The Aim of this present study was to develop an oral sustained release matrix tablet of metformin HCl and evaluate the influence of Xanthum gum on the drug release profile. The use of FTIR for drug – excipient compatibility is appropriate. The wet granulation method is suitable for matrix tablet preparation, incorporating hydrophilic HPMC K100M, PVP K30, and Xanthan gum as controlling agents for the release rate. Lactose served as the filler. The physicochemical tests (weight variation, hardness, friability, content uniformity, and in vitro dissolution) were standard and appropriately listed. Both pre- and post-compression parameters are good that both stages were evaluated in this study. The data on drug release were analyzed using multiple models to determine the kinetics and mechanism of drug release. A clear comparison between HPMC alone and HPMC – Xanthum gum combination was made. Quantify the difference in drug release, HPMC alone released 90% of drug within 6 hours, while the combination extended release to 12 hours. Release kinetics following Zero order kinetics with Higuchi model diffusion-controlled release mechanism. Formulation F8 was identified as the optimal formulation. The dissolution profile of formulation F8 can be characterized by Release kinetics following Zero order kinetics with Higuchi model diffusion-controlled release mechanism. Keywords: Matrix tablets, Metformin hydrochloride, Xantham gum, HPMCK100, PVPK30

Stephania japonica plants appear to be rich in secondary metabolites, widely utilised in traditional medicine to treat and heal numerous illnesses. It is traditionally used to treat wounds, but there is no scientific data on its in vivo wound-healing activity. Pharmacognostical analysis evaluates a drug's identity, quality, purity, and safety through microscopic and macroscopic research. The extraction solvent dissolves significant amounts of the target material. The percentage yields of alcohol and water-soluble extractive values were calculated. After the extraction of the plant material, the herbal ointment was formulated. After checking the evaluation parameter of the ointment, the excision wound healing activity was performed on Wistar rats. The herbal extract was prepared by using a simple Soxhlet extraction process to obtain a good yield of extract, and there was no harm to the chemical constituents and their activity. This study showed that the herbal ointment heals wounds better in less time as similar with the standard ointment by applied to Wistar rats. Keywords: Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical, Wound healing, <i>Stephania japonica</i>, Herbal ointment

Natural source being a valuable resource of medicine, Christella acuminata (fern), is considered in the present study, where its ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts were examined for phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, and anti-inflammatory activity. The presence of phytoconstituents was determined by different phytochemical screening methods. Various concentrations (100-1000µg/ml) of the sample extracts were examined for their anti-bacterial activity by Disc Diffusion Method, anti-oxidant activity by Ferric ion Reducing Anti-oxidant Power (FRAP) assay, and anti-inflammatory effect by Egg Albumin denaturation assay. The presence of various phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, steroids, and saponins was positive. The efficacy of antibacterial activity of the extracts was observed as the zone of inhibition of bacteria around the discs relative to streptomycin and the zone of inhibition was found to be the highest in an ethanolic extract with the recorded values of 2.35±0.02mm and 2.14±0.02mm for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria respectively whereas the ferric reducing antioxidant power was observed highest in an aqueous extract with recorded values of 1.8566 ± 0.021.The percentage inhibition of egg albumin denaturation showed the highest activity in an ethanolic extract, with recorded values of 89.7 ± 0.09 %. These results suggest that the ethanolic and aqueous leaf extract of Christella acuminata can be a potent source in drug discovery for improving inflammation, and oxidative stress and treating bacterial infections. Since no previous study is reported for this plant extract as per we know, further detailed studies may be carried out for better insights. Keywords: Ferns, Anti-bacterial, Anti-oxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Glaphylopteriolopsis

Over the last few decades, there has been a surge in the popularity of herbal medicine due to extensive research in traditional medicine. These organic bioactive compounds or agents include alkaloids, glycosides, coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, and essential oils derived from plant sources that exhibit various biological functions. The phytomolecules obtained from herbal resources are widely used to treat multiple diseases and used as antioxidants, anticancer agents, agents for cardiovascular and central nervous system ailments, antidiabetic agents, antimicrobials, and so on. This review article offers a comprehensive overview of phytomolecules and their potential for healthcare. It explores the traditional use of medicinal plants and herbs for treating various ailments and the scientific rationale for their use as nutraceuticals. The article also presents the classification of herbal biomolecules, and the methods used for their extraction, purification, and characterization. Keywords Herbal medicine, Phytomedicine, Bioactive compounds, Nutraceuticals, Chronic diseases

Ethical dilemmas are more often encountered therefore the need to reform the code of pharmaceutical ethics in Lebanon is growing. The primary objective of this present study is to explore and understand pharmacists’ knowledge and attitudes towards ethics and good pharmacy practice in daily experience in Lebanon and to determine the factors affecting these attitudes. This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted among pharmacists in Lebanon using a snowball sampling technique. An online questionnaire based on Google forms was used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using SPSS statistics 26. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used. Tests were two-tailed and results with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Six hundred eighty-seven pharmacists and pharmacy students responded to the survey. Participants showed high implication in a patient-centered and a collaborative approach (90%). The study shows financial pressure on pharmacist resulting in selling unneeded products (68%), selling products with the highest profit margin (57%) and below the official price (12%). Collaboration with other healthcare providers was a core standard in pharmacy practice (93%) and 47% assured the need for ongoing continuous education after licensure. The study shows the youngest age category having the highest agreement on continuous education being essential for maintaining licensure (65%, p=0.02). Pharmacists working outside Beirut and Mount Lebanon tend more to refuse overlooking expiry dates compared to other regions (77% vs 67%, p=0.017). Pharmacists working in the community pharmacy field tend to promote self-medication and sell unneeded products significantly more than those working in other pharmacy fields (p=0.001) and are significantly more implicated in personal development compared to other pharmacy fields (p=0.002). The present study investigated the ethical practices of pharmacists in Lebanon shedding the light on challenges and dilemmas facing the pharmacist in daily practice. Further research on a large scale is needed helping to improve the code of ethics and guiding the Lebanese pharmacists in their daily practice. Keywords: Ethical practice, Pharmacist, Cross-sectional study, Questionnaire, Survey, Pharmacy Students, Lebanon

