Pharmaceutical Science: New Insights and Developments Vol. 12

Recent Advances in Tumour-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems

Venkatalakshmi Ranganathan, K. Jayasree, MV. Sibi., Sasikala Chinnappan — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tumour-targeted drug delivery is reshaping cancer therapy by improving treatment outcomes while reducing the systemic toxicity seen with conventional chemotherapy. Standard chemotherapy lacks specificity — the drug spreads throughout the body, causing severe side effects and harm to healthy tissues. To address this, researchers have developed advanced delivery strategies that actively guide drugs to tumour sites. These include passive targeting, active ligand-based targeting, and systems that respond to tumour-specific stimuli. Advances in nanotechnology have made it possible to engineer precise nanocarriers such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and biomimetic carriers. These systems enhance drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, and enable controlled release directly at the tumour. Newer approaches are pushing targeting even further. Theranostic platforms combine therapy and diagnostics, while exosome-based carriers, gene and mRNA therapies, and CRISPR delivery systems are improving both precision and therapeutic impact. Still, major hurdles remain. Tumours are highly heterogeneous, the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect varies between patients, and biological barriers often block drug penetration. Immune clearance, potential toxicity, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory barriers also slow clinical progress. Current strategies to overcome these issues focus on remodelling the tumour microenvironment, designing multi-targeted carriers, engineering smarter surfaces, using biodegradable materials, and building stimuli-responsive systems. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are now speeding up nanocarrier design and helping bridge the gap to clinical use. Together, these developments are moving tumour-targeted delivery closer to true precision medicine — paving the way for cancer treatments that are safer, more effective, and tailored to individual patients.

Exploring the Role of Fenugreek in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Diabetes Care

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Diabetes Mellitus are common endocrine and metabolic disorders that share key pathophysiological features, including insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, and oxidative stress. These conditions not only disrupt metabolic homeostasis but also contribute to reproductive dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk. The objective of this review is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) in the management of PCOS and Diabetes Mellitus, with a focus on its bioactive constituents and underlying mechanisms of action.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using major scientific databases, and relevant clinical and experimental studies were systematically analysed. Fenugreek contains bioactive compounds such as galactomannan, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, diosgenin, and trigonelline, which demonstrate significant antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and hormonal regulatory effects. Evidence from randomised controlled trials and observational studies indicates that fenugreek supplementation improves glycemic control, reduces insulin resistance, and alleviates clinical symptoms associated with PCOS, including menstrual irregularity and hyperandrogenism. These findings highlight fenugreek as a promising, cost-effective adjunctive therapy with potential applications in the integrative management of metabolic and endocrine disorders. However, variability in study design and lack of standardised dosing remain challenges. Further research focusing on molecular mechanisms, long-term safety, and clinical standardisation is essential to support its incorporation into evidence-based clinical practice.

Antioxidant Potential and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br.: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

S. E. Neelagund, Madhuri Sathyanarayana, M. Meghana, S. P. Manoj — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. (Indian sarsaparilla; Apocynaceae), widely recognised by its Sanskrit designation Anantamool, is a perennial climbing shrub indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that has occupied a central position in Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicine for millennia. Its aromatic root system harbours a rich phytochemical repertoire encompassing the principal volatile constituent 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMBA), lupeol-based glycosidic derivatives (hemidesmin-1 and hemidesmin-2), β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, hyperoside, rutin, and a spectrum of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. These structurally diverse secondary metabolites underlie a broad array of biological activities that have attracted intensifying scientific scrutiny since the beginning of the twenty-first century. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the antioxidant potential and therapeutic mechanisms of Hemidesmus indicus. Literature searches were conducted in 2000 and 2026 with the selected keywords. Approximately 380 records were identified, of which 30 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review. The present narrative review synthesises contemporary evidence regarding the antioxidant potential of H. indicus, elucidating operative mechanisms including free radical scavenging, metal ion chelation, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and upregulation of endogenous antioxidant defence enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Beyond antioxidant activity, the review consolidates evidence pertaining to anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and immunomodulatory properties. Mechanistic insights into modulation of the NF-κB pathway, COX-2 inhibition, and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis are critically evaluated. The preponderance of evidence indicates that H. indicus possesses significant therapeutic promise; however, the field is constrained by a paucity of rigorously designed clinical trials, insufficient standardisation of extracts, and incomplete pharmacokinetic profiling. This review identifies these lacunae and proposes directions for future research, including phytochemical standardisation, mechanism-focused in vivo investigation, and evidence-based clinical enquiry to facilitate translation into validated therapeutic applications.