Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Therapeutic potential of phytochemical compounds in cardiovascular disease: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Kahdr Alatawi","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00111-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00111-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the world's leading cause of death and a major global healthcare burden. Concerns about side effects and long-term therapy restrictions have raised interest in supplementary therapeutic approaches, even if traditional pharmaceutical and surgical procedures are still crucial to the management of CVD. Evidence from published experimental, clinical, and mechanistic investigations that were indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between 2014 and 2025 is compiled in this review. Through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and endothelial-protective properties, plant-derived phytochemicals such as flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates, and sulfur-containing compounds have considerable cardioprotective potential. Vascular function, oxidative stress, platelet aggregation, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism have all benefited by compounds like quercetin, catechins, curcumin, resveratrol, and lycopene. However, its therapeutic translation is still constrained by issues with bioavailability, dosage uniformity, and clinical validation. Although more extensive clinical research is needed to determine their long-term efficacy and safety, the evidence now available indicates that phytochemicals may be beneficial supplements to traditional cardiovascular treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13447659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148680520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Melittin attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriatic dermatitis in mice: a role for autophagy activation via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway suppression.","authors":"Saeed A Hafez, Asmaa A Ahmed, Abeer Elkhoely, Amany A E Ahmed","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00105-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00105-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite multiple therapeutic strategies, a significant proportion of psoriatic patients fail to achieve complete/sustained disease clearance, highlighting the need for effective adjuvant or alternative therapy. Melittin, the main component in bee venom, exhibits valuable anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in various diseases; meanwhile, its effect on psoriasis has not been explored yet. Our study aims to investigate the anti-psoriatic effect of melittin with possible involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) and the autophagy pathways. Mice were divided into 5 groups: Control group, Imiquimod (IMQ) group, and groups (3-5) received daily intraperitoneal injections of methotrexate (MTX, 1 mg/kg), melittin (40 mg/kg), or melittin (80 mg/kg), respectively. All groups except the control received topical IMQ for seven days. Melittin 80 demonstrated superior efficacy, significantly reducing the clinical Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score by 60% and epidermal thickening by 58.55%. Mel 80 decreased malondialdehyde by 62.32%, increased glutathione by 1.44-fold, and reduced nuclear factor-kappa B p65, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17 levels by 72.10%, 83.70%, 61.54%, and 58.09%, 64.55%, and 55.19%, indicating suppression of the pathogenic IL-23/IL-17 axis. Furthermore, Melittin 80 inhibited PI3K/Akt pathway, decreasing p-Akt and PI3K by 50.88% and 57.30%, leading to downregulation of phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) by 58.53% and a 3.01-fold increase in Beclin-1, indicating restored autophagy. Epidermal proliferation was reduced, with a 58.80% reduction in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and 46.51% reduction in Ki67 expression. These results suggest that melittin may represent a promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent for psoriasis, acting through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibition and autophagy restoration.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13447632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148680437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Formononetin attenuates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via multiple osteoimmunological pathways: evidence from zebrafish and network pharmacology.","authors":"Xuting Song, Min He, Jingran Cui, Yiming Wang, Zhenhai Cui, Mengmeng Sun, Meiying Jin","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00108-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00108-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoporosis is a prevalent metabolic bone disease that requires multi-target therapeutic strategies. Formononetin (FMN), a bioactive isoflavone derived from Astragalus species, has shown potential in promoting bone health; however, its systemic mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the anti-osteoporotic effects of FMN using a glucocorticoid-induced bone loss model in zebrafish. Our results demonstrate that FMN significantly and dose-dependently promotes bone mineralization and effectively reverses glucocorticoid-induced skeletal damage. By integrating network pharmacology and molecular docking with experimental validation, we identified a multi-target mechanism underlying FMN's protective effects. FMN was found to regulate several key signaling pathways, including the PI3K-AKT and estrogen pathways, and its therapeutic impact was confirmed by the rectified expression of core genes involved in bone homeostasis and inflammation. This study reveals that FMN exerts its anti-osteoporotic effects through the coordinated regulation of growth factor signaling, calcium homeostasis, and the oxidative stress-bone metabolism axis. Our findings provide a systematic theoretical foundation for developing FMN as a promising natural therapeutic agent for osteoporosis through the modulation of osteoimmunology.