25 research outputs found
Berberine nanoparticles with enhanced in vitro bioavailability: characterization and antimicrobial activity
No full textMuhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada,1,2 Abdul Sadiq,2 Hani S Faidah,3 Muhammad Khurram,4 Muhammad Usman Amin,4 Abdul Haseeb,5,6 Maria Kakar4 1Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan; 2Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Pakistan; 3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Pharmacy, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan; 5Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Peneng, Malaysia; 6Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Background: Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid widely used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine to treat illnesses such as hypertension and inflammatory conditions, and as an anticancer and hepato-protective agent. Berberine has low oral bioavailability due to poor aqueous solubility and insufficient dissolution rate, which can reduce the efficacy of drugs taken orally. In this study, evaporative precipitation of nanosuspension (EPN) and anti-solvent precipitation with a syringe pump (APSP) were used to address the problems of solubility, dissolution rate and bioavailability of berberine. Methods: Semi-crystalline nanoparticles (NPs) of 90–110 nm diameter for APSP and 65–75 nm diameter for EPN were prepared and then characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). Thereafter, drug content solubility and dissolution studies were undertaken. Berberine and its NPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activity. Results: The results indicate that the NPs have significantly increased solubility and dissolution rate due to conversion of the crystalline structure to a semi-crystalline form. Conclusion: Berberine NPs produced by both APSP and EPN methods have shown promising activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts, with NPs prepared through the EPN method showing superior results compared to those made with the APSP method and the unprocessed drug. Keywords: berberine, EPN, APSP, bioavailability, dissolution, antibacterial activity, precipitation metho
China\u27s Strategic Manoeuvring in the Palestine-Israel Conflict: A Power Transition Theory
No full textIn a transitional global landscape, this paper investigates the China’s involvement in Middle Eastern political events pertaining to Israel and Palestine conflict. It is to evaluate China’s regional power using the Power Transition Theory to determine the degree of China’s influence, its goals and drawbacks with major global powers comparatively. By employing historiography approach and comparative analysis using qualitative research methods. The research delves into mixed method approach of primary and secondary sources. The hostile global political systems, regional alliances, and internal political difficulties in the Israel-Palestine conflict have damaged its power despite China’s diplomatic efforts and economic investments. These insights pave the research contends that China\u27s Middle Eastern engagement is a complicated interaction between its capabilities and constraints shaped by the power dynamics and worldwide linkages
China's Interest in Central Asia: Economic Cooperation, Energy Security and the Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative
No full textThe breakdown of the Soviet Union provided an opportunity for some major powers to conduct political and economic development in Central Asia. For example, abundant natural resources and raw material provided a powerful boost to the economic development of Central Asia. This thesis's research purpose is based on the questions: what is the interest that associates Central Asia with China? -Especially in the political and economic fields. Why do China and Central Asian countries desperately need each other's resources? How will China gain these benefits within the framework of multilateral and bilateral interactions? How will the increasing interaction between China and Central Asian countries affect the "One Belt One Road" (OBOR) project? This thesis will also clarify the impact of the project on the economies of underdeveloped and developing countries in Central and South Asia.
The current association between Central Asia and China depends on geographic, political, economic, and security factors. Central Asia and China are geographically neighbours. For the nations of Central Asia, China is an estuary. Central Asian countries can help Beijing establish inland exchanges with Western Asia and Europe. Politically, China and the nations of Central Asia have a long history. Central Asia and China hold similar views on many national and global matters and have formed favourable political relations; economically, China and Central Asian countries have complementary advantages and provide the possibility for extensive cooperation: For China, Central Asian energy, metal, leather products, and other commodities and raw materials' markets are essential. Simultaneously, Chinese industrial, consumer, and agricultural product markets are highly attractive to Central Asian countries. In terms of security, China and Central Asian countries have common interests: combating the threats of racist, religious extremists, transnational crime, terrorism, and regional conflicts is a common goal, and maintaining stability in the border areas of Central Asia and western China will benefit as well. Although there have been thousands of years of cultural exchanges and business between Central Asia and China, it was not until the Central Asian countries became independent that they finally established an equal and mutually beneficial relationship. The past ten years of exchanges and trade have laid a good foundation for China and Central Asia to successfully establish strategic cooperative relations in the twentieth century. In addition, the establishment of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) has built favourable conditions and new openings for the development of China-Central Asia relations.
