Current Drug Research Reviews (Volume 18 - Issue 2)

Efficacy of Herbal Remedies in Menopause: Bridging Traditional Medicine and Modern Therapeutics

2026-06-02

Introduction: Menopause is a natural physiological transition marked by hormonal changes that can lead to a range of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms, often impacting a woman's quality of life. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal remedies as alternative or complementary options to conventional treatments, particularly hormone replacement therapy (HRT), in managing menopausal symptoms.

Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted, focusing on commonly used herbs such as black cohosh, red clover, Dong Quai, and chaste tree berry. The review assessed the phytoestrogenic and adaptogenic properties of these herbs, exploring their mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, safety profiles, and potential interactions. Comparisons were made with HRT and other conventional therapies. Non-hormonal pharmacological options and lifestyle interventions, including yoga and dietary changes, were also examined.

Results: Herbal remedies, particularly black cohosh and red clover, demonstrated moderate effectiveness in alleviating menopausal symptoms, attributed to their phytoestrogenic and adaptogenic actions. Clinical evidence supports their safety, though individual responses and drug interactions vary. Additionally, non-hormonal treatments and lifestyle modifications, such as yoga and dietary adjustments, contribute to symptom relief.

Discussion: The findings underscore the potential of herbal remedies as viable alternatives or adjuncts to HRT. While generally safe and moderately effective, the variability in individual response and the need for awareness of possible interactions are important considerations. Integrating herbal approaches with evidence-based medical practices may offer more personalized and holistic menopause care.

Conclusion: Herbal therapies present a promising, well-tolerated option for managing menopausal symptoms. When combined with conventional or lifestyle-based interventions, they broaden the spectrum of therapeutic choices available to women, enabling individualized, integrative care during menopause.

Bioactive Compounds and their Therapeutic Potential in Gastrointestinal Disease

2026-06-02

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is inhabited by an extensive range of microorganisms known as the human gut microbiota, which includes fungi, bacteria, viruses, algae, and parasites. Through its relationships with the host and other bacteria, this microbiota generates an intricate ecosystem that is essential to preserving human health. The gastrointestinal microbiota is necessary for many physiological functions, including immune system regulation, nutrition metabolism, vitamin synthesis, medication and xenobiotic processing, gut mucosal barrier integrity, and pathogen defense. An immune system's response to tissue damage or injury caused by infections, physical and chemical stress, immune system deviations, or genetic factors is inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a condition that is fueled by the activity of immune cells and has been linked with several diseases. While lifestyle adjustments, dietary alterations, and medicines are now used to reduce inflammation, these strategies frequently prove ineffective. Beyond the basics of nutrition, bioactive compounds (BCs), known as nutritional ingredients found in small quantities in foods and plant extracts, give additional benefits for health. Their anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-metabolic syndrome, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties make them an excellent choice for addressing a variety of GIT disorders. By adjusting inflammatory mediators, bioactive compounds can lessen the negative effects of inflammation. Although medications, dietary changes, and changes in behavior are now employed to lower inflammation, these tactics usually fail to succeed. BCs, occasionally referred to as nutritious elements present in trace amounts in foods and plant extracts, provide additional health benefits beyond the essentials of nutrition. Bioactive substances may reduce the adverse effects of inflammation by modifying mediators of inflammation.

Navigating Global Regulatory Divergence in Over-the-counter Drugs: Addressing Emerging Risks and Harmonization Challenges

2026-06-02

The worldwide market for over-the-counter (OTC) medications is quickly developing, providing consumers with increased self-medication options while facing substantial regulatory issues due to varied approval procedures, labeling regulations, and safety standards between nations. Despite efforts to standardize regulatory frameworks, differences in component classification, dosage limitations, and risk assessment standards impede producers, healthcare professionals, and lawmakers. This analysis looks at the regulatory environment of over-thecounter pharmaceuticals in major countries, including the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and regulatory organizations in Asia- Pacific and developing economies, highlighting notable disparities in approval procedures, marketing authorization, and pharmacovigilance. Consumer safety is one of the most important problems in regulatory divergence, since differences in authorized active ingredients, warnings, and recalls can lead to abuse, adverse medication responses, and cross-border product availability anomalies. Furthermore, the lack of standardized testing and quality control procedures hampers international trade and public health policy. Emerging threats, such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), counterfeit OTC goods, and digital health breakthroughs, necessitate a more integrated and adaptable global regulatory framework. This assessment also looks at continuing harmonization efforts by organizations such as the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as best practices for expediting global regulatory procedures. Addressing regulatory divergence with data-driven decision-making, digital pharmacovigilance, and risk-based categorization frameworks can help enhance consumer safety, market efficiency, and public health outcomes. The future of over-the-counter medication regulation lies in collaborative policymaking, real-time safety monitoring, and rapid adaptability to changing healthcare concerns.

Role of Antioxidants in Diseases and its Impact on Mitochondria with A Focus on Diabetes: An Overview

2026-06-02

Introduction: This review focuses on the various natural and synthetic antioxidants which affect cellular signalling and mitochondrial dynamics for managing diabetes and its complications including other variety of diseases or traumas.

Methods: Information in the current review was gathered from electronic scientific resources like google scholar, science direct, springer link and via the PubMed website using the Boolean Method and a variety of keywords.

Results: The results of the present study revealed that a number of 110 antioxidants have been identified to improve mitochondrial health, offering potential treatments for diabetes and a spectrum of other diseases. Naturally occurring antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids present in fruits and plants, have demonstrated the ability to attenuate oxidative stress and enhance mitochondrial performance thereby helps in the management of diabetes and various other health complications. From among the polyphenol’s resveratrol, mitoQ, quercetin and curcumin has been discussed in the review.

