Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

A High-risk Case of Culture-negative Infective Endocarditis with Severe Aortic Regurgitation and Paravalvular Abscess in a 42-Year-Old Male

Rahul Shil, Saikat Das — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Infective endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening infection that may cause severe valvular and perivalvular complications, particularly when microbiological confirmation is not obtained. This case report describes a 42-year-old man who presented with progressive dyspnoea for one-month, intermittent fever, and haemoptysis, with New York Heart Association Class III functional limitation. Laboratory evaluation showed a C-reactive protein level of 73.893 mg/L, NT-proBNP of 7870 pg/mL, mild anaemia, and leucocytosis. Blood cultures remained negative after previous empirical antibiotic exposure. Chest radiography showed prominent bronchovascular markings, while high-resolution computed tomography demonstrated ground-glass opacities and patchy consolidation. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography identified multiple aortic valve vegetations, severe aortic regurgitation, and a paravalvular abscess with impending rupture. Empirical antimicrobial treatment was initiated with ceftriaxone and gentamicin, with vancomycin subsequently added; gentamicin was later discontinued. Supportive management included intravenous diuretics, ivabradine, oxygen supplementation, continuous positive airway pressure, electrolyte correction, and close clinical monitoring. Management was coordinated by cardiology and infectious disease specialists. Despite the severity of the structural cardiac findings, the patient demonstrated gradual clinical improvement with medical therapy, and surgery was not performed. The case highlights the diagnostic and management complexity of culture-negative infective endocarditis and the importance of timely echocardiographic assessment, appropriate empirical treatment, supportive care, and multidisciplinary evaluation.

Method Development, Validation and Estimation of Single Synthetic Drug Tafamidis by RP-HPLC and Green Analysis in API Form and Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

Husna Kanwal Qureshi, Hurria Fatima, Amtul Zaman, Hafsa Fatima, Md Abdul Rahman — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

For the quantitative determination of Tafamidis in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms, a straightforward, accurate, precise, and environmentally friendly reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated. To achieve optimal chromatographic performance, several stationary-phase and mobile-phase compositions were evaluated during method development. A Develosil ODS C18 column (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of ethanol and phosphate buffer (20:80 v/v, pH 2.8), delivered at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, with detection at 235 nm, provided the optimum conditions. The method demonstrated a high theoretical plate count, good peak symmetry, and a retention time of approximately 2.26 minutes. The developed method was validated in accordance with ICH criteria. The system suitability parameters were within acceptable limits, with a %RSD of less than 2%. The method showed good linearity across the concentration range of 6–14 µg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999. Precision studies demonstrated high repeatability, with %RSD values below 1%. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by percentage recoveries ranging from 100.42% to 101.20%. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were 2.9 µg/mL and 0.95 µg/mL, respectively. The assay of the commercial formulation showed 99.40% purity. Robustness studies indicated that small changes in chromatographic conditions had no discernible effect on method performance. In addition to analytical validation, the environmental impact of the method was assessed using Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) evaluation tools, including AGREE, Analytical Eco-Scale, and GAPI. An AGREE score of 0.78 demonstrated good adherence to green analytical principles. The method achieved an Analytical Eco-Scale score of 91, indicating a good green analytical process. The GAPI assessment showed predominantly green zones with minimal environmental impact, largely owing to the use of ethanol as a green solvent, reduced solvent consumption, and the elimination of derivatisation steps. Overall, the developed RP-HPLC method is robust, reliable, and environmentally friendly, making it suitable for routine quality control analysis of Tafamidis in pharmaceutical formulations while supporting sustainable analytical chemistry principles.

Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Acacia nilotica var. adansonii (Pods and Bark) against Pathogenic Bacteria: A Promising Therapeutic Alternative in Chad

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: Acacia nilotica var. adansonii is a medicinal plant widely used by Chadian populations to treat various ailments, including bacterial and fungal infections. Despite this widespread traditional use, few scientific studies have confirmed its antibacterial properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from the pods and bark of this plant and to identify the secondary metabolites responsible for this activity.