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13433717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148664780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-amorphization for solubility and dissolution rate improvement: the case of low-crystallization-tendency drugs.","authors":"Arif Budiman, Naila Dwi Rahmaharva, Salma Chiara Putri, Stella Aurelia Huang, Justine Frederica, Marshella Dhanu Ardhita, Melsa Destia, Jeremy Marcelino, Salma Amaliah, Laila Subra, Diah Lia Aulifa","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00110-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00110-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poor aqueous solubility and limited oral bioavailability remain major challenges in drug development. Although amorphous forms can improve solubility and dissolution, their physical stability is often compromised by recrystallization. Co-amorphous systems (CAMS) have therefore been extensively investigated as a strategy to stabilize amorphous drugs and enhance their performance. Nevertheless, compounds classified as Type III according to Baird et al. (2010) are generally considered good glass formers with inherently low recrystallization tendencies, raising questions regarding the necessity and additional benefits of CAMS for this type of compounds. This review aims to evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of CAMS for drug classified as good glass formers, with particular emphasis in their impact on solubility, dissolution behavior, and physical stability. Relevant publications were systematically identified through major scientific databases and search engines using keywords \"co-amorphous system\" and \"coformer\". A total of 18 studies involving Type III drugs were included and critically analyzed. Analysis of the included studies revealed that CAMS improved aqueous solubility by approximately 1.7-fold to more 3900-fold and significantly enhanced dissolution performance, with reported increases in dissolution parameters ranging from 1.75-fold to 255-fold. In addition, several formulations exhibited rapid and near complete drug release as well as prolonged physical stability of up to seven months. These effects were mainly driven by intermolecular interactions that suppressed recrystallization and enhanced supersaturation. Overall, CAMS improved solubility, dissolution, and physical stability, indicating benefits beyond amorphous stabilization even for good glass formers.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13424063/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148621888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adherence to evidence-based guidelines for the management of candiduria in a tertiary care center in Riyadh: A retrospective cross-sectional study.","authors":"Mohammed Alessa, Sulaiman Alzunaydi, Hattan Y Alfaqeeh, Khalifa M Binkhamis, Rawan Alzaidi, Thamer Almangour","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00102-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00102-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>According to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) 2016 guidelines for the management of candidiasis, the presence of Candida in the urine in asymptomatic patients is usually a colonization rather than an infection, which does not require antifungals treatment. This study aims to assess the management of candiduria at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in comparison to IDSA guidelines and its impact on patient outcomes. This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All adult hospitalized patients (≥ 18 years old) who had a positive urine culture for a Candida species from Jan 2023 to Dec 2023 were included in the study. All Patients' data were extracted from electronic health records. IRB approval (E-23-8172) was granted. A total of 217 urine cultures that were positive for a Candida species were included in our study. 166 (76.5%) candiduria episodes were managed in accordance with the IDSA recommendations, while 51 (23.5%) were treated against these recommendations. Urinary symptoms were present significantly more in those who were treated against IDSA recommendations (4.2% vs 74.5%, P < 0.00001). The in-hospital mortality rate (36.7% vs 29.4%, P = 0.34) did not differ significantly between the two groups. This study showed that around 77% of candiduria patients were managed according to the IDSA guidelines. However, while the degree of adherence to the guidelines was high in asymptomatic patients, most of the symptomatic patients were managed inappropriately. Adherence to the guidelines' recommendations did not significantly affect patients' outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13415699/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148609161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytochemicals with potential NMDAR-inhibitory activities: a review of neuroprotective mechanisms against excitotoxicity.","authors":"Abdulmohsin J Alamoudi","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00101-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00101-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) that