Journal of Pharmacy

A pilot study of the implementation of good pharmacy practice in private and public sector pharmacies in Nepal

Birna Trap — 2026-07-31

Introduction: With limited awareness of good pharmacy practice (GPP) and weak regulatory enforcement in Nepal there is a need to investigate and assess adherence to GPP in private and public sector pharmacies. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study assessed in 2021 adherence to GPP guidelines in selected private (n=20) and public (n=19) sector pharmacies in the capital district, and two districts within each two of seven provinces. Hospitals and primary health care centre were randomly selected while health posts and private pharmacies were selected based on their proximity to these. Trained data collectors and regulatory inspectors used two sector- specific, indicator-based electronic inspection tools aligned with World Health Organization best practices to uniformly assess GPP implementation in public and private facilities—58 joint indicators overlapped in the two sector tools. The indicators were classified by importance as critical, major, and minor. Results and Discussion: On average, public pharmacies passed slightly more (not significant) GPP indicators than private pharmacies—62% and 57% of the 58 joint indicators, respectively. The aggregated compliance percentage for critical, major and minor joint indicators was 72 vs. 75%, with outliers such as labelling and refrigerator monitoring which is around 90% noncompliance, 73 vs. 84% and 46 vs. 50% in the private and public sector respectively. The lowest compliance rate was found in the operating requirements domain with 10% for private and 15% for public sector facilities. Conclusion: Although private and public sector pharmacies have not yet fully implemented the new GPP guidelines, the government is moving forward with strengthening GPP legislation and regulations, building GPP capacity, and bolstering the GPP inspection function, which are needed to improve pharmaceutical services and thereby safeguard the people of Nepal.

Biopharmaceutical Innovation and Regulatory Harmonisation in Emerging Economies: A Comprehensive Analysis of Brazil, China, India, and South Africa

Sandip Badadhe — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Emerging economies are changing the playing?field of global biopharmaceutical innovation and international review mechanisms should be adjusted accordingly. However, heterogenous regulatory frameworks and innovation potential prevent sustainable global market?access with truly affordable health care. Analyses of biopharmaceutical innovation trajectories, regulatory environments and policy ecosystems in these four market-pairs can inform opportunities for improved?collaboration and patient access. Methods: We performed an in-depth analysis of the innovation pipelines and biopharmaceutical industries in Brazil, China, India,?and South Africa. Information was retrieved from?regulatory databases, company reports, clinical trial registries and peer-reviewed sources (2018-2024). We examined 376 drug candidates from 66 companies, analysing their innovation attributes, regulatory approval methods, and policy environments. Other information about trends in clinical trials, timelines?for regulatory approval and recent policy developments were abstracted in a systematic manner. Results and Discussion: Analysis showed 376 biopharmaceutical candidates in?development, about 60% of which were new chemical or molecular entities. China still had the highest?number of New Molecular Entity (NME) at 46 in 2024 and India's biopharmaceutical sector accounted for 49% of the country's total biopharmaceutical output. Regulatory timelines varied significantly—from 21 days under China’s pilot programme, to 10–14 months in Brazil, and up to approximately four years historically in South Africa. The gap in clinical research activity between BRICS and G7 countries decreased by 68.6% between 2018 and 2022. Challenges included limited resources, regulatory complexity, and low levels of harmonisation, while progress was driven by government support, attention to local health needs, and international collaboration. Conclusion: There is great potential in biopharmaceutical innovation in BRICS, but there is a requirement?for regulatory harmonisation to obtain global impact. Policy recommendations include risk-based assessments,?installation of reliance mechanisms, public-private partnerships and establishment of regional harmonisation platforms. These measures could accelerate the arrival of new treatments while maintaining safety standards and supporting the growth of a viable business environment