Methodology: Pods and bark of Acacia nilotica var. adansonii were collected in Abéché (Chad), dried, powdered, and extracted by ethanolic maceration. Antibacterial activity was assessed against five pathogenic strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Shigella spp. and Salmonella enteritidis) using the agar diffusion method and broth microdilution to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs).

Results: Ethanolic extraction yielded 62.47% for the pods and 22.93% for the bark. Inhibition zone diameters ranged from 13.66 ± 0.57 to 15.00 ± 1.41 mm for the pods and from 12.00 ± 1.00 to 14.66 ± 2.56 mm for the bark. MIC values ranged from 0.39 to 1.56 mg/mL for the pods and from 0.19 to 1.56 mg/mL for the bark. MBC/MIC ratios revealed a bactericidal effect (MBC/MIC < 4) for most strains, with an MBC/MIC ratio of 1 for the bark against E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and Shigella spp. Phytochemical tests highlighted the combined presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and gallic tannins in both extracts.

Conclusion: These results scientifically confirm the traditional use of this plant and justify further investigations towards the development of phytomedicines.

Molecular Characterization and Multidrug Resistant Staphylococcus saprophyticus Isolated from Pregnant Women with Cases of Urinary Tract Infections in Some Hospitals of Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background and Aim: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most frequent bacterial infections in women. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a novobiocin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococcus recognised as an important cause of community-acquired uncomplicated UTI, especially in pregnant women. With rising antibiotic resistance and limited data from North-East Nigeria, this study aimed to characterise multidrug-resistant S. saprophyticus and determine the genetic basis of resistance in urine specimens from pregnant women in Bauchi metropolis.

Place of Study: The study was conducted at the antenatal clinics of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi and State Specialist Hospital Bauchi, Bauchi metropolis, Nigeria.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 216 pregnant women with suspected UTI. Early-morning midstream urine was cultured on CLED and Mannitol Salt Agar. Isolates were identified using cultural, morphological, and biochemical tests and were confirmed using the VITEK 2 system. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method against 10 antibiotics according to CLSI guidelines. Multidrug resistance was defined as resistance to ≥2 classes of antibiotics. Genotypic characterisation was performed by multiplex PCR for the resistance genes mecA and aph(3)-IIIa. Data were analysed using SPSS v24.0 with chi-square and ANOVA at p < 0.001.

Results: From 216 urine samples, a total of 178 bacterial isolates were recovered. Lactobacilli spp. 55 (30.9%) and E. coli 42 (23.6%) were predominant, followed by K. pneumoniae 22 (12.4%) and K. oxytoca 18 (10.1%). Among Gram-positive bacteria, CoNS 15 (8.4%) and S. aureus 13 (7.3%) were common. S. saprophyticus accounted for 5 (33.3%) of the CoNS isolates, with an overall prevalence of 2.8%. VITEK 2 identified S. haemolyticus 6 (40.0%), S. saprophyticus 5 (33.3%), and S. epidermidis 4 (26.7%). All S. saprophyticus isolates were from women aged 20–29 years. The highest occurrence was among women with tertiary education 3 (60.0%), and among married women 2 (40.0%), divorced women 2 (40.0%), housewives 2 (40.0%), and civil servants 2 (40.0%). All 5 isolates were MDR, with 100% resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, tetracycline, and streptomycin. Resistance to cefotaxime and ofloxacin was 80.0%, and resistance to erythromycin was 60.0%. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin showed 40.0% susceptibility. Molecularly, 3 (60.0%) isolates harboured mecA and 4 (80.0%) harboured aph(3)-IIIa genes.

Conclusion: This study confirms Staphylococcus saprophyticus as a clinically relevant uropathogen among pregnant women in Bauchi metropolis. The isolates exhibited a high level of multidrug resistance, with genetic evidence of mecA- and aph(3)-IIIa-mediated resistance. The findings indicate widespread antimicrobial misuse and highlight the urgent need for routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular surveillance, and antimicrobial stewardship to guide effective treatment and prevent pregnancy complications.