play a crucial role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. However, NMDAR overstimulation is a critical pathological feature in neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury. This excitotoxic cascade triggers massive intracellular calcium influx, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ultimately driving neuronal apoptosis. In this regard, phytochemicals have emerged as safe, multitargeting NMDAR inhibitors with significant therapeutic potential. This review synthesizes current experimental evidence regarding the neuroprotective potential of major phytochemical classes, including glycosides (e.g., vitexin, ginsenosides), polyphenols (e.g., quercetin, resveratrol), alkaloids (e.g., cytisine, huperzine A), and terpenoids (e.g., bilobalide, fucoxanthin). The results of these studies demonstrate that these bioactive compounds mitigate excitotoxicity via multiple mechanisms, including direct receptor blockade, inhibiting specific subunits (such as GluN2B), and downregulating NMDAR expression. Furthermore, they restore neuronal homeostasis by modulating downstream signaling pathways; thereby suppressing neuroinflammation and apoptosis. It can be concluded that phytochemicals represent a vital reservoir of modulatory agents that protect against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. Hence, they offer a compelling framework for future drug discovery in CNS therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13400523/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148580868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biogenic chitosan-encapsulated Cu/ZnO nanocomposite surface coating inhibits MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm establishment on orthopedic implants.","authors":"Bushra Uzair, Zukhra Abbasi, Fehmida Fasim, Shoaib Alam, Apori Samuel Obeng, Furong Tian","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00098-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00098-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Orthopedic implant-associated infections (IAIs), predominantly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, represent a major clinical challenge due to antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation, which together contribute to their chronic nature. This research presents a biogenic biofilm-resistant chitosan encapsulated Cu/ZnO nanocoating (CS-Cu/ZnO NC) synthesized using Euphorbia thymofolia metabolites and applied on orthopedic implant surface (Tubular bone locked stainless steel plates). The synthesized CS-Cu/ZnO NCs were characterized physicochemically (UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM) and biologically (antibacterial, antibiofilm, antivirulence, hemolysis and cytotoxicity). Microstructural analysis using UV-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the successful synthesis, crystallinity and integration of Cu/ZnO into the chitosan matrix. SEM confirmed that a thin uniform coating was formed by the layer-by-layer method compared to the conventional dip coating method. CS-Cu/ZnO NCs at MIC level (4 µg/mL) reduced virulence traits of MDR P. aeruginosa, such as motility behavior, pyocyanin production, and biofilm production by 90%, which is important for pathogenicity. These coatings demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy (34 ± 1 mm), achieving a 90% reduction in P. aeruginosa populations within 4 h with 5% of Cu/ZnO NCs while exhibiting minimal cytotoxicity (< 5%) on osteoblast cell lines at the concentration range (6-10 µg/mL). Additionally, this coating stops the adhesion of P. aeruginosa biofilms on implant surfaces due to the adhesive and antimicrobial properties of chitosan and Cu/ZnO. This study demonstrates the potential of biogenic CS-Cu/ZnO NCs nanocoatings as an antibiofilm surface engineering strategy to address current limitations in preventing MDR biofilm-associated orthopedic implant infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13388609/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148537132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging the clinical trial gap in Saudi Arabia: a multi-stakeholder conference-based consensus on strategic initiatives for global competitiveness and patient inclusion.","authors":"Majed Al Jeraisy, Eva Turgonyi, Vladimir Misik, Ahmed Alaskar","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00099-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00099-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The clinical trial ecosystem of Saudi Arabia has advanced significantly, with innovative industry-sponsored clinical trials (iCTs) growing by 27% from 2018 to 2023, reaching 51.4% in the first half of 2025. However, the Kingdom remains underrepresented in global research. This study aimed to quantify this gap and develop strategies to enhance Saudi Arabia's competitiveness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed-methods research design was employed. Phase 1 involved a quantitative landscape analysis of historical and current iCT data (2016-2023) using the LongTaal Clinical Trial Informatics platform. Phase 2 involved a qualitative assessment of expert input derived from two national clinical trial conferences (2022 and 2024), in which expert panel discussions and documented outputs were used to contextualize findings and inform strategic recommendations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2023, Saudi Arabia's iCT market share was < 0.06%, significantly lower than its ~ 0.9% share of global pharmaceutical consumption. This 16-fold disparity highlights a critical lack of patient representation. Economic modelling indicates that achieving parity could increase annual research and development (R&D) investment from ~ USD 46 million to over USD 740 million. Insights derived from conference-based expert discussions highlighted regulatory timelines, infrastructure fragmentation, and insufficient incentives as primary barriers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To bridge this gap, the authors propose operationalizing a centralised national body to serve as a \"one-stop shop\" for global sponsors. Strategic priorities include harmonizing regulatory timelines to 6 months, establishing distributed Centres of Excellence, and implementing direct R&D financial incentives. These measures are essential to ensuring Saudi patients are adequately represented in the development of novel pharmaceuticals.