An Evaluation of The Pharmaceutical Calculation Competency Among Pharmacists in a Tertiary Hospital in Sabah, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Jerry Ee Siung Liew — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Questions requiring pharmaceutical calculations are frequently encountered by pharmacists. Accurate pharmaceutical calculations are necessary to ensure accurate drug supply and precise intravenous drug preparation. Any inaccuracy potentially results in patient harm. This study aimed to determine the competency and performance in each category of pharmaceutical calculations among pharmacists at a tertiary hospital in Sabah, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in pharmacy department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Sabah, Malaysia (March to July 2017). All pharmacists were required to attend a 20 minutes supervised test assessment. Primary outcome was the competency in performing pharmaceutical calculation (score ?70%). Data was analysed descriptively and univariate analysis was used to determine factors associated with pharmaceutical calculation competency. Results and Discussion: A total of 82 pharmacists with mean aged of 28.7 (SD=3.9) years, predominantly female (n=57, 69.5%) were recruited in this study. Out of them, 58 (70.7%) were Fully Registered Pharmacists (FRPs) with a mean working experience of 50.9 (SD=41.2) months. Of note, 64.6% of the pharmacists obtained score ?70% in the assessment. FRPs performed better than Provisionally Registered Pharmacists (PRPs) (n=45 (77.6%) vs n=8 (33.3%), ?²=14.54, P<0.001). Pharmacists with longer working experience and previous ward experience were associated with higher competency. Assessment questions related to drug supply, preparation, administration, and compatibility demonstrated lower performance score. Conclusion: Among pharmacists in this tertiary hospital, 64.6% of them meet the predetermined competency threshold. Training should focus on strengthening areas related to drug supply, preparation, administration, and compatibility.

Exploring Pharmacy Students’ Experiences and Perceptions of Interprofessional Education in Clinical Settings: A Qualitative Study

Nurul Athirah Hasdan — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Current health sciences education is increasingly focused on the transition from traditional didactic methods to innovative pedagogical frameworks. While the introduction of interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives in Malaysian teaching hospitals has demonstrated success in fostering students' collaborative competencies, the broad implementation of IPE remains uneven. This study aimed to delve into pharmacy students’ experiences, perceptions, and recommendations on an IPE implementation activity during clinical attachments. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured online interviews with the final year pharmacy students from Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM. Purposive sampling was used to recruit students who joined an IPE activity between March and May in 2024. The data collected via a validated guide during the interviews were analysed thematically to identify key patterns and themes. Coding was performed by two researchers, with initial coding was further AI-enhanced. Results and discussion: Seven final-year pharmacy students accepted the invitation to share their experiences, emerging four distinct themes namely; 1) curricular design and structural challenges, 2) role clarity & interprofessional understanding, 3) impact on learning & competency and 4) personal barriers and educational support. Ward rounds and bedside teaching were highly valued, though challenges included scheduling conflicts, limited exposure and inadequate case preparation. Supportive instructors and collaborative peer interactions recognised as key factors facilitating the learning process. Conclusion: Pharmacy students highly valued IPE and highlighted that an early, structured, and longitudinal integration of IPE in the curriculum is necessary to enhance collaborative competencies and professional development.

The Evolving Role of Pharmacists in Home Medication Review: A Scoping Review

Muhammad Jawad Hassan — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Irrational and inappropriate medication use remains a major global challenge. Home Medication Review (HMR) is a patient-centred service in which pharmacists conduct structured medication assessments in patients’ homes to identify drug-related problems (DRPs), improve adherence, and optimise medication use. This scoping review aimed to map the evolving role of pharmacists in HMR, examine its impact on patient outcomes and quality of life, and identify barriers to pharmacist-led HMR implementation across different healthcare systems. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Databases including Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, and Embase were searched for English-language original research studies published between 2015 and 2025. Studies involving pharmacists conducting HMR in patient’s homes were included. Results: Out of 719 retrieved articles, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Australia, followed by Malaysia and other countries. Pharmacist-led HMR was consistently associated with improved medication adherence, identification and resolution of DRPs, and improved patient outcomes and quality of life. Pharmacist’s roles evolved from medication reconciliation and adherence assessment to comprehensive medication reviews, medicines optimisation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Key barriers included patient-related factors, limited physicians support, system-level challenges, resource constraints, and workload pressures. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led HMR improves medication use, patient outcomes, and quality of life, with an increasingly advanced clinical role over time. Further large-scale research and strengthened implementation strategies are needed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to support wider adoption of pharmacist-led HMR services.

