Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics Commons^™

Outcome Evaluation Of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Vs Medical Therapy Alone In Patients With Chronic Coronary Syndrome, Hsien-Yuan Chang, Hsin-Yu Fang, Mu-Shiang Huang, You-Zhen Chen, Di-Yung Chen, Edward Chia-Cheng Lai, Jung-Der Wang, Yi-Heng Li, Li-Jung Elizabeth Ku

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

This study provides real-world evidence by comparing the long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus medical therapy alone in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) diagnosed non-invasively, given the lack of evidence in this population. This retrospective cohort study (2013-2018) utilized data from a medical center’s Cardiovascular Disease Databank, which was linked to national mortality records in Taiwan. Propensity score matching (PSM) and stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were applied to adjust for baseline differences between the PCI and medication-only groups. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization, were …

Evaluating The Potential Of Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp. Root To Improve Atopic Dermatitis With Different Anti-Inflammatory Models And Active Compounds, Shu-Er Yang, Xiang-Ming Cai, Yu-Wen Chu, Jen-Chieh Tsai, Mey-Fann Lee, Tuzz-Ying Song

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent bacterial infections that cause pruritus, erythema, xerosis and thickening. Cajanus cajan root extract prepared with 95% ethanol (EECR95) has been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties in previous studies. This study aimed to evaluate EECR95’s ability to improve AD by inhibiting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth and reducing inflammation. This study found EECR95 effectively inhibits MRSA growth (IC₅₀ = 103.74 μg/mL) and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in an MRSA-keratinocyte-macrophage model. LC/MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of active compounds- flavonoids, isoflavones, and flavonoid glycosides, highlighting EECR95's potential …

In Vitro Digestion Modifies Lepidium Meyenii Extract, Altering Its Major Glucosinolates, Lepidilines, Β-Carbolines, And Gut Bacterial Growth, Dominik Tarabasz, Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik, Paweł Szczeblewski, Tomasz Laskowski, Klaudia Gustaw, Marzena Furtak-Niczyporuk, Dominik Szwajgier, Rita Cristina Orihuela-Campos, Henry O. Meissner, Julia Borzyszkowska-Bukowska, Wirginia Kukula-Koch

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The tubers of Lepidium meyenii (commonly known as maca) have been used in the Andean cuisine for ages. The study aims to determine the behavior of the extract from the red phenotype of maca in the in vitro gastrointestinal tract model and also to define the overall impact of the extract on the microbiota. Glucosinolates, lepidilines, and a derivative of β-carboline alkaloid, i.e. 1-methyltetrahydro-β-5,6-hydride-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, as representatives of one of the main groups of metabolites were selected for the quantitative analysis after in vitro digestion at every stage of the digestion model. The results showed that lepidilines …

Urinary Antimony As A Biomarker For Differentiating Heroin And Brown Mixture Use, Shu-Mei Tsai, Yu-Han Hsiao, Yan-Zin Chang, Sai-Wai Ho

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Heroin is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance with severe legal consequences for its use, whereas liquid Brown Mixture (BM) is a legally available and commonly prescribed cough remedy in Taiwan. However, numerous cases of BM ingestion have been misinterpreted as heroin use because BM contains opium tincture, leading to similar urine test results. Owing to the rapid metabolism of heroin, detection of the parent drug and its primary metabolite, 6-acetylmorphine, in urine is difficult; thus, interpretation often relies on morphine concentration and the morphine-to-codeine (M/C) ratio, which can be inconclusive. In our BM analysis, the M/C ratio was …

Soybean Fermentation Broth Alleviates Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury, Hsiao-Chi Wang, Yue-Jhu Chen, Hui-Yun Tsai, Jue-Liang Hsu, Yu-Kuo Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Dietary strategies and plant-based fermented foods have attracted increasing interest for supporting gastrointestinal health, particularly under conditions of drug-induced mucosal stress. Soybean fermentation broth (SFB), a fermented soybean-derived product, may possess enhanced nutritional and functional properties through fermentation-associated generation of bioactive peptides and antioxidant metabolites. This study evaluated the gastroprotective effects of SFB in an indomethacin-induced gastric injury model in rats and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Indomethacin markedly induced gastric ulcer formation (16.61 ± 1.38 mm²), whereas SFB pretreatment significantly attenuated ulcer development in a dose-dependent manner, reducing ulcer area to 6.66 ± 0.98, 3.89 ± 0.63, and …

