The available information on the abundance of restorative plants on earth is incomplete, and the data regarding botanicals from various countries differ significantly. The substantial development of the worldwide natural botanical market is attributable to the expanding revenue of global drug companies trading herbal medicines. This essential type of traditional medical care is depended on by approx. 72-80% of individuals. Even though numerous restorative plants are readily used, they have never been subject to the same strict quality guidelines as conventional drugs. Nonetheless, it is vital to have specific organic, phytochemical, and molecular tools and methods for identifying restorative plant species so that traditional and novel plant products can be safely used in modern medicine. Molecular biotechnology approaches provide a reliable and accurate way to identify botanicals and can be used to ensure the safety and efficacy of plant-based products. This review explores various molecular biotechnology approaches and methods for identifying botanicals.

In recent years, there has been a great interest in the potential use of contact lenses as eye drug delivery systems. Static (individual layers of the cornea, sclera and retina) as well as dynamic barriers (blood flow) pose a serious challenge to the effective delivery of the drug substance to the eyeball. The current ophthalmic systems are not optimal for patients, especially in the form of eye drops, where almost 95% of the drug contained in them is lost through the process of absorption through the conjunctiva or tear drainage. This article describes in vitro experiments that examined the use of contact lenses in the context of drug treatment in infectious, inflammatory, allergic, and glaucomatous diseases. Various techniques used to modify the materials as well as their impact on drug release kinetics were discussed. It has also been demonstrated that these methods can be used in practice during in vivo research, both in animal models as well as in sick and healthy people. The advantages of using controlled-release drug systems in the form of contact lenses are the drug dosing regimen, bioavailability and the prolonged residence time of drugs in the eyeball.

Microbial pathogens, mainly bacteria, are a major cause of food spoilage resulting in several foodborne diseases. Food spoilage can be prevented by the application of chemical preservatives in the food industry but such process has harmful effects on human health and causes the introduction of chemicals in several food chains, leading to toxicity and long-term complications. Due to such adverse effects, the need to find natural preservatives that are safer to use, effective and less complicated is increasing. This study is based on plant extracts that play a major role in microbicidal action (the use of natural preservatives is preferred over chemical ones). Antimicrobial action of different plant extracts was assessed using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as experimental bacterial strains. Ethanolic extracts of different plants like Punica granatum, Acacia catechu and Phyllanthus emblica were highly effective against the both analyzed bacterial strains at a dosage of 10 mg/mL, while the extracts of Ocimum bacilicum and Quercus infectoria were effective only against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Punica granatum and Phyllanthus emblica extracts were found to be the most effective and exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities against the highly infectious strains of pathogenic bacteria causing food spoilage, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.5 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 5 mg/mL. The plant extracts used in the study were highly effective in reducing bacterial contamination and can be used as an alternative to chemical preservatives to avoid and control foodborne diseases and for preservation of food with no health-related hazards caused by chemicals.

Plant-extract-reduced metal nanoparticles provide means of overcoming microbial resistance. Incorporating them into appropriate pharmaceutical formulations will enhance their portability and ease of administration. To synthesize silver nanoparticles using methanol extracts of the seeds of Blighia sapida as capping agents and formulating the products in antimicrobial films. Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract of Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig (ackee) seeds was performed and its antioxidant properties were determined using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The green synthesis of ackee seed extract silver nanoparticles (ASAgNPs) was accomplished with reacting 1 mM of aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) and the methanol extract in a flask; the bioreduction was performed at 37°C for 72 h. The resulting nanoparticles were lyophilized and characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photomicrography. The nanoparticles were further formulated into films using starch and carboxymethyl cellulose using the solvent evaporation method. The extract, biosynthesized nanoparticles and film formulations were screened for antimicrobial activity against several pathogens using the agar well diffusion method. The methanol seed extracts of the ackee fruit contained saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant properties. The nanoparticles and film formulations had a broader range of activity against microbes than the plant extract, exhibiting significant activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 700728, Salmonella typhi ATCC 14028, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Activity was also observed with Candida krusei, C. albicans, and Penicillium sp. It is noteworthy that this last organism showed resistance to fluconazole. Ackee seed extract silver nanoparticles exhibited a synergistic antimicrobial activity against several pathogens. Film formulations of the nanoparticles retained this antimicrobial activity and allowed the product to be presented in a consumer-ready form.

