Frontiers in Pharmacology | New and Recent Articles

BackgroundBiktarvy, a second-generation integrase strand-transfer inhibitor, is approved for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients with no known resistance to its components. This study compared adverse events (AEs) associated with biktarvy based on data from the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and real-world evidence fr…

BackgroundChronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a major global health concern. This study aimed to evaluate whether myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2) and sterile alpha motif domain containing 4A (SAMD4A) mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) can predict early treatment responses to pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α) in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients.MethodsThis pros…

BackgroundPlant-Derived Exosome-Like nanoparticles (PELNs) are vital bioactive vesicles from medicinal plants, containing protective flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, polysaccharides, and microRNAs. These compounds play crucial roles in PELNs’ anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological effects. PELNs show promise as a treatment in animal experiments for ulcerative colitis…

Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux (Ranunculaceae), commonly used as Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), is a clinically important but highly toxic herb in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite long-standing use for cardiovascular, rheumatologic, gastrointestinal, and pain-related conditions, its application is constrained by a narrow therapeutic index, variable processing practices, and recurr…

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases remain an urgent global health concern addressed by multiple clinical guidelines. Atherothrombosis is characterised by thrombus formation following disruption of atherosclerotic plaque, leading to major adverse cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Platelet hyperactivity is a key driver of these outcomes, leading causes of morbidity and…

BackgroundThe co-administration of neuraxial drugs can enhance analgesic effects and reduce adverse events associated with epidural labor analgesia. This study aimed to explore the effects of epidural analgesia supplemented with lidocaine on maternal intrapartum fever.MethodsThe control group received epidural analgesia with 0.1% ropivacaine and fentanyl 2 μg/mL, while Group L received epidural a…

ObjectiveF. africana Lehm (Poaceae) is a perennial grass traditionally used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and wound healing. Despite its traditional relevance, its phytochemical composition and pharmacological activities remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the phytochemical and elemental profiles of Fingerhuthia africana a…

BackgroundLecanemab and donanemab are anti-amyloid-β (Aβ) monoclonal antibodies recently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although both agents have demonstrated therapeutic potential, their post-marketing adverse event reporting profiles remain insufficiently characterized and compared in spontaneous reporting systems. This study aimed to systematically compare adverse even…

BackgroundLigustilide (LIG), a natural phthalide compound mainly isolated from Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong, has attracted increasing attention because of its diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective effects. Emerging studies suggest that LIG may have therapeutic relevance in central nervous system (CNS) disor…

Ischemic stroke currently lacks evidence-based neuroprotective agents, primarily due to the challenge of timely intervention, which often occurs after the onset of irreversible neuronal damage. To address this, this study investigates the PARthanatos pathway, a form of regulated cell death triggered by DNA damage. Utilizing MNNG-induced cellular PARthanatos models, we screened a library of 2,939 …

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the potential association between 13 disease-modifying immunosuppressive drugs used to treat multiple sclerosis and intervertebral disc herniation, thereby filling a gap in pharmacovigilance research in this field.Materials and methodsWe extracted adverse event reports from the FAERS database covering 2005 to 2025. Disproportionality analyses using four es…

ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with varying degrees of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)MethodsA total of 91 patients diagnosed with MAFLD complicated by H. pylori infection at the Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from Oc…

IntroductionAmong adults, there is a constant increase in the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The significant limitations of available pharmacological therapies for this condition have led to intensive research into natural bioactive compounds with hepatoprotective properties. Therefore, this study focused on evaluating the effects of astaxanthin and kokum supplementation …

IntroductionArtificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) is critical for maintaining neuronal function during surgical procedures, yet its specific neuroprotective advantages over commonly used irrigation solutions like physiological saline and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) remain unclear.MethodsThis study compared the neuronal preservation properties of ACSF, saline, and PBS using HT22 mouse hippocam…

OCT1 is a hepatic membrane uptake transporter of clinical importance in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. OCT1 exhibits broad substrate specificity, mediating uptake of diverse compounds, including the neurotransmitter serotonin and the antidiabetic drug metformin. Numerous compounds have been reported as OCT1 substrates using in vitro model cell lines overexpressing the transporter and compu…

BackgroundMetabolic bone diseases (MBDs) are a group of conditions characterized by imbalanced bone remodeling, including osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and rickets. In recent years, drug-induced secondary MBDs have emerged as a major clinical concern. However, systematic drug risk assessment studies based on large-scale real-world data remain scarce.MethodsBased on the U.S. Food and Drug Administra…

BackgroundThe natural compound morusin (Mor) acts as a potent tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its potential to sensitize DDP and its direct targets are less understood. This work aims to investigate the DDP-sensitizing effects of Mor and the underlying mechanisms.MethodsCell viability and drug synergy were assessed in NSCLC cells. Ferroptosis was evaluated by measuring…

Metformin is a widely used drug with a relatively good efficacy in diabetes treatment, a good safety profile, and the potential for use in other indications. The variability in the individual responses to metformin therapy is partially determined by genetic factors. This narrative review aimed to summarize information on single nucleotide variant (SNVs) in genes for transporter proteins associate…

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a neurotrophic factor relevant for central nervous system repair, neuron differentiation and survival. It is upregulated in different neuroinflammatory conditions. PTN is an endogenous inhibitor of Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (RPTP) β/ζ. In a previous study, we showed that a short treatment with the RPT…

Background/ObjectivesWe have previously demonstrated that the natural alkaloid Cepharanthine (Ceph) reduces renal injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin-deficient diabetic rats via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. However, the hypoglycemic mechanism of Ceph remains unclear. We hypothesize that Ceph reduces blood glucose in STZ-induced insulin-deficient diabetic rats via resto…