Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

The Efficacy of Oral Phenylephrine as a Decongestant: A Systematic Review

Angus van der Nagel — 2025-10-25

Background: Phenylephrine (PE) is a non-prescription decongestant listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). However, there are no published systematic reviews supporting the efficacy and safety of this product for this use.

Objective: This review examine the efficacy of oral PE as a nasal decongestant for patients aged over 12 years with symptoms of nasal congestion (i.e., allergic rhinitis, influenza-like illness).

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials were searched for English and non-English studies published through December 2020 that measured the efficacy of phenylephrine in patients with nasal congestion. Studies included in the analysis were randomised, placebo-controlled trials measuring the effects of phenylephrine. Combination products with phenylephrine and other active decongestants were excluded. Two investigators independently extracted data on nasal airway resistance (NAR), self-reported decongestant scores and adverse reactions from each of the included studies. Continuous outcomes including nasal airway resistance and symptom reduction were analysed using weighted mean differences; or standardised mean differences if different measurement scales were used.

Results: Three randomised placebo trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of phenylephrine were included for analysis. All three studies demonstrated no statistically significant improvement with PE compared with a placebo in their self-reported symptom scores and in or rhinomanometry results. There was significant heterogeneity among the studies included in this analysis, which was attributed due to different methodologies and scoring systems used. Because of this summarising primary endpoint results was not possible.

Conclusions: There is no evidence that phenylephrine is effective for non-prescription use as a nasal decongestant. This is in congruence with previous reviews like Hatton et al. Based on this review, we recommend that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review the efficacy and safety of this common ingredient in decongestant products.

Humanistic Outcome Evaluation and Complications Experienced by Obese People Who Underwent Bariatric Surgery in the United Arab Emirates

Sham Zain AlAbdin — 2025-10-16

Patients suffering from obesity are more susceptible to comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia), physical disabilities, and low self-esteem, with subsequent reduced quality of life (QoL). Bariatric surgery (BS) has evolved among medical surgeons as an effective treatment not only to achieve sustained weight loss for morbidly obese patients, but also to improve their overall QoL. This study aims at assessing patient satisfaction, Quality of Life (QoL) improvement and post-surgical complications over a 1-year follow-up among people who underwent Bariatric surgery (BS). An observational study was conducted at Al-Qassimi Hospital in the UAE among 86 morbidly obese people, who underwent either Sleeve Gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGP). Impact of BS on weight, patients’ satisfaction, and QoL were assessed prior to the surgery, at 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery. Patients’ satisfaction was evaluated using Post-Bariatric Satisfaction Questionnaire (PBSQ), and QoL was assessed with the Bariatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (BQoL) and Short Form- 36 (SF-36). ANOVA and Student t-Tests were applied with alpha =0.05. A significant decline in average BMI from 42.0±5.4 Kg/m2 at baseline to 29.9±5.2 Kg/m2 at 12 months (p< 0.001) was noted. Results of PBSQ revealed the majority of patients were satisfied with their entire bodies up to 12 months; however, univariate analysis showed that females, middle-aged, and RYGB patients were dissatisfied with their upper arms at 6 months (p= 0.040, p= 0.046, and p= 0.028; respectively). Post-operative BQoL scores improved markedly over 12 months in a consistent manner (p< 0.001) and negatively correlated with BMI values (p< 0.001). BS is credible in achieving massive weight loss as well as improving patients’ satisfaction and QoL. Moreover, BS is safe, and few cases have reported complications or hospital readmission in the short term. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that bariatric surgery is a credible treatment option for morbid obesity. Our study’s findings provide healthcare providers a supportive evidence of encouraging the overgrowing population of morbidly obese patients, as well as those with obesity- associated comorbidities, to undergo BS based on a shared decision with the medical surgeons.

In vitro Antiviral Activity of the Aqueous Extract and Essential Oil of Ocimum gratissimum L. Leaves against the West Nile Virus

Yenon Achiè Angèle Aurélie — 2025-10-22

Aims: The emergence of viral infections highlights the urgent need to develop new antiviral molecules. This study is part of an effort to explore the antiviral properties of medicinal plants used in traditional pharmacopoeia in Côte d'Ivoire. The main objective was to evaluate the antiviral activity of the essential oil and aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves against the West Nile virus.

Study Design: An in vitro experimental study carried out to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of the essential oil and aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum leaves against West Nile virus using Vero cell cultures.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Epidemic Viruses Department of Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire and at the Biochemical Pharmacodynamics Unit of Félix Houphouet Boigny University over a period of six months.

Methodology: After determining the safety of the different dilutions of the extracts by a cytotoxicity test on Vero cells, we used non-toxic concentrations of the essential oil and aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum to perform tests to inhibit the replication of the West Nile virus.