Phyto-reduction using Senna alata methanol leaf extract for nanoparticle (NP) biosynthesis is of great importance for the production of value-added nanomaterial with antimicrobial potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using crude methanol leaf extract of S. alata (SaZnONPs), antimicrobial efficacy of this extract, optimization of its production parameters, and its application in cold cream formulation. Phytosynthesized SaZnONPs were characterized using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of SaZnONPs and the formulated cold cream was evaluated. The SaZnONPs surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was 400 nm. Functional groups such as alkenes, alkynes and alkyl aryl ether were present. The SEM image showed NPs 7.10 nm in size and with a needle-like shape. The TGA values show the formations of stable ZnONPs, while the DLS showed the particle diameter average of 89.7 nm and 855.4 nm with 0.595 polydispersity index. The EDX analysis confirmed the formation of pure ZnONPs, and the crystallinity was confirmed with XRD analysis. Twenty-four hours of incubation and production at pH13 was optimal for NPs synthesis. The SaZnONPs and the formulated cold cream have antimicrobial properties against some pathogenic bacteria and Pichia sp. (16.00 mm) and Trichophyton interdigitale (11.00 mm). Senna alata was able to serve as a stabilizing and capping agent for SaZnONPs biosynthesis. The SaZnONPs had good antimicrobial potential and can be used in cold cream formulation.

Sugar substitutes are used by diabetic, obese and calorie-conscious people. As artificial sweeteners are harmful to the body, natural sweeteners are more suitable. Sugar substitutes are available on the market in tablet forms, which are added to hot or cold drinks. Rapid disintegration and dissolution of sugar substitute-loaded tablet is desired. However, the tablets should be hard enough to maintain their integrity during mechanical shocks. The objective of this research was to develop rapidly disintegrating and dissolving stevia-loaded tablets with appropriate wetting, hardness and friability. Several tablets were prepared using different superdisintegrants using the direct compression method. Flowability tests of the powder blends were performed before compression; these test took into account such physical parameters as bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, compressibility index, and Hausner's ratio. Evaluation of the compressed cores was accomplished with weight variation, hardness, thickness, friability, disintegration time, wetting time, and dissolution. The disintegration time and wetting time of the tablets were in the following order: sodium starch glycolate > croscarmellose sodium > crospovidone containing tablets. A powder blend consisting of stevia extract, crospovidone, lactose, and magnesium stearate at the optimized ratio of 15/2.5/32/0.5 (w/w/w/w) showed the best flow, rapid disintegration (38 ±0.894 s), wetting (30 ±1 s), and dissolution (~ 95% in 1 min). Moreover, this formulation showed more rapid wetting (30 ±1 s vs 91 ±1.9 s), disintegration (38 ±0.894 s vs 143 ±1.276 s) and dissolution (~ 95% vs 60% in 1 min) than a commercial product. The tablet consisting of stevia, crospovidone, lactose, and magnesium stearate at the weight ratio of 15/2.5/32/0.5 showed excellent results with regards to dissolution and disintegration; accordingly, this formulation could be a potential sugar substitute for diabetic, obese and/or calorie-conscious individuals.

Eprosartan mesylate is a poorly water-soluble drug. It does not dissolve well in the aqueous gastrointestinal fluid, which means it is not absorbed well via the oral route, because a drug can cross cell membranes when it is dissolved in the gastrointestinal fluid. The purpose of this research was to enhance the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of eprosartan mesylate using the solid dispersion technique. Enhancing the solubility and dissolution leads to better absorption via the oral route. A number of eprosartan mesylate-laden polymeric solid dispersions were prepared with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polysorbate 80 by means of the solvent evaporation technique. The impact of the weight ratios of the constituents on the solubility and dissolution rate was studied in comparison with the plain drug. The formulation presenting the optimal solubility and dissolution underwent the solid-state characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Both polysorbate 80 and HPMC positively affected the solubility and dissolution of eprosartan mesylate. In particular, a ternary solid dispersion consisting of eprosartan mesylate, HPMC and polysorbate 80 at a weight ratio of 1:4.2:0.3 showed the highest solubility (36.39 ± 3.95 mg/mL) and dissolution (86.19 ±4.09% in 10 min). Moreover, the drug was present in the amorphous form in the solid dispersion with no covalent drug-excipient interactions.