Integration of Deep Eutectic Solvents into Supercritical CO₂ Extraction for Enhanced Recovery of Kavalactones from Piper methysticum Roots

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study establishes a reproducible laboratory-scale framework combining a defined deep eutectic solvent with supercritical carbon dioxide for the selective recovery of kavalactones from dried roots of Piper methysticum. Baseline total kavalactone content, determined by exhaustive ethanol extraction and validated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, was 9.15 ± 0.28% w/w on a dry basis, equivalent to 91.5 ± 2.8 g per kg of dry root. A choline chloride and urea deep eutectic solvent at a 1:2 molar ratio was prepared with a water content of 0.42 ± 0.05% w/w, a density of 1.21 g per mL at 25°C, and a viscosity of 412 mPa·s at 25°C. Formation of a homogeneous liquid with a depressed melting point consistent with literature-reported choline chloride and urea 1:2 systems was taken as indicative of eutectic formation. No Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed for hydrogen-bond confirmation in this study. The deep eutectic solvent was formulated as a modifier solution of 30% deep eutectic solvent and 70% anhydrous ethanol, delivered at 0.6 g per min against a carbon dioxide flow of 20 g per min, corresponding to 3.0% w/w modifier relative to carbon dioxide and 0.9% w/w net deep eutectic solvent relative to carbon dioxide. Processing 1.0 kg batches as four sequential loadings of 250 g each, with one hour per loading and four hours cumulatively per batch, was evaluated at 250 bar and 60°C in vessel 1 and 150 bar and 45°C in vessel 2. Four conditions were compared in triplicate, with three independent batches per condition. The optimised deep eutectic solvent modifier supercritical carbon dioxide condition yielded 11.2 ± 0.38% w/w oleoresin, equivalent to 112 ± 3.8 g per kg, containing 69.5 ± 1.8% w/w total kavalactones, corresponding to 77.8 ± 2.6 g per kg root and 85.0 ± 4.2% recovery of baseline. Residual kavalactones in spent biomass were 8.2 ± 0.9 g per kg, giving total accountability of 86.0 g per kg, or 94.0% of baseline. Comparative controls gave 32.7 g per kg with 35.7% recovery for supercritical carbon dioxide only, 62.5 g per kg with 68.3% recovery for supercritical carbon dioxide plus 10% ethanol, and 58.4 g per kg with 63.8% recovery for deep eutectic solvent alone. The hybrid process improved recovery by 24.5% over the ethanol control, with statistical significance shown by analysis of variance, F (3,8) equal to 38.7, p less than 0.0001, and Tukey p equal to 0.0032. Six kavalactones were resolved within 16 min with resolution greater than 1.5 using UHPLC with photodiode-array detection at 220 nm.

Development, Characterization, and Antipsoriatic Efficacy of a Ginger-Mediated Silver Nanoparticle-Loaded Hydrogel in an Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Dermatitis Model

Rusul Harbi Yousif, Toaa Ashraf Abdelrahman, Germeen N. S. Girgis — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that may be useful for topical management of inflammatory skin diseases.

Objective: To develop a ginger-mediated AgNP-loaded hydrogel and evaluate its preliminary efficacy in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis.

Methods: AgNPs were synthesised under 12 combinations of pH, temperature, and reaction time and characterised by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Candidate hydrogel bases were evaluated for pharmaceutical properties and in vitro release. Twenty-four BALB/c mice were block-randomised into four groups: normal control, imiquimod disease control, blank hydrogel, or AgNP-loaded hydrogel (n = 6/group). Clinical outcomes were analysed by mixed-effects models, and skin was evaluated using H&E histopathology and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry.

Results: Among the 12 AgNP synthesis conditions, F12 (pH 11, 60 °C, 60 min) was selected for its favourable combined colloidal profile, including the smallest hydrodynamic diameter (87.00 ± 0.93 nm), relatively low PDI (0.31 ± 0.02), highest absolute zeta potential (−26.80 ± 0.65 mV), and characteristic surface-plasmon-resonance band near 430 nm; TEM showed a mean particle diameter of 30.20 ± 6.26 nm. PF2 (25% F127/5% F68) was subsequently selected because it provided the highest 24-h release (62.8 ± 1.8%) together with suitable pH (6.42 ± 0.02), lower viscosity (19,200 ± 390 cP), good spreadability, and consistent AgNP distribution (RSD 3.16%). In vivo, the cumulative modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was lower with the AgNP-loaded hydrogel than with the blank vehicle (7.50 ± 0.56 vs 9.50 ± 0.34; difference, 2.00; 95% CI, 0.37–3.63; adjusted P = .011), accompanied by lower epidermal thickness (39 vs 60 µm) and less extensive Ki-67 immunoreactivity.

