Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the largest cause of cancer death, is linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. The N-nitroso diethylamine (NDEA) + carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) model is a common preclinical method for assessing chemopreventive effects. Cissampelos pareira L., a medicinal plant high in isoquinoline alkaloids and flavonoids, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. This work used an NDEA-induced HCC model with CCl₄ in rats treated with a standardised Cissampelos pareira L. Serum biochemical markers (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin), antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx), lipid peroxidation, haematological measures (RBC, WBC, Hb), and histopathology were all used to assess outcomes. Cissampelos pareira L.improved liver biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation in NDEA + CCl₄-induced HCC, demonstrating chemopreventive and hepatoprotective properties. Histopathology revealed improved liver architecture, including decreased necrosis, fibrosis, and nodular lesions. The extract's effects are most likely mediated by its antioxidant and anticancer properties, suggesting its promise as an alternative treatment for HCC.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by high blood sugar levels due to the body's inability to produce or effectively use insulin. This condition affects millions of people worldwide and can lead to serious health complications if not properly managed. This study evaluates the hypoglycemic activity of aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaf and develops a capsule dosage form for its administration. Vernonia amygdalina, commonly known as bitter leaf, is widely used in traditional medicine, particularly for its purported antidiabetic properties. The research involved preparing aqueous extracts from the leaves and administering them to male albino Wistar rats to assess their impact on blood glucose levels. Antidiabetic efficacy was measured by comparing blood glucose levels in extract-treated, glibenclamide-treated, and untreated diabetic rats. Additionally, the study involved formulating the leaf extract into a capsule dosage form to enhance stability and patient compliance. The findings suggest that Vernonia amygdalina has significant hypoglycemic effects, supporting its use as a potential complementary treatment for diabetes mellitus. The encapsulation of the extract also proved to be a viable method for delivering the active components. This study contributes to phytomedicine by exploring alternative treatments for diabetes, highlighting the therapeutic potential of natural products.

Tapioca starch is an abundant, low-cost natural polymer with limited direct application in tablet formulations due to poor flowability and compressibility. This study aimed to improve its functionality through carboxymethylation and cross-linking, and to evaluate its performance as a multifunctional excipient in hydrochlorothiazide tablet formulation. Tapioca starch was carboxymethylated using sodium monochloroacetate at different NaOH concentrations (1.0–5.0 M) and subsequently cross-linked with sodium trimetaphosphate. The degree of substitution and reaction efficiency were determined. Powder flow, compressibility, FTIR, and XRD analyses were performed. Tablet properties were evaluated using hardness, friability, and dissolution testing. The degree of substitution peaked at 1.5 M NaOH (0.44 ± 0.22) with the highest reaction efficiency. Carboxymethylation improved flow properties (Carr’s index reduced from 30.7% to 13–22%), while cross-linking further enhanced compressibility (Carr’s index 11–14%). Tablets formulated with cross-linked carboxymethylated tapioca starch (cCMTS) demonstrated superior mechanical strength (hardness 9.5–14.3 kgf) and low friability (<1%). FTIR confirmed successful modification without drug–excipient interaction, and XRD showed retention of A-type crystallinity. Dissolution testing revealed rapid drug release (80 - 85% in 45 min) for low DS batches and slower release for highly modified batches, indicating tunable functionality. Carboxymethylation and cross-linking transformed tapioca starch into a multifunctional excipient with excellent flow, compressibility, and adjustable release characteristics. This work provides a novel, cost-effective excipient platform for both immediate and controlled release formulations, with significant implications for local pharmaceutical manufacturing in resource-limited settings.

Nanotechnology has significantly influenced pharmaceutical sciences by enabling advanced platforms for drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Conventional nanoparticle (NP) synthesis methods often rely on toxic chemicals and high-energy inputs and generate hazardous by-products, which may limit biomedical translation. Green synthesis offers an alternative approach by employing biological entities such as plant extracts, microorganisms, algae, and natural polymers as reducing and stabilizing agents. This review summarizes major green synthesis strategies for metallic (e.g., silver, gold, zinc oxide, and iron oxide) and polymeric nanoparticles, outlines general formation mechanisms, and highlights commonly used physicochemical characterization techniques. Selected pharmaceutical and biomedical applications—including drug delivery, antimicrobial therapy, anticancer applications, wound healing, and diagnostics—are discussed with representative examples from the literature. Finally, key challenges related to reproducibility, scalability, regulatory compliance, and future research directions are critically examined. Overall, green nanotechnology represents a promising but still evolving route toward more sustainable pharmaceutical nanomaterials.