Archives of Pharmacy

Microencapsulation techniques for cannabinoids: pharmaceutical approaches, technological challenges, and formulation perspectives

2026-02-25T21:19:17+01:00

Microencapsulation is a widely applied strategy for protecting bioactive compounds by entrapping them within a polymeric or lipid-based shell, thereby enhancing their stability and enabling controlled release. In recent years, the growing number of applications of cannabinoids has driven increasing interest in microencapsulation as a strategy to overcome challenges related to poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability, and limited bioavailability. The aim of this review is to summarize and evaluate commonly employed microencapsulation techniques for obtaining cannabinoid delivery systems. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and Embase databases, resulting in the selection of over 50 original research articles and reviews. The search strategy employed combinations of keywords including cannabis AND microencapsulation methods, cannabinoids AND microencapsulation techniques, hempseed oil AND spray-drying OR coacervation technology, and cannabis industry AND microencapsulation. The findings indicate that the most frequently investigated microencapsulation techniques for cannabinoids include spray-chilling, spray-cooling, fluidized-bed coating, liposomal entrapment, extrusion, freeze-drying, coacervation, and emulsification. These techniques differ in their encapsulation efficiency, scalability, particle size distribution, and suitability for specific delivery routes. Overall, microencapsulation has demonstrated significant potential to improve the physicochemical stability of cannabinoids, protect them from environmental degradation, and enable controlled or targeted release. In conclusion, microencapsulation represents a promising and rapidly evolving approach for the development of advanced cannabinoid formulations, offering innovative solutions for enhanced stability, defined delivery performance, leading to potential of therapeutic applicability.

The Placebo Effect in Mental Health: Psychological, Neurobiological, and Ethical Aspects

2026-02-25T21:19:18+01:00

The placebo effect is a psychobiological phenomenon in which patients’ expectations, prior experiences, and social context influence health outcomes, even in the absence of active pharmacological treatment. Key mechanisms include expectancy, verbal suggestion, classical conditioning, and social-contextual factors, underpinned by neurobiological processes involving endogenous opioids, dopamine, and related neural circuits. In mental health and psychotherapy, placebo effects are particularly relevant, as the therapeutic alliance, empathy, and belief in treatment can significantly enhance outcomes. Ethical applications such as open-label and dose-extending placebos preserve patient autonomy while leveraging expectancy and learning to improve clinical results. Recognizing and integrating placebo mechanisms into clinical practice highlights the interaction of psychological, neurobiological, and ethical factors, offering a holistic approach to treatment and enhancing therapy outcomes in conditions like depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.

Cytotoxicity and ROS scavenging potential of Teucrium montanum L. methanolic extracts in HaCaT cells

2026-02-25T21:19:18+01:00

Teucrium montanum L. (TM) is a perennial species of the Lamiaceae family, traditionally used in folk medicine for its diverse therapeutic properties. Although previous studies have explored the biological activity of TM extracts, their effects on skin cells have not been investigated. This study examined the cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of two methanolic extracts of T. montanum (TM1 and TM2), obtained from serpentinite and limestone, across a concentration range of 12.5–400 µg/mL on human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Both extracts showed a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect in the MTT assay, with no significant impact on cell survival up to 100 µg/mL. At higher concentrations (200 and 400 µg/mL), cell viability decreased significantly, with TM1 exhibiting greater cytotoxicity than TM2. Antioxidant potential was assessed by the H₂DCFDA assay, revealing that neither extract altered basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, but higher concentrations increased ROS formation under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. These results suggest that TM1 and TM2 are well tolerated at lower concentrations, but may induce oxidative stress and cytotoxicity at higher concentrations. The findings highlight the importance of dose optimisation for potential therapeutic or cosmetic applications of TM extracts and further phytochemical characterisation to identify the active constituents responsible for these effects.