Transforming Modern Healthcare: From Real-World Data to Trusted Real World Evidence

Prof. Dr. Che Suraya Hj. Mohd. Zin — 2026-07-31

Healthcare is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the digitalisation of healthcare systems, the availability of real-world data (RWD), and advances in artificial intelligence (AI). While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remain the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, they are not designed to answer every question encountered in routine clinical practice, particularly among diverse patient populations with multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and complex healthcare needs. Consequently, real-world evidence (RWE), generated through the rigorous analysis of healthcare data, has emerged as an essential complement to evidence from RCTs. This editorial discusses the evolving role of RWE in supporting clinical practice, regulatory decision-making, health technology assessment, and healthcare policy. The availability of electronic health records, disease registries, administrative databases, pharmacy records, and digital health resources is creating unprecedented opportunities to understand treatment effectiveness, medication safety, healthcare utilisation, and patient outcomes in routine care. It further examines the transformative role of AI in accelerating data curation, extraction, and analysis, while emphasising that technological advances cannot substitute for rigorous scientific methodology. Robust pharmacoepidemiological principles, including rigorous study design, appropriate analytical methods, transparency, and reproducibility, remain fundamental to generating trustworthy evidence from complex healthcare data. Finally, the editorial discusses governance, multidisciplinary collaboration, workforce development, and responsible innovation in building sustainable RWE ecosystems. As healthcare continues to evolve, the future of evidence generation will depend not on the volume of data or the sophistication of computational tools alone, but on the ability to transform RWD into credible evidence that improves patient outcomes, informs healthcare decisions, and strengthens public trust.

Lupeol Isolation and Hepatoprotective Activity of the Methanol Aerial Parts Extract of Indigofera Stenophylla (Fabaceae)

Abdulrazaq Sanusi — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Indigofera stenophylla Guil. and Perr. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases. This study aimed to isolate phytoconstituent(s) and establish the hepatoprotective activity of the methanol aerial parts extract of Indigofera stenophylla (MAEIS). Methods: The plant material of 1500 g was extracted with 70% methanol using a maceration method, and the extract was partitioned respectively into hexane and chloroform fractions (HF and CF). The HF was subjected to column chromatographic techniques to afford 5 mg of compound AR1 characterized using ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. A single dose of 7,12 Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene was administered orally at 30 mg/kg body weight, followed by 28 days treatment with graded doses of MAEIS and Silymarin. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for Aspartate Amino Transaminase (ASP), Alanine Amino Transaminase (ALT) and Total Protein (TP) assays. The livers were harvested for histopathological examination. Results: The isolated compound AR1 was elucidated as lup-20(29)-en-3-ol (lupeol). The MAEIS group at dose of 600 mg/kg and silymarin 200 mg/kg body weight respectively lowered the levels of AST and ALT significantly (p<0.05) indicating a reduction in liver damage. The MAEIS increased the total protein levels and normal histopathological profile of the liver tissue. Conclusion: This is the first isolation of lupeol from MAEIS. MAEIS provides a scientific basis for its ethnomedicinal uses and demonstrated significant hepatoprotective activity.

Antimicrobial Activity, Antioxidant Property, and Acute Toxicity Profile of Methanol Extract of Alchornea cordifolia Leaf

Nestor Tordzagla — 2026-07-31

Introduction: The increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the discovery of new therapeutic agents to fight this infectious disease and disorders associated with oxidative stress. Alchornea cordifolia is used traditionally to treat many microbial infections in Ghana. Hence, this study investigated phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant property, and acute toxicity of the methanol extract of Alchornea cordifolia leaf. Methods: Phytochemical composition was determined in accordance with reference experimental protocols. The antimicrobial assays were done using eleven bacterial strains and a fungal strain. The assays were agar well diffusion, minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentrations. Antioxidant property was evaluated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The safety profile was obtained by an acute toxicity model using rats in five groups (n=6). Results and Discussion: Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of important secondary metabolites. The MIC and MBC values ranged from 3.125 mg/mL to 12.5 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL to 100 mg/mL respectively. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity with the scavenging activity comparable to ascorbic acid at higher concentrations and the highest value of 93.59±0.27 % recorded at a concentration of 500 µg/mL of the extract. Acute toxicity studies confirmed the safety of the extract up to 5000 mg/kg. Conclusion: Alchornea cordifolia leaf extract can be used as both antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, the extract showed no toxicity in rats. Nevertheless, further investigation may be done to identify the exact compounds responsible for the observed biological activities.

