Studies on the mucilages extracted from okra fruits (Hibiscus esculentus L.) and baobab leaves (Adansonia digitata L.)

Okra fruits and baobab leaves are just two examples of foods used to give a mucilaginous quality to West African food dishes. The mucilages were extracted from both foods and purified. Preliminary studies have been conducted to characterise the mucilages chemically, as well as study their viscous behaviour in relation to their use in West African dishes. Both mucilages are acidic polysaccharides with associated protein and minerals. Neither the quantity of protein nor minerals were significantly reduced during purification. The protein was not separated from the polysaccharide by either gel chromatography or disc electrophoresis. Hydrolysis of okra mucilage revealed that the polysaccharide was composed of galacturonic acid, galactose, rhamnose and glucose (1.3:1.0:0.1:0.1). Baobab mucilage on hydrolysis was found to contain mainly galacturonic and glucuronic acids with minor quantities of galactose, rhamnose, glucose and arabinose (11.7:11.3:1.0:0.6:0.4:0.1). The mucilages form viscous solutions at low concentrations (5–10 g/litre). They attain maximum viscosity in the neutral pH range. However, the mucilage solutions are not stable to heat and lose much of their viscosity when heated.     

Host Mesothelin Expression Increases Ovarian Cancer Metastasis in the Peritoneal Microenvironment

Mesothelin (MSLN), a glycoprotein normally expressed by mesothelial cells, is overexpressed in ovarian cancer (OvCa) suggesting a role in tumor progression, although the biological function is not fully understood. OvCa has a high mortality rate due to diagnosis at advanced stage disease with intraperitoneal metastasis. Tumor cells detach from the primary tumor as single cells or multicellular aggregates (MCAs) and attach to the mesothelium of organs within the peritoneal cavity producing widely disseminated secondary lesions. To investigate the role of host MSLN in the peritoneal cavity we used a mouse model with a null mutation in the MSLN gene (MSLN^KO). The deletion of host MSLN expression modified the peritoneal ultrastructure resulting in abnormal mesothelial cell surface architecture and altered omental collagen fibril organization. Co-culture of murine OvCa cells with primary mesothelial cells regardless of MSLN expression formed compact MCAs. However, co-culture with MSLN^KO mesothelial cells resulted in smaller MCAs. An allograft tumor study, using wild-type mice (MSLN^WT) or MSLN^KO mice injected intraperitoneally with murine OvCa cells demonstrated a significant decrease in peritoneal metastatic tumor burden in MSLN^KO mice compared to MSLN^WT mice. Together, these data support a role for host MSLN in the progression of OvCa metastasis.     

Formulation and optimization of intranasal nanolipid carriers of pioglitazone for the repurposing in Alzheimer’s disease using Box-Behnken design

Growing evidence suggest that Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia among the elderly is a metabolic disorder associated with impaired brain insulin signaling. Hence, the diabetic drug can be a therapeutic option for the management AD. The researches in this area are ongoing and Pioglitazone (PIO) is one of the most investigated diabetic drug in AD. Eventhough PIO treatment was found to improve AD significantly in the preclinical models, the poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and serious peripheral side effects limited its success in the clinical trials. The objective of the present study was to formulate and optimize intranasal (IN) nano lipid carriers (NLC) of PIO for its targeted delivery to the brain. A Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the effect of three independent variables on two dependent variables. The optimized formulation had a particle size (PS) of 211.4?±?3.54?nm and zeta potential of (ZP) of 14.9?±?1.09?mv. The polydispersibility index (PDI) and entrapment efficiency (EE) was found to be 0.257?±?0.108 and 70.18?±?4.5% respectively. Storage stability studies performed has confirmed the stability of NLCs at 4?°C and 25?°C. The in-vitro drug release study has exhibited a sustained release of drug from the NLC. The formulation was observed to improve the nasal permeability of PIO ex-vivo significantly. Toxicity studies were performed to confirm the safety of formulation for the in-vivo administration. In-vivo biodistribution study in rats has shown a direct transport of drug from the nose to brain from the IN-NLC.