Calcium Bioavailability Comparison of Calcined Pearl Powder and Triturated Pearl Powder in Wistar Rats Payal Pradeep Wavhal, Amol H. Waghmare, Vaishali Undale, Nilima S. Dharkar Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 2026 Background: Pearl has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since many centuries. The two formulations i.e., Triturated Pearl powder) and Incinerated Pearl powder are used in a variety of disorders. Pearl, containing Calcium Carbonate in Aragonite form, is known to possess anti-osteoporotic, bone regenerating, sedative, anti-epileptic, and cognition-enhancing properties. Although micronized and nano-sized pearl powders have been studied for bioavailability, the pharmacokinetics of these Ayurvedic formulations of Pearl are unknown. This study elucidated the difference in bioavailability of calcium from two different forms of particle size reduction viz., trituration (heatless) and incineration (extreme heat). Methods: A single dose, randomized study was conducted on Wistar rats to observe the bioavailability of MP and MB along with Standard control Calcium lactate intervention and Normal Control Calcium levels in rats without intervention. After administration of corresponding drugs, blood sample was collected from each group at 30 min, 60 min, 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours. Calcium levels from blood samples were estimated using o-cresolphthalein complexone (oCPC) method. Results: Using collected data, Sr. Calcium levels at aforementioned time intervals, Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), Time taken to reach maximum concentration (Tmax) and Area under the curve (AUC) were determined. Conclusion: It was noted that serum calcium levels were significantly higher in triturated pearl powder than in other calcium compounds (p<0.05), thus demonstrating that method of particle size reduction and form of the compound in final drug is crucial to enhance the bioavailability.
Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Modern Extraction Methods Vaishali Undale, Nayan Chaudhari, Samruddhi Bharud, S. M. Firdous Botanical Extracts Research Methods and Applications in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2026 Extraction methods play a pivotal role in the isolation of bioactive compounds from herbal or natural sources, forming the basis for developing effective phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, directly influencing the efficacy, safety, and quality of the final products. Traditionally, extraction methods such as maceration, percolation, decoction, and Soxhlet extraction have been widely employed due to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and historical precedence. These methods, however, often require longer processing times, higher solvent consumption, and may result in lower yields or degradation of thermolabile components. In contrast, modern extraction techniques—including ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE)—have emerged as innovative alternatives. These advanced methods offer significant advantages such as reduced extraction time, lower solvent usage, higher selectivity, and improved preservation of sensitive phytochemicals. The need for efficient extraction arises from the growing demand for standardized, high-quality herbal nutraceuticals with consistent therapeutic profiles. Effective extraction not only maximizes the yield of desired constituents but also minimizes the presence of unwanted or toxic compounds, ensuring product safety and regulatory compliance. In conclusion, while traditional extraction techniques remain relevant for small-scale and preliminary extractions due to their simplicity and accessibility, modern extraction methods are increasingly important for industrial-scale production, high-throughput, and standardized herbal drug development, offering superior efficiency, reproducibility, and sustainability. The choice of extraction method should be guided by the nature of the target compounds, desired product quality, and scalability requirements. Ultimately, the integration of modern extraction technologies is essential for advancing the field of herbal nutraceuticals and meeting the evolving demands of the global market. This chapter provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of traditional and modern extraction methods, evaluating their principles, operational parameters, advantages, and limitations in the context of phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.
Evaluation of Anti-arthritic Activity of ArthoCan – V50 Tablets using CFA induced Rheumatoid Arthritis in Wistar rats Swagata Tavhare, Smita Jadhav, Vaishali Undale, Sarang Deshpande, Vini Mehta Natural Resources for Human Health, 2026 Current pharmacological therapy for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has long-term safety issues. The polyherbal formulation ArthoCan-V50 is comprised of <i>Boswellia serrata</i>, <i>Vitex negundo</i>, <i>Zingiber officinale</i>, <i>Ricinus communis</i>, <i>Curcuma longa</i>, and <i>Cannabis sativa</i>. These plants are individually known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties, but their combination has not been previously tested for arthritis. Hence, the study is designed to assess the anti-arthritic efficacy of ArthoCan-V50 tablets in a CFA-induced (Complete Freund’s Adjuvant) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) rat model and to confirm safety through an acute toxicity study. Wistar rats were induced with RA using a CFA. These rats were treated with varying doses of ArthoCan-V50 (50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg) per 200 gm rats. Body weight, paw volume, arthritic score, haematological and biochemical markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, CRP, RF), and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. Histopathological changes were assessed using ImageJ analysis. Acute oral toxicity was studied using OECD Guideline 423. ArthoCan-V50 tablets significantly reduced the inflammation, as observed by a decrease in paw thickness, arthritic scores, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor (RF). Also, the tablets restored the levels of antioxidant enzymes while simultaneously improving the histological architecture of joints. The 200 mg dose showed the strongest therapeutic effect. The 2000 mg/kg dose displayed no toxicity or mortality signs, indicating an ample safety margin. Evidence suggests that ArthoCan-V50 possesses strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-arthritic activities, with acceptable safety indexes. Although the CFA-induced RA rat model may not fully reflect human autoimmune or chronic RA, the study data suggest that ArthoCan-V50 has potential as a significant adjunctive therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and can further be studied in human patients.