Bioactivities of Benincasa hispida: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Evidence

Ummu Syuhaida Muhamad Hanafi — 2026-07-31

Benincasa hispida (family Cucurbitaceae), also known as winter melon, is one of the famous crops in Asian countries. It is mostly grown for its fruits. B. hispida is rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids including palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, ?-linolenic acid, and others. Scientific exploration of B. hispida was driven by the traditional practice of the plant as a remedy for various pathological conditions. This paper describes the potential pharmacological activities of B. hispida contributed by a significant concentration of phytoconstituents. B. hispida extracts enhance bone formation and downregulate the bone-resorption activity. While the antimicrobial activities result from inhibition of efflux pump transporters on the surface of bacteria and support intracellular antibiotic accumulation to destroy the bacteria. The significant concentration of flavonoids and terpenoids in B. hispida extract also possesses anticrystallization activity, which further prevents the formation of urinary stones in urolithiasis conditions. B. hispida extract also provides neuroprotective effects by effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reducing lipid peroxidation in neurodegenerative aging conditions. Besides, significant phytoconstituents from B. hispida extract provide a gastroprotective mechanism by increasing the gastric mucus secretion and strengthening the gastric mucosal barrier. B. hispida extract also suppressed T cell-mediated immune response in the inflammatory condition of arthritis to resolve the oedematous condition. Thus, the presence of these phytochemical constituents from B. hispida extract contributes to significant pharmacological activities.

Molecular Docking and Virtual Screening of Tetracera macrophylla Leaf Phytoconstituents Targeting Anticancer Therapy Development

Taslima Begum — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Globally, the incidence of cancer is rising at an alarming rate. Among various types, breast cancer was reported as the most prevalent cancer in females in 2022, while melanoma represents an aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by the malignant transformation of melanocytes. To address the urgent need for new anticancer drugs, traditional medicinal plants offer significant potential. Tetracera macrophylla is widely used by the inhabitants across Asia and Africa to treat diverse ailments, making it a promising candidate for investigation. The objective of the current study was to prepare a polar compound-based methanol extract of T. macrophylla leaves and identify bioactive compounds with potential anticancer activity. Methods: A sequential extraction technique was employed to obtain the methanol extract enriched in polar compounds, which was subsequently analysed using Q-ToF LCMS for compound identification. The identified compounds were then screened in silico against two cancer-related proteins (PDB IDs: 3OG7 and 3ERT) to evaluate their potential against melanoma and breast cancer. Lead compound selection was further refined through physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameter assessments. Results: The methanol extract (yield: 9.29%) revealed ten compounds, predominantly flavonoids. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated favourable binding energies and interactions of these compounds with the target proteins. Notably, eight compounds namely isovitexin, epigallocatechin 3-O-caffeate, 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone 7-sulfate, 7,8,4'-trihydroxyflavanone, 4,2',3',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone, urolithin A-3-O-glucuronide, epifisetinidol-4alpha-ol, and epicatechin monogallate exhibited drug-likeness properties. Conclusions: Collectively, this study provides a strong foundation for further research into the development of novel anticancer drugs derived from T. macrophylla leaves, targeting breast cancer and melanoma.

In Vitro Study of Carbonyl Thiourea Derivatives’ Cytotoxicity on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells

Maizatul Akma Ibrahim — 2026-07-31

Introduction: The global rise of Acanthamoeba keratitis infections has highlighted the shortcomings in the current treatments and prevention approaches for the disease. Therefore, this study is a continuation of our prior work and is intended to investigate the possible adverse effects of using carbonyl thiourea derivatives as alternative ocular drugs for amoebic keratitis on non-targeted human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro. Methods: The efficacy and safety profiles of two carbonyl thiourea derivatives, 2-(3-benzoylthioureido)-3-mercaptopropanoic acid (M1) and 2-(3-benzoylthioureido-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (M2), were tested on HCEC lines using the cytotoxicity assay and microscopic analysis. Results and Discussion: The carbonyl thiourea compounds were found to be non-toxic on HCEC with IC₅₀ of 37.73 µg.mL^-1 and 30.68 µg.mL^-1 on M1 and M2, respectively. These compounds have selectivity indices (SI) of 14.74 (M1) and 11.38 (M2), indicating moderate selectivity for the targeted Acanthamoeba cells. HCEC-treated cells continued to proliferate in a time-dependent manner without significantly altering the cell population by retaining 90% viability. However, the microscopic examination revealed that HCECs were poorly differentiated and disintegrated, with irregular forms after the compound treatment, as opposed to their original hexagonal morphology of the healthy viable cells. The AO/PI staining indicated that the thiourea compounds impaired HCEC membrane integrity. Conclusions: This study's findings are critical in providing relevant information on carbonyl thiourea compounds if they were to be proposed as anti-amoebic agents in treating or preventing Acanthamoeba keratitis infection.