Garambullo (Myrtillocactus Geometrizans) Reduces Cell Viability Via Apoptosis And Inhibits Colony Formation In Ht-29 And Sw480 Colon Cancer Cell Lines., López-Alvarez Guadalupe Soledad, Gutierrez-Silerio Gloria Yareli, García-Solís Pablo, Morales-Bárcenas Rocio, Sánchez-Pérez Yesennia, Hernández-Puga Ana Gabriela, Vergara-Castañeda Haydé Azeneth

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Garambullo (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) is a Mexican fruit rich in bioactive phytochemicals. Its fermented extract (FEG), obtained after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and fermentation, was evaluated in HT-29 and SW480 colorectal cancer cells. FEG reduced cell viability (IC50: 2985 and 3200 μg/mL, respectively) and induced apoptosis and necrosis. In 3D assays, FEG inhibited colony formation, with complete suppression in HT-29 cells. Molecular docking further suggested that butyric acid identified in FEG interacts with Caspase-3 and RIPK1. These findings support the antiproliferative and pro-death effects of FEG in colorectal cancer models.

Gut Microbiota-Mediated Modulation Of Circadian Rhythms: Physiological And Molecular Impacts Of Dietary Composition And Feeding Time, Yen-Chun Koh, Chun-Che Chang, Min-Hsiung Pan

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Circadian rhythms regulate fundamental aspects of physiology and behavior. The disruption of circadian rhythms has been associated with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and impaired immune function. Feeding behavior and gut microbiota represent two essential nodes within this regulatory network, as both are highly responsive to environmental cues such as diet composition and sleep-wake cycles. Research has shown that high-fat diets, excessive fructose, and chronic alcohol consumption perturb peripheral circadian rhythms and impair metabolic pathways, contributing to obesity and insulin resistance. Conversely, dietary interventions such as time-restricted feeding and macronutrient-specific entrainment can restore rhythmic gene expression and prevent metabolic pathologies. …

Benefits And Risks Of Consuming Cannabis Sativa L. In Food, Ewa Matyjaszczyk, Maria Śmiechowska

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Cannabis sativa L. or hemp is a cosmopolitan, multi-purpose plant and area of its cultivation has been growing in recent years. Its public perception is influenced by potential to produce narcotic substances. However, hemp seed can be a valuable source of nutrients for humans and may be of particular interest in more sustainable food consumption patterns, including vegetarian and flexitarian diets.

The paper presents benefits and risks of hemp seeds in case of their consumption in food. Low cannabinoids varieties are considered only. The biological activity of cannabinoids and related effects are considered out of scope of the study.

Nutritional …

Solvent-Dependent Cytotoxicity Of Peperomia Pellucida Leaf Extracts Against Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Ade Arsianti, Rafael Erlangga Bagas Pratama, Steven Gill, Diyah Kristanty

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Background: Breast cancer remains a major global health burden. Particularly in Indonesia, limitations of conventional chemotherapy, such as severe side effect, toxicity, and high cost, indicating the necessitate the development of alternative therapeutic agents. Peperomia pellucida, a medicinal plant rich in bioactive phytochemicals, has shown promising anticancer potential; however, its cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells and the influence of solvent polarity remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of P. pellucida leaf extracts which are prepared using different polarity of solvents (ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane).

Method: Dried leaf powder of P. pellucida was …

Optimization Of Gemifloxacin Immediate-Release Tablets Using Quality By Design, Jong Woo Kim, Hyun Bon Kang, Yeun Hee Kim, Kang Min Kim

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The objective of this study is to determine the design space (DS) for a dissolution-enhanced gemifloxacin immediate-release (IR) tablet incorporating hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) for improved solubility, utilizing a quality by design (QbD) approach. Based on the preliminary studies, hardness, friability, disintegration time, assay, content uniformity, and dissolution rate were identified as the critical quality attributes (CQAs) for optimization. Through the initial risk assessment, crospovidone, main compression force, and the amount of granulating fluid were identified as factors influencing the CQAs, and a 2³ + 3 full factorial design of experiments (DoE) was conducted for optimization. According to the analysis of variance …