Results: The cytotoxicity study showed that the essential oil has lower toxicity than the aqueous extract, with respective CC₅₀ values of 500 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml. Ocimum gratissimum essential oil inhibited the growth of West Nile virus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 μg/ml, while the aqueous extract showed no antiviral effect.

Conclusion: Thus, Ocimum gratissimum essential oil has shown promising antiviral activity against the West Nile virus, probably due to the phytochemical compounds it contains.

Impact of Cervical Nodal Metastases on the Prognosis and Survival of Pyriform Sinus Carcinoma

Rahul Shil — 2025-10-31

Pyriform sinus carcinoma, a common hypopharyngeal malignancy, often presents late due to the silent progression of symptoms and early submucosal spread. We report the case of a 55-year-old male who presented with progressively enlarging neck swelling for 10 months. Clinical evaluation and imaging revealed a lesion in the right pyriform fossa with multiple cervical lymph node metastases and possible distant spread. Histopathology confirmed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was initiated on systemic chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, supported by pre medications and palliative care measures. This case highlights the classical late presentation of pyriform sinus carcinoma, diagnostic challenges, and the importance of multimodality treatment. Despite advances in oncology, the prognosis for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma remains poor, underscoring the need for early detection and preventive strategies.

Synergistic Effects of Polyphenol-Terpenoid Combinations on NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Neuroinflammation: A Mini Review

Paul Chinwuba — 2025-10-18

Neuroinflammation driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome is a key mechanism in many neurological disorders. While plant-derived polyphenols and terpenoids individually show anti-inflammatory potential, their synergistic effects remain underexplored. This review highlights the enhanced efficacy of polyphenol-terpenoid combinations in inhibiting NLRP3-mediated neuroinflammation through complementary pathways. Preclinical studies demonstrate that such pairs like quercetin with limonene or curcumin with ar-turmerone more effectively reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglial activation, and oxidative stress than single compounds. However, clinical translation faces challenges including optimal dosing, formulation, and CNS delivery. Future research should focus on identifying effective combinations, elucidating their mechanisms, and validating their therapeutic potential in clinical trials to develop novel treatments for neuroinflammatory diseases.

Advanced Nanocomposite-based Electrochemical Biosensors for Sensitive Detection of Pharmaceutical Drugs

Yasemin Torlak — 2025-10-23

Advanced electrochemical sensors offer great opportunities to detect active pharmaceutical ingredients using interactions between nanomaterials and target analytes. Miniaturization of these sensors, wireless data transmission, and sensitivity are important research areas. The integration of quantum computing and artificial intelligence can provide significant improvements in areas such as electrochemical sensing, materials science, and nanofiber fabrication. Furthermore, electrochemical sensors and related techniques (such as voltammetry, amperometry, impedance, and chronoamperometry) and the roles of different electrode types in pharmaceutical drug analysis are discussed. Other methods used to detect these drugs include optical and microfabricated methods. The advantages and disadvantages of these different techniques are illustrated and evaluated with future perspectives. These technologies enable personalized medicine that rapidly assesses drug efficacy and patient-specific responses, while also enabling the development of sustainable electronic systems and more efficient sensors. Research on artificial intelligence is also increasing in the pharmaceutical industry. This study highlights the advantages and future promise of various technological applications of AI technology in drug design and development, which have varying effects. Furthermore, it offers potential in the medical field, particularly through rapid testing and the study of drug interactions using electrochemical sensor technology. Electrochemical biosensors, in particular, are crucial in biological imaging, electrochemical analysis, and drug delivery due to their high specificity, selectivity, and intercycling stability. This review focuses on recent advances in electrochemical devices for healthcare applications, detailing their fabrication, analytical performance, and clinical applications.

Evaluation of AI in Pharmaceutical Medical Devices Using Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials: A Review

Vytheeswari Kadhirvel — 2025-11-05

The combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology is transforming the development of modern pharmaceutical and medical devices. This review explains how nanomaterials—because of their small size, high surface area, and strong interaction with biological systems—improve the performance, sensitivity, and safety of these devices. AI supports this progress by predicting nanomaterial behavior, designing better drug delivery systems, and improving imaging accuracy through data modelling.Key applications include AI-guided nanocarriers for controlled and site-specific drug delivery, nanomaterial-based flexible sensors for wearable health monitoring, and nanoparticle-enabled imaging platforms for early disease detection. Nanomaterial-based flexible sensors enable advanced wearable devices and virtual or augmented reality applications for continuous health monitoring. Nanocarriers and nanoparticles allow precise and targeted drug delivery, helping to treat diseases such as eye and kidney disorders more effectively. The study also highlights the growing importance of nanotoxicology research to ensure biocompatibility and minimize safety risks. Furthermore, AI-driven databases and predictive tools are now being used to speed up regulatory evaluations and product approval. Together, AI and nanotechnology represent a major step toward intelligent, adaptive, and patient-focused healthcare devices that provide personalized and intelligent healthcare solutions for the future