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13388625/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148537298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Huachansu triggers mitochondrial apoptosis and ER stress to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma progression.","authors":"Ximeng Li, Qiuying Yan, Qibiao Wu, Dan Dong, Runjing Zhang, Qinghai Meng, Changliang Xu, Yueyang Lai, Jiani Tan, Chengtao Yu, Liu Li, Weixing Shen, Qianjun Chen, Haibo Cheng, Dongdong Sun","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00089-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00089-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Huachansu, derived from the dried skin glands of the Chinese toad (Bufo bufo gargarizans), has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-tumor properties, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates Huachansu's therapeutic potential by focusing on mitochondrial apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways. In vitro studies on HepG2 cells revealed that Huachansu (48-96 mg/mL for 24 h) disrupted mitochondrial function by elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (~ 83% and ~ 208% increase at 48 and 96 mg/mL, respectively) and reducing membrane potential. Molecular analyses showed upregulated pro-apoptotic Bax and ER stress effector CHOP alongside downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and caspase family proteins, indicating PERK-ATF4 pathway activation. In vivo investigations using orthotopic and xenograft HCC mouse models demonstrated significant tumor volume (~ 25% at 2 g/kg and ~ 39% at 4 g/kg) and weight reduction with Huachansu treatment (2-4 g/kg/day, oral gavage for 18-21 days). Hepatic function improvements were evidenced by decreased serum ALT, AST, and LDH levels alongside increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Histopathological analyses confirmed reduced tumor progression and organ toxicity, while inflammatory cytokine profiling revealed diminished pro-inflammatory mediators. Mechanistically, Huachansu activated ER stress markers (PERK, ATF4) in tumor tissues without inducing systemic toxicity. These findings demonstrate that Huachansu exerts potent anticancer effects in HCC through concurrent induction of mitochondrial damage and ER stress activation. This study provides a mechanistic basis for Huachansu's traditional use and highlights its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for HCC treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13365083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence without medical expertise: a social network analysis of Mounjaro discussions on twitter (X).","authors":"Saja AlHazmi, Hayam A AlRasheed, Basma Gomaa","doi":"10.1007/s44446-026-00097-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-026-00097-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a recently approved medication for type 2 diabetes that is increasingly used off-label for weight loss, in part due to extensive promotion on social media. X has emerged as a major venue for discussions about weight-loss medications, yet limited research has examined public discourse surrounding Mounjaro. Identifying key influencers and mapping conversation dynamics are critical for understanding how social media may shape public awareness and adoption of emerging pharmacotherapies. This study examined Mounjaro-related discourse on X to identify influential information sources, dominant discussion topics, and public sentiment. A quantitative, exploratory observational design was employed using social network analysis and automated sentiment analysis of publicly available tweets. The dataset included 5,566 tweets generated by 5,641 unique users collected between January 9 and February 24, 2025. Using NodeXL, betweenness and in-degree centrality measures were used to identify influential users and content sources, and cluster analysis identified dominant discussion topics within the network. Sentiment analysis assessed the overall tone of Mounjaro-related tweets. Results indicated that the most influential users were predominantly non-medical individuals, including public figures and patients sharing personal experiences. Overall sentiment toward Mounjaro was largely positive, with 62.6% of tweets expressing favorable attitudes. Network clusters centered on weight loss, comparisons with Ozempic and Wegovy, pharmaceutical branding, and diabetes treatment. These findings highlight the prominent role of non-expert voices in shaping online discourse and underscore the need for evidence-based health communication strategies on social media.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"34 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13354737/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148425788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}