as 47.96 % accrued in 400 mg/kg dose, indicating robust pain-relieving properties. The onset and duration of sleep are significantly ameliorated for EC-CME, unveiling its antidepressant potential. Besides, molecular docking studies along with ADME/T analysis also validated the wet lab findings as well as their safety, efficacy, and drug-likeliness profile. Finally, this work can be an essential hint for utilizing aquatic weeds in drug development research.

Comparative Plastome Analysis Between Endangered Mangrove Species Acanthus ebracteatus and Acanthus Relatives Provides Insights into Its Origin and Adaptive Evolution.

Acanthus ebracteatus is a typical true mangrove species with great ecological and medicinal values. However, it has become endangered in China. Moreover, because of the similar morphology and distribution, it is commonly confused with the congeneric mangrove species, A. ilicifolius,which poseschallenges to the protection and proper medicinal utilization of A. ebracteatus. Plastomes provide a solution for molecular identification and adaptive evolution investigation of plants. In this study, we dissected the complete plastome for A. ebracteatus and performed comparative analysis to A. ilicifolius and three non-mangrove relatives (A. montanus, A. leucostachyus and A. mollis). Both plastome sequences and structure are highly conserved between the two mangrove species, while less similar between mangrove and non-mangrove species. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the mangrove species were divergent from the non-mangrove groups at approximately 15.15 million years ago (Mya), where early to middle Miocene global warming and high sea level might act as one of the main forces driving the mangrove lineage entering into intertidal environments. Furthermore, 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 10 insertions/deletions (indels) were detected between the plastomes of A. ebracteatus and A. ilicifolius. PCR validation further demonstrated the effectiveness of the plastid marker in distinguishing the two sibling mangrove species. Taken together, our study broadens the understanding of the origin and evolution of Acanthus mangrove plants, and provided valuable information on the correct identification and protection of endangered mangrove species A. ebracteatus.