Formulation and Evaluation of Seed Oils Against UV-Induced Skin Damage Lata Kothapalli, Rakesh Ozarkar, Asha Thomas, Sonali Supe, Vaishali Undale Drug Delivery Letters, 2026 Background: Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are generated due to UV exposure. These interact with proteins, fatty acids, and DNA, resulting in oxidative damage and photoaging. Seed oils of muskmelon (MSO), watermelon (WSO), and pumpkin (PSO), known for their rich content of essential fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolics, and flavonoids, are underutilised for their antioxidant activity. Objective: The present study evaluated the emulgel formulation containing MSO, WSO, and PSO against UV-induced photoaging in an animal model. Materials and Methods: Physicochemical parameters were determined, and oleic acid was quantified as an analytical marker for fatty acids present in the oils, along with phenolics and flavonoids, which provide an added advantage to the functional properties of cold-pressed seed oils. Oils were evaluated for antioxidant properties using the DPPH assay. Further, an emulgel was formulated using Carbopol 934 as the base and screened for effectiveness against UV-induced photoaging in rats. Results: Using HPTLC, the methyl ester of fatty acid equivalent to oleic acid content was estimated, with WSO showing 48.95%, higher than MSO and PSO. The total phenolic content of MSO was 0.746 mg/g GAE, and the total flavonoid content was 0.416 ± 0.10 mg/g QAE, the highest among the three oils. The prepared formulation contained a mixture of all three oils in a 1:1:1 ratio (F1 (3%) and F2 (6%)). The emulgels were evaluated and showed antioxidant potential. The emulgel caused no skin rashes or erythema when applied to the dorsal surface of rat skin before UV exposure. Histopathological data and biochemical analysis suggest that the formulation has significant potential against photoaging. Discussion: These seeds are known for their health benefits and are commonly consumed as food or dietary supplements. The combination of cold-pressed seed oils in an emulgel helped inactivating ROS and restoring skin homeostasis. However, the stability and release profile require further investigation. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the emulgel containing the combined oils (F2) shows potential for further development as a skincare product.
Exploring the Potential of Dolutegravir in Alzheimer's Disease Treatment: Insights from Network Pharmacology and In Silico Docking Studies Karishma M. Rathi, Nikhil S. Sakle, Vaishali R. Undale, Ravindra D. Wavhale, Ritesh P. Bhole, Pawan N. Karwa Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2026 Background: The search for effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease, has been fraught with challenges. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases globally, affecting approximately about 50 million people. Currently, drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy in new drug development, attracting significant attention from regulatory agencies, such as the US FDA. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic role of dolutegravir in Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment using a novel network pharmacology approach. Specifically, it explored the interaction of dolutegravir with key molecular targets involved in AD pathology, predicted its effects on relevant biological pathways, and evaluated its viability as a new therapeutic candidate. Objective: This study employed a network pharmacology framework to evaluate dolutegravir, an antiretroviral drug, as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease, shedding light on its possible therapeutic mechanisms. Method: A network pharmacology approach was used to predict the drug targets of dolutegravir. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to identify interacting pathways. Additionally, protein- protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was conducted to assess key interactions and molecular docking studies were performed to evaluate the binding affinity of dolutegravir to the predicted targets. Result: PPI network analysis revealed that dolutegravir interacted with several key targets, including BRAF, mTOR, MAPK1, MAPK3, NOS1, BACE1, CAPN1, CASP3, CASP7, CASP8, CHUK, IKBKB, PIK3CA, and PIK3CD. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that dolutegravir could influence amyloid-beta formation, amyloid precursor protein metabolism, and the cellular response to amyloid-beta. Molecular docking results showed the highest binding affinity of dolutegravir for PI3KCD (-8.5 kcal/mol) and MTOR (-8.7 kcal/mol). Conclusion: The findings indicated that dolutegravir holds significant potential in modulating key pathways involved in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. These results provide a strong foundation for further investigations into the therapeutic efficacy and safety of dolutegravir in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The use of drug repurposing strategies, leveraging Dolutegravir's established pharmacological profile, offers a promising route for accelerated therapeutic development in AD.
Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secretome Gel Reverse Areca Nut Induced Oral Submucous Fibrosis in Mice: A Pilot Study Nishant Mante, Supriya Kheur, Avinash Sanap, Avinash Kharat, Pranjali Potdar, Poonam Suryawanshi, Ravindra Badhe, Vaishali Undale, Nitika Monga, Ramesh Bhonde Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine, 2026 ObjectivesOral submucous fibrosis is a pre‐malignant disorder caused by habitual areca nut consumption. This pilot study investigated the therapeutic potential of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell‐secretome chitosan gel in a mice model of areca nut extract‐induced oral submucous fibrosis.Materials and MethodsAngiogenic potential of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell‐secretome was validated using a chick yolk sac membrane assay. Oral submucous fibrosis was induced in male Swiss albino mice (n = 40) via intraoral areca nut extract administration for 3 months. Post‐induction, animals were divided into disease control, DPMSCs‐S, and DPMSCs‐S gel groups. Treatments were administered intraorally twice weekly for 1 month. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed through measurements of mouth opening, histopathology, oxidative stress markers (LDH, MDA, SOD), and fibrotic gene expression (COL1, COL3, α‐SMA).ResultsDental pulp mesenchymal stem cells’ secretome contains pro‐angiogenic growth factors. Dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells’ secretome gel significantly improved mouth opening, restored epithelial architecture, and reduced collagen deposition. Histological staining and gene expression analyses confirmed the reversal of fibrosis and downregulation of COL1, COL3, and α‐SMA. Additionally, the gel reduced LDH and MDA levels and enhanced SOD activity, indicating antioxidant effects. The gel showed superior efficacy over the secretome alone.ConclusionDPMSCs‐S gel demonstrates significant anti‐fibrotic, antioxidant, and regenerative potential in reversing ANE‐induced OSMF in mice. These findings warrant further investigation into larger, long‐term preclinical studies.
Evaluation of joint pain–relieving activity of Scitican-50 tablet using Mono-Iodoacetate and complete Freund’s adjuvant–induced joint pain in wistar rats Sarang Deshpande, Smita Jadhav, Swagata Tavhare, Vaishali Undale, Vini Mehta Natural Resources for Human Health, 2025 Current treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is limited by side effects and cost. Scitican-50, a polyherbal formulation containing <i>Cannabis sativa</i>, <i>Ferula asafoetida</i>, <i>Piper nigrum</i>, <i>Strychnos nux-vomica</i>, and <i>Zingiber officinale</i>, offers a multi-targeted, plant-based approach. This study aimed to evaluate the joint pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and chondroprotective effects of Scitican-50 in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) and complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritic models in rats. Scitican-50’s joint pain-relieving activity was assessed in CFA and MIA induced arthritis models in healthy female Wistar rats (180–200 g, 6–8 weeks). Acute toxicity was evaluated per OECD 423 at 2000 mg/kg. Rats received Scitican-50 (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) or diclofenac (10 mg/kg) for 28 days. Efficacy was measured via pain threshold, inflammation, cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β), and joint histology. Scitican-50 demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy in arthritic rats. Pain latency improved from 4–5 s to 7–9 s by Day 28 (p < 0.01–0.001), and paw edema reduced from 11 mm to 8 mm (p < 0.01). Knee and ankle thickness significantly declined with 100–200 mg/kg doses (p < 0.01), and radiographs showed reduced joint damage. In the MIA model, Scitican restored body weight (p < 0.05), normalized food/water intake, and improved hematological parameters, including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and Hemoglobin (Hb) (p < 0.001). TNF-α and IL-1β levels decreased significantly (p < 0.01), and histology confirmed chondroprotection with cell counts comparable to diclofenac (p < 0.001). Scitican-50 exhibited dose-dependent analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and chondroprotective effects in CFA and MIA arthritis models and significantly improved pain thresholds, reduced joint swelling, normalized hematological and cytokine levels (p < 0.01–0.0001), and preserved joint structure.
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