American Journal of PharmTech Research

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease with rising global incidence; current therapies (5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, biologics) are limited by incomplete response and adverse effects. Emerging evidence indicates that intestinal inflammation in UC is bi-directionally linked to the central nervous system through the gut brain axis, with neuroinflammation, altered neurotrophin signalling, and behavioural disturbance accompanying colonic disease activity. Celastrus paniculatus Willd. (Celastraceae) seeds, a traditional Ayurvedic "Medhya Rasayana," possess documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, nervine, and gut motility modulating properties, making them a rational candidate for a dual gut brain therapeutic strategy in UC. Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of an ethanolic Celastrus paniculatus seed extract (CPSE) in vitro, and it’s ameliorative and gut brain axis modulatory effects in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced murine model of UC in vivo. Methods: CPSE was screened phytochemically and evaluated in vitro using DPPH radical scavenging, protein denaturation inhibition, and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cytokine assays. Colitis was induced in Wistar rats using 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days; animals were allocated to normal control, DSS control, DSS + sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg), DSS + CPSE (200 mg/kg), and DSS + CPSE (400 mg/kg) groups (n = 6/group) and treated orally for 14 days. Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, colonic histopathology, tissue cytokines/oxidative stress markers, and gut brain axis biomarkers (serum serotonin, hippocampal BDNF, serum corticosterone) with anxiety like behaviour (elevated plus maze, forced swim test) were assessed. Results: CPSE exhibited dose dependent free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. In vivo, CPSE (400 mg/kg) attenuated body weight loss, reduced DAI and colon shortening, normalized colonic TNF-α/IL-6/IL-10 balance, and improved gut brain axis parameters (elevated hippocampal BDNF, normalized serotonin and corticosterone, improved anxiety like behaviour) relative to DSS controls, approaching the reference drug sulfasalazine. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that CPSE ameliorates experimental colitis while concurrently modulating gut brain axis mediators, warranting further mechanistic and translational investigation of Celastrus paniculatus as an adjunct or complementary therapeutic in UC associated neurobehavioral comorbidity

Mucoadhesive oral gels have gained significant attention in recent years as a localized medication delivery method that works well for treating mouth ulcers, which affect 20–25% of people in general at some point in their lives. By incorporating polymers such as carbopol, HPMC or chitosan, these gels form an intimate bond with the moist oral mucosa, creating a protective film that shields the lesion from mechanical irritation, saliva dilution and secondary infection. These formulations adhere to the oral mucosa, ensuring prolonged contact time and sustained drug release at the site of the lesion, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes and patient compliance. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of herbs used for mouth ulcers such as Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice), Ocimum sanctum (tulsi), Punica granatum (pomegranate peel), and Mentha piperita (peppermint). Collectively, these herbs deliver a synergistic phytochemical profile, glycyrrhizic acid and ursolic acid provide potent anti?inflammatory and antiviral actions, eugenol and rosmarinic acid offer rapid analgesia and broad?spectrum antimicrobial action while ellagitannins and menthol accelerate epithelial regeneration and impart a cooling, soothing sensation. This article also describes about herbal mucoadhesive gel preparation method and evaluation parameters such as pH, viscosity, spreadability, mucoadhesive strength, and stability, and gives basic knowledge that polyherbal approach offers a safer alternative with fewer side effects and supports the growing preference for natural, plant-based treatments in modern healthcare compared to conventional mouth ulcer treatments.

Pharmacogenomics, an interdisciplinary basis of personalized medicine, explains the influence of genomic variation on drug disposition, response, and toxicity. Pharmacogenomics is exemplified in both mechanistic and clinical concepts, demarcating its crossing point between pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. Polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing enzymes (e.g., CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19), transporters (e.g., ABCB1, SLCO1B1), and pharmacologic targets (e.g., VKORC1, EGFR) alter pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, making justifications for individualized therapeutic strategies. The paper defines the pharmacogenomic uses in oncology, cardiology, and psychiatry fields for which pharmacogenomic markers (e.g., HER2, KRAS, CYP2C19) are now a requirement to maximize the effect of treatment and minimize drug reactions. The review also points towards the pivotal role of allied biomedical sciences—i.e., human physiology, clinical biochemistry, and molecular diagnostics to locating gene–drug interactions within the frame of everyday clinical phenotypes. Despite the great leaps, clinical translation remains beset by issues such as fragmentation of regulation, bioethics, population-specific gaps in data, and a lack of clinical genomic literacy. Technologies in the form of next-generation sequencing, multi-omics fusion, and artificial intelligence-based decision support systems, however, offer the potential for scalable and equitable deployment. In summary, pharmacogenomics is a paradigm shift towards genotype-directed pharmacotherapy. For its successful incorporation in clinical medicine, interdisciplinary collaboration, strong informatics support, and harmonized regulatory policies need to supply rational, safe, and personalized drug therapy.