Self-medication (SM) is the use of over-the-counter medication to treat self-diagnosed symptoms or disorders, or the continuation and reuse of prescribed medications for recurrent diseases without consulting a physician. Self-medication is very common practice now a days. Medical students are exposed to knowledge about diseases and drugs, which makes SM easier for them. Primary aim of this survey is to study the influence of medical education on knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-medication among medical students. Secondary aim is to evaluate the factors associated with self-medication. A cross sectional, questionnaire based analytical study was carried out in GCS medical college, Ahmedabad from November 2022 to May 2023. Data from 350 students were collected and analysed by using Microsoft Excel version 2019. Out of 350, 132 were from phase I, 80 were from phase II, 77 were from phase III and 61 were from phase IV. From phase I to phase IV, 75.7%, 85.8%, 82.3% and 87.4% students were having knowledge about SM respectively. 87.6% in phase I, 70% in phase II, 73.3% in phase III and 70.4% students in phase IV believed that the easy access to health care facility is the main reason for practicing the SM in medical students. The prevalence of SM was 23% in phase I, 71.25% in phase II, 76% in phase III and 83% in phase IV. The knowledge and practice of SM were more among phase I students compared to those in phase IV students. Keywords: Knowledge, Medical students, Self-medication

The evaluation of Naproxen Sodium Fast Dissolving Tablets emphasizes the critical role of careful formulation design and thorough testing in pharmaceutical development. Among the formulations, F7 demonstrated outstanding properties, including excellent flow characteristics and optimal tablet hardness. Stability testing over a four-week period showed consistent performance, though minor variations in tablet attributes were observed. Continuous monitoring is advised to ensure sustained efficacy. The in-vitro release profile revealed rapid disintegration and dissolution, crucial for prompt drug release. These results highlight the necessity of stringent quality control measures and ongoing optimization to enhance patient outcomes and ensure the reliability of Naproxen Sodium Fast Dissolving Tablets. In a parallel evaluation, the stability and performance of Naproxen Sodium Fast Dissolving Tablets were assessed under various environmental conditions, showing that temperature and humidity significantly impacted Naproxen Sodium concentration and dissolution rates. Formulation F7 emerged as the most promising, offering superior flow properties, compressibility, and dosage consistency. In-vitro tests confirmed rapid disintegration and dissolution, aligning with Pharmacopoeial standards. Four-week stability studies indicated consistent tablet characteristics, with only slight changes in hardness, friability, and drug content. Continued monitoring is recommended to ensure long-term stability and product quality. These findings underscore the importance of rigorous formulation optimization and stability testing to ensure reliable drug release and sustained efficacy. Keywords Naproxen Sodium Fast Dissolving Tablets, UV, HPLC, DSC, FT­IR

Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), represents a significant global health burden with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. This article provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacotherapy for liver cancer, focusing on both established and emerging drugs. Current standard-of-care treatments, including sorafenib and lenvatinib, target key pathways involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis. However, their efficacy is often limited, prompting ongoing research into novel therapeutic approaches. Emerging immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, have shown promise in clinical trials, offering new avenues for personalized treatment strategies. Additionally, targeted therapies aimed at specific genetic alterations, such as FGFR inhibitors for FGFR-altered HCC, demonstrate potential for improved outcomes in select patient populations. These abstract highlights the evolving landscape of pharmacotherapy for liver cancer and underscores the need for further research to optimize treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Keywords Multi­kinase Inhibitors, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), Sorafenib

The current work aims to screen the phytoconstitutes of the Lactuca virosa leaves ethanolic extract by using GC-MS analysis and investigate its antibacterial activity. GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify the various phytochemical constituents within the ethanolic extracts of Lactuca virosa. Subsequently, protein-ligand docking was performed using proteins PDBID: 6AHT and 5C5H, revealing a strong affinity between the bioactive compounds and the proteins, indicating potent inhibitory action. Furthermore, each concentration of Lactuca virosa was assessed for antibacterial activity using Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against bacterial strains including Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus mutans. Preliminary phytochemical testing revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, terpenoids, oils, and resins. GC-MS showed the presence of many bioactive compounds in extract. Docking results highlighted that two compounds exhibited the most favourable binding energies of approximately -8.1 kcal/mol and -8.5 kcal/mol with 6AHT, and -8.8 kcal/mol with 5C5H. The ethanolic extract of 0.4mg concentration has shown good antibacterial activity against gram positive bacteria. The study identifies a new source of antibacterial compounds, which could lead to the development of new drugs, particularly effective against gram positive strains like Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus mutans. Keywords: Lactuca virosa, GC-MS, Docking, ADMET, Antibacterial Activity