Fractionated extraction of polyphenols from mate tea leaves using a combination of hydrophobic/ hydrophilic NADES.

A new methodology for the selective extraction of antioxidants from mate tea leaves (and decaffeinated mate tea leaves), using different natural deep eutectic systems (NADES), is reported in this paper. A fractionated extraction was carried out and the optimization of the extraction conditions such as solid/liquid ratio, temperature, time, stirring and the use of ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) technology was performed. The results demonstrate that a sequential extraction using, in a first step, an hydrophobic system Men:Lau (2:1) and, in a second step, an hydrophilic lactic acid-based NADES, leads to two distinct extracts: the first one rich in pigments and the second one rich in polyphenols.

: phytochemistry and pharmacological potential of a gifted species.

L. (Cucurbitaceae), frequently named balsam apple, southern balsam pear or African pumpkin, is a vegetable with high nutritional value, being mostly used as food in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been largely used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases, such as malaria fevers and diabetes.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Persimmon ( L.) in Experimental Rodent Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Persimmon ( L.) fruits are used in traditional medicine largely due to their claimed beneficial effects on human health. The aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of a persimmon extract in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Hurdles in gene therapy regulatory approval: a retrospective analysis of European Marketing Authorization Applications.

Gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) are innovative and promising treatment strategies. In Europe, the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) is responsible for making marketing authorization recommendations to the Committee of Human Medicinal Products (CHMP). In the current study, we identified major objections, issues, or concerns raised during the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) process for products resulting from the interaction of both committees between 2008 and 2017.

Cyclodextrins as Drug Carriers in Pharmaceutical Technology: The State of the Art.

Background: Cyclodextrins (CDs) are versatile excipients with an essential role in drug delivery, as they can form non-covalently bonded inclusion complexes (host-guest complexes) with several drugs either in solution or in the solid state.

Methods: The main purpose of this publication was to carry out a state of the art of CDs as complexing agents in drug carrier systems. In this way, the history, properties and pharmaceutical applications of the CDs were highlighted with typical examples.

Regulatory and Scientific Advancements in Gene Therapy: State-of-the-Art of Clinical Applications and of the Supporting European Regulatory Framework.

Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) have a massive potential to address existing unmet medical needs. Specifically, gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) may potentially provide cure for several genetic diseases. In Europe, the ATMP regulation was fully implemented in 2009 and, at this point, the Committee for Advanced Therapies was created as a dedicated group of specialists to evaluate medicinal products requiring specific expertise in this area.

Development and characterization of new and scalable topical formulations containing N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.

N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) has been recently considered for topical treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders due to its inhibitory effect on thyrosinase enzymes in melanocytes. NAG is a precursor of hyaluronic acid, increasing its amount in skin, and consequently, preserving the skin hydration and elasticity. It may also act as an emulsion stabilizer.

ASS234, As a New Multi-Target Directed Propargylamine for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy.

ASS2324 is a hybrid compound resulting from the juxtaposition of donepezil and the propargylamine PF9601N ASS2324 is a multi-target directed propargylamine able to bind to all the AChE/BuChE and MAO A/B enzymesASS2324 shows antioxidant, neuroprotective and suitable permeability propertiesASS2324 restores the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment to the same extent as donepezil, and is less toxicASS2324 prevents β-amyloid induced aggregation in the cortex of double transgenic miceASS2324 is the most advanced anti-Alzheimer agent for pre-clinical studies that we have identified in our laboratories The complex nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has prompted the design of Multi-Target-Directed Ligands (MTDL) able to bind to diverse biochemical targets involved in the progress and development of the disease. In this context, we have designed a number of MTD propargylamines (MTDP) showing antioxidant, anti-beta-amyloid, anti-inflammatory, as well as cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition capacities. Here, we describe these properties in the MTDL ASS234, our lead-compound ready to enter in pre-clinical studies for AD, as a new multipotent, permeable cholinesterase/monoamine oxidase inhibitor, able to inhibit Aβ-aggregation, and possessing antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.

Design of novel starch-based Pickering emulsions as platforms for skin photoprotection.

Green coffee oil and modified starch were recently found to have an enhanced protection effect against UV radiation. Therefore, this work aimed to develop an innovative sunscreen formulation based on Pickering emulsions concept, i.e.

HIV-2 interaction with cell coreceptors: amino acids within the V1/V2 region of viral envelope are determinant for CCR8, CCR5 and CXCR4 usage.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) use cellular receptors in distinct ways. Besides a more promiscuous usage of coreceptors by HIV-2 and a more frequent detection of CD4-independent HIV-2 isolates, we have previously identified two HIV-2 isolates (HIV-2MIC97 and HIV-2MJC97) that do not use the two major HIV coreceptors: CCR5 and CXCR4. All these features suggest that in HIV-2 the Env glycoprotein subunits may have a different structural organization enabling distinct - although probably less efficient - interactions with cellular receptors.