A Phytochemical Screening and FTIR Analysis for Fractions of Ethanol Extract from Mitragyna speciosa leaves

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Zaiton So'ad — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Mitragyna speciosa, also referred to as kratom, has long been utilised for its stimulant and analgesic effects, which are mostly due to its high alkaloid content. Most of the study of M. speciosa utilised methanol as the solvent of extraction. However, ethanol is a more environmentally friendly and nontoxic solvent that can also be used for the extraction process. The purpose of this study was to use ethanol to extract phytochemicals from M. speciosa leaves and separate the bioactive compounds by using Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC). Methods: M. speciosa leaves underwent ethanol maceration followed by phytochemical screening with Dragendorffs, Shinoda, Salkowski, FeCl?, foam tests and VLC fractionation. The resulting five fractions were analysed by TLC and screened for alkaloids, phenolic, unsaturated compounds and flavonoids along with analysation of the functional groups by using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: Screening of the crude ethanol extract exhibits positive reactions for alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannins and saponin. Meanwhile, the TLC analysis of the fractions using solvent system n-hexane: ethyl acetate (30:20) shows presence of alkaloid compound with Rf value of 0.80 for fraction 3 and 0.83 for fraction 2,4 and 5 which aligns with the literature for mitragynine. FTIR results exhibit presence of important peaks of mitragynine such as C=O, N-H and C-H for the fractions while C=C, can only be found in fraction 3. Conclusion: This study supports the use of ethanol as solvent of extraction and proved that VLC is highly efficient in its ability to fractionate the ethanol extract of M. speciosa.

Comparative ultraviolet spectrophotometric assay and post-marketing potency evaluation of available brands of doxycycline hyclate capsules in Nigeria

Sa'ad Abdullahi — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline antibiotic in which a hydroxy group replaces the 5?-hydrogen, while the 6?-hydroxy group is replaced by hydrogen. It is used to inhibit bacterial protein synthesis and treat non-gonococcal urethritis and cervicitis, as well as exacerbations of bronchitis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and adult periodontitis. This study developed and validated an ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric method for the assay of doxycycline capsule formulations using 0.1N NaOH as the solvent and compared it with the previously developed and validated method, using 0.1N HCl. Methods: The UV methods were applied to evaluate the quality of marketed formulations by assessing identity, weight variation, and strength. Results and Discussion: Besides the detection wavelength of 265 nm versus 268 nm, the optical and validation parameters of the method using 0.1N NaOH as the assay solvent did not differ from the method using 0.1N HCl, as shown by the limits of detection [(µg/mL): 0.3200 versus 0.3219], limits of quantification [(µg/mL): 0.9698 versus 0.9755], and Sandell's sensitivity [(µg·cm^-2): 0.0311 versus 0.0255]. Of the six available brands of doxycycline tested, all passed the identity test, but only 66.67% met the USP specifications for dosage uniformity and doxycycline content. Conclusion: The new method proved to be simple, rapid, precise, accurate, and cost-effective, and compared favourably with the previously reported method using 0.1N HCl as the assay solvent. It was successfully used to assay the doxycycline content in capsule formulations.

