American Journal of PharmTech Research

Microemulsions are multifunctional complex colloidal dispersed systems with widely utilized applications in drug delivery systems and chemical engineering. The interwoven relationship within their compositional variables, like surfactants, oil-to-water ratios, and co-surfactant type, leads to highly nonlinear phase behaviors that are difficult to analyze using traditional empirical or mechanistic models. This narrative review mainly focuses on the emerging role of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in optimizing microemulsion systems. Initially, the current study contextualizes the physicochemical factors of microemulsions and identifies their computational bottlenecks in formulation and phase behavior predictions. The review then analyses the relevant neural network structures, including feed forward networks, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), for assessing their applicability to high-dimensional regression and classification and, furthermore, to reduce experimental load in microemulsion research. One of the advancements of using ANN is that it can identify the ideal concentration of excipients for the desirable properties of emulsion. Case studies are addressed wherein neural networks have been tutored on experimental and simulated datasets to estimate the droplet size distribution, construct pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, and identify optimal formulation properties. In addition to that, emphasis is applied to model structural design, feature selection strategies, and model validation techniques. The study also considers the current obstacles, such as paucity of data availability, over-fitting, and the integration of expertise knowledge in the learning models. Looking forward to the next context, this review illustrates that artificial neural network-based approaches provide a scalable and adaptable computational framework for boosting innovation in microemulsion science.

Cardiovascular disorders require long-term treatment and continuous medication adherence to achieve effective disease management. Carvedilol is an important antihypertensive and cardioprotective drug widely used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. However, its therapeutic performance may be affected by poor aqueous solubility, extensive first-pass metabolism, and limited oral bioavailability. These challenges highlight the need for a drug delivery system capable of providing prolonged drug release and maintaining therapeutic drug levels for an extended period. The present study focused on the development of Carvedilol-loaded microspheres using the ionotropic gelation technique. Sodium alginate was selected as the polymeric carrier because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and gel-forming ability in the presence of calcium ions. Microspheres were prepared by ionic cross-linking and subsequently evaluated for their physicochemical and release characteristics. Various parameters, including percentage yield, particle size, drug entrapment efficiency, flow properties, and in vitro drug release, were assessed to determine the suitability of the developed formulations. The prepared microspheres demonstrated satisfactory formulation characteristics with effective drug incorporation and controlled-release behavior. Drug release was prolonged due to the formation of a cross-linked polymeric matrix, indicating the potential of the system to sustain drug delivery over an extended period. The optimized formulation exhibited desirable pharmaceutical properties and a release profile suitable for sustained therapeutic action. The study demonstrates that ionotropically gelled Carvedilol microspheres can be successfully developed as a sustained-release delivery system. Such a formulation may contribute to improved therapeutic effectiveness, reduced dosing frequency, and enhanced patient convenience during long-term cardiovascular therapy.

Ayurveda, one of the world's oldest systems of medicine, is founded on the principle of polyherbalism, which involves the therapeutic combination of multiple medicinal plants to produce synergistic effects greater than those achieved by individual herbs. This concept, described in the Sarangdhar Samhita (1300 A.D.) and supported by modern pharmacological studies, serves as the basis for the present polyherbal formulation. The current review focuses on the formulation and evaluation of a polyherbal syrup containing Rauvolfia serpentina (Sarpagandha) and Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi). Rauvolfia serpentina (Family: Apocynaceae) is widely recognized for its antihypertensive, sedative, tranquilizing, and antipsychotic properties. These therapeutic effects are primarily attributed to indole alkaloids, especially reserpine, which acts through irreversible inhibition of Vesicular Monoamine Transporter-2 (VMAT-2). Ocimum sanctum (Family: Lamiaceae), commonly known as Tulsi and revered as a “Rasayana” herb in Ayurveda, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and adaptogenic activities due to the presence of bioactive constituents such as eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and flavonoids. The polyherbal syrup was prepared using the maceration method with sucrose, glycerin, sodium benzoate, citric acid, and distilled water as excipients. Syrup was selected as the dosage form because of its ease of administration, improved patient compliance, flexible dosing, rapid absorption, and suitability for individuals of all age groups. The formulated syrup was evaluated for various physicochemical and microbiological parameters, including pH, viscosity, specific gravity, organoleptic characteristics, microbial safety, and stability. The pH of the formulation was found to be 5.5, and all evaluation parameters complied with the standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia. The findings suggest that the polyherbal syrup exhibits synergistic antihypertensive, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and adaptogenic effects. Therefore, it may serve as a safe, effective, and cost-efficient therapeutic option for the management of hypertension, stress-related disorders, and immune dysfunction. This formulation represents a successful integration of traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern pharmaceutical science, highlighting the potential of polyherbal medicines in contemporary healthcare. Keywords: Ayurveda, Polyherbalism, Rauvolfia serpentina, Ocimum sanctum, Reserpine, Eugenol, Polyherbal Formulation, Antihypertensive, Adaptogenic, Synergism, Herbal Syrup