Pharmacological Potential Of Pomelo (Citrus Maxima) Peel: A Bibliometric Review Of Global Research Trends And Future Directions, Indah Zunita Sari, Alma Nur Azizah, Fitriana Nur Hanifah, David Fernando, Agung Endro Nugroho, Abdul Rohman

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Pomelo (Citrus maxima) is a widely cultivated tropical fruit with global production reaching approximately 8.55 million tons in 2023. This large-scale production generates a substantial amount of peel waste despite the fact that pomelo peel contains secondary metabolites with promising pharmacological potential. This study aimed to evaluate global research trends related to the pharmacological potential of pomelo peel using a bibliometric and review-based approach, as well as to identify future research directions. Data were collected from the Scopus database and filtered for English-language scientific articles, reviews, and conference proceedings. The analysis was performed using the Biblioshiny and VOSviewer …

Plant By-Products As A Valuble Source Of Natural Antiglycemic Compounds: Economic Aspects And Alternative Raw Material Sources, Tatjana Đorđević, Jelena Vujetić, Isidora Dickov, Diandra Pintać Šarac

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Plant by-products, often considered as waste in various agricultural and food processing industries, have emerged as a valuable source of natural antidiabetic or antihyperglycemic compounds. These compounds, derived from plant materials that would otherwise be discarded, have the potential to mitigate the global burden of diabetes and offer sustainable solutions for glycemic control. Prominent groups of natural antidiabetic compounds found in plant by-products are polyphenols, as well as bioactive proteins and peptides. In addition, agro-industrial residues such as wheat bran, oat husks, and fruit peels are excellent sources of carbohydrates that can be incorporated into functional foods to help manage …

Emerging Antifungal Strategies Against Candida Albicans Using Metal–Organic Frameworks And Novel Therapeutics: Opportunities And Challenges, Amanpreet Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Sehrabpreet Singh, Jeewanjot Singh

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for infections ranging from superficial mucosal disease to life-threatening systemic candidiasis, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Its pathogenicity is enhanced by morphological plasticity, biofilm formation, and immune evasion, contributing to antifungal resistance. Limitations of existing antifungals have driven interest in emerging therapeutics. This review highlights strategies including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), host-directed therapies (HDTs), CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and phytochemicals. MOFs offer high drug-loading capacity, controlled release, and enhanced penetration into biofilms, showing promise against drug-resistant strains. Selected phytochemicals demonstrate inhibitory effects on virulence traits such as hyphal formation and enzyme secretion. CRISPR-Cas9 …

An Optical Fiber Caffeine Sensor Using A Molecularly Imprinted Polymethacrylic Acid Membrane Coated On Optical Fiber Surface As A Transducer, Josiah W. Miller, Jason D. Mccaslin, Shiquan Tao

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Caffeine is a neurotransmitter, important to human health. This compound exists in many food products, has been added to soft drinks, pharmaceutical drugs. For many applications, a field deployable technique for quick detecting caffeine is attractive. In this paper, we report a selective optical fiber caffeine sensor using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membrane as a transducer. The membrane extracts/concentrate caffeine from sample solutions significantly improved sensor’s sensitivity with a 95 times sensitivity improvement. The sensor achieved a detection limit of 0.20 µg/mL. This sensor was used to directly analyze caffeine in soft drink products without interference from sample matrix.

Advanced Hybrid-Green Ultrasound–Infrared–Microwave Trifolium Repens Essential Oil Isolation With Multi-Target Ethnomedicine Bioactivity Against Neuropathy, Inflammation And Multidrug-Resistant Infection, Sara Al Ayoubi, Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Maha Aboul-Ela, Abdalla El- Lakany, Karim Raafat

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Trifolium repens (white clover) is rich in bioactive volatiles with therapeutic potential. This study developed an advanced hybrid ultrasound–infrared–microwave hydro-distillation (UIMHD) method for efficient essential oil (EO) isolation and investigated its active sesquiterpene, pseudoionone, for multi-mechanistic neuroprotection in diabetic neuropathy (DN). The optimized UIMHD system synergistically combined ultrasound cavitation, infrared heating, and microwave hydro-distillation, enhancing yield and reducing time versus conventional extraction. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) profiling identified pseudoionone as the dominant constituent. Pharmacological evaluations were performed in alloxan-induced diabetic mice to assess antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant activities. Cytokine modulation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10), oxidative stress markers (CAT, GSH, TBARS), …