Quadriceps tendon rupture is a severe and demanding problem in knee surgery, especially when it is recurrent and when elderly patients are involved. It can have a devastating impact when it is a complication following knee arthroplasty. There are many procedures for dealing with this problem, but none of them offer reliable results. The most popular methods of treatment are traditional transosseous sutures and suture anchors, often in combination with semitendinosus augmentation. In cases of osteoporotic bone or hamstring insufficiency, these solutions are not appropriate. One way to manage quadriceps tendon rupture is to use polyethylene terephthalate tape (poly tape) as scaffolding for tissue ingrowth. Because of its structure, poly tape provides adequate strength and allows early mobilization. Besides being durable, multifilament high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate is flexible. Poly tape augmentation is particularly recommended in the following cases: recurrent rupture of the quadriceps tendon; extensor apparatus damage following total knee arthroplasty (TKA); delayed diagnosis of quadriceps tendon rupture; and in elderly patients (with weak bones and poor ligament quality). The surgical technique is simple and the procedure has a low complication rate. There have been many studies confirming the security of polyethylene terephthalate use in the human body. There is also a great deal of evidence concerning tissue ingrowth in the mesh structure of poly tape. Allergic reactions and inflammatory responses are rare.

For many years, research has been carried out on finding an ideal bone substitute. Chitosan (CTS) is a naturally occurring polysaccharide, obtained mainly from, inter alia, the shells of crustaceans. It is characterized by its high level of biocompatibility, biodegradability and antimicrobial properties as well as its support in the healing of wounds. Chitosan, due to its ability to form porous structures, can be used in the production of scaffolds used in the treatment of bone defects. There are numerous studies on the use of CTS in combination with other substances which aim to improve its biological and mechanical properties. The combination of chitosan with the calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite (HAp) has been extensively tested. The objective of the current studies is to verify the properties of scaffolds consisting of chitosan and other substances like polybutylene succinate, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), collagen, alginate, transforming growth factor - β (TGF-β), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP). The aim of the current research is to develop a scaffold with sufficiently good mechanical properties. Trials are underway with many of the biological and synthetic components affecting the biological properties of chitosan. This will allow for the creation of a substitute that fully meets the conditions for an ideal artificial bone.

The exact characteristics of sutures are not only the basis for selecting from among different types of suture, but also provide the necessary information for the design of new surgical sutures. Apart from information relating to the breaking load of a suture reported in pharmacopoeias, the viscoelastic properties of sutures can be an additional selection criterium - one that influences stitching quality, especially when there is a risk of wound dehiscence. The aim of the study was to assess the stress relaxation process for 3 polymeric sutures in an environment simulating the conditions in a living organism and (for comparison) in room conditions. Stress relaxation testing was carried out on 3 polymeric sutures: polypropylene (PP), polydioxanone (PDS) and polyglycolic acid (PGA). To identify the mechanical properties of the sutures, uniaxial tensile tests were conducted according to the Polish Pharmacopoeia. The relaxation test was carried out in room conditions and in the bath simulating a biological environment. The sutures being tested were tied with a surgeon's knot. The PP suture exhibited the greatest stress relaxation (18% of the initial stress in room conditions and 21% of the initial stress in the bath). The PGA suture exhibited the least stress relaxation (approximately 60% of the initial stress in room conditions and 59% of the initial stress in the bath). The PDS suture was tested at a lower strain level and showed stress relaxation similar to the PGA suture (approximately 63% of the initial stress in room conditions and 55% in the bath). Multifilament braided absorbable (PGA) sutures and monofilament absorbable (PDS) sutures had a higher stress relaxation ratio over time than monofilament non-absorbable (PP) sutures. These findings may indicate higher stress maintained over time in PDS and PGA sutures, and thus higher tension at wound edges, sufficient to resist wound dehiscence.