Determination of Inorganic Metal Ions in Marketed Drugs Formulation via Flame Photometry

Maira Afzal — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Inorganic metal ions such as sodium, potassium, and calcium are crucial for the proper functioning of the human body. Various spectroscopic techniques have been employed for the quantitative and qualitative determination of these mineral ions, with flame emission spectroscopy being widely used for detecting metal ions like sodium, potassium, calcium, and lithium. Flame emission photometry is commonly applied to biological samples for estimating sodium, potassium, and calcium levels. This method has also been used to detect metal ions in wastewater, gasoline, cement, and blood. Methods: In the current study, the flame photometric technique has been utilized for the quantitative analysis of different inorganic metal ions (Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium) in various pharmaceutical drug formulations. The flame photometric technique has been calibrated with these metal ion standard solutions. This calibrated technique has employed for calculating the concentration (mg) of these metal ions in different pharmaceutical drugs formulations and compared with the marketed concentration (mg). This technique is found to be very reliable for sodium metal ion-based drugs such as Epival (light green), Benzyl penicillin sodium (violet), Diclofenac sodium (cyan) etc, while the calculated amounts of potassium and calcium were lower than the reported values in potassium-based drugs such as DV-Losartan (dark blue), UROCIT-K (yellow), Diclofenac potassium (violet), etc and .calcium-based drugs such as Calcium gluconate injection (light green), Caltrix, Caldree (dark blue), Calcium -P (violet) etc. Similarly, this method is validated with linearity and goodness of fit values of sodium, potassium, and calcium based drugs, such as sodium=0.999x-0.641, R2=0.994, potassium: y=0.943x+3.753, R2=0.995, and calcium: y=0.766x+20.279, R2=0.924, respectively. The proposed technique is well validated and can be employed for the estimation of other inorganic metal ions. Results: This study utilized the flame photometric technique to quantify inorganic metal ions, sodium, potassium, and calcium in various pharmaceutical formulations. The concentrations of the ions (mg) in different pharmaceutical drug samples were determined and compared with their labeled marketed values. The findings highlight the accuracy and reliability of flame photometry in assessing metal ion content in pharmaceutical products.

Conceptualising Colour-Changing Expiry Labels for Medication Safety in Pharmaceutical Packaging

Pinar Taghizadeh Kordlar — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Expired medicines pose significant risks to patient safety and contribute to pharmaceutical waste. In most pharmacy settings, expiry monitoring remains manual, which is time-consuming and prone to error. This paper presents a novel conceptual framework for smart colour-changing labels that visually indicate remaining shelf life through green, yellow, and red stages. The proposed system integrates principles of pharmaceutical technology, materials science, and chemical kinetics to support proactive medication safety and inventory management. Potential mechanisms include structural-coloured polymers and controlled-release microcapsules, with mathematical modelling linking label colour transitions to expected drug potency over time. While no prototype has yet been developed, this work establishes a theoretical foundation for future experimental validation, feasibility assessment, and integration into pharmaceutical packaging workflows. The proposed approach has the potential to enhance expiry tracking, reduce medication errors, optimise stock rotation, and improve confidence in pharmaceutical quality and safety.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Coaxial Core-Shell Electrospun Curcuma xanthorrhiza Nanofibres with Antibacterial Activity

Muhammad Taher — 2026-07-31

Introduction: Chronic wounds are a major global health concern because their slow healing increases the risk of infection. Conventional dressings often fail to provide both effective antibacterial protection and optimal moisture control. Electrospun nanofibre membranes, with porous structures that resemble the extracellular matrix, offer a promising alternative. Curcuma xanthorrhiza, a traditional Southeast Asian rhizome, is rich in bioactive compounds such as curcumin and xanthorrhizol, which are known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Methods: In this study, coaxial electrospinning was used to create core–shell nanofibre membranes, featuring polycaprolactone as the core and a gelatine/chitosan blend as the shell. Curcuma extract was incorporated at 1% (w/w) into the core. The resulting fibres were examined for their morphology, chemical composition, and thermal stability using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using the disc diffusion method. Results and Discussion: Nanofibres loaded with Curcuma extract were smooth, continuous, and nanoscale in diameter, while fibres without extract were thicker due to a higher polymer concentration. The average fibre diameter ranged from 120.3 to 284.2 nm. Chemical analysis confirmed successful incorporation of the extract, with characteristic functional groups preserved and clear interactions between the polymers and bioactive compounds. Thermal analysis showed the fibres were stable up to 300°C. Antibacterial testing of C. xanthorrhiza-loaded nanofibres demonstrated no activity against S. aureus (0 mm) and E. coli (0 mm). Conclusion: In this study, C. xanthorrhiza-loaded nanofibres exhibit promising physical and chemical properties in their formulation. While the antibacterial activity was limited at the current tested concentration, it is suggested that the loading capacity of the extract be increased.