German Journal of Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials

Front Matter

editor — Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Front Matter

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs)

Sandesh Narayan Somnache — Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

MIPs, which stand for molecularly imprinted polymers, are biomimetic materials that have attracted much interest in various sectors, including healthcare. Antibodies and receptors are examples of physiologic recognition units that can be imitated by MIPs, which provides a fruitful platform for applications in biomedicine. The high specificity and selectivity of these molecules, along with their
stability under critical conditions, long shelf life, and economic efficiency compared to commonly employed molecules, such as antibodies, proteins, and aptamers, are some of the attractive benefits they possess. There is the possibility of preparing MIPs for targets with no existing recognising molecules. However, their use in other research areas, such as biosensors, nanocarriers, and drug delivery systems, diagnostic and imaging, has also been substantial. MIPs have been employed for a variety of applications, the majority of which have been in the extraction and separation procedures. It is impossible to make these advancements without first generating novel polymers and monomers that can be successfully employed in MIP synthesis and can also improve the variety of applications for these compounds. A quick summary of MIPs is discussed, which interests the current editorial.

Exploring of some benzoquinone derivatives impact on Acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity

Hatice Duran — Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The discovery of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is important for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common type of dementia. Due to the side effects of commonly used acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, studies aimed at discovering new inhibitors are increasing. Therefore, in this study, the effects of some benzoquinone derivatives, 1,4-benzoquinone (1a), 2,6-dichloro-1,4 benzoquinone (1b), and 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1c) on AChE enzyme were investigated. In vitro studies were conducted to understand the possible inhibition mechanism in the interaction of enzyme-benzoquinone compounds, and the effects of these compounds were examined. The quinones examined were found to exhibit effective inhibition of the AChE enzyme. IC50 values were
determined to be 48-187 nM, and KI values ranged from 54 ± 0.007 nM to 262 ± 0.016 nM. These benzoquinones exhibited different inhibition mechanisms. While 1,4-benzoquinone (1a) and 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1c) showed competitive inhibition effects, 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (1b) exhibited noncompetitive inhibition effects. Additionally, among the compounds whose effects were examined, 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1c) showed the most effective inhibitor property with the lowest KI value. The findings will add to the body of knowledge on creating fresh, potent, and successful treatment approaches.

In Vitro anthelminthic activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Cassia Occidentalis against Ascaris Lumbricoides

Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Intestinal nematodes affect children in impoverished populations. Conventional anthelminthic drugs have been frequently utilized to manage these infections. However, limitations such as cost, toxic effects, and resistance have shifted towards herbal medicines in low-to middle-income countries. There is a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of Cassia occidentalis plant leaf extract in managing helminth infections in Uganda. This study, therefore, sought to determine the phytochemical composition of Cassia occidentalis aqueous leaf extract, its acute toxicity profile, and its in-vitro anthelmintic activity against Ascaris lumbricoides. Leaves of Cassia occidentalis were collected from Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, dried to obtain a powder, and macerated with distilled
water to create an aqueous extract. This extract underwent phytochemical screening and acute toxicity testing following established guidelines. The anthelmintic activity was evaluated using an adult worm mortality assay. The study found that the aqueous leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis had significant anthelmintic activity at a concentration of 40 mg/ml (p<0.041). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and glycosides, but no steroids were found. The extract had an LD50 of over 5000 mg/kg body weight, as it caused no mortality. The study concluded that Cassia occidentalis has significant anthelmintic activity and a high LD50, supporting its traditional use in managing helminth infections.

Combinative phytochemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of Xylopia aethiopica and Sida acuta extracts

Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. and Sida acuta Burm.f. are widely recognized for their traditional medicinal properties in treating various ailments. This study seeks to uncover the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of combined extracts from these two valuable plant species. We prepared solvent extracts using aqueous, 70% ethanol, absolute ethanol, and methanol from the fruits and leaves of Xylopia aethiopica, along with the leaves of Sida acuta. These extracts were then combined into four new formulations: combined aqueous (CoA), combined absolute ethanol (CoE), combined 70% ethanol (CoE₇₀), and combined methanol (CoM). We meticulously analyzed the phytochemical compositions of these formulations. To gauge their antimicrobial activity, we examined the susceptibility of various control strains to different concentrations of the extracts through the agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for the most effective combined extracts. Notably, flavonoids were discovered solely in CoA, whereas cyanogenic glycosides were present only in CoM. At a concentration of 200 mg/ml, the extract from the leaves of Xylopia aethiopica (AXL) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (17.67 ± 0.47 mm). In comparison, CoE₇₀ yielded significant results against Staphylococcus saprophyticus ATCC 15305 (14.00 ± 0.82 mm). AXL also showed impressive inhibition of Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430 (18.67 ± 0.47 mm) and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (15.00 ± 0.52 mm). The observed MICs ranged from 25 mg/ml to 3.13 mg/ml. Except for the aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica leaves, the combined extracts from Xylopia aethiopica and Sida acuta, produced through various extraction methods, exhibited distinct phytochemical profiles and demonstrated significantly greater antimicrobial activity than their individual counterparts. These compelling findings underscore the potential of these plants in developing more effective antimicrobial treatments.