Nevertheless, there are still many problems between China and Central Asian countries. The main differences between their opinions are economic issues such as bilateral trade and water use. There are also different opinions on internal and external policies
Fabrication, characterization and in vitro evaluation of silibinin nanoparticles: an attempt to enhance its oral bioavailability
No full textMuhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada,1,2 Abdul Sadiq,1 Shahzeb Khan,1 Hani S Faidah,3 Naseemullah,1 Muhammad Khurram,4 Muhammad Usman Amin,5 Abdul Haseeb6 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Lower Dir, 2Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Pharmacy, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Upper Dir, 5Department of Pharmacology, KMU Institute of Medical Sciences, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; 6Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Background: Silibinin has gained in importance in the past few decades as a hepatoprotector and is used widely as oral therapy for toxic liver damage, liver cirrhosis, and chronic inflammatory liver diseases, as well as for the treatment of different types of cancers. Unfortunately, it has low aqueous solubility and inadequate dissolution, which results in low oral bioavailability.Materials and methods: In this study, nanoparticles (NPs) of silibinin, which is a hydrophobic drug, were manufactured using two cost-effective methods. Antisolvent precipitation with a syringe pump (APSP) and evaporative precipitation of nanosuspension (EPN) were used. The prepared NPs were characterized using different analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) and were sifted for their bioavailability through in vitro dissolution and solubility studies. Moreover, the prepared NPs were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against a battery of bacteria and yeast.Results: DSC and XRD studies indicated that the prepared NPs were amorphous in nature, with more solubility and dissolution compared to the crystalline form of this drug. NPs prepared through the EPN method had better results than those prepared using the APSP method. Antimicrobial activities of the NPs were improved compared to the unprocessed drugs, while having comparable activities to standard antimicrobial drugs.Conclusion: Results indicate that the NPs have significantly increased solubility, dissolution rate, and antimicrobial activities due to the conversion of crystalline structure into amorphous form. Keywords: silibinin, nanoparticles, antimicrobial activity, solubility, dissolutio
Indian News Media Versus the Belt and Road Initiative: A Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis
No full textThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a Chinese geopolitical initiative, has attracted global attention. The BRI has a significant impact on international commerce, regional politics, and global dynamics, with India occupying a central position in the initiative’s strategic objectives and economic prospects. This study examines the representation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Indian news media. This image is significant for its reflection of the public and government perception of the initiative, which in turn informs India’s response and policy towards this significant international development. This research employs corpus-based critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine a diverse array of articles from prominent Indian newspapers and digital news outlets. This method is empirical in its study of media language, themes, and narratives, providing numerical results on the frequency or occurrence of specific language as well as pattern variations pertaining to discourse. Additionally, it offers qualitative insights regarding the situation and impact of the language in question. The research findings indicate that the Indian news media plays a significant role in shaping the discourse surrounding the BRI.La Iniciativa de la Franja y la Ruta (BRI), un proyecto geopolítico de China, ha atraído la atención mundial. La BRI tiene un impacto significativo en el comercio internacional, la política regional y la dinámica global, y la India ocupa una posición central en los objetivos estratégicos y las perspectivas económicas de esta. Este estudio examina la representación de la Iniciativa de la Franja y la Ruta (BRI) en los medios de comunicación indios. Esta imagen es importante porque refleja la percepción pública y gubernamental de la iniciativa, que a su vez informa la respuesta y la política de la India hacia este importante proyecto internacional. Esta investigación emplea el análisis crítico del discurso (CDA) basado en corpus para examinar una variedad diversa de artículos destacados de periódicos y medios de comunicación digitales indios. Este método es empírico en su estudio del lenguaje, los temas y las narrativas de los medios, y proporciona resultados numéricos sobre la frecuencia o la aparición de un lenguaje específico, así como variaciones de patrones relacionados con el discurso. Además, ofrece información cualitativa sobre la situación y el impacto del lenguaje en cuestión. Los hallazgos de la investigación indican que los medios de comunicación indios desempeñan un papel importante en la configuración del discurso en torno a la BRI
Sino-Africa relations: Gradual changes in Chinese foreign strategy towards African countries
No full textChina is one of the world\u27s foremost economic powers, affecting many countries\u27 economies and political issues. China standing by the five principles of peaceful coexistence, is ready to cultivate friendly cooperation and ties with all countries that contribute to international peace, security, and mutual prosperity. Africa is an important factor for global stability and prosperity with the highest number of developing countries. Africa is still of considerable significance to the Chinese Government. Therefore, the Chinese government wishes to present China\u27s African strategy and its action to implement them and its plans for cooperation in different areas to facilitate the steady development of China-Africa ties in the long period. However, China\u27s foreign policies are changing and developing recently. This study utilized qualitative analysis to identify the collaboration and relations between African countries and China to know how Chinese foreign strategy changes Africa\u27s strategic ramifications and repercussions. The findings showed that the partnership between China and Africa by win-win strategy, from moral emphasis throughout the colonial phase to tactical considerations and non-intervention to constructive involvement on the continent, are three strands of foreign strategy shifts
Japan\u27s priorities in Taiwan: Its impacts on Japanese relations with America and China
No full textAmerica-Japan partnership is now at the core of the America-led defence system in the East Asia. The unresolved state of Taiwan is already one of the worst security conditions in the region in the terms of this partnership. It may contribute to a big confrontation of one or both countries with China. The broader Taiwan-Japan-China-America ties usually regard Taiwan and Japan as the least influential combination imaginable. Despite this fact, the depth of engagement, hard to categorize and with great potential to affect stability and security in the field, is reversed from this tertiary regional connection. Therefore, Japan\u27s major goal to balance the power with Taiwan is to preserve and develop constructive de-facto state-to-state ties between the liberal and democratic powers of similar consciousness, both of which are scared of the Chinese control. This paper discusses the specific ties between Japan and Taiwan in conjunction with Japanese domestic priorities and analyses the repercussions for America-Japan cooperation in the future. Especially about Japan, the American and Taiwanese governments should identify areas of difference early on and resolve emerging issues within the alliance\u27s auspices
Russian Arms Deals: Implications for Regional Politics and Economy
No full textThis article analyses the role of Russia’s arms deals in international politics and its insinuations for the domestic economy. Arms trading has been well recognized as a tool for executing a nation’s foreign strategy. Therefore, exploring the drivers behind arms exports uncovers a nation’s priorities. Even though the relationship between the US and Russia relationship has worsened since Putin took power, Moscow has steadily increased its weapons sales in a few other geographic territories. This article examines Russian military exports to China and India to understand Russia’s thought process behind its export policy. The article further contends that international politics has presented itself as a key factor in devising the policies and procedures associated with Russia’s arms deals. Although Russian military exports have benefited the domestic economy in various ways, particularly in the early years of Putin’s administration, to create a polycentric world and strengthen Russia’s status as a regional power, Russia also utilized arms exports to preserve leverage and influence on its allies
CPEC in the Shadows of Fifth Generation Warfare and the Dynamics of Propaganda Model
No full textPurpose – The clear patterns of bias and propaganda such as narrative framing and selective reporting are severely affecting the public opinion and policymakers. Overall, the study shows that media depiction of CPEC conditioned by the propagandistic model and 5GW strategies carries deep meanings for global politics. In addition, there is the necessity to increase media literacy and strategic communication so as to direct the complications of these projects. Transparency and international cooperation become important for regional stability as well as informed public discourse.
Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative analysis of media content is carried out for this research across the various geopolitical regions about the interpretation of CPEC. It is also supplemented with extensive literature review and expert opinions. Thereby, providing a comprehensive view of the media landscape and the underlying narratives about CPEC.
Findings – The findings analyzed the variations in CPEC’s portrayal dominated by factors like media ownership, funding and geopolitical agendas.
Originality/value– This study uniquely integrates CPEC, 5GW and the Propaganda Model, highlighting media-driven narrative warfare’s impact on public perception, policymaking and geopolitical stability, offering fresh insights into strategic communication and information operations
Indian News Media Versus the Belt and Road Initiative: A Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis
No full textLa Iniciativa de la Franja y la Ruta (BRI), un proyecto geopolítico de China, ha atraído la atención mundial. La BRI tiene un impacto significativo en el comercio internacional, la política regional y la dinámica global, y la India ocupa una posición central en los objetivos estratégicos y las perspectivas económicas de esta. Este estudio examina la representación de la Iniciativa de la Franja y la Ruta (BRI) en los medios de comunicación indios. Esta imagen es importante porque refleja la percepción pública y gubernamental de la iniciativa, que a su vez informa la respuesta y la política de la India hacia este importante proyecto internacional. Esta investigación emplea el análisis crítico del discurso (CDA) basado en corpus para examinar una variedad diversa de artículos destacados de periódicos y medios de comunicación digitales indios. Este método es empírico en su estudio del lenguaje, los temas y las narrativas de los medios, y proporciona resultados numéricos sobre la frecuencia o la aparición de un lenguaje específico, así como variaciones de patrones relacionados con el discurso. Además, ofrece información cualitativa sobre la situación y el impacto del lenguaje en cuestión. Los hallazgos de la investigación indican que los medios de comunicación indios desempeñan un papel importante en la configuración del discurso en torno a la BRI
