Phytopharmaceutical Technology

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2021) | Viewed by 13173

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil
Interests: spray drying and encapsulation of pharmaceuticals and phytopharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; enzyme immobilization; granulation and particle coating; process optimization
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of herbal medicine for the treatment of human ailments dates back to antiquity, being the basis of ancient systems of traditional medicine. Over the past forty years, herbal medicine has remerged strongly in part due to the proof of its efficacy and safety, cultural reasons, low cost, self-medication and disbelief in and the ineffectiveness of some allopathic treatments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 70 to 80% of the world's population in developing countries depend essentially on unconventional medicine in their primary health care. In addition to herbal medicines, plant-based products have also been used to extract chemical products and chemical precursors, essential oils, aromas, fragrances, functional actives, natural antioxidants, dyes, and preservatives, among other products. The natural origin of these products is a positive marketing differential, considering the current trend of society and industry, which seeks ecologically correct and sustainable products. However, mainly due to the plant material's complex and variable chemical composition, processing is essential in order to obtain a high-quality standardized plant-based product. Its production requires multidisciplinary knowledge, including botany, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, biotechnology, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical technology. Innovative products are also currently being developed, such as herbal delivery systems, promoting protection to active constituents, target release, and enhancing their biological activity, bioavailability and stability.

Therefore, we invite research groups working with the basic and applied themes of "Phytopharmaceutical Technology" to contribute to this Special Edition of Pharmaceutics. Manuscripts focusing on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, drying and encapsulation, delivery systems, bioavailability, and stability assessment are particularly welcome.

In advance, we thank the authors who take time in their busy schedules to contribute to this Special Issue of Pharmaceutics.

Prof. Dr. Wanderley Pereira Oliveira
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Medicinal plant
  • Herbal medicine
  • Ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology
  • Spray drying
  • Drying extracts
  • Essential oil
  • Delivery systems
  • Micro- and nanoencapsulation
  • Bioavailability
  • Stability testing