Discussion: The analysis indicates a strong correlation between antioxidant activity and mitochondrial function, underscoring their role in disease prevention and therapy. These antioxidants not only reduce oxidative damage but also regulate signalling pathways involved in inflammation and energy metabolism. Their dual action makes them promising agents in managing diabetes and potentially other chronic diseases.

Conclusion: The conclusion offers a concise yet comprehensive overview for researchers and industries in highlighting the therapeutic promise of antioxidant interventions in addressing diverse health conditions through enhanced mitochondrial function.

Advances in Piperazine-based Compounds for Antimicrobial Drug Development: Design, SAR, and Therapeutic Potential

2026-06-02

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the need for novel therapeutic agents to combat infectious diseases. Among various heterocyclic scaffolds, piperazine has emerged as a promising nucleus in drug discovery due to its structural versatility and ability to enhance bioactivity. This review explores the role of piperazine-based compounds in antimicrobial drug development, focusing on design strategies, Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR), and therapeutic applications. Structural modifications of piperazine derivatives, including the incorporation of electron-withdrawing groups (Cl, Br, NO₂), have demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity, whereas electron-donating groups and certain ring substitutions (e.g., pyridine, furan) often reduce potency. Molecular docking studies have provided valuable insights into the binding interactions of piperazine derivatives with microbial enzymes and proteins, validating their mechanism of action. Additionally, the integration of computational techniques and medicinal chemistry approaches has facilitated the rational design of more potent derivatives with improved pharmacokinetic properties. The therapeutic potential of piperazine-based antimicrobials extends to bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, making them strong candidates for next-generation antimicrobial agents. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in piperazine-based antimicrobial drug discovery and highlights future directions for medicinal chemists in the fight against drug-resistant microorganisms.

A Complete Sojourn of Liposomes in Breast Cancer Therapy: Types, Preparation Techniques, Lipid Selection, and Critical Quality Attributes

2026-06-02

Breast Cancer (BC) continues to exist as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. The burden of BC continues to rise despite extensive research efforts dedicated to its diagnosis, prevention, and management. In recent years, nanotherapeutics have shown promising advancements over conventional therapies, including better drug encapsulation, reduced toxicity, multiplied stability, and extended half-life through addressing the limitations of traditional diagnostic and treatment methods. Additionally, their tiny size improves pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, making them more effective. Various polymeric, vesicular, and emulsion-based novel drug delivery nano-formulations are vigorously undergoing preclinical and clinical testing for the treatment of BC, focusing on the diverse types of liposomes employed, including conventional, stealth, targeted, and stimuli-responsive formulations. Among these, liposomes have emerged as a stand-out drug delivery system due to their properties, such as biocompatibility, enhanced drug-loading capacity, ease of manufacturing, cost-effectiveness, and stability during transportation. Nearly 50 years of groundbreaking research on liposomes have led to significant technical breakthroughs, including remote drug loading, uniform size extrusion, long-circulating (PEGylated) liposomes, triggered release liposomes, nucleic acid polymer-containing liposomes, ligand-targeted liposomes, and multi-drug liposomes. The following advancements have spurred numerous clinical trials in diverse areas, especially in BC treatment. The objective of this review is to consolidate current knowledge on liposomal strategies, providing a critical analysis of their design, fabrication, and characterization, to guide the development of effective liposome-based breast cancer therapies and personalized treatment strategies.

Efficacy and Safety of Ionic Contra-viral Therapy (Digoxin-furosemide) in the Treatment of Multiple Cutaneous Warts: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis

2026-06-02

Introduction: The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of intralesional Ionic Contra-Viral Therapy (ICVT)-a combination of digoxin and furosemide-in the treatment of multiple cutaneous warts.

Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024544551). A comprehensive literature search was performed up to April 2024 across PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials involving adults with ≥2 cutaneous warts treated with intralesional digoxin and furosemide, assessing outcomes, such as complete and partial clearance, wart size reduction, and adverse events. Exclusion criteria included case reports, reviews, and preclinical studies. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through consensus. The Cochrane RoB 2 tool was used for risk of bias assessment. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the I² statistic. The quality of evidence was graded using the GRADE framework.

Results: Seven randomized trials, including a total of 391 patients, were analyzed. The ICVT group demonstrated significantly higher complete wart clearance compared to placebo (56.8% vs. 2.8%; RR = 13.27, 95% CI = 2.93-60.17; p = 0.0018). Partial response was lower in the ICVT group (5.08% vs. 10%; RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.09-5.09; p = 0.69). Adverse events occurred more frequently in the ICVT group (85% vs. 58.8%; RR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.47-3.79; p = 0.59; I² = 97%). Pain during injection was also more commonly reported in the ICVT group (96.6% vs. 63.3%; RR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.29-7.22; p = 0.65; I² = 99%). The certainty of evidence was rated as very low for complete clearance, moderate for partial response, and low for adverse events and injection pain. Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) indicated that the required information size was not met for any of the outcomes.

Discussion: While the results suggest that ICVT may be effective in achieving complete clearance of multiple cutaneous warts, the current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and potential biases. The higher incidence of adverse events and injectionrelated pain raises safety concerns. The low to very low certainty of evidence, coupled with the TSA findings, underscores the need for more rigorous investigation. Variability in trial design, dosing protocols, and outcome reporting further limits the applicability of current findings.

Conclusion: Intralesional ICVT shows promise as a therapeutic option for multiple cutaneous warts, particularly in achieving complete clearance. However, due to the limited certainty of available evidence and inconsistent safety data, further large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to validate these findings and establish standardized treatment protocols.