German Journal of Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials

Lentinus squarrosulus Mont. Selectively Stimulates Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus pentosus growth and inhibits pathogenic bacteria: A promising prebiotic potential

Oyindamola O. Abiodun — 2025-08-27

Prebiotics are agents that can selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms (probiotics). Mushrooms have been reported as a significant source of prebiotics. This study investigates the prebiotic potential of Lentinus squarrosulus Mont. Fruiting bodies of L. squarrosulus were lyophilized, pulverized, and extracted with chloroform/methanol (1:1) and distilled water. The percentage growth stimulation effect of the mushroom extracts on Lactobacillus plantarum AO11 and Lactobacillus pentosus A4c, as well as their activity against pathogenic bacteria, including enteropathogenic Escherichia coli EPEC 034A, Salmonella typhi ATCC 14028, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, was determined using standard methods. Inulin and ciprofloxacin served as controls.Chemical composition of the mushroom extract was identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Culture media supplemented with 20 mg/ml of the aqueous extract of L. squarrosulus produced a 74% growth stimulation of Lactobacillus plantarum, which is comparable to that of inulin (75%), a commercial prebiotic. The zone of inhibition of the supernatant of Lactobacillus species cultured in media supplemented with mushroom extracts, inulin, or ciprofloxacin against E. coli, S. typhi, and S. aureus ranged from 10 to 23.5 mm. The supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum AO11 and Lactobacillus pentosus A4c cultured in media supplemented with the CME (26-57%), inulin (40-54%), or ciprofloxacin (54-59%) showed greater activity against pathogenic organisms than the supernatant of extract-free culture media. Notable compounds in the aqueous extract include 9,12- octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z methyl ester), n-hexadecanoic acid, and oleic acid. Lentinus squarrosulus stimulates Lactobacillus plantarum AO11 and Lactobacillus pentosus A4c. growth and inhibits pathogenic organisms. Its usefulness in promoting gut health could be further explored.

Stability indicating RP-HPLC-UV method development and validation for estimation of Efinaconazole in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulation

Anil Kumar S Manchi — 2025-08-27

Efinaconazole is a potent triazole antifungal drug for the topical treatment of onychomycosis. In this comprehensive study, we developed a highly effective and reliable stability-indicating RP-HPLC (Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) method, alongside two advanced UVspectrophotometric techniques—zero-order and first-order derivative methods for the accurate estimation of Efinaconazole. Employing the state-of-the-art Shimadzu model 1800 UV spectrophotometer, we ensured precision and reliability in our measurements. The chromatographic separation was expertly achieved on an Enable C18 column in isocratic mode, utilizing a carefully balanced mixture of methanol and 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 5.5) in a 90:10 (v/v) ratio. This was conducted at a flow rate of 2 ml/min, with detection at 210 nm, ensuring optimal performance for our analysis. We rigorously subjected Efinaconazole to five distinct stress conditions, meticulously analyzing the resulting degradation products using the RP-HPLC technique. This allowed us to calculate their percentage recovery with high accuracy. The two UVspectrophotometric methods demonstrated exceptional linearity within the concentration range of 100-500 μg/ml, achieving peak performance with the zero-order method at 261 nm and the first-order derivative method at 270 nm, yielding correlation coefficients of 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. Remarkably, the average recoveries from our recovery studies ranged from 99.44% to 100.42% for the zero-order method and from 99.86% to 100.39% for the first-order derivative method, showcasing the methods' reliability and accuracy. For the RP-HPLC method, we established a linearity range of 25–125 μg/ml, achieving a strong correlation coefficient of 0.998. The retention time for Efinaconazole was consistently recorded at 4.55 min, with recovery rates impressively ranging between 99.8% and 100.08%. This comprehensive validation underscores the robustness and efficacy of our analytical methods for the accurate estimation of Efinaconazole in the treatment of onychomycosis.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is essential for the protective effect of Fat soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, and K) on colorectal cancer

Hossna M. Ismail — 2025-08-27

An essential regulatory pathway involved in many biological processes, such as embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and cancer progression, is the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. One of the main characteristics of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays a significant role in tumor development, invasion, and metastasis. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutations account for 80–90% of sporadic cases of CRC. Typically, APC mutations occur early in the development of CRC. APC normally suppresses tumors by encouraging β-catenin degradation. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K, are essential for many physiological functions. They may also interact with signaling pathways like the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the protective effect of Fatsoluble vitamins against CRC is the main topic of this review. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of fat-soluble vitamins-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulation is required to target therapeutic targets for CRC prevention and treatment effectively.