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2011 KiB  
Article
Stability of Plant Leaf-Derived Extracellular Vesicles According to Preservative and Storage Temperature
by Kimin Kim, Jungjae Park, Yehjoo Sohn, Chan-Eui Oh, Ji-Ho Park, Jong-Min Yuk and Ju-Hun Yeon
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(2), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14020457 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4333
Abstract
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are capable of efficiency delivering mRNAs, miRNAs, bioactive lipids, and proteins to mammalian cells. Plant-derived EVs critically contribute to the ability of plants to defend against pathogen attacks at the plant cell surface. They also represent a novel candidate [...] Read more.
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are capable of efficiency delivering mRNAs, miRNAs, bioactive lipids, and proteins to mammalian cells. Plant-derived EVs critically contribute to the ability of plants to defend against pathogen attacks at the plant cell surface. They also represent a novel candidate natural substance that shows potential to be developed for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. However, although plant-derived EVs are acknowledged as having potential for various industrial applications, little is known about how their stability is affected by storage conditions. In this study, we evaluated the stability of Dendropanax morbifera leaf-derived extracellular vesicles (LEVs) alone or combined with the preservatives, 1,3-butylene glycol (to yield LEVs-1,3-BG) or TMO (LEVs-TMO). We stored these formulations at −20, 4, 25, and 45 °C for up to 4 weeks, and compared the stability of fresh and stored LEVs. We also assessed the effect of freeze-thawing cycles on the quantity and morphology of the LEVs. We found that different storage temperatures and number of freeze-thawing cycles altered the stability, size distribution, protein content, surface charge, and cellular uptake of LEVs compared to those of freshly isolated LEVs. LEVs-TMO showed higher stability when stored at 4 °C, compared to LEVs and LEVs-1,3-BG. Our study provides comprehensive information on how storage conditions affect LEVs and suggests that the potential industrial applications of plant-derived EVs may be broadened by the use of preservatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytopharmaceutical Technology)
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16 pages, 2848 KiB  
Article
Skin Regenerative Potential of Cupuaçu Seed Extract (Theobroma grandiflorum), a Native Fruit from the Amazon: Development of a Topical Formulation Based on Chitosan-Coated Nanocapsules
by Geisa Nascimento Barbalho, Breno Noronha Matos, Gabriel Ferreira da Silva Brito, Thamires da Cunha Miranda, Thuany Alencar-Silva, Fernando Fabriz Sodré, Guilherme Martins Gelfuso, Marcilio Cunha-Filho, Juliana Lott Carvalho, Joyce Kelly do Rosário da Silva and Taís Gratieri
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(1), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14010207 - 16 Jan 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3308
Abstract
Scarless skin regeneration is a challenge in regenerative medicine. Herein, we explore the regenerative potential of a Cupuaçu seed extract (Theobroma grandiflorum) to develop an innovative skin regeneration formulation based on chitosan-coated nanocapsules. Cupuaçu seed extract significantly stimulated cell proliferation and [...] Read more.
Scarless skin regeneration is a challenge in regenerative medicine. Herein, we explore the regenerative potential of a Cupuaçu seed extract (Theobroma grandiflorum) to develop an innovative skin regeneration formulation based on chitosan-coated nanocapsules. Cupuaçu seed extract significantly stimulated cell proliferation and migration. A reparative gene expression profile could be verified following extract treatment, which included high levels of MKI67, a cellular proliferation marker, and extracellular matrix genes, such as ELN and HAS2, which code for elastin and hyaluronic acid synthase 2. Formulations with Cupuaçu seed extract successfully entrapped into nanocapsules (EE% > 94%) were developed. Uncoated or coated nanocapsules with low-molecular-weight chitosan presented unimodal size distribution with hydrodynamic diameters of 278.3 ± 5.0 nm (PDI = 0.18 ± 0.02) and 337.2 ± 2.1 nm (PDI = 0.27 ± 0.01), respectively. Both nanosystems were physically stable for at least 120 days and showed to be non-irritating to reconstructed human epidermis. Chitosan coating promoted active penetration into undamaged skin areas, which were still covered by the stratum corneum. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated for the first time the biotechnological potential of the frequently discarded Cupuaçu seed as a valuable pharmaceutical ingredient to be used in regenerative skin products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytopharmaceutical Technology)
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13 pages, 1631 KiB  
Article
Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Loaded with Lippia sidoides Essential Oil as a Strategy to Combat the Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris
by Iara Baldim, Mario H. Paziani, Patrícia H. Grizante Barião, Marcia R. von Zeska Kress and Wanderley P. Oliveira
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(1), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14010180 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4276
Abstract
The emerging pathogen Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen that was associated with nosocomial infectious outbreaks. Its worldwide incidence and the emerging multidrug-resistant strains highlight the urgency for novel and effective antifungal treatment strategies. Lippia sidoides essential oil (LSEO) proved antifungal activity, [...] Read more.
The emerging pathogen Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen that was associated with nosocomial infectious outbreaks. Its worldwide incidence and the emerging multidrug-resistant strains highlight the urgency for novel and effective antifungal treatment strategies. Lippia sidoides essential oil (LSEO) proved antifungal activity, including anti-Candida. However, it may undergo irreversible changes when in contact with external agents without adequate protection. Herein, we encapsulated LSEO in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) through the hot emulsification method followed by sonication. NLC matrix was based on oleic acid and Compritol® 888, or a combination of carnauba wax and beeswax, stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate. Eight formulations were produced and characterized by the determination of the particle size (213.1 to 445.5 nm), polydispersity index (around 0.3), and ζ-potential (−93.1 to −63.8 mV). The antifungal activity of nanoparticles and LSEO against C. auris and the in vivo toxicity in Galleria mellonella model were also evaluated. Both NLC and LSEO exhibited potent activity against the yeast, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration between 281 and 563 µg/mL, and did not evidence toxicity in the in vivo model. Therefore, this study confirms the viability of NLCs loaded with LSEO in combating drug-resistant pathogens as a potential new therapeutic strategy for managing of candidemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytopharmaceutical Technology)
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