Can Semaglutide Influence Tumor Biomarkers? Insight From A Clinical Case, Alice Schianchi, Fabio Mauri, Christian Polli

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in literature, regarding an increase in tumoral biomarkers during a treatment with Semaglutide. A 61-year-old patient was referred to our gynecological consultation due to suspected adnexal cysts following an MRI performed for a functional defecation disorder. The patient was on Semaglutide treatment. Gynecological examination and transvaginal ultrasound were normal, with no evidence of adnexal cysts. Tumor biomarker testing revealed a significant increase in CA 19-9 and a mild elevation in CA-125. In an asymptomatic patient, these findings raised suspicion of a possible neoplastic origin involving the pancreas or biliary tract. However, …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of I-Fiber Pearl On Reducing Body Fat Accumulation In Obese Females: A Randomized, Double-Blind, And Placebo-Controlled Trial, Hung-Hsuan Kuo, Chia-Chun Chen, Ching-Chang Cho, Chun-Tse Tsai, Shiuan-Chih Chen, Chin-Lin Hsu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Obesity is a growing public health challenge worldwide, strongly linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Inulin, a soluble, fermentable fiber derived mainly from Jerusalem artichoke and chicory, has been reported to improve weight management and metabolic health. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of inulin-enriched tapioca pearls (I-fiber pearl) on body composition and lipid parameters in obese women. Methods: Fifty women (BMI ≥ 27 or waist > 80 cm; age 20–50 years) were randomized to receive either I-fiber pearl or placebo (2 packs/day, 100 g/pack) for 12 weeks. Anthropometric indices, body composition, and blood biochemistry …

Spatial Distribution: Effect Of Oxygen Availability On Gut Microbiota Adhesion And Colonization, Ruixue Ding, Xiaotong Sun, Yinan Wang, Binbin Tu, Yue Liang, Qi Lin, Fuqiang Zhao

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host digestion and immune regulation; however, most existing research relies on fecal sampling, leaving uncertainty regarding whether fecal microbiota can accurately reflect the symbiotic microbial components at distinct gut sites. To address this gap, this study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to systematically analyze the microbial composition of three spatial compartments in the rat colon: luminal contents, mucus layer, and epithelial tissue. The results revealed notable differences in microbial communities across the three compartments. The luminal contents, which were closely associated with the fecal microbiota, exhibited high microbial abundance, encompassing gram-positive bacteria, …

Novel Oral Delivery System Using Modified Inulin For Enhanced Liver Cancer Therapy, Sung-Ling Tang, Yu-Ju Lai, Wei-Cheng Lin, Meng-Yi Bai, Yu-Chi Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although advanced oral anticancer drugs, such as sorafenib and lenvatinib, are available for treating HCC, their effectiveness is limited by significant side effects and the requirement for optimal liver function, restricting their broader use. Furthermore, these drugs cannot be used in combination, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes. This study introduces a novel therapeutic approach by repurposing two existing drugs, niclosamide and disulfiram, as a combination therapy to treat HCC. Despite their known anticancer properties, these drugs face challenges such as high lipophilicity and a significant first-pass effect, resulting in …

Effect Of Cosmetic Whitening Ingredients’ Lipophilicity On Melanocyte Cytotoxicity: A Systematic Review, Lord Sam B. Liston, Zach Uriel Cabije, Enrico John Belleza, Catherine Ortega, Mark Niño Melgo, Vanbeth Camson, Sabrina Dahlizar, Pajaree Sakdiset, Gea Abigail Ecoy, Gerard Lee See, Florencio Jr. Arce

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Tyrosinase is an enzyme involved in the early stages of melanin synthesis. Melanin, which gives skin its pigment, is the most targeted molecule in the development of skin-whitening cosmetic products. Consequential risks of chemically induced skin diseases are associated with the usage of skin-whitening products that contain tyrosinase-inhibiting compounds. Currently, products containing tyrosinase inhibitors on the market lack collective analysis of their toxicity on melanocytes. Moreover, national regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA) place the burden of ensuring the safety of whitening products on manufacturers, risking bias and selective reporting. In fact, the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive does not include more than half …