Pharmacognosy Papers & Publications

Potato starch extraction is a critical process with implications across various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and bioplastics. This review explores current techniques, challenges, and future opportunities in potato starch extraction. Traditional methods such as compression or wet grinding, enzymatic processes, and microwave-assisted extraction are examined for their efficiency, advantages, and limitations. The paper emphasizes the importance of quality control measures to ensure the purity and safety of the extracted starch. Critical quality control aspects include raw material inspection, monitoring during processing, purity and composition analysis, and adherence to national and international standards. Innovations in extraction methods, including enzymatic and green solvent extraction, ultrasonic and microwave-assisted techniques, and advancements in nanotechnology and biotechnological approaches, are highlighted as trends driving the industry towards greater sustainability and efficiency. The clean label movement also reflects a consumer-driven shift towards natural, minimally processed ingredients, influencing industry practices and regulatory compliance. The future of potato starch extraction holds significant promise, with the integration of sustainable practices and technological innovations to meet evolving market demands and regulatory standards, underscoring the need for continuous research and development in the field.

Dr. Salman Ahmed

Potato starch extraction is a critical process with implications across various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and bioplastics. This review explores current techniques, challenges, and future opportunities in potato starch extraction. Traditional methods such as compression or wet grinding, enzymatic processes, and microwave-assisted extraction are examined for their efficiency, advantages, and limitations. The paper emphasizes the importance of quality control measures to ensure the purity and safety of the extracted starch. Critical quality control aspects include raw material inspection, monitoring during processing, purity and composition analysis, and adherence to national and international standards. Innovations in extraction methods, including enzymatic and green solvent extraction, ultrasonic and microwave-assisted techniques, and advancements in nanotechnology and biotechnological approaches, are highlighted as trends driving the industry towards greater sustainability and efficiency. The clean label movement also reflects a consumer-driven shift towards natural, minimally processed ingredients, influencing industry practices and regulatory compliance. The future of potato starch extraction holds significant promise, with the integration of sustainable practices and technological innovations to meet evolving market demands and regulatory standards, underscoring the need for continuous research and development in the field.

Dr. Salman Ahmed

The exploration encompasses the diverse dimensions of the Verbesina genus, a cluster of flowering plants within the Asteraceae family, comprising 340 species with varied growth patterns and floral attributes. Traditional medicinal practices associated with Verbesina species across different cultures are scrutinized, emphasizing the necessity for scientific validation of these ethnomedicinal traditions. Through chemical and pharmacological profiling, Verbesina plants reveal a plethora of bioactive compounds and therapeutic potentials, propelling drug discovery and development opportunities. Safety considerations, conservation challenges, and sustainable harvesting practices emerge as pivotal factors in maximizing the benefits of Verbesina species while minimizing environmental impacts. Finally, we underscore the significance of collaborative research efforts, recognizing the invaluable contributions of our professional colleagues and researchers in related fields in fully harnessing Verbesina plants' medicinal, healthcare and conservation potentials, promising groundbreaking discoveries and applications with profound implications for human well-being.

Dr. Salman Ahmed

Oecophylla longinoda has some reported medicinal uses, including antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was designed to investigate the Oecophylla longinoda methanol extract to evaluate the toxicity profiles of its acute and sub-acute effects. The experiments were conducted to determine the oral median lethal dose (LD50) and other gross toxicological manifestations on an acute basis. In the first phase of the acute toxicity study, three per group were administered Oecophylla longinoda at single oral doses of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg body weight, and 1600, 2900, and 5000 mg/kg of Oecophylla longinoda in the second phase. In the sub-acute studies, the mice were orally administered 2.5 g/kg Oecophylla longinoda per day for 14 consecutive days. Rat body weight and fluid intake were recorded during the 14 days. The rat kidney, heart, liver, and blood sera were obtained for weight, histological, and biochemical markers including glucose, cholesterol, proteins, triglycerides, enzymes including ALT, AST, and ALP, as well as electrolytes (sodium and potassium) examinations. Results show that the methanol extract of Oecophylla longinoda is safe, and no significant changes in the biochemical markers that indicate harmful effects on the kidney and liver were observed in mice. However, the liver showed slight changes while the kidneys and heart remained healthy in mice exposed to Oecophylla longinoda. The no-observed-adverse-effect limit was 5000 mg/Kg body weight/day.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a frequently utilized analytical method that has numerous characteristics, including high selectivity, sensitivity, and a reduced time requirement. Upon using this fabulous technique, the limit of detection is reduced, and the accuracy, precision, reliability, and specificity can be expanded. This technique plays a crucial role in both qualitative and quantitative analysis throughout the various stages of drug production, from the initial discovery of the drug to its excretion from the body. The role of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in pharmaceutical analysis during various stages of drug discovery, production, and clinical use, including drug pharmacokinetics, is reviewed and discussed in detail. This provides an overview of the benefits of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography from the chemical, pharmaceutical, and clinical perspectives.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Carica papaya leaves are a popular remedy to treat Dengue-induced thrombocytopenia. There have been reports of Carica papaya effects as antibacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory. There is limited evidence documenting the effects of Carica papaya on increasing platelet count in relation to Dengue infection. Moreover, the mechanism by which Carica papaya increases the platelet counts has not been elucidated. Understanding how Carica papaya affects platelet function may have implications beyond Dengue fever management. This study aims to investigate the mechanism by which Carica papaya affects platelet count. The mechanism of thrombocytopenia in the aqueous and methanol extracts was elucidated by measuring reactive oxygen species in platelets using chemiluminescence. Both aqueous and methanol extracts of Carica papaya leaves were found to increase reactive oxygen species levels in vitro. This study is the first to try to demonstrate the mechanism by which Carica papaya increases platelet count. Carica papaya leaves may be developed into novel and useful therapeutic agents in the management of thrombocytopenia-related disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

The potential of endemic medicinal plants in Yemen for sustainable pharmaceutical applications is home to a diverse and unique flora, with a significant proportion of endemic and near-endemic species that are traditionally used in folk medicine. This study documents 16 medicinal plant species from Abyan Governorate, Southeastern Yemen, and analyzes their traditional therapeutic uses and the extent to which they have been phytochemically investigated. The majority of these species are used to treat skin diseases, wounds, and burns. However, the findings indicate that 56.3% of these plants have not yet been studied for their active compounds. The Asclepiadaceae family was the most represented among the studied taxa, yet remains largely chemically unexplored. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving ethnobotanical knowledge and recommends future phytochemical screening and pharmacological validation of under-researched species for sustainable use in pharmaceutical development.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Natural products are a vital source of therapeutic agents due to their diverse chemical structures and wide range of biological activities. With the advancement of computational technologies, natural product databases have become essential tools in drug discovery, offering organized access to chemical structures, biological properties, and biosynthetic information. These databases support various stages of drug development, from target identification to lead optimization. This review outlines the essential features of Natural Products Databases and introduces the framework for the first Libyan Natural Products Database, a project designed to harness Libya’s unique biodiversity. This foundational work involves a detailed review of existing natural product databases to identify their core components, data architectures, and user interface designs. While acknowledging challenges such as data standardization, limited resources, and long-term sustainability, the creation of the Libyan Natural Products Database is expected to enhance local scientific capacity and contribute meaningfully to the global drug discovery landscape. This positions the Libyan Natural Products Database to play a foundational role in advancing pharmaceutical research and drug discovery.

Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences