Journal of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology

Estrogens represent a class of cholesterol-derived female sex hormones, essential in the regulation of numerous physiological processes. On the basis of their origin, they can be classified into endogenous (synthesized within the body) or exogenous (introduced from external sources) compounds. In humans, four types of endogenous estrogens have been identified, namely estrone, 17-β-estradiol, estriol, and estetrol. Despite their similarities in chemical structures, they have distinct receptor affinities and functional roles at different life stages. This review presents, in addition to an overview of their diverse physiological functions, a discussion of the three estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ, and GPER1) currently investigated as possible targets in the development of new therapeutic strategies for hormone-dependent breast cancer. Full article

1. Background/Objectives: Calcium phosphate biomaterials (CPBs), including hydroxyapatite (HA), are among the most commonly used biomaterials in dentistry due to their biocompatibility and similarity to the body’s hard tissues. This review aims to highlight the clinical applications of CPBs in dentistry, focusing mainly on hydroxyapatite and its modern formulations. 2. Methods: A literature search was conducted by analyzing data published up to May 2025 in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using keyword combinations such as “Biomaterials”, “dentistry”, “calcium phosphate”, and “hydroxyapatite”. 3. Results: The findings of this work reveal the wide clinical use of HA, including tooth remineralization, implant coating, bone grafting, and the treatment of dental hypersensitivity. Furthermore, the novel formulations of hydroxyapatite have substantially improved its therapeutic and physicochemical characteristics. 4. Conclusions: The clinical relevance of HA and its modern formulations emphasizes the need for continuous research that will contribute to further enhancement of HA’s therapeutic outcomes. Full article

Cervical cancer remains a significant global health issue, closely linked to persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Vitamin D, recognized primarily for its role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism, has emerged as a promising preventive and therapeutic agent in cancer management. Recent clinical studies have suggested that vitamin D may effectively prevent cervical cancer and aid in the regression of early cervical dysplasia (CIN 1 orc LSIL). However, its therapeutic impact appears limited for advanced cervical dysplasia (CIN 2/3, HSIL) and established cervical cancer cases. Due to the progressive nature of cervical lesions, vitamin D supplementation represents a potentially valuable strategy for secondary prevention. This review critically evaluates current clinical evidence, underscores key insights into vitamin D’s role in cervical cancer management, and highlights existing gaps requiring further research. Full article

Porphyrins are a class of naturally occurring intensely colored compounds (ranging in color from red to violet) with a macrocyclic structure. Both as free base and containing a central metal (metalloporphyrins), they have found various applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields. One of the most important properties of these compounds is represented by their tunable properties, given the various metals and substituents that can be employed. The present study dealt with the investigation, by means of computational chemistry, of the energetic and geometric properties of a series of proposed Dy(III)-porphyrins. The influence of various substituents grafted off the porphyrin macrocycle is discussed as a function of the calculated properties, like the frontier molecular orbitals energies, molecular area and volume, polarizability, and polar surface area. Full article

Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer, and the development of new therapeutic strategies is essential. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Punica granatum (PG) peel extract offers a sustainable approach with potential biomedical applications. Methods: The human melanoma cell line RPMI-7951 was used in this study to assess the effects of AgNPs which were produced with ethanolic PG peel extract. The MTT assay was used to measure cytotoxicity, and morphological analysis, Hoechst, and mitochondrial staining were used to assess the cellular response. Results: PG-AgNPs induced a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability, with significant effects observed at concentrations of 25 and 30 μg/mL. Treated cells showed decreased confluency, shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and mitochondrial changes. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that PG-AgNPs exert cytotoxic effects on melanoma cells and highlight their potential as promising candidates for anticancer therapies, supporting further validation in in vivo models. Full article

Despite its notable anticancer potential, betulinic acid (BA) exhibits limited bioavailability that hampers its therapeutic efficacy. To address this issue, betulinic acid fatty esters were previously synthesized by employing stearic (St-BA), palmitic (Pal-BA), and butyric acids (But-BA), and further incorporated into surface-modified liposomal formulations (St-BA-Lip, Pal-BA-Lip, But-BA-Lip). The BA derivatives, as well as their liposomal formulations, were assessed against three human cancer cell lines: colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells, ovarian teratocarcinoma PA-1, and alveolar epithelial adenocarcinoma A549 cells. All compounds exhibited cytotoxic effects in a time- and dose-dependent manner, more potently than the positive control, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). But-BA-Lip exhibited the best anticancer effects against all tested cancer cell lines, recording lower IC50 values than the parent compound (BA) and 5-FU (15.55 μM against Caco-2 cells, 48.16 μM against PA-1 cells, and 25.3 μM against A549 cells). In silico molecular docking studies revealed that Pal-BA showed superior binding affinity to AKT/PKB than the parent compound, BA, while But-BA showed enhanced interaction with EGFR1. Both derivatives achieved 93% of the native ligand’s docking score, highlighting their therapeutic potential through structural modifications. Full article