Conclusion: The optimised ginger-mediated AgNP-loaded poloxamer hydrogel showed suitable pharmaceutical characteristics and reduced psoriasis-like disease severity relative to the matched blank vehicle, supporting further topical investigation.

Integrated Assessment of Omega-3 and Diazepam Interactions in Mice: From Nociception to Recognition Memory

Maria Chowdhury, Rebecca Cynthia Gomes, Kona Basak — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that enhances inhibitory neurotransmission mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(_A)) receptors. It has several effects on the central nervous system, including alterations in nociception, motor coordination, and cognitive function. Omega-3 fatty acids, important components of neuronal membranes, have been linked to the regulation of brain signalling and inflammation.

Aim: This study assessed the behavioural interaction between diazepam and omega-3 fatty acids in Swiss albino mice.

Methods: Male and female Swiss albino mice were evaluated following administration of diazepam at 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg, omega-3 fatty acids, or their combination. Nociceptive responses were assessed using the hot-plate and formalin-induced paw-licking tests. Motor coordination was evaluated using the Rotarod test, while behavioural and cognitive effects were assessed using the Elevated Plus Maze and Novel Object Recognition tests.

Results: Formalin-induced paw licking was suppressed to a greater extent at higher doses of diazepam, indicating dose-related changes in nociceptive behaviour. Omega-3 treatment also decreased paw-licking responses; however, compared with either treatment alone, combination treatment resulted in greater suppression of both early neurogenic and late inflammatory phases. Changes in Rotarod performance and cognitive-behavioural tests provided additional evidence that treatment effects extended beyond nociception.

Conclusion: The results suggest that GABAergic neurotransmission, neuronal membrane signalling, and inflammatory modulation are complementary mechanisms through which omega-3 fatty acids may influence diazepam-associated behavioural effects. The dose-dependent behavioural pattern supports further research into the molecular mechanisms underlying the diazepam–omega-3 interaction across nociceptive, motor, and cognitive pathways.

Identification of Bioactive Phytoconstituents in Passiflora vitifolia Leaves by GC–MS and Their Pharmacological Relevance

Vipin Kumar Pandey, Praveen Kumar Soni — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Inflammation is a complex biological response that plays a role in host defence and tissue repair, but, when persistent or dysregulated, it is linked to a number of chronic disorders. Medicinal plants are an important source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. Passiflora vitifolia Kunth is a lesser-known species of the genus Passiflora, whose phytochemical and pharmacological potential has yet to be fully investigated.

Aim: This study investigated the phytochemical profile of a hydro-methanolic leaf extract and considered the reported pharmacological relevance of its constituents.

Materials and Methods: The extracted material was chromatographically and mass-spectrometrically profiled. The constituents detected were identified by comparing their retention indices and mass spectra with those in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) database. The identified compounds were then assessed in relation to their previously reported pharmacological activities, specifically anti-inflammatory activity.

Results: Fifteen compounds from various chemical classes were identified from the hydro-methanolic leaf extract using GC–MS. The main constituents were 2-pentadecanone, 6, 10, 14-trimethyl (25.2 %), 2-methyl-9-β-D-ribofuranosylhypoxanthine (21.4%), tetradecane, 2, 6, 10-trimethyl (13.1 %), and 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (11.4 %). Several identified constituents have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-nociceptive, anti-arthritic, or related activities in the past. A substantial proportion of the identified compounds was associated with anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusion: The results indicate that P. vitifolia leaves contain diverse chemical constituents identified by GC–MS, some of which have reported biological activities. Several compounds with reported anti-inflammatory activity were detected, providing a preliminary phytochemical basis for investigating the possible anti-